ã€ŠDragon Delivery Driverã€‹


 001 // Prologue

    If I had a second life, I would never know grief.

    That was my thought when the crystal skies split and I plummeted down...

    ...Whizzz! The world revolves around me in a dizzying kaleidoscope.

    I''m falling, faster and faster, the wind howling in my ears, ripping my dress like paper. It''s biting cold, like icy fingers clawing at my skin.

    I''m rushing like a comet. My hair blows away, and strands flail wildly. They seem shocked by this speed. The air whips past me, stealing my breath. I can''t even yell¡ªsounds get stuck in my throat.

    Ugh, my head spins. It''s like my veins are pumping liquid chaos!

    I try to calm the panic, but terror grips me. Cold and paralyzing, it fills my heart, which pounds like crazy, matching the mess in my head.

    The earth is hurtling towards me.

    I can''t weep or shout or do anything. I''m just falling, and it''s all so fast and loud, and I can''t... I just can''t even...

    Far below me, the earth is a patchwork of colors, a blend of greens and browns, stitched together by rivers and roads. They seem so distant, so unreal as if I''m looking at a map.

    This freefall is deadly beautiful when nature gives me a final, breathtaking show.

    I''m getting swallowed up by the sky, and clarity arises amidst the fear. My mind turns off, and worry fades away. I know no one''s gonna miss me. No fam, no squad, no bucket list.

    It seems it''s time to die!

    And I dive into a storm cloud covering the earth below me¡ªin a moment, I''m enveloped in twilight. I feel the fall stops, and time seems to slow down, as in a movie.

    Lightning bolts rip through the darkness. They sparkle around me, stunning with their power. I notice my body is also glowing and buzzing like a live wire.

    A warmth flares inside, and I feel a surge of energy. My skin tingles and the shine of my body grows brighter.

    I extend my hands, and beams radiate from my fingertips. They intertwine with the lightning. The air crackles with energy, and the dress clings to my body.

    I feel connected to the storm.

    I see other figures around me. They glow like me: ethereal warriors, solar and lunar sorcerers, elemental sprites, elves. Among them are light-wing horses and phoenix archers, nine-tailed foxes, and fairies.

    I get that the energy coursing through me is not just mine. It''s shared, a bond that links us all. I feel their strength as if we are one.

    A distant rumble shakes the cloud, reminding me of the battle ahead. The mages don''t speak, but I plainly hear their resolve. My body responds to their call and fills with an inner light.

    At that moment, I find anchor. I am not alone. I am a warrior, and we will face whatever comes next together. The energy flowing through me resonates with theirs¡ªa sound of power. We are waiting for the battle, and this is where I belong.

    As their spells weave around me, I understand the battle ahead is dicey, but one thing is clear¡ªit''s time to embrace my destiny.

    And then, something primal emerges from the abyss below.

    From the core of the gloom, a malevolent force swallows the light whole, and an army of shadows and deadly creatures go along. The air becomes thick with malice, and the first wave of shadows crashes into our ranks.

    "Go!" I hear the call.

    I throw my hands forward and send beams of pure energy. It surges out with a resonating hum.

    The light covers the shadows and tears through them, but they keep coming. The shadows slide around like serpents changing their forms. The battle descends into a vortex of turmoil where light and dark become blurred in a dance of destruction.

    The air around me is saturated with magical spells. It''s a rowdy sea of energy where waves crash against shadows with a thunderous impact.

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    I press on, each step forward a defiance against the darkness. The light grows more robust, fueled by every heart in this battle.

    I found myself in the heat of the fight.

    A shadow lunges toward me, gaping like a gulf. I dodge by a whisker and feel the brush of the cold void against my skin. My heart''s doing the hundred-yard dash.

    I''m attacking. Rays of my light shoot out and pierce the shadow as it writhes and screeches! The light breaks darkness into tiny sparks.

    No break, though! More shadows swarm towards me, and I spin, and my torn dress billows. I unleash a flurry of light, but it''s like fighting the tide, as soon as one foe goes down, another takes its place.

    Fire blazes across the battlefield. The mages'' flames are now like madness. It devours everything in its path, creating a barrier that the shadows hesitate to cross.

    I hear a drawn-out cry among the thunders and flashes.

    The dragons fly in a swarm towards the shadows¡ªmighty and fearsome. Their scales flicker in the dark, roars echo through space, and something is menacing and sad in the cry of the dragons flying to attack.

    The crazy battle continues. The dragons and shadows are fighting: they swoop and dive around me, and I feel their hot breath and freezing touch.

    The combat is pure chaos¡ªeverything''s a blur of noise and motion. The dragons clash with the dark forces and burn the creepy things crawling out of another world. I see flashes and bursts when the dark power fends them off.

    The windstorm and the warriors become one as the battle reaches a zenith.

    I am trying to focus my energy. Hey, that''s tough! My spells are getting lost in the mess. Every move I make is countered by the insanity of the fight.

    Just as we start to think we''re winning, an enormous and sinister entity floats from the abyss and comes to life. It has no form, no weakness. The air around it gets heavy like lead and crushes all living beings around it. And everything changes...

    The darkness turns into a monster, carrying all evil in its mouth. The dragons try to fight it, but it breaks through them, and no matter how hard they fight, they begin to lose. Oh no, I hear they shout everywhere, my heart so racing!

    The dark army is relentless; the shadows are too much and too strong! It''s like wrestling the ocean. I see how the dragons falter, their flames go out. It''s not just a fight anymore but a fight for survival. It''s getting worse, and the dragons can lose.

    The shadows swirl around me like vultures circling their prey.

    A larger and more menacing than the others flies from the flock. It moves with an ominous grace, and I feel its presence leeching warmth from the air, a chill that seeps into my bones.

    Fear''s got me in a vice grip. I''m staring into the hell, and it totally sucks.

    The dark energy is stifling me and trying to get into my mind, whispering calls to give up.

    Grrrrrr, I have to be strong!

    I raise my hands, attempting to summon the energy I have wielded before, but my movements are sluggish, hampered by the growing dread. Sensing my weakness, the shadow lunges like a predator.

    The impact is jarring. It hits me like a bucket of ice water, the shock of it stealing my breath away. I stumble backward. The shadow form expands, pulling me into darkness.

    My mind is trying to mount a defense, but panic is getting me in a headlock. I struggle against the oppressive force, my arms flailing, trying to break free from the embrace of the shadow.

    With everything I''ve got, I push back. It''s scrappy and desperate, but I''m not just scrapping for me, I''m fighting for all of us, for the light that binds us...

    I thrust my hands forward with a defiant cry. A wild burst of light erupts from me, an unrefined explosion of energy.

    The shadow recoils, its form flickering under the assault. The light cuts through the darkness, a single, piercing ray in a black depth. I don''t stop, pouring every bit of fear, anger, and defiance into my light.

    I try to raise my hands to summon whatever scraps of energy I have left, but my arms feel like lead. The shadow advances, each movement shaking the air, its growl reverberating through space.

    A wave of despair hits me.

    This is it, game over.

    I close my eyes and brace for the inevitable when, suddenly, some strength covers me. It isn''t the suffocating darkness; something else is immense and protective.

    I look up, and there it is¡ªa giant dragon rises amidst a fiery whirlwind!

    His giant form stands between me and the shadow, and the scales shimmer with an inner light, contrasting our foe. The dragon let out a roar that shook the air, an awesome sound.

    The dragon unfurls his vast wing in one motion and surrounds me with a protective hug. I''m cocooned in a haven of warmth and safety, shielded from the shadow''s malevolent breath. The dragon''s wing is like a fortress, with the scales as hard as armor.

    The shadow slams into the dragon''s wing with a force that could have crushed stone. But the dragon holds firm, its wing absorbing the impact. I feel the tremors of the collision, but I am protected by the dragon''s unwavering guard.

    I feel a tide of rapture under his wing!

    The dragon pulls back, lowering his wing and exposing me again to the battlefield. And now, I''m not scared anymore. I''m ready to face the shadows and whatever the darkness has in store. The dragon and I stay against all the evil, a girl and a beast, together in the center of madness.

    His wide-open wings take over the sky, and flames lick his jaws. With a roar that echoes through space, he plunges into the battleground.

    The shadows are all over him; they attack him in all directions and cling, but the dragon rushes into the core of the murk.

    Suddenly, the dragon stops and turns his head towards me, and his gaze meets mine.

    He looks at me, and it''s like he''s seeing right into my soul. There is peace and beauty in his eyes. Something warm and bright fills my heart, a feeling so strong it''s almost tangible.

    We''re connecting with each other.

    His eyes, pools of wisdom and courage, hold a message no words can capture. It''s like he gives me a piece of himself to remember him by.

    It''s as if his gift is not just for the world but for me.

    Then, his body erupts in an explosion of radiant energy. The light touches everything, reaching even the darkest corners where the army of shadows lurks. It''s a blaze to end all gloom, a sacrifice to win the battle.

    The energy ripples out in waves, circles of power that sweep through the storm. The shadows, caught in its path, vaporize into screams that fade into nothing.

    The light spreads, sweeping the battlefield until every last one is gone.

 002 // Origination / Opening

    The girl woke up at dawn. Her heart was racing, the sheets tangled around her like a shroud. She lay there, bewildered, the echo of her scream fading in the silent room. The shadows of early morning stretched across the walls, a stark reminder that it was all just a dream.

    Outside the window, a large, vibrant city was noisy. Skyscrapers rose like mountains illuminated by the rising sun. Flying cars and winged creatures zipped between the gleaming towers, their trails blending with the early morning haze. The dawn chorus was the hum of magic power and the steady pulse of the high-speed transit system. It mingled with the calls of sky-dwelling beasts. At that moment, the city appeared alive and eagerly awaiting the new day''s arrival.

    The girl sat up in bed and tried to calm her racing breath. She wore faded cotton pajamas¡ªshorts with lace trim and a tank top with spaghetti straps.

    Her hands were still trembling.

    The girl shook her head and attempted to dispel the dream images, but they clung like cobwebs. It was so real¡ªthe battle, the shadow, the dragon!

    She felt both sadness and wonder. The girl knew she had witnessed something extraordinary most people would never believe¡ªthe night when the light and dark fought, and the dragon looked into her soul. No one in this orphanage.

    Loud footsteps in the corridor brought her out of the daze.

    "Catty! What the heck!" there was a scream, and the door swung open, crashing against the wall with a force that shook it.

    The girl blinked away the remnants of her dream when a woman appeared on the threshold. Her face was a mask of fury. The orphanage director was tall in a long black dress, square all over: square jaw, square shoulders, square toe boots.

    "You missed your shift!" she bawled, hands on her hips, looming like a storm cloud over Catty. "Do you think we can feed you for free here?"

    "I was sick. What''s wrong?" the girl''s tone was laced with a boldness that few in the orphanage dared muster. "Think the factory will fall apart without me?"

    "Sick? You know the rules! Do you think they don''t apply to you?" the director seethed, her fists clenched at her sides.

    Catty smirked, and her fearlessness infuriated the matron further.

    "Maybe I think the rules are as stupid as this place," she faced the woman eye to eye, her defiance a clear challenge.

    The director''s eyes narrowed, her voice cold and menacing, "You''ll regret this, girl. I''ll make sure of it."

    "I already do. Every day in this dump is one day too many. You know what? I¡¯m not sticking around here forever."

    "You''re on double shifts for this week. And if you think about skipping again, remember, there are worse places than the factory," the matron turned on her heel and got out, leaving the door open.

    Catty sat in the morning light. Her body trembled, not from the chill but from a deep resentment of what lay ahead. The door slammed shut, echoing a grim reminder of her reality¡ªa world away from the dragons of her dream.

    Sunlight struggled to seep through the dusty window. The room was dismal, its air thick with the smell of neglect. Once painted vivid, the walls faded and peeled, revealing patches of damp plaster beneath. Rows of rickety bunk beds lined the room, each one hosting a thin, worn mattress that had seen better days. Personal belongings were tucked away in the rickety wardrobe.

    "Worse places than the factory," Catty repeated in her thoughts. It felt like ants crawling all over her. The girl knew that the matron¡ªthe Widow¡ªas kids called her behind her back, had never lied. She had never joked. Every word from that woman had always had a very straight meaning.

    "I''m sixteen and have no papers like I''ve never existed."

    The girl almost cried¡ªa single tear had already fallen from her eyes. Not out of fear. Out of anger.

    "And no one cares where I end up."

    She put on a work jumpsuit, all covered in patches, and pulled her long hair into a ponytail with an elastic band. A bracelet glimmered on her wrist; it was a solitary link to the parents she could not recall. It spiraled with a sheen that flickered in the light¡ªa band of unknown metal that seemed to pulse with a life of its own.

    Fuelled by anger and an empty stomach, Catty made her way to the kitchen, the heart of the orphanage, where warmth and the scent of food might offer brief solace. It was alive with the aroma of baking bread and the promise of breakfast. Here, amidst the clatter of pots and pans, she found Mrs. Benna, the cook, a portly woman whose stern exterior belied a kind heart. She was the one person in this dreary place who seemed to retain a spark of love.

    "Mrs. Benna," Catty began when she stepped into the kitchen, her voice cheeky but desperate.

    "I missed dinner last night. And breakfast, too," her stomach rumbled audibly.

    Turning from the stove, the cook cast a disapproving look that quickly softened.

    "Always trouble with you. You live up to your nickname!" But she slid a plate of warm bread towards Catty, along with a bowl of porridge.

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    As Catty ate, the room felt more like a haven.

    "The Widow''s really got me," she said between bites. "It''s like they don''t even see us as human."

    "This place... it''s no home for any of you," Mrs. Benna nodded sternly, leaving no room for doubt about the seriousness of the matter.

    "I''ve been hearing things, you know? About her," Catty said.

    "Oh? And what kinds of things might those be?" the cook glanced over her shoulder, continuing to chop vegetables.

    "Gossip. That she didn''t just inherit this place... that there were... circumstances."

    "Circumstances, um," Mrs. Benna nodded in understanding. "Yes, that''s one way to put it. There are stories, Catty. This orphanage it''s seen a lot. Not all of it good."

    "What kind of stories?"

    The cook leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper, "Stories of how the last director has gone. No farewell, no trace. And our current director? Suddenly in charge."

    "And nobody questioned it?"

    "Uh... In this place?" the woman chuckled bitterly. "Questions are a luxury few can afford. But whispers, they get around. Whispers of deals made in the dark, of secrets buried deep beneath these floors."

    "What about... magic? They say this place has... a history."

    Mrs. Benna straightened and cautiously glanced around before continuing.

    "History? Oh, well, more like legends. This orphanage was built on grounds that have seen more than hardship and tears. They say the land itself is... special."

    "Special, how?"

    "Old magic, dearie. The kind that doesn''t fade. The kind that seeps into the bones of this place. Some believe it''s what gives the director her edge."

    "Magic. And she knows how to use it?"

    "Maybe. Or maybe it''s using her. Hard to say. But if you''re looking to find what''s been taken from you... magic might be your best bet."

    "Then I''ll need to know more. About the magic, the director, everything," Catty''s eyes determined glint.

    The cook became serious, "Be careful, Catty. Some doors, once opened, can''t be closed. And some truths... they can burn."

    Catty smirked. Then, having finished breakfast, she asked.

    "Mrs. Benna, have you seen Luli? I can''t find her anywhere."

    "Luli? I''ve seen many girls..." the cook sighed, wiping her hands on her apron. "You know, one day here, the next, gone. Gone without a word. Have you known how many of them vanish?"

    Catty paused, her spoon halfway to her mouth.

    "Just... disappear," the cook added.

    "Disappear? You mean, they run away?"

    "Not run away," the woman''s face darkened, and she leaned in close, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Taken away. Some say to places far worse than this. Have you heard about the ''special guests'' the Widow entertains?"

    The cook glanced around the kitchen as if the walls themselves could betray them. "There are rumors, Catty, about a hidden place. A brothel, servicing the rich in downtown."

    Catty felt her blood run cold. "A brothel? That''s... that''s crazy!"

    The news hit her like a punch. She knew the orphanage was a harsh place, but the existence of such a brothel with orphans seemed unthinkable.

    "Yes, and Luli might be next. I overheard the Widow talking about ''preparing'' her for some guests."

    "Luli?" Panic tightened around Catty''s heart.

    The cook looked at her with fear in her eyes. "Be careful, Catty. You''re brave, but this is dangerous. These people, they''re powerful. And ruthless."

    "Mrs. Benna, how do you stand it here, seeing what''s happening?"

    Catty''s spoon clattered against the bowl. "I have to do something. I can''t let that happen."

    "There''s always a choice, my girl."

    Catty felt a determination take hold. She couldn''t leave Luli to such a fate. She needed to act and save her friend.

    "I can''t just sit back. I have to do something," the girl set her jaw.

    She left the kitchen and went in search of her friend. The orphanage had always been a prison. But now, the girl resolved that she wouldn''t let it be a tomb for her and Luli.

    Inside the workshop, children, some scarcely older than toddlers, were hunched over tables and dismantled broken robots. The air was heavy with the smell of oil and metal, and the constant roar of machinery drowned out the children''s voices. Mana, extracted from demounted bodies, was sparkling everywhere. Overhead lights cast harsh shadows over their fatigued faces. The floor around children was a graveyard of technology¡ªmetal limbs, tangled wires, printed circuits, and lifeless electronic eyes.

    The world where childhood was lost amid the remnants of a mechanical age.

    Catty''s eyes darted from face to face, seeking the familiar one she feared she''d never see again, but Luli was nowhere to be seen.

    Catty pressed on, her steps leading her through the dimly lit corridors lined with peeling paint and the remnants of happier times. The dormitories where the exhausted kids rested offered no sign of Luli. The air, thick with despair, seemed to swallow her inquiries whole.

    The mess hall, usually bustling with the clamor of mealtime, felt eerily silent as Catty entered. Her questions, directed at anyone who dared meet her gaze, were met with shrugged shoulders and averted eyes. It was as if Luli had vanished into thin air, leaving behind a void that no one dared to fill.

    Each place had the same story: children were aweary and despaired. No sign of Luli.

    Late evening, Catty found herself outside the director''s room. Usually locked, the door stood ajar. She waited until the corridors were silent, then slipped into the room with trepidation and resolve. Her heart was pounding against her ribs like a caged bird desperate for escape.

    It was empty and dark, save for the moonlight slipping through the blinds. It cast long shadows across the floor.

    Catty''s eyes quickly scanned the room, landing on the neatly stacked papers and files on the desk. She rummaged through the papers, opened the desk drawers, and shook their contents. She searched for anything about Luli and checked each sheet, looking for a clue. Papers fluttered to the ground, and books, pens, papier mache joined the mess. When the desk became bare, every drawer was emptied, and every paper examined, the girl saw the woman standing at the door.

    "What the hell are you doing?" the director barked, looking around the room.

    "Looking for Luli," Catty shot back, her voice steady, betraying no fear. "Where is she?"

    "Don''t you have anything to do?" The Widow stepped closer and clenched her fists.

    "I''ll find out what¡¯s going on, with or without your help," Catty responded.

    The director pounced like a shark, aiming a slap at Catty''s face, but the girl dodged. She pushed the woman away, the wrath giving her strength.

    "You''ll pay for that," the Widow hissed, met with unexpected resistance.

    They clashed, and the woman tried to capture the girl, but Catty evaded again.

    The fight was chaotic, a whirl of motion and fury. Catty didn''t give up, but the director noticed the bracelet glimmering on the girl''s wrist. With a quick movement, the Widow yanked the bracelet off her hand.

    "Give it back!" Catty''s voice shook with anger.

    "What''s this?" the director grimaced, examining the bracelet. "What''s a beautiful trinket! I''ll keep it as a reminder of you here," she mocked, putting on a bracelet.

    "Give it back, or I kill you!" The girl shouted and lunged forward.

    "Arnold! Gregory!" The Widow screamed throughout the house.

    When Catty managed to hit the woman in the chest, the door slammed open, and guards rushed in. They grabbed Catty, pulling her away from the matron. She struggled against their hold, but the men were too strong, their grips iron.

    The director, now seething, approached. Her face was red with rage, and she landed a sharp slap across Catty''s face.

    "Drag her to the basement," she spat out, her voice dripping with contempt. "You end here, you worthless rat."

 003 // Origination / Part I

    The door to the basement swung open with a creak, breaking the silence of the night, and Catty was pushed inside. The light from the hallway briefly illuminated the red brick walls before the door slammed shut, plunging the basement into darkness.

    When the girl came to herself and opened her eyes, the moon had already risen. The dim rays poured through a small window with bars near the ceiling, and Catty took in her surroundings after her eyes adjusted to the poor light.

    The vast expanse of the abandoned warehouse, hiding in the dark, was filled with rows of old, dust-covered furniture, rusted machinery, and piles of junk. There was a labyrinth, its aisles strewn with mountains of yellowed books and papers that crumbled at the slightest touch. Cobwebs draped over everything. The air was stale and thick with the scent of mold and dampness. The basement seemed like a creature, breathing slowly and watching the girl with a thousand unseen eyes.

    Catty lay there, sprawled on the cold, hard floor. Her body was a map of bruises, but rage simmered within her, a hatred for the director and an unyielding resolve to reclaim what was hers.

    The girl pushed herself to her feet, wincing as each movement sent fresh waves of pain through her body. She was alone and hurt but not defeated. The darkness around Catty challenged her, whispering doubts and fears, but she shrugged them off with a willfulness that had always been her armor.

    "I''ll get it back," in the basement gloom, Catty felt a resolve hardening within her. The girl knew one thing: she would not leave without her bracelet.

    The scant light from the grimy windows barely illuminated. Catty moved cautiously, her eyes straining in twilight. This place was a tomb of forgotten things.

    Each step took her further into the heart of the basement. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the scuttle of rats or the steady drip-drip of water from old pipes. These sounds seemed loud in the echoing space. The stale air clung to her skin: the putrid scent of old wood and paper, the harsh smell of rust from machinery.

    The air grew colder as Catty ventured deeper, the darkness thickening until it felt almost solid, pressing around her. A sudden chill ran down her spine when the girl realized she wasn''t alone. The sense of being watched was uneasy, making her heart race.

    Navigating through the maze of relics, Catty stumbled upon an area that looked different. Here, the clutter was organized, almost deliberate. An old, ornate wardrobe stood against the wall. Its wood was darkened by age, and its surface was carved with intricate patterns that coiled in the meager light. And it was out of place, commanding attention amidst the mess.

    When Catty approached, the air stirred, a fleeting movement that brushed against her skin. She felt prickle the back of her neck. The imposing wardrobe seemed to watch her like a guardian of what lay inside. The girl reached out, her fingers tracing the carvings, feeling the grooves and whorls under her fingertips. The wood was alive.

    A whisper sliced through the silence, so close¡ªit came from right behind her. Catty spun around, heart hammering, but saw nothing. The basement was as still and empty as before. She convinced herself it was just her imagination, a trick of the echoing spaces.

    Half the door was still decorated with a broken mirror, but the glass was dusted. Catty picked up a rag from the floor and wiped it. She looked in the mirror but saw only the vague outlines of her face in the dusk. An unsettling chill ran down Catty''s spine when the girl brought her head closer.

    In the mirror, near her reflection, someone''s visage was staring back at her from the shadows. A face without eyes.

    Shock coursed through Catty''s veins like ice water, and a dread gripped her stomach.

    "Wh-what...?" her voice trembled when the girl gazed at the face in the mirror.

    Catty slowly turned around.

    Two steps away from her, a ghostly figure hung in the air.

    The silver glow draped over the human shape like a cloak, as if it were a spirit of the night¡ªa phantom woven from moonbeams and shadow.

    The stupor rendered Catty momentarily speechless. The breath caught in her throat as the girl took in the spectral figure before her. Which, however, seemed unperturbed by her reaction.

    "Who¡­ who are you?" Catty''s voice was a shaky whisper, trying to mask her fear with bravado. "You here to haunt me?.. I''ve had a pretty rough night, and I''m not really in the mood for ghost stories."

    "Haunt you? No, I''m not here to haunt you," the phantom figure answered. "Think of me as someone... displaced, hanging around a bit longer than planned here. I am Eldric. And you are?"

    The girl tried to regain some of her composure, though the edge in her voice betrayed her lingering fear.

    "Catty. If you''re not here to haunt me, then what? You''re going to give me a tour of your creepy basement?"

    A soft chuckle escaped Eldric, but the sound was oddly comforting in the dim, oppressive basement. "No tours necessary. But perhaps I could offer some assistance? Seems like you''re searching for something important down here."

    Despite her initial fright, Catty found herself calmed by Eldric''s demeanor. His presence, though unexpected and otherworldly, wasn''t threatening. Instead, there was a curiosity about him that felt almost... human.

    "Assistance, huh? And what''s the price? My soul or something?" Catty was piqued.

    "Nothing so dramatic," the ghost''s laughter echoed against the walls. "Call it a favor between two night owls. Besides, it gets rather dull around here, and you''re the most interesting thing that''s happened in decades."

    "Alright, ghost guy, here''s the deal. I got shoved into this godforsaken basement because I''m on a mission. A mission from hell, you could say. There''s a bracelet, not just any trinket, but something... personal, you get me?"

    Eldric leaned in, intrigued, his form shimmering slightly in the moonlight.

    "A personal mission in a place like this? Sounds like you''re digging through §Ö§â§å underworld for a piece of heaven. What''s so special about this bracelet?"

    "It belonged to my mom. Passed down to her and then to me. It''s not about the bracelet, really. It''s about what it stands for, you know? And some jerk of a director thinks she can just take that away from me."

    "Memories, legacy... powerful stuff. So, you''re down here, fighting ghosts and dust, for something that ties you to the past. I respect that. Sounds like something out of a fantasy novel."

    A smirk played on the girl''s lips. "Yeah, well, I didn''t expect my life to turn into a book, but here we are. So, you gonna help me, or are you just here for the commentary?"

    "I''m a fan of a good story, and yours has caught my attention," Eldric said. "Let''s just say I''m invested in seeing how it ends."

    "Alright, spill it. Your magic help... How''s it really work here? We talking fairy godmother waves her wand, or what?"

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    Eldric chuckled softly, the sound echoing off stone walls. "Not quite, kid. Magic is the very essence of life itself. It binds, it heals, it destroys... but always, it balances. Your bracelet, for instance..."

    "Yeah, it''s a key to ancient powers, I know," Catty said with irony.

    Eldric chuckled again. "Do you know why you''re here? Your bracelet is why they dragged you down into this dark corner of nowhere."

    "What''s the big deal with it, anyway?"

    "Because it holds possibilities beyond what you can see. They''ll stop at nothing to keep it out of your hands."

    "You mean I''m the player who got dealt a bad hand?"

    "Exactly. But right now, you might be dealt the ace without even knowing it."

    "Ace of Trumps?"

    "This isn''t any ordinary ace. Your bracelet¡­ it''s like a compass, aligned with the currents of magic in this world. A compass to unlock realms and paths between worlds."

    "Go on."

    "You can find what''s hidden and reveal what''s been buried. It can guide you to places, people, and powers lost to time."

    Catty hesitated, absorbing his words, her eyes narrowing as she studied the ghostly figure before her. The dim light flickered, casting shifting shadows across the room. Strangely, the girl felt the gaze of his eyeless face on her, and there was something sincere here.

    "Ancient powers that made you laugh are guarded by those who knew the weight of their duty," Eldric continued.

    "Duty. Right. So, what?" the girl snorted. "All you''re saying about my bracelet... it''s all about the greater good?"

    "Let''s just say the path is narrow and fraught with peril. One misstep, one selfish desire, and the balance tips toward chaos. My predicament is a testament to such folly."

    "And now you''re all ''Boo!'' like some bargain-bin ghost because you flunked Magic Morality 101?" Catty asked.

    A sorrowful smile tugged at his ethereal form.

    "In a manner of speaking, yes. I sought to harness magic beyond my ken to protect what was dear. But in doing so, I crossed lines not meant to be crossed. My unfinished business is about setting right what went wrong and ensuring those lines are respected."

    "But if magic''s got all these rules, who decides what''s a foul and what''s fair play? Who says what''s too far?"

    "The laws of magic are as old as time, set by the equilibrium of nature itself," Eldric''s voice gained a somber depth. "Yet, we, the wielders, must choose our actions wisely. Power messes with your head. It makes you think you''re above it all. But trust me, kid, there''s always a price."

    "Sounds like a lot of power and not many checks on it. How''s anyone supposed to navigate that without screwing up royally?"

    "With great difficulty and not without mistakes," Eldric nodded, "but that is the essence of growth, of legacy. We learn we falter, and if we are wise, we heed the lessons of those who tread the path before us. And if you decide to dig into your past, you''re gonna have to make some tough calls."

    Catty stood silent. The weight of Eldric''s words got to her. The magic of the world, with all its wonder and danger, was more real than ever.

    "You think I''m some kind of hero?" the girl finally said. "I''m just trying to get my bracelet back and stay out of trouble, okay? I''m not interested in your ghostly adventure or whatever cosmic destiny you think I''ve got."

    "I don''t expect you to believe in some grand destiny, Catty. But sometimes, the path finds us when we''re not looking for it."

    She crossed her arms. "So, you''re telling me you''re like some ancient guardian spirit?"

    "Precisely, young Catty. Think of me as the author of an unseen production tasked with guarding ancient secrets, now stuck in perpetual limbo."

    "And I''m your leading lady in a ghostly play?" Catty laughed sarcastically at Eldric''s words.

    "More like an unwitting protagonist, thrust upon the stage of fate, holding the key to untangling this twisted narrative."

    "Great. So, I''m stuck in some weird movie. Do I at least get to write my lines?" Catty asked saucily.

    "Indeed, you do. Every choice you make scribbles a line in this script. But remember, the bracelet you seek, the dangers you face... they''re all part of a larger story, one that''s been written long before your entrance."

    "Oh, sure. I''m the chosen one, right? Gonna save the world with a fancy bracelet and a ghost buddy? Sounds like a great plan¡­ if I had a death wish. Sorry, Eldric, but I''m not interested in playing hero for a world that''s done nothing for me."

    "I don''t ask you to be a hero. I ask you to be yourself. To decide what matters to you. The world can be harsh, but it''s still yours to shape if you choose."

    "What about you? How did you end up as the ghostly guardian of... what was it? Ancient magic?"

    "A tale as old as time. Or at least, as old as the walls of this forsaken place. My life was dedicated to protecting the sacred, a mission now bound by chains of regret and unresolved conflicts."

    "Sounds like you didn''t exactly get a happy ending."

    "Yeah, my story got cut off pretty fast, right? But with you, perhaps I get another shot at fixing things. A chance to correct the wrongs, restore balance, and maybe... just maybe, find peace."

    "You don''t get it, do you? I don''t want to be part of some grand story. I''m over stories¡ªthey never end right. I just want to get out of this place alive. You think I''m some missing piece to your puzzle, but I''m not your solution. I don''t want to be anyone''s solution."

    Eldric paused, his form flickering slightly as if her words had struck a chord. "I''ve made my mistakes, Catty. I don''t have all the answers. But I do know that doing nothing changes nothing. And staying here... it''s only a different kind of trap."

    The dim light flickered, casting long shadows across the stone walls of the orphanage''s forgotten basement.

    "So, you''re stuck here ''cause of some cosmic to-do list, and I''m just supposed to jump on this ghost train with you?"

    "It''s not quite a train, my dear. Think of it more as... a mutual understanding. You help me tie up these loose ends, and I give you a leg up on your quest. Quid pro quo."

    "Why should I trust you, anyway? You''re just another lost soul stuck here like me. If you couldn''t save yourself, what makes you think I''m the answer to your problems? I''ve got no reason to believe in magic or destiny or any of that nonsense. I''m just trying to survive."

    Eldric sighed, his ethereal form seeming to dim with weariness. "Maybe you shouldn''t trust me, Catty. Maybe you should trust yourself. You''re stronger than you think, and sometimes, surviving is more than staying alive. There is always a reason to keep going."

    The words hung in the air, and the room felt colder. The silence grew heavier as Catty thought about his words.

    "Indeed, Catty. In this world or the next, some connections are meant to be. Let''s not disappoint fate, shall we?"

    "You''ve been lurking here like a ghostly guard dog? What''s so boring about the afterlife that you''d rather hang around this place?"

    "My dear, the afterlife isn''t about boredom. It''s about unfinished business. It''s about ensuring the world you leave behind can keep turning, even if you''ve stepped off. But, see, crossing over without leaving things finished. It''s like leaving the house with the door wide open. Anything could come in... or go out."

    "Sounds like a lot of responsibility. Kind of heavy for a dead guy, no offense," the girl frowned.

    "None taken. And yes, it''s about duty and sacrifice. The things we hold dear, we must sometimes let go for the greater good."

    "You''re saying we gotta give up what we want... for others? That''s a rip-off."

    Eldric seemed to smile.

    "It can seem that way. But sacrifice... it''s not about losing. It''s about giving something of yourself so something greater can flourish. Your journey, your bracelet, it''s a part of a much larger map. What you do and how you navigate this path matters. Not just for you."

    "I never looked at it that way," Catty let out a long breath, looking up at Eldric.

    "The weave of life and beyond, it''s intricate," the ghost nodded. "Every thread counts, especially the ones that seem frayed and lost. They often hold the piece together."

    The figure wavered like a candle flame. "My story begins long before the current shadows fell upon this orphanage. I was its director, yes, but more importantly, I was the guardian of a sacred trust. Magical artifacts were under my care, hidden from those who would misuse them."

    Eldric continued, "Picture this, Catty. A room like the cozy corner of an old library. But this ain''t just any room. It''s filled to the brim with artifacts, each humming with its little secret, a whisper of magic from a time when the world wasn''t so cut and dry."

    "Like the stuff in fairy tales?"

    "Exactly. But this fairy tale has a twist. See, I was the director of this orphanage, right? But that was just the day job. My real gig was safeguarding these treasures. Not just any trinkets, mind you. We''re talking about the heavy hitters of the magical world. Items that could tip the scales between good and evil."

    "And my bracelet? It''s one of those items?"

    "Bingo. You''re catching on quick. That little piece of jewelry is more powerful than you can imagine."

    "What happened then? Why are you...you know, a ghost?" Catty was intrigued.

    "Ah, the plot thickens. See, the current director, the woman running the show now, she''s got a heart as dark as a moonless night. She wanted the power, the secrets I kept. So, she orchestrated my untimely exit. Made it look like an accident. But let me tell you, there''s nothing accidental about greed and betrayal."

    "That''s horrible!" the girl exclaimed. "But why can''t you move on? What''s keeping you here?"

    "It''s those kids, Catty. The children in this orphanage and the magic hidden within these walls. I can''t rest, not while my killer walks free, not while the artifacts are in danger. I need to make things right and protect what''s important."

    In the dimly lit basement, Catty and Eldric''s exchange dwindled into silence, their words lingering like the remnants of a distant song. The only sounds were the distant, indistinct noise of the city beyond the walls. Shadows danced across their faces, cast by the moonlight that filtered through the barred windows. In this momentary pause, the emptiness of the space around them seemed to echo the weight of their shared revelations.

 004 // Origination / Part II

    "Why''d you think I could help with that?"

    "You''ve got a strength in you, Catty. A resilience that reminds me of... well, me. Together, we can set things right."

    Her mouth twitched, "You really think I''m the one for this? That I''ve got what it takes?"

    "I do," Eldric nodded, "I think you know it, too. Deep down. You''ve been looking for a reason to get out of here, something worth fighting for. Maybe this is it."

    The girl let out a slow breath, her shoulders relaxing a bit. "Fine. Let''s say I take your offer. Let''s say I do this. For the kids. What happens then?"

    "Then you start your own story, Catty. One where you call the shots."

    There was a long pause, a silence that filled the room like a thick fog. Catty felt her chest tighten. She looked at Eldric, then at the shadowy corners of the basement. Her mind was spinning, but something in his words hit home.

    The girl nodded, a spark of determination in her eyes. "Alright. But let''s get one thing straight¡ªI''m doing this my way."

    Eldric chuckled softly, "Deal."

    His form momentarily shimmered with soft, unearthly light, signaling his joy. The ghost soared to the ceiling, casting light into the dark corners as he spun around the basement. A light breeze touched the girl as Eldric returned and hovered before her.

    "Alright, kid. I''m about to lay down the game plan. We''re talking covert ops, the kind that would make Superman blush. You, my dear, are about to embark on a mission of redemption, justice, and a little breaking and entering."

    "First things first," Eldric continued, "you get back your bracelet. That''s your ticket. The director''s got it tucked away somewhere tight¡ªmaybe in his quarters or that vault he thinks nobody knows about. You''ll need to be quick, quiet, and sneaky."

    "And how am I supposed to get past the locks?" Catty asked. "Magic my way through?"

    "You''d be surprised at what a little ingenuity and a paperclip can do," Eldric chuckled. "But yes, a touch of magic wouldn''t hurt. I''ll guide you through it. The real trick is finding what''s hidden in plain sight."

    "Great, so I¡¯m like a ninja now! And after I grab the bracelet?"

    "Alright, phase two. The artifacts."

    "I bet you''ve got some grand treasure map up your sleeve?"

    "Something like that. I''ve got the locations locked up here," Eldric pointed to his head. "You''ll be Indiana Jones-ing through the orphanage. They are hidden in the last place anyone would look. I''ll take you there, but you''ll need to be quick. The director''s goons are not the friendly chat-over-tea type."

    "I know! I grab the artifacts, dodge the goons, and then what? Hide them under my bed?" the girl smirked.

    "Under your bed? Not gonna cut it, kid. You''re taking the artifacts with you."

    "You want me to walk around with a bullseye on my back? You sure that''s smart?"

    "Smart? Maybe not. Bold? Absolutely. You''ve got speed, guts, and a knack for trouble. Besides, you''ve got me to guide you through the chaos."

    "And the orphanage? What will happen to it?" Catty asked.

    "As for the director, well, let''s just say her days of tyranny will be numbered. Once we have the artifacts, she loses her leverage. "

    "Sounds simple. What''s the catch?"

    "The catch? The usual¡ªdodge, outsmart, don''t get caught. It''s a gamble, but when did you last play it safe?"

    "Wow... that¡¯s a lot. Are you sure I¡¯m up for this?" Catty hesitated.

    "Absolutely. You''ve got a spark, Catty. Something I haven''t seen in a long time. With my guidance, we''ll set things right. You''ll see, kid. I''ll be with you every step of the way."

    "Uh..."

    "Now, let''s get moving. We''ve got a director to dethrone and an orphanage to save. And Catty, welcome to day one of your adventure!"

    And morning had come when Catty looked around the cluttered basement.

    "You''re telling me there''s a secret passage in here? All I see is a bunch of trash and dust."

    Eldric floated near the wardrobe.

    "Ah, but that''s where you''re mistaken, kiddo. This place it''s got more secrets than a mystery novel. See this wardrobe? It''s not just for mothballs and forgotten linens. It''s our gateway."

    "A wardrobe? What is this, Narnia? How do we open it with a magic word or something?"

    "No, nothing so pedestrian," the ghost chuckled. "It requires a bit of finesse, a touch of the old knowledge. There''s a puzzle here, see? Symbols representing our world''s core values. Order them correctly, and voil¨¤."

    The girl examined the symbols carved into the wardrobe door, then looked back at Eldric.

    "And let me guess, you''re not just gonna tell me the order, are you?"

    "Exactly! Where''s the fun in just handing over the answers? Besides, it''s a test of sorts. Prove your savvy, show you''ve got what it takes to tread this path."

    Catty''s fingers traced over the symbols: a Book, an Eye, a Heart, a Shield, and a Key. They looked like ancient coins blackened by time. But when the girl touched the symbols, they flared up and vibrated like alive, and she could move them easily in different directions. She felt their energy, and each symbol had a unique power.

    "So, kid, you think you can crack the code of ages with just your wits?" Eldric smirked.

    "This one''s for protection, right?" The girl pointed at the Shield symbol. "Gotta have your defenses up."

    "Ain''t wrong, but where''s it stand?"

    Catty moved the Shield to the first position.

    "It''s the groundwork but not the soul of it. Without wisdom..." she tapped the Book, sliding it to the second spot, "... you''re just swinging in the dark."

    "Got a point. Keep going."

    Her gaze shifted to the Key.

    "Unlocking secrets, opening doors¡ªthat''s big. But it''s what you do with what you find..." She placed the Key third.

    "And?"

    Catty hesitated before the Eye and Heart.

    "Seeing through the bullshit, that''s a sure thing. Insight." The Eye went fourth. "But at the end of the day, if your heart''s not in the right place, what''s the point?" She finally placed the Heart at the top.

    "Heart over head, huh?"

    "Always. Why bother if we''re not doing this for the right reasons?"

    Eldric laughed: "Kid, you might just have what it takes. Let''s see if the old wardrobe agrees."

    The wardrobe clicked and slowly swung open, revealing a dark passage.

    "You betcha!" the girl yelled.

    Eldric hung over the dusty shelves, a ghostly figure illuminated by the feeble light filtering through the basement windows.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    "Remember," he said. "You don''t need to crack puzzles. Crack yourself open and find what''s really inside."

    "And what if I don''t like what I find?" Catty entered the passage and turned around.

    Eldric was left behind in the basement. "I''m staying here, you have to go all the way yourself, Catty. In every story worth telling, the heart of the journey matters, not just the destination. Because there''s no anyway."

    "What do you mean?" the girl asked, but Eldric didn''t answer. He slowly disappeared, dissolving in the rays of the morning sun. First, his body lost limbs, then his stomach, chest, and lastly, his head was covered with ripples as if Eldric was still trying to say something.

    "Goodbye, my friend," Catty said.

    The wardrobe door slammed behind Catty, and she turned out to be in the flaming space. Walls of fire encased her. Flames danced a macabre jig, licking at the air she breathed. Heat slammed into her like an invisible fist, stealing her breath and turning her insides to warm soup. Above, timbers groaned, threatening to bring the ceiling down upon the girl.

    "Really? A room on fire? Just perfect!"

    Panic, clammy and cold despite the blaze, clawed its way up her throat. Her vision blurred, and the intense heat threatened to turn her eyeballs into scrambled eggs.

    For a moment, the girl was lost in the inferno. The hot air crackled, flames kissing her with hungry tongues. She saw the door ahead, an exit of escape, it teased her with its shiny handle. Catty lunged for it, but the searing pain of the red-hot metal forced her back. "Damn," she hissed, waving her burnt hand.

    As the ceiling creaked ominously, her thoughts were racing. "This is it. I''m going to be toast," her usual bravado faltered. The fire reflected in her eyes, a wild whirl of fear.

    "Eldric said something about this... What was it?" Catty muttered, dodging a falling ember.

    Suddenly, a voice, like a forgotten song lyric, flickered in the recesses of her mind. Eldric''s words cut through the smoke and echoed in Catty''s head amidst the roar and crackle.

    "Let your courage be the flame that lights the path but never the fire that consumes you," she recalled.

    Catty squeezed her eyes shut, trying to find that calm hidden beneath the suffocating dread. She inhaled the hot air sharply. The smell of smoke and burnt wood filled her nostrils. And something metallic. Blood, most likely.

    The girl focused on her breathing, each inhale a draught of courage, each exhale a release of fear. Catty slowed her thoughts, her mind grasping at Eldric''s words.

    "...never the fire that consumes you," she repeated, thinking of her bracelet. It was her mother''s symbol of faith. With each inhale, Catty imagined drawing strength from the bracelet, its spirit fueling her resolve. As she exhaled, she pictured the fear burning away, replaced by a power that rose in her gut like the sun.

    When the girl gained stillness, the chaos around her began to fade. The room seemed to grow quieter, the heat less sizzling.

    Catty opened her eyes. The fire still raged, yet something had changed. Now calm in her soul, the girl stepped forward, and the flames yielded her. It had once threatened to burn her and now went away.

    She strode towards the burning doorway again, this time laying her hand on the handle without fear. The metal was cool under her touch. The girl pushed it, the door opened easily, and Catty stepped through the threshold, leaving the blaze behind.

    The next shock was more biting than a plot twist in a soap opera.

    "Oh, fantastic¡ªdrowning practice, I was missing that!" the girl found herself deep underwater, her sarcasm sinking alongside her.

    It was a sudden plunge, and the cold water bound Catty, enveloping her in its icy grip. Panic surged again, a clawing thing when she floundered into the depth. Her body was suspended in the water, and the world was a blur of shadows and muffled sounds. Catty flailed, her movements erratic, a desperation dance in the engulfing mute.

    There were no boundaries, only the suffocating pressure of endless blue.

    It seemed like her life could snuff it any damn second. Her lungs screamed for air, a painful, burning demand. They were like leaden balloons. A whimper escaped her lips, a childish sound lost in the vast indifference of the deep. This is it, huh?

    "Air, I need air. I''m not ending up as fish food!"

    The girl blew out the last bubbles, and they floated upward like Eldric''s words. They were her lifebuoy, a lifeline thrown into turbulent waters.

    "In the flow of life, be like water," he said, "ride the waves, but never let ''em wash away who you are."

    "Ride the waves? I''m not even sure I can ride a bike properly," Catty countered. Still, the absurdity of her situation and the sudden mental image of herself on a bicycle underwater brought a smirk to her face.

    The girl stilled her frantic movements with a newfound resolve, focusing on Eldric''s words. The water around her seemed to sense her shift, the oppressive weight lessening.

    "So, this is what surfing in the mind looks like. Eldric would be proud or think I''ve lost my marbles."

    Be like water. Do not fight it. Become it.

    Her struggle slowed, a moment of clarity in the murky depths. "Alright, fear, let''s dance." It was a standoff, not with the water, but with herself.

    "I''ll swim with the damn currents." Catty froze, letting the fight leave her limbs. It was counterintuitive, surrendering to the very element that sought to claim her, but in that surrender, there was strategy.

    The pressure eased, the water parting like a reluctant curtain. A gasp ripped from her throat, a desperate surge for air that left her head spinning. Light pierced the blue deep. The girl coughed, salt water on her tongue, but the taste of life sweet on her lips.

    And then, as if in response to her acceptance, the water began to retreat. It drew back slowly, leaving Catty sitting on the damp floor, the remnants of the flood swirling at her feet. She was drenched, and the dress clung to her body. The girl was gasping for air but alive.

    Catty laughed, half in disbelief, half in triumph. "Well, that was one way to learn to swim." She stood up, dusting herself off¡ªan unnecessary but instinctive gesture.

