The Veil of Elindor

The river ran backwards on the day the Queen vanished. Villagers on the banks of the Sildarin River were the first to notice. Old Arnold, a fisherman, watched in disbelief as his boat, tied loosely to the dock, was pulled upstream against the current.

The river, once a steady and reliable force, churned with unnatural energy, pulling fish and debris in the wrong direction. The peaceful bubbling of the water was replaced by a deep rumbling, as if the earth itself sensed something was wrong.

This spread like wildfire throughout the empire. In markets, taverns and shadowy corners, people whispered about the Queen's disappearance. The reversal of the river was seen as a sign, an omen that some terrible accident had befallen it. Some said the earth mourned his loss, while others feared it was news for far worse.

In the capital of Caldor, where the towering spiers of the castle gleamed in the sunlight, the city experienced a boom and decay. The queen, known for her strength and wisdom, has not been seen since last night's gathering.His chambers were undisturbed, his bed untouched. The royal guard found no evidence of an intruder, no sign of a struggle, yet something dark hung in the air, a faint echo of magic unseen in generations.

In the throne room, Lord Commander Erindar stood before the Council of Elders, his expression grim. The Council, the five ancient figures who presided over Elander's wisdom and magic, looked as worried as he felt.

"The river flows backwards," Erender began, his voice steady despite his anxiety. "The queen has disappeared. We must act quickly, or chaos will sweep the kingdom."

Brianna, the youngest of the five, asked, "Have the scouts or sentinels reported anything?"

"Nothing," Erander replied. "There's no sign of her anywhere. It's like she disappeared into thin air."

Elder Elric, the oldest and wisest of the council, spoke solemnly. "The Queen is no ordinary ruler. Her bloodline links her to the ancient Starborn, a lineage that maintains the balance of magic in our realm. Without her, that balance could unravel.

"The river is just the beginning," Elder Miles said. "If we don't find him soon, the earth itself may turn against us."

"But how can we trace it?" Brianna asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "The spell that took him is wild and unpredictable."

Erender clenched his jaw. The queen had always been a stabilizing force, her presence keeping the kingdom's magic in balance. Without it, there was no telling what chaos would ensue.

Suddenly, the heavy doors of the throne room opened, and a woman entered. Dressed in traveling leather, her cloak trailing behind her like a shadow, she approached the council with a commanding presence. Her burnt red hair framed sharp green eyes that held no fear.

"Who are you?" Elder Alaric asked.

"I am Alyth, a ranger of the north," she said calmly. "I came because I know where the queen is."

The council exchanged uneasy glances, but Erender moved on. "Speak quickly. The kingdom is on the brink."

"There is a place far to the east beyond the borders of any map," Ailith explained, "a realm hidden by ancient wards, where magic runs wild." It is called the twilight veil.

"Twilight Veil?" Elder Malice said softly. "But this is the place of legend."

"It's real," Eleth replied. "And the Queen has gone there."

There was laughter in the room. The Twilight Veil was said to be a land where the borders between worlds were thin, where magic was uncontrollable, and time itself could bend. Few believed it still existed.

"Why would the Queen go there?" Aerendre asked, suspicion clouding his voice.

Elath hesitated, her expression darkening. "An ancient prophecy. It speaks of a time when the Queen of Elander will be called beyond the veil to face the darkness. Only she, with the blood of Starborn, can restore balance between the worlds. .

There was silence in the room. The prophecy was ancient, whispered in ancient writings but long dismissed as myth. Now, it seemed, the legend had come to life.

"You expect us to believe in a legend?" Elder Brianna asked.

"Believe what you will," Elath said sternly into her eyes. "But the signs are clear. The river flows backwards. The earth is screaming. If we do nothing, the veil will burst and darkness will consume our world.

Erender's mind raced. The disappearance of the queen, the upside down river, the strange magic—all this was beyond their understanding. He could not ignore the symptoms.

"We have no choice," he said. "If there is any chance that the Queen has gone beyond the veil, we must follow her."

"And how do you propose we do that?" Alaric asked. "No one who entered the veil returned".

"I know the way," said Elath. "I can guide you."

Erender studied her for a moment, then nodded. "We will prepare a party to follow you. But if you betray us, there will be no mercy."

"I just want to restore the balance," Elath said. "Because if the Queen is lost, so are we all."

With that Eleth turned and left the room, her cloak trailing behind her like a shadow.

As the doors closed, Erender felt the burden of the journey ahead settle upon him. The path to the Veil of Twilight was unknown and dangerous, but the fate of Elander and his queen depended on their success.