Jealousy's seed

**Chapter 5: Jealousy's Seed**

In the heart of Ecloria, where every breeze carried secrets and every flower held a story, a shadow stirred. Seraphine, the envious sorceress who had long yearned for Aeric's heart and power, watched from the depths of the enchanted forest. Her eyes glowed with an unsettling intensity as she observed Elara and Aeric's blossoming connection.

A wave of jealousy surged through Seraphine's veins, a bitter emotion that twisted her thoughts like dark tendrils. As she had watched Aeric grow distant and focused on his quest, her desperation had grown. She had hoped that breaking the curse would lead him back to her, but now, his attention was fixed on another.

"What does she have that I don't?" Seraphine muttered to herself, her voice tinged with a venomous edge. She conjured a crystal mirror, the surface shimmering with an iridescent light that revealed Elara and Aeric's interactions.

Elara's laughter echoed through the clearing as she and Aeric shared stories of their respective worlds. Their connection was evident in every shared smile, every exchanged glance. The sight sent a surge of rage through Seraphine's heart, igniting a spark of dark magic.

With a flick of her wrist, Seraphine cast a shadowy illusion over the clearing. The colors of the enchanted realm shifted into a grayscale world of despair, and the laughter was replaced by whispered doubts and fears. Elara and Aeric's expressions grew tense, their connection strained as doubts crept into their minds.

Seraphine's laughter echoed in the wind as she watched the scene unfold. She reveled in the discord she had sown, the seed of jealousy that she knew could take root and grow. As the illusion tightened its grip, she saw Aeric's brow furrow in confusion, and Elara's eyes cloud with uncertainty.

With a final flourish, Seraphine dispelled the illusion, returning the colors and melodies to the forest. The echoes of doubt lingered, however, like a haunting melody that could not be silenced. She vanished into the shadows, her dark laughter carried on the wind.

Unaware of the malicious presence that had touched their encounter, Elara and Aeric exchanged a troubled glance. The enchantment that had bound them moments ago now felt fragile, like a delicate thread that could be easily severed. Their once-shared laughter had been replaced by a lingering doubt, and the forest around them seemed to hold its breath, as if it sensed the shift in their connection.

As they continued their journey through Ecloria, the seed of jealousy that Seraphine had planted began to take root, threatening to cast a shadow over the bond between Elara and Aeric. Unbeknownst to them, a storm was brewing on the horizon, a storm fueled by the very emotions that had once ignited their connection—a storm that would test the strength of their love against the malevolent forces that sought to tear them apart.