    The pieces were falling into place. This watery nightmare must be part of the whole gateway gig. Did she pass the test? Or is this just another pit stop on this crazy rollercoaster ride?

    Catty moved on and became weightless.

    It was akin to stepping into a void when gravity left a note saying it quit. The ground beneath her feet disappeared, and Catty shot up as a champagne cork. Her stomach did a triple lutz in her chest, and she was flailing like a fish out of water¡ªwell, almost.

    "Awesome, sky ballet! Too bad I never took lessons!"

    The room spun a carousel. The girl was twirling in the air like a leaf caught in a whirlwind, each movement sending her spiraling uncontrollably. She reached out, hoping to catch hold of anything, but grasped only emptiness.

    With every move, Catty flounced through space¡ªa doll in the grip of an unseen force. Ceiling, wall, floor¡ªeach one greeted her with a resounding "wham!" that made her see stars. Ow, maybe not so satisfying.

    A strange thing happened in the thick of the vortex¡ªa glint of something more than the chaos around her. Letters, glowing like the neon signs of some back alley joint, began to materialize out of thin air. Tossed by flow, they swirled around the girl, forming words in a crazy dance. It was as though the air turned informant, whispering secrets only she had to know.

    "The winds of change? They''re yours to ride, not to get knocked over by..." Catty had a hard time reading. She twirled three times before finishing¡ªit was a wild ride.

    "..let them lift you, not sweep you away..."

    The girl took a deep breath and tried to stop fighting the crazy air currents. She let them carry her around like a feather in a hurricane.

    "The winds of change? They''re yours to ride, not to get knocked over by. Let them lift you, not sweep you away," she repeated. "Easy for a dead guy to say this!"

    The girl ceased flailing and stretched out her arms, surrendering to the whims of the wind. She embraced the flow that sought to unseat her. Catty imagined herself as a leaf on the breeze, light and unburdened.

    "Let''s ride these winds," she whispered.

    Catty moved with the air currents, not against them. It seemed like trying to tame a bucking mustang, but instead of a horse, it was the freaking wind.

    Once she surrendered to the airflow, a weird kind of freedom took hold. And that''s when it hit the girl¨Ca strange exhilaration in her chest. Who knew being tossed around like a cosmic pinball could be so¡­ well, fun?

    Gradually, the wild spinning ceased, replaced by a gentle floating. Catty started to feel a connection with the air currents, like learning how birds fly.

    It was the enigma of her fears and doubts. The realization dawned on Catty: a slow sunrise after a long night. Control was an illusion, a fleeting shadow in the vast expanse of the unknown. True mastery lay not in dominion over the elements but in harmony with them. It was a surrender, not to defeat, but to understand the life flow.

    And with her realization, the storm quieted, and the air around the girl stilled. The wind had not defeated her; it had liberated her and taught her the true meaning of control.

    Slowly, the descent began. Not a plummet, but a gentle float downwards, like a feather settling after a long journey aloft.

    The girl landed softly, feet touching the earth. As her feet finally stood the ground, Catty couldn''t help but let out a laugh, the tension dissolving into relief. She was not the winner but the grateful student, ready for the next lesson the universe had to offer.

    Standing in the calm, the girl looked ahead.

    The tunnel loomed before her, an opening that swallowed light and hope. It was like a living, breathing entity, its walls pulsing with the earth''s heartbeat.

    Catty''s breath was steady, her steps measured as she navigated the tunnel. As she ventured deeper, the oppressive closeness of the tunnel began to make itself known.

    Without warning, the solid ground beneath her shook, and walls began to move.

    They were wet and slick with the sweat of the earth and seemed to shift with deliberate intent, stirring slowly, almost imperceptibly, tightening around her like a constrictor around its prey. The air was thick and heavy with a dread that pressed down on her, a force that intended to crush her will to proceed.

    The further she ventured, the more the tunnel responded to her presence. The walls moved not chaotically but with a rhythm like the earth was testing her, challenging her resolve.

    She sprinted.

    "Not how I planned my day."

    Catty was running down the dank tunnel. This wasn''t exactly a luxury spa getaway, but at least it wasn''t on fire. Where the hell did this tunnel even lead?

    The more she attempted to race through the ever-changing tunnel, the more it seemed to constrict, like the world''s most unwelcome hug.

    "Really? Now we''re playing tag with walls?"

    Then, a dead stop. The tunnel turned into a vice. Catty dropped to her knees, the earth pressing in. Fear spiked¡ªthis was it, the endgame.

    "Trapped like a rat. Eldric, your timing sucks," she muttered.

    The girl squeezed her eyes shut, picturing the walls closing in, turning the tunnel into a suffocating tomb.

    A whimper escaped her lips, a pathetic sound in the echoing darkness. Was she going to be squished flat like a bug on a windshield?

    "Come on, you gotta be kidding me," her voice was tight with a rising tide of terror. The tunnel was shrinking, the space compressing like a garbage compactor set to "pulverize."

    Panic, that old, familiar fiend, began to rise within her, a tide of despair threatening to engulf her. Trapped in this earthen cocoon, the weight of the world above felt unbearable, a burden that sought to flatten her very essence into the dust from which she had come.

    Catty gritted her teeth, channeling her fear into a stubborn defiance. She wouldn''t be some helpless bug.

    The pressure intensified, the darkness threatening to swallow her whole.

 005 // Origination / Part III

    Then, in her darkest moment, Eldric''s words found her.

    Just as despair threatened to consume her, a faint yet insistent voice flickered in the recesses of her mind. Eldric''s spectral form, etched against the encroaching walls, spoke, "Stand firm upon the earth, but always be ready to shake off the dust and walk a new path."

    Something was different. Eldric wasn''t transparent like usual. He shimmered with an otherworldly glow, a faint golden light pulsing around him. The words resonated deeper than before, echoing in her ears. Not as a voice from the beyond but as a whisper in the blood, a resonance in the bone.

    "Stand firm upon the earth, but always be ready to shake off the dust and walk a new path."

    The words reached her ears; they enveloped her, a mantra that wove through her being, urging her to rise, to push back against the darkness that sought to claim her.

    The realization dawned on her slowly, a sliver of light in the enveloping gloom. The battle she faced was against the shadows that lay within her heart. The walls became silent mentors, their crushing embrace a challenge to confront her deepest fears, acknowledge them, and transcend them.

    Catty started singing.

    Her song, filled with a power she barely understood, resonated through the narrow tunnel. It battled the silence of the earth. With each note, she felt a surge of strength, a clarity of mind that pierced the veil of her fear.

    "It''s time to rise, shake off the dust," she sang.

    Suddenly, the walls began to pulsate, a slow, rhythmic squeeze that made Catty''s skin crawl.

    "It''s time to rise, shake off the dust," she sang again.

    The earth seemed to listen, and its ancient heart started beating in time with her song. The walls, once oppressive in their stillness, now vibrated gently as if awakening from a deep slumber. The air around carried the melody through the tunnel. The earth recognized the power woven into her voice. Pebbles danced across the floor, and a soft murmur filled the tunnel like the whisper of wind through leaves.

    "Open your eyes and walk a new path," the earth replied.

    The girl perked up and chanted, "The journey''s tough, full of goodbyes!"

    "But the dawn awaits for one who tries," the earth continued.

    She felt the grip around her loosen, the walls halting their oppressive march. Both voices combined and repeated.

    "It''s time to rise, shake off the dust,

    Open your eyes and walk a new path,

    The journey''s tough, full of goodbyes,

    But the dawn awaits for one who tries."

    A shiver ran down Catty''s spine. Was this a memory? Or something more? Eldric, or perhaps the forgotten magic of the Earth Gateway, was reaching out, pushing the words to the forefront of her mind when the girl needed them most.

    She lay there, in the narrow cocoon that had once threatened to be her tomb and found peace. It was the peace of acceptance, of acknowledging that true strength lies in the ability to adapt, to change, to let go of what was, and embrace what could be. The girl embraced this truth, and the earth, sensing this change, responded. The constricted walls began to recede, not disappearing but opening, revealing a way forward. A new understanding of herself.

    Driven by a force she couldn''t explain, Catty reached out, her hand trembling, expecting the cold surface of the stone. But as her fingers brushed it, they met no resistance. The wall before her, so oppressively close just moments before, was nothing more than a mirage, an illusion crafted to test her resolve, to gauge her strength.

    Realizing the barrier was in her mind, the girl couldn''t stifle a laugh. She stepped forward and slipped through the illusory wall like it was made of mist¡ªCatty''s fear dissolved by her newfound resolve.

    Beyond the illusion, the light opened up, a path cleared by her will and voice. The song still lingered in the air, a reminder of the battle the girl had fought and won.

    When the song died down and the lights went out, Catty found herself standing in the corridor of the orphanage. Moonlight with danced dust motes filtered through the windows, casting long fingers across the floor that seemed to reach for her.

    Portraits and faded photographs lined the walls, their faces barely discernible in the dim light. They watched Catty''s passage with silent, judgmental eyes. The corridor seemed to hold its breath as the girl moved cautiously along its length.

    The air hung thick, a stew of floor polish and something suspiciously like despair. Catty tiptoed down the hallway, the floorboards groaning like rusted hinges. Each creak echoed in the emptiness, and her breathing sounded loud in her ears.

    Catty''s heart pounded like a drumbeat against her ribs, so loud in her ears that she feared it would betray her to the night. She knew the corridors as well as the lines on her own hands, but tonight, they were transformed into a labyrinth of tension and fear.

    Catty paused, listening. The orphanage was never truly silent; it whispered secrets. Tonight, those secrets spoke of danger.

    She could hear the distant, uneven footsteps of a guard, the uneven rhythm telling her he was limping slightly. She knew each guard''s walk and could tell them apart by the sound of their steps alone. This was an old goblin with a bad knee and a worse temper.

    A cough, muffled by the walls, froze her in place. Her heart skipped a beat, and the girl pressed herself against an alcove in the wall, blending into the shadows. The footsteps approached and passed by her hiding spot. She let out a silent breath of relief, but her body was still tense.

    Suddenly, a floorboard groaned under her weight. Catty froze, every muscle coiled tight, waiting for the guard to return.

    Ease washed over her as a guttural meow pierced the stillness. A flash of ginger fur darted from the shadows, emerald eyes gleaming in the moonlight. It was a cat, the orphanage''s beloved feline terror.

    "Hey, Thunder," Catty whispered, cautiously extending a hand. The cat sniffed her fingers, then rubbed its head against her palm, a rumbling purr vibrating in its chest.

    The girl moved on, the ginger shadow padding silently beside her.

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    They reached a heavy oak door, intricately carved with swirling patterns that writhed in the moonlight. The director''s lair.

    Catty''s fingers brushed the cool metal of the doorknob. This was it¡ªthe moment of truth. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself.

    The girl tiptoed around the director''s lodgings, her eyes scanning the moonlit bedroom for any sign of her bracelet. She moved with the caution of a burglar, each step deliberate, each breath held tight in her chest as she navigated among the shadows. Her heart slammed against her ribs like a heavyweight champ going for the knockout when the girl was creeping around the director''s room.

    Catty had searched every drawer, peeked into every nook, and even lifted the edges of the rugs, hoping to catch the glint of metal or the warm glow she so desperately sought. But the bracelet was nowhere to be found. With each passing moment, her hope dwindled, replaced by a growing sense of fear.

    Nothing. The bracelet played a damn good game of hide and seek. Thunder, her feline partner-in-crime, watched from the shadows, its tail a clock ticking to zero hours.

    When all seemed lost, Catty''s gaze fell upon the figure on the bed. The director slept. The woman lay sprawled across the bed, one arm dangling off the side, the other resting on her chest. And the bracelet was on her wrist, glinting softly in the moonlight.

    Catty approached the bed. Each step felt like a lifetime, her heart beating so loud she feared it would wake the Widow. The girl reached out, her fingers hovering inches from the bracelet. The soft glow emanated from it, beckoning her.

    Carefully, ever so carefully, Catty''s fingers closed around the bracelet. Her touch was light, but it was enough. As her fingers brushed against it, the room seemed to hold its breath. The bracelet lit up, a slow burn that recognized its master. It vibrated with the anticipation of escape, its pulse syncing with Catty''s heartbeat. The glow intensified, a warm, pulsing light that seemed to recognize its true owner.

    The girl delicately began to ease the bracelet off the director''s wrist. Her touch was like a feather''s caress, barely grazing the director''s skin as she was pulling off the bracelet. The Widow shifted in her sleep, a soft murmur escaping her lips. Catty froze, her heart skipping a beat, the bracelet half-off.

    She waited, barely daring to breathe until the director''s breaths deepened again. Then, with a final, gentle tug, the bracelet slipped free. Catty cradled it in her hands, feeling its warmth spread through her like a promise of strength and protection.

    Catty slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, feeling an immediate rush of energy, a sense of completeness she had known was missing. The moment it encircled her wrist, it came alive, pulsating with a glow that bathed the girl in its light, vibrating with a resonance that spoke of ancient ties and newfound strength. The bracelet began to light up, emitting a soft, pulsating glow. It vibrated gently against her skin, a silent greeting from an old friend.

    The room became lighter, and suddenly, Catty saw a picture hanging on the wall at the head of the bed.

    This wasn''t any piece of art; it was a revelation, a window thrown wide open to a view Catty had never dared to imagine.

    She stood, rooted to the spot, her breath stolen by the sight. There was beauty there, but it was a terrible beauty that ensnares the heart and cuts the soul, leaving scars too deep to fathom. It was a portrait of the director in her unguarded splendor¡ªboth magnificent and horrifying.

    "See me, and know that you stand on the precipice of the abyss of despair," the image seemed to whisper, a siren''s call that was both a lure and a warning.

    The girl''s mind raced, trying to encapsulate the enormity of what hung before her. Shock. Awe. Fear. A vortex of feelings swirled within, threatening to drown her in their depth. Catty had seen the hidden truth behind the veil, which terrified her.

    Catty''s fingers itched to tear the picture up, shred it to bits, and toss them into the wind. But she couldn''t. The portrait held her captive¡ªthrough the sheer force of what it represented. It was a puzzle that beckoned with its terrible beauty.

    Slowly, almost reverently, the girl reached out, her fingertips grazing the frame. The wood was icy to the touch, belying the inferno of revelations it contained. The director looked back at her from the portrait, eyes that knew too much and had seen the depths of the worlds.

    Suddenly, the woman stirred, Catty recoiled, and her elbow struck a vase on the dressing table. Her heart leaped to her throat as the girl watched, like in slow motion, the vase teeter over the edge. Instinctively, her hands reached out, fingers grazing the ceramic in a futile attempt to avert disaster. It slipped through her grasp, shattering against the floor with a loud crash¡ªthe sound of a shot in the silent room.

    The crash jolted the Widow from her sleep, her eyes opening in confusion and alarm. For a moment, she lay frozen, her brain struggling to make sense of what was happening. The shards of the vase scattered across the floor flickered in the dusk. Eerie shadows danced across her bewildered face. When the woman''s gaze locked onto Catty, realization dawned, washing away the remnants of sleep. Her expression morphed from surprise to a wave of anger. She sat up, the sheets falling away. The director was now fully awakened and alert, her surprise quickly giving way to a simmering rage at the sight of the intruder by her bedside.

    The director''s scream pierced the tense air, and her eyes snapped open wide with fury.

    "Gotcha, bitch!" the woman howled and grabbed the girl''s hands, latching onto Catty like claws.

    The yell echoed through the orphanage. It cut through the stillness of the night like a sharp blade. A nearby guard, walking along the corridor, shuddered at the sound. For a heartbeat, he hesitated as if the scream had tethered him to the spot; then, he whipped toward the direction of the noise. His heavy boots thudded against the aged floorboards. Lanterns flickered as he ran, casting long, darting shadows that seemed to chase him as if urging him on faster. His hand gripped the baton at his belt, ready for whatever threat lay ahead. By the time he reached the director''s room, another guard had joined him, almost colliding at the threshold, ready to destroy everything that awaited them inside.

    They burst into the room. The lead guard, a broad-shouldered and intimidating ogre, stretched his arms toward Catty to seize her in an iron grip. Another stayed at the door, aiming to cut off her escape. Trapped with nowhere to run, Catty braced for the worst.

    The Widow pointed and shouted in fury, "There! Get her!"

    When the guards tried to close their grasp on Catty, the air tensed around her, and everything changed in a heartbeat. In a flicker of silver light, Eldric appeared¡ªnot as the ghost she knew, but almost solid, standing between her and the incoming threat.

    He raised his hands, and the room began to pulse with energy. Catty watched as the space around Eldric twisted.

    "I''ve slowed time for them," his voice cut through the dense silence, "but you must act quickly. My strength has its limits."

    The guards were dragging through the room; each motion was slow, as if they were swimming through honey. Their hands moved through the air like they were pushing against an invisible force. Slow. So very slow. Catty, her heart pounding rapidly, slipped past them with ease.

    "Game on," the girl whispered.

    She darted to the left, slipping past a guard''s outstretched arm with inches to spare. His fingers grazed the fabric of her sleeve, but Catty was already beyond his reach, moving supernaturally agile in the viscous time bubble Eldric had created.

    Then, the ghost swept his arms forward, and a cascade of glowing particles sprang from his fingertips, swirling around Catty in a vortex of light. The particles danced faster and brighter until they enveloped her completely, hiding her from view.

    Eldric''s form began to fade, his edges fraying into the air, a sign that his intervention was nearing its end.

    "Go, now!" he urged, and the spectral figure dissolved into the shadows.

    Catty sprinted towards the corridor, her footsteps echoing loudly in the otherwise muted world. As she reached the stairs, she spared a fleeting glance behind, catching the last glimpse of Eldric''s disappearing form, his existence flickering out like the last ember of a dying flame.

    The girl raced down to the lower floor. The orphanage slept, unaware of the night''s turmoil. She ran past the bedrooms, where the children lay in peaceful slumber, their faces calm by the moonlight seeping through the windows.

    In the hall, another giant guard stood at the house''s exit. His back was to her, unaware of her approach. This time, Catty didn''t hesitate. Holding her breath, the girl darted past him like an arrow. She slipped between his legs, sliding along the stone floor, and got through the door into the night before he could react.

    The outside air was cool, a welcome relief on her flushed face. The city lay quiet around her. The streets were empty and promising freedom. Catty raced to the maze of buildings.

    She heard a crazy scream behind her.

    "She''s gone!" it bellowed into the house, shattering the silence. Within a moment, the orphanage buzzed to life. All the windows lit up, and the angry guards jumped onto the illuminated sidewalk.

    The night thrummed with the thirst of a hunt when the chase began.

 006 // Origination / Ending

    The sun began to peek over the horizon, lighting up Eterna. The city quickly woke up to a new day. The towers¡ªglass and steel monoliths reaching for the heavens¡ªcaught the first golden rays and turned them into rainbows dancing on the streets below.

    The city began to pulse with the day''s first movements. Shopfronts flickered to life, one by one, and their windows illuminated with the glow of magic artifacts and the latest goods of tech-wizardry.

    The streets were filling with people, and above them, the sky lanes buzzed with the rush of aerial travelers: sorcerers dodging between hovering vehicles, griffins and pegasi joining the traffic, and the far roar of dragons came from above buildings. They flew even higher, scales shimmering like jewels against the morning sky.

    The air, still cool from the night, carried the scent of awakening: fresh rain on ancient stone, the ozone tang of spellcraft, and the deep, earthy perfume of the Forest at the city''s edge.

    Away from the main streets, in the quieter alleys, you could find the kind of magic the city didn''t put on billboards. There, deals were made quietly, with a handshake or a whispered word, trading in spells that weren''t strictly legal.

    Eterna was a city where every stone and shadow told a story, where every whisper of the wind through the alleyways might be a spell in disguise. It was a place where the past lingered, hand in hand with the present, shaping a future where anything seemed possible.

    Here, in Eterna, the heart of magic had beaten strong, pumping the lifeblood of wonder through the world''s veins. It was a place where the line between the magical and the mundane was blurred, where every new day boded something unexpected.

    Here, the teen girl ran down the street, pursued by a crowd of the Widow''s henchmen.

    The chase was a sprint for survival. Catty''s heart hammered against her ribs, a drumbeat urging her on. Eterna''s streets were unfolding before the girl as she pushed her body to its limits. It was as if the city lived a different life, oblivious to her escape.

    Her breath was ragged, tearing through her lungs like she was swallowing knives. The cool air of the early morning stung her face, but the adrenaline coursing through her veins burned hotter.

    Catty heard how the distant din of Grand Bazaar was moving forward. The familiarity of these paths was her only advantage, a thin thread of hope the girl clung to as her muscles screamed in protest against the relentless pace.

    The sun was rising, and the pursuers'' hoverbikes cast long shadows that reached for Catty like claws.

    Sweat slicked her skin, but the girl couldn''t afford a moment''s hesitation. Her senses were heightened to an unbearable degree, and her focus narrowed to the relentless pursuit at her heels. Catty didn''t get a sniff of rainbow trees, fleeting and sweet. She didn''t hear the birds'' morning song, only the hoverbikes humming behind her.

    The guards were approaching Catty.

    Her world had shrunk to the moment when every step was freedom or capture.

    Ahead, Grand Bazaar beckoned, a promise of sanctuary. The light of dawn covered the domes, and Catty was racing towards it.

    The hoverbikes were close, too close; the whir of engines and the angry screams shouted into the crisp morning air.

    At the last moment, Catty darted into the ornate towering gates, opened to a world away from the peril overtaking her.

    The girl heard the roar of hoverbikes braking and a stream of damnation behind her.

    Catty didn''t look back. The bazaar enveloped her, its stalls a maze of color and bustle that welcomed her. The girl vanished into the crowd, her heart still racing, and the narrow escape was a wild, pulsing thrill that pushed her forward. In the shadows of the bazaar, amid the noise of haggling and the scent of magic spices, Catty found her breath, her steps steadying as she melded into life around her, a needle in a haystack they''d never find.

    As the city stretched and sighed into the day, Grand Bazaar thrummed with life, a heart at the center of Eterna''s vast body. The myriad stalls were hidden beneath the enchanted canvas, ready to unveil their wonders. The air buzzed with the languages of a hundred worlds, vendors calling out their wares. Here, one could trade for a potion to mend a broken heart or a device that promised to capture dreams. Nearby, a technomancer demonstrated a contraption that spun light into sound, drawing a crowd with its symphony of color. Here, a vendor unfurled a scroll glowing faintly with mystic runes; there, a mechanic tinkered with a levitating device, its gears whispering secrets of flight¡ªall surrounded by the smells of magical brew and fresh meal from nearby taverns.

    Rescue was still a long way off. Her pursuers, a band of the Widow''s henchmen, roared into the bazaar''s confines. They, dismounted now¡ªtheir hoverbikes useless in the bazaar''s lanes¡ªpushed through the throng with the subtlety of mammoths in a pharmacist''s shop.

    "Here she is!" the goblin yelled, pointing at the girl.

    Catty turned around at the scream and saw a cloak of invisibility draped casually over the nearest stall. It was marked with runes that shimmered in the dawn light. Without breaking stride, the girl snatched it, throwing it over her shoulders as she plunged into the throng. The cloak''s magic was immediate. At the exact moment, Catty vanished from sight.

    In the heart of Grand Bazaar, magic wasn''t a trick; it was the lifeblood pulsing through the veins of Eterna. Wrapped up in a cloak stolen in desperation, Catty became part of that magic.

    Invisible, she weaved through the crowd. She moved unseen but not unfelt; people parted in confusion as a stealth force brushed past, a whistle of air the only sign of her passage.

    Catty froze when the guards got close. Their eyes darted through the sea of faces, hunting for the girl who''d disappeared into the morning. Their glances slid over the space where she stood like the girl was an empty place. Catty held her breath. She was a statue among the flowing river of people.

    They were close, too damn close, but they passed her by being puzzled.

    The girl sighed with relief only when the head of the huge goblin was far away in the crowd... But her triumph was short-lived.

    "Hey, thief!" the cloak seller, a grizzled man with eyes as sharp as daggers, barked from behind his stall.

    Catty turned, the cloak''s magic flickering as her form began to materialize from the ether.

    "You think you''re slick, girl? Think you can just waltz out of here wearing my finest?" he bellowed, his voice cutting through the noise of the bazaar.

    "Thought it was a free trial," Catty quipped.

    The seller''s laugh was dry, a crackle like the parchment. "Look around, darling. This ain''t a library for magical artifacts. The only policy here is pay or play. And looks like you''re short on coin."

    He deactivated the cloak''s enchantment with a swift motion borne of years dealing with the underbelly of magical commerce. The magical fabric became as ordinary as the rags used to clean the stalls at day''s end, and Catty stood exposed, the mirage of her invisibility dissipating.

    Having caught the seller''s outcry, the henchmen turned on their heels, their confusion replaced by the excitement of their quarry close again.

    "Consider yourself lucky," the seller growled, his eyes narrowing. "Now, off with you before I change my mind."

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Catty, now fully visible, nodded. "Guess I''ll have to find my magic, then."

    And with that, she turned around and ran away, darting through the bazaar¡ªthe chase renewed, and the henchmen stumbled through the crowd, pushing aside gapers.

    The cloak seller watched her go, a respect for her tenacity simmering beneath his gruff exterior. "Run fast, girl," he muttered, "for the bazaar''s magic won''t save you outside its walls."

    Catty was racing through the bustling lanes. Grand Bazaar, alive with the morning hustle, was blurring past in a whirl of color and noise. The heavy steps of her pursuers echoed menacingly close behind her, and the noose was tightening again.

    In the frenzied pace of her escape, Catty''s eyes flicked over her shoulder to gauge the distance of her pursuers. The girl only saw the large mirror directly in her path when she collided with it with a thunderous crash.

    It looked like slow-motion footage. The ornate, imposing mirror stood propped against a merchant''s stall, its surface shimmering with a magical gleam. As the Widow''s henchmen gained on her, Catty veered sharply towards the mirror. Her reflection raced towards her, a perfect twin in every way, and surprise etched on both faces. Somewhere behind this scene, the shopkeeper, an older woman, let out a horrified screech, spotting the impending disaster, "Don''t you dare!" but it was too late. When the guards reached out to grab her, Catty collided with the mirror with a desperate, final lunge.

    The impact was smashing. The mirror shattered into a hundred shimmering shards, each piece catching the light as they spun through the air. As the fragments dropped down, the magic contained within was unleashed, and each shard became a projector, casting off virtual Cattys.

    The reflections scattered in all directions, each a perfect copy of her, running and weaving through the crowd. Each reflected an image of Catty, multiplying her presence into dozens of duplicates sprinting in every direction.

    The henchmen halted, dumbfounded. Their prey multiplied exponentially in the blink of an eye.

    "Grab her, grab any of her!" the goblin shouted, lunging at the nearest figure.

    They lunged at the images, but each touch caused the illusions to burst into brief, brilliant light flares, leaving no trace but Catty''s laughter.

    "Which one?!"

    "Over here! This one''s gotta be her!"

    Confusion reigned as the pursuers scrambled to discern real from illusion. Each shattered piece of mirror vanished upon their touch¡ªthey just grasped at air.

    "Get the real one, you idiots!" the goblin barked, desperately trying to coordinate the madness. He grabbed what he thought was the real Catty, only to have her vanish, which left him spitting and cursing, "This magic crap is cheating!"

    Amid the chaos, the real Catty slipped away. Her steps were light and swift when she ran past the distracted Widow''s henchmen. The fragments of the broken mirror underfoot twinkled like stars, guiding the girl to safety.

    She leaped over a fallen crate, slipping through the bewildered crowd gathered to watch the spectacle. Behind her, the pursuers'' cries filled the air.

    Catty''s feet pounded the cobblestones of Grand Bazaar as she ran between stalls. The sounds of the marketplace were a blur against her racing heartbeat. She spotted a merchant''s stall ahead, with carpets piled high, their colors vibrant even in the early morning light.

    The girl skidded to a stop before the merchant, a grizzled old man with a tangled beard.

    "Help me! They are going to kill me!" she gasped, her voice strained with desperation.

    The merchant''s gaze remained impassive, accustomed to the daily dramas. He motioned dismissively, signaling for her to keep moving. But when the girl turned, the sunlight flashed off her wrist, illuminating her bracelet.

    "Wait!" he called out, his voice low and urgent. The old man grabbed her arm, pulling her behind a display of luxurious carpets, out of sight from the pursuing henchmen. His eyes fixed on the bracelet, and his eyebrows rose in surprise.

    "That...where did you get that?"

    Catty, still catching her breath, was puzzled but sensed an opportunity.

    "It''s all I have left. Please, I need help!"

    The merchant studied her for a moment longer, then made up his mind. He pulled one of the carpets from the stack and laid it flat on the ground. It was small and shabby and seemed superfluous among all the splendor.

    "This will carry you where you need to go," he said, his voice a mixture of awe and homage.

    "How do I make it fly?" Catty asked, stepping onto the carpet.

    "You should know!" he pointed at her bracelet, a smirk curling at the edges of his mouth.

    Catty glanced down at her bracelet, confusion etched across her face. But as her feet settled on the carpet, the bracelet ignited with a soft, pulsing glow. The woven fibers beneath her began to stir, a gentle hum filling the air.

    "Need a lift? Just think of where you need to be," the girl heard a familiar voice in her head.

    Catty gasped. Then she thought, more in hope than certainty.

    "Let''s fly!"

    The carpet jerked beneath her, then smoothly ascended, soaring up and over the stalls and the heads of bewildered onlookers. Catty looked down in amazement, the bazaar shrinking beneath her.

    "You owe me a tale!" the merchant shouted after her, his voice mixing with the laughter of a man who''d just witnessed the improbable.

    "Thank you!" the girl called back, her voice carried away by the wind as she flew above the stalls towards the bazaar''s end.

    The Widow''s henchmen arrived moments later, confusion written across their faces as they surveyed the scene.

    "Where''d she go?" the goblin barked, scanning the skies incredulously.

    Returning to his carpets, the merchant only shrugged, a grin hidden beneath his thick beard.

    "Magic''s in the air, boys. Better luck next time," he muttered, turning back to his customers as if the day''s excitement was just another part of the bazaar''s charm.

    The wind whipped Catty''s hair, her eyes watered, but a grin split her face. Freedom, even fleeting, felt better than any magic.

    When the girl flew beyond the bazaar''s boundaries, the crowd''s noise fell away, replaced by the rush of air and the beating of her heart. Below, the chaos of her pursuit became a distant memory, scattered like the clouds around her.

    The carpet wove through the spires and rooftops, a rogue comet under the morning light. But freedom was a tricky beast, as fleeting as it was sweet. Her flight was not unnoticed.

    The chase moved to the skies, and Catty''s journey continued¡ªher pursuers not far behind, and their determination was as boundless as the city they raced through.

    The escape took a perilous turn as the flying carpet zipped into Eterna''s air traffic. Above, below, and all around her, the sky was cluttered with an array of flying cars and magical creatures. Hovercars honked and veered off course as the girl swooped through their lanes, their drivers shaking fists and shouting curses drowned out by the roar of engines and the whoosh of wings. Catty ducked as a low-flying wyvern nearly clipped her with its spiked tail, the creature letting out an indignant squawk.

    Now, the wind sheared against her with force in the canyons formed by soaring buildings. Reflections of the girl on the carpet danced in the mirrored facades, multiplying her image into a kaleidoscope of movement.

    Ducking and weaving through the traffic, Catty could feel the tug of magic on her heels. The girl glanced back, and her breath caught in her throat. The chase didn''t let up¡ªthe carpet wasn''t fast enough. The henchmen were catching up with her again. They were gaining speed, their eyes fixed on Catty with grim determination.

    "Move it, pixie junk!" the goblin bellowed at a cluster of fairies. They scattered with pitched titters, but not before dusting the goblin''s face with a shower of glitter, which made him sputter and nearly lose control.

    "Outta my way!" the goblin roared.

    Catty seized the moment and slipped through a flock of levitating taxis that honked and flashed their lights. She saw one of her pursuers misjudged a sharp turn and collided with a flying delivery truck. It was covered in runes that glowed upon impact and unleashed a burst of boxes and bins, covering the hoverbike and sending its rider tumbling into the dive.

    When Catty soared higher, a swarm of imps erupted from the shadows of the towering buildings. Their red eyes gleamed with malice.

    The imps swarmed around the girl, their sharp claws tearing the fabric of her magical carpet. The creatures attempted to pull at her clothes, obscuring her vision. Each touch tugged at her control, their weight a burden Catty couldn''t shake off.

    "Back off, you little beasts!" she shouted, trying to swat them away. But each motion made the carpet dip and weave unpredictably, her path becoming more erratic by the second.

    Laughing manically, the imps darted in and out of her reach, enjoying the chaos they wrought. The carpet trembled with their touch, the flight disrupted by their dark magic. Struggling to maintain altitude, Catty found herself driven towards the gaping tunnel entrance beneath the city''s grand archway.

    "Hey, how are you?" Eldric''s voice sounded in her head again.

    "I''m fine!"

    "I need to tell you something..."

    "What''s happened?"

    "Just don''t be afraid."

    "Okay, spit it out!"

    "I can''t stop!"

    "What?!."

    "Hold on tight. Let''s get out!"

    "You kidding?"

    "No. Looks like we''ve been lured into a trap."

    "No choice," Catty breathed, bracing herself as she shot into the tunnel. The entrance loomed like a gaping maw, and her heart sank.

    The sudden darkness swallowed the girl whole. The cool dampness of the tunnel airbrushed the skin, and the imps, reluctant to leave the open skies and follow her, flew away with shrieks.

    Her eyes adjusted slowly to the shadowy confines, the sounds of the city muffled by the thick stone. The light at the tunnel''s end was too far, too faint, and her pursuers were surely not far behind.

    Catty leaned forward, urging the carpet to give whatever it had left. The walls streaked by in a blur, the drone of the outside world a distant memory against the pounding of her heart.

    "Just a little more," she whispered to the carpet, to herself, to anyone who''d listen.

    The tunnel spat Catty out onto the muddy pavement of Hexed Borough. The girl flew off the carpet and somersaulted several times before she lay sprawled in the middle of a dark alley, listening to the rumble of hoverbikes in the tunnel. Her whole body was broken and painful, and Catty struggled to her knees.

    Suddenly, the door to the house behind her opened, and the girl felt someone pick her up and carry her into the house.

    The door closed when the Widow''s henchmen rushed out of the tunnel.

 007 // Supplement / Breaking News

    SCANDAL AT THE SPELL GAMES: CHAMPION''S SHOCK DEFEAT SPARKS OUTRAGE AND SUSPICIONS OF COLLUSION!

    In a stunning turn of events that left spectators spellbound and bookmakers reeling, the reigning Wizard Duels champion, Archmage Verell Firehand, suffered an unprecedented defeat at the hands of a virtually unknown novice, Jasper Quill, during the annual Spell Reflection Relay. The upset has sent shockwaves through Eterna, not just for the sheer improbability of the defeat but because it has triggered a whirlwind of controversy and accusations of foul play.

    Verell, a veteran of the arcane arena who had dominated the Spell Games for nearly a decade, was widely expected to clinch another easy victory. Betting odds were astronomically in his favor, with vast sums of money wagered on his anticipated triumph. However, the duel''s outcome was anything but expected. Jasper, a young and untested magician barely out of apprenticeship, managed to outperform the champion in a spectacle that many are struggling to rationalize.

    Eyewitnesses report that Verell seemed off his game, missing hits and reacting slowly, which is uncharacteristic for the seasoned caster known for his sharp reflexes and strategic mind. Midway through the match, Jasper unleashed a series of complex and rare-heard reflective spells, one after another, catching Verell unprepared and ultimately leading to his downfall.

    The novice''s unexpected arsenal included the Wandering Wisp, a spell of such rarity that even seasoned practitioners speak of it in hushed tones. Adding to the intrigue, Jasper was seen wielding a wand that glimmered with an unusual aura, sparking rumors that he was assisted by a magical artifact of significant power, potentially tipping the scales in his favor.

    The loss has not only bruised Verell''s illustrious career but has also opened the floodgates to a torrent of speculation and conspiracy theories. Prominent among these are the rumors of collusion. Some insiders suggest that the match was rigged, pointing to the significant betting anomalies and sudden shifts in odds just hours before the duel commenced. There are unconfirmed reports of large sums of money being placed on Jasper at multiple betting houses by anonymous patrons who stood to gain massively from Verell''s fall.

    The Magical Enforcement Agency has announced an investigation into the duel''s circumstances, focusing on the spells used, the origins of Jasper''s mysterious wand, and the betting patterns that preceded the match. Meanwhile, the wizarding community remains divided. Some hail Jasper as a prodigious talent, while others call for a review of the regulations governing magical duels and artifact use.

    As the dust settles on the field, one thing is clear: this scandal is far from over. Whether due to genuine skill or nefarious schemes, Jasper Quill''s victory has forever altered the landscape of wizard dueling, leaving many to wonder if the Spell Games will ever be the same again.

    ?

    GHOSTLY ENCORE! PHANTOM ACTORS RETURN TO CONQUER THE OCCULT THEATRE!

    After a decade-long hiatus, the spectral curtains rise again at The Occult Theatre, bringing the enigmatic Phantom Opera back to Eterna¡ªa city bewitched with the magical and mysterious. Renowned for casting genuine phantoms of mystical entities, the opera promises a performance and an encounter with the beyond.

    Spectres Take the Stage!

    Unlike any other show in the realm, the Phantom Opera features a cast drawn straight from the astral plane. These spirits aren''t mere illusions but ancient entities channeling ethereal energies directly to the audience. The result? A mesmerizing spectacle where art meets the arcane, sending shivers down the spine of the bravest souls.

    A Theatre of Haunts

    The Occult Theatre itself is no ordinary venue. Rumored to be perched on a ley line, the theatre''s walls have whispered tales of otherworldly encounters for centuries, making it the perfect cauldron for brewing up nights of supernatural drama. This historic stage sets the scene for a theatrical experience so intense it''s said to blend dreams with reality.

    Magic in the Air

    This season introduces a new twist in the tale¡ªincorporating live energy exchanges with the astral world. The phantoms harness this cosmic energy, weaving it into performances that offer both entertainment and spiritual awakenings. Audience members report visions, whispers of ancient secrets, and a haunting feeling of being touched by the unseen.

    Why We Love It

    "The energy in the room... it''s palpably alive!" exclaims the Widow, a long-time fan, recalling her ethereal brush with a phantom actress last season. Known for her mysterious origins and macabre tastes, she adds, "You come for the chills and stay for the spellbinding magic. It''s as if the phantoms are performing just for you, reaching out from beyond, clawing straight into your soul."

    Dare to Attend

    Prepare for an evening where phantoms reign and the curtain between worlds thins. With shows running through the Month of Shadows, tickets are a portal to the past, available for a spell at The Occult Theatre. But beware, this experience is not for the faint of heart¡ªattend if you dare to be touched by the spectral.

    ?

    MAGICAL WILDERNESS: ETERNA''S FOREST TRANSFORMS CITY LIFE INTO UNTAMED FRONTIER

    In a bewildering turn of events, Eterna''s notorious enchanted Forest has unleashed a rampage across the urban fringe, swallowing streets, besieging homes, and conjuring turmoil that''s anything but magical for its distressed residents.

    Yesterday, in a jaw-dropping spectacle of nature''s wrath, Moonbeam Way, a quiet suburban street, vanished without a trace into the encroaching thicket of the bewitched woods. The sudden appearance trapped residents in a literal forest prison, leading to frantic emergency evacuations under the cloak of night. Fire brigades and magical response teams worked tirelessly, navigating through the newly formed dense woodland to rescue several bewildered families.

    The chaos didn''t stop at disappearing streets. In a heart-stopping incident this morning, Glimmerforge Elementary faced nature''s fury firsthand when ancient trees tore through the playground as if possessed by a wild spirit. The school, teeming with young wizards and witches, had to be evacuated as branches and vines snaked into classrooms, causing a melee among terrified children.

    In a bizarre twist, the Forest claimed new territory by invading private homes. One harrowing account came from Rubiza Kaso, whose residence was overrun by magical flora overnight. "I woke up to find my living room turned into a forest floor¡ªvines were coming out of the walls, and flowers were blooming on my couch," a visibly shaken Rubiza recounted.

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Amidst the environmental upheaval, paranormal pests have seized their moment to wreak havoc. Last night, a mana moth swarm plunged Celestial Alignment Festival into darkness, absorbing all magical light and leaving thousands in pitch blackness. This sparked a widespread panic that turned the festival grounds into a stampede.

    Not far behind, arcane beetles brought a muddle to the Suburb Public Library. They munched through enchanted manuscripts, unleashing unintended spells that sent books flying, much to the horror of the library''s patrons.

    The city''s response has been swift yet overwhelmed by the scale of the encroachment. "We are doing all we can to safeguard our citizens and preserve our way of life, but the Forest is unlike any challenge we''ve faced," declared Mayor Inqo in a press conference this afternoon. Residents, like old wizard Borin Greybeard, echo this sentiment with a mix of despair and defiance: "We''ve lived alongside the Forest for centuries, but it''s never dared to come this close. We need solutions, not just spells!"

    The psychological toll on its citizens mounts as Eterna grapples with its unwelcome boundaries. Community meetings are packed, local wizards are pooling resources for communal defense spells, and the city''s fabric is stretched thin by constant vigilance.

    The unfolding crisis prompts a serious reflection on how Eterna will adapt to this wild, new reality. With every tree root that cracks through concrete, the city''s resolve is tested, and its people are reminded that in a land governed by magic, not all enchantments have fairy tale endings.

    ?

    CHAOS UNLEASHED: AETHER SERPENT BREAKS REALITY AT VR SPELLCASTING EVENT!

    What was supposed to be a showcase of cutting-edge magical technology turned into a scene straight out of a sorcerer''s nightmare yesterday. Urcanix''s latest virtual reality spellcasting demo went haywire, summoning an enormous Aether Serpent into the real world.

    The event, held at Eterna''s central plaza and attended by tech enthusiasts and magical scholars alike, promised a glimpse into the future where magic meets virtual reality. Spectators were eager to witness the integration of newly developed spellcasting crystals with advanced VR technology, which allows users to cast spells and summon creatures in a controlled digital environment.

    However, the demonstration took a terrifying turn when a glitch in the system caused a massive overload in the magical crystals. "One minute, we were watching a wizard apprentice casting simple elemental spells, and the next, there was this colossal serpent twisting above us, its body shimmering with ethereal energy," recounted a shaken attendee, her eyes wide with the shock of the unexpected spectacle.

    The Aether Serpent, a creature of pure magic known for its unpredictability, phased through the digital barrier into the physical realm, causing pandemonium among the crowd. Its translucent body, reflecting the city lights, slithered menacingly above the audience, who scrambled for safety as the creature''s movements began to mysteriously absorb spectators into its ethereal form. People near the serpent vanished in flashes of light. Panic and chaos rippled through the crowd.

    "Nobody knew what was happening! It just kept getting bigger, and every spell cast to contain it seemed to make it stronger," explained a visibly distressed mage involved in the containment efforts. The serpent''s presence disrupted local magical fields, causing devices to malfunction and spells to go awry.

    Security teams struggled to manage the crowd and contain the serpent, which appeared to absorb magical energy indiscriminately. This made the creature more powerful and led to a temporary blackout of lighting in the area. "It was like dealing with a force of nature. Every time we thought we had it under control, it would just vanish and reappear somewhere else," reported a city''s magical enforcement squad member.

    As the serpent eventually broke free, disappearing into the night sky, the incident rattled the community and left it questioning the safety of merging high-level magic with technology. Urcanix has promised a thorough investigation into the malfunction, assuring the public that all necessary measures will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

    This dramatic turn of events casts a shadow over Urcanix''s innovations and opens up a myriad of questions about the boundaries between the digital and the mystical. As the city recovers from this unexpected encounter, the magical community is left wondering what the appearance of the Aether Serpent signifies for the future of magical technology.

    ?

    MYSTERY OF THE MISSING MESSENGERS: MAGIC DELIVERY DRIVERS VANISH WITHOUT A TRACE!

    A series of mysterious disappearances have rocked Eterna''s Magical Delivery Services (MDS). Delivery drivers are vanishing without a trace, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and an ever-growing list of lost packages. The Magic Police are on high alert as they delve into this perplexing case, which has alarmed and bewildered the city''s residents.

    The issue came to light when Mr. Grumblewhisk, a resident of Luminous World, reported his delivery never arrived, "I ordered a new magic wand, and it''s vanished along with the delivery driver! Now, I''m stuck with this old twig," he lamented.

    Since then, reports have been flooding in from all corners of the Universe.

    The disappearances have been sporadic but alarming, with drivers vanishing during routine deliveries. "One minute they''re there, and the next, poof¡ªthey''re gone," says Morvena, a senior dispatcher at MDS. "It''s as if they''ve been plucked out of thin air."

    The most recent case involves Goren, a seasoned driver who vanished while delivering his 666th package. "He arrived at his destination," recalls his worried colleague, "and then he stopped responding to messages."

    The magic police have put forth several more intriguing theories than the last.

    According to Chief Investigator Marla Sunigo, one theory is that the portals used for instantaneous deliveries might be malfunctioning. "We''ve had reports of drivers stepping through portals and simply not emerging on the other side," she explained. "It''s as if they''ve been swallowed by magic meant to aid them."

    Another hypothesis points to rogue magical creatures. Witnesses claim to have seen suspiciously well-fed griffins. "Those beasts could very well be snatching our drivers mid-delivery," said Officer Thalor. "They might think the drivers are part of the delivery!"

    A more outlandish theory involves an ancient curse. Some believe that a long-forgotten enchantment, the Curse of the Vanishing Vigor, has been reawakened. "The drivers might be falling prey to an old spell that causes them to disappear gradually," mused Professor Phosalan of the Academy of Arcane Sciences.

    More fantastical explanations have also emerged. Some believe that magical creatures, like dimension-hopping imps or rogue dragons, might be ambushing the drivers.

    "We found scorch marks and claw scratches near one of the last known locations," mentioned a police report.

    There''s also talk of a powerful curse or hex placed on the delivery service. Enchanted packages might be rigged to cause anyone handling them to vanish. "We''re examining every package with heightened scrutiny," assured Morvena.

    Adding to the intrigue, whispers of competitor sabotage have surfaced. Rival companies or unscrupulous business competitors could use illegal magic to make drivers disappear. "There''s a lot of money in the delivery business, and not everyone plays fair," hinted a source within MDS.

