Lumis walked confidently across the silvery grass, feeling how each of his movements resonated with the gentle whispers of this magical place. The sun slowly dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in crimson and gold hues. The tower he was approaching now seemed less distant. Its threads of light began to dim, taking on a soft, soothing glow, as if inviting him closer.
Suddenly, he heard light footsteps behind him. Lumis stopped and turned, but saw no one. He thought it might be the wind, but the footsteps repeated, this time closer.
— Not everyone dares to venture this far, — a voice sounded behind him.
Lumis quickly turned around to see a girl standing among the silvery grass, almost blending into the landscape. Her long hair shimmered like threads of light from the tower, and her eyes sparkled with a warm emerald hue.
— Who are you? — Lumis asked, suppressing his surprise.
— My name is Eili, — she replied with a gentle smile. — I live here, even though you probably have never seen me before.
— You… live near the towers? — he asked, unable to take his eyes off her.
— You could say that. The towers are a part of me, and I am a part of them, — she said, approaching him. Her voice was calm, yet it carried a mysterious melody.
Lumis felt his curiosity transform into something new and unexplored. Her presence seemed to amplify the magic around them, and he suddenly realized he didn’t want to continue this journey alone.
— Why are you here, Lumis? What are you searching for? — Eili looked at him, her gaze so penetrating that he barely restrained the urge to look away.
— I don’t know, — he admitted honestly.
— I just feel that I must do this. Something about these towers is calling me.
Eili quietly laughed, as if she understood more than she could say.
— The towers often call to those who are ready. But the path to them isn’t just about answers. It’s about discovering yourself.
— You sound as if you know this path better than I do, — he replied with a hint of a smile.
— Perhaps, — she nodded slightly. — Or maybe I just want to travel with you.
Lumis felt his heart quicken. He didn’t understand what had drawn him—her words, her gaze, or the sensation that this meeting was fated.
— Alright, — he finally replied. — If you want to join, I won’t mind.
Eili nodded, her smile widening a bit.
They began to walk together, and even though they still had quite a way to go to reach the tower, Lumis felt that this journey would never be the same.