Aeon's Arrival:
In the heart of the ancient Mirrorwood, where the trees whisper secrets and the air shimmers with residual magic, a peculiar event unfolds. A solitary, ornate mirror, framed by intertwining vines and glowing faintly with an inner light, stands amidst the foliage. This is the Threshold, a relic from a bygone era when the boundaries between worlds were more permeable.
Without warning, the mirror's surface ripples, and a figure steps through. He is cloaked in garments unfamiliar to this world, his eyes reflecting the starlit skies of realms beyond. This is Caelum, Aeon's alter ego in Cindermoor, drawn through the Threshold by forces yet unknown.
Drawn by the disturbance in the Mirrorwood, Maelis, a young herbalist attuned to the forest's rhythms, arrives at the scene. She is of medium height, with chestnut hair braided intricately and eyes the color of moss. Her attire is practical, adorned with pouches containing various herbs and charms. Maelis approaches Caelum cautiously, her instincts sensing both danger and wonder.
"You emerged from the Threshold," she states, her voice a mix of awe and apprehension.
Caelum nods, his gaze meeting hers. "I am… not from here," he replies, the weight of countless journeys evident in his tone.
Maelis decides to bring Caelum to Bramblehollow, a village nestled at the edge of the Mirrorwood. The village is a tapestry of thatched cottages, cobblestone paths, and gardens teeming with both mundane and magical flora. The villagers live in harmony with the fey, honoring ancient pacts and traditions.
Upon arrival, Caelum is met with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. The village elder, Thorne, a stern man with a long beard and piercing eyes, questions Maelis's decision.
"We know not what he brings," Thorne warns.
"He came through the Threshold," Maelis counters. "That cannot be mere chance."
Reluctantly, Thorne agrees to let Caelum stay, assigning him a modest cottage near the village's edge.
As days pass, Caelum observes the village's way of life, noting the delicate balance between nature and magic. He senses an undercurrent of tension, a subtle imbalance threatening the harmony of Cindermoor. The glimmerlings, once abundant, are now scarce, and the once-vibrant flora shows signs of withering.
Caelum's arrival through the Threshold is no accident. He is here for a purpose, one that intertwines with the fate of Cindermoor itself.