    Some even speculate that drivers are being kidnapped and sold on the black market for their unique skills. "These drivers are highly trained in magical navigation¡ªperfect targets for black market operatives," added another source.

    The city''s residents are concerned about how a service that delivers anything anywhere can''t seem to deliver its drivers back home.

    "Maybe they''ve just found better jobs on the astral plane," assumed Madam Xalindra, a local shopkeeper. Meanwhile, others are growing increasingly frustrated with their missing deliveries. "I ordered a rare potion weeks ago. If it''s lost, who will pay for my gone prey?" fumed another irate customer.

    As the Magic Police continue investigating, the city remains on high alert. Delivery services have temporarily suspended transport until the mystery is solved. For now, residents can only hope their packages¡ªand the delivery drivers¡ªwill reappear soon.

    The mystery of the missing messengers has cast a shadow over Eterna, with everyone hoping for a swift resolution to this baffling case. Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates on this unfolding mystery. Will the magic police crack the case, or will the disappearances remain an unsolved enigma?

 008 // Transformation / Opening

    Catty''s senses slowly returned, and she found herself lying on a couch in a dimly lit room.

    The air was filled with the scent of herbs and the faint crackling of a fire. A large tapestry hung above the fireplace, depicting a battle between dragons and dark, shadowy figures. The faded colors and worn embroidery told an ancient story of power and sacrifice.

    On the mantelpiece, various dragon figurines carved from jade, ivory, and obsidian stood in a solemn procession. Shelves lined the walls, overflowing with books whose spines bore titles in forgotten languages. The books were old and tattered, bound in leather with quaint embossing into their spines.

    A large wooden desk cluttered with scrolls, quills, and ink bottles occupied one corner of the room. Ancient maps were spread out, pinned down by stones from far mountains and seas that shimmered in the mat light. Nearby, an astrolabe and a brass telescope hinted at the occupant''s interest in the stars and navigation.

    The walls were adorned with framed parchments displaying symbols and diagrams, some glowing faintly, imbued with magical energy. An assortment of herbs hung from the ceiling, drying in the warm air. Bundles of sage, lavender, and rosemary lent a soothing aroma to the room.

    In another corner, a glass cabinet displayed various mystical items: a crystal ball, an ornate dagger, a set of ancient runes, and vials filled with colorful, luminescent liquids. Each item was filled with latent power.

    The furniture was sturdy and old, made from dark wood and adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures. Soft, golden light from a lantern cast a warm glow on the threadbare rugs covering the floor.

    The room was a reflection of its owner¡ªhe sat next to the girl, tending to her wounds.

    The pain in Catty''s body was gradually subsiding. She blinked, trying to make sense of her surroundings.

    "Who are you?" Catty asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

    The man tending to her frowned, looking at her sternly. Thick gray hair framed his face, and a deep scar ran across his cheek.

    "Call me Rutger," the old man said. His hands were confident as he treated the girl''s wounds.

    "I am Catty," her voice was shaking. "Why did you help me? You don''t even know me."

    "Sometimes, you don''t need to know someone to recognize when they need help."

    "But I was being chased. You could''ve gotten hurt."

    Rutger said nothing, just shrugged his shoulders.

    "Thanks. I really don''t know how I could ever pay you back," Catty smiled weakly.

    "Rest and regain your strength," his blue eyes sparkled.

    When Rutger treated the girl''s right hand, his eyes fell on the bracelet on Catty''s wrist. For a brief moment, his gaze lingered, and a shadow of recognition crossed the old man''s face. He quickly masked his reaction, but his raised eyebrow betrayed a surprise. Rutger continued his work without saying a word, but his mind raced with thoughts the man chose to keep to himself.

    "How are you feeling?" Rutger asked.

    "A bit sore, but it''s manageable," Catty glanced around the room, taking in the artifacts. "Where am I? This place looks... ancient."

    "This is my lair. This is where I keep all this junk I''ve collected over the years. What about you? Where do you come from?"

    Catty hesitated before answering, "I don''t really have a home. Been on my own for a while now."

    "That''s tough for someone your age. What brought you to the city?"

    "I was being chased," Catty bit her lip, choosing her words carefully. "I don''t even know by whom exactly."

    Rutger studied her for a moment before responding, "Do you have any idea why they were after you?"

    Catty shrugged, avoiding his gaze, "I think it''s got something to do with my bracelet."

    "That bracelet... How long have you had it?" Rutger asked.

    "As long as I can remember. I got it from my parents, but I don''t know them at all."

    Rutger paused, his gaze still fixed on the bracelet. "You know, that design is very unusual. Reminds me of legends¡ªold stories from when I was a boy." His tone was casual, but his eyes were sharp, searching for her reaction.

    Catty looked down at her wrist, twisting the bracelet slightly. "Legends? What kind of legends?"

    "Ah, stories of guardians and ancient protectors," Rutger replied. He stood up and walked towards the table. Taking several herbs, the old man began to crush them with a pestle in a bowl, the tart scent of leaves momentarily filling the air.

    "Supposedly, they wore such symbols as a sign of their duty. But those are just tales for children before bed," he chuckled softly, glancing at her to gauge her interest. "What about you, Catty? Do you feel like a guardian, or is it just a pretty piece of jewelry?"

    "Guardians¡­" Catty murmured, her curiosity piqued. "Sounds like a fairy tale or something."

    "Maybe," Rutger conceded with a shrug, adding the crushed herbs to a small pot of simmering water. The steam rose in gentle swirls.

    "Or maybe fairy tales hold more truths than we give them credit for. What do you think? Do you believe in such things?" he asked.

    Catty hesitated, her fingers unconsciously tracing the lines of the bracelet. "I''m not sure anymore. Things...things have been so strange lately. And this," she lifts her wrist slightly, "seems to be at the heart of it all."

    Rutger nodded understandingly. "Strange is often just the unexplained seeking understanding," he mused, pouring the steaming mixture into a cup. "Or perhaps, it''s understanding that seeks us out in its peculiar ways. Drink this. It won''t solve everything, but it''ll help with the pain."

    As Catty took the cup, their fingers brushed lightly. She noticed the scars on his hands¡ªmarks of a life filled with much more than herb-mixing.

    "Thank you," she said, meeting his gaze. "For helping me...and for the potion."

    Rutger smiled, his eyes crinkling at the edges. "You''re welcome, Catty. And thank you for trusting me."

    The warmth from the potion spread through her, and for a moment, the room felt a little less like a stranger''s house and more like a stop on a journey she had to understand.

    The girl looked around the room and asked, "You seem to know a lot about these legends. Have you always been...involved with mystical things?"

    "I''ve had my fair share of encounters with the no-ordinary," Rutger chose his words carefully. "My life''s path has often crossed with the mystical, sometimes by chance, other times by choice."

    "And these dragons..." Catty pointed to the figurines, "Have you ever dealt with them?"

    "One might say that dragons have always been a part of my life, one way or another. My family... well, let''s just say they had a unique relationship with these creatures."

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    "Were they like the guardians you mentioned? Did they protect something important?"

    "In a manner of speaking, yes. They were protectors of knowledge. But it''s a heavy burden, carrying secrets like that."

    After a pause, Rutger added, "Dragons are elusive creatures. They choose who they reveal themselves to."

    "What''s it like? To tame a dragon?" Catty asked.

    "Meeting a dragon is like touching the ancient magic of the world¡ªit''s both terrifying and awe-inspiring. They''re creatures of immense power and wisdom. To be in their presence is to feel both the insignificance of one''s existence and the rare honor of witnessing something greater than oneself."

    "It sounds...incredible."

    "It is," Rutger nodded. "And often, it''s a deeply personal experience. Each encounter is unique, reflecting the heart of the one who faces the dragon."

    "Do you think...could I ever meet my dragon?"

    "That depends..." Rutger eyed her thoughtfully. "Dragons sense the nature of a person''s spirit. They appear to those who seek truth, who carry the weight of a noble purpose or the burden of a fateful destiny."

    Catty looked down at her bracelet, then back at Rutger.

    "Could this," she lifted her wrist, "lead me to a dragon?"

    Rutger looked at the bracelet, his expression unreadable. The room fell silent, the only sound being the crackling of the dying fire. Rutger unhurriedly moved to the fireplace, which had begun to dwindle. The embers sparked as he prodded them, casting fleeting shadows across his face. Catty felt the warmth spread as the fire revived, the soft glow reflecting off the bracelet.

    "Sometimes, I dream of falling..." the girl began, "falling through a storm so powerful that it feels like the whole world might shatter. And then, I''m not just watching; I''m part of it, fighting alongside beings of light against the darkness that swallows everything."

    Rutger turned back to her, the fire now lively behind him, and his eyes reflecting a spark of old memories: "Ah, the dreams of storms and battles¡ªthey often carry more than the whispers of our subconscious. Tell me, Catty, these beings of light... did they speak to you?"

    "No words are spoken, but there''s a sense of understanding, of connection. I''m there, not just watching but... part of it. The dragon approaches me, and it feels like... like coming home."

    "Such dreams, they''re rare gifts, Catty," Rutger smiled. "A connection to something ancient and powerful. Dragons are creatures of fire and air. They are symbols of wisdom and guardianship. Your spirit... perhaps it''s intertwined with theirs more than you realize."

    "Is it even possible? Being... connected to a dragon?"

    Rutger poured another cup of the herbal brew.

    "More than possible¡ªit''s a privilege. You see, not everyone is visited by dragons in their dreams. It signifies a deeper call, a potential etched into your soul."

    "It felt real, Rutger!" the girl exclaimed. "It was like losing a part of myself when I woke up. It felt like I left something unfinished. Like there''s more I need to do, but I don''t know what."

    "The first step is acceptance," the old man handed her the cup, his eyes serious yet comforting. "Accept that the dream may be more than a dream. It could be a calling, a piece of your destiny unfolding. And as for making it real, you must learn to listen, not just with your ears but with your heart."

    Catty sipped, "Then I need to understand it, to follow where it leads."

    "And you shall. But remember, understanding such visions isn''t just about deciphering symbols or unraveling mysteries. It''s about embracing the journey they propose, about being ready to face whatever truths they unveil."

    "I''m ready. I''ve felt lost for so long, like a part of me has been waiting for... something. This may be it. It may be time to find out why."

    "Perhaps it is, Catty," Rutger smiled warmly. "And in this pursuit, trust that you won''t be alone. Dragons¡ªwhether of flesh or of spirit¡ªnever reveal themselves without reason. They are both heralds and guides."

    "Finding your dragon, Catty," Rutger continued, "it''s about understanding what calls to you in your dreams. This bracelet," he nodded towards her wrist, "might indeed lead you somewhere profound."

    The room grew quieter when the old man ceased talking¡ªonly the fire crackled in the fireplace.

    "It''s like there''s a whole world out there, just beyond my reach," Catty said.

    "Your dream can be a call to action in our waking world," Rutger watched her. "These visions stir your spirit for a reason, and the bracelet may well be your guide. But remember, every question found in dreams requires courage to pursue in the light of day."

    Rutger''s expression softened as he noticed Catty close her eyes and let out a weary sigh. Carefully, he removed her shoes and draped a blanket over her. Her lips trembled slightly, a silent testament to the hardships of the day the girl had endured.

    Several days passed since Catty found refuge in Rutger''s house. The old man had given her a small room in the attic. Its sole window overlooked the wall of the neighboring house, a thick blanket of ivy partially obscuring the view but letting in dappled sunlight during the day.

    Catty spent her days exploring the nooks and crannies of the sprawling old house. Each morning, she awoke to the scent of sage and lavender that hung from the beams in her room, a soothing aroma that made the old house feel more like a home. She learned to navigate by the soft golden light that filtered through the stained glass at the corridor''s end, casting colorful patterns on the wooden floors.

    Rutger took it upon himself to introduce her to the house''s peculiarities. He showed her how to adjust the ancient clocks whose tickings and tockings filled the silence of the night. In the library, he taught her the trick of pulling out the right books to reveal hidden compartments in the shelves where he kept the more delicate scrolls.

    As Catty adjusted, she couldn''t help but feel a growing connection to the house and its myriad mystical elements. Even the dragon figurines on the mantelpiece seemed to watch her with an approving glint in their jeweled eyes. With each passing day, the house revealed more of its character, as if accepting her as part of its ancient story.

    By the time the sun set each evening, Catty had found herself in the kitchen, helping Rutger prepare meals. The old man was surprisingly adept in the kitchen, his culinary skills almost as refined as his magical ones.

    "A good meal can mend more than just hunger," he''d say, handing her a spoon to taste the stew or adjust the spices.

    "Let me tell you about the time I caught a lobster off the northern coast," once Rutger''s voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "Planned a fine dinner, I did. Had the pot boiling and everything ready for a feast."

    He paused, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "But as I lowered the fellow into the pot, would you believe it? That lobster starts belting out an aria. Puccini, if my ears didn''t deceive me. Sounded just like he was auditioning for the opera!"

    "What did you do?" Catty laughed, picturing the scene.

    "Well," Rutger continued, his eyes twinkling with mischief, "I stood there, pot in hand, utterly bewitched. This lobster, he''s singing about love and loss, all the while flapping his claws like a seasoned conductor."

    He shook his head, chuckling at the memory. "So, there I am, faced with a dilemma. Do I eat my dinner or applaud?"

    "And?" Catty urged, entirely caught up in the story.

    "I did what any decent music lover would do. I gave him a standing ovation, apologized for the misunderstanding, and let him go. Swore, he winked at me as he scuttled back to the sea. Had to settle for a vegetable stew that night."

    Rutger leaned back, a satisfied grin on his face.

    "And that, Catty, is why I always say a good meal can mend more than hunger. Sometimes, it teaches you a thing or two about art and mercy."

    They often talked about Catty''s dream. One rainy morning, Rutger led Catty to a secluded corner of his library, where the air was thick with the musk of ancient parchment. He reached for a dusty tome, its cover embossed with the image of a dragon, and placed it gently on the table before them. The old man flipped it open to a page marked by a red feather.

    "Ever wonder, Catty, why people chase after things they barely understand?" he began, his tone casual as his fingers traced the ancient text.

    Catty shrugged, "Isn''t it just curiosity or greed?"

    "True," Rutger nodded, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "But there''s more to it when it comes to dragons. This tome," he tapped the book, "speaks of the greatest dragon ever known."

    He fell silent, and the rain could be heard drumming on the roof. It ran in rivulets down the glass, a reminder of the world beyond the walls of Rutger''s house. Catty looked up, watching the dance of water droplets in the dim light, her thoughts swirling as tumultuously as the storm outside. The rain intensified.

    "As I was saying," the old man continued, "the legend of this dragon isn''t just an old wives'' tale. He is a source of immense knowledge and boundless power for who can tame him."

    Catty leaned closer, her eyes tracing the illustrations of battles that filled the margins of the page.

    "When the time comes, the dragon is reborn. He hatches from an egg like all dragons. Many have tried to find this egg. Wizards, warriors, monks, and even rulers. All drawn by tales of his power, which can grant control over the world. Yet, all have failed, their fates often as tragic as the legends themselves."

    "Like what?" Catty leaned in, caught up in the story.

    "A group of adventurers once believed they had found the dragon''s egg. They began to hear whispers promising them unlimited power. The whispers turned them mad, pitting them against each other until they destroyed themselves in a frenzy."

    "And no one survived?" Catty exclaimed. "And you? What did you do when you heard about the egg?"

    The old man''s expression sobered her a bit.

    "I did seek it long ago. But then I stumbled upon a prophecy," he paused, watching Catty closely. "It spoke of a young girl. Linked to the dragon''s legacy."

    The room seemed to close around them, and the distant thunder outside discovered a secret. Catty''s bracelet began to emit a soft glow, a gentle pulse like the heartbeat of ancient awakening.

    "Rutger, my bracelet..." Catty asked, her voice tinged with alarm as she held up her wrist. The light from the bracelet cast reflections on the walls.

    It grew stronger, and Catty felt a warmth that spread to her core. The old man watched with fascination in his eyes.

    "Rutger, what''s happening? What does it mean..."

    "It means, Catty, that some stories are waiting for the right moment to be continued."

    Catty stared at the pulsating light. As the glow intensified, the room seemed to spin, the legends and reality merging. At that moment, she knew that her life would change forever.

 009 // Transformation / Part I

    In the library, as the dust danced in the slanting light filtering through the high windows, Rutger turned to Catty. His eyes reflected the weight of his words even before he spoke them, a severe expression clouding his usually unreadable face.

    "Before we go any further, there''s something crucial you need to understand," Rutger began, his voice steady and clear. "It''s about the prophecy concerning the dragon''s heritage. Catty, this is ancient history that concerns you directly."

    After sorting through a stack of dusty tomes, Catty stopped and looked at the old man with apprehension.

    "A prophecy? Why would it involve me?"

    Rutger sighed, the lines on his face deepening.

    "Not just about you, but yes, you are a significant part of it. Your parents weren''t only dragon tamers, Catty. They were the guardians of a lineage so old that most tales don''t even recall its origin. And they left something behind for you."

    "The bracelet?" Catty asked, touching the piece of jewelry encircling her wrist.

    "Yes, that bracelet is part of it, but there''s more," Rutger stepped closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. "The prophecy speaks of a ''Child of Dragons,'' destined to unite the ancient divides and awaken the slumbering guardians. This child is said to bear the Mark of the Drakon, a direct line to the first dragon tamer."

    Catty blinked, taking a moment to absorb the magnitude of Rutger''s words. "And you believe that''s me? Because of this bracelet and... what? My parents?"

    "It''s everything your parents prepared for and why they protected you. They left clues, safeguards, knowledge¡ªall meant for you to find when you were ready."

    "Why me? I''m not... I don''t feel like some ''Child of Dragons'' or anything grand like that. I''m just... Catty," her voice faltered.

    "That''s exactly why it is you, Catty. You don''t have to feel grand or be born into greatness. It''s about the choices you make and the courage you show when faced with the unknown," Rutger''s tone was firm, meant to instill confidence. "And it''s about accepting who you are, not who you think you should be."

    Catty looked down, her mind racing with images of dragons, the battle from her dream, and now, prophecies tying her to a destiny she''d never imagined.

    "So, what now? What does this prophecy say I''m supposed to do?"

    "That''s what we need to find out next. The answers might be in the repository," Rutger''s hand motioned towards the back of the room. Catty noticed a faint, shimmering outline like the rippling surface of a calm lake.

    "Are you ready?" Rutger looked into her eyes. The portal''s glow became fully visible in the corner, its edges flickering with a silvery light that pulsed rhythmically as if breathing. The center of the portal swirled with a mix of deep blues and purples, drawing the eye into its mesmerizing depths.

    Nodding slowly, Catty straightened her shoulders, a resolve settling over her. "Let''s do it. I need to know. For them, for myself."

    "Great!" Rutger smiled. "Remember, you''re discovering yourself, not the dragons or the past."

    They approached the portal. Rutger uttered a hushed incantation, and the air before them waved like a disturbed mirror. Stepping forward, they passed through the veil between worlds, leaving the dusty confines of the library.

    As Catty stepped through the portal, she found herself in an immense hall that stretched endlessly in every direction. The floor beneath her feet gleamed like polished obsidian, reflecting a vaulted ceiling adorned with constellations that slowly shifted.

    Rutger and Catty moved under the celestial vault, and the girl''s eyes were wide when she saw relics floating in the air around her. Stunned, Catty turned around, and her gaze swept across a panorama of artifacts: celestial instruments and magic tools, scrolls and runes, weapons and armor. Each item floated in the space, casting subtle glows, and was filled with ancient power promising incredible opportunities.

    "Who are you, Rutger?!" Catty exclaimed.

    "I''m retired," Rutger smiled, "an ordinary pensioner living out my days in Eterna."

    "And what did you retire from?"

    "I used to be a head."

    "A head of what? You make it sound like you were a king or something."

    "Not quite a king. I led a sect," Rutger smiled again. "I was the head of the Dragon Sect. Once. Many years ago. Ever heard of them?"

    "What?!" Catty''s eyes widened. "Wait, the Dragon Sect? Come on... Why''d you leave?"

    "It''s a long story, but let''s just say the role wasn''t fitting anymore. Too many rules, too little room for what needed to be done."

    "That sounds silly. Did they kick you out?"

    "Even dragon leaders need a career change," Rutger chuckled, "but seriously, it wasn''t just needing a new job."

    "So then what? Got tired of dragons?"

    "Never tired of them, but I did stumble upon a prophecy. And you know, once you find a prophecy, it''s all downhill from there."

    "A prophecy that involves me, doesn''t it?" Catty didn''t lay off.

    "It involved a young girl and a dragon egg. Had to make sure the right pieces fell into place. And, here we are."

    "And I''m a pawn in your dragon chess game?"

    "More like the queen," the old man said, becoming sad. "I left the sect not because I was pushed out. I knew I needed to ensure that this prophecy was fulfilled. That meant stepping away from the sect, power struggles, and old ways."

    "So you traded your position for... what? Looking for me?" Catty was surprised.

    "In a way, yes. Looking for you and making sure the necessary pieces are in place for the prophecy to unfold."

    "Seems like you gave up everything for this."

    "We all play our parts, Catty. Some on grand stages and some in the shadows. My role needed to change for the prophecy to succeed."

    "Funny, Rutger. But this is all... a lot," Catty sighed.

    "Life''s a lot, especially when dragons are involved. But don''t worry, you''re not in it alone."

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    Catty reached out to a crystal orb that hung before her, pulsing with a soft glow. Tentatively, she extended her hand towards it. The moment her fingertips made contact, the orb erupted in a cascade of brilliant light, enveloping her in its radiance.

    Suddenly, Catty felt she was no longer in the repository. She saw the world from high above¡ªthe world as witnessed by the dragons. The girl soared over ancient cities whose spires glittered like jewels against the fields, rivers winding through them like silver threads. The terrain shifted rapidly beneath her: lush, verdant forests gave way to sprawling deserts and then to icy tundras that sparkled under the glow of a vibrant sky.

    The perspective shifted, diving towards the earth as the dragon whose memories she shared hunted, its eyes sharply focusing on the ground below. She felt exhilaration as mountains and valleys rose and fell rapidly, the wind rushing past her face, almost feeling the beat of mighty wings on her back.

    Catty saw a chaotic battlefield. Below her, legions of figures surged across the land like a dark tide. She felt a profound connection as the dragon, guided by its rider, swooped down with fierce determination.

    They moved as one. Catty felt the dragon''s raw power and the rider''s steely resolve as they carved through the enemy ranks. The dragon''s flames were destructive and protective simultaneously, creating barriers of fire and shielding allied warriors.

    Each beat of the dragon''s mighty wings, each fiery exhale, resonated with purpose. The rider''s commands were clear and confident, communicated through a bond that transcended simple commands¡ªa deep, instinctual understanding between two beings united against a common foe.

    The vision faded as quickly as it began, and the light dimmed. Catty stood in the repository again, her hand still resting on the glowing orb. The echoes of the dragon''s memories lingered in her mind, a profound reminder of the ancient and powerful bond between dragons and their riders.

    "Unbelievable," the girl whispered, still overwhelmed by the visions.

    "This is the Dragon''s Eye Orb," Rutger explained. "It contains the memories of the dragons who once guarded our realm. You witnessed echoes of their past, seen through their eyes."

    "These memories," the old man continued, "link to the essence of dragonkind, wisdom, and insights preserved across centuries. For those destined to connect with dragons, it serves as a bridge through which they can understand and harness the powers that once ruled these skies."

    Rutger''s eyes met Catty''s. "Each vision, each feeling you experienced, is part of the legacy that will be yours to embrace. The Dragon''s Eye shows you the past and awakens the dormant dragon spirit within you, preparing you for the role you are meant to play."

    After the visions from the Dragon''s Eye Orb, Catty''s attention was drawn to a soft, flickering light emanating from a corner of the repository. Floating amidst other artifacts, a modest lantern glowed quietly. Simple and unadorned, its frame was forged from ancient metals.

    Rutger followed her gaze and nodded approvingly.

    "That there is the Dragon Flame Lantern," he said softly. "Its flame was kindled by the breath of the first dragon, the ancestor of all dragons. It''s a testament to the bond between dragons and those of true lineage."

    Drawn to its warmth, Catty cautiously moved closer. The flame shifted colors¡ªfrom a deep, blazing orange to a brilliant, pulsating blue. The air around it vibrated subtly with the power of ancient magic.

    Reaching out, Catty let her hand hover near the flame. It flared brightly, bathing her in a serene blue light that felt invigorating and familiar. There was no heat, only a comforting warmth that welcomed her presence.

    "The flame recognizes you," Rutger explained, watching the interaction with awe and pride. "It reacts to a true dragon heir. See how it changes? It has not burned this blue in many generations."

    Mesmerized, Catty could only ask, "This flame... it accepts me?"

    "Yes," the old man confirmed. "It''s acknowledging you as the rightful heir destined to bridge the gap between humans and dragons again. The lantern is now yours, a symbol of your connection and duty."

    As Catty slowly withdrew her hand, the flame continued to glow a steady, vibrant blue, casting a light that endorsed her new role. The simple lantern had become a beacon of her destiny, guiding her on the new path.

    Continuing through the repository, Rutger gently took Catty''s hand, leading her toward a tall slab of polished black stone. It appeared impenetrable, absorbing light rather than reflecting it.

    "This is the Mirror of Draconic Truth," the old man said, "though it might not look much like a mirror at first glance."

    Catty peered curiously at the smooth stone surface, which gave back no reflection. But as she stepped closer, the stone began to change. The dark surface was gradually transforming into a clear, mirror-like reflection.

    "It reacts to those of dragon blood," Rutger continued, watching as excitement spread across Catty''s face. "To all others, it remains just a slab of stone, but to those with the true lineage, it reveals itself¡ªand more."

    Now fully a mirror, the surface showed Catty her reflection. Filled with trepidation, the girl peered into the deep.

    Initially, she stared back¡ªeyes wide with curiosity and apprehension. But then the mirror began to shimmer, transforming her reflection with fleeting images of her life.

    The first vision showed her atop a craggy peak, silhouetted against a fiery sunset with a mighty dragon by her side, their gazes locked on the distant horizon. Another flash came, and she was in the heart of a bustling crowd, her hand raised in a gesture that called for unity, faces around her looking up with hope and admiration.

    Then, the mirror shifted, revealing a breathtaking vision of Catty standing in a realm beyond the ordinary¡ªwoven from the very fabric of myth and splendor.

    Majestic figures loomed before her, gods arrayed in splendid attire that shimmered with golden light. Their forms were resplendent and formidable, adorned with ornate armor and jewels that glimmered like the radiance of a thousand suns. They stood dignified and commanding, their eyes glowing with divine power and their postures exuding authority and wisdom.

    Celestial mists swirled around Catty''s feet, shrouding the ground beneath her. Above, the sky swirled with vibrant colors, painting a backdrop of cosmic beauty.

    Amidst these towering deities, Catty stood firm, her expression one of determined calm. Though smaller in stature, she did not waver under their gaze. Her simple presence commanded respect as if she were a chosen envoy destined to bridge the world of mortals with these divine custodians.

    Her eyes, bright with reverence and resolve, met those of the deities as an equal¡ªshe was destined to walk a path foretold by prophecies as old as the stars.

    As the divine tableau faded and the celestial mists dissolved, Catty found herself back in the repository. The mirror returned to its original stone state, leaving Catty again staring at a dark slab. Her heart was still racing, her mind reeling from the magnificence of what she had just witnessed. However, her eyes carried a new depth¡ªa resolve born by the visions of a future.

    "I... How is this possible?" she whispered in disbelief. "They were so real, so powerful. Is that really my future?"

    Rutger, observing her shaken demeanor, offered a comforting smile.

    "What you saw is a destiny that could be yours if you embrace it. These visions are invitations¡ªto become what you''ve seen."

    Catty nodded slowly to the mirror, now just reflecting her image.

    "This mirror shows you what you are and reveals what you might achieve. It guides those brave enough to face their destiny, showing the greatness within reach."

    Catty took a deep breath, the weight of the visions pressing upon her.

    "It''s all so overwhelming," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "To think I could be part of something so... grand."

    "It is," Rutger agreed, reassuringly squeezing her hand, "but remember, it only shows possibilities. The path to those futures is yours to chart, and how you walk it will define the reality of those visions."

    They stood at the edge of the emptiness, the space around them dimly lit by the shimmering relics. Rutger watched Catty with a knowing glint in his eye.

    The only thing missing is the fire crackled softly in the hearth, the girl thought.

    "There''s a piece ahead, Catty. Not just any piece, though," Rutger began, his voice calm and steady.

    "Another artifact?" Catty''s brow furrowed.

    Rutger nodded. "The very heart of this place. More than just an artifact. It''s... special. Perhaps the most powerful thing here."

    "You''re being cryptic now."

    "Some things need to be seen to be believed," Rutger replied. "Mysteries are what make an adventure, aren''t they? This one, you have to experience for yourself to understand truly."

    Catty felt a chill run down her spine. "Is it dangerous?"

    "Oh, all the best things are a bit," Rutger replied with a twinkle in his eye. "Its danger lies more in what it gives us than any harm it might do."

    She paused, contemplating his words. Then, with a newfound resolve, she asked, "Am I ready for this?"

    Rutger''s gaze softened. "You do. However, it''s not about what I think."

    "Then what?" Catty asked, taking both determination and doubt.

    "It''s about what you feel. Are you ready to face it?" Rutger asked, his eyes searching hers.

    The girl took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment.

    Rutger''s expression softened. "That''s something only you can answer. But from what I''ve seen, I believe so."

    "What if I''m not?" Catty''s voice wavered slightly.

    "When you see it, you''ll understand why it''s kept here, at the heart of all this."

    "Yeah, I think so," the girl asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "And then?"

    "Then you decide what comes next. It''s all part of your journey," Rutger explained.

    "I''m kinda scared."

    "That''s normal," Rutger reassured her. "It means you understand the stakes."

    Catty nodded, her resolve hardening. "Lead the way, then."

 010 // Transformation / Part II

    As Rutger and Catty delved deeper into the repository, the light from the entrance dwindled until it was swallowed by an oppressive darkness. The air grew thick and cold as if they were moving through a dense, unseen fog. Shadows stretched and twisted around them, forming sinuous shapes that seemed to flicker at the edges of Catty''s vision.

    "Rutger, it''s getting hard to see anything," Catty whispered, her words a small thread in the enveloping gloom.

    "This is the path we must take," Rutger replied, steady but low, as if reluctant to disturb the heavy stillness that clung to the air.

    Catty squinted, trying to make sense of the surroundings that her eyes could no longer trust. The space seemed to pulse gently, rhythmically, as though breathing. Every so often, a shadow darted just beyond her line of sight, too quick to see, yet unmistakably there. She rubbed her eyes, wondering if her mind was playing tricks or the darkness toyed with them.

    "Rutger, did you see that?" Her hand instinctively reached for his arm.

    "Keep moving, Catty."

    But the shadows weren''t an absence of light; they had a presence, thickening into forms that almost seemed tangible. Whispers drifted through the air, words indistinguishable but tone unmistakable¡ª?threatening and warning. The temperature dropped with each step, and Catty could feel her breath now, a ghostly vapor in the dark.

    "I feel... watched," she admitted, barely a breath as coldness seeped into her bones.

    "We are not alone here," Rutger said. His hand swept through the air in an arc, and for a fleeting moment, the air flashed with light. It was not enough to illuminate their path but enough to make the darkness retreat momentarily.

    In that burst of light, the shadows coalesced into a terrifying picture¡ªa flock of harpies circling around Rutger and Catty. Their eyes were hollow yet viciously aimed at them. The harpies'' bodies were arched menacingly, and their mouths gaped in silent screeches. They were going to swoop down upon them. But just as quickly as the light had flared, Rutger extinguished it, and the thick darkness enveloped them once more, now even more oppressive with the palpable presence of these predators.

    "Run! These are harpies!" The old man grabbed Catty''s hand and pulled her into the gloom.

    "Harpies? Are they dangerous?"

    "Very," Rutger confirmed without turning around. "They guard the main artifact and react to humans."

    Catty ran following Rutger''s lead, and the eerie rustling of wings from the darkness around urged them on.

    They sprinted blindly. Catty ducked instinctively as a rush of air brushed her hair, and a harpy''s talons narrowly missed her head.

    Rutger managed a few quick words between breaths as they dashed through the oppressive darkness.

    "These harpies," he gasped, "are guardians bound by an ancient curse."

    "Cursed? How?"

    "Long ago, they were sorcerers, servants of a forgotten deity, sworn to protect sacred artifacts."

    The old man and girl ran hand in hand and dodged the harpies.

    "They sought to steal the secrets they were sworn to guard," Rutger continued, his voice hoarse. "As punishment, their deity transformed them into these creatures of shadow and feather¡ªforever to dwell in darkness and guarding what they once coveted."

    "Their eyes," Catty breathed, recalling their gaze, "they looked... almost human."

    "Yes," Rutger confirmed, ducking as a shadow swooped overhead. "A trace of their humanity lingers still. This remnant of their past selves makes them such effective protectors. They remember the value of what they protect and the cost of greed."

    "So, the light..." Catty began, but a sudden rush of wings cut her off.

    "It awakens their memory of betrayal, stirs the curse laid upon them," Rutger finished for her. "Light reminds them of what they lost, igniting their fury to defend, to attack anything that dares approach the treasures they now serve."

    "We run in darkness because light brings back their pain," the girl guessed.

    "Exactly," Rutger said, checking the path was clear before urging her forward again.

    With harpies closing in, Rutger and Catty slammed into an invisible barrier. They felt its energy pulsing silently. The old man steadied the girl, his breath ragged.

    "This barrier," he said quickly, "it''s linked to the dragon whose scale lies inside. Only someone bound by spirit to that dragon can open it."

    Catty, her chest heaving from the run, faced the barrier. Its surface barely shimmered under her gaze, and runes flowed across it like water.

    "What do I do?" she asked, uncertainty blinking.

    "Place your hand on it," Rutger instructed urgency threading through his tone. "Focus on your connection to the dragon, the bond that ties your spirit to him."

    Catty reached out, her hand trembling slightly as it neared the barrier''s surface. The moment her palm touched the glowing runes, the barrier rippled like disturbed water. Catty closed her eyes, her mind reaching out for the dragon she felt linked to yet had never met.

    The air around them grew still, the sounds of furious harpies momentarily fading into insignificance. As Catty focused, images flashed behind her closed eyelids: high mountains, vast skies, a dragon''s fiery breath...

    The barrier responded to her touch, the runes glowing brighter. A warmth spread from her hand into her heart, a confirmation of her lineage and her right to pass.

    "Feel the dragon''s essence," Rutger whispered, watching the barrier''s reaction. "Let it recognize you."

    Catty closed her eyes, and her heart almost jumped out of her chest. From fear and from the eerie beauty that opened before the girl.

    She was riding a dragon. She was flying alone¡ªhigh in the sky¡ªan alien sky with two moons. Like dead jellyfish, their silvery disks sadly illuminated the world around them.

    The ruins of an ancient city flew below Catty, its ruined towers rising from the haze spreading along the ground. As far as the eye could see, rugged mountains rose on all sides. Their sharp peaks glimmered dimly in the moon''s light.

    Catty was naked, her long hair blowing in the wind. She sat with her legs wrapped around the dragon''s body¡ªthe heat was pulsating inside it, and the girl felt the steel muscles rolling under the scales. The dragon steadily flapped his huge wings, his muzzle with sharp fangs directed towards a bright star shining far ahead.

    Catty turned back. There, black as death, a vast cloud was descending from the mountains, clouding the horizon. It was like a wall, growing to the sky. Everything disappeared in the cloud, and only two wild eyes and a toothy mouth turned purple in the darkness. The demon was hiding in the darkness, surrounded by a host of evil spirits, and now, awakened by the smell of life, rushed after the victim. And Catty was the victim.

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    The demon roared triumphantly, and the echo rumbled among the mountains. The clouds turned into clawed paws and rushed towards the girl and dragon, trying to grab them. With a wave of his paw, the mountain''s top fell with a roar.

    The dragon managed to dodge, and fragments of rock whistled past them.

    "We must rise above the mountains," Catty thought, and the dragon sharply rushed upward. The girl grabbed him by the neck so as not to fall and felt how they became one¡ªheartbeats, breathing, energy, and thoughts merged together.

    For some reason, it became easy; the fear quickly disappeared somewhere, carried away by the clouds floating below in a lilac haze. Such courage overwhelmed Catty, such a thirst for flight that if she had let go of the dragon''s neck, she would have flown away. But the dragon shook his head.

    "First learn to fly," Catty heard his silent voice, "and then decide what to do from now on¡ªfly or fall..."

    The demon was nearby; the girl heard his hoarse breathing behind her. He was overtaking them and surrounding with clouds on all sides. A wall of darkness had already grown ahead, reaching into the sky above the mountains. The moons disappeared, and now only the light of a lonely star illuminated the flight.

    The demon opened his mouth, and the stench enveloped Catty and the dragon. His jaws were closing inexorably. Turning around, the girl saw giant teeth flashing nearby, but at the last moment, the dragon folded his wings and rushed down, going into a steep dive.

    This saved both from death.

    The demon howled in rage.

    Suddenly, a bright light spilled over the gloomy world. Catty looked at the sky¡ªthe star began falling, becoming a comet. It rapidly increased in size, and its long tail sparkled behind it. There was something familiar about the comet, and when it flew into the wall of darkness like a rocket, Catty realized¡ªthis was her heart!

    The fabric of darkness was torn. Rays of blinding light burst out from the hole. They flew into them and glided away from the demon as if on a wave.

    When the fabric of darkness in her vision tore away, Catty felt a shift in the real world. The rays of blinding light that burst from the hole in her dream seemed to pierce through the very essence of the barrier before her. With a deep, resonant tremor, the barrier vibrated under her touch, the runes glowing increasingly brighter as if recognizing her rightful claim.

    The light from the barrier intensified, enveloping Catty in a warm, radiant embrace. It felt as if the dragon from her vision was still with her, its presence woven into the pulsating energy of the light. The oppressive darkness of the repository receded, pushed back by the burgeoning brilliance that now filled the air.

    Then, with a sound like the gentle sigh of a relieved breath, the barrier dissolved completely. The light softly transitioned into a gentle glow that lit up the path ahead.

    Rutger nodded with relief and pride in his eyes.

    "You''ve done it, Catty. The dragon recognizes you and accepts you."

    Catty''s heart was still racing from the vision. She felt an inner strength bubbling within her, a fusion of her spirit with the dragon.

    As the barrier vanished, the space around them shifted, the chill of fear replaced by a warm sense of unity. The path was clear, and they stepped forward, leaving the darkness behind, heading towards the sacred place where the dragon scale awaited.

    Suddenly, they found themselves standing on the shore of an endless sea. The sky above was an expanse of azure, dotted with fluffy, white clouds that drifted lazily. The sea barely rolled onto the shore, reflecting the vibrant blue sky and the golden rays of the sun. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of salt.

    They sat down on the soft, warm sand. It was pink and shimmered faintly in the sunlight. Only the sound of small waves broke the silence.

    In the distance, faint silhouettes of towering structures rose from the sea, their forms barely discernible against the horizon. The world felt ancient and otherworldly, a place where time flowed differently, where reality and illusion intertwined.

    "This place... it''s like a dream. Are we still in the repository?" Catty asked.

    "In a way, yes," Rutger replied. "This is a hidden realm, a place beyond the ordinary world. A sanctuary for the artifact we''re seeking."

    "It feels... alive. Like it''s watching us."

    "The world itself is a guardian, protecting its secrets and treasures. It recognizes those who enter, weighs their hearts and intentions."

    "So, this artifact... it''s here, somewhere?"

    "Yes, it will reveal itself when the time is right. We must be patient."

    "Patient?" Catty smiled. "Yeah, not really my thing."

    "I know," Rutger chuckled, "but some things cannot be rushed. This place responds to the soul''s call, not to impatience."

    The sun was shining brightly, but it was not hot. A light breeze moved the girl''s hair.

    Rutger stretched, "If life were a simple route, you''d never get to the interesting parts, would you?"

    "Interesting is one way to put it," the girl objected, "chaotic, dangerous, and life-threatening are other words that come to mind."

    "Adventure is the spice of life, Catty. Without it, we''d just be... well, bored. Imagine coming to the same mundane destinations every day."

    "A little boredom doesn''t sound too bad right now. So, what''s so special about this artifact anyway?"

    "Oh, this is a complicated thing! Imagine a bridge, not between places, but between times and realities," Rutger explained. "It''s said that those who can harness its power can change the past and future."

    "Changing the future sounds like a total headache. I can barely handle the present," Catty grimaced.

    "True," the old man agreed, "but think of the possibilities. The ability to foresee dangers, to avoid pitfalls, to act with unparalleled precision."

    "Or to become a target for everyone who wants that power. Seems like a double-edged sword to me."

    "That''s the nature of all great power, isn''t it? It''s never without its risks. But those who can master it... they can change the world."

    "I''m not here to change the world!" the girl exclaimed. "I just want to survive it."

    "Survival is the first step. But once you master survival, you start looking beyond it. You start thinking about what you can achieve and become."

    "And what if I don''t want to be more than who I am?"

    Rutger rubbed his chin. "Then you''d be the first person in history to be truly content. But I doubt it, Catty. There''s a fire in you that won''t be satisfied with mere survival."

    They fell silent, each thinking about his own. The girl passed pink sand through her fingers and watched the grains of sand flow like water. The old man sat, eyes scanning the horizon. The clouds were floating across the sky slowly but very quickly.

    "Catty, do you believe in destiny?"

    "Destiny? Like everything''s already written for us, somewhere in the stars?"

    "Yes, exactly that. Think of it not as a script to follow blindly but as a river. It flows towards its destination, but the water can swirl and surge in countless ways within its banks."

    "So, you''re saying we''re like leaves on that river? Pushed along by destiny, but still spinning and flipping on our own?"

    Rutger smiled slightly. "Precisely. We have paths laid out, the currents of fate, but within those currents, we have choices. We can fight against the flow, ride it out, or even find a quiet pool and linger for a while."

    The girl looked up. "But what if I want to climb out of the river? What if I want to carve out a completely new path?"

    "It''s possible, of course. But every step off the beaten path is fraught with obstacles and uncertainties. The river knows its way because it has flowed this path countless times. When you forge a new one, you face the unknown with no promise of where it will lead."

    "There''s freedom in that, right? The freedom to make your way, to discover lands that the river could never reach!"

    The old man laughed and slapped his knee.

    "Catty, ever wonder if some artifacts choose their guardians rather than the other way around?"

    "Choose us? Like... they have a will of their own?"

    "Perhaps. Imagine if the artifact we seek isn''t just an object. What if it possesses a desire to find the right person to wield its power?"

    "Do you believe that''s possible?" the girl asked. "Just promise me we''re not walking into a trap."

    "I''ve seen enough in my years to keep an open mind. And remember, every adventurer needs a compass, be it a set of stars or the voice of reason. What will be yours, Catty?"

    All at once, tears flowed down the girl''s cheeks.

    "And what if my soul is just... confused?"

    "Confusion is a part of the journey. It means you''re searching, seeking answers."

    "But what if I''m not ready for what waits for me?" the girl said confusedly.

    "Fear is natural, Catty. True courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to face it. Trust in yourself and in the bond you share with dragons."

    Catty sighed. "I wish I had your confidence. Everything feels so... overwhelming."

    "Confidence comes with time and experience. You''ve already shown great strength and resilience. Believe in that. And know that you''re not alone. I''m here, and so is your dragon, even if you can''t feel him right now."

    "I hope you''re right. I just... I don''t want to let anyone down."

    "You won''t," the old man shook his head. "Your life ahead is challenging, but it''s also filled with wonder and discovery. Embrace it, and let it shape you into who you''re meant to be."

    "Thanks, Rutger. I guess... I guess I just need to trust the process."

    "Exactly. Trust the process, and trust yourself. Now, let''s wait and see what this world has in store for you."

    As they sat on the shore, watching the sun move above and its reflection ripple in the sea below, a sense of calm washed over Catty. The vastness of the world around them made her feel small, yet strangely significant. She was a part of something greater, a journey that had just begun.

 011 // Transformation / Ending

    Catty and Rutger sat on the empty shore. The tranquil sea stretched before them, shimmering under the afternoon sun like a vast mirror. The only sounds were the gentle lapping of waves, and the light breeze was filled with the salty tang.

    The girl was the first to break the silence, "Do you feel that, Rutger?"

    "Yes," the old man replied, scanning the horizon. "The wind is picking up," his voice was calm but alert as he watched the sky. There, far away, dark clouds appeared.

    Catty followed his gaze. "Feels like something''s about to go down."

    The lines on Rutger''s face deepened as he looked at the clouds gather like an army preparing for war.

    The waves swelled, growing larger with each passing moment, and disrupted their rhythmic dance. Their restless energy mirrored the tension in the air. The sky was darkening rapidly, a canvas of deep blues and purples. A distant thunder rumbled, a forewarning of the tempest to come.

    The wind grew stronger and howled around them, blowing Catty''s hair. The air was now thick with moisture, heavy, and cold as if the storm were breathing down their necks.

    The sea was no longer whispering. It roared, waves crashing against the shore with increasing ferocity, spray biting as it hit their faces.

    The sky darkened further, the storm clouds rolling in to blot out the sun. Yet, there was no rain¡ªonly the wild wind and the roaring sea.

    "We should prepare," Rutger said, extending a hand to help Catty reach her feet. The wind tossed his grey beard into disarray.

    Lightning flashed, brilliant and sharp, slicing through the blackened sky. It was followed closely by the deep bellow of thunder, which vibrated through the earth beneath them.

    The storm built ferociously, the sea boiling as if in the throes.

    "Stay close, Catty!" Rutger shouted over the roar of the wind and the crashing of the waves. Catty nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. Together, they watched as the sea thrashed violently, its waves like the furious strokes of an ancient beast.

    Each lightning flash illuminated the storm''s growing rampage, a dance of light against the dark, revealing the heart of the tempest, where something extraordinary was taking shape.

    The wind howled louder, like a primal scream. The storm now encircled them, a mighty vortex of air and water, its center where they stood.

    "Rutger, what''s happening?!" Catty''s voice trembled.

