Chapter 1: The Forbidden Door

The gears of the bronze door jammed with a screech. Irene’s pupils contracted—she recognized the scorched incantation at the bottom of her compass, identical to the burn marks on her missing mentor’s robe.

“Warning: Dusk Corridor elemental imbalance.” Crimson magic text floated on the ancient stone walls.

The air smelled of rusted metal and burnt parchment—the signature scent of the Dusk Corridor. The Star-Sand Compass in her cauldron spun wildly, emitting a blinding gold light, dragging her toward the forbidden zone.

Through the flickering phosphorescent fire, a line of burnt text surfaced: “Don’t believe the ashes you see.”

Irene’s heart pounded. This was no ordinary warning. Her mentor, Silas Ash, had been researching the corridor’s secrets before he vanished. Now, the compass was leading her there.

Despite the danger, Irene gripped the compass tight. For the truth, for her mentor, she pushed open the bronze door. As she stepped into the dim, time-distorted corridor, her shadow began to move in reverse…