The quiet hum of the antique shop felt like a lullaby to Cassia. Rows of trinkets gleamed under dim lighting, each whispering secrets of the past. She ran her fingers over a collection of old keys, their brass surfaces cool to the touch. The shop had always been her sanctuary—a place where time seemed to pause.


    Today, however, something called to her. In the farthest corner of the shop, tucked behind a dusty shelf, was a small wooden box adorned with intricate carvings of serpents and phoenixes intertwined. A faint glow pulsed from its edges, as though the box itself was alive.


    “What is this?” she murmured, pulling it into the light.


    “That,” said Mr. Hargrove, the shopkeeper, his voice gravelly with age, “is not for sale.”Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Cassia’s curiosity piqued. “Why not?”


    “Some things are better left untouched.”


    But the pull was too strong. Ignoring his protests, she traced the carvings on the box, her fingers finding a latch that clicked open. The lid creaked, revealing a shimmering shard of glass, no bigger than her palm. Colors danced within it—golden threads entwined with deep blues and greens, like a fragment of the aurora trapped in crystal.


    Before Mr. Hargrove could stop her, Cassia reached out and touched the shard. The world around her erupted in a blinding light, and when the glow receded, the antique shop was gone.


    She stood in a forest unlike any she’d ever seen. Trees glowed faintly, their leaves shimmering like silver. Strange creatures flitted between branches—winged deer, serpents with feathered manes, and a small fox-like creature that watched her with eyes as bright as stars.


    Cassia’s heart pounded. “Where… am I?”


    The fox stepped forward, tilting its head. “You’ve crossed into Lumora,” it said, its voice soft but resonant. “And you’ve shattered the Veil.”