    Then, without warning, the storm shifted gears. What had been a gathering storm now roared into the ferocity of a hurricane. The wind became a monstrous force, relentless and all-consuming. It whipped around Catty, her dress billowing and twisting in the gusts and becoming a sail caught in the relentless wind, pulling at her with each new surge of the gale.

    The sea, mirroring the raging sky, surged onto the shore. Waves, taller than any that had come before, crashed with explosive force, sending spray high into the air¡ªit mingled with the torrential downpour that now fell from the black sky.

    Amidst this chaos, the world seemed to blur, the lines between sea, sky, and shore smudged by the overwhelming power of the hurricane. The sound was deafening¡ªthe howling of the wind, the crashing of the waves, the incessant hammering of the rain, and the boom of thunder merging together.

    Catty''s dress tore and whipped around her, caught in the wild dance of the storm.

    When the hurricane reached its apex, the wind and waves converged upon a single point out at sea. It seemed the hurricane was a living entity, preparing to shift the reality around Rutger and Catty.

    It was a towering vortex of wind and water, encapsulating them in a furious dome.

    Then, suddenly, silence.

    Catty and Rutger ended up in a sphere of calm, isolated from the fury that raged around them.

    A brilliant, blinding light pierced the sky, cutting through the chaos of the hurricane.

    As their eyes adjusted to the light, they noticed a single, luminous point before them. It was small at first, no larger than a pebble, yet it shone with the intensity of a sun.

    Within moments, the small point began an extraordinary transformation. It shimmered momentarily and then gently divided, each division a mirror image of the original. These new objects, like shards of light, continued the process, each splitting in a dance of replication that was both mesmerizing and precise. This cascade of division and multiplication unfolded with a unified rhythm, each new scale growing seamlessly from the last, expanding outward in the fractal pattern.

    "This is the Pink Dragon''s Scale!" Rutger exclaimed.

    The ensemble of scales, now numerous, pulsated together in harmony. They shimmered with a soft pink glow, their surfaces iridescent and captivating. As they multiplied, they moved with fluid grace, like droplets of water coalescing on a windowpane during a gentle rain.

    This radiant body of light and color breathed, expanding and contracting ever so slightly, alive with quiet energy.

    "The Pink Dragon''s Scale..." Catty repeated.

    When she cautiously stepped closer, the scales reacted. They rippled, reflecting her puzzled expression. Warmth radiated from the artifact, intensifying as Catty drew nearer. It felt as if the artifact recognized her presence and responded to her proximity, inviting her to come even closer.

    Rutger watched quietly from a step behind. His face was severe, as usual. When Catty was within touching distance of the radiant scales, he spoke up, his tone matter-of-fact.

    "You see how they grow? They know you''re here."

    "They''re beautiful..." the girl said, her eyes fixed on the shimmering scales, "but there''s something... disturbing about them."

    "Those scales hold all the dragon power," Rutger nodded. "Old, deep, and not entirely tame. Touching them... well, it''s touching a piece of magic. It will change you. Profoundly. Forever."

    Catty turned to look at him. "Change me how? Superhero makeover or something a bit more... fiery?"

    The old man chuckled softly, appreciating her attempt to lighten the mood.

    "More like waking something inside you that can''t go back to sleep. Think of it as unlocking a door you might not be able to close."

    "So, if I touch them, there''s no going back?" her gaze returned to the artifact.

    "That''s about the size of it. It''s your call, Catty. Your history, your future."

    "Well, Rutger, curiosity hasn''t killed me yet," the girl took a deep breath. "Let''s see what''s behind door number one."

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Rutger gave a resigned nod and stepped back.

    "Just remember, whatever comes out of this, we face it together."

    Catty touched the dragon scale decisively, but her hand still trembled slightly.

    Instantly, a surge of golden light erupted from the point of contact, enveloping her in a brilliant aura.

    The scales converged towards Catty, flowing like liquid light and wrapping around her. They adhered to her form, creating a suit that sparkled with pink hues and fitted her perfectly.

    The moment the girl''s skin made contact with the shimmering scale, a flood of warmth rushed up her arm, spreading through her entire body. It felt as if the very essence of the dragon''s fire was coursing through Catty, igniting a strength she hadn''t known she possessed.

    "Okay, this is happening. Just breathe."

    At the beginning, there was fear. It shot through her heart, a primal reaction to the unknown energies now coursing through her veins. The fear was sharp and acute, but it was swiftly overtaken by a wave of exhilaration. It was a sensation unlike any the girl had ever experienced¡ªboth comforting and overwhelming.

    Her body started to change in ways Catty could never have imagined¡ªher eyes burning, her skin tingling¡ªas tiny scales emerged.

    Her eyes were the first to change, the pupils dilating dramatically before shifting color. The soft brown of her irises sparkled, turning a yellow that shimmered with flecks of light reminiscent of molten gold.

    The transformation spread quickly. A subtle glow emanated from the girl''s skin, growing brighter by the second. Tiny, fine scales materialized along her arms and neck, catching the light with each movement, giving her skin an armored appearance that gleamed with a pearly iridescence.

    Catty''s hair was adopting strands of pink and gold that flowed and shimmered as if charged with static electricity. Each strand was alive, dancing with an unseen breeze, transforming her ordinary appearance into something ethereal.

    "Well, it appears the universe has other plans for me today..."

    When the girl had spoken, testing her new voice, it carried a resonant, echoing quality that vibrated with a deeper timbre, as if her vocal cords had been tuned to resonate with the ancient language of dragons.

    Her fingernails hardened, elongating slightly and taking on a metallic sheen that resembled elegant claws, both beautiful and formidable. Around her, a visible aura pulsated, a shimmering field of energy that rippled with every breath the girl took, reflecting the powerful magic now coursing through her veins.

    With each physical change, her mind expanded, absorbing and adapting to her newfound abilities. The dragon''s memories, subtle yet potent, began to blend with her own, painting her thoughts with visions of ancient worlds.

    Catty closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. The world around her sharpened, scents became more pronounced, and every sound carried a layered richness she had never noticed before. The air against her skin felt different, charged with energy, as her senses heightened to superhuman levels.

    The suit, formed from the dragon scale, adhered to her form perfectly and had become a second skin. It moved seamlessly with the girl, enhancing her movements with elegance and power.

    Beneath the suit, her muscles were becoming more defined. Her physique showcased increased strength and agility that felt as inborn to her as breathing. Catty moved her arms, testing her new strength, feeling the power that now flowed through her limbs.

    "Whoa, I got this. It''s just another Tuesday... with a side of dragon!"

    Catty saw the last remnants of the golden light fade from her skin, the transformation complete. Her new form, shimmering with dragon scales and glowing eyes, felt foreign and intimately familiar. She turned to Rutger, who was watching her with pride and concern.

    "This is it, huh? Any tips on dealing with these scales?"

    Rutger chuckled, shaking his head.

    "You''ll get used to it. And if you ever need a manicure, I suggest finding a blacksmith instead of a salon."

    "Good to know!" Catty grinned. "What now? Do I start breathing fire and hoarding gold?"

    "Not quite. When we leave the repository, you will become an ordinary girl again," Rutger replied, "and no one will know what happened to you here. But first, we need to talk about the prophecy. The Child of Dragons has more on her plate than fire and treasure."

    "The prophecy. Right. That''s a heavy word. What''s the deal with that?"

    Rutger took a deep breath, his gaze turning serious.

    "The prophecy speaks of a child born with the blood of dragons, destined to unite ancient divides and awaken the great power. That''s you, Catty. You''re not just any girl with dragon powers¡ªyou''re the key to a much larger story."

    "Great, no pressure then. So, what does being the Child of Dragons entail? Besides looking fabulous, of course."

    "Being the Child of Dragons means you have certain responsibilities. You''ll need to learn to control your new powers, understand the rules of our world, and prepare for the challenges ahead. This transformation is a call to action."

    Catty glanced at her hand, the shimmering scales glinting in the light.

    "New powers? What exactly are we talking about here?" she feigned confusion.

    "You felt it yourself! Enhanced strength, heightened senses, the ability to communicate with dragons, and possibly even ancient draconic magic. It''s a lot, but you must learn to control and harness these abilities."

    "And I thought living in the orphanage was tough!"

    "This is a bit more... intense," the old man frowned. "Let me give you some historical context. Dragons and humans have a long, complicated history. There were times of peace and cooperation but also periods of conflict. Your transformation marks a pivotal event in this ongoing story."

    "So, I''m a historical milestone. That''s... something."

    "More than a milestone. Your emergence signals a time of change, a sort of awakening for dormant strength. It''s both an opportunity and a challenge."

    "Sounds like the world¡¯s about to get shaken up with me in this role."

    "Exactly, and there''s more. Your role could shift the balance of power in our world. There are those who will see you as a threat and others who will see you as a beacon of hope."

    "I''m like... here to make sure things don''t go sideways?" Catty shook her head. "Any immediate next steps? Besides not freaking out?"

    "Yes. We need to focus on understanding your powers. Practice, training, and a few quests should help you get a handle on them. There''s also the matter of fulfilling the first part of your prophecy."

    "Quests? Like in fairy tales?"

    "In a way," Rutger looked sternly at the girl. "Think of them as practical tests and opportunities to grow. But be aware¡ªthere are dangers. Those who might seek to use you for their ends."

    "I''m not exactly thrilled about being someone''s tool."

    "You''re not a tool, Catty. You''re a player with your moves to make. And you have support. You''re not alone in this."

    "And if my path leads me to some... buried secrets?" Catty took a deep breath.

    "Then you face them as any Child of Dragons would¡ªwith courage and curiosity. And maybe a touch of caution."

    "Well, I''ve never been big on caution."

    "I know," Rutger laughed. "And that''s why your story is going to be one worth telling."

    His expression softened.

    "It''s going to be challenging, but you have the strength to face it. In time, you''ll meet others who will stand by you, guardians of old knowledge, and those who have walked similar paths. People who have undergone similar transformations and understood the prophecy."

    "Good to know I''ll have company. Anyone I should know about?"

    "There are a few, but you''ll meet them when the time is right. For now, focus on adjusting to your new self."

    Catty sighed, feeling the weight of her new reality.

    "This is all so much. I''m still trying to get my head around it."

    "It''s a lot to take in," Rutger agreed. "Take it one step at a time. Reflect on what you want your new role to mean. For yourself and for others."

    "What do you mean?"

    "This power, this destiny¡ªit''s yours to shape. Think about what you want to achieve and what kind of being you want to be. And don''t forget to lean on those who care about you."

    Catty nodded.

    Rutger continued, "And the prophecy... it speaks of the dragon''s egg. It''s crucial. Your transformation and everything that happened to you will not make sense if we don''t find it. Your new power is useless without the dragon that must hatch from this egg."

    "The egg is crucial," the old man repeated, "all the magicians and adventurers are hunting for it. Finding it will be no easy task, but it''s essential for fulfilling your role."

    Rutger fell silent, giving the girl time to absorb his words. He then pointed to her bracelet.

    "It will help us find the egg."

    As if confirming what Rutger said, Catty''s bracelet began to emit a soft glow, a gentle pulse like the heartbeat of ancient awakening.

    "I guess there''s a dark side to this? There usually is," the girl said.

    "Indeed. Darkness looms, old as the prophecy itself. Ancient evils that have waited for a time such as this to rise again."

    "Okay, no biggie, just fighting ancient evil," Catty grunted. "Why did I think this would be a straightforward job?"

    "Nothing worth doing is ever straightforward, especially not for the Child of Dragons."

    "And all this¡ªdoes it end somewhere? What''s the end game?"

    "The prophecy speaks of a great sacrifice. What it entails isn''t clear, but these paths often demand something personal..."

    "Sacrifice? Why doesn''t that sound surprising?"

    Tears flashed in the old man''s eyes.

    "The prophecy suggests that fulfilling your destiny might come at a personal cost. It could be something¡ªor someone¡ªprecious to you, or perhaps a part of yourself."

    "That sounds pretty ominous," the girl frowned.

    "The greater the power, the greater the responsibility¡ªand sometimes, the greater the personal cost. It''s about balance, Catty."

    "And this... do I get to choose what I sacrifice?"

    "In some ways, perhaps. The decisions you make and the paths you choose to walk will influence what the sacrifice entails."

    "That doesn''t make it sound any less daunting."

    "No, it doesn''t. It''s not merely about loss. It''s also about what those sacrifices allow you to achieve, the lives you touch..."

    "So, if I have to give something up, is it because it serves a greater purpose? Something beyond just me?"

    "Exactly."

    Catty clapped her hands.

    "Well, Rutger, looks like we have our work cut out for us. Where do we start?"

 012 // Supplement / Feature Article

    THE ORIGINS OF THE GUARDIAN SECTS

    In the annals of Eterna, few subjects have been as exhaustively scrutinized, debated, and, dare we say, misrepresented as the origins of the Guardian Sects. These venerable institutions, each devoted to a magical creature, have shaped our city''s history, culture, and, most importantly, its ability to cultivate both energy and an imposing sense of self-importance. This investigation aims to uncover the truths, half-truths, and outright fabrications that have surrounded these illustrious groups since immemorial.

    Now, one might ask, why delve into the annals of these arcane assemblies? The answer lies not just in the obvious delight of uncovering tales of yore that are more punctual than most public transport systems but also in understanding the intricate dance of cosmic and terrestrial energies that keep our city from devolving into a chaotic jamboree of magical mishaps. After all, the Guardian Sects have mastered the art of channeling celestial energies, ensuring that your morning levitation commute remains as serene as a well-meditated monk.

    So, strap your metaphysical seat belts and prepare for a historical journey that promises more twists and turns than the most intricate mazes.

    The primary objective of this scholarly escapade¡ªbeyond the mere accumulation of arcane anecdotes and a potential increase in pub quiz prowess¡ªis to dissect and disseminate the profound influence these sects exert over the city''s mystical and civic dynamics. As custodians of cosmic order, their historical actions and decisions ripple through time, affecting everything from the fluctuation of enchanted markets to the predictability of seasonal weather (because who else but the Guardians could ensure the perfect weather for the Festival of Lights?)

    Furthermore, by unraveling the tangled threads of their storied past, we aim to expose the fabric of present circumstances and perhaps even glimpse future probabilities. This exploration is not merely academic¡ªit is a vital pursuit that straddles the realms of practicality and prophecy. After all, in a city where the future can literally be written in the stars, understanding those who interpret these celestial scripts is akin to holding a backstage pass to the Multiverse.

    Thus, armed with an anvil, curiosity, and a healthy dose of skepticism, we embark on this journey to forge a key that unlocks the deeper mysteries of Eterna. What secrets do the Guardian Sects guard so jealously? How do their ancient rites affect your daily routine? These questions and more lie at the heart of our quest, promising revelations that may redefine the boundaries between the mythical and the mundane.

    The origins of the Guardian Sects are shrouded in the mists of time, obscured by layers of myth, legend, and the occasional exaggeration from overly enthusiastic scribes. To uncover the truth, we must travel back to the era of the Grand Alignment.

    In the annals of Eterna''s storied history, few events shine with as much mystical import and scholarly debate. This celestial phenomenon, occurring once every millennium, is not your garden-variety astrological affair. It''s the cosmic equivalent of all the planets throwing a surprise party for Earth, and everyone¡ªfrom the smallest moon to the grandest sun¡ªis invited.

    Astronomers (who often squabbled over whose telescope was bigger) agreed on one thing: the Grand Alignment was a spectacle of planetary precision that flooded Eterna with cosmic energy. Picture this: planets lined up in a cosmic conga line so perfectly that even the stars paused to take snapshots. This alignment reduced the celestial barrier to a mere gossamer, allowing beings from other dimensions to slip through to Eterna for a night of extraordinary mystical exchanges.

    As if the universe momentarily forgot the laws of time and space, beings of myth and legend stepped into Eterna, looking as bewildered as travelers in a foreign land. Dragons descended upon castle towers, mistaking them for the great mountains of their home realms, while Phoenixes alighted upon old oaks, igniting the branches with their fiery breath as they settled into what they believed were ancestral roosts. With their shimmering horns, Unicorns gracefully trod along cobblestone paths, leaving trails of sparkling dust that dazzled and confounded the local townspeople. Fairies flitted through bustling market squares, their delicate wings shimmering as they enchanted unsuspecting townsfolk with illusions of ephemeral beauty. Majestic winged Pegasi created gusts of wind that playfully tossed market canopies and stirred the leaves of ancient trees, much to the amusement of onlooking children. This period of celestial mingling was what scholars affectionately called The Great Convergence¡ªwhere the line between a celestial visitation and a mythological gathering became delightfully blurry.

    Amidst this celestial celebration, certain mortals¡ªthose who had consumed their mandrake root brew and were thus unflappably ready for interdimensional mingling¡ªstepped forward. These were Eterna''s first Guardian candidates, chosen by destiny or a very persistent sort of fate that refused to take ''no'' for an answer. These enlightened individuals found themselves face-to-face with a mythical counterpart whose aura matched their own like a cosmic personality test.

    On a night when even the moon decided to don its festive hat, these human-mythical duos engaged in what can only be described as a supernatural bonding. Imagine a ceremony where earthly words morphed into soul-deep vows that resonated with the ancient rhythms of the universe. Under the celestial canopy, constellations shimmered, acting as cosmic witnesses. The stars seemed to lean closer, imbuing the moment with their timeless glow and ensuring that every heartfelt promise was woven into the fabric of reality. The bonds formed here were the stuff of legend¡ªliterally¡ªas they gave birth to the Guardian Sects, groups sworn to uphold the balance of magic and mayhem.

    The city commemorates this event annually with the Grand Festival, filled with enchanting displays, miraculous demonstrations, and at least one incident of the mayor''s ceremonial pants disappearing. It''s a time of joy, reflection, and communal hope that the griffins might consider perching somewhere other than on the ancient statues next time.

    THE COUNCIL OF FOUR BEASTS

    The monumental event known as the Grand Convergence marked the creation of a diverse assembly of 108 sects. Each Sect is dedicated to a magical creature and linked to celestial constellations, creating a symbiotic network spanning the entire city.

    Among magical creatures that descended on Eterna, four stood out with such amazing radiance that even the night fireflies went out of embarrassment. They were the Dragon, the Phoenix, the Unicorn, and the Nine-Tailed Fox.

    The Dragon Sect, emblematic of strength and resilience, was founded on principles derived from celestial mechanics. The Sect harnesses solar energies, channeling the raw power into mystical practices that fortify Eterna''s physical and ethereal realms. Known for embodying strength, the members are so intense that even their morning yoga sessions could cause minor seismic activity, which might explain why they''re so hot-headed at meetings.

    The Phoenix Sect was rooted in stellar life cycle phenomena, embodying regeneration and cyclical continuity. Members study celestial events that mirror the phoenix''s ability to resurrect, applying these principles to enhance their magical revival techniques. Famous for their fiery flair, the members take their theme of rebirth so seriously that even their to-do lists are burned at the end of each day, only to be restored from the ashes the next morning. Their expertise in regeneration makes them the go-to consultants for anyone looking to spice up their home decor with a touch of flame.

    The Unicorn Sect is aligned with the tranquil lunar energies and delves into the quieter, more refined aspects of magic. It draws upon the gravitational pull of the moon to balance the tidal forces within and around Eterna, fostering harmony and creativity within its mystical arts. Aligned with the tranquil energies of the lunar surface, the members are so serene that even their debates sound like meditations. Drawing upon lunar gravity, they balance tidal forces, ensuring no one''s beach day in Eterna is ever ruined by unexpected high waves.

    The Nine-Tailed Fox Sect is focused on the complexities of cosmic deception¡ªakin to the elusive nature of light bending around a black hole. The Sect specializes in illusions and strategic foresight. Its practices involve manipulating the interplay of light and shadow to weave enchantments that protect and obscure Eterna''s secrets. Known for their mastery of illusion and trickery, the members are so skilled at invisibility that they occasionally forget which tail is real and which is just an illusion they''ve conjured up. Their strategic meetings often double as mystery performances, where even the refreshments might not be as they appear¡ªso you''d better hope that''s really tea you''re sipping!

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    The Council of Four Beasts oversees the delicate balance of power, ensuring that the legacy of the original convergence continues to guide and protect Eterna.

    While these four main sects were the pioneers, the Grand Convergence saw the formation of 108 Guardian Sects, each dedicated to a magical creature and its celestial counterpart. The city of Eterna, a melting pot of magic and technology, embraced this new wave of mystical diversity. These sects established enclaves throughout the city, creating a network of wisdom and power that ensured the city''s prosperity and harmony.

    No matter how obscure or flamboyant, Every Guardian Sect plays a vital role in the cosmic dance that defines Eterna. From the Leviathan Sect, delving into the mysteries of the deep, to the more eccentric Pegasus Sect, renowned for their thrilling sky racing, each contributed to the city''s magical mosaic.

    Thus, the early beginnings of the Guardian Sects were not merely the result of random celestial events but a carefully orchestrated cosmic symphony. The Grand Alignment and the subsequent Grand Convergence brought forth an era of enlightenment, establishing a legacy that would shape Eterna for millennia. And so, the Guardian Sects continue to thrive, guardians of both ancient wisdom and modern innovation, ensuring that the subtle equilibrium of the cosmos remains undisturbed.

    THE STRUCTURE OF THE GUARDIAN SECTS

    The organizational structure of each Guardian Sect is a marvel of bureaucratic artistry, meticulously designed to make even the most seasoned administrator dizzy with admiration. At the pinnacle of this complex hierarchy are the Sect Masters, individuals so revered that their mere nod can cause waves across Eterna.

    Sect Masters are supported by an elaborate council of Elders, Grand Elders, and, on rare occasions, the venerable Grandmasters¡ªtitles that often confuse even the members. Below these esteemed ranks swirl the currents of disciples, initiates, and relentlessly eager interns, all aspiring to ascend this ladder of mystical bureaucracy.

    The process of appointing a new Sect Master is enveloped in secrecy, a ritual so dangerous that even the trees near the ceremonial site have signed non-disclosure agreements. The Sect''s magical creatures are at the heart of this ceremony, and their wisdom and ancient instincts make them the ultimate judges. The privilege of selecting the Sect Master rests solely with them, reflecting their integral role within the Sect and their profound connection to its destiny.

    According to rumors that zip through Eterna faster than a mischievous sprite on a mana rush, the ceremony takes place in a hidden enclave, accessible only through portals guarded by the oldest and wisest of the Sect''s creatures. The details of the ritual remain a mystery, fueling legends and speculation among the sects'' members and beyond. We can only guess what transpires within, but it is said that after the ceremony, Masters often emerge visibly changed; some return with hair turned prematurely gray, others with beards that were not there before. In more drastic transformations, the Master of the Cerberus Sect is rumored to have lost his sight, while the Master of the Garuda Sect is said to have changed gender.

    As we peel back the layers of Eterna''s magic bureaucracy, the tales of its legendary heroes stand out for their heroic deeds and their near-mythical ability to navigate the complex web of Guardian politics. Each Sect''s foundation is as much about magical prowess as it is about the charismatic and sometimes eccentric figures who founded them.

    The legend of Markod the Flamewhisper, the revered founder of the Dragon Sect, begins amidst a chaotic volcanic eruption that threatened to reshape the land. Amidst the chaos, Markod, a warrior-mage known for his unorthodox approaches, encountered the first Celestial Dragon. Unlike his contemporaries, who might have used force or magic to subdue such a beast, Markod used a more unconventional method: culinary diplomacy.

    As the story goes, amidst the roar of the volcano and the fierce dragon''s breath, Markod realized that the dragon was not only fierce but also famished. Drawing from his limited supplies, he offered the dragon the only food he had on hand¡ªa notoriously stinky cheese from Whiffleton. Intrigued and delighted by the pungent offering, the dragon paused its fiery rampage to savor the snack. Pleased by the unexpected meal, the dragon formed a bond with Markod, marking the beginning of a friendship and the founding of the Dragon Sect.

    Lunara Silverveil was famed for her weaving and her so-called "magical mishaps," which often left villagers amused and slightly wary of her crafts. One evening, as she wove a tapestry depicting an ancient unicorn myth, her loom took her instructions too enthusiastically.

    The threads shimmered and danced under her fingers, and to Lunara''s astonishment, they wove a vivid and vivacious unicorn. As the last thread was tied, the tapestry shuddered and, with a dramatic flourish that would rival any theater production, the unicorn pranced out of its fabric confines, knocking over the loom and causing a colorful explosion.

    "Where am I? This isn''t the Elysian Fields!"

    Embarrassed yet enchanted by its dramatic entrance, the unicorn looked around, and then, spotting its form in the mirror, preened and posed with an air of vanity only a creature of legend could muster.

    "No, but it¡¯s Gwyllgwythryn. Close enough if you squint in the moonlight," Lunara answered.

    Realizing the miraculous nature of her creation, Lunara laughed, and the unicorn, catching her reflection alongside its own, decided she was the perfect partner for its newfound freedom.

    "Well, if magical mishaps summon beings like you, perhaps I should consider accidentally weaving a whole herd," Lunara joked.

    Thus, the Unicorn Sect came into being, born from a blend of magic and happenstance.

    As the legend of the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect has it, Kitsura the Shapeshifter was practicing her illusion spells in the forest when she unwittingly mimicked the appearance of a nine-tailed fox, not realizing one was watching her. The real fox, amused and intrigued by this human''s audacity to replicate its form, decided to confront Kitsura. In a twist of fate, Kitsura threw another spell, accidentally merging their shadows.

    This magical mishap did not end in disaster but instead sparked a conversation between Kitsura and the nine-tailed fox. Impressed by her skills and her fearless approach to magic, the fox proposed a challenge: if Kitsura could outwit it in a duel of illusions, she would gain its allegiance. The duel lasted through the night, with each trying to outdo the other in craftiness. As dawn broke, neither could determine who was who, as they had both shapeshifted numerous times into each other and various creatures.

    Acknowledging a draw, the nine-tailed fox agreed to form a pact with Kitsura, founding the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect based on principles of strategy, illusion, and the art of deception. The Sect is known for its secretive nature and the complex, labyrinthine structure of its enclave, designed personally by Kitsura to ensure that only the most perceptive and witty could navigate its paths.

    CURRENT STATE OF THE SECTS

    As we delve into the intricacies of the cultivation practices within the Guardian Sects, it''s worth noting that these mystical methodologies are documented in a level of detail that would make even a time traveler''s head spin. Fortunately for us¡ªand any curious minds¡ªProfessor Phosalan has penned an exhaustively thorough tome on the subject, titled Ethereal Energies and Enchantments: A Comprehensive Guide to Sect Cultivation Techniques.

    This seminal work, known affectionately among students as Phosalan''s Sleep Aid due to its soporific prose and formidable thickness, is available for those brave enough to tackle its depth. It can be found on the virtual shelves of the Academy of Arcane Sciences'' website, freely accessible to anyone with a persistent curiosity and wish for spontaneous napping.

    The description of the practices begins with the exciting Thermal Thaumaturgy of the Dragon Sect, a fiery discipline that teaches control over internal and external flames. Novices start by trying to toast marshmallows using only their chi (leading to many a singed eyebrow),  and advanced members might be seen breathing fire to light barbecues, combining culinary arts with magical displays.

    We regret that due to limited resources and time, our article can''t devote enough time to describing Rainbow Archery of the Unicorn Sect, Inferno Yoga of the Phoenix Sect, Cloud Wrestling of the Griffin Sect, Shadow Weaving of the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect, Aerodynamic Alchemy of the Pegasus Sect, Serpent''s Swirl of the Naga Sect, and other unique and exciting practices of all 108 sects.

    Exploring the complex and fascinating structure of the Guardian Sects, one cannot help but marvel at their ability to maintain both magical and mundane harmony. However, even the most perfect systems are not immune to minor misunderstandings and quirks. After all, who could forget the memorable incident when the head of a Sect accidentally sent their Chimera to the annual aerial dance competition, resulting in thunderous applause and singed feathers?

    Remembering the primary goal of our investigation, we can conclude that the Guardian Sects play an invaluable role in maintaining balance and order in Eterna. Their knowledge and practices ensure the city''s safety and prosperity and add a unique charm and mystery to it.

    And remember: in this city, even the strangest encounters can be part of a carefully planned magical order. And if you are offered a glass of mysterious elixir, don''t be afraid ¨C it might just be a fairy trying to improve her coffee-making skills.

    With these thoughts, we conclude our investigation, assuring you that Eterna''s magic and order are in good hands. And if you are still unsure, remember: behind every magical issue stands something with a twisted smile, watching you with eyes that have seen far too much.

 013 // Exploration / Opening

    The first rays of dawn were filtering through the small window of the attic room when Catty stirred from sleep. She blinked groggily, struggling to remember whether her transformation had truly happened or was just a vivid dream. As the girl slowly sat up, she expected to feel the same surge of power from the night before.

    But as Catty rubbed her eyes and looked around, everything seemed¡­ normal. Her body felt like it always had¡ªno extraordinary strength, no heightened senses. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood, stretching and yawning, but there was no indication of the profound changes she had felt during her transformation.

    Furrowing her brow, Catty glanced down at her hands. They looked the same, but she could still remember the power coursing through her veins, the feeling of being connected to something ancient and immense. She turned her hands over, expecting to see scales, but there were none. Instead of claws, her fingertips ended in ordinary nails, slightly chipped. The girl let out a small laugh.

    "Well, at least I don''t need a dragon-claws manicure."

    Still puzzled, Catty walked over to the small mirror hanging on the wall. She peered into it, expecting to see some sign of the transformation in her reflection. Her eyes were the same familiar shade of brown, not the vivid yellow they had turned last night. The girl leaned closer, searching for any hint of the change, but she only saw her slightly bewildered face staring back at her.

    "Strange," Catty murmured under her breath, touching the bracelet on her wrist.

    Catty went downstairs, following the familiar scent of herbs and the sound of a crackling fire. Rutger was already up, bustling around the kitchen. He looked up as she entered, a smile on his face.

    "Good morning, Catty. How do you feel today?"

    The girl hesitated, trying to find the right words.

    "I feel¡­ normal. But not really. Last night, I felt so different, so powerful. But now¡­"

    Rutger nodded.

    "The transformation you experienced is real, but its full effects may not manifest immediately. Sometimes, such changes are linked to specific triggers or moments. Tell me, do you still feel the connection?"

    Catty closed her eyes for a moment, focusing on the faint warmth emanating from the bracelet.

    "Yes, I can still feel it. It''s like a part of me now."

    "Good," Rutger''s smile widened. "That connection is crucial. It means the transformation is within you, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself fully. For now, let''s focus on our next steps."

    They sat down for breakfast, and Catty''s mind returned to the strange balance of normalcy and change she felt. She was determined to figure out what had happened and what it meant for her.

    "What do we need to do first?" the girl asked with her mouth full. She had a ravenous appetite after yesterday''s events and was wolfing down her second portion of omelet.

    "First, we have to find the dragon''s egg," the old man said, "and that won''t be easy. We need advice, and I know where to look for it."

    "Are there people who can help us?" Catty emptied her glass of glimberry juice.

    Rutger''s fork, with a piece of pie, paused halfway to his mouth.

    "Not only people."

    At noon, Catty was following Rutger as he navigated through the lively streets of the city center, the air thick with the sounds and smells of the bustling metropolis: sizzling street food, a fusion of old-world magic spices and new-age synthetic flavors. Buildings stretched skyward, glass and steel coexisting with stone and wood, their surfaces etched with glowing sigils. Above, the sky was crisscrossed by hovercars and winged creatures, each lane buzzing with the city''s vibrant pulse.

    The streets were filled with light and colors. Signs appealed from every wall, advertising everything from the latest tech mods to ancient potions guaranteed to cure all ailments. The smell of fried jinko nuts mixed with the sharper, cleaner scent of ionized air wafting out from the open doorways of sleek caf¨¦s.

    The crowd around was a blend of races and species¡ªhumans decked out in gear that whirred and blinked, dwarves discussing deals over holographic displays, elves whose skin shimmered with faint luminescence. Vendors lined the sidewalks, their stalls cluttered with an array of goods. A woman with mechanical limbs operated a device that synthesized perfumes, capturing memories and forgotten times. Next to her, a cloaked figure sold tiny, fluttering creatures that sang like the ringing of small bells. Children darted between the crowds, their laughter mingling with the sales pitches, while drones hovered above, broadcasting the activity in streaming orbs of light.

    They passed vendors shouting over the clamor to sell their wares, cars honking incessantly, and pedestrians weaving through the crowd with urgency.

    Despite the bustle around them, Rutger moved calmly, his eyes scanning the environment with an almost predatory precision. Catty struggled to keep pace with his long strides, her mind still replaying his cryptic words, "Not only people." She glanced at him, hoping for some sign, some clue as to what awaited them, but his focus remained unwavering.

    Once, Rutger would pause to exchange words with a gloomy stranger. His old ties to the city''s undercurrents were as evident as the lines on his face. Catty felt the city''s pulse seep into her¡ªthe restless harmony of a place suspended between magic and machinery.

    As they turned onto a narrower side street, the shadows of tall buildings swallowed them, providing a brief respite from the sun''s glare. Rutger slowed slightly, allowing Catty to catch up.

    "We need to be vigilant," he murmured, almost to himself, as if remembering an old habit. Catty nodded, her senses heightening as she tried to emulate his alertness.

    "Where are we going?" the girl asked.

    "We''ll be there soon. Where''s the entrance."

    The street opened again as they approached the city''s heart, where the main streets converged. At the busy intersection, Rutger said the entrance would be found here. Catty''s heart raced with anticipation. And a bit of fear of what lay ahead.

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    She had never seen such a massive crowd of people in one place. Because of the towers soaring up, dusk reigned here. Neon signs blinked incessantly, casting a kaleidoscope of colors onto the waves of people that ebbed and flowed across the pedestrian crossings.

    The ground vibrated underfoot from the nearby transit tubes and a deeper, more rhythmic pulse¡ªas if the city was breathing. Overhead, drones flitted back and forth like oversized mechanical bees, weaving between flying creatures that darted through the sliver of sky between tall buildings.

    When they paused at the curbside, where the pedestrian light flickered, Catty felt the tension. Amidst the clamor of the city, something unpredictable was lurking here, veiled by the ordinary. It was waiting for them.

    The traffic light turned green, Rutger took the girl by the hand, and they stepped forward as a flow of people started moving.

    When they wove their way through the dense crowd at the intersection, Catty could feel the press around them¡ªthe noise and the jostling of bodies¡ªbut Rutger held her hand, guiding the girl through the crosswalk.

    His stride faltered just as they reached the middle of the intersection. His grip on her hand loosened, and before Catty could react, the old man tripped. He dropped to one knee on the road''s hatch with a practiced motion too swift for others'' eyes to catch as anything but a fall. Catty, momentarily pulled by his movement, stopped and turned, her heart leaping into her throat.

    "Rutger!" the girl exclaimed with concern and reached out to him.

    When Catty looked down, she saw how Rutger had inserted an object into a hidden slot on the hatch. It looked like a finely crafted key. He turned it with a deft twist, and his eyes met hers with a spark of mischief.

    "Watch," he whispered and winked at Catty.

    The transformation was instantaneous. The hard, grey asphalt underfoot disappeared, morphing into a lush green grass carpet spreading rapidly around them. Catty gasped, her eyes wide with wonder as the dull concrete of the cityscape dissolved into the rich verdure of towering trees and sprawling bushes. The sounds of the city¡ªthe honking cars, the crowd chatter, the rhythmic thumping of urban life¡ªfaded into a serene silence.

    People, cars, streetlights, and buildings¡ªall the familiar signs of the city evaporated like mist. In their place stood an ancient garden, wild and abandoned, its air fresh with the scent of grasses and damp earth.

    Catty spun around.

    "Rutger, is this real?" she whispered, her voice trembling with delight and disbelief.

    Rutger rose from his knee, the key now absorbed by the hatch, which itself had vanished into the ground.

    "Bending the rules of reality isn''t always a better choice, Catty," Rutger said, his smile fading as he extended his hand to her again.

    "This is incredible," Catty murmured, her gaze sweeping over the garden. "Feels like we just stepped into another world."

    "And so we have," Rutger confirmed, "but they don''t wait for us here."

    They stood in the green twilight, and complete silence was around them. An abandoned path led deep into the garden.

    "This place... it''s crazy! I''ve never seen anything like it!" Catty glanced at the canopy of mighty trees. Rare light made its way through the branches interweaving above.

    "It wasn''t always a place of peace," Rutger replied. "There''s an ill to its beauty, a history concealed beneath its tranquility."

    "It feels alive, like every leaf here has a story."

    "Indeed, it does," the old man nodded. "Many years ago, when I still bore the mantle of a Master in the Dragon Sect, this garden bore witness to a tragedy."

    "What happened here?"

    "It''s a hidden sanctuary created many years ago by the Masters of all the sects. We did it to protect a secret and to punish a dangerous creature that lived here."

    "Punish a creature? What did it do?"

    "It killed a child," Rutger''s voice became stern. "The garden turned into its prison, enchanted and made invisible to others. The creature cannot leave it."

    The girl''s heart sank. It was so sad to hear this standing here on the green grass.

    "It took a child''s life," Rutger repeated. "In response, we, the Masters, decided upon a punishment that was both protection and prison. We ensnared it within this garden, concealing its magic from the eyes of the world."

    "So, this garden... it''s a prison? This creature... it can''t leave?"

    "A gilded cage crafted by ancient magic. This place was hidden from the mundane gaze, rendered invisible to ensure that the creature could no longer harm nor could it escape. It''s bound here, Catty, bound until the terms of its penance are met."

    "And now, we are here ''cause we need its help?" the girl felt her palms sweating.

    "Yes, the very creature that was once punished here may hold the key to finding the dragon''s egg. It''s a delicate thing, Catty. We''re walking a fine line with this ancient magic, and one wrong step could change our destinies."

    "Weird, isn''t it?" Catty sighed anxiously. "How the past never really lets go, always pulling us back."

    Rutger smiled sorrowfully, "That''s why we must navigate these memories with care. The garden does not forget, nor does the creature that dwells within its heart."

    They paused, and then the girl asked, "What are we even looking for here?"

    The old man pointed to the path unwinding before them.

    "Let''s go!"

    The path was meandrous and narrow, framed by overgrown shrubs and ancient trees, and they began to walk along.

    It was barely visible through the thick vines and roots twisting across the ground like serpents. Stones, remnants of an ancient walkway, peeked through the dense carpet of moss. Catty and Rutger had to step carefully, cautiously navigating the slick trail.

    The moss muffled their footsteps as they walked. The deeper they ventured into the garden, the cooler the air became, filled with the scent of moisture and decaying leaves.

    Shadows gathered around twisted branches, and the light filtering through the dense canopy created a subdued atmosphere, enhancing the sense of isolation from the world they had left behind.

    Occasionally, they came across old stone structures destroyed by nature. Ivy covered these ruins, with walls bearing half-erased carvings. These remnants stood as silent witnesses to the secrets the garden held.

    As they walked, the path led them through various parts of the garden, from dense thickets with almost impenetrable foliage to small clearings filled with wildflowers.

    Each step they took seemed to echo in the profound silence, a reminder of their intrusion into this forgotten sanctuary.

    The air grew cooler, and suddenly, Rutger and Catty could hear a faint melody that seemed to beckon them forward, guiding them to their destination.

    They approached the clearing and saw a calm pond in the middle. It was a still mirror, reflecting the surrounding trees. The water''s edge was lined with smooth stones inscribed with runes that absorbed light. An overgrown gate stood near the pond, its ironwork entwined with ivy. The melody came from there.

    Water lilies floated serenely on the surface. The clearing was tranquil, yet there was an underlying tension as if the garden was holding its breath, waiting for something¡ªor someone¡ªto disrupt the peace.

    The light was gradually fading, and the water began to shimmer with an ethereal glow.

    Catty took a deep breath, "It''s hard to imagine something so beautiful being a prison."

    Rutger nodded, "Sometimes, the most beautiful places hide the darkest secrets."

    Catty paused at the water''s edge, her hand hovering just above the surface. She hesitated, then touched the water, causing ripples to fan out across the pond. The disturbance in the water seemed out of place in the stillness, a reminder of the unseen depths below.

    "Keep your wits about you," Rutger advised, his voice low. "This place may look calm, but it''s full of secrets, and not all of them are benign."

    As the ripples grew, the water began to glow more intensely. A dark, indistinct shape started to rise from the depths of the pond, obscured by the glowing water. The faint, haunting melody they heard earlier became louder, reverberating through the clearing, adding to the sense of foreboding.

    Suddenly, all sounds stopped, and an oppressive silence fell over the clearing. The air grew colder, and a sense of dread filled the atmosphere as the water began to churn violently.

    Without warning, something moved just below the surface, causing a burst of water to splash upwards. Catty and Rutger stepped back, their eyes fixed on the water. Two glowing eyes appeared just beneath the surface, their piercing gaze fixed on them.

    A thick, swirling fog rose from the pond, obscuring their view and making it difficult to see what was emerging. The air around them grew heavier, making breathing difficult. Catty felt her heart pounding in her chest as they waited in anxious silence for whatever was about to emerge.

 014 // Exploration / Part I

    From the depths of the churning water, a shape began to rise, its form gradually taking shape through the swirling haze. Long, flowing hair, dark as midnight, surfaced first. The hair moved as if it had a life of its own. It spread out in the water like a dark halo.

    As the figure ascended, the water illuminated the skin, smooth and shimmering with a glow. Drops of water flowed down her naked lush breasts. The lithe torso led to a graceful tail that smoothly moved beneath the water. The scales on the tail caught the faint light, shifting in color from deep blues to vibrant greens with every movement.

    The large and expressive eyes were now clearly visible. They were locked onto Catty and Rutger¡ªintense and hypnotic, drawing them in despite the anxiety that gripped their minds.

    The lips parted slightly, revealing a set of sharp white teeth.

    The fog began to recede, revealing the being as a whole. The garden around them seemed to come alive with its emergence as if acknowledging the presence of its owner. The being''s tail flicked lazily in the water, creating gentle ripples that lapped at the edges of the pond.

    The mermaid''s voice echoed through the pond.

    "So, the Masters have returned. What brings you back to these waters, Rutger, after so many moons?"

    The old man inclined his head slightly, his tone measured and respectful.

    "My greetings, Vexara."

    "I never thought I''d see your face again," her eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint reflecting in the moonlight. "Have you come to finish what you started?"

    Rutger held her gaze steadily, "I''m not here to fight, Vexara."

    A bitter laugh escaped the mermaid''s lips, her expression hardening.

    "How many centuries have passed, eh? Yet the stench of falseness lingers."

    "We both did what we had to do. This is different," Rutger''s jaw tightened, but his voice remained calm.

    "Different? It always is until it isn''t," Vexara''s tail flicked, sending ripples across the pond.

    "Vexara, I know you have no reason to trust me, but..."

    She interrupted, "... you''re desperate enough to face an old enemy? How intriguing."

    "We''re in search of something important," he nodded, a hint of impatience creeping into his tone.

    Vexara''s eyes bore into Rutger, her voice softening but still sharp.

    "You still carry the weight of the past, Rutger. I can see it in your eyes."

    He sighed with a weary resignation, "The past is gone, but its shadows remain. We need your help to bring light to this darkness."

    "Help from me, a shadow in your history? How ironic."

    "This time, it''s not about us. It''s about saving countless lives."

    Vexara''s expression darkened, the fury flickering in her eyes. The mermaid rose swiftly from the water until she was face to face with Rutger. Vexara growled, revealing sharp, predatory teeth ready to bite his throat.

    "The last time we met, you left me to rot in this pond. Why should I help you now?"

    The old man''s gaze was unwavering, his words heavy with sincerity, "Because this time, the fate of our world depends on it."

    "And what makes you think I care about your world?" Vexara''s eyes narrowed once more.

    Rutger took a step forward, "I have no choice, Vexara. We need the path you guard."

    The tension hung thick in the air. The garden around them seemed to sigh with the weight of hurts past. The moon strung high above and cast a soft, ethereal glow that danced upon the foliage and reflected off the water.

    The pond was a mirror of liquid silver, disturbed only by the slow flick of the mermaid''s tail. Water lilies floated on the surface, and their petals opened under the moonlight as if in reverence to the ancient creature who had emerged from their depths.

    Behind the pond, an old stone archway stood as a sentinel, overgrown with ivy and moss, its carvings eroded by time. The ornate designs, now barely discernible, hinted at forgotten eras, their stories lost to the relentless march of time. The entire setting felt Catty like a ghost place, where the boundaries between reality and memory blurred.

    "Who is she?" Vexara suddenly hissed, staring at Catty. "How dare you bring her here, Rutger?"

    "No need to be angry, Vexara. She''s here for the same reason," Rutger said.

    "I''m Catty," the girl interjected, her voice trembling but firm. "And I''m here to help."

    "Help?" Vexara sneered, her eyes narrowing. "You, a mere child, think you can help?"

    "She''s not just a child," the old man objected. "She''s been through more than you can imagine."

    "You think your hardships mean anything to me, Catty? Rutger has always brought nothing but trouble."

    Rutger frowned, "She''s different, Vexara. She''s crucial to what we seek."

    "Crucial? How can she be of any use?"

    "I''m willing to do whatever it takes," Catty replied. "I know about the prophecy."

    "Prophecy," the mermaid scoffed. "The word of betrayal. Do you even know the cost of what you seek?"

    "I know it''s dangerous. But I also know I can''t give up."

    "You speak of danger as if you know it intimately. Tell me, girl, what have you faced?"

    Rutger raised his voice, "She''s shown strength and resilience, Vexara!"

    "Strength and resilience? Those won''t save her from the horrors that lie ahead."

    "Maybe not," Catty agreed, "but I''m not here to be saved. I''m here to make a difference."

    "Bold words for someone so young. What makes you think you can succeed where so many have failed?"

    "Because I have no other choice. And because I have allies willing to stand by me."

    "Allies," Vexara mused, her gaze shifting back to Rutger. "Allies can become enemies in an instant."

    "That''s a risk I take."

    "Very well. But know this, girl: your presence here binds you to my fate. There will be no turning back."

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    A silence fell over the garden, and the weight of the mermaid''s words hung in the air. Catty felt the coolness of the stone beneath her feet, the dampness of the mist clinging to her skin. The garden, once a place of beauty, now seemed to echo with the sorrow of broken promises.

    Suddenly, Vexara plunged into the pond, and her form disappeared beneath the dark, rippling water. The waves were lapping against the mossy shore. Rutger and Catty stood waiting with bated breath, their eyes fixed on the pond''s surface.

