A clear blue sky stretched out above me. The warm sun brushed against my cold cheeks, and the fresh, dewy grass tickled the back of my neck.

“Where am I?” I murmured, still disoriented.

“It awakened! It awakened!” a tiny, high-pitched voice exclaimed from behind me.

As I tilted my head back, the peculiar creature came into view and greeted me. It was small, about the size of a child, dressed in tattered white rags. It had messy, shoulder-length hair that was crowned with a garland of purple and white flowers. The creature had a greyish-blue skin, and it wore far too many golden necklaces around its neck, which seemed to weigh it down. But what stood out the most were its large, round, golden eyes that sparkled under the sun’s gentle rays.

“What... are you?” I asked, taken aback by the creature’s odd appearance.

“Oh, you’re awake, Valerian!” a familiar voice rang out, pulling my attention away.

“Silas?” I turned around to see his familiar face. “Where are we? And what’s that on your head? You look ridiculous.” I pointed to the same flower crown that adorned the creature.

“What, this?” Silas grinned, gesturing to the crown. “The goldlings call it the River’s Crown!”

“And the goldlings are...?”

“Our new friends!” Silas replied, pointing toward a small village nearby, where hundreds of similar creatures bustled about, each one bearing the likeness of the one who greeted me.

It was unlike any settlement I had ever seen. I saw hundreds of tiny huts scattered across the open grass field. These structures had walls made of wood and roofs made of hay. They were so small that no normal-sized person could enter without doubling over. The layout was chaotic, more like a haphazard camp than a proper village, with huts placed in no discernible pattern.

“Where are the others?” I asked.

“The young Talon is playing with the little goldlings, and Orion is out searching for Lyra and Kaela...” Silas’s previously cheerful expression darkened.

“What do you mean, searching for them?”

“When we woke up in this world, Lyra and Kaela were nowhere to be found. As soon as Orion realized what happened, he set off to find them.”

“That idiot! This is all his fault! If he hadn’t kicked that bloody skull into the rift, we’d all be together in one place! But no, ‘I’m Orion the White, I can do whatever I please!’” I mimicked Orion’s voice in a mocking tone as I stormed toward the village.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

“First of all, that’s a terrible impression of him,” Silas said, trailing behind me. “And second, where are you going?”

“To ask around and find them!”

“Wait for me!” Silas called, hurrying to catch up. “I’ll introduce you to my new buddy, Foozy Callusfoot! He’s the one in charge!”

“Foozy Callusfoot? What kind of world is this?”

As we ventured deeper into the village, the goldlings stared at me in awe. On closer inspection, I realized it wasn’t me they were fascinated by, but my armor. Their golden eyes gleamed as they either watched from afar or approached to touch the gold-plated parts of my armor with their tiny, greyish hands. What began as a few curious goldlings quickly grew into a small crowd, and soon I could not move.

“Mister! Mister!” one of the goldlings piped up. “Real gold, yes, hm?”

“Uh, I’m not sure...” I replied, taken aback by its high-pitched voice and odd speech pattern.

“Give gold, give!” another chimed in, trying to scratch the gold off my armor with its dirty, sharp nails.

“Silas?” I called out, bewildered.

“Oh, don’t worry, they’re harmless! A bit greedy, yes, but who isn’t?” Silas said with a nervous smile.

“Um, could you move, please? I need to speak with your leader,” I pleaded with them.

“Gold give, Callusfoot get!” insisted the one scratching at my armor.

What a strange bunch, I thought, rummaging through my pouch in search of anything valuable. I didn’t have a single coin on me, but I found a bag of golden-wrapped candy I’d snatched from the academy back in Vixengaard.

“Here, this should be enough for everyone!” I said as I handed out the candy.

“Gold glitters and life sparkles brighter!” they chanted in unison, lifting the candy above their heads as their golden eyes gleamed with excitement over the shiny wrappers. Then, as quickly as they had gathered, they dispersed, crawling back to their huts.

“What’s up with them?” I asked, utterly confused.

“I’m still trying to figure that out. But until I do, let me take you to Callusfoot!” Silas replied, continuing deeper into the village.

“His name really is Callusfoot?”

“I was just as surprised as you, but I assure you, he lives up to his name.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, dreading the answer. Silas just smiled mysteriously and ignored my question.

“Silas!” I called, but he just kept walking, leaving me to follow.

The village was nestled along a river that glimmered like liquid gold under the warm sunlight. There was something almost enchanting about it—the way the water sparkled with a magical allure, its gentle ripples producing a soft, whistling sound that seemed to beckon me closer, tempting me to reach out and touch the golden depths. A gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of wildflowers from the riverbank, where vibrant lilies swayed along the water’s edge. The warm, whistling wind followed the river’s flow southward, and sunlight filtered through the forest canopy across from us, casting dappled shadows that danced on the river’s surface. The ripples distorted the light and shadows, creating a mesmerizing, ever-moving tapestry where they effortlessly blended together. Soothing whispers of the flowing water and the cheerful chirping of birds brought memories of home, filling me with a longing to stay in this serene place forever.

But the river’s golden allure nearly made me forget my purpose, and I had to force myself to snap out of it. A chilling realization crept into my mind—a thought that might seem far-fetched to others, but one I couldn’t shake. There was something wrong with this river, something sinister hidden beneath its beauty. An ugly truth lay buried in these golden waters, a malevolent presence I had no desire to face. It would be wiser for us to leave, and soon.