The Heart Crystal

The Magical City – Chapter 1: The Witch's Secret

A long time ago, in a small village, there lived a girl named Ayra. Her mother had passed away when she was very young. Later, her father remarried, but her stepmother never liked her. She made Ayra work all day, scolded her constantly, and never showed her any love.

One day, her stepmother said angrily, "Don't come back until you've collected firewood from the forest. If you return empty-handed, don't even think about entering this house."

Frightened, Ayra walked alone into the forest. As evening fell, she lost her way. Darkness surrounded her from every direction. Just then, she noticed a small hut glowing faintly in the distance.

Inside the hut sat an old woman with long white hair, bright green eyes, and a crooked wooden staff in her hand.

"Don't be afraid," the old woman said with a gentle smile. "I've been waiting for you."

Ayra stared at her in surprise.

After a moment, the old woman spoke again.

"People call me a witch because they fear me. But not every witch is evil."

She gently waved her staff.

In an instant, the hut disappeared.

Standing before Ayra was a breathtaking Magical City filled with floating castles, glowing pathways, sparkling trees, and a sky shimmering with magical light. It looked like a world from a dream.

The witch stretched out her hand. Resting on her palm was a small blue crystal that glowed with a mysterious light.

"This Magical City now belongs to you," she said. "I am its last guardian, and from this day forward, you will become its new protector."

Ayra stepped back in shock.

"Me? But... I'm just an ordinary girl."

The witch smiled.

"No, Ayra. You are far from ordinary. A power sleeps within you—a secret the world has never discovered."

With those words, the witch placed the glowing blue crystal into Ayra's hands.

The moment her fingers touched it, the entire Magical City burst into brilliant blue light.

At that very same moment...

Somewhere deep within the darkness...

A pair of terrifying crimson eyes slowly opened.

To be continued...