    In a few minutes, Vexara emerged. Her dark hair clung to her face and shoulders, water cascading down her smooth skin and shimmering tail. In her hand, she held a delicate silver bell. It swung gently, emitting that same sound they heard stepping into the garden.

    Vexara''s eyes burned fiercely as she raised the bell towards Rutger, her grip tight and knuckles white.

    "Do you recognize this?" she asked, her voice a low, venomous hiss.

    Rutger''s face tightened.

    "It''s... his thing."

    Vexara''s expression twisted with anger and sorrow.

    "Now tell the girl about him!" she demanded, echoing through the garden.

    The old man took a deep breath, his gaze never leaving the silver bell in the mermaid''s hand. He seemed to be gathering his thoughts, each moment weighted with the sorrow of what he was about to share. His eyes softened, reflecting a deep, painful regret.

    "There was once a child..." he began slowly, "...a curious, brave child who wandered into this garden long ago."

    The old man stopped.

    "Keep talking!" the mermaid shook the bell.

    "A curious, brave child who wandered into this garden long ago. He sought companionship and adventure and found joy in the beautiful place this garden was then..."

    Vexara''s grip on the bell tightened. "He was more than just curious," she interjected sharply. "He was lonely, like me."

    "A mermaid lived here, and they formed a bond. They became friends, spending countless hours together. The child gifted the mermaid a bell. It was a token of their friendship..."

    Vexara''s eyes glistened with anger and sorrow: "He gifted me this bell," she said, her voice cracking, "so that I could call him whenever I felt alone."

    "But one day," Rutger continued, "the child stumbled upon something he shouldn''t have: a hidden portal within the garden. This portal was an entrance to the dark world, a realm of dangers beyond imagination. In his innocence, the child did not understand the gravity of what he had discovered. A secret the mermaid was guarding with her life..."

    "He stumbled upon it by accident," Vexara spat with bitterness.

    "The mermaid, however, understood all too well. She knew that if the secret of the portal were revealed, it could bring untold horrors into their world. She faced an impossible choice. To protect the secret and ensure the safety of both worlds, she felt she had no choice but to take drastic measures. He was just a child and didn''t understand the danger. But the mermaid... you couldn''t take that risk..."

    "I had no choice!" Vexara exclaimed.

    A heavy veil of silence descended over the pond. The moonlight cast long shadows that clawed at the edges of the pond, transforming the serene waters into a mirror of the turmoil.

    Catty''s breath caught in her throat. She could feel the tension coiling around them, whispering of old betrayals and wounds that time had failed to heal.

    Rutger''s face was a stone mask, his eyes fixed on Vexara. The old man''s hands clenched and unclenched as if grappling with himself. Each movement was a battle inside to bridge the chasm of years with words that had long gone unsaid.

    Vexara''s body held rigid under the water, her eyes, fierce and unyielding, locked onto Rutger''s with fury and pain, the glow from her scales dimming and flaring in sync with her emotions.

    The garden, once a place of mystical beauty, now throbbed with the pulse of old woe that hung between the two beings before Catty. Even the air seemed reluctant to stir and afraid to fan the embers of conflict.

    "The mermaid drowned the child in the pond where they had shared so many moments of friendship," Rutger''s voice grew heavy with sorrow. "To protect the secret, you drowned him!.."

    "I sang him a lullaby," Vexara''s face twisted with anguish. "I always sang him a lullaby, even that night!"

    Rutger''s expression was one of deep remorse: "We, the Masters, enchanted this place. We hid the garden to ensure no dangerous beings could come out. We hid it from the world. The enchantment was meant to protect the garden and the secrets it held..."

    "Finish up!"

    "...but it also became a prison for the mermaid as a punishment for the murder..."

    "And now, you bring this girl here, seeking help for another prophecy. The weight of the past never leaves us, does it?!"

    The silence that followed fell like a shroud. Even the bell died down as Vexara''s words settled over the garden.

    Catty felt a cold shiver running down her spine as she listened to Rutger''s words. The idea of a child being drowned by a creature he considered a friend was too horrific to accept. She couldn''t believe this had occurred in this garden, now so eerie and abandoned.

    A wave of sorrow washed over Catty as she imagined the loneliness and fear the child must have felt. She empathized with the child and Vexara. She understood the pain and regret that must haunt the mermaid. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them away.

    "Vexara, the child''s spirit is trapped in the portal between our world and the dark world," Rutger said. "His soul cannot find peace."

    "I know... I feel his presence every day," the mermaid moaned.

    "But there is a way to free him. We are here to do this, and you can help us to release him from the ties that bind him. It''s within your power."

    "Release him? But how? You think I haven''t tried? I can''t reach him. The portal''s magic is too strong."

    "The portal binds him because of the enchantments we placed on this garden and on you," the old man explained. "You can''t do it yourself."

    Rutger pointed to Catty. "She''ll do it!"

    Catty felt her heart skip a beat.

    "Me?!" the girl exclaimed. She looked at Rutger, her eyes wide, "I don''t even know where to start."

    A cold shiver ran down Catty''s spine as she thought about the portal and the dark world it led to.

    The girl turned her gaze to the mermaid and took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. Despite her disarray, Catty deeply empathized with Vexara and the child''s trapped spirit.

    "If that''s what it takes to free him, I''m in," she said, her voice growing firmer. "Tell me what I need to do, Rutger."

    It seemed that the old man had become even older. He tried not to meet the mermaid''s gaze when he said, "You can release him in the same way that the child was killed."

    "In the same way?!" the water boiled from Vexara''s rage. "Do you have any idea what you''re asking of her?"

    "Yes!" the old man flared up. "This is our chance to make things right!"

    "Make things right?!"

    "Because there''s no other way!"

    Catty interrupted them.

    "Let''s do this, for the child''s sake," she said. "I can''t imagine what he''s been through... And I''ll do whatever it takes."

    The girl bent down and touched the mermaid''s shoulder.

    "We''ll free his spirit, Vexara," she said gently. "Together, we''ll make sure he finds peace."

    Catty''s fingers felt the cool, smooth scales that shimmered under the moon''s touch. The mermaid''s gaze softened as she looked down at the small, warm hand against her skin. In that touch, a silent understanding passed between them. Vexara''s tail stilled beneath the water''s surface, her restless movements calming¡ªthe warmth from Catty''s touch had seeped into the cold waters of her world, bringing with it a hope that had been absent for far too long.

    When the mermaid calmed down, Rutger announced his plan.

    "Listen carefully, Catty. First, you need to learn the lullaby."

    "The lullaby? Why is it so important?"

    "The child''s spirit can be freed using the mermaid''s lullaby."

    "Why?"

    "When the mermaid and the child were friends, she used to sing him this lullaby. And he listened to it when he drowned in the pond."

    "That''s terrible. But why does the lullaby matter now?"

    "The lullaby holds an enchantment. It''s the key to soothing and releasing his spirit. We will free him in the same way he was enchanted..."

    "Makes sense."

    "You should learn it and sing for the child''s spirit... but there''s a risk, Catty."

    "What kind of risk?"

    "Listening to the lullaby is dangerous. The song could put you under a trance, just like it did to the child."

    "So, how am I supposed to learn it?"

    "You must hear Vexara sing the lullaby to learn the lyrics and melody. And let your consciousness leave your body to avoid falling under its spell."

    "Leave my body?"

    "You need to surrender to the lullaby''s magic. Allow it to put your body to sleep, but keep your mind active and aware. I''ll guide you through the process."

    "You mean I have to trust myself to stay conscious?"

    "It''s not easy, Catty. The song is powerful and will try to pull you in."

    "Okay, what do we need to do first?"

    "First, we need to prepare a safe space. I''ll create a protective circle to help shield you from the lullaby''s full effects. This will make it easier for you to stay conscious while your body is put to sleep."

    "And then I listen to Vexara sing the lullaby?"

    "Yes, Vexara will sing the lullaby for you. You must listen carefully and commit every note and word to memory. Remember, focus on the self-awareness, and ignore the pull of the enchantment."

    "Okay, what''s next?"

    "Once you have learned the lullaby, I will open the portal to the dark world."

    "Seriously?"

    "I''m not kidding. When you step through the portal, you will be on your own. I cannot help you from this side."

    "Is there anything I need to know?"

    "The dark world is dangerous. Stay focused and trust your instincts. Stray too far, and you might not find your way back."

    "What do I do once I''m there?"

    "You must find a pond in the dark world, which is a reflection of this pond. The child''s spirit will be waiting there."

    "Are you sure?"

    "The lullaby must call him! This melody has the power to draw the spirit to you. So sing it with all your heart. Then he will be able to hear you and come to you."

    "What happens when I sing it?"

    "You make the connection through the song, and it''s the only way to guide him back. The song''s magic will soothe and release his spirit from the magic ties that bind him."

    "What ties?"

    "The ties of the enchantment that trapped him in the first place... But don''t forget about the dragon''s egg! That''s why we are doing all these things here."

    "Great. Just great... but what about the child? And how do I get back?"

 015 // Exploration / Part II

    Rutger opened the portal, and the girl stepped forward. The cold of the Dark World bit into her skin.

    The mermaid pond slipped away like she had shed a heavy coat. Colors shifted around her in a swirl, and the air was thick with the hum when the girl crossed boundaries. For a heartbeat, Catty was nowhere¡ªa breath suspended between realities. Then the world snapped into place with a lurch, and she found herself standing ankle-deep in untouched snow. Behind her, the portal shimmered briefly before closing, leaving no trace of its existence.

    Snow underfoot sparkled like a sea of tiny stars had fallen to the earth. Catty''s first exhalation hung in the frost air, shimmering faintly under the cold light of a distant moon. The cold chilled her to the bone¡ªthe girl was wearing only a pleated miniskirt and a light pullover.

    She halted before old trees intertwining overhead. Their branches formed a vault high above that glistened with a dusting of rime. A few snowflakes drifted from the unseen sky, dancing lazily through the dim moonlight before alighting on her hair.

    The silence was dense, smothering the crunch of her steps in the crisp snow, muffling the world as if the trees sought to conceal her presence.

    Catty moved forward, guided by the moon that traced a path among the trees. Their trunks were gnarled and thick and towered like timeless sentinels watching the girl''s every move. Occasionally, the air carried the sound of iced twigs creaking above, accompanying her silent march through this frozen realm.

    Her eyes adjusted to the faint light, and the snow glowed brighter around her feet, illuminating her path in a soft, ghostly light. It was as if the world was both guiding and warning her. Catty could see her breath, a series of small clouds puffing rhythmically from her lips in the cold air.

    The portal to the Dark World she had stepped through was left far behind, and the way she had come was swallowed up by the night. Ahead, her way wound through the silent, watchful forest, leading deeper into the heart of this snow-filled world.

    As Catty ventured further, the air seemed to thicken, filled with the faint scent of cold iron and the underlying, almost imperceptible trace of something wild. This reminded her that this world was alive and that she was not its master.

    Her loneliness was palpable and went beyond mere solitude. The girl had stepped into another realm entirely, one that existed in a perpetual state of twilight and chill. Yet, there was a beauty to it, a stark, desolate beauty that both awed and frightened her. This place was untouched by time, governed by its own ancient and unfathomable rules.

    Catty approached a clearing where the trees parted slightly, casting elongated shadows across the snow. From a distance, she glimpsed what seemed like a trick of the light¡ªa silhouette swaying gently in the breeze. But there was no breeze. Curiosity drew her closer, her footsteps cautious and slow.

    Catty''s heart caught in her throat as the figure came into clearer view. It was a body hanging from a gnarled branch.

    Catty''s instinct screamed at her to run from the ghastly sight, but fear rooted her to the spot. She scanned the silent trees around her, expecting somebody to emerge from the shadows. The forest held its breath with her, the only sound the faint creak of the rope from which the body hung.

    A battle waged within her¡ªcuriosity urging her forward, caution pulling her back¡ªand the girl stepped closer. Her eyes never left the figure, and Catty realized her vulnerability. Standing beneath the body, she was alone, terribly alone in this world.

    "Oh, come on..." she uttered a bitter snarl swallowed by the wilderness. "What the heck?"

    Then, in the silence following her words, the impossible happened. The body''s eyes fluttered open, fixing on her with a surprised gaze. No malice lay in those eyes, only profound sadness that made her heart skip.

    Then, unexpectedly, the lips of the hanging body twitched.

    "Hullo there," the body croaked, its voice dry as the winter leaves that never rustled here. "You seem awfully solid for a ghost."

    Catty blinked, her fear momentarily sidelined by absurdity. "I''m not a ghost," she replied with wonder and wariness.

    "Ludicrouser and ludicrouser," the body murmured, its head tilting slightly, causing the rope to creak ominously. "And here I thought we were all ghosts, in a manner of speaking."

    Catty frowned, steadying her nerves. "Who are you?" she ventured, unsure if she wanted an answer.

    "In life, a wanderer much like you. In death, merely part of the scenery," it said, a faint smile playing on its dead lips. "But enough about me. You have paths to choose, little ghost-not-ghost."

    "Why am I here?" Catty asked.

    "Why? This is a very Eternian question to ask, of course!" the body laughed like wind through barren branches. "The real question is Where! Where will you go? Back to the dawn or straight ahead into the darkness?"

    "Piss off!"

    Eyes pierced through her, and a barely heard voice whispered, "Seek the heart of the pond, but beware the shadows that thirst for light."

    Catty shivered, not just from the cold.

    "The heart of the pond..." she repeated.

    "Always a popular destination," the body sighed. "Beware, though... The heart is often guarded, not just by life."

    As suddenly as it had begun, the conversation ended, the body''s eyes closing again, leaving Catty alone with her thoughts. She turned slowly, peering into the forest''s depths. Each direction was now a riddle waiting to be solved. With a deep breath, she chose her path, the cryptic advice from the hanging figure echoing in her steps.

    Further, the landscape began to shift. The dense trees thinned out, revealing a vast, open plain blanketed in snow. Massive bones, frosted over and embedded in the ice, rose from the earth like grotesque sculptures, their forms blurred and softened under a cover of white.

    Catty walked among the remains of creatures so vast that they seemed more like the ruins of castles than the bones of the living. Her footfalls were muffled by the thick, untouched snow blanket that sprawled endlessly before her. The air was bitingly cold, carrying the faint scent of ancient death.

    Above the girl, the sky was a heavy, oppressive grey, clouds hanging low as if mourning the monsters whose remains lay scattered across the landscape. Occasionally, a harsh gust of wind would sweep across the plain, causing the exposed bones to groan and creak, a mournful dirge that resonated through the silent air.

    The remains of an enormous ribcage formed a natural archway, towering over Catty like frost-laden sentinels. As she passed beneath them, the sheer scale of these ancient remains made her feel insignificant in the face of frenzy grandiosity. Shadows played across the snow, cast by the broken teeth of some colossal beast.

    Catty''s path wound through this graveyard of giants. Despite the desolation, there was a haunting beauty in the starkness. The silence of the snowy expanse was punctuated by her breath and the distant call of birds circling overhead.

    Just beyond the field of bones, the girl saw the ruins of a majestic temple, its facade veiled beneath a thick blanket of snow. The structure seemed huge against the white landscape, its tall columns and shattered arches towering over the girl.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    When Catty came closer, a sudden rumble broke the hush of the frost air. It started as a low hum emanating from the earth''s very bowels, and it escalated quickly into a trembling that shook the building. Within moments, the snow clinging to the temple''s surfaces began to shift, cascading down its sides. The girl rushed back and barely managed to dodge the avalanche.

    As the last snow tumbled to the ground, billowing white clouds, she saw the temple''s entrance and heard mournful singing drifting out from the dark hole behind the gate.

    Catty stood for a moment at the threshold, the haunting song wrapping around her and seeping into her bones. With each note, the air grew colder, and the shadows within the temple became more blackened.

    Compelled by fear and hope, the girl stepped forward, crossing into the deep of the temple, her heart pounding in rhythm with the otherworldly chant.

    The narrow corridors echoed with the sound of her footsteps. The walls were rough and made of massive stone blocks that had been dilapidated by the passage of countless millennia. The air was heavy and stale, permeated by the pungent odor of decay and the acrid stench of brackish ooze that flowed down the walls, collecting in fetid pools on the cracked floor.

    Every so often, Catty passed alcoves where petrified monsters froze forever. She was afraid to imagine what they held in their paws. Luckily, the details were erased over time.

    The deeper Catty ventured, the louder and clearer the singing became. It resonated from the walls around her, a melody that was both a lament and a calling. The sound beckoned her onward, pulling the girl through the labyrinthine corridors designed to confound her.

    The temple became more sinister and decayed with each turn and descent down crumbling steps. Pillars were etched with sculls and supported by arches, which loomed over the murky expanse she walked through.

    When the moon disappeared and it became completely dark, the girl saw a pale light at the end of the corridor and went towards it.

    The path opened into a larger hall, and the singing now completely enveloped her. The hall stretched out before Catty, vast and dimly lit, with a glow emanating from the numerous eggs scattered across the floor.

    The hall was like an immense cavern, its ceiling lost in the darkness above. Stalactites hung like jagged teeth. Water dripped with a steady rhythm, echoing through the chamber. The floor was uneven and strewn with rocks.

    At the center of the hall, Catty saw a creature.

    It was colossal, the size of a tower, a slug-like reptile, and its body shimmered with an oily sheen. Its head was crowned with twisted, jagged horns that curved menacingly, casting sprawling shadows against the jagged walls. Only one eye burned with a fiery glow. A maw filled with razor-sharp teeth parted slightly as it hissed, revealing the inferno within. Its powerful limbs ended in massive, clawed talons that could rend stone as easily as flesh, and a long, sinuous tail lashed the air behind it. The creature''s breath came out in puffs of stench, adding to the already oppressive atmosphere of the hall.

    The eggs were large, almost as tall as Catty, and pulsed with an inner light. It cast eerie, dancing patterns on the rocky floor, making the eggs seem alive. Their surfaces were translucent, revealing shadowy forms writhing within. Through the shell, she could make out the vague shapes of creatures curled up inside, their movements slow and serpentine. Veins of glowing blue and gold crisscrossed the surface, pulsating in rhythm with an unseen heartbeat, and a faint hum emanated from them and filled the air with awe and dread.

    The creature moved slightly, its massive claws scraping against the stone floor, creating a sound that sent shivers down the girl''s spine. It was clear that this beast was the guardian of the eggs. The air around it crackled with energy, a palpable sense of danger that made Catty''s every instinct screaming at her to flee.

    The girl felt a strange compulsion to move forward despite the fear clawing at her. The song that had guided her here grew louder, more insistent, wrapping around her like a tangible force. The words of the hanged body echoed in her mind, urging her to seek the heart of the pond, to beware of the light amidst the shadows.

    With each step, the temperature dropped, the cold seeping into her bones. The walls of the hall closed in, the darkness pressing down on Catty. Yet, she pushed forward, her eyes fixed on the creature and the eggs it guarded.

    Catty could barely breathe, the cold air burning her lungs. She could feel the weight of the creature''s gaze, a pressure that seemed to slow her movements and cloud her thoughts. But the girl couldn''t stop now.

    As she approached the glowing eggs, the shadows around the room''s edges began to stir, creeping closer with silent malevolence.

    The creature suddenly swung its tail and wrapped it around Catty, lifting her off the ground. She gasped as it brought her closer to its massive head. The creature''s stinking breath washed over the girl as it opened its maw, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.

    In the face of imminent danger, Catty''s thoughts betrayed her fear. ''What the hell? When did I get so deep again?'' echoed in her mind, and the creature seemed to pause, its fiery eye narrowing as it read her thoughts.

    ''Scared, aren''t you?'' a deep, gravelly voice filled her mind. ''You humans always are.''

    Catty''s eyes widened, ''You can read my thoughts?''

    The creature''s laughter rumbled through the hall, like rocks grinding together.

    ''Yes, little bug, I can. And I''m about to make you my next meal!''

    ''Please, don''t eat me!'' her mind screamed, trying to project any thought that might save her.

    Its massive maw gaped wider, rows of jagged teeth glistening with a slick, oily residue. The cavernous mouth seemed like a black abyss, the stench emanating from within nearly unbearable. Catty could see tendrils of saliva stretching between the teeth, glistening in the dim light. She could feel the hot, fetid breath washing over her, making her eyes water.

    Suddenly, the creature recoiled slightly, its eye narrowing with curiosity. It sniffed the air around her, its nostrils flaring.

    ''Interesting... I sense something different in you. A power... Oh, dragon power!''

    Catty''s mind flashed to the bracelet on her wrist, the symbol of her connection to the dragon. The creature''s eye flicked to the bracelet, then back to her face. It loosened its grip just enough for her to breathe more easily.

    ''Now, before I decide what to do, you''re going to tell me what a little girl like you is doing with dragon power.''

    Catty swallowed hard, trying to steady her racing heart.

    ''I... I''m on a quest... I need to find the egg...''

    ''The egg!!!'' the creature squeezed the girl so hard that her bones crunched.

    ''The dragon''s egg! To fulfill a prophecy!'' the girl barely had time to exhale.

    The creature''s eye gleamed. ''A prophecy? You better not be lying, girl. I can smell a lie from a mile away, and trust me, I''ve got a good nose for these things.''

    ''I''m telling the truth!'' she thought frantically, hoping the creature would sense her sincerity. ''The prophecy speaks of a girl with dragon power. I''m that girl!''

    The creature''s gaze bore into her, searching her thoughts for any hint of deception. It seemed to weigh her thoughts carefully, its massive jaws closing slightly, reducing the overwhelming stench.

    ''If you''re lying, I''ll snap you like a twig,'' it growled. ''But if you''re telling the truth...''

    ''I''m not lying!'' Catty''s thoughts were a desperate plea. ''I swear, I''m here not to harm.''

    ''You can''t harm me!'' the creature laughed with a rumbling sound.

    As the girl struggled to maintain her composure, the creature''s voice filled her mind again, ''You want to fulfill your prophecy, little girl? Fine. But first, you will do something for me.''

    The creature tightened its grip on her with its tail, dragging her closer to the eggs. Catty''s eyes widened in horror as she saw inside them. The twisted and writhing larvae were attached to the bodies of humans, elves, and dwarves, feeding off them like parasites. The sight was sickening, the sheer brutality of it making her stomach churn.

    ''You see, these eggs need to hatch,'' the creature continued, its voice filled with dark amusement, ''but this place is a mess¡ªit''s no proper nursery. You will clean this room and put it in order. If you refuse, you''ll be food for my children."

    Catty''s heart pounded in her chest, fear clawing at her insides. The hall was indeed a horrific mess. The floor was strewn with bones, excrement, waste, and remains of countless victims, and the air was thick with the stench of decay and waste. She glanced around, feeling a wave of despair wash over her.

    ''How do I know you won''t kill me anyway?'' she managed to think. ''Why should I trust you?''

    The creature''s eye gleamed with vicious delight.

    ''You don''t,'' it replied, its tail tightening around her in a crushing grip. ''But you don''t have much choice, do you? Clean this place, and I might let you go. Refuse, and I guarantee you''ll join those you see inside the eggs.''

    Catty swallowed hard, her mind racing. She was trapped, and the only way out was to comply with the creature''s demands. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the gruesome task ahead.

    ''Fine,'' she thought, despite the terror gnawing at her. ''I''ll clean this place.''

    The creature chuckled darkly, loosening its grip just enough to set her down near the eggs.

    ''Good. Get to work, little dragon girl. And remember, I''ll be watching.''

    Catty glanced around the room, taking in the enormity of the task. The bones, the filth, the waste¡ªeverything needed to be cleared away. She forced herself to move, starting with the nearest pile of bones. As the girl worked, she couldn''t help but steal glances at the eggs, the larvae within them a constant reminder of what awaited her if she failed.

    The hours dragged on, each moment a struggle against the rising tide of fear and disgust. She moved bones, scrubbed the floor, and cleared away the excrement, her hands shaking but determined. All the while, the creature watched her, its eye gleaming with a predatory light.

    Catty''s mind raced, and she searched for a way to use the situation to her advantage. The girl focused on her goals as she worked¡ªthe child''s spirit and the dragon''s egg. She couldn''t afford to lose hope, not now.

    When Catty was scrubbing the floor, she noticed something shimmering among the debris. The girl reached out and gently cleaned it, her breath catching in her throat. It was a phoenix feather, old and broken but still the source of a brilliant light, even in its dormant state. The feather was warm, and Catty saw a way through.

 016 // Exploration / Part III

    What unfortunate victim dropped the phoenix feather here?

    Catty shoved it under her skirt and tried to calm her thoughts, fearing the creature might sense her discovery.

    Keep it simple. Sing a song.

    She began to sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star in her mind, focusing on the words. The girl imagined each note forming a shield around her thoughts, blocking the creature''s gaze.

    ''Twinkle, twinkle, little star,

    How I wonder what you are.

    Up above the world so high...''

    The singing stopped¡ªCatty forgot the last line!

    The creature''s tail twitched, and she continued singing, coming up with the last line, ''Not your dinner, nasty guy!''

    The creature watched her for a moment, then lost interest, shifting its gaze back to the eggs. Catty glanced sideways at the creature, which seemed unaware of her find.

    Catty''s mind stayed firmly on the song, blocking out any stray thoughts. She needed to wait for the right moment to use the feather''s power. ''Just a bit more, and I can get out of here,'' the girl hid this thought fast.

    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the room was as clean as she could make it. Catty stood, exhausted and filthy but with a sense of grim satisfaction. She had done what the creature asked.

    Its voice was deep and gravelly even in her head, ''Are you done, little bug?''

    The creature moved closer, its massive form casting a shadow over her. It sniffed the air, its eye narrowing as it surveyed her work. After a tense moment, the creature nodded.

    Catty looked up at the creature. ''Yes, all done.''

    The girl stood her ground, her breath catching as the creature''s eye met hers. It towered over Catty like a mountain, and its tail coiled from side to side. The creature''s head with twisted horns bowed towards her, and its only eye burned with a sanguineous glow.

    ''You think you''ve done well?''

    Catty''s heart pounded, but she hid her fear.

    ''Will you let me go now?'' she demanded, keeping her thoughts steady despite the terror gnawing at her insides.

    The creature laughed, a sound more like a snarl than anything else.

    ''I am the Chimeric Warden, the guardian of this place. No one gets past me. And you, little one, are my next meal.''

    It moved closer, its breath hot and foul against her face. Catty could see the glint of its sharp teeth and feel its body''s heat radiating towards her.

    ''Do you think you can scare me?'' Catty spat, her eyes blazing with defiance. ''I''ve faced worse than you.''

    The Warden''s eyes narrowed, and its tail lashed out, wrapping around her waist and lifting her off the ground. Catty gasped, struggling against the vice-like grip, but it was futile. The creature''s maw opened wide, showing jagged teeth.

    ''Any last words, little bug?'' it taunted, bringing her closer to its mouth.

    ''Yeah,'' she thought, ''you''re gonna regret this.''

    With a fierce cry, Catty pulled the phoenix feather from her panties and stabbed it into the creature''s eye. A burst of light erupted from her palm and struck the Chimeric Warden in the head. It staggered back, roaring in pain, and dropped the girl.

    She hit the ground hard but scrambled up without wasting a second.

    The Chimeric Warden roared in agony, its solitary eye now a blazing ball. Blinded and enraged, it thrashed wildly, crashing into the chamber walls and pillars. Each move sent stone shards and debris flying everywhere.

    Catty ducked and rolled, narrowly missing a massive claw sweeping above her. The creature''s tail swung wide, smashing into a row of eggs and splattering their contents across the floor. The hall echoed with destruction, and the Warden''s furious bellows.

    Breathing hard, Catty slipped through the Warden''s tossing limbs. She smelled its acrid breath as it snarled and snapped blindly. The ground shook with each move, threatening to throw her off balance.

    "Come on, Catty, keep moving," she whispered, eyes looking for a clear path to the exit. She darted left, then right, dodging the Warden''s crushing tail blows. The creature''s rage grew with each miss.

    Catty gathered her strength and sprinted toward the doorway looming ahead. Behind her, the girl could hear the Warden''s enraged growls and the whistling of air as its tail swiped dangerously close.

    Just as she reached the exit, Catty spun around and yelled, "Hey, Warden!"

    Then she repeated in thoughts, ''Hey, Warden! You think you can stop me?''

    The creature paused amid the chaos, but its head didn''t swivel toward her.

    ''Think again!''

    With that, she turned and dashed through the doorway, leaving the Chimeric Warden to rage in the hall behind her. The echoes of its roars followed her, but the girl didn''t look back again.

    At first, she ran.

    Catty''s footsteps echoed through the ancient temple corridors, her eyes darting around the shadowed corners and weathered stone walls. The air smelled of decay, mildew, and a faint metallic tang of dark magic.

    Then, she slowed and moved cautiously, her senses heightened, every sound making her heart race.

    The temple stretched forever, each hallway leading deeper into the abandoned structure. Time felt stopped. Light filtered through ceiling cracks, illuminating wall carvings. They depicted scenes of terrific creatures and ancient battles, a silent testament to the temple''s past.

    As Catty went deeper, ghostly whispers came from the walls. They spoke an ancient, unintelligible language filled with malice and vice. The girl shivered, her skin prickling with unease, feeling unseen eyes watching her.

    She froze in place at glimpses of apparitions in decrepit attire walking the halls. These ghostly figures appeared briefly, then vanished, making Catty question her sanity. She pressed on resolutely but increasingly unnerved by the eerie sights.

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    The wall carvings shifted and changed, showing scenes of violence and torture. Catty''s eyes widened in shock as she watched the figures in the carvings twist and writhe in eternal torment. Her heart pounded harder, and the girl forced herself to look away, but the images seared into her mind.

    Disembodied footsteps echoed around her, but no one was visible. Each step jolted her with fear, and Catty turned sharply, expecting to see someone¡ªor something¡ªfollowing her. But the corridor stayed empty, except for the darkness closing in.

    She ran again.

    Thorny vines crept along the walls, their tendrils reaching to grasp her legs. Catty broke through the vines, feeling them tearing off her clothes.

    Broken relics¡ªweapons, armor, and ceremonial items¡ªlay scattered with bones across the floor. For a moment, Catty paused to examine a shattered sword, its blade reflected with moonlight. She picked it up from the ground and ran further.

    The girl raced past a row of rotting wooden doors. They were swinging open as she was running by. Luckily, Catty kept moving and didn''t even try looking inside.

    The mummified remains of temple priests stood in alcoves, their hollow eyes following her. A chill ran down Catty''s spine as the mummies came to life and reached for her. The girl slipped along, pushing them aside.

    The faint, rhythmic heartbeat from deep within the temple made it feel like the structure was alive. Each beat resonated through the walls, matching her racing heart. The sensation was deeply unsettling as if the girl were walking through the veins of a giant creature.

    After an eternity, Catty turned a corner and saw a shimmering light. She quickened her pace, the light growing brighter with each step. The corridor opened into a vast, open space¡ªthe temple yard¡ªand Catty''s breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight before her.

    Walls and towers enclosed a large, crystal-clear pond. Its surface was perfectly still and reflected the surroundings like a mirror. It seemed the pond held a piece of the stolen sky within its depths. The water was a deep, mesmerizing blue, revealing smooth stones and seaweed beneath.

    Catty approached the pond''s edge, her reflection staring back at her with wide, stunned eyes. The place was bathed in a soft, otherworldly light, and it was alive and humming with energy.

    The girl knelt and reached to touch the surface¡ªthe water was cool and inviting. As she watched, her reflection vanished, and Catty realized¡ªthis place was a mirror of the mermaid''s pond, a gateway between worlds.

    She sensed the child''s spirit was near, and the pond was the key to finding it.

    A large fish was gliding from the depths. Its scales shimmered with bright hues of orange, white, and gold, reflecting the light like a jewel. The fish moved slowly and gracefully, its fins barely moving.

    Catty watched in awe as the fish approached her. There was something serene about how it swam, and she saw the fish''s eyes sparkle with wonder.

    The fish hung in the water before the girl, its gaze locking onto hers. For a moment, Catty felt a silent connection beyond words.

    She reached out, dipping her fingers into the water. The fish swam closer, its scales brushing her skin with a gentle, affectionate touch. The girl had a warmth spread through her, a sensation of being welcomed and accepted. The fish circled her hand, and Catty had no doubt it was the child''s spirit bound to the pond.

    She took a deep breath, recalling the melody Vexara had taught her. The lullaby was ancient, in an old mermaid language.

    Catty remembered her training¡ªthe icy grip of the melody as Vexara''s voice filled her mind... each note had felt like a whirlpool sucking her consciousness... she had fought to stay awake, not to lose herself as the enchantment threatened to pull her under... she had barely survived and surfaced, gasping and trembling¡ªthe mermaid''s eerie laughter had echoed in her ears.

    Now alone at the pond''s edge, Catty steeled herself and began to sing softly, the melody floating like smoke on the water.

    The moon''s reflection danced on the surface, mingling with the light from the depths. Catty watched the fish, the child''s spirit vessel, glide beneath the surface, its scales shimmering like stars. This quiet scene hid the turmoil in her heart.

    The air vibrated with the melody, each word laced with enchantment. As Catty''s voice echoed over the water, the fish paused, and its eyes fixed on her.

    The girl kept singing, her voice growing stronger. The words filled the space with ancient energy. A flock of ghosts flew from the temple, circling above the pond, drawn to the lullaby''s magic.

    She sang, watching the fish closely. The fish''s smooth gliding became nervous, and its moves became sharp and jerky.

    The fish''s anxiety became so visible! It darted back and forth in desperation, and the water churned violently as if boiling.

    When the walls around the pond started to tremble, Catty realized something was terribly wrong. Stones cascaded into the water, shattering the pond''s surface. The light dimmed, and a rasp filled the air. The sound was unsettling, resonating in her bones and making the girl feel the temple was alive and in fury.

    A sudden chill wind swept from the temple, carrying cries of pain and anguish. Its icy tendrils wrapped around Catty, causing her to shiver uncontrollably. Twisted vines crept from the ground, their tendrils trying to ensnare her.

    Catty''s eyes darted around, searching for escape, but she saw only chaos and the distraught fish. Her panic was growing, and the girl struggled to calm herself.

    Her voice faltered, but she continued, hoping the lullaby would bring peace to the spirit. Instead, the fish tried to jump out of the water, clearly suffering and pleading for relief.

    And the girl stopped singing. She watched in dismay as the fish struggled, clearly disturbed by her attempt to reach it. Tears filled her eyes as Catty realized her mistake.

    Vexara and Rutger taught her this lullaby, hoping it would free the child''s spirit. But now, she grasped that a crucial element was missing: the child''s name. Without the name, the lullaby couldn''t work.

    Catty sat back on her heels, staring into the pond''s depths. The fish lingered briefly before gliding away and disappearing into the water''s shadows.

    "I''m trying to reach you, little one," she whispered, "but how do I connect with you when you are like this?"

    When the fish swam back into the depths, Catty understood what to do. The girl unclothed herself¡ªshoes first, then skirt and pullover, underwear last¡ªand folded them by the pond.

    She took a deep breath and stepped into the cold water. The ripples spread outwards, distorting the temple''s reflection. With each step, the girl felt the boundary between worlds thinning. She moved forward, sword in hand, ready for whatever lay ahead.

    When Catty waded deeper, she saw angel-like beings around the fish. Their ethereal forms glowed softly, casting a shine across the water. The angels danced in circles, exuding calm and a divine presence.

    They slowly turned to Catty, their serene faces smiling gently. The angels extended their luminous hands toward the girl, inviting her to join them. Warmth and tranquility washed over Catty as their fingers touched her skin. She felt a deep peace and joy, her worries and fears melting away.

    Without hesitation, Catty let the angels guide her deeper into the pond. Their touch was light and reassuring, and she floated effortlessly. The deeper they went, the brighter the angels glowed, illuminating the water.

    Catty felt immersed in bliss, her body and mind completely relaxed. The angels'' presence filled her with happiness, and she surrendered to their gentle pull. The girl lost herself in the peaceful embrace of the glowing beings.

    In the pond''s depths, Catty turned her gaze to the fish. Its mouth opened and closed silently, trying to speak. She saw a plea for help in the fish''s desperate eyes.

    Suddenly, the water around it shimmered, and the fish''s shape began to transform. The scales were fading, and a faint outline of a child was emerging from within.

    It was a fragile figure drifting in deep water.

    The child was swimming, hair fanning like a halo around their face. His small hands reached forward. The child''s mouth opened slightly, bubbles escaping like tiny pearls rising to the surface.

    A single lotus petal floated above the palm of his hand, glowing softly. The petal seemed to hover, untouched by the water. The child''s fingers touched slightly around it as if afraid to let it go, yet he held it out, offering it to Catty.

    The child''s eyes stared directly into hers, unblinking. The petal''s glow pulsed faintly as if mirroring a heartbeat, its light a beacon in the depths.

    Catty felt her heart twist painfully. "I see you¡­ I know you''re here."

    The child''s gaze didn''t leave Catty, and she sensed his silent cry for rescue. The child''s hand reached out as if trying to touch the girl.

    Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, the child''s form flickered and faded, becoming the glistening fish again. The creature''s body shimmered back into being, its scales brightening again. The child disappeared, the lotus petal vanishing along with him.

    "Seek the heart of the pond, but beware the shadows that thirst for light," the words of the hanging body floated in her mind, and in that instant, everything around Catty began changing.

    The warm, glowing light that had filled her with peace and joy dimmed, and the beings the girl had thought were angels transformed before her eyes. Their ethereal forms shifted, revealing slimy jellyfish. Their tentacles wrapped around her arms and legs, holding the girl captive.

    The illusion shattered, and Catty struggled, but the tentacles held tight. Their hug was firm, draining her energy.

    Catty gripped the sword, its blade faintly glowing. She knew what to do.

    With one swift movement, she chopped the fish in two.

 017 // Exploration / Ending

    When the blade cut the fish, a bright flash erupted from within. It unfurled like a flower blooming in fast-forward, its petals made of dazzling light. The energy swirled in the water and swept through the pond in a purifying wave. Catty saw how a whirlpool consumed the surrounding jellyfish and dissolved them into a burst of light.

    The child''s spirit took the shape of a shining ball pulsing with an ethereal warmth. He floated gently next to the girl in now-clear waters, his glow reflecting on the pond''s surface.

    Catty watched in awe as the spirit moved closer, his light growing softer and more delicate. He hovered before her, and Catty experienced a profound connection¡ªthe spirit was reaching out to touch her soul. The girl felt the water around her thrum with energy, and the spirit''s light drew her into a world between reality and the ethereal. It was time slowed, each second lingering, filled with tenderness.

    The luminous form contracted and expanded like a beating heart. It reached out with light beams, brushing against her skin with a touch lighter than air. They were filled with the warmth of a long-lost embrace. When the light touched her, memories and emotions flooded through Catty¡ªmoments of the child''s past life¡ªhis joys and sorrows, his playful days under the sun, and his calm nights under the starlit sky.

    The spirit began to envelop the girl, and his light intensified. He wrapped Catty up like a shimmering blanket, reaching out towards her wrist, where the bracelet flared with a responsive glow. Vibrating softly against her skin, the bracelet began to warm, becoming a beacon of pulsating light. Catty felt a tingling sensation as if the bracelet was speaking to the child, its energy merging with his spirit.

    The girl watched, mesmerized, as symbols began to emerge along the bracelet''s surface.

    They appeared one by one, like stars igniting in the night sky. At first, faint and sporadic, they gained clarity and rhythm, pulsing gently as if breathing life into the ancient metal.

    As more symbols filled the bracelet, they joined, creating a luminous network spanned its entire surface. The light from the symbols cast a soft glow on Catty''s skin. They moved and aligned as they settled into their final form. The bracelet became a living entity, a keeper of the wisdom of ages.

    Catty''s eyes fluttered closed, and a vision unfolded before her inner sight. She saw a dragon, majestic and wise, with eyes like deep pools of ancient lore. His gaze was both formidable and tender, a silent confession of her role in their destinies. The dragon''s presence was comforting, his aura enveloping the girl in a protective embrace and promising power and help.

    As the last of the symbols locked into place on the bracelet, Catty opened her eyes. For a moment, she saw within the swirling light the face of the child he once was¡ªa fleeting image of innocence and joy.

    Then, the spirit began ascending, and his light dimmed as he rose higher. Catty watched as he slowly dissipated into the water, leaving behind a faint trail of luminescence. The bracelet''s glow gently subsided.

    Catty surfaced from the water and avidly took a deep breath, feeling a newfound sense of life.

    The first thing she saw was Vexara''s face leaning towards her.

    "What the..." came out of their mouths simultaneously.

    The unexpected meeting made them scream, and then, a silence hung between them as they processed the situation. Catty blinked water from her lashes and stared up at Vexara. The mermaid''s expression shifted rapidly from surprise to concern. Her brow furrowed as she took in Catty''s bewildered state.

    "You''re here¡­ How?" Vexara''s voice echoed around the pond.

    Catty shook her head slightly, water droplets flinging from her hair. The girl tried to piece together her thoughts.

    "I... I''ve just been there... in the dark world," she managed to say, her voice trembling from the cold and shock.

    "Let''s get you to the shore first."

    Having climbed out of the water, the girl sat naked on the ground, shivering from the cold, and hugged herself with her arms.

    "Vexara, it''s like I dived, and the world changed. One moment, I''m there, in that dark world, and then¡ªhere, with you."

    The mermaid squeezed Catty''s hands, "Tell me, what of the child? Did he find solace?"

    "I set him free, just like Rutger said¡­ The child was freed the same way he was cursed," Catty looked around. "Where is Rutger?"

    "I''m so happy," Vexara breathed a sigh of relief. "I''m so grateful to you, Catty!"

    "Where is Rutger?!"

    "Rutger! Old man..."

    "Yes, Rutger! Where is he!" Catty''s voice rose in urgency. Her eyes scanned the surroundings, desperate for the face of the man who had helped her life.

    Vexara''s expression shifted. She took a deep breath, her voice soft, "Catty, while you journeyed through the dark world, time here... it didn''t stand still. It''s been ten years since you left us."

    "Ten years?" Catty repeated, the words barely escaping her lips.

    Vexara nodded slowly, her eyes not leaving Catty''s face¡ªthe mermaid braced the girl for the impact of her next words.

    "Rutger... the old man passed away a few years ago. He waited for you, Catty. He was here every day, and he never stopped believing you''d free the child and come back."

    The news struck Catty, her breath catching in her throat as tears welled up in her eyes.

    "No, that can''t be!" she exclaimed, her voice breaking. "He was gonna meet me... He should''ve waited for me!.."

    Vexara reached out, embracing Catty''s cold shoulders, "He knew you would succeed. He spoke of it often, with such faith."

    Catty pulled her knees to her chest, shivering slightly. "Ten years," she muttered, staring at the water. "Feels like I just blinked, and everything changed."

    Vexara sighed, "Time doesn''t wait for anyone, Catty. Not even in a place like this."

    Catty glanced at her, searching for any sign of deception. "He... Why did he die?"

    The mermaid''s eyes softened, reflecting the dim light.

    "He held on for as long as he could. But years, they wear on life," she paused, a shadow passing over her face. "He talked about you right up to the end. Said you''d find a way to free the child. Said you''d know how to find the dragon''s egg."

    A lump formed in Catty''s throat, "He should''ve been here and met me."

    "He did," Vexara nodded. "But life, it''s never fair, is it?" She looked away, guilt shadowing her features. "I''m sorry for everything. For what happened with the child... for what I did."

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    Catty''s gaze hardened, then softened as she saw the remorse in Vexara''s eyes.

    "You did what you thought was right. It wasn''t great, but it''s over now. The child''s free, and so are you."

    "Free, huh? Maybe. But forgiveness..." Vexara met her eyes, a flicker of hope igniting. "That''s a whole other beast."

    "Forgiving yourself is the hard part," Catty shrugged. "But maybe, just maybe, you can start over. We''ve both got a second chance, right?"

    "Yeah. Maybe we do," Vexara''s lips curved into a small, tentative smile.

    Catty stood up, shivering from the cold.

    "So, what''s next for you? Gonna stay here or find a new pond?"

    "Maybe I''ll take a swim, see where the currents take me. And you?" the mermaid chuckled softly, the tension easing.

    Catty shook her head, resolve flickering in her eyes. "First, I need to find out what happened here. Ten years is a long time."

    Vexara nodded, her voice gentle, "You''ll find your way. Rutger said you always do."

    "Yeah. I guess I do," Catty smiled, feeling a strange mix of sadness and hope.

    Suddenly, Catty watched as the abandoned garden around her began to fade. Trees, bushes, and grass were gradually dissolving into the air as if rubbed out by a giant eraser. She felt a weird sense of loss¡ªthe world she''d used to was slipping away.

    "The garden... it''s disappearing!" the girl exclaimed, glancing back at Vexara.

    The mermaid nodded, her expression serene. "The spell is breaking. The child''s spirit has been freed, and so am I."

    Catty looked at the pond, noticing its waters growing still and transparent, the deep slowly dimming.

    "What''s happening to the pond?"

    "It''s time for me to go, Catty." Vexara''s smile was soft and wistful. "This place was my prison and my sanctuary. Now, it''s gone."

    The girl felt a pang in her chest. "Where are you heading?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

    Vexara''s form began to blur, the edges of her figure shimmering like a mirage.

    "Somewhere quiet and bright," she replied, her voice echoing as the mermaid started to vanish.

    Catty watched, unable to move or speak. The mermaid and the pond faded away, leaving nothing but an empty space where they once were. She stood alone, the silence heavy around her. The world held its breath as if waiting for something.

    The girl looked around, the night pressing in from all sides. She was now at an empty downtown crossroads¡ªthe same place where her journey to the abandoned garden began ten years ago. The air was cool and still, the stars above flickering in the inky sky.

    Catty took a deep breath, feeling confused. Her life stretched out before her, and paths led into the unknown.

    With a final glance at the spot where Vexara had disappeared, Catty turned her gaze forward. The girl knew one thing: she would keep moving and finding her way. And she took her first step into the night, leaving the past behind.

    Catty was cripting through the dimly lit streets, her bare feet making soft, nearly silent contact with the cool sidewalk. The air was crisp, and she shivered from the cold. As the girl rounded a corner, she spotted a small park between two streets bathed in the soft glow of the streetlights.

