In the small, windswept town of Blackthorn, nestled between jagged cliffs and dense woods, rumors often spread faster than the ocean mist. Yet, none caused as much uproar as the tale of the mysterious object unearthed one fateful morning.
It began when an amateur archaeologist, Eleanor "Ellie" Kane, decided to dig near the edge of the forest. Armed with little more than a spade and a curiosity that bordered on obsession, she stumbled upon something buried deep beneath the soil. At first, she thought it was a simple stone—smooth, black, and strangely warm to the touch. But when Ellie brushed away the dirt, the stone pulsed faintly with an inner glow, as though it were alive.
News of her discovery spread quickly. Scientists, reporters, and opportunists flocked to her tiny cabin, eager to see the so-called "Star Stone." The object seemed to defy classification. It wasn’t metallic, yet it resonated faintly like a tuning fork when touched. It wasn’t alive, but its glow dimmed when someone felt sad and brightened with laughter or joy.
What baffled everyone the most were the carvings—etched into its surface were symbols that no linguist or historian could decipher. Some claimed they were warnings; others believed they were a map.
Then the dreams began.
Ellie was the first to experience them. She dreamt of endless skies filled with swirling constellations and unfamiliar worlds. Whispers spoke in a language she couldn’t understand but felt drawn to. Soon, others in Blackthorn reported similar dreams after being near the object. Some said it was a gift from an ancient civilization. Others warned it was a harbinger of doom.
The town became divided. Some wanted to keep the object; others demanded it be destroyed or sent far away. Then, one night, the object vanished.
Ellie, who had guarded it obsessively, was gone too. Search parties scoured the town, but there was no trace of her. The dreams stopped, the glow faded, and Blackthorn returned to its quiet, uneventful existence.
Years later, hikers found a circle of scorched earth deep in the forest. In its center was a faint impression of the Star Stone. No one could explain it, but locals began reporting strange lights in the sky at night, and the winds whispered her name: "Ellie."
Some say she left with the object, bound for the stars. Others believe she was chosen by something beyond comprehension. But one thing remained clear—the Star Stone was not from this world, and it had found exactly what it was looking for.
