I

A FOREST IN ORIA

The morning mist, a mixture of delicate white and emerald, clung to the old trees' limbs before melting in the sun's warmth. A sense of tranquility permeated the woodland as Birdsóng reverberated through the canopy. A white rabbit sniffed for tender shoots as it hopped through the dew-soaked grass in a little clearing. Its ears twitched abruptly. It froze, attentive and wide-eyed.

The birds had stopped singing. Only a few moments later, a rising drone penetrated the thick silence that had descended upon the woodland. As a swirling mass of gray clouds appeared in the clear blue sky, the rabbit trembled and looked up. Just as a ray of light blasted out from the heart of the vortex, it dashed into the trees and disappeared. A human voice's weak, frightened gasps cut through the loud boom of the beam as it reached the lush forest floor.

The light flashed red, then purple, and then vanished as fast as it had come. Two young women who looked alike but were dressed very differently were found in its aftermath. Their pale blond, shoulder-length hair was tied in ponytails with matching gold and silver clasps, and they were both unconscious.

One of them was holding a golden amulet, which was shaped like a distorted triangle and had a crimson orb inside it. Seven symbols, each glimmering with a muted, dull light, surrounded the sphere, and pearly white wings extended from its sides. This woman wore a red bodysuit with lace sleeves and leggings that formed a strip down her long legs. Over her shoulders was a dark purple-blue jacket with no sleeves that was secured with a silver clasp. She wore matching silver-trimmed mid-calf boots on her feet. Beside her twin, she lay in the fetal position.

The second woman was wearing a red halter-top bodysuit with a pleated skirt at the bottom, and she had nothing in her hands. The fabric tied behind her neck, and the halter was fastened across her breast with a silver ring. A silver-buckled light brown belt hung loosely around her hips. The striped band of dark purple-blue hipster boxers was visible at her waist, just above the skirt. Her sister's boots were the same color, with silver spurs at the ankles for accent.

Both did not move for a few minutes. The sky above was clear again, and a few courageous birds started singing again. What had brought them here was nowhere to be seen.

The woman who had the amulet suddenly sat up straight, her green eyes wide. Her body shook as she gulped for breath and frantically looked about for something recognizable. She looked around, her gold hoop earrings glittering in the sunlight. What took place? Where am I?

Her thoughts was filled with a burning ache. She let out a cry and jammed the amulet she was still holding to her temple with her hands as they flew to her head. She let out another cry, this time in frustration, and scowled at the new cause of her pain. She noticed that the Amulet's core sphere was glimmering brightly as she held it up to the sun, seemingly glowing from within. With a terrible flash of remembrance, she thought, That's correct. It all began with this amulet. I noticed it in the grass as I was making my way to school. After I picked it up, then—

A sound from the tree line interrupted her thoughts. Then she looked at the other woman. Her expression flashed with concern and then dawned with recognition. She frantically looked for the girl's name in her shattered memory. I recognize her by name! Crawling to her side, she hurriedly looked for wounds. Then she realized. They were sisters, not just similar. Embarrassment caused her cheeks to flush red. She was familiar with her name, background, and everything. She must have struck her head more forcefully than she had anticipated.

"Hey, Lyra! She yelled, "Lyra, wake up!" as her voice oddly reverberated off the trees. With a panicked note in her voice, she shook her sister's shoulders. She turned her face away and cried, "Please, wake up," her eyes welling with tears.

She was met with a quiet chuckle. She turned and saw Lyra smiling up at her, her own green eyes sparkling with laughter.

"LYRA! Why would you frighten me in that way? Kara jumped to her feet and yelled. In an attempt to hide her rage, she brushed off her jacket and looked at her odd new attire.

Lyra chuckled once more before standing and stretching indifferently. "I spent the majority of that awake. Kara, I simply wanted to see what you would do. She experimented with shaking her ponytail. "So, any idea what's going on?"

Kara looked back at the Amulet and shook her head. Lyra took a step forward and looked at it too. Both of them felt a chill as they saw the core ball flare with light, getting warmer in Kara's palm.

Kara began, "What the—" while retaining the Amulet out of her grasp.

The voice of a rich, melodic woman seemed to come straight from the Amulet. "Hello, ladies, and welcome. I hope the ride wasn't too difficult for you."

Kara looked at her sister and swallowed hard. Lyra chewed her thumbnail uncomfortably, staring at the Amulet as though it could bite her, but she nodded so Kara could go on.

"Hey, yes, yeah. "This is Lyra, and I'm Kara," Kara added, a little unsteadily.

Lyra pushed her. "I don't think she can see us, Kara."

The voice chuckled. "No, I am unable to. However, I have already seen you through the Amulet. Lyra trembled. Before continuing, Kara mouthed the word "creepy" in a little more assured tone. "Where are we now? Why have we come here? And what's the reason behind our attire?"

"All will be answered in time," the voice said calmly. "You are in the peaceful and harmonious nation of Oria. The Amulet selected you to be our new Sentinels, which is why you are here. You are here to keep those who would do this land harm at bay."

Kara turned to face her confused sister. Lyra spat, "But we can't do anything," her cynicism obvious. "We are only two girls, both of us seventeen years old. From Indiana."

There was a pause in the voice. "I recognize how overwhelming this is. However, you both possess extraordinary abilities that you have not yet fully grasped. Please have faith in yourself and in me. Everything will be made clear. I'd like to say goodbye to you, our newest Sentinels, for the time being."

Kara's gaze expanded. "Hold on! What should we do at this point?"

As the Amulet's glow dimmed, Lyra grabbed it out of her sister's grasp. She gave it a violent shake, her eyes glimmering with annoyance. "Where are we supposed to go?"

"Stop, Lyra! "That isn't helping," Kara remarked, carefully returning the amulet. She tried to calm herself and her sister, but her heart was racing. With an odd impulse, she raised the golden chain and securing it around her neck. The Amulet shrank as the clasp clicked shut, the pendant shrinking to the size of a ping-pong ball and the chain tightening into a choker.

"Whoa," Kara said as she touched the pendant, which was now weightless. Lyra gazed in wonder as her rage subsided.

"You know, this feels like a dream," Lyra flinched and compressed her arm. "Maybe I'm still asleep."

"No way," Kara shook her head in response. Earlier, the burning anguish had been too vivid. "Did you… did you have a weird dream while you were out?"

Lyra nodded, her face growing solemn as she made her way over to the trees. "In the clouds, there was a huge crystal spire. It was stunning, glistening in the sunlight. However, the crystal turned blood-red when the sun abruptly sank. Men were killing each other and fighting. A lot of blood. The spire broke when a woman shouted, and—"

"STOP!" Kara fell to her knees and covered her ears as she sobbed. The dread of the dream returned as I heard it explained. Lyra's own pupils were dilated with recollected anxiety, and she was breathing heavily. Pulling her sister's hands away from her ears, she knelt down.

Lyra continued, "Kara, we have to be strong," her hands trembling but her voice calm. "I don't know what's happening, but we'll get through it."

Kara forced a flimsy smile.

Kara was pulled up with Lyra as she stood. "I mean, don't we always find a way?" She arched an eyebrow and wiggled it.

At last, the tension subsided as Kara laughed. "You mean I always manage to find a way? To rescue you from trouble?"

With a sly smile, Lyra shielded her ears and retreated into the forest's shade. "Kara, what? I can't hear you! "La la la."

"Lyra!" Kara jogged to catch up while crying and laughing incredulously. Their lively chatter reverberated through the woods as they ran together into the trees. The jungle appeared to be at peace again. However, a pair of eyes observed them from high in the branches, invisible. And went after it.