Chapter 2: Unraveling the Mystery

The forest seemed endless, the thick trees and tangled branches closing in around them as Bernyce and Bleddyn ran, the sounds of battle fading behind them. Bernyce’s legs burned, her lungs aching with each breath, but she pushed herself to keep moving, the weight of the bracelet heavy in her hand.

Beside her, Bleddyn ran in silence, his gaze sharp and focused as he scanned the path ahead. He didn’t speak, and neither did she. There wasn’t time for explanations or questions—not yet. They needed to get as far away from the battle as possible.

After what felt like hours, Bleddyn finally slowed, motioning for Bernyce to follow him off the narrow path into a dense thicket of trees. They crouched low beneath the branches, both of them breathing hard.

Bleddyn glanced at her, his eyes narrowing as he took in her disheveled appearance. “You’re not from here,” he said flatly, his voice low but demanding. “Who are you?”

Bernyce opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat. How could she possibly explain where she was from—or when? She didn’t even fully understand it herself.

“I… I’m not,” she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. “I’m not from this place. Or this time.”

Bleddyn’s eyes darkened, his expression unreadable. “What do you mean, ‘not from this time’? How did you get here?”

Bernyce swallowed, feeling the weight of his gaze on her. She didn’t want to sound insane, but there was no other way to explain it. “I don’t know exactly. I was working in a lab—studying this bracelet,” she held it up for him to see, the metal cool against her skin. “And then… something happened. I was just… here.”

Bleddyn’s gaze flicked to the bracelet, his eyes narrowing. He gently took it from her hand, examining the strange runes carved into the metal. “This,” he said quietly, his voice laced with suspicion, “is no ordinary bracelet. This is ancient magic.”

Bernyce blinked, her heart skipping a beat. “Magic?”

Bleddyn nodded, his eyes never leaving the bracelet. “Yes. The kind of magic most people believe to be a legend. It’s been said that relics like this can bend time and space, but few have ever seen them. The stories claim they were created long ago by a powerful order of druids who could manipulate time itself.”

Bernyce’s mind raced. Time manipulation. It made sense, in a way—if the bracelet had the power to control time, that would explain how she had been thrown into this strange world. But the thought of ancient druids and magic was almost too much to wrap her head around.

“So… this bracelet,” she began, her voice faltering, “it brought me here? To the past?”

Bleddyn finally looked up, his expression serious. “It’s possible. The druids were known to guard secrets about time, but most believed their relics had been lost to history. If this bracelet is real, you’re in more danger than you realize.”

Bernyce frowned. “Danger? Why?”

Bleddyn handed the bracelet back to her, his jaw tightening. “Because there are those who would kill for power like this.”

A cold chill ran down Bernyce’s spine. The weight of the bracelet in her hand suddenly felt much heavier, as though the ancient magic inside it was alive, pulsing with the energy of a world long forgotten. She hadn’t just stumbled into the past—she had stumbled into a war where people would kill for control over the very forces of time.

“I didn’t ask for this,” she whispered, her voice shaking slightly. “I don’t even know how to use it.”

Bleddyn studied her for a long moment, his gaze piercing. “You’re lucky you survived. The power in that bracelet is dangerous, even to those who know how to wield it. If it brought you here, it was likely an accident. But now that you’re here… you’re a target.”

Bernyce’s heart raced. “A target? But I don’t even know what’s happening!”

Bleddyn sighed, glancing around the forest as though expecting someone to leap out from the shadows. “There are forces at play that go beyond the war for the throne. Some seek to control the power of time—and those who will do anything to stop them.”

Bernyce’s head spun as she tried to process what he was saying. The battle she had stumbled into wasn’t just a fight for a throne—it was something bigger, something more dangerous. And now she was caught in the middle, with a relic that could manipulate time.

“What are we supposed to do?” she asked, her voice small.

Bleddyn stood, his expression grim. “We need to keep moving. We’re too close to the battlefront, and if the wrong people find you with that bracelet, they won’t hesitate to take it—and kill you for it.”

Bernyce swallowed hard, her pulse quickening. She didn’t need to be told twice.

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They silently moved through the forest, the dense trees casting long shadows over the path. The sounds of battle had faded, but Bernyce couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched, that danger was lurking just beyond the edge of her vision.

Bleddyn led the way, his movements swift and sure, as though he had traveled these paths a hundred times before. Bernyce struggled to keep up, her legs aching with exhaustion, but she didn’t dare slow down. The weight of the bracelet in her hand was a constant reminder of the danger they were in, of the forces that were hunting them.

Finally, after hours, they reached a small stream at the forest’s edge. Bleddyn knelt by the water, cupping his hands and taking a long drink. Bernyce followed his lead, the cool water soothing her dry throat.

As she sat back on her heels, her eyes again drifted to the bracelet. It looked so unassuming—a simple piece of metal with intricate carvings—but its power was unmistakable. The pulse of magic she had felt when she touched it still lingered in the back of her mind, a constant hum that she couldn’t shake.

“What now?” she asked, breaking the silence.

Bleddyn wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and stood, his gaze scanning the horizon. “We need to get to the city. There’s someone there who can help us.”

Bernyce frowned. “Help us? Who?”

He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “An ally. Someone who knows more about this magic than I do. They might be able to explain what’s happening—and how to send you back.”

Bernyce’s heart leaped at the thought. She wanted to go back—back to her time, to her life. But the weight of the bracelet in her hand reminded her that it wouldn’t be that simple. If there were people who wanted to control this magic, there was no guarantee she would make it back alive.

“Who is this ally?” she pressed.

Bleddyn hesitated for a moment before answering. “Her name is Maeve. She’s a healer—and a powerful mage. If anyone can help you, it’s her.”

Maeve. The name echoed in Bernyce’s mind, unfamiliar but somehow necessary. She didn’t know why, but something about it made her uneasy.

“We have to move quickly,” Bleddyn continued, his tone more urgent now. “We can’t stay here for long. The battle will move this way soon, and I won’t be able to protect you if we’re caught in the crossfire.”

Bernyce nodded, standing and tucking the bracelet into the folds of her dress. She could still feel its pulse against her skin, the hum of magic steady and robust. Whatever was happening, whatever power this relic held, she needed to figure it out—and soon.

“Lead the way,” she said, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides.

They began walking again, their pace quick but careful. As they made their way through the forest, Bernyce’s mind raced with questions. What was this place? How had she gotten here? And, more importantly—how was she going to get back?

But one question lingered more than any other.

Who was Maeve? And could she be trusted?