My entry to A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words contest

Hello Steemians,

I am @flema. I like to participate in the contest : A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words so let's see what I bring here.

Elias felt a weight lift from his shoulders, one he hadn’t noticed until it was gone. He closed his eyes, letting the warmth seep into his skin, feeling the dry earth under his worn boots. Kael, who was usually restless, sat down in the tall grass, leaning back on his hands.

A rare, calm smile crossed his face. They were still tired, but it was a soft kind of weariness, more like a nudge to rest than a heavy load. For the first time in a long while, they felt safe.

As their eyes grew used to the glow, they saw something near the tree’s base. Hidden by thick roots, a small stone arch stood against the old trunk. It was carved with strange symbols, faintly glowing with the same soft gold light as the clearing.

Elias slowly got up, staring at the arch. "Kael," he said quietly, full of awe. "Look." Their journey wasn’t done, but the path ahead now seemed clear and bright.

Source

Kael pushed himself up, his earlier weariness giving way to a quiet curiosity. He moved to Elias's side, his gaze fixed on the ancient stone. The symbols weren't like any they’d seen in the dusty scrolls or crumbling ruins they’d scoured in their desperate flight.

They seemed to pulse, a gentle breath of light that hinted at profound knowledge, not just decoration. The air around the arch felt different, thinner, humming with an energy that resonated deep within their bones.

"It's... alive," Kael whispered, reaching out a hesitant hand, then pulling it back as if fearing to disturb a sleeping god. "What do you think it is?"

Elias took a step closer, his worn boots crunching softly on fallen leaves. The arch was just tall enough for them to pass through, its opening a swirling vortex of the golden light, not a void but a promise.

The symbols intertwined with images of roots and stars, of flowing water and unfurling wings – a story etched in living stone. "I don't know," Elias admitted, his voice barely above a breath. "But it feels... right. Like this is what we've been searching for, even when we didn't know what we were searching for."

Source

Now, standing before this glowing gateway, the memory of their hardship seemed to recede, replaced by a nascent hope. The arch wasn't just a structure; it felt like an invitation, a bridge to a place beyond the reach of their oppressors, beyond the known world, perhaps.

Kael's hand found Elias's arm, a firm, reassuring grip. "We've faced worse," he said, a renewed spark in his eyes that Elias hadn’t seen in months. "Whatever lies beyond, it can't be more daunting than what we've escaped."

Elias met Kael's gaze, a quiet understanding passing between them. With a shared, resolute nod, they stepped forward, leaving the familiar world behind to embrace the glowing mystery that awaited them.

---

I would like to invite my friends @shenali , @adelepazani, @soway to take part this contest.
Thank you so much everyone for reading my post.

_{Posted using SteemX}