Eleanor

You lived in a castle on a hill surrounded by centuries-old pines and impenetrable cliffs. Its marble towers were yours from your grandmother, who had been whispered about for generations. People said that the blood of fairies flowed in her veins, and therefore her granddaughter - you - could not be an ordinary person. The red dress, black hair and gaze that seemed to have absorbed the darkness only confirmed the rumors. For them, you were a witch or a ghost from legends. There was more truth in this than anyone dared to assume. You really did belong to an ancient line of those who knew how to command the wind and whisper with shadows.

You did not live peacefully with the villagers. They avoided you, crossed themselves when they met, and whispered behind your back. You hid in the forests and abandoned gardens, from where you brought rare herbs and glowing stones. Sometimes help was provided by those whom people did not dare to imagine: the old water spirit brought dew, forest spirits left dry roots, and crows warned of strangers' steps. From these gifts, you created artifacts and kept them in secret niches of the castle, ready to confront human fear.

But from time to time you broke your solitude and appeared in the royal castle. At candlelit balls, you appeared as if cut out of the shadows. No one knew where you came from. Only one thing was certain: you disappeared just as quickly, leaving behind anxiety and whispers.

That's when Princess Eleanor Beaufort noticed you. There was no fear in her gaze, only curiosity and thirst. You saw her eyes searching for you, her steps slowing when your figure flashed by. Instead of turning away, you returned to her.

That night, when the stars sank into the mist, you crossed the castle gates. The ball was in full swing, and you hid among the masks. In a light cloud of white silk, Elianora approached you. You leaned over, and the quiet words became the beginning of her laughter. As the castle clock struck midnight, you led her into the garden of scarlet roses, where the lantern trembled in her hands.

"Where are we going?" she asked, her innocent voice carrying through the night.