    Just then, Catty heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

    Searching for a hiding place, she darted toward a cluster of statues at the park''s center.

    The statues, depicting various magical creatures, stood in dynamic poses¡ªfaeries with wings outstretched and elves caught mid-fly. Catty quickly positioned herself among them, trying to blend in with the stone figures. She struck a pose, arms raised gracefully as if frozen in a moment of fly.

    A group of slightly drunk townspeople, laughing and chatting, wandered into the park. Catty held her breath, hoping they''d pass by without noticing her. But one of them, a bearded man with a rosy face, squinted in her direction.

    "Hey, look at that!" he exclaimed, pointing at Catty. "A new statue! Must be some kind of... forest nymph, eh?"

    The others turned to look, nodding in drunken appreciation.

    "Yeah, must be. Look at those details! Almost lifelike," one of them remarked, leaning in for a closer look.

    Catty fought the urge to flinch. The man''s face was so close she could smell the scent of ale on his breath.

    Another group member, a woman with a giggly voice, piped up, "Do you think it''s new? I don''t remember seeing it last time."

    The bearded man shrugged, swaying slightly.

    "Maybe. Whoever made it did a fine job, though. Quite the talent, capturing that... ethereal look."

    Catty maintained her stillness, feeling the cool night air on her skin. She kept her eyes fixed on a distant point, channeling every ounce of willpower into not moving. The group lingered for a moment longer, then, satisfied with their impromptu art critique, continued on their way.

    As their laughter faded into the distance, Catty breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly dropped her pose and darted out of the park, her cheeks flushed from more than just the cold. But, for now, she had more pressing concerns¡ªlike finding something to wear and a way back to Rutger''s house.

    Catty slipped into a narrow alley, the low light barely illuminating her path. The walls were close on either side, the cobblestones underfoot cold and uneven. She moved cautiously, her eyes darting around for any sign of movement. The adrenaline coursed through her veins, and she was desperate to find something¡ªanything¡ªto cover herself.

    In the dark, her outstretched hands brushed against a soft fabric. Startled, Catty looked up to see a clothesline strung across the alley, filled with various garments fluttering in the night breeze. She reached out, fingers closing around the first piece she touched. In her haste, the girl pulled it down, and a cascade of clothes tumbled onto her head.

    Caught off guard, Catty struggled to disentangle herself from the laundry. She grabbed a piece of clothing and hastily tried to put it on, only to realize, to her dismay, that it was a ballet tutu. The delicate white fabric rustled as the girl tried to wriggle into it, the stiff tulle puffing out around her hips. It was a tight fit, clearly meant for a ballerina, and the sight of Catty in this garment was as ridiculous as it was endearing.

    Suddenly, a creak of the opening door echoed through the alley. The girl froze, her heart leaping into her throat. She quickly ducked behind a stack of old crates, pulling up the tutu''s skirt.

    A few residents had ventured out to investigate the noise and peered into the alley. They stood in the doorway, illuminated by the bright light pouring onto their backs from the room.

    "Did you hear that?" one of them said deliberately loud.

    Catty held her breath, trying to remain as still as possible. She squeezed her eyes shut, praying they wouldn''t notice her.

    "If that''s a ghost, it''s got a flair for ballet!" the bravest resident shouted, noticing the loss.

    The residents marked time on the threshold for several minutes, not daring to step into the darkness. Then they cursed and returned to the house, slamming the door.

    Once the coast was clear, Catty slowly emerged from her hiding spot. She glanced around the alley, the clothesline now a chaotic mess of tangled garments. A laugh bubbled inside the girl, and she could hardly restrain herself.

    When Catty quickly slipped out of the alley, the tutu clinging awkwardly on the run.

    Racing into Rutger''s house, she couldn''t imagine what gossip would spread the following day. The townspeople would be abuzz with tales of the "mysterious fan" who raided the laundry and stole the prima ballerina''s clothes.

    The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Catty stirred, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face. She opened her eyes, momentarily overwhelmed. As the previous night''s events came rushing back, §Öthe girl felt a dull ache in her chest.

    She was lying on the carpet. The room was quiet, save for the faint chirping of birds outside. Catty took a deep breath, trying to shake off the exhaustion that clung to her like a heavy blanket.

    Steeling herself, the girl made her way to the bathroom. She turned on the faucet, the water splashing into the tub with a soothing rhythm. As the tub filled, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror¡ªher hair tangled, eyes red and puffy. Catty looked away, unable to face the reflection staring back at her.

    With difficulty, the girl took off her ballet tutu and slipped into the warm water. Only her head remained above the surface. Catty closed her eyes, letting the heat seep into her tired muscles. For a moment, there was peace¡ªa respite from the chaos of the night before. But as she sat in the tub, memories of Rutger flooded her mind.

    Catty remembered his smile, the way he always knew what to say, and the warmth of his words. He had been her guide, and now he was gone. The weight of the loss hit her all at once, like a punch to the gut. The girl felt the tears welling up, hot and stinging, and she tried to hold them back.

    But it was no use, and the tears came in a torrent. Catty buried her face in her hands, her sobs echoing in the small bathroom. She cried for Rutger and the pain of knowing she would never see him again. The water rippled around her, mixing with her tears.

    For a long time, the girl stayed like that, wrapped in the warmth of the bath and the cold grip of sorrow. Eventually, she lifted her head, taking a shaky breath. The tub had gone cold, but Catty felt a strange clarity. The pain was still there, raw and aching, but the girl knew it was already behind her. She had a journey to continue. She wouldn''t let Rutger be forgotten.

    Catty was about to stand up when she felt an unexpected tingle around her wrist. Startled, she looked down to see the bracelet glowing softly.

    The symbols on the bracelet began to shimmer and pulse, growing brighter with each passing second. Catty watched as they lit up, casting a light that danced across the water''s surface. The glow intensified, and the symbols came alive, shifting and rearranging in a mesmerizing pattern.

    The light from the symbols shot out, and Catty''s breath caught in her throat when the lines weaved together, creating a script before her.

    She leaned closer, her eyes fixed on the shimmering text. As the girl strained to read the message, the letters began to come into focus, and she understood it was a message left by the child.

 018 // Supplement / Case Files

    TITLE: "Multiverse Investigator''s Case Files"

    CASE NUMBER: "Case File #001: The Lost World"

    INVESTIGATOR NAME: "Mordof Xala"

    DATE: "Grand Alignment Era, Day 17840"

    CLASSIFICATION: "Confidential"

    *

    INTRODUCTION

    This case file has been prepared to investigate the disappearance of the Lost World, a foundational element within the Multiverse. The Lost World is believed to be the origin point from which the entire Multiverse was formed, and its vanishing has puzzled scholars and investigators for centuries.

    This investigation seeks to uncover the truth behind the Lost World''s disappearance, examining historical records, prevailing theories, and potential connections to key figures and artifacts. The ultimate goal is to determine whether the Lost World can be rediscovered and assess the implications such a discovery would have on the stability and future of the Multiverse, composed of interconnected worlds governed by unique laws and magical properties.

    MAIN CASE SUMMARY: THE LOST WORLD

    1. Incident Summary

    a. Details of Disappearance

    The events leading to the disappearance of the Lost World remain primarily speculative. Historical records and ancient texts suggest that the First Traveler''s arrival triggered a series of catastrophic events. While the exact nature of these events is unclear, prevailing theories indicate that the Traveler''s actions destabilized the world''s core, leading to a breakdown in its connection to the rest of the Multiverse.

    In the wake of this instability, the Multiverse Gatekeeper, recognizing the threat posed by the potential collapse of this foundational world, took drastic measures. The Gatekeeper is believed to have sealed the Lost World away, effectively erasing its presence from the Multiverse. This act was likely intended to prevent further damage to the Multiverse''s structure and to contain any residual effects of the Traveler''s actions.

    b. Current Status

    To this day, the Lost World remains hidden, its location unknown and inaccessible. The Multiverse Map, an ancient artifact of unexplored significance, is thought to hold the key to rediscovering the Lost World. However, much like the Lost World, the map''s existence remains uncertain, with only fragmented clues hinting at its true purpose and whereabouts.

    2. Location

    a. Original Position

    The Lost World was located at the zero point on the Axis of Existence, the origin from which the entire Multiverse was formed. This position made it the central juncture where the threads of fate, time, and reality intersected. As the foundational world, it held unparalleled significance, influencing the creation and stability of every other world within the Multiverse. The Axis of Existence, often depicted as a cosmic alignment of celestial bodies, served as a beacon of balance, with the Lost World at its core.

    b. Current Status

    Following the catastrophic events triggered by the First Traveler''s visit, the Multiverse Gatekeeper recognized the imminent threat posed by the instability of the Lost World. The Gatekeeper relocated the Lost World to a hidden temporal anomaly to protect the Multiverse from potential collapse. This anomaly, referred to as the Time Scar, exists outside the normal flow of time, where the past, present, and future converge in a chaotic, fragmented state.

    3. Subjects Involved

    a. The First Traveler

    Background: The First Traveler is a legendary figure within the Multiverse, often regarded as the pioneer who first discovered the existence of multiple worlds. Their identity remains shrouded in secrecy, with various accounts portraying them as a curious explorer, a powerful sorcerer, or even a being of divine origin. The Traveler''s actions are widely believed to have had profound and far-reaching consequences, particularly about the Lost World.

    Connection to the Lost World: The First Traveler is historically linked to the Lost World as the first outsider to set foot on its sacred ground. Their arrival is considered a pivotal moment in the Multiverse''s history, marking the beginning of a series of events that would ultimately lead to the world''s disappearance. Whether the Traveler intended to exploit the Lost World''s resources or merely sought to uncover its secrets, their presence is widely considered to have destabilized the world''s delicate balance, setting the following catastrophic events in motion.

    Impact: The First Traveler''s actions led to the sealing of the Lost World and also raised questions about the ethical implications of interdimensional exploration. Their story serves as both a cautionary tale and a catalyst for ongoing debates about the responsibilities of those who possess the power to traverse the Multiverse.

    b. The Multiverse Gatekeeper

    Background: The Multiverse Gatekeeper is an undetermined and omnipotent entity tasked with maintaining the balance between worlds. As the guardian of the Multiverse, the Gatekeeper''s primary responsibility is to oversee the connections between worlds, ensuring that the flow of energy, magic, and time remains stable. The Gatekeeper is often depicted as a neutral force, intervening only when the stability of the Multiverse is threatened.

    Connection to the Lost World: In response to the First Traveler''s actions and the subsequent destabilization of the Lost World, the Multiverse Gatekeeper took decisive action to protect the integrity of the Multiverse. Recognizing the existential threat posed by the continued existence of the Lost World in its unstable state, the Gatekeeper made the unprecedented decision to seal the world away, severing its connections to the rest of the Multiverse. This act of containment ensured that the world''s power and the potential dangers it harbored could not spread or be exploited by others.

    Role in the Investigation: The Gatekeeper''s involvement in the sealing of the Lost World makes them a key figure in this investigation. Understanding the Gatekeeper''s motives and the methods used to hide the Lost World may provide critical insights into how the world can be rediscovered, if at all possible. The Gatekeeper''s actions also raise important questions about the balance of power within the Multiverse and the lengths this entity will go to maintain order.

    SUB-CASE 1: THE FIRST TRAVELER

    1. Incident Summary

    a. Overview

    The First Traveler holds a unique and pivotal place in the history of the Multiverse as the first being to explore its interconnected worlds. Motivated by an unyielding pursuit of knowledge, the Traveler eventually discovered the Lost World¡ªthe origin point of all existence and the zero point on the Axis of Existence. This world housed the Primordial Talisman, an ancient and powerful device responsible for maintaining the singular timeline that governed the Multiverse.

    b.Actions

    Upon entering the Lost World, the First Traveler discovered the Primordial Talisman. Unaware of its purpose, the Travelers attempted to interact with it, intending to explore its power. This interference disrupted the Talisman''s function through their manipulation and unintended actions. As a result, the once-stable, singular timeline began to fracture, causing the emergence of multiple diverging timelines. Each new timeline created ripples across the Multiverse, destabilizing the very fabric of reality.

    c. Consequences

    The creation of these fractured timelines led to temporal chaos and posed a significant threat to the Multiverse. The Multiverse Gatekeeper, recognizing the catastrophic potential of this disruption, took immediate action to prevent further damage. The Gatekeeper sealed the Lost World within a temporal anomaly, now known as the Time Scar, where time is fragmented and unstable. This containment was necessary to protect the rest of the Multiverse from the cascading effects of the Traveler''s actions. Still, it also rendered the Lost World¡ªand its secrets¡ªinaccessible to all.

    2. Investigation Notes

    a. Collected Accounts

    While no direct witnesses to the First Traveler''s actions within the Lost World have been identified, several ancient texts and records, some of which have only recently been uncovered, provide fragmented but valuable insights into their journey. These documents, originating from various worlds within the Multiverse, often describe the Traveler''s quest for knowledge and power, highlighting their exceptional ability to navigate the complex and dangerous pathways between worlds, ultimately leading to their discovery of the Lost World. The most reliable are The Traveler''s Testament and The Echoes of Eternity. Some scientists mention The Book of Forgotten Stars, but I don''t trust this source.

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    b. Scholarly Interpretations

    Over the centuries, scholars from various worlds have attempted to piece together the Traveler''s actions and their consequences. Of the modern studies, the most important are The Convergence Theory: Understanding Multiversal Intersections and Quantum Threads: The Fabric of Multiversal Reality. The prevailing interpretation is that the Traveler''s interaction with the Primordial Talisman within the Lost World was an unintended catalyst for the world''s destabilization. Some scholars argue that the Traveler was trying to harness the Talisman''s power, while others believe that their actions were motivated by a desire to protect or preserve the Lost World. Despite differing opinions, there is consensus that the Traveler''s journey had profound and far-reaching effects on the Multiverse.

    c. Analysis of Artifacts

    Several artifacts believed to be linked to the First Traveler have been discovered across the Multiverse. These artifacts, which include a pair of socks for three feet, a half-eaten sandwich, and a to-do list written in an unknown language, are thought to provide clues about the Traveler''s journey and their connection to the Lost World. However, the exact nature and origin of these artifacts remain a subject of debate among historians and archaeologists, with some questioning their authenticity.

    d. Unanswered Questions

    Many aspects of the First Traveler''s journey remain shrouded in uncertainty. Key questions include the exact nature of the Primordial Talisman, the Traveler''s intentions, and the true impact of their actions on the Lost World.

    3. Analysis

    a. Impact on the Lost World

    The actions of the First Traveler in the Lost World continue to be a subject of intense debate among scholars and investigators. At the heart of this analysis is the question of the Traveler''s intent¡ªwhether their interference was driven by ignorance of the consequences, overconfidence in their ability to control the Primordial Talisman, or a genuine attempt to gain a deeper understanding of the Multiverse. The evidence suggests that the Traveler''s actions, however well-intentioned, disrupted the delicate balance of the Lost World, leading to its eventual disappearance.

    b. Motivations and Consequences

    The Traveler''s motivations remain unclear. Some argue that their actions were born out of hubris¡ªa belief that they could manipulate the very foundations of reality without repercussions. Others suggest that the Traveler was a victim of circumstance, unwittingly triggering the catastrophe that followed. A third perspective posits that the Traveler sought to harness the power of the Lost World for a noble purpose, possibly to protect or preserve the Multiverse. Regardless of the motivation, the result was the same: the Lost World''s destabilization and its subsequent sealing by the Multiverse Gatekeeper.

    c. Broader Implications for the Multiverse

    The broader implications of the First Traveler''s actions extend far beyond the Lost World. The creation of multiple timelines and the ensuing temporal chaos had a ripple effect across the Multiverse, potentially weakening the stability of other worlds connected to the Axis of Existence. This analysis considers whether the Traveler''s journey, while disastrous for the Lost World, may have been a necessary step in the Multiverse''s evolution. The existence of multiple timelines, though unintended, could be seen as an expansion of the Multiverse''s complexity, offering new opportunities and challenges for those who navigate it.

    d. Failure or Evolution?

    The final consideration in this analysis is whether the First Traveler''s journey should be viewed as a failure or a catalyst for growth. On one hand, the loss of the Lost World and the ensuing chaos could be seen as a catastrophic mistake, marking the Traveler''s journey as a cautionary tale. On the other hand, the creation of new timelines and the expansion of the Multiverse''s potential suggest that the Traveler''s actions, while tragic, might have been a necessary evolution. This section ultimately leaves the question open, acknowledging that the true nature of the Traveler''s impact may not be fully understood for millennia.

    SUB-CASE 2: THE GATEKEEPER

    1. Summary

    a. Actions

    After the Lost World was destabilized, the Multiverse Gatekeeper is believed to have acted immediately to seal it within the Time Scar. Recognizing the imminent threat to the stability of the entire Multiverse, the Gatekeeper supposedly took swift action to isolate the Lost World, effectively removing it from the known Multiverse. This drastic measure was intended to prevent the cascading effects of the fractured timelines from spreading further, thereby preserving the overall balance of the Multiverse.

    In conjunction with sealing the Lost World, the Gatekeeper is also thought to have hidden or secured key artifacts connected to the Lost World and the Primordial Talisman. These artifacts were believed to hold the power to reverse the Gatekeeper''s actions or to reveal the Lost World''s location. By scattering these items across different worlds, the Gatekeeper aimed to ensure they could not be easily gathered or misused.

    b. List of Artifacts

    The Celestial Compass¡ªA device that, when used in conjunction with the Multiverse Map, reveals the correct direction necessary to navigate the pathways of the Multiverse.

    The Crystal of Resonance¡ªA powerful crystal that resonates with the energies of the Lost World, essential for achieving internal attunement to the world''s vibes.

    The Key of Time¡ªAn artifact that unlocks the temporal gates or stabilizes the time fluctuations surrounding the Lost World, making it possible to safely access the hidden realm.

    Note: These three artifacts¡ªThe Celestial Compass, The Crystal of Resonance, and The Key of Time¡ªare required to fully utilize the Multiverse Map, the central artifact in the quest to rediscover the Lost World. Without these supporting artifacts, the map''s true power and the pathway to the Lost World remain inaccessible.

    c. Consequences

    The Gatekeeper''s decision to seal the Lost World and isolate these artifacts was seen as necessary to protect the Multiverse from further instability. However, this action also created a new layer of intrigue, as many now seek these artifacts, hoping to uncover the Lost World''s secrets. The Gatekeeper''s actions, while preserving the Multiverse''s balance, have set the stage for a potential rediscovery of the Lost World, should the right individuals manage to gather these powerful relics.

    2. Investigation Notes

    a. Collected Accounts

    Despite the central role attributed to the Multiverse Gatekeeper in sealing the Lost World and scattering key artifacts, concrete evidence of the Gatekeeper''s existence¡ªand the actions they allegedly performed¡ªremains elusive. Scholars and investigators have long debated the veracity of the Gatekeeper''s role, with many questioning whether such an entity ever truly existed or if the Gatekeeper is merely a convenient explanation for events that defy understanding.

    b. Speculation and Hypotheses

    The information surrounding the Gatekeeper is based almost entirely on speculation, myths, and hypotheses. Ancient texts reference a powerful, omnipotent entity responsible for maintaining balance within the Multiverse. However, these references are often vague, metaphorical, or symbolic, leaving much room for interpretation. Even the most widely accepted sources only indirectly reference the Gatekeeper, casting doubt on the narrative''s reliability. This lack of direct evidence has led some scholars to propose that the Gatekeeper is not a singular being but rather a symbolic representation of the forces that govern the Multiverse, such as fate, time, or magic.

    3. Analysis

    The lack of concrete evidence surrounding the Gatekeeper raises significant questions about the authenticity of the legends and the reliability of historical records. If the Gatekeeper is indeed a myth or a metaphor, then the importance placed on the associated artifacts could be called into question. This uncertainty adds a layer of complexity to the investigation, as it forces scholars to consider the possibility that the true nature of the Lost World''s sealing may never be fully understood.

    SUB-CASE 3: THE MULTIVERSE MAP

    1. Origins of the Map

    The Multiverse Map is intrinsically linked to the Lost World, with many scholars suggesting it was created within it. According to legend, the map was not merely a chart of worlds but a living being that could adapt to the shifting realities of the Multiverse. It was said to contain the secrets of the Multiverse''s structure, including the location of the Lost World, and was designed to guide only those deemed worthy by the map itself.

    2. The Disappearance of the Map

    Much like the Lost World, the Multiverse Map vanished under mysterious circumstances. Some stories suggest that the Multiverse Gatekeeper hid the map to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. Others claim that the map was lost during a catastrophic event, such as the fracturing of the timelines. There are even tales that the map was split into fragments, scattered across different worlds, to ensure that no single individual could fully access its power.

    3. Claims of Sightings and Uses

    Over the centuries, explorers, adventurers, and scholars have made numerous claims that they have seen or used the Multiverse Map. These accounts vary widely in their descriptions of the map''s appearance and abilities, leading to speculation that the map might change form depending on who holds it. Some have claimed that the map led them to undiscovered worlds or revealed hidden truths about the Multiverse, though no one has yet managed to reach the Lost World using it.

    Despite these claims, the Multiverse Map remains one of the most elusive artifacts in the Multiverse. Many believe the map is conscious and capable of hiding itself from those not destined to use it. Others suggest that the map can only be found under specific cosmic conditions or requires the other key artifacts¡ªThe Celestial Compass, The Crystal of Resonance, and The Key of Time¡ªto unlock its full potential. The uncertainty surrounding the map''s existence has only fueled the legend, making it one of the most sought-after objects in the Multiverse.

    4. Analysis

    The Multiverse Map is thought to hold the key to rediscovering the Lost World, with some theorists arguing that it may also provide insight into the true nature of the Multiverse itself. If the map still exists, it could guide future explorers to navigate the complex and shifting realities of the Multiverse and ultimately find the Lost World. However, the challenges of locating and interpreting the map make this an arduous task that only the most determined and capable individuals could hope to accomplish.

    CONCLUSION

    After thoroughly examining the existing evidence and testimonies, this investigation has revealed several key insights into the nature of the Multiverse Map and its associated artifacts.

    Among the various ancient texts and legends encountered during this investigation, one prophecy stands out¡ªa tale of a girl and her dragon, destined to play a pivotal role in the fate of the Multiverse. The prophecy suggests that this unique bond between the girl and the dragon may hold the final key to unlocking the true potential of the Multiverse Map. While it is unclear how this connection will manifest, this prophecy''s appearance across multiple sources warrants serious consideration.

    While the prophecy''s details are shrouded in myth and legend, the implications of its fulfillment are significant. Therefore, it is recommended that further resources be allocated to monitoring the situation surrounding the girl and the dragon egg. The potential for these elements to intersect with the ongoing search for the Multiverse Map could provide the breakthrough needed to rediscover the Lost World.

 019 // Imagination / Opening

    Catty stood in the bathroom, the tiled floor cool her bare feet. The soft glow from the light bulb above the mirror cast a gentle light over the room, illuminating her nude figure. The girl gazed at her reflection¡ªher body marked by the trials she had faced.

    Her breasts rose and fell with calm breath, but her skin bore the telltale signs of the recent struggles¡ªbruises blooming in shades of purple and yellow and abrasions that crisscrossed her slim frame like a map of her journey.

    Catty''s fingers traced the edges of a dark bruise on her ribcage, wincing slightly at the tender spot. Her reflection stared back, with weariness in her eyes. Each mark on her body told a story, a piece of the battles the girl had fought and survived.

    She let out a soft sigh, her breath fogging the mirror briefly. Catty''s gaze drifted lower, noting the graze below the navel that was beginning to heal. Her body felt like a stranger''s¡ªforeign and familiar all at once. The girl knew these injuries would fade in time, leaving only marks as reminders.

    In the stillness of the bathroom, Catty stood, looking at her reflection. Her lips pressed, but then a smile formed as she squared her shoulders. Despite the pain and the fear, the girl was still holding on. She was still here, ready to face whatever came next.

    Catty reached for the elastic band on the sink''s edge, gathering her long hair with practiced ease. Soft and dark strands slipped through her fingers as she pulled them into a high ponytail. The girl secured it tightly, feeling the familiar weight rest against her back. The action was simple and routine¡ªlike donning armor before facing the enemy.

    She took the lavender satin short pajamas folded neatly on a stool. Catty slipped into the shorts first, the thin satin brushing against her bottom. Next, she pulled on the top, the delicate material gliding over her shoulders and chest. The cool fabric was a welcome contrast to the warmth of her skin, soothing the aches and pains that lingered from her recent trials.

    As Catty put on the fit, she caught her reflection in the mirror once more. The lavender hue of the pajamas highlighted the faint blush of her skin, softening the harsh lines of her bruises. The girl looked almost serene, starkly contrasting the storm brewing within her.

    Taking a deep breath, she ran a hand over her ponytail, ensuring it was secure. Her fingers lingered at the base of her neck, feeling the steady pulse beneath. Catty exhaled slowly, a sense of calm washing over her. The world outside the bathroom was chaotic and cruel, but she felt a fleeting sense of peace in this quiet space.

    With one last glance at her reflection, the girl turned away from the mirror and stepped out of the bathroom.

    Catty opened the door into Rutger''s room, and the scent of old books and ink wrapped around her like a familiar embrace. She crossed the threshold quietly, her bare feet slapping softly on the wooden floor. The space was barely lit, with shadows dancing along the walls as the light filtered through the curtains. The girl pulled it back, and the morning sun flooded the room.

    The sturdy wooden desk stood by the window, its surface cluttered with papers. Her eyes were drawn to a leather-bound notebook lying atop a stack of books.

    Curiosity piqued, Catty approached the desk and picked up the notebook. She opened it, and her gaze fell upon Rutger''s neat handwriting, filling the pages. As her eyes scanned the lines, something strange occurred. The clear and vivid words began to blur and fade like ink dissolving in water. The girl was turning the pages and watching with horror as they became blank. Panic surged within her, and Catty quickly snapped the notebook shut, the sound echoing in the quiet room.

    Her heart raced as she processed what had just happened. Catty set the notebook down gently, her fingers trembling slightly.

    She spotted a piece of paper and a sharpened pencil tucked between books. Grabbing them, she sat at the desk, and the chair creaked softly. Catty inhaled deeply, steadying herself, and the text displayed by the bracelet in the tub stood before her eyes.

    She began to write.

    "Four guardians hold the key, standing tall," she whispered, her pencil moving swiftly across the paper.

    "Round the circle, they await the dragon''s call," the text flowed smoothly, and the girl continued.

    Each word appeared from her memory, the child''s words unfolding line by line. The soft scratching of the pencil was the only sound, a rhythm that steadied her racing thoughts.

    When Catty finished the final line, she set the pencil down, and her eyes scanned the words.

    "Four guardians hold the key, standing tall,

    Round the circle, they await the dragon''s call.

    South breathes fire, fierce and free,

    West weaves water deep as the sea,

    East commands winds that heed no wall,

    North bears earth, where secrets fall.

    In their midst lies the heart, unseen,

    Beneath the stone, where time has been."

    Now, the mystery of the dragon''s egg was within her grasp, and this riddle held the key to everything.

    Catty headed to the old library, where the dusty scent of books was as thick as the shadows that clung to the bookshelves. The girl settled into an ancient armchair that creaked under her weight¡ªa relic as the tomes surrounding her. The air was still, disturbed only by the rustle of paper on her lap.

    "Four guardians hold the key, standing tall," Catty murmured, feeling the weight of each syllable like a stone in her palm. These words were a puzzle¡ªa map leading to something hidden, something crucial. She knew the solution lay buried in ancient tales, but the answer eluded her yet.

    Her fingers danced nervously along the edges of the paper as the girl whispered the riddle again. The elements¡ªfire, water, earth, and air¡ªtaunted her with their simplicity.

    Catty''s impatience grew as she tried to connect the pieces. With a sigh, she glanced around the library. The bookshelves loomed like silent sentinels, their shelves packed with volumes holding the wisdom of centuries. Perhaps the answer was buried within the pages of these tomes.

    She approached the nearest bookshelf, running her fingers along the spines. Titles written in faded gold script caught her eye, promising the secrets of Elemental Magic. Catty hesitated momentarily, then pulled out a thick, leather-bound volume that was particularly worn, as if it had been consulted many times before.

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    The book creaked as the girl opened it. She flipped through the chapters, scanning for anything that might relate to the elements mentioned in the riddle. The text was dense, filled with archaic language and intricate diagrams, but Catty forced herself to focus. Her eyes darted from line to line, searching for anything to help her understand the riddle.

    Finally, a passage caught her attention. It spoke of a time when the elements were not merely forces of nature but guardians of ancient relics, each hidden in a place that embodied their essence. The words hinted at trials and tests, at places where the elements met and where secrets were kept under stone. Catty''s heart quickened as she read on, the descriptions eerily similar to the clues in her riddle.

    Could this be the key? The girl carefully copied the passage onto a scrap of paper. It wasn''t a complete answer, but it was a start.

    Catty looked at the large, aged map that covered nearly the entire wall of Rutger''s library. It was yellowed with time, and its edges curled slightly. The details of mountains, rivers, and forests were hand-drawn, each landmark meticulously labeled in faded ink. Catty moved closer to the map, and her eyes slowly slid over it, taking in the names, the distant and mysterious places she had only heard of in stories.

    Her fingers touched the map as if the contact might reveal the secrets she sought. The riddle echoed in her mind as the girl tried to match the words to the places before her.

    "South breathes fire, fierce and free..." Catty''s gaze shifted to the southern reaches of the map, where the jagged outline of Furyforge Peak loomed. The volcano, marked by a fire symbol, seemed an obvious candidate. Its fiery nature matched the description.

    The girl moved her attention westward, tracing the winding rivers until they settled on Sablemere. The western edge of the map was dominated by the lake''s deep blue, its shores bordered by forests and mountains.

    "West weaves water, deep as the sea..." The words aligned with the lake''s mystical reputation! What''s next?

    Catty''s fingers trailed eastward, skimming over plains and hills until they found the high, barren expanse of the Tempest Plateau. The plateau was marked with a swirling symbol, representing the relentless winds that tore through the land.

    "East commands winds that heed no wall..." The description fitted the riddle, too!

    Finally, her gaze swept northward, where the map depicted the Ancient Tree of Heka with twisted branches and deep, spiraling roots.

    "North bears earth, where secrets fall..." The venerable tree seemed a likely place where secrets could be hidden. However, Catty couldn''t shake the feeling that the simple connections she was making were too obvious, too easy. Something felt off as if the true answer was hiding just beyond reach.

    There should be one place!

    The girl stepped back, taking in the entire map at once, her mind racing as she tried to see the bigger picture. The locations she had chosen were distant from each other, scattered across the land.

    "In their midst lies the heart, unseen..." Catty whispered, her eyes narrowing as she considered what lay in the center of these four points.

    Her gaze traveled back and forth, mentally drawing lines between the volcano, the lake, the tree, and the plateau. Where did they intersect? What was hidden in their midst? Beneath the stone, where time has been... The words tugged at her thoughts, urging the girl to see what was hidden in plain sight.

    The map offered no easy answers, only more questions. Catty knew she was close, closer than she had been before. She traced the paths with her eyes, connecting the dots, trying to uncover the heart of the mystery. The room around the girl seemed to fade, leaving only the map and the puzzle in her mind.

    What if the answer wasn''t a single location but a journey that would take her across the map, from one element to the next? What if the heart of the riddle was not a place but something she needed to discover within herself?

    Catty shook her head, pushing the thoughts aside. She needed to focus, to find the one place that tied it all together. The girl leaned closer and breathed softly as if whispering might coax the map to reveal secrets.

    Frustration began to bubble up inside her. "Enough," she said, turning away from the map.

    At the moment, the only thing Catty understood was that she needed to clear her head. The riddle pressed heavily on her mind, and the vibrant city beyond the walls beckoned.

    The girl wore a hoodie and a jogger and stepped out into the streets, leaving Rutger''s home''s quiet solitude. The sun was already high in the sky, casting short shadows across the cobblestones. The air was warm, filled with the scent of freshly baked bread and the distant sound of merchants calling out their wares. Catty let her feet carry her forward, her destination unclear, her thoughts tangled in the puzzle the girl couldn''t solve.

    Soon, the streets widened, and the buildings grew taller as she neared downtown. Catty wove through the crowds of people, occasionally looking at the sky as if the clouds might offer some hidden insight.

    Before long, the path opened into the Grand Plaza, a sprawling square surrounded by grand buildings with towering columns. Fountains bubbled at the plaza''s corners, their waters catching sunlight and throwing rainbows. Statues of long-forgotten heroes stood sentinel, their faces weathered by time, passionlessly watching over the people below.

    Catty paused at the edge of the plaza, taking in the sight. The space was alive with activity¡ªvendors selling trinkets, children chasing each other, and couples strolling arm in arm, lost in their worlds. But despite the liveliness, Catty felt a growing sense of unease. The answer she sought seemed further away with every step she took.

    The girl wandered aimlessly through the plaza, the riddle''s words echoing in her mind, taunting her with their simplicity and mystery.

    "In their midst lies the heart, unseen..." Catty whispered to herself, but the words offered no new revelations. The vastness of the plaza only amplified her sense of being lost.

    "Why can''t anything just make sense?" she exclaimed, clenching her fists. "There has to be something I''m missing¡­ something obvious."

    The girl sighed, frustration and uncertainty weighing heavily on her shoulders. She stood in the middle of the bustling plaza, and the world around her seemed to blur, the noise fading into a distant hum. The riddle Catty couldn''t solve consumed her thoughts.

    Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the plaza, tugging at her hoodie and rustling the leaves of the nearby trees. Before Catty could react, the wind snatched the paper from her hand, lifting it into the air. She watched the paper spiral upward, caught in the invisible currents.

    "No!" Catty cried out, and her voice lost in the wind as the paper danced higher, twisting and turning like a leaf in a storm. Without thinking, the girl bolted after it, her feet pounding against the sidewalk as she raced through the crowd. The paper fluttered out of reach, taunting Catty as it sailed through the air.

    The wind carried the paper toward the plaza''s edge. Her heart raced as the girl chased it, weaving through the crowds of people. The paper veered sharply, slipping into the shadowed mouth of a narrow alley. It dipped and darted between the towering buildings.

    Catty didn''t hesitate. She plunged into the alley after it, her footsteps echoing off the cramped walls. The alley was dark and narrow, a world away from the bright, bustling plaza. Trash cans and discarded crates lined the walls, the air thick with the smell of damp stone and something rotten. The paper continued to flutter ahead of her, just beyond her grasp.

    The alley twisted and turned, narrowing even further until the walls closed around her.

    Finally, the wind lost its strength, and the paper began to descend, drifting gently toward the ground. Straight to the man who was peeing behind the trash can.

    He shifted his gaze from the running girl to the swirling paper, continuing to do his job. Finishing, he buttoned his fly with one hand, and with the other, he deftly caught a white sheet.

    The man looked at the girl. His clothes were worn and dirty, but his shoulders squared. He turned to Catty, holding the paper delicately between his fingers. A mischievous grin spread across his weathered face as the man read the riddle, then up at the girl.

    "Oh! I know this place," he said, his voice rough but sure as if the answer had been clear to him all along.

 020 // Imagination / Part I

    Did her new companion know where to go? It was worth checking, at least. The girl had no other options.

    The wind whipped across the open plains and carried a chill that clung to Catty''s skin. She zipped her windbreaker fully and pulled her trucker hat down, squinting against the setting sun, which cast long shadows across the land. In the distance, the ancient city rose from the earth like a phantom. Its tall towers were barely discernible through the haze of mist that lingered in the air.

    High above, a flock of birds circled lazily, their dark silhouettes stark against the orange walls colored by the evening sky. Their caws echoed, adding to the desolate atmosphere that surrounded the city.

    The path before them was rugged and uneven, and the slope of the hill was dotted with monoliths jutting from the ground. Each stone was covered in carvings, appearing through the moss, and symbols pulsed with hidden power.

    The man walked a few paces ahead of the girl, following a path he had traveled before. Judging by his equipment, the man was a pathfinder. His movements and eyes scanned the horizon and the city beyond with familiarity. He glanced back at Catty. She trailed slightly behind, her attention split between the strange monoliths and the distant town.

    "There it is," the man said, his voice filled with reverence despite the pipe sticking out of his mouth. "Every time, it''s like seeing it for the first time."

    He was stocky with large hands. The right hand didn''t have the little finger. Catty picked up her pace, catching up to the man, and nudged him lightly with her elbow.

    "So, Fitzlucia, you sure this is the place? Looks like something out of a ghost town story, doesn''t it?"

    The man gave her a sidelong glance, the awe in his expression replaced momentarily by irritation.

    "I''m Fitzmaria," he grumbled through his thick red beard. "And yes, this is it. The path leads directly to the observatory. It''s tucked away behind those towers. Just follow me."

    Catty nodded, her eyes returning to the distant structures, "Right, Fitzisabel, lead the way. I just hope it''s worth the trip."

    Fitzmaria didn''t bother to correct her this time, his focus returning to the path. The last rays of sunlight painted the ancient stone walls in shades of scarlet, making them appear alive as if the town was awakening after centuries of slumber. The birds continued their slow circles overhead.

    The closer they got, the more anxious Catty felt. She tried to push this feeling aside as they continued forward, but she couldn''t shake the sense that they were approaching something far more dangerous than she had anticipated.

    The ancient city loomed larger with every step, its details becoming clearer¡ªmassive, crumbling walls and towers reaching impossibly high into the sky. Now, it was silhouetted against the darkening horizon.

    Catty broke the quiet, her curiosity getting the better of her.

    "So, Fitz..." she began, her tone becoming more serious, "...Fitzmaria, what did you do here before? You said you''ve been here. What were you looking for?"

    The man glanced at her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

    "Oh, you know, the usual¡ªfame, fortune, the meaning of life," he replied with a dry chuckle, "but it turns out this place is better at giving you a lot of dust and dead ends."

    Catty raised an eyebrow, "And now?"

    Fitzmaria''s gaze shifted back to the towering walls ahead, his smirk fading slightly.

    "Now? Let''s hope this time, we get more than dust."

    The path narrowed as they descended the final slope, bringing them closer to the ancient city. The towers of the once-great civilization now loomed overhead, their sheer scale becoming more daunting with each step. The imposing walls were etched with the scars of time and weather.

    As they approached the outskirts, the details of the stonework became clearer. The carvings that adorned the walls¡ªnow worn and partially obscured by creeping vines¡ªspoke of a time when this place was alive with activity, a hub of knowledge and power. Now, the city stood silent, its grandeur reduced to shadows of its past.

    Fitzmaria''s pace slowed as they neared the city entrance. His eyes scanned the towers.

    "These walls have seen better days," the man muttered, more to himself than to Catty. Then, he turned to the girl. "Guess the observatory is still intact. We''re close."

    "How close?"

    "Five pipes," the man answered.

    "Pipes?.."

    "Yep!" Fitzmaria pulled the pipe out of his mouth and tapped it on the nearest monolith, knocking the ashes out.

    Catty glanced up at the towers that loomed above them, and her worry increased. The structures were not just tall¡ªthey were monumental, built to withstand the test of time, and yet time had taken its toll. Large chunks of stone had crumbled away, leaving gaping holes and jagged edges that added to the city''s eerie look.

    "So, where''s this observatory of yours, Fitzelena?" Catty asked, her voice quieter now as if this place demanded reverence.

    The man''s beard twitched.

    "Just ahead. We''ll have to pass through the main courtyard and take the tunnel. Stay close."

    They continued forward, the walls ahead rising higher and higher until the sky above was just a sliver of darkening blue. The air grew cooler in the shadows, and their footsteps echoed off the stone, breaking the silence that enveloped them.

    As they reached the outskirts of the city, Fitzmaria paused to take in the sight of the structures. His expression shifted to admiration as if he were greeting an old friend who had fallen on hard times.

    "This place¡­ it was magnificent once. You''re right. Now, it''s just a ghost of what it was."

    Catty said nothing, her eyes tracing the outlines of the towers as they disappeared into the night. She couldn''t help but feel a sense of foreboding¡ªa nagging certainty that whatever lay ahead would not be easy.

    With a final glance at the stone walls, Fitzmaria led the way forward.

    The path before them sloped downward, leading into a deep hollow beneath a vast rock overhang. The air grew cooler as they descended. The city walls gradually gave way to the rugged rocks that served as their foundation.

    Then, they saw the tunnel entrance ahead¡ªa dark, foreboding maw carved into the solid crag.

    Fitzmaria slowed, his eyes narrowing as he studied the tunnel''s opening. "Here we go," he said, pointing to the emptiness. The words heavily hung in the air. The tunnel was wide enough to accommodate a caravan of travelers, but its darkness swallowed the light.

    Catty paused at the entrance, peering into the inky blackness beyond. Her boldness faded as she took in the passage that led straight into the earth''s bowels. The faint sound of trickling water echoed from within, mixing with the distant rustle of the wind.

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    "This is where it gets interesting, huh?" Catty said, her voice tinged with unease. She clenched her fists, glancing over at Fitzmaria, who had already taken out a small lantern from his bag.

    "Interesting is not the right word," Fitzmaria replied, lighting the lantern. "Dangerous is the correct one. Stay close and watch your step. This tunnel... it''s old and not stable."

    As the lantern''s glow flickered to life, casting long shadows across the stone walls, Fitzmaria led the way into the tunnel.

    The air grew damp and musty as they ventured deeper, their footsteps echoing in the confined space. The further they went, the more the light from the entrance faded. All that remained was the small circle of illumination cast by Fitzmaria''s lantern. It danced off the uneven surfaces as they moved.

    The walls closed around them, and the mountain''s weight pressed down. The tunnel was a narrow artery leading to the heart of the ancient city.

    Catty felt a shiver run down her spine as the darkness enveloped them. Every sound was amplified¡ªthe scrape of their boots against the stone, the distant drip of water, and the occasional rumble from deep within the earth.

    "Not too late to turn back, you know," Catty joked, though her voice was tense.

    Along with her words, a low rumble echoed through the tunnel, growing louder by the second. Fitzmaria stopped in his tracks, his lantern casting frantic shadows as he turned to look behind them. The sound deepened into a roar, and the tunnel behind them began to collapse before they could react.

    Chunks of stone and earth rained down from the ceiling, and a wave of dust and debris surged toward them like a living thing. Fitzmaria grabbed Catty''s arm, pulling her forward as the cloud of dust enveloped them. She stumbled, the force of the collapse almost knocking her off her feet, but Fitzmaria''s grip was firm, steadying her as they pressed on.

    The air was thick with dust, making it hard to breathe. Catty coughed, trying to clear her lungs. Her heart calmed as the collapse finally subsided, leaving only the echo of falling rocks. The girl looked back, but the tunnel was now completely blocked. Tons of rubble buried the way they had come from.

    Fitzmaria glanced back at her, his face half-lit by the lantern''s glow, his expression grim. "No turning back now."

    The travelers were sealed in¡ªthe only way left was forward. They continued deeper into the city''s heart, and the darkness thickened around them. With every step, Catty couldn''t shake the feeling that they were being watched and the shadows were alive, waiting for the right moment to reveal their true nature.

    They went forward, the tunnel curving and twisting as it burrowed into the earth. The passage seemed endless, taking them further from the world above and closer to the secrets hidden in the city.

    The tunnel finally straightened, and a faint light appeared at the far end, barely visible in the distance. Fitzmaria quickened, and his assurance became in his pace.

    "Almost there," he said with relief.

    When Catty and Fitzmaria stepped out, the tunnel''s darkness gave way to a pale moonlight. The air was cool and damp, carrying the scent of stagnant water. Before them, the city lay submerged, its streets a water labyrinth. Giant pillars rose from the water, their surfaces slick with algae. The remnants of grand structures loomed ahead, hidden by twilight.

    Fitzmaria didn''t waste time. He moved to the water''s edge and jumped into dense thickets of reeds growing along the shore.

    "Still here," his voice came in a minute. Then, a weathered boat appeared¡ªthe man pulled it free from the reeds. He began to push the boat into the water, and Catty joined him to help.

    "You''ve got a boat stashed in every lost city, or is this a special occasion?"

    Fitzmaria smirked, his hands working deftly to free the boat. "Let''s just say I like to be prepared. You never know when you''ll need a quick exit."

    He glanced back at her, his expression momentarily serious. "Besides, this place has a habit of swallowing those who aren''t ready for it."

    Catty raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She stepped into the boat, feeling it shift under her weight. Fitzmaria followed, pushing off from the shore. The boat glided onto the open water. The man sat on the stern, and the oar cut through the smooth surface.

    As they drifted through the flooded streets, the city unfolded around them¡ªcolumns and statues, once standing proud, now barely visible above the waterline. The moon''s rays filtered through the mist, casting a glow over the city and making the ruins haunting and serene.

    The boat creaked gently as it cut through the calm waters. The soft lapping of waves was a soothing rhythm in the quiet night. Catty leaned against the side of the boat, her gaze fixed on the distant silhouette under the starlit sky. Fitzmaria, with a steady hand on the oar, guided the boat with the expertise of a traveler who had navigated these waters before.

    "Why are we here?" Catty''s voice broke the silence. "And why did I listen to you?"

    Fitzmaria glanced over at her, the flicker of the lantern casting shadows on his weathered face.

    "Because this place is the key to your riddle," he began. "The guardians and the elements..."

    "Are you sure this is the right place?"

    "...Okay, I''ll explain it again."

    Fitzmaria rowed with measured strokes, and his gaze fixed forward. The quiet splash of the oar against the water matched the rhythm of his words, deep and deliberate.

    "It''s an ancient site," the man explained. "It was the Celestial Observatory hundreds of years ago. I''ve been here before..."

    "Are you a tomb robber?"

    Fitzmaria stopped rowing and put the oar aside. The boat was floating slowly out of inertia. The man took the pipe out of his pocket, slowly filled it with tobacco, and lit it. His face was hidden in shadow, but as Fitzmaria drew on his pipe, its heat illuminated his beard.

    The girl unzipped her windbreaker and, as if by accident, showed the dagger hanging at her side.

    "Exactly," Fitzmaria nodded with a smirk.

    "How did you figure out it''s this place?"

    "That riddle''s got more twists than a snake with a grudge," Fitzmaria chuckled. "But I''ve been here before, got it? And seen what''s left of the observatory. It was right there in the riddle."

    Catty frowned, leaning back against the boat''s edge, eyes narrowing as she tried to imagine what he saw. "Right there?"

