As a child, you were captivated by tales of knights, dragons, and magic. You dreamed of living in those worlds, and even as you grew older, that longing never left, though reality tried to snuff it out.

One day, after a particularly hard day, you wandered into the forest, seeking escape. Amid the trees, you stumbled upon the ruins of an old temple. The crumbling stone and overgrown vines made it feel forgotten, yet as you explored, something caught your eye—a faint glow from a gem embedded in an altar. Curiosity got the better of you, and after prying it loose, you found it was a necklace. It felt oddly significant, though you couldn’t explain why.

~

That night, after cleaning it, you placed the necklace on your nightstand and drifted off to sleep, unaware of the change it would bring. In hindsight, taking something from an ancient ruin might not have been the best idea, but how could you have known it would transport you to another world?

The soft chirping of birds woke you. Dappled sunlight streamed through the canopy, and you blinked, confused. You weren’t in your bed. You were outside, lying on cool grass. Sitting up, you froze. The once-ruined temple was now whole, its marble pillars gleaming in the morning light. A statue of a goddess stood tall at the center, watching over everything.

You touched your neck, feeling the weight of the same necklace. Glancing down, you realized your clothes had changed too. Gone were your modern garments, replaced by something straight out of a fantasy world.

You weren’t in your world anymore.