"Legends whisper that every word harbors existence, whether as an energy or entity, not necessarily within our world but perhaps in another, a realm parallel to ours."

Where were we? Ah, my grandmother had vanished into thin air, plunging the entire town into shock. Imagine a community of 400 people, each sharing in a collective trauma, as fear of the unknown took root. This wasn't the first time Westbury had witnessed such a disappearance.

The most recent case hit in my house—my grandfather's home, to be precise. He's not only the town's chief but also a descendant of one of Westbury's founding families. Our town, shrouded in secrets, has added yet another mystery to its collection.

And yes, you guessed it: our town is nestled amidst a thick forest. A seemingly idyllic, secluded place to live, if not for the myriad of mysteries lurking behind every tree.

Hailing from Westbury Town, I've been ensnared in such a legend since my grandmother's mysterious disappearance.

In the days that followed, an exhaustive search ensued. The efforts to find her extended beyond the confines of our home, with search parties combing through the forest and venturing into the neighboring town. My grandfather, driven by desperation, was even prepared to dismantle our house brick by brick, as though the very walls might have swallowed her whole.

However, the townspeople intervened, halting his drastic measures. Undeterred, my "crazy in love" grandfather, spurred by my father's tales of faes, embarked on a global quest for truth, exploring every religion and belief in search of her.

Today, on December 24th, 2016, half a century since she left us to fetch cake and cookies from our kitchen and never returned, we stand at the threshold of discovery.

Allow me to transport you back in time — not to the 1800s, as I initially thought, but upon further reflection...

*flipping pages*

Indeed, it was the late 1700s, amidst the tumult of the "Petra War," that our town emerged as a sanctuary for refugees. During this era, a Greek philosopher — or perhaps a researcher — found his way to our town, greeted warmly by my ancestors.

At first, my ancestors believed that he sought refuge like many others. Yet, his true fascination lay with the magical beings of Westbury, notably our legendary hound, which people of the time found peculiar. "Weird people, weirder stories".

His interest was piqued by this singular point of research, leading him to uncover the "real mystery" enshrouded within our town. Captivated by the rich tapestry of local folklore, he chose to remain, convincing my many times great-grandfather to offer him the out-house as his residence – a rent free residence.

One morning, a servant bringing his breakfast discovered the room in disarray — as though its occupant had fled in haste, leaving behind nothing but an ominously blood-stained bedsheet, a diary, and a bag.

And how did we come upon this tale? Through my "crazy in love" grandfather, who unearthed these revelations upon his return from the Royal Library of King Arkasen.

At the time, the prevailing belief was that he had fled, yet rumors wield a power of their own. Whispers began to circulate, suggesting he was ensnared by the town's enigmatic forces — that he, too, had vanished without a trace.

Returning to December 24, 2016, my grandfather concluded his extensive travels with evidence suggesting that his wife had been abducted by the s. Initially, I was skeptical about such claims, but my perspective shifted dramatically when he entrusted me with the relics he had discovered.

The library had yielded more than just a diary and a bag; within it were items that told a deeper story: 5 marbles, a feather, delicate wings, a broken wand and a mysterious black stone.

As we stood in our kitchen lay a secret, long concealed: a knob, we had dismissed as mere decoration. According to the diary, this unassuming fixture was actually a portal to Westbury's sister town, ingeniously hidden within our very walls.

As I flipped the pages, I read the instructions – one of the log entries

"The Gateway Ritual"

Date: 16th April 1781

Location: Family Kitchen

*Preparation*

1. Participants: Gather all willing participants.

2. Setting: Ensure the ritual is performed in front of the decorative knob, located in the kitchen. Not so decorative item.

3. Mindset: Approach with open hearts and minds, ready to bridge worlds.

*Instructions*

1. Joining Hands: Begin by forming a circle in front of the knob, joining hands to create a physical and spiritual connection among all participants.

2. Visualization: With your eyes closed, collectively focus on the image of a faerie. Envision this entity with as much detail as possible, from the glow of its wings to the gentleness of its expression.