    "Four guardians hold the key, standing tall," Fitzmaria began, reciting the lines from memory. "Round the circle, they await the dragon''s call. That''s the first clue. The four guardians¡ªthey''re not just the Element symbols¡ªthey''re real pillars."

    "The pillars at the observatory?"

    Fitzmaria nodded, a small, satisfied smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Exactly. The Celestial Observatory was designed to align the world with the stars. It helped the sages explore the Multiverse and track the movement of heavenly bodies..."

    Catty nodded, the pieces beginning to fall into place, "...and those pillars mark the cardinal directions? North, south, east, west¡­"

    "The South Pillar aligns with the southern celestial pole, used to mark the summer solstice¡ªit represents fire, fierce and free. The West Pillar points toward the setting sun and links to the water¡ªthe depth of the sea."

    The man paused, puffing on his pipe. The boat gently rocked.

    "The East Pillar catches the first rays of the equinox sunrises, symbolizing new beginnings and the winds that heed no walls," Fitzmaria continued. "And the North Pillar aligns with the North Star, representing the stability of earth, where secrets fall."

    "How can those pillars line up with both the North Star and the southern celestial pole? Aren''t they in opposite directions?" the girl was surprised.

    "You''re smart!" Fitzmaria smirked. "This place isn''t like any other. It''s got magical properties that let it align with both, simultaneously. The ancients built it that way to connect with the Multiverse."

    "But what about ''heart unseen, beneath the stone''?" Catty asked.

    "That''s the tricky part, isn''t it? The ''heart unseen''¡­ it''s the central platform, the Star Dial. This piece of stone is a guide. But only if you know how to align it and make the stars reveal their secrets."

    Catty leaned forward, her voice excited. "So the egg¡­"

    "Yes, it''s under the central stone. It''s placed where the stars say it should be," Fitzmaria nodded, his gaze steady on the temple''s looming form. "That''s the theory. Will see. The ancients believed the stars held power and could guide us and reveal truths we couldn''t see. The observatory was built to tap into that power. But the observatory¡­ it''s old, and its secrets aren''t given up easily. One wrong move, and we might never find what we''re looking for."

    ''The question is, why do you need it?'' Catty thought but remained silent.

    The man took up the oar again.

    The water around them grew darker and stiller. The boat drifted closer to the temple and bumped gently against the stone pier. Catty stepped out first, her boots hitting the slick stones. Fitzmaria followed and tied the boat to a post.

    Ahead, two massive gates stood side by side, set into the towering wall before them. Above the gates, an inscription in an ancient language was carved deep into the stone. The man illuminated the words with the lantern.

    Catty squinted up at the unfamiliar script. "What does it say?"

    Fitzmaria stepped forward, his eyes tracing the characters, a smirk forming on his lips.

    "One way is short, the other is right. Choose," he read aloud, his voice carrying a hint of bitter amusement.

    Catty turned to him, "And which way did you take last time?"

    Fitzmaria paused, the smirk growing into a grin.

    "Took the short way," he replied casually, as if the memory of that choice amused him more than it troubled him.

    "That means now we have to choose the right one!" Catty said.

    Fitzmaria''s grin widened, but his eyes stayed sharp.

    "Oh, no doubt about it," he said, taking a slow drag, letting the smoke curl into the night air. "But here''s the thing about the right way, Catty. It''s never the easy one."

    He let that hang in the air for a moment before he continued, his tone dropping into something darker, almost a whisper.

    "So whatever''s waiting for us behind that gate... just be ready. The right way''s always got a cost."

    Catty nodded, her expression serious as she turned to face the gates. "We''ve come this far. No turning back now."

    Fitzmaria laughed and knocked the pipe out on his heel. "Damn right. For a long time now!"

    With that, he pushed the gate open. The old hinges groaned.

 021 // Imagination / Part II

    The creaking gate finally gave way, swinging open with a groan that echoed in the stillness. Catty and Fitzmaria stepped through, leaving behind the ancient stone walls. The transition was immediate as if they had crossed a threshold between worlds.

    They found themselves in a deep forest. The air was different here¡ªthick with the scent of damp earth and greenery. A mist clung to the ground, swirling lazily around the twisted roots of trees stretching endlessly into the sky.

    Catty pulled her windbreaker tighter around her, trying to ward off the sudden dampness that had settled into her bones. She looked around, impressed by the sheer size of the trees. They were high, their trunks thick with layers of moss and vines. Some trees were as wide as the towers they had left behind. The light was dim, filtered through the dense canopy above.

    Fitzmaria took a deep breath, his sharp eyes scanning the dense canopy above, "This is what they mean by the right way."

    As they ventured deeper, the forest closed in around them. The thick underbrush encroached on all sides. Strange noises echoed among the trees¡ªthe call of unfamiliar birds, the rustling of fallen leaves as unseen creatures ran on the ground. Fitzmaria moved carefully, and Catty followed close behind¡ªthe magic of the forest surrounded them.

    "Fitz," she called softly, her voice barely more than a whisper, "You''ve been here before, right? This is just another walk in the park for you?"

    The man glanced back at her, his expression unreadable in the dim light, "Not exactly a park, but yeah, I''ve seen forests like this before."

    He paused, gazing through the giant trees, "Just remember, it''s not the forest you need to worry about¡ªit''s what''s hiding in it."

    Catty nodded and tightened her grip on the dagger handle. The forest was full of voices, and distant growls set her nerves on edge. With Fitzmaria leading the way, she knew she had to push forward, even if every step was further away from safety.

    They went deeper into the forest. The towering trees, thick with moss and old as eternity, blocked out most of the light, leaving only faint, ghostly rays to filter through the branches above.

    Fitzmaria moved with the ease of someone who had walked through countless forests like this one, an adventurer who had seen all dangerous things and lived. Catty followed closely behind.

    A soft, glowing light appeared in the distance, flickering between the trees like a will-o''-the-wisp. Catty froze in place as she watched the light flit closer, revealing a small being with wings like a dragonfly. It hovered in the air momentarily, its glow casting an otherworldly light on the surrounding trees before darting into the twilight.

    "What was that?" Catty whispered with her eyes wide.

    Fitzmaria didn''t break his stride. "Local fairy," he said calmly. "Harmless unless you give it a reason not to be. Best to leave it be."

    As they continued, the forest came alive with more glowing beings. They flitted between the trees, and their soft light danced across the forest floor.

    The low growl of something large and unseen echoed through the trees, sending a shiver down Catty''s spine.

    Fitzmaria paused, his sharp eyes narrowing as he surveyed the forest. "Stay close," he said, his voice low and steady. "And whatever happens, don''t make any sudden moves."

    Catty nodded, her heart pounding as she stepped closer to him. The forest was closing around them, the trees seeming to move of their own accord. Then, a creature as long and sinuous as a mighty river flashed behind the trees. Its scales shimmered in the dim light, catching the faint rays. The giant flying serpent paused, its head lifting to regard them with cold, unblinking eyes before it silently continued its way.

    "That one''s best left alone, too," Fitzmaria said, his tone as calm as ever. He glanced back at Catty, "You see something like that. You let it go on its way. No need to stir up trouble where there doesn''t need to be any."

    Catty swallowed hard, her hand not letting go of the dagger. She didn''t trust Fitzmaria, but the girl had little choice in this forest. The man seemed to know what he was doing, and right now, that was all she had.

    As they pressed on, the creatures in the shadows became bolder. Catty caught glimpses of larger beasts¡ªhulking forms that prowled just beyond the edge of her vision, their eyes glowing faintly in twilight. But each time one came too close, Fitzmaria subtly changed their path, guiding them away from danger.

    "Remember," he said quietly, as they stepped around a massive tree trunk, "this forest is old, and its inhabitants even older. They''ve seen travelers like us before. Some might be curious, others less so. Just keep your head up. We''ll make it through."

    Catty nodded, trying to follow his advice though every instinct screamed at her to run. The forest was a labyrinth of shadows and secrets, and she felt they were being watched by more than just the creatures behind the trees.

    The forest thinned when they came across a huge rock, half-buried in the earth and covered in moss and ferns. It towered high above the trees like a mount.

    Fitzmaria glanced up at the rock, letting out a low whistle.

    "Looks like a good spot to catch our breath," he said, moving toward the base of the rock. "Best we take a moment before pressing on."

    "Yeah, a break sounds good," Catty agreed, feeling the weariness in her legs.

    Fitzmaria settled on a fallen log and pulled out his pipe, packing it with practiced ease.

    "Just a quick rest," he muttered, striking a match and lighting the pipe. He took a deep drag, exhaling a plume of smoke in the still air. "No sense in pushing ourselves too hard. The forest will still be here when we''re ready to move on."

    Catty sat down nearby, her back against the rock, grateful for the pause. As she watched Fitzmaria puff on his pipe, she let herself relax, if only for a moment, unaware of that lurking beneath the rock''s surface.

    Suddenly, the ground trembled, and stones and branches rained from above. The mount behind the girl''s back began to shift, groaning as it freed itself from the earth. Catty barely managed to jump aside as she saw how the rock became a giant deer. Its body was hewn from the stone, and enormous antlers turned out to be trees stretching skyward. The creature''s eyes, glowing with a bright light, fixed on them, filled with fury.

    "Who dared trespass on this sacred land?!" the beast''s voice rumbled through the forest. It leaned down, its massive head inches from them, and its breath smelled of jeopardy. "What brings you here?"

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    The ground trembled under its weight as the creature lowered its head and focused on the two travelers. "What business do you have here?"

    Fitzmaria stopped the girls with a jerk and bowed down.

    "Great Guardian," he began, "we are seekers of knowledge, come to honor the ancient ways and learn from the wisdom hidden in this place."

    The guardian''s eyes widened, and the light within them flared up.

    "Lies!" its voice sounded like a thunder. "I see through your words, mortal. You seek power, not knowledge. You defile this sacred ground with your greed!"

    Fitzmaria faltered, "...I assure you, we mean no harm. We only wish to..."

    The guardian roared, a sound that shook the earth beneath them. "Enough! I see the darkness in your heart. Speak the truth, or die!"

    Sensing the danger, Catty stepped forward, and for a moment, she feared they would be crushed under its wrath.

    "Please," the girl said, her voice trembling but sincere, "I know our words might not sound true, but I promise you we don''t mean to harm this place or take anything that doesn''t belong to us."

    The giant deer turned its gaze to the girl, and she felt the hot breath on her. The steam escaped from its nostrils.

    "I have seen many like you come and go. What makes you different?"

    Catty looked at the man, and he shook his head in denial, warning her.

    "I''m just looking for something I have a connection to," the girl stubbornly raised her head, and Fitzmaria groaned.

    The guardian laughed, and the trees swayed from the sound, "Child! Don''t you know that there is nothing here that can belong to humans?!"

    The girl held his gaze and said, "It''s not mine, but I''m part of it."

    Catty took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and continued, "There''s a prophecy that speaks of a girl and a dragon..."

    The guardian''s gaze darkened, its anger flaring even more intensely. "A prophecy, you say?" it rumbled, its voice rising with suspicion. "How do you know about the prophecy?"

    Catty swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper but steady with conviction, "I think... I might be that girl."

    Fitzmaria squatted down and clutched his head in despair.

    The beast straightened to its gigantic height and raised its head above the forest. The ground trembled as it lifted its front leg above the girl. Earth and stones fell from the hoof¡ªit was the size of the pitcher''s mound. The deer was ready to crush Catty where she stood, and Fitzmaria''s eyes widened in horror.

    Catty instinctively raised her arm, bracing for the impact. But as she did, the bracelet on her wrist suddenly began to glow with a radiant light. A soft hum filled the air, and within moments, a shimmering sphere of light erupted from the bracelet, enveloping Catty in a protective barrier.

    The guardian''s hoof came crashing down with an enormous force, but instead of crushing Catty, it collided with the glowing sphere. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, and the creature was thrown back.  The ground shook when it landed heavily a few paces away, knocking down the trees. The fury in its eyes was replaced by astonishment.

    Catty stood, still encased in the sphere of light, and looked at this scene in shock. The bracelet pulsed with energy, its glow gradually dimming as the sphere stabilized around her. The guardian rose and stared down at her, now wary. The massive creature hesitated, lowering its head to inspect the glowing barrier more closely.

    Catty, realizing what had happened, lowered her arm slowly. The protective sphere shimmered around her, its surface pulsating gently with the bracelet''s energy. She met the guardian''s gaze, her voice steady as she spoke.

    "This bracelet... it''s connected to my dragon. And we are here to find his egg!"

    The guardian''s eyes narrowed, studying Catty. The forest around them fell silent, and the trees and all living things held their breath. The beast hesitated, still weighing the events that had just transpired. The protective sphere around the girl pulsed gently, a reminder of her power and connection to the dragon that the guardian was now beginning to recognize.

    When the creature looked at the sphere around Catty, its glowing eyes narrowed, conceding something familiar¡ªmagic long forgotten but deeply tied to the prophecy. The bracelet''s energy pulsed in rhythm with the forest, a connection the guardian could not ignore. The anger that had driven the creature moments before began to dissipate.

    The deer paused, understanding that harming the girl could disrupt a balance older than the forest. It could feel the ancient bonds of the prophecy tightening, reminding it of its true purpose.

    The deer said, "I cannot harm someone who dragons protect."

    Slowly, the guardian''s posture relaxed, and its eyes softened. The anger melted, and the creature bowed its head slightly, a gesture of respect that Catty had not expected.

    "So you really are the girl from the prophecy! I was wrong to judge you by the company you keep," the guardian rumbled, its voice now carrying confession. It cast a distrustful glance at Fitzmaria, who stood frozen in place, his mouth open in surprise.

    The deer''s giant form began to recede, its stone body melding back into the ancient rock from which it had emerged. The trees that made up its antlers swayed gently, and the forest around them exhaled, the tension in the air easing ever so slightly.

    "Beware," the deer said, "for not all who seek the dragon egg do so with pure intent. The one who walks beside you may be your greatest threat."

    Catty instinctively glanced at Fitzmaria, who had regained his composure but avoided her gaze. A chill ran down her spine as the guardian''s words echoed in her mind. Could it be possible? Could Fitzmaria, who had been her guide through this perilous journey, truly be a danger to her?

    The guardian''s voice rumbled again, softer this time, "You have shown courage and sincerity, child of the prophecy. For that, I offer you a token of my favor."

    Catty watched as the guardian lowered its head, the trees that formed its antlers rustling gently. From within the canopy of branches, a cloak began to take shape, materializing as though woven from the leaves that crowned the guardian''s head. The leaves shimmered with a soft, green light, their edges glowing with a golden hue.

    The cloak floated gently down from the guardian''s antlers, hovering before Catty.

    "Take this," the beast said, its voice resonating through the air like the whisper of the trees. "This Cloak of Leaves carries the essence of the forest, and it will protect you from those who would seek to harm you in your time of need."

    Catty reached out with trembling hands, and when her fingers brushed against the cloak, a warmth spread through her, a comforting presence connecting her to the forest. The cloak draped over her shoulders, its leaves rustling softly, welcoming the girl into its embrace.

    "Remember," the guardian continued, its voice barely more than a breath in the wind, "the greatest danger lies within. Trust in yourself above all."

    The guardian''s words hung in the air as its massive hooves sank into the earth. It was returning to its rock form, melding entirely with the ancient stone. The trees that formed its antlers swayed gently, guided by a soft breeze, and the creature''s body gradually merged with the rock from which it had emerged.

    "You have been given a chance," the guardian finished, its voice fading as it became one with the forest again. "Do not squander it."

    The glowing eyes were the last to disappear, leaving behind only the faintest trace of its presence¡ªas if the forest had breathed a sigh of relief. Catty stood stunned in silence, her heart still racing. Fitzmaria, too, seemed shaken, though he quickly masked it with a forced grin.

    The protective sphere around Catty dissolved, its energy retreating into the bracelet.

    The forest around them resumed the incessant noise. The Cloak of Leaves rested lightly on the girl''s shoulders¡ªa shield that would guard her on the treacherous path ahead.

    Fitzmaria cleared his throat, breaking the silence.

    "Well," he said, slightly unsteady, "that went better than expected. It seems you''ve gained more than just the guardian''s favor."

    Catty glanced at him but simply nodded. The cloak''s presence gave her a renewed sense of confidence, but she knew she had to stay vigilant.

    "Let''s keep moving," the girl finally replied, her voice firm.

    Fitzmaria glanced at the cloak draped over Catty''s shoulders, then back at her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You know, if we keep running into these guardians, you''re going to end up with a whole wardrobe by the time we''re done."

    Catty raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Maybe I''ll start a new look¡ªforest chic. Who wouldn''t want a cloak that doubles as camouflage and armor?"

    The man chuckled, his earlier unease slipping away. "Just make sure you don''t get too attached to it. Wouldn''t want you to blend into the forest permanently."

    "I''ll take my chances," Catty shrugged, adjusting the cloak slightly. "But you''ll know I went all in if you suddenly see me turn into a tree."

    They both laughed and stepped forward. The path ahead seemed clearer, and the forest parted slightly as if guiding them onward. But Catty couldn''t shake the feeling that the true test was yet to come.

 022 // Imagination / Part III

    The trees behind them whispered in the wind as Catty and Fitzmaria emerged from the dense forest, stepping onto the edge of a narrow stone bridge. It stretched before them like a fragile thread suspended over an immense chasm. Its old stones were wet with moisture from the mist. Below, the roar of cascading waterfalls echoed up from the abyss. The water crashed against the sharp rocks far below, sending plumes of fog spiraling into the sky.

    Catty peered over the side of the bridge, her breath catching in her throat as she saw the sheer drop beneath them. The mist obscured the bottom, making it seem like the bridge was suspended over an endless void. The wind picked up, tugging at her cloak and carrying the dampness from the falls.

    ''One wrong step, and we''re gone,'' Catty thought.

    Ahead, the Celestial Observatory loomed in the distance. Gigantic statues carved directly from the mountain rock flanked the entrance, their intimidating faces gazing down upon the narrow bridge. Birds circled the spires that pierced the sky like jagged teeth.

    The air around the observatory was thick with mist, swirling lazily in the shafts of sunlight that broke through the clouds. The stone pathway stretched in the air¡ªthe bridge led to a platform at the entrance suspended over a deep chasm. Ancient magic permeated this place.

    Fitzmaria paused and took in the scene before them. The bridge, though narrow and precarious, was their only path forward.

    "Stay close," he said loudly, cutting through the roar of the waterfalls. "This bridge is stone and seems strong, but don''t let that fool you."

    Catty nodded, her gaze fixed on the distant spires of the Celestial Observatory. She could feel the danger of their way, but there was no time for hesitation. The girl stepped onto the bridge, the stones slick beneath her feet. The mist swirled around her, parting slightly as if inviting her to continue.

    ''Keep it together, Catty. Just keep moving,'' flashed through the girl''s head.

    As soon as they paced onto the narrow stone bridge, the air buzzed with invisible energy¡ªancient magic was coming to life. The old bridge vibrated slightly, and its stone blocks began to shake underfoot.

    The roar of the waterfalls below filled the air, reminding them of the deadly drop. The mist rose from the abyss, swirling around their ankles and climbing higher, veiling the bridge in a shroud of shifting fog that blurred the surroundings.

    Fitzmaria''s eyes narrowed as he scanned the path ahead. The mist dampened the sounds around them, like an unspoken warning.

    "Stay close," he repeated, his voice cutting through the din of the falls. "See, bridges like this one? They aren''t just about getting you from A to B. Nah, they''ve got a way of eyeballing you, checking if you''ve got the guts to cross. So, don''t lose your nerve."

    Catty was walking forward cautiously. The stones beneath her feet were slick with moisture. Each step felt like a leap into the unknown, and the bridge vibrated, responding to their presence. The mist was thickening, wrapping around them like a living thing.

    The vibrations grew stronger, and Catty felt the tremor travel up her legs. It ran through the ancient structure as if the bridge was awakening from a long slumber. The air around them crackled with barely contained energy, and the old magic that held the bridge together began to appear.

    ''What''s going on?'' Catty wondered.

    The roar of the waterfalls below pounded in her ears. The drizzle rose from the abyss, coiling around them like serpents. It crept upward and thickened until it formed a dense shroud that swallowed the bridge. And then the bridge began to transform.

    "This bridge is falling apart!" Catty screamed.

    What had been a solid span of stone was now fractured into separate blocks moving in all directions. The bridge started to divide, developing into new routes that headed away into the mist, and the stones cracked, some breaking away entirely and falling into the abyss below, leaving gaping voids.

    "No, it''s playing with us!" Fitzmaria grabbed her hand, his grip firm. "Don''t trust a damn thing you see here."

    The girl cast a desperate glance at Fitzmaria, hoping for some sign of reassurance, but saw only doubt flickering in his eyes. The man who had seemed so confident moments ago was now just as lost as she was.

    Catty''s breath caught as she watched the path ahead transform into a confusing maze. The blocks moved, transforming into new bridges that twisted at impossible angles. It was clear that some paths were illusions and traps.

    "You mean it''s messing with our heads?" the girl asked, her voice trembling.

    "Exactly. Keep moving, but don''t trust the ground under your feet."

    The thick tendrils of mist swirled around the travelers, and within moments, they had enveloped the entire bridge, reducing visibility to mere feet. All the bridge versions were lost in the haze.

    ''We''re walking blind here!'' Catty thought.

    Fitzmaria stayed silent, his eyes darting from one path to another. They shifted and intertwined, confusing him. The mist tricked his vision, making the bridge beneath their feet no longer safe¡ªit threatened to lead the travelers to their doom.

    Catty glanced at Fitzmaria but saw turmoil on his face.

    "This place is just waiting for us to slip up," the man muttered, surprising. "This damn bridge¡­ It''s playing tricks on us."

    "You''re saying like the bridge is alive!"

    "Alive? More like it''s got a sick sense of humor. Pick a path, and pray it doesn''t change on you."

    Fitzmaria took a hesitant step forward, testing the ground, but the stones shifted again, and the path transformed once more.

    "You seem less sure than usual," Catty said.

    "Yeah, well, this place isn''t exactly a walk on the beach. Stay sharp, and don''t let it see you sweat."

    Catty hesitated, her instincts screaming to stop, but she forced herself to take a breath and focus. "So, what now? We guess and hope we don''t fall into the abyss?"

    "Guessing''s not my style, Catty. But right now, that''s all we''ve got. This place is just waiting for us to slip up."

    He stepped onto one of the paths, his foot hovering for a moment before committing to the stone. It held, but the bridge ahead twisted, and Fitzmaria cursed under his breath. The despair was evident in his voice.

    "Damn it! It''s trying to mess with my head."

    The bridge wasn''t just testing their resolve; it was playing a game, and the rules were anything but clear. It was toying with their fears, and the girl could feel it pushing them to the edge¡ªliterally and figuratively.

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    The bridge quaked, the stone blocks beneath Catty''s feet shifting and crumbling into the abyss below. Fitzmaria''s voice was distant, and his warnings were drowned out by the roar of the waterfalls and the chaos unfolding beneath them.

    Something inside Catty exploded. She was done with this. Done with the fear and hesitation. Her eyes narrowed, and she set her jaw, her frustration bubbling into a fierce resolve. She wasn''t going to let this cursed bridge have the last word.

    "All right, then screw it!" the girl shouted, her voice cutting through the din like a blade.

    Without a second thought, Catty launched herself forward. Her legs carried her on the unstable blocks.

    The bridge sensed her defiance, and the sections began collapsing even faster.

    The gaps between them widened into yawning chasms.

    The girl didn''t stop. She was rushing forward, her feet touching the stones before they fell down.

    Fitzmaria was left behind, but Catty didn''t turn back. She couldn''t afford to.

    The mist swirled around her, the bridge breaking beneath her, but she kept running harder and faster. Each leap was a gamble, and Catty refused to lose.

    While Catty was surging forward, the bridge responded with fury. Stone blocks that had held firm moments before began to shudder and fall away. They plummeted into the abyss with a loud crash, and the bridge transformed into a chaotic series of turning and tumbling platforms.

    The gaps widened rapidly, the chasms yawning open like the jaws of some great beast, eager to swallow her whole.

    Each step was a desperate race against the crumbling stones, her instincts driving Catty forward as the bridge disintegrated beneath her feet.

    Fitzmaria was close behind, his movements a frantic attempt to keep up, but the bridge gave no mercy. Sections ahead vanished into the void, forcing him to push himself to the limit to stay in the game.

    Catty''s breath burned in her lungs as she sprinted forward, but the bridge was rapidly crashing.

    Then the girl saw it¡ªthe final gap. It stretched impossibly wide before her like a black maw.

    For a split second, doubt flashed in her mind. The distance was too great, and the leap must be too far.

    There was no time to second-guess, no time to stop. She poured all strength into her legs, pushing off from the last solid stone with fierce, desperate energy.

    Catty soared through the air, the void yawning beneath her.

    She was weightless, suspended between the collapsing bridge and her future on the other side¡ªfor a heart-stopping moment.

    She hit the platform''s edge with a bone-jarring impact and rolled over the stones.

    Then, Catty turned onto her stomach and saw how Fitzmaria launched across the gap. The bridge gave way beneath him just as he leaped.

    At first, the girl thought that he wouldn''t be able to jump to the platform, and she was horrified. Catty watched as the man flew like in slow motion, his arms flapping awkwardly as if trying to speed up.

    Perhaps this helped Fitzmaria¡ªhe barely reached the platform and, with a desperate movement, managed to grab its edge with his hands.

    The man''s fingers gripped the crumbling stone. His body dangled over the abyss.

    Without hesitation, Catty lunged forward, grasping his wrist with both hands.

    "Hold on!" the girl screamed, "I won''t let go!"

    The platform beneath them groaned ominously, cracks spiderwebbing across the stone. Catty''s grip on Fitzmaria tightened as she felt the last remnants of the bridge breaking apart beneath their weight. There was only the instinct to survive.

    They teetered on the edge, the mist swirling around them like a shroud, and then, in a moment, the platform collapsed.

    Catty and Fitzmaria plummeted into the abyss, and cold, damp air rushed past them. The world above disappeared, swallowed by the mist.

    They seemed to fall endlessly, holding hands, when suddenly salvation came.

    §³atty felt her shoulders jerk up sharply. The Cloak of Leaves instantly transformed, unfurling into a pair of magnificent wings. They stretched wide, catching the air, and the leaves gently fluttered in the wind like feathers.

    The change was instantaneous, as though the cloak had always been waiting for the right moment to reveal.

    The fall stopped, and the travelers were hovering now. The sensation was unlike anything Catty had ever felt before. The wings felt like an extension of her body, responding to her slightest movement.

    Both started laughing like crazy, not believing in their salvation. The wings¡ªborn from the guardian''s gift¡ªhad saved them.

    Catty pulled Fitzmaria closer and wrapped her legs around the man.

    The wings carried them upward, away from the crumbling remains of the bridge. They soared higher and higher, and the abyss that had threatened to consume them was now moving away.

    Fitzmaria''s eyes filled with tears as he realized what had happened. "You¡­ you did it, Catty."

    Catty could barely hear him over the rush of wind and the noise of the wings. The mist parted as they rose, revealing the spires of the Celestial Observatory once more.

    The wings propelled them toward the solid ground ahead. Fitzmaria was the first to land, flopping to the ground with a heavy thud. Then, Catty touched down gently and took a few steps before standing.

    As if releasing a held breath, the wings began to disappear. A gust of wind caught them and lifted the leaves into the air, carrying them away.

    Both watched silently as the leaves circled above the chasm, caught in the currents, before slowly drifting out of sight. The mist wrapped them like a veil, obscuring the path the travelers had just survived.

    Fitzmaria pushed himself up on shaky legs, still catching his breath, and looked at Catty with apprehension.

    "Well, that was a hell of a ride," he said, his voice rough with exhaustion.

    Catty smirked, shaking out the last bit of tension from her limbs. "Guess the cloak had a little more to it than just keeping me warm."

    Fitzmaria chuckled, though it came out more as a wheeze. "I don''t know whether to thank you or curse you. You almost got us both killed back there."

    "Almost doesn''t count," Catty shot back, her tone light but her eyes serious. "We made it, didn''t we?"

    "Yeah, we did," he nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Next time, maybe give a guy a little warning before you decide to leap into the abyss, huh?"

    Catty laughed, the sound cutting through the tension that still hung in the air. "Besides, you kept up just fine."

    "You''re one crazy kid, you know that?" Fitzmaria shook his head, a grin spreading across his face despite himself.

    "Better crazy than dead," she replied, turning her gaze toward the imposing entrance of the Celestial Observatory. "Now, let''s see what this place has in store for us."

    Fitzmaria followed her gaze, the smirk fading, "Yeah¡­ something tells me the bridge was just the beginning."

    And they passed between the giant statues of ancient gods guarding the entrance.

    The Celestial Observatory rose from the dense jungle, its structures entwined with the wild growth that had claimed it over centuries. Trees grew through the ruins as if nature had decided to finish the work of the original builders¡ªvines woven into the columns, with roots creeping along steps.

    Above the building, floating monoliths hovered with an unnerving stillness. Despite their mass, these colossal stones drifted like the gravity had forgotten to let them fall.

    A square before the observatory was dotting big crystals, their sharp, angular forms jutting out from the earth like shards of shattered stars. These crystals caught the last light of the setting sun and painted the ruins in a kaleidoscope of colors.

    Above, the sky stretched out, vast and indifferent, with the peaks of distant mountains framing the observatory like silent sentinels. The dense air carried the dry, dusty scent of sunbaked stone, mingling with the pungent, spicy smell of the jungle.

    The observatory felt abandoned by time, left to erode into the jungle, where only the occasional visitor could stir its forgotten memories.

    Fitzmaria, who had been walking slightly ahead, suddenly stopped. His gaze locked onto the central altar, bathed in the dying light of the crystals. A flicker of doubt crossed his eyes as if the weight of what the man was about to do bore down on him. His usual confidence faltered momentarily, and a shadow of hesitation clouded his expression before he steeled himself.

    "This is it," Fitzmaria muttered, his voice turning cold. He turned to the girl, and at that moment, his expression hardened. "This is where it ends, Catty."

    The girl froze as his words got through to her. "What are you talking about?" she asked. "And where are the pillars? Here should be the pillars!"

    Fitzmaria''s smirk was devoid of warmth, "You really thought the egg was here? That you were just going to waltz in and claim it?"

    He laughed, "No, Catty, this place was never meant to hold the egg. This place is just an illusion! It''s a trap for fools! It set by those who know the truth about you and that cursed prophecy."

    "You''ve gotta be kidding me!"

    Fitzmaria took a step closer, his right hand sliding behind his back. "Your enemies sent me to end this. Here. You''ll never leave this place."

    The girl glanced at her bracelet, but it didn''t react. No magic, no power.

    "The bracelet you cherish so much?" Fitzmaria spat. "Useless here. This place was designed to neutralize its power, to strip you of your defenses. And now, without it, you''re nothing."

    Catty''s mind raced. "You..." she started, but Fitzmaria cut her off with a sharp gesture.

    "No more talking. It''s over, Catty," he said, and a sword appeared in his hand. Its blade gleamed in the dim light. "This is the end of the line."

    The towering structures of the observatory closed in around them. The flickering crystals cast long shadows that danced on the ancient stones. In the vast silence, surrounded by the shadows of forgotten gods, Catty faced the cold truth¡ªshe was alone, and the end was closing in.

 023 // Imagination / Ending

    "How about one last wish?" Fitzmaria grinned, twirling the sword in his hand like he had all the time in the world.

    Catty forced her face to stay calm, keeping her voice as steady as possible.

    "A wish?" she echoed, tilting her head as if considering it. "Sure, why not? I guess I''ve got one to spare..." the girl paused and looked around. "How about this... You tell me about this place. Where are we?"

    "You want to know about this place?" Fitzmaria chuckled like she was asking about the weather. "Alright, fine. I''m feeling generous."

    He touched the girl''s breast with the tip of his sword, savoring the moment. "You''re not going anywhere anyway, right?"

    Catty nodded, "Yeah. I just want to know who came up with all of this... unreal."

    "Unreal? You could say that," Fitzmaria''s smirk widened. He shrugged, glancing around like the place bored him. "But it''s real enough to trap you, isn''t it?"

    His eyes gleamed, and he leaned in slightly, like sharing a secret. "Alright, I''ll give you the short version. This whole world? It''s one big illusion. Crafted by some magus with way too much imagination for his damn good."

    "Imagination? Must''ve had way too much free time," Catty kept her gaze steady, hiding the way her heart was hammering in her chest.

    Fitzmaria glanced around, tapping the blade against his leg.

    "See, every stone, every tree, all of it¡ªjust something this guy dreamed up. Poof, there it is. Imagination is funny like that. He can make reality... Whatever he wants."

    "So... everything here is just something someone dreamt up? It''s all in his mind?"

    "Brilliant, isn''t it?" Fitzmaria laughed. "And you''re trapped in it like a fly in a web!"

    "Makes sense," Catty''s face stayed calm, but inside, her mind clicked into gear. Imagination. Could she work with that?

    "You think things are supposed to make sense?" Fitzmaria said, his eyes locking on hers. "They don''t."

    He grinned as if he were letting her in on a private joke. "The magus built this place to trap people. People like you. You don''t stand a chance."

    As Fitzmaria''s laughter faded, Catty''s attention was pulled away from his words. Something shifted in the corner of her vision. One of the massive flying monoliths¡ªsilent sentinels that had hung in the sky above¡ªtwitched. It was subtle at first, like a brief distortion in the air, but then another monolith moved, its edges blurring for a moment before snapping back into place.

    Was the world...glitching?

    Catty''s eyes darted back to Fitzmaria, who continued his rant. The girl could feel it now¡ªthe place around them was unstable, cracks forming in the flawless illusion. One of the monoliths shifted again, disappearing for a heartbeat before reappearing a little to the side.

    Her pulse quickened. The magus may have imagined this place, but it wasn''t perfect¡ªand she could use this.

    Suddenly, a movement caught her eye behind Fitzmaria. There, a familiar fluffy figure slinked along the square''s edge. Thunder, the orphanage cat, moved stealthily under the shadows of the hovering monoliths.

    A scream almost escaped Catty''s lips. Thunder shouldn''t be here!

    Her mind raced. This wasn''t a coincidence. The cat''s presence could only mean one thing¡ªEldric was here. He was like a whisper in the depth of her thoughts, warning her that the space around the girl was unstable.

    Her eyes shifted to the monoliths once more. If this place was imagined, it was tied to the mind. Which meant...

    Catty took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment. In her mind, she pictured the monoliths moving. Just a small shift, a test.

    When the girl opened her eyes, the nearest monolith drifted to the side, obeying her thought. It worked. She could control this.

    Eldric had shown her way out, and now the girl knew how to exploit it.

    "Think all you want, Catty. Won''t change a thing," Fitzmaria continued, pointing his sword toward her bracelet. "You see this? Useless. No magic. No tricks left. It''s just you now. Stuck in a place where reality''s whatever my boss wants it is."

    Fitzmaria laughed, that arrogant sparkle back in his eyes. "Good luck with that."

    And the man swung his sword.

    Catty watched it slowly slick through the air that suddenly became viscous like honey. She blinked, and for the briefest moment, the girl saw Eldric''s face flicker between the monoliths. His eyes locked onto hers, sending a silent message. Focus.

    The girl closed her eyes, and in the silence, his voice echoed in her mind.

    ''The weak spots¡­ You know where they are.''

    When Catty opened her eyes, time sped up again, and she had no time to dodge the sword. She only had time to imagine its sharp edge turning into the first thing that came to mind.

    An umbrella.

    It seemed unbelievable, but in this place, her thoughts had power.

    Fitzmaria''s hand now gripped a harmless handle. He stared at the umbrella, wincing as if it had betrayed him.

    Catty smiled. It worked. The power of imagination was her weapon here. She focused on the space around her, letting her thoughts go wild. The monoliths above began to twist like a crumpled sheet of paper. The ground beneath her feet rippled, turning soft like a liquid while the distant mountains bent and twisted as if made of rubber.

    "What are you doing!" Fitzmaria exclaimed, his gaze darting to the warping landscape around them. "You can''t control this!"

    Catty didn''t answer, focusing on the changing world around them. The more bizarre her thoughts were, the more it transformed. The Observatory tower cracked, its surface splitting open like an egg, spilling out a swarm of butterflies that evaporated into the air.

    "This isn''t how it works!" Fitzmaria''s voice carried fear now when the ground beneath him turned into a quagmire.

    Catty smirked, "Isn''t it?" A wave of flowers rushed in all directions under her feet, their petals glowing in fluorescent colors.

    "Stop it!" Fitzmaria was waist-deep in the ground and threw away his sword. The flowers covered his body and sealed his mouth.

    "Okay!" Catty laughed. In the sky, clouds morphed into clocks, their hands spinning wildly in all directions. Trees sprouted long, spindly legs and walked, clicking with each step. The horizon bent and stretched like a soft sheet. The sky above darkened and brightened in flashes, flickering like an old, damaged film reel. The sun warped into a spiral of light before shattering like glass.

    She turned to Fitzmaria, her voice steady. "You said it''s all about imagination, right? Well, let''s see who can imagine better."

    The world continued to flicker and distort. Objects bled into one another¡ªsolid became liquid, liquid became vapor. Time slowed and then speeded up, the moments stretching and then snapping back like an elastic band.

    The virtual world easily bent to her will.

    With a sudden thought, the girl rewound time, forcing Fitzmaria to appear before her again. His sword was raised high, ready to strike¡ªbut as soon as he moved, Catty moved time back.

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    He was into the ground again, his body covered with flowers.

    Then, with a flick of her mind, she pulled time back to the first moment¡ªFitzmaria before her, the sword in the air.

    The sequence played over and over. Fitzmaria stood tall one moment, then buried waist-deep the next¡ªhe was bouncing back and forth between two states. His face twisted with confusion, flickering in and out of positions. And each repetition became faster than the last, controlled entirely by Catty''s will.

    "What have you done?!" Fitzmaria''s howl reverberated in the air.

    She didn''t respond. She didn''t need to.

    The same events looped endlessly: the distortion of monoliths, the shifting skies, the clock hands spinning madly in the sky, and Fitzmaria trapped in the endless glitch, flickering back and forth.

    Catty''s mind continued to push the boundaries, forcing the illusion to its limits. The system was struggling, and the glitches were coming faster now. Objects flickered in and out of existence, entire sections of the world dissolving for moments before reappearing, barely holding together. The distorted world pulsed like a dream on the edge of breaking.

    The more Catty manipulated, the more the illusion crumbled. She took a step forward, but something pulled her back¡ªtime itself. The girl pushed against it, splitting herself in two. Two versions of herself now stood in the same space, moving slightly out of sync, creating a fracture in the system. The cracks in the virtual environment spread, growing wider.

    The illusion was collapsing. It couldn''t keep pace and glitched violently, landscape sections disappearing and reappearing in fragments, barely holding together. The space around Catty shuddered.

    She knew she had created a paradox, and now the system was tearing apart. Catty pushed it further to its breaking point. The environment couldn''t hold anymore¡ªtime and space were falling apart around her.

    The world around Catty cracked like shattered glass. The ground split open, jagged fractures spreading in every direction. The sky above turned between day and night. Trees twisted and crumbled, branches melting into the air, while the monoliths overhead splintered and vanished into the void.

    Catty''s heart raced. The entire virtual world was falling apart, pieces of reality breaking off and dissolving into nothingness.

    In the distance, she saw a tear, a gaping rift in the space. It was small at first, a thin crack in the air, but it widened with every second, pulling the disintegrating pieces of the world toward it.

    The girl felt the pull. The rift was growing, a swirling vortex of chaos. It was her way out. Catty bolted toward it without hesitation, her feet barely touching the crumbling ground. The pull grew stronger, dragging her closer as the virtual space shattered around the girl.

    She leaped into the rift just as the world collapsed entirely behind her. The last fragments of the virtual environment disappeared into the void, swallowed by the tearing illusion.

    For a moment, everything was weightless.

    Then, Catty emerged on the other side.

    She somersaulted and quickly jumped to her feet.

    The girl glanced around when her eyes adjusted to the shade. She stood in the middle of the empty room. It was small and looked ascetic. An old bamboo mat lay on the floor at the center, flanked by low cushions and candles that cast weak light against the bare walls.

    No windows, no doors. Just the stillness and the faint scent of incense in the air.

    The space felt secluded and peaceful. Too peaceful. After the chaos of the virtual world, this quiet seemed scary.

    Catty''s pulse slowed, but the tension still lingered. She couldn''t shake the feeling that someone had been here. Recently. As if the presence of the person who''d occupied the room clung to the space.

    It had to be the one who created the illusion. Catty wasn''t sure how she knew, but her gut told her this was his sanctuary.

    The cushion had a slight indent¡ªsomeone had been seated moments before.

    Someone had just left the room and wasn''t far.

    The girl stared at the cushion, her heart pounding again. Her thoughts turned to Eldric, her only friend through this madness. "What should I do?" Catty whispered, her voice barely breaking the silence.

    No answer.

    She closed her eyes for a beat, taking a breath, trying to steady herself. The girl wasn''t safe yet. The magus, who controlled the virtual world, had been here. Watching her. Waiting.

    Catty clenched her fists and turned back. A curtain was hanging on the wall, still swaying.

    The girl pushed aside the curtain and stepped into the hall beyond. The air was thick with incense, the scent stronger here, wrapping around her like a haze.

    The first thing that caught her eye was the colossal altar at the far end, bathed in golden light. Its centerpiece was a massive metal disk engraved with the dragon. The light shimmered, reflecting off the carvings, and the dragon seemed to be moving, alive.

    Long purple drapes hung on either side of the hall, concealing the true size of the place. The shaking candlelight cast dancing shadows on the floor, making the entire chamber severe.

    Catty stood frozen on the threshold.

    At the center of the hall, a man sat cross-legged on a stone platform, perfectly still and facing the altar.

    The silence was deafening, broken only by the faint rustling of the fluttering drapes. Catty could clearly hear her heart beating.

    The man didn''t budge, sitting on the platform. He didn''t need to move to make his presence known.

    "Catty," he said, his voice low but sharp. "You''ve been busy."

    Catty''s heart skipped a beat at the sound of her name. She didn''t respond, her fists tightening at her sides.

    "Escaped my trap," the man let the words hang in the air, then continued. "I''ll admit, not many make it this far."

    "You know who I am?" Catty asked.

    The man turned slowly, and the girl saw his face hidden by a metal mask glittering in the candlelight.

    "Of course," he replied, his voice calm, but a shiver ran down her spine. "I''ve been watching you for longer than you realize."

    Catty roused, "If you''ve been watching, you know I''m not as easy to trap as you thought."

    "For now," he said calmly. "But don''t mistake this for more than a moment''s reprieve. You''ve barely scratched the surface."

    The girl refused to let his words rattle her. "Are you scared?" she said, trying to steady her voice. "That''s why you set the trap?"

    The man fell silent as if deep in thought. His hush was anxious.

    "Fear?" he said, at last. "No. I simply don''t want to clean up the mess when everything falls apart. You, and your... connection, are a disruption. It''s a danger. One that could tear down everything we''ve built."

    Catty''s eyes narrowed as she stepped forward, her voice steady despite the chill in her chest. "If I''m such a disruption, why not end it now?"

    A soft chuckle escaped the man''s lips, but he didn''t move. "You escaped an illusion, nothing more. But what lies ahead for you..." He trailed off, letting the silence hang between them like a threat. "You''re still playing a game you don''t even understand."

    The girl squared her shoulders, "Maybe I don''t know the rules, but I''m not quitting."

    The mask hid his smile, "You''ve come this far, but tell me, do you really think your strength brought you here?"

    Catty didn''t flinch, though the words pricked at her like a needle. She held his gaze, refusing to look away.

    "No," he continued, his voice soft but piercing. "You survived because of him. Eldric. Without his shadow hovering over you, you''d have been lost the moment you stepped into the void."

    The girl felt a pit of dread in her stomach. Does he know Eldric?

    "You think you can keep relying on him? You think he''ll always be there, guiding you, protecting you?" He let out a low chuckle, the sound hollow in the vast, quiet room. "What will you do when his help runs out? When you''re truly alone?"

    "I don''t need him to handle my messes," Catty said, her voice cold.

    His laughter echoed a sound that felt more like a warning than amusement. "Perhaps not now. But when the storm comes, and it will come, you''ll see. There are battles you can''t fight alone, no matter how much you think you can."

    "I''ll figure it out," Catty clenched her fists.

    "You''ll try," the man said, his tone sharpening, "but every step you take only brings you closer to the inevitable. And when it comes..." He paused, leaning just slightly forward. "I''ll be waiting."

    Suddenly, the man clapped his hands, and guards stepped forward from behind the drapes. They had been there all along, hidden, waiting for his command, and now surrounded the girl.

    The man didn''t rise but watched her through the mask, and his voice was as calm as ever. "You''ve stepped into a place few ever see... and fewer leave."

    He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing, "Perhaps I''m making a mistake. But letting you go now... Time demands this."

    Without looking at the guards, the man flicked his hand. "Let her eat. Then... show her the door."

    Their journey was long. The guards led Catty through many floors as if descending from the top of a high tower.

    Her gaze flickered around as they moved through the labyrinth of corridors and stairways. They passed by wide training halls where disciples created protective barriers that repulsed bursts of magic energy. Others stood still, manipulating mana, and glows surrounded their hands. Further along, a group practiced incantations, shimmering seals swirling in the air around them. A few paused with surprise when they saw the girl accompanied by guards.

    The sounds of training became weaker as they descended deeper.

    At the end, they pushed open a heavy wooden door and entered the kitchen. It was enormous, its high stone walls lined with iron racks and gleaming utensils. Long counters stretched along the center, cluttered with pots, knives, and overseas herbs hanging from hooks. The air smelled of spices and burnt oil.

    A fire crackled under a massive cauldron in the corner, sending shadows dancing across the tiled floor. A few cooks glanced up as they chopped vegetables or stirred simmering sauces. The clatter of metal and the sound of knives echoed through the kitchen.

    The guard commander stepped forward and raised his voice, "The Master has ordered that we feed the girl¡ªwith only the best dishes, of course."

    He grinned, "Nothing but the finest for our little guest."

    The guards sat Catty down at a narrow wooden table apart from the work area. They gave a mocking bow before stepping back to the edge of the room and crossed arms, watching her like hawks.

