Introduction
Every village has stories.
But in the quiet town of Elwen, there was one story whispered more than others—
the story of Grandma Liora, the only woman believed to have walked
between the world of humans and the world of forgotten stars.
Most people thought it was nothing more than a bedtime tale.
But those who knew her closely…
knew that her eyes sometimes glowed with something unexplainable.
A strange mix of wisdom, loneliness, and ancient magic.
This is the tale of the night Liora discovered the gate
that would change her destiny—and her family’s future—forever.
The Old Woman Who Never Aged Inside
Grandma Liora was 78 years old,
but her mind was brighter than most young people.
She talked to plants, listened to the wind,
and could predict storms simply by touching the air.
Children loved her stories.
Adults respected her silence.
But no one knew the truth she kept:
Every evening, when the moon rose,
a faint humming sound echoed from the forest behind her house.
A calling.
A pulse.
A memory she couldn’t explain.
It had been there since she was a little girl.
The Night of the Blue Moon
Once every 12 years, the Blue Moon shone above Elwen.
On that rare night, the forest felt alive.
Trees shimmered.
Leaves whispered.
Fireflies danced like golden dust.
Liora felt something unusual within her—
a pull, gentle but strong,
as if someone was tugging at her heart.
She followed the sound into the forest,
each step guided by instinct not logic.
And then she saw it.
A massive stone arch, half-buried,
covered in glowing blue runes that pulsed like a heartbeat.
A gateway she had seen once before—
in her dreams.
The Gate Awakens
As Liora stepped closer,
the runes lit up brighter, responding to her presence.
She touched the stone.
It was warm, like living skin.
Suddenly, the ground vibrated.
Air swirled.
A soft hum became a powerful song.
The arch split open, revealing a swirling tunnel of light.
A galaxy of colors, stars, and mist spiraled inside it.
Her heart whispered:
“Welcome home.”
Without fear—only curiosity—
the old woman stepped inside.
The Realm of Forgotten Stars
Liora found herself standing on a floating path made of crystal light.
Around her, stars floated like fireflies,
and massive celestial whales swam through the sky.
A gentle voice called her name:
“Liora… you have returned.”
She turned and saw a tall figure made of shimmering stardust.
Eyes bright like twin suns.
A presence both comforting and overwhelming.
“Who are you?” Liora asked softly.
“I am Elyndor, keeper of memories forgotten by the world.”
He explained that Liora was not just a human—
she was born from an ancient lineage of Star Guardians,
souls who could walk between realms.
But after a great cosmic war centuries ago,
most Guardians lost their powers,
their memories sealed for their own protection.
Liora was one of the last.
The Gift and the Burden
Elyndor extended his hand,
revealing a glowing orb of swirling blue light.
“This is your Echo—a piece of your forgotten past.
Accept it, and your memories will return.
But be warned…
remembering also means carrying the weight of what once was.”
Liora hesitated.
She thought of her children, her grandchildren,
the simple life she lived,
the people who depended on her warmth.
Then she thought of the dreams,
the strange visions,
the unexplained wisdom she always carried.
Finally, she placed her hand over the orb.
It burst into light,
wrapping her in energy that felt familiar—
like a song she once knew as a child.
Memories flooded her mind:
- flying across star paths,
- speaking to constellations,
- guiding lost souls,
- protecting the fragile threads between worlds.
Tears streamed down her face.
She wasn’t ordinary.
She had never been.
The Choice
With her memories restored, Elyndor spoke once more:
“You may stay here among the stars,
or return to your world and become a Guardian again,
watching over your family and protecting the balance between realms.”
Liora closed her eyes.
She saw her granddaughter laughing,
her neighbors waving good morning,
the warm cup of tea waiting on her wooden table.
Despite the beauty of the star realm…
her heart belonged to the human world.
“I choose to go home.”
Elyndor smiled.
“Then go… Guardian Liora.
Protect the world you love.”
The Return
When Liora stepped back through the gate,
the Blue Moon was still shining.
But she felt different.
Stronger.
Lighter.
Awake.
The gateway slowly faded behind her,
turning into harmless stone once again.
But the magic within her remained.
From that night forward:
- the forest protected her home,
- lost children always found their way to her door,
- storms avoided her village,
- strange lights flickered in her windows at night.
People whispered:
“There is something magical about that old woman…”
And they were right.
Grandma Liora had become the last silent guardian of Elwen—
watching over her family,
her town,
and the fragile boundary between worlds.
Conclusion
Magic doesn’t always belong to young heroes.
Sometimes,
it lives quietly within the elderly—
those who have lived long enough
to understand both the pain and beauty of the world.
Grandma Liora’s story reminds us:
Age does not limit destiny.
Hope does not fade with years.
And sometimes, the greatest heroes are the ones we least expect.
