我 never imagined myself standing in front of a rustic inn, holding a petition for a mysterious herbalist who claimed to be my wife. But here I am, crossing the threshold of another dimension, bound by fate and forbidden knowledge.
The air was thick with incense smoke, and the faint scent of incense filled the room. She stood before me, her eyes wide as she gazed at the petition. “What does this mean?” she asked in a soft voice that carried an underlying hint of fear.
“It is a sign,” I replied, my voice firm yet gentle. “You have been chosen to heal the wounded soul who bears your name.”
She hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Then let me do it.” Her hands flew to her chest as if she were about to perform some kind of ritual.
“Take her hand,” I instructed, guiding her toward mine. The touch was gentle but firm, and something inside me shuddered. Her eyes closed, and the room seemed to hold its breath.
As she lay still, I stepped back, feeling a strange emptiness in my heart. The inn stood silent now, save for the faint creak of old wooden beams. I turned to leave, but before I could step outside, she called me back.
“Stay with me,” she said softly, her voice trembling as if it might crack and scatter like the incense around us.
I obeyed, following her into a small, dimly lit room where a large table sat. There was no fire, just a shallow heap of coals that smoked faintly in the distance.
“Burn this,” she instructed, holding out the petition. “It is an omen of the journey we must take together.”
I reached for it, my fingers trembling as I brought it near the flames. The paper glowed briefly before extinguishing. She stepped closer, her face pale and drawn.
“Follow me,” she said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “We will find her, but it may be difficult.” Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, I felt something inside me shift, as if the world were about to change in ways I could not yet comprehend.
“Where?” I asked, trailing her gaze toward the door.
“Now,” she replied softly. “We must go together.” Her voice was barely audible, but it carried with it an unshakable determination.
And so we walked through that dimly lit room, the faint smell of incense mingling with the scent of burning wood and the musk of someone who had been touched by something greater than life itself. Together, we knew that whatever came next would be worth it.