3. Incantation: Recite the following words with clear intention and harmony:

"anoíxte tin pórta tou parállilo kósmo na me kánei na doúme ósous analávei ti frontída tou kósmou mou hey Westbury neráida vasílissa aftoú tou kósmou me páreis mazí sou"

Close English translation:

"Open the door to the parallel world, and take me to those who care for my world, O Westbury faerie queen, take me with you"

Speak as one, letting the power of your unified voices charge the air.

4. Transformation: Upon completion of the incantation, remain still and keep your eyes closed. The air will shift, a sign the portal is awakening. When you feel a warmth spread through your joined hands, gently open your eyes.

*Outcome: *

The kitchen door, will have transformed. What stands before you now is a portal, not of wood and nails, but of a fabric that defies ordinary existence. It shimmers with the essence of gold, threaded with the luminescence of stardust, a gateway to an Unknown world beyond our understanding.

*Notes for Participants*

- Emotional Readiness: Be prepared for the journey that lies ahead. This gateway does not lead to a place of ordinary nature.

Physical Objects: It is advised to not to carry any earthly belongings to this world.

- Return Protocol: Remember the words that opened the path. They will be your key to return, spoken in reverse order.

*Final Thoughts*

This ritual is not merely an act of opening a door; it is an invitation. You are allowing every creature from other to come into this world.

**Be carefull**

------

Closing the diary, I exchanged a look with my grandfather. Together, we inhaled deeply, readying ourselves to follow the instructions laid out in the ancient text to the letter. Despite our meticulous adherence to the ritual, our initial attempts to awaken or open the portal or door proved fruitless, casting a shadow of despair over us.

"This won't work," I whispered to myself, a pang of sorrow for my grandfather's decades of fruitless search piercing me. He had dedicated 50 years to this quest, yet it seemed we were no closer to unraveling the mystery than when he first began.

Determined not to deepen his despair, I resolved to remain in the kitchen, clinging to a sliver of hope for a miracle.

Then, as if in response to our steadfast belief, the extraordinary occurred.

On December 25th, precisely at 4 a.m., a gentle yet unmistakable blue glow began to emanate from the edges of the wall. Emboldened by this sign, my grandfather cautiously approached and turned the knob. To our amazement and relief, the doorway to the faerie realm revealed itself.

With a hint of fear and unknown mingling in our hearts, we decided to step into the faerie land to reunite with my grandmother. A complex whirl of emotions churned within me. I could not fathom it but it was not good. Despite this, I pushed through the discomfort, eager to explore further.

As we enter into the fae land, a vast, barren landscape stretched out before us, extending to the horizon with no end in sight. However, our journey led us towards a dense forest.

Our progress was abruptly halted by a diminutive faerie– tini-tiny creature. It was saying something but all we could hear was "buzz buzz, buzz,buzz" and some nodding. Moments later, we were showered in a sparkling dust.

What I heard next shook me to my core like nothing ever had before. 

"You are not welcome in our land." the faerie declared; its tone laced with hostility.

"Why?" I inquired, striving for diplomacy despite the tension.

"YOU ARE HUMAN." it retorted disdainfully.

"Really?" I muttered under my breath, incredulous. "What do they take us for? We're humans, not monsters." Her comments ignited a fury within me. How dare she judge someone based on their species? We've been inhabitants of this planet for thousands of years. And here was this tiny creature, one I could easily dispatch with a spray of mosquito repellent, spewing nonsense at me.

"YOU STINKY BEINGS" she retorted

That was the final straw. Now, I found myself seriously contemplating using mosquito repellent to eliminate it, even though I knew deep down that it wouldn't truly resolve our underlying issue. Standing on this deserted land may not help me to kill it.

"I am looking for my wife. Please give me back my wife." my grandfather pleaded, his voice breaking with emotion.

"I know nothing of your desires, you wretched old human," the faerie snapped back.

This biyatch. 

Frustrated but resolute, I tried again, "Please, could you guide us to your King? We seek only answers.". my words were tinged with a hint of bitter.

With a dismissive "Huh," the faerie vanished into the forest depths.

How could she, or he, or it, huh, mock me? I looked at my grandpa. There was a sweet smile on his face. He truly was a "crazy in love" grandpa. If I were in his place, I swear I couldn't smile like him. I would have kicked this little thing's ass.

However, left with no choice, we decided to wait, determined to remain until we received the answers we desperately sought. These bitches have to give me my answer.