    The chief cook, a stout man with a thick mustache, glanced up from the pot he was stirring. "The best, eh?" His eyes gleamed with understanding. "Will do the Elemental Challenge set!"

    "Exactly," the commander chuckled, then turned to Catty, "Consider it an honor. Few get treated to a meal like this."

    An hour passed before the chef came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on his apron. The cooks brought out the dishes one by one and placed them on the table in front of the girl.

    "The Devil''s Delight," the chef announced the first one. "Guaranteed to light up your day."

    He smirked as he moved to the next. ¡°The Seafarer¡¯s Regret.¡± The chef leaned in closer. "Careful, you can drown enjoying."

    Then, he gestured to the third, "The Chef''s Secret. Ah, it''s quite the rare delicacy."

    Finally, the chef unveiled the last dish, "Nature''s Punishment. For those with a taste for the unexpected."

    Catty stared at them silently, not believing her eyes, but she couldn''t hesitate. Not with all eyes on her.

    With a dramatic flourish, the chef lifted the lid from the first dish, and Catty understood¡ªshe was in trouble.

 024 // Supplement / Meeting Transcript

    The Council of Four Beasts:

    Dragon

    Phoenix

    Unicorn

    Ninetail

    Venue: The Celestial Conclave

    The Celestial Conclave perches upon a floating island suspended in the uppermost reaches of the skies and serves as a sanctified meeting ground for the Council of Four Beasts.

    ?

    Phoenix: A meeting of such gravity requires a chairman versed in tradition. I nominate myself.

    Ninetail: How noble of you! No one could possibly carry the burden of responsibility like you. Perhaps we should all step aside, lest we tarnish the brilliance of your tradition with our unworthy presence?

    Dragon: Enough. We don''t need games. What we need is a swift discussion, not another performance. If anyone should preside, it''s the one who''ll get us through this efficiently. I''ll take the chair.

    Unicorn: I''m afraid efficiency without harmony is merely haste. We are here to deliberate, not to rush to conclusions.

    Phoenix: Harmony sounds convenient when it lets you sit at the head of the table, doesn''t it?

    Unicorn: It''s all connected if you think about it.

    Ninetail: Why not just flip a coin? Or would that be too predictable for us?

    Phoenix: Particularly when you toss a coin...

    Dragon: That''s enough. Unicorn, preside. Now, can we get started?

    Unicorn: Very well. I will preside over this meeting, though let us not forget that a chair is but a human place to sit¡ªit holds no sway over wisdom.

    Phoenix: How poetic of you. One wonders if your wisdom will be enough to keep us in line.

    Ninetail: I give him one minute before Dragon interrupts.

    Dragon: One second, if we keep wasting time like this.

    Unicorn: Then, let us begin. Today''s agenda includes several questions. We start with the first matter: the nature and interpretation of the prophecy about the girl and the dragon. Before we dive into the meaning of the prophecy, let us first address the obvious: it speaks of a dragon, yet the Dragon Sect seems to have nothing to do with it. Dragon, can you explain?

    Phoenix: Indeed. The prophecy foretells the appearance of a dragon, and yet it seems this particular dragon was not under your watch. A curious oversight.

    Ninetail: Well, well. Looks like the mighty Dragon Sect lost their sense of smell. Or perhaps the pink dragon was never in your story to begin with?

    Dragon: We anticipated many things. But not this. The pink dragon is... an unexpected outlier. A deviation we could not have predicted. For generations, our focus has always been on what we can control. This dragon came from elsewhere, outside the laws we follow.

    Unicorn: Perhaps this reveals a deeper flaw, Dragon. If the Sect relies so heavily on tradition, could it be that your methods are too rigid to recognize what lies outside the expected patterns?

    Dragon: That is not a flaw. It is precision. We do not waste our efforts chasing the improbable.

    Ninetail: So you ignored what you couldn''t explain. How delightfully practical.

    Dragon: Not ignored. Prioritized. The Sect''s duty is to monitor what we can control, not chase fancies. The pink dragon is a testament to this prophecy''s oddity.

    Phoenix: Everything has its time, you know.

    Unicorn: "The girl born of two realms shall ride the pink dragon, and all that exists shall teeter on the edge of ruin." And what is the essence of this prophecy, in your opinion?

    Dragon: It''s about power¡ªpower that must be controlled. The prophecy warns of ruin if we fail to harness it. The girl and the dragon together are forces we cannot leave unchecked. They must be contained.

    Unicorn: Contained or controlled? There is a difference, Dragon.

    Dragon: Control is containment. If we have control of the point where timelines and realities converge, we can ensure stability. Without it, ruin is inevitable.

    Ninetail: Well, that''s one way to make things worse.

    Unicorn: You risk shattering everything by trying to control it. This is the Axis of Existence¡ªa return to the origin, the point where all realities began. If the girl and dragon end up there and disturb the Axis, the entire Multiverse could unravel.

    Phoenix: Or perhaps ruin is a part of the plan. I believe that the prophecy hints at a Grand Alignment¡ªa convergence of all realms. The chaos you fear is the flame from which new worlds will rise.

    Ninetail: Let me guess, Phoenix, this is the part where you tell us everything has to burn for us to learn anything.

    Phoenix: I don''t tell you. I merely invite you to observe the inevitable.

    Dragon: You mean to let all burn, then wait for rebirth, right?

    Phoenix: You fear ruin, Dragon, but ruin is not the end¡ªit is the beginning.

    Dragon: Spare me the poetry. Rebirth through ruin is still ruin. This prophecy is not about metaphors¡ªit''s about consequences. We have a choice: take control or let chaos win.

    Unicorn: A dangerous notion. The prophecy warns of teetering on the edge of ruin, not falling into it. Our task is to maintain balance and prevent collapse, not surrender to it.

    Ninetail: Balance, balance, balance... Always such a weak word. What if this edge we''re teetering on is where we don''t need to be? The binding breaks, the game resets, and new possibilities open. Isn''t that more exciting than clinging to some old pattern?

    Dragon: Excitement is a luxury we can''t afford, Ninetail. Games have consequences.

    Ninetail: Exactly. This is why you shouldn''t be so certain that control will win you this game. What if the girl and her dragon are meant to break the rules?

    Phoenix: A delightful thought. Perhaps the prophecy urges us to step aside and let things unfold as they should. Resistance could disrupt the alignment and make things worse.

    Unicorn: And yet, leaving the prophecy to fate is no less dangerous. Balance requires vigilance, not abandonment. We cannot be passive observers when the realms hang in the balance.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Dragon: There is no balance without control.

    Ninetail: You know, Unicorn, you keep saying balance like it''s a lifestyle.

    Unicorn: It is a lifestyle. It''s called composure, Ninetail. You might try it sometime.

    Ninetail: I''ll stick to dancing in the wild, thanks.

    Unicorn: Neither passive surrender nor aggressive control will save us. It is not the binding or the break that matters¡ªit is how we navigate the edge.

    Ninetail: Ah, navigating edges. Now that sounds exciting! Much better than sitting around arguing over control and balance.

    Dragon: Excitement is not our goal. The Multiverse is not a playground.

    Ninetail: And yet here we are, debating who holds the rules to a game that''s already begun.

    Unicorn: If the prophecy comes to pass, the most immediate effect will be on Eterna. This city has long been the heart of the realms, acting as a stabilizing force. If it fractures, the realms connected through it will begin to drift apart, severing their shared connections. Trade routes will collapse, magical conduits will fail, and entire regions may find themselves isolated.

    Phoenix: You talk about isolation like it''s a death sentence. Maybe some realms could use a little breathing room.

    Ninetail: Breathing room? Sounds fresh!

    Unicorn: Isolation invites destruction. Without Eterna''s stabilizing influence, weaker realms will crumble under the pressure of maintaining their existence. The magic they rely on will scatter, and we''ll see smaller realms fade into oblivion, piece by piece.

    Dragon: If that happens, the Multiverse will become a battlefield. Each realm will compete for whatever remnants of power and stability remain. Eterna''s collapse will trigger a struggle for dominance¡ªthose with strength will seize control, and those without will be consumed.

    Phoenix: You''re obsessed with control!

    Dragon: When Eterna falls, it won''t be a slow fade¡ªit''ll be an instant rupture. And ruptures spread. First, the city, then the realms tied to it. Eventually, everything collapses. Chaos will spread!

    Phoenix: Not necessarily chaos. Some would call it opportunity. The fall of Eterna might loosen the old constraints, freeing realms to reshape themselves as they see fit.

    Ninetail: Or they''ll adapt. Break a few chains, and suddenly those weak realms aren''t so weak anymore. Old rules go, new rules come. Maybe that''s what they need!

    Unicorn: And at what cost? Without balance, we risk destroying the foundations that connect these realms. Magic flows in its way¡ªremove a keystone, and this way breaks off!

    Ninetail: It''s like a deck of cards¡ªyou have to shuffle things up sometimes to get a good hand. Maybe the prophecy is just a cosmic shuffle. What''s lost can be rebuilt, and what''s gained might be worth it.

    Dragon: Only if we survive the shuffle. The risk is too significant. Without intervention, the collapse will spiral out of control.

    Unicorn: Then we must act carefully, ensuring that whatever change occurs does not destroy what holds the realms together.

    Dragon: Carefully? If we were any slower, we''d be fossils long ago.

    Phoenix: Considering your affinity for order, I''d have thought fossils were your ideal timeline.

    Ninetail: How about the girl? And her fate. She''s at the center of all this.

    Phoenix: And at the center of transformation, I''d say. Painful, yes, but necessary. She''ll come through it changed, just as the prophecy demands.

    Ninetail: If she survives it. That''s the catch, isn''t it? Prophecies don''t give anyone a free pass. She has to play her part, whatever that means¡ªand that might not end well for her.

    Phoenix: All change comes with sacrifice.

    Ninetail: Yes, like sacrificing half our lifespan listening to Unicorn''s speeches.

    Unicorn: You''re free to step out.

    Ninetail: And miss out on your weekly call to balance? Not a chance.

    Dragon: The girl is a wild element tied to something far more dangerous. Once she bonded with the dragon, she became unpredictable¡ªa force we can''t control. Every moment we hesitate, she becomes more dangerous.

    Phoenix: You speak like danger is a bad thing. Transformation demands it. The prophecy is here to break comfort and stability. Pain will change her and through her, everything else.

    Unicorn: She''s a child. Not a tool to be broken. Our responsibility is to protect her, not sacrifice her to forces she can''t control. They can pull her apart.

    Ninetail: Let''s not get ahead of ourselves.

    Dragon: Innocence doesn''t exempt her from the consequences. If the girl is tied to the prophecy, she''s not just a bystander. She''s a wild card¡ªunpredictable. We can''t assume she''ll stay innocent once the pink dragon''s involved.

    Ninetail: You say this as a dragon! She''ll become whatever the prophecy needs her to be. That''s how it works. Trying to shield her from it is like stopping the tide with your hands.

    Unicorn: We''re not here to shape her destiny¡ªwe''re here to help her survive it. She deserves a chance to make her own choices, not be dragged along by prophecy.

    Phoenix: Ah, the winds are shifting again.

    Dragon: And if those choices destroy everything? She''s tied to forces far greater than herself. Ignoring that won''t help anyone.

    Ninetail: Protect her? That''s wishful thinking. The prophecy won''t give her the luxury of safety. She has to fulfill her role, no matter the cost. That''s how these things work.

    Phoenix: Exactly. Change requires sacrifice. The girl will come through this as someone new. Whether she rises or falls, she won''t be the same.

    Dragon: And if that new version of her decides to tear everything down? Power like hers is unpredictable. If left unchecked, she could be the spark that ignites chaos across realms.

    Ninetail: And what''s wrong with a little chaos? Break some chains, shatter old rules, and those so-called weak realms might surprise you.

    Dragon: I''ve seen what happens when ''a little'' turns into ''a lot.'' I prefer my disasters organized, dear.

    Ninetail: Such a charmer, Dragon.

    Dragon: Are we ready if she chooses destruction? Or do we gamble everything on the hope she''ll make the right choice?

    Phoenix: You keep clinging to control, Dragon. Not every ending is a disaster. What looks like destruction to you could be the start of something better.

    Ninetail: Or something unexpected. She might burn it all, and something entirely new could emerge from the ashes.

    Unicorn: We agree on one thing¡ªwe cannot leave this prophecy unchecked. But we still have no consensus on how involved we should become. Monitoring the prophecy without interference may be the only way to prevent further harm.

    Phoenix: Ah, the familiar tune of caution. But standing still won''t help. Change demands a nudge. We can shape the fire, Unicorn! Let it burn where we need it to.

    Dragon: Fire doesn''t need permission, Phoenix. If we fail to act decisively, chaos will decide for us. We must act swiftly, or the girl will become the spark that ignites it all!

    Ninetail: Or maybe chaos is the point. Haven''t you wondered why we keep talking about shaping the prophecy? What if it''s not ours to shape?

    Unicorn: Then whose is it?

    Ninetail: The girl''s. Or the dragon''s. Or someone else entirely. The prophecy will use us just as surely as it uses them. We aren''t in control¡ªwe never were.

    Dragon: Then what do you propose, Ninetail? That we sit back and let fate run its course? That''s reckless, even for you.

    Ninetail: Reckless? No. But I know better than to waste time fighting the inevitable. I''ll follow my own path¡ªand see where the girl''s destiny leads me.

    Phoenix: That''s the problem with destiny¡ªit''s rarely polite enough to ask for permission. But I''ve always preferred fire to stagnation. If something must end, let it end in flames.

    Unicorn: You would burn everything to save something. And you, Ninetail, would break the rules for the thrill of it. But the worlds hang on the choices we make¡ªor don''t make.

    Dragon: And that''s why I''ll be watching closely. If she steps out of line, I''ll stop her before she can do any damage. No hesitation.

    Phoenix: Ah, Dragon, always with the sharp claws. But fate isn''t a prey you can pin down or slice apart. It slips through even the strongest grip.

    Ninetail: Exactly. That''s what makes it fun.

    Unicorn: There''s nothing fun about what''s coming. The girl deserves protection¡ªnot from fate, but from us. We''re the danger she doesn''t see.

    Dragon: Then it''s settled. We each follow our own way. If we cross paths again, so be it.

    Ninetail: Oh, we will cross paths. Of that, I''m certain. The girl is not the only one with a destiny to fulfill.

    Unicorn: Do you mean the Multiverse Gatekeeper?

    Ninetail: Perhaps. Or the Arcanist.

    Phoenix: The Arcanist? Now that is a name I haven''t heard in a long time. I wonder if even he knows which side of the game he''s playing.

    Ninetail: He always plays his own game.

    Dragon: Whoever he sides with, it changes nothing. If the Arcanist returns, it will only complicate matters. He always leaves ruin in his wake.

    Ninetail: Exactly. Which makes things far more interesting.

    Unicorn: You think this is a game, Ninetail, but the stakes couldn''t be higher... if we misstep, it won''t just be Eterna that suffer.

    Ninetail: And yet, here we are¡ªchoosing sides and rolling the dice.

    Phoenix: Let''s hope the girl''s destiny runs smoother than the one the Arcanist once tried to carve for himself.

    Dragon: Well, then, let''s wrap this up. See you when all''s over.

    Ninetail: Alright, alright. I guess it''s time to part ways. Until next time!

 025 // Regeneration / Opening

    Catty sat alone at the wide wooden table, her back straight, eyes forward. She felt so small in the bright kitchen that buzzed around her. Flames flickered under a massive cauldron, and steam curled up from boiling pots. The room was filled with the clang of utensils.

    The guards and chef stood nearby, watching her every move. They didn''t bother hiding their smirks. Catty felt their eyes on her but didn''t intend to respond to their jeers.

    "Enjoy your meal," the chief said, voice dripping with mock politeness.

    The dishes were arranged in a perfect circle on the table before her. The chef lifted the lid from the first dish.

    It was burning on the plate. Bright red peppers, sliced lengthwise, still sizzled as flames ran along it. The heat radiated off the dish, stinging Catty''s eyes and nose. She hesitated, then picked up the knife, cutting off a small piece. The searing scent made her throat tighten.

    The girl lifted the bite to her mouth and placed it on her tongue. It was like biting an ember¡ªher mouth exploded! Catty clenched her jaw and forced herself to chew, fighting against the urge to spit it out.

    "Feeling the heat, little girl?" one of the guards sneered.

    Catty swallowed hard, her throat ablaze. Her eyes watered, but the girl blinked away the tears and fixed the guard with a steady gaze. One thought burned in her mind, ''Die!''

    The chef moved to the next plate and carefully lifted the lid, revealing a large conch shell filled with a thick liquid. Dark green seaweed floated lazily on the surface, swirling slowly in the pale broth. The smell hit Catty like a surf¡ªbriny seawater left to rot under the sun. She wrinkled her nose but didn''t let herself hesitate.

    Slowly, the girl picked up the spoon and dipped it into the conch. She brought it to her lips and took a cautious sip. The taste was revolting. Her stomach churned, and she had to clamp down on the urge to spit.

    "Is the plate too deep for you?" a guard sneered.

    Catty swallowed and forced a weak smile. Without breaking eye contact, she dipped the spoon back into the conch and took another sip. The bitterness spread through her mouth, and her throat tightened, but she forced herself to keep it down. She wouldn''t give them the satisfaction.

    The chef didn''t bother hiding his grin as he lifted the lid of the third plate. A cloud of grey steam billowed up, swirling momentarily before fading into nothingness. There was no food¡ªjust a foul-smelling vapor that wafted over Catty''s face. She recoiled, her nose wrinkling as the stench hit her like a blow. It was the smell of something decaying, a scent that clung to her throat.

    The girl fought not to gag as the awful taste coated her mouth.

    "What''s the matter? This is my signature dish! Too rich for you?" the chef jeered.

    Catty straightened and forced a dramatic sigh, tilting her head back as if savoring the sensation. "Delicious," she said flatly, smiling at them.

    The guards burst into laughter, but Catty kept her face calm, refusing to let them see any weakness.

    The final dish¡ªa pile of rough lumps sat on the plate, their surfaces gritty. They looked more like a collection of pebbles than food. Catty picked up her fork and tapped one cautiously. It made a dull clinking sound, like striking stone.

    The girl tried to stab one of the larger pieces. The texture was hard, and she took it with her hand. Catty bit down¡ªand immediately regretted it. Pain shot through her jaw as if she''d tried to chew through a rock.

    "Maybe you need a dragon''s teeth to handle that!" There was laughter behind her back.

    Catty spat the piece back onto the plate, glaring at people around her defiantly. She rubbed her aching jaw and turned around.

    "Guess you''ll have to lend me yours soon," the girl shot back, clenching her fists under the table.

    "Such a shame! Looks like she''s not enjoying the Master''s hospitality!"

    Catty stared at the plates before her, resisting the urge to sweep them off the table. Her jaw ached, her stomach twisted, but the girl wouldn''t break¡ªnot in front of them.

    The chief guard strolled closer, his boots clicking firmly on the stone floor. He circled the table, finally stopping beside Catty. The man leaned down, eyes gleaming with gloat as he looked at her.

    "Well, little girl?" he said, voice low and dripping with mockery. "Are you full?"

    Catty didn''t answer but forced herself to take a deep breath. ''I''ll wipe that smug look off your face,'' she thought, keeping her expression cold.

    "You know, girl, you''ve got some nerve sitting there like you''re dining at a royal banquet," the chief guard continued, shaking his head. "Do you even realize where you are?"

    Catty looked up, wiping her mouth slowly. "Yeah, a five-star dungeon, right?"

    "You''re sitting in a spot soaked with the blood of legends, and all you can think about is your stomach?!"

    "Yeah, well," Catty said, "I''ve had better slop."

    The man leaned in, his breath hot on her face. "You don''t get it, do you? You''ll be staying here tonight. And guess what? You''re cleaning this kitchen. That''s your payment for this¡­ wonderful treat."

    Catty''s expression tightened, but she didn''t flinch. "You want me to scrub all damn pans now?"

    "Exactly," the chief guard straightened, still looking down at her. "And maybe, while scrubbing, you''ll appreciate just what kind of place you''re in."

    He spread his arms wide. "This is the Dragon Sect enclave!"

    The man turned away, and Catty clenched her fists under the table. Appreciate this place?!

    The guards laughed and left the kitchen, their mocking remarks echoing in the corridor. The chief guard gave Catty a final sneer before stepping out. The kitchen door swung shut behind them.

    The chef lingered for a moment, his gaze sharp and calculating. He glanced at a young cook standing by the door¡ªa boy with a thin frame and wide eyes.

    "Keep an eye on her," the chef ordered, his tone curt. "And make sure she doesn''t try anything stupid."

    "Yes, sir," the boy stammered, nodding quickly. The chef gave one last look around the kitchen before leaving with the other cooks.

    Silence settled over the room. The only sound was the soft crackling of the hearth and the boy''s uneasy shuffle against the stone floor. Catty remained seated at the table, watching him carefully.

    The young cook stood by the door, fidgeting with the hem of his apron. He couldn''t seem to meet Catty''s gaze, his eyes darting around the room. With his tousled hair and hunched shoulders, he looked like he wanted to melt into the stone walls.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    "Calm down!" Catty snapped, her voice sharper than she intended. The boy flinched, looking up in surprise.

    "Come here," she said, her tone softer. "Sit down."

    He blinked, hesitating. After a moment, he shuffled forward slowly, keeping his eyes on her as if expecting her to lash out. Catty gestured to the empty seat at the table, and he finally slid onto it, sitting stiffly on the edge.

    "What is your name? I''m Catty," she said, leaning back in her chair.

    The boy shifted awkwardly, rubbing his hands together. He opened his mouth, closed it, and then blurted out, "Are you¡­ really going to clean all of this?"

    "Not planning on it," Catty said flatly.

    He let out a nervous laugh, then scratched the back of his head, clearly uncertain what to say next. Finally, he leaned in a little, his voice dropping to a whisper.

    "I''m Landom," he hesitated, then leaned closer, eyes darting nervously. "So¡­ what are you planning?" He anxiously glanced around as if checking to see if anyone else was listening.

    Catty tilted her head, studying him. "Why are you so jumpy?" she asked lightly.

    Landom flushed, looking down. "I, uh¡­ I''m not supposed to talk to¡­ guests."

    "Guests?" Catty raised an eyebrow. "That what they call captives here?"

    "Er, well, you know¡­ " Landom muttered, fiddling with his apron again. He seemed to find his courage then, glancing up at her. "So if you''re not planning to clean, what''s your plan?"

    "I''m not sure yet," Catty admitted. "But I don''t think I''ll be scrubbing pots anytime soon." She leaned forward a little. "What about you? Been working here long?"

    "Me? Uh, yeah. Sort of." He shifted in his seat. "I''ve been here since¡­ well, forever, really. My dad''s a guard. Got me this job when I was big enough to carry a pot."

    "Sounds exciting," Catty said dryly.

    Landom snorted softly. "Exciting? Not really. Just¡­ the same thing every day." He shrugged. "But at least I''m not out there, y''know? They say the rest of the enclave is¡­ dangerous."

    Catty glanced around. "Yeah? So what''s so special about this place, then? Why keep you in the kitchen?"

    Landom''s fingers stilled on his apron. He blinked at her, then frowned thoughtfully. "Dunno," he admitted slowly, "but my dad always says this kitchen''s the safest spot in the whole place. Says it''s ¡®cause it''s¡­ at the center of everything." He scratched his chin, then added awkwardly, "I guess they trust me not to mess it up."

    "The center of everything?" Catty repeated. She gave a casual shrug, but her gaze sharpened. "Why?"

    Landom hesitated, looking uneasy. "I¡­ I mean¡­ people say a lot of stuff, you know? Like, stories." He shifted in his seat again. "They say this place was built over¡­ something big. A battle or something."

    Catty leaned back slightly, overseeing him. "A battle?" she prompted.

    "Yeah." Landom''s voice lowered unconsciously. "A really, really old one. Like a war between light and darkness. But that''s just¡­ I mean, it''s probably just nonsense, right?"

    Catty stayed silent for a moment, then shrugged casually. "No," she said finally. "It''s not nonsense. It''s history."

    Landom blinked, taken aback. "You¡­ believe that stuff?" He looked almost relieved. "I mean, I always thought it was just a story."

    "Who knows," Catty said lightly, tilting her head. "Why would they build a kitchen here if it''s so special?"

    Landom scratched his head. "Dunno. Everything here means something. Even the stuff they cook¡­" He trailed off, glancing hesitantly at the plates on the table. "Like, uh, what you ate. That''s not normal food. It''s the Elemental Challenge set."

    Her eyebrows raised. "Elemental Challenge?"

    "Yeah, didn''t they tell you?" He pointed to the dishes. "Each one''s supposed to represent an element. Like, the first one¡ªthose burning peppers? That''s Fire. The next, the salty stuff in the shell, was Water. Then the empty plate with the stinking vapor? Air. And the last¡­ the hard vegetables cooked into pebbles? Earth."

    The young cook shrugged awkwardly. "It''s called the Elemental Challenge set. A kind of¡­ test, I guess. Like, to see if you can handle it."

    Catty''s gaze lingered on the plates, then on the boy, her mind racing. Fire¡­ Water¡­ Air¡­ Earth. It all sounded too familiar. She stared at the dishes again, assessing their contents.

    "You said they''re supposed to represent the elements," the girl said. "But why serve them this way? What''s the point?"

    Landom shrugged, clearly out of his depth. "Beats me. Uh, they always say the challenge has a purpose. Something about testing strength¡­"

    "Testing strength," Catty repeated softly. Her eyes narrowed as she glanced around the kitchen, considering. "And¡­ why those four elements?"

    "That''s just how it''s always been," Landom said hesitantly. "They say the four elements guard¡­ something. It''s part of the old stories."

    Catty''s gaze drifted back to the plates. Guard something¡­ Four guardians¡­ Suddenly, the riddle''s words surfaced in her mind: ¡®Four guardians hold the key, standing tall¡­'' Her fingers tapped on the table. If the dishes represented elements¡­

    And then she slammed her palm on the table. The boy jumped up in his chair.

    "Four guardians hold the key, standing tall,

    Round the circle, they await the dragon''s call," Catty recited the riddle.

    Landom looked more confused than ever as he listened to Catty mumble when the pieces clicked together in her mind.

    "South breathes fire, fierce and free,

    West weaves water deep as the sea,

    East commands winds that heed no wall,

    North bears earth, where secrets fall."

    The girl spoke loudly, finishing.

    "In their midst lies the heart, unseen,

    Beneath the stone, where time has been!"

    She glanced around the kitchen, then back at Landom. "And the center?" she asked slowly. "What''s at the center?"

    Landom looked confused. "What do you mean?"

    "Fire, Water, Air, Earth," she said softly, gesturing to the plates. "What''s in the middle?"

    The boy perked up, his expression clearing. "Ah, I got it! Here in the kitchen, the center is the hearth."

    Catty slowly got up from the table and headed towards the hearth.

    It was large, stretching almost to the ceiling, and made of rough-hewn stones fitted together. The surface was darkened by centuries of smoke. A few embers glowed faintly in the grate below. Heavy iron tools¡ªan old poker and a long-handled ladle ¡ª leaned against the wall as witnesses of countless fires stoked within the hearth belly.

    "We gotta check it!" Catty said.

    "What to check?" Landom was surprised.

    The girl crouched down, running her fingers along the rough stones at the base. "We need to take these out."

    Landom''s eyes widened. "Take them out? Are you crazy?" He took a step back, shaking his head. "If they catch us..."

    "They won''t," Catty interrupted, her voice firm. "Just help me."

    "No way." He crossed his arms, staring at her like she''d lost her mind. "I... I can''t. I''m not getting in trouble for this."

    Catty shot him an exasperated look but didn''t stop. She dug her nails into a crack between two stones, gritting her teeth as she tried to wiggle one loose.

    Her bracelet clinked softly against the stone the girl tried to unfix with her hands.

    A sudden burst of light illuminated the kitchen, bathing it in a shimmering glow. Catty froze, staring as a rush of warmth shot through her arm, spreading like fire beneath her skin. The bracelet pulsed, casting patterns of light that danced over the rough stones. The heat intensified with every beat, making the air around Catty shake as if reality was bending to its power.

    Landom gasped, taking a step back. "What is that?"

    "It''s our Ace of Trumps!" Catty exclaimed as the glow reflected on her face, turning her eyes a fiery gold. "We''re close, I know! I can find it here!"

    Landom swallowed hard, torn between fear and curiosity. His gaze shifted between her face and the bracelet, its light reflecting in his eyes. "What¡­ what are you trying to find?"

    "What they''re hiding here," Catty said angrily. "Damn, are you gonna help me or what?"

    For a moment, Landom just stood there. Then, slowly, he took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Okay. Just... just tell me what to do."

    "Take up the poker!"

    Landom''s hands shook as he picked up the heavy poker.

    Catty pointed to the iron grate and the faintly glowing embers within. "We need to remove that first. Lift it off, and be careful."

    Landom nodded nervously. Together, they heaved the heavy iron grate to the side, the embers spilling and scattering. A few sparks hissed as they hit the stone floor.

    Catty swept the embers away with the long-handled ladle, clearing the base, then cold ashes.

    "Wedge it here," Catty directed, pointing to a narrow gap between two stones.

    The boy hesitated, then shoved the poker into the crack. The metal scraped against the stone with a grating sound. He strained, leaning his weight into it. Slowly, the stone shifted.

    "Keep going," Catty urged, her fingers digging into the other side. Together, they tried to pry the heavy stone free.

    Sweat beaded on Landom''s forehead. "It''s stuck," he muttered, struggling for breath.

    "Just one more push," Catty gritted out. With a final heave, the stone came loose, dropping with a dull thud.

    They moved quickly now, working side by side to pull out the remaining stones one by one. Each piece gave way grudgingly, firmly held by ancient mortar. Dust hung in the air as they finally freed up the entire base, removing the last of the stones.

    They both froze, staring at the exposed base of the hearth. It was a large, flat slab, its surface smooth and unbroken.

    Catty''s heart pounded. "This is it!"

    Landom looked at her, wide-eyed. "What¡­ what do we do now?"

    Catty didn''t answer. She reached out slowly, resting her hand on the warm stone. The bracelet flared brighter as the base slab pulsed under her palm. The warmth spread through her arm, racing up to her heart¡ªa powerful, thrumming energy that synced with her heartbeat.

    The vibration grew, responding to the bracelet''s glow. The light twisted and curled, wrapping around the girl''s fingers in the flame of shimmering gold. Her entire body tingled, and her hand stuck to the stone.

    "Move it," Catty breathed.

    But as Landom lifted the poker to pry the slab, the stone suddenly shuddered. The light from the bracelet flared like a thunderbolt, flooding the kitchen with a blinding glow. The stone vibrated violently and...

    CRACK!

    Catty and Landom staggered back as the slab split, fissures racing across its surface.

 026 // Regeneration / Part I

    The hearth slab shuddered, and fissures spread rapidly across its surface. Light seeped through the cracks, glowing brighter with each pulse. The air vibrated. Then, with a sharp snap, the stone split apart. Chunks of rock lifted slowly, suspended mid-air as if caught in the grip of unseen hands.

    Beneath the broken slab, a single object glowed¡ªa smooth, oval shape nestled in radiant energy.

    An egg.

    Its surface shimmered with colors shifting like firelight and cast dancing patterns across the walls. A low hum filled the kitchen, and a deep, resonant sound echoed in Catty''s bones.

    The girl bent over, and her heart was racing. The bracelet on her wrist pulsed in response, flaring in rhythm with the egg''s glow. Catty reached out, and her fingertips trembled. The moment her skin brushed the egg''s surface, a surge of heat shot up her arm. Light exploded around her, enveloping her in a golden aura. She gasped as the force almost knocked her back.

    The bracelet responded instantly, and its glow merged with the egg''s light. Then, the transformation began.

    First, scales appeared on her fingers, and pink and gold hues rippled across Catty''s skin. They spread along her arms and neck, ran through her breasts and tummy, and finally unfurled across her entire body, transforming the girl''s skin into a radiant armor.

    Catty''s eyes burned, and her irises shifted to a brilliant gold. Her hair flowed like flame, each strand alive with the storm of magic coursing through her veins.

    Every part of the body buzzed with energy as if the girl were a vessel too small to contain the power rushing through her. The power felt wild and dangerous, yet it was¡­ hers.

    Landom watched, eyes wide, mouth open. He understood the girl he''d seen was gone¡ªher fingernails had become formidable claws.

    Catty''s breathing steadied, and she turned, her gaze locking on Landom. Her resonant voice carried a weight that sent chills down his spine.

    "You''re with me?"

    It wasn''t a question. Landom swallowed hard. He was staring at the Child of Dragons.

    Fear gripped the boy, but something in her gaze¡ªsomething unbreakable¡ªdrove him to nod.

    At this moment, a shrieking alarm sounded in the kitchen. The walls trembled, and Landom staggered back, clutching his ears. The roar reverberated through the enclave.

    Protective sigils were activated. Thin lines of light burst from the floor and spread outward like a spider''s web. The luminous threads raced along the walls, crisscrossing the ceiling, and connected to every surface. Each pulse sent shockwaves through the air, humming with a rhythm that set Catty''s teeth on edge.

    Then, an enormous eye appeared amid the kitchen in a flash of blinding white. Its gaze swept across the room, cold and unblinking. The eye scanned every corner. The luminous web intensified when it locked onto Catty, focusing around her.

    Intruder! Violation!

    Landom''s heart raced as he took in the sight of the eye. He''d never seen the wards activate like this. His throat tightened. This was the highest level of the enclave''s defenses, set to protect against true threats. The boy knew instantly¡ªthe Sect would stop at nothing now.

    "Gods¡­ they''re seeing us," Landom whispered, voice shaking. "They''ll tear us apart."

    The hum grew louder, building into a sharp, vibrating pitch. The web of light stretched and tightened, reacting to the girl''s presence. It pulled toward Catty¡ªthe entire ward structure was trying to converge on her.

    The alarm sounded again, and a wave of fury reverberated throughout the enclave. Guards and disciples across the stronghold would be here soon.

    There would be no hiding now.

    Catty took the egg. The instant she lifted it, the hearth trembled. Before the girl could react, a swirling vortex of shimmering energy erupted from the floor. Golden waves of light shot outward, weaving together into the shape of a doorway. The edges flickered, holding the energy in place.

    A portal.

    The girl didn''t know what was waiting beyond the threshold, but it was the only escape route that led beyond the Sect''s reach.

    "You''re coming with me!" Catty stepped toward the boy and extended her hand to him. Landom''s eyes darted toward the kitchen door as it rattled under the blows of the guards.

    "No!" the boy shook his head. "They''ll catch us both if I leave. You¡­ you have to go now!" He took a deep breath, standing straighter.

    The door buckled under a powerful blow. Shouts filled the corridor outside.

    Catty hesitated, eyes locked on his. "Landom¡­"

    "Listen to me!" the boy exclaimed. A smile broke through his fear. "You''re the Child of Dragons. You have to save the egg. This is my choice."

    Everything seemed to freeze momentarily¡ªthe portal swirling beside the girl, the guards hammering on the door. Only Landom''s gaze held her in place, steady despite the fear in his eyes.

    "Damn it, Landom¡­ you really got the short end of this, didn''t you?"

    He smiled, eyes darting to the door. "Yeah¡­ already regretting it."

    Catty turned, stepping into the portal''s light. When it began to disappear, the door crashed open, and the guards stormed in. Landom grabbed a heavy iron ladle and squared his shoulders, the fear in his eyes replaced by grim determination.

    "I remembered why I hate this already," he shouted. "Let''s get it over!"

    The boy swung the ladle clumsily, a defiant smile tugging at his lips. He lunged forward, buying precious seconds as the portal sealed shut behind the girl.

    He knew he wouldn''t win. But it was worth it if Catty had a chance to escape.

    She turned, catching one last glimpse of the kitchen behind her.

    Landom fought the guards. He tried to dodge blows, but they rained down on him one after another.

    The girl''s heart tightened. "Landom!" she exclaimed, but the fight swallowed her voice.

    Then the portal snapped shut.

    Catty was alone, standing in the middle of the cavern.

    It was larger than any space she''d ever seen. Crystals of sapphires, rubies, and amethysts jutted out from the walls and ceiling, glowing with vibrant colors¡ªdeep blues, fiery reds, and shimmering purples. The light they emitted cast long shadows along the jagged walls.

    A pool of water lay in the center. Its surface was smooth like a mirror, reflecting the crystals'' brilliance. Stalactites hung high above, their dark silhouettes contrasting with the radiant hues.

    Catty stepped forward. A narrow path winded around the crystal formations. They were filled with energy and pulsed, responding to her move.

    The girl froze as she spotted a dragon.

    An immense dragon lay in the cavern''s center, curled atop a stone rise. His powerful body seemed a part of the rock. Scales the color of midnight shimmered softly under the crystal light. The creature''s vast wings were folded neatly along his back.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    The dragon''s head rested on his foreclaws, eyes closed in a deep slumber. Curved horns touched the stalactites. The long tail coiled around his body, and the tip barely twitched as it breathed slowly.

    The dragon''s presence filled the cavern as if the entire space revolved around his slumber. Catty felt small and fragile.

    This was no ordinary dragon. This was the Lord of Dragons.

    The cavern was silent, and he lay still, a sleeping giant.

    Catty gripped the egg tighter. Her heart raced, and the girl hesitated, eyes locked on the creature''s head. Then, summoning her courage, Catty moved closer. Her footfall was barely heard on the stone floor. The girl knelt beside his folded paws.

    The egg vibrated faintly in her arms. Its rhythm was steady, like a heartbeat, and warmth spread through her fingertips.

    "I need your help," Catty whispered. "Please¡­ wake up."

    The egg grew warmer in her hands, its glow intensifying. The light flickered, sending a gentle pulse through the cavern. Catty held her breath and felt the energy ripple outward.

    The dragon''s nostrils flared slightly, a puff of warm breath escaping. Catty froze. The faintest tremor ran through the massive body¡ªone claw shifted, then another.

    A deep rumble filled the cavern, and the crystals flickered brighter. Slowly, the dragon''s eyes opened, and two orbs of dark gold glowed in twilight. They focused on the egg first, then met Catty''s gaze.

    For a heartbeat, everything was silent.

    Then, with a great shudder, the dragon stretched his neck, shaking loose dust and fragments of rock. Wings unfurled, casting shadows across the walls.

    When the dragon spoke, his voice was a rumbling river that filled the cavern.

    "Hey, gotta hand it to you, darling. Takes guts to walk in here like you own the place."

    The words echoed through the air and made Catty''s chest tighten. She didn''t back down and met the dragon''s gaze with all the strength she could muster.

    "I need your help," the girl said softly.

    The dragon regarded her for a long moment, then lowered its head, nostrils flaring as it sniffed the egg.

    "Help?" the creature murmured. "The Child of Dragons¡­ seeks help?"

    Catty held her ground as the great eyes fixed on her once more. "Yes," she said, her voice steadier now. "It''s time for the egg to hatch."

    The dragon''s eyes narrowed, a spark of something¡ªrecognition, perhaps¡ªflashing in its depths. The massive creature settled back leisurely, and its wings folded neatly along its sides.

    He looked at the egg, then back at Catty.

    "So¡­ a tiny thing like you brought that here?" Each word rumbled through the cavern. "You know what this means, don''t you?"

    "Well¡­ I''m supposed to hatch it?" Catty swallowed, but she didn''t look away.

    The dragon''s laughter reverberated through the cavern, shaking the ground beneath her feet.

    "Hatch it?! Oh, darling. You think you can crack it open like a breakfast egg and a nice little lizard outpops?"

    Catty tightened her grip on the egg. "What do I need to do?" she demanded, voice edged with determination.

    The dragon leaned in, lowering his big head until his golden eyes were level with hers. The heat of his breath washed over the girl, carrying the scent of fire and something ancient.

    "You think there''s a checklist for this? No, darling¡­ You gotta feel it and make it yours. That''s the only way. Not doing, but being."

    He paused, the words linger in the air. Then continued. "That egg... It has its own will and desires. What it needs isn''t a caretaker. It needs a partner. A soul that can match its fire."

    "A¡­ partner?" Catty blinked and repeated slowly.

    "You heard me." His eyes studied the girl as if searching for something hidden beneath her fragile human exterior. "Only someone willing to burn away everything¡ªevery fear, every doubt¡ªcan make it hatch. Only someone ready to pour last breath into it and still stand alive."

    The dragon huffed, and a stream of smoke came out of his nostrils. "So, tell me, little human¡­ are you really that person?"

    Catty''s throat tightened. She bit her lip, resisting the urge to look away. "I don''t know," she admitted, her voice barely more than a whisper. "But I''ll try."

    "Try?" The word came out as a low growl reverberating through the cavern. He leaned back slightly, shaking his head in slow disbelief. "That''s the problem with you mortals. Always trying."

    The dragon paused, then fixed the girl with a stare that pierced right through her. "Bullshit! It''s either yes or no. You think that egg''s going to respond to ''I''ll try''? It''s going to laugh at you¡ªwhen it could laugh."

    Catty took a deep, shaky breath, and when she spoke again, her voice was stronger. "Fine. Yes. I''ll do it."

    The Lord of Dragons tilted his head, a glimmer of curiosity flickering in his dark eyes. "Really?" His voice dropped, softer now as if coaxing a confession from her. "You''d give everything? You''d risk your soul for what might not even survive?"

    "Yes!" Catty snapped, the single word echoing through the cavern. "I would."

    Silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. The dragon weighed every word, every breath. Then, he slowly nodded.

    "Hmm. Maybe you do have some fire in you after all." His eyes had a shadow of something like hope. "Remember, you''re making a bond that lasts a lifetime. If you will break it..." his gaze snapped back to her, sharp and intense.

    Catty''s grip on the egg tightened, and she felt its warmth pulse like a second heartbeat. "I won''t break," she said quietly, but there was steel in her voice now.

    The dragon stared at her for a long moment, then huffed, a sound like a chuckle.

    "Bold words," he rumbled. "Let''s see if you''ve got the bite to back ''em up."

    His lips curled, showing his enormous fangs. "Then, Child of Dragons¡­ let us begin."

    Catty knelt, clutching the egg close to her chest, her eyes fixed on the dragon. A silver mist swirled at her feet, rising from the pool. The cavern vibrated around the girl, and waves of multi-colored light ran through the crystals, reflecting on her face.

    The only thing that mattered now was the fragile shell cradled in her hands. The egg was heating up as if drawing energy toward it. The bracelet glowed softly in response, connecting to the egg.

    Heat spread through Catty''s hands; it was slightly painful. She bit her lip, fighting the urge to pull back. The sensation was overwhelming¡ªlike standing on the edge of a cliff and knowing one wrong step could send her tumbling. Emotions washed over the girl¡ªnot her own, but the tiny creature''s inside: impatience, curiosity, and a fierce will struggling to break free.

    Catty squeezed her eyes shut, feeling her resolve waver. What if I''m not strong enough? The thought clawed at her, sharp and relentless. What if I fail? Images flashed through her mind: Landom facing the guards alone, Fitzmaria swinging the sword, the Widow smiling evilly. And also Rutger cooking, Eldric laughing, Vexara''s sad look...

    All of them led to this moment¡ªthis fragile life cradled in her hands.

    Catty pressed the egg to her breasts. "I''m here," she whispered, voice trembling. "I won''t let go. I won''t let you be alone." The words were meant for both¡ªherself and the little dragon within. She took a slow breath, steadying herself.

    The bracelet reacted instantly, its rose-colored glow deepening. Light wrapped around the girl''s body, armored in scale, like an embrace, then flowed into the egg.

    Catty focused on the creature inside, pouring all her energy and intent into the egg.

    ''Feel me,'' she thought. ''I''m here. I won''t back down.''

    The egg pulsed in response. The heat was almost unbearable now, but Catty didn''t flinch. She let the pain wash over her, welcoming it. If this was what it took, she would endure it. She had to. Because this baby was worth it.

    Fine cracks splintered across the shell, and glowing lines spread in rapid, jagged patterns. The magic inside was struggling to break free. The bracelet on her wrist flared brighter, feeding into the egg''s growing power.

    When the cracks began to extend wider, a surge of fire burst from the egg¡ªwild, scorching flames that wrapped around Catty''s hands. She cried out, the heat biting her skin, even through the scale armor.

    The flames licked up her shoulders, coiling around her neck and chest. It was a living, burning force that consumed everything. Catty''s vision blurred, spots dancing before her eyes. It hurt. It hurt so much. She felt the blaze burning inside her like it was trying to fire off everything weak.

    Her instinct screamed to pull back, to throw before the flames devoured the girl. But she clenched her jaw, gripping the egg tighter.

    The Lord of Dragons watched in silence. His gaze never left Catty as the fire wrapped around her. The air buzzed with energy, and the cavern trembled when she was forging the connection.

    The dragon straightened, and his wings unfurled in the air. "Yes," he said, his deep voice reverberating from the wall, filled with satisfaction. "You can do it, Child of Dragons."

    The flames roared higher, scorching Catty through the scales. She would have burned to the ground if it weren''t for her armor. The heat was intense to make the metal of her bracelet glow white-hot. Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn''t back down.

    "Come on," she snarled through gritted teeth. The fire swirled around her, an inferno of blinding light, and Catty felt something shift. The pain didn''t fade, but the girl could feel the little dragon''s presence, feel him pushing back against the shell, fighting as fiercely as she was.

    They were in this together.

    "If we have to burn, then burn us!" Catty screamed, the sound ripped from her throat, but she didn''t let go.

    The Lord of Dragons inclined his head, the faintest nod¡ªa gesture of recognition.

    "You have the fire," he rumbled approvingly, his eyes gleaming.

    "The dragonling chose well," he added with profound respect.

    The egg trembled in her hands. A faint scratching sound reached her ears¡ªtiny claws scraped against the inside, testing the barrier that held them back. Catty held her breath, eyes wide, as she stared at the shell. The light pouring through the cracks intensified and became blinding.

    The egg shuddered harder now, a power building within. Catty felt the little dragon¡ªhis confusion, a desperate will to break free. ''Hold on. I''ve got you,'' the girl thought, giving every bit of her strength.

    The entire cavern seemed to vibrate. A surge of energy exploded outward, forcing Catty to grit her teeth and tighten her grip. The mist around her swirled violently as if drawn by a powerful magnet. Colors shifted wildly¡ªblue, crimson, violet¡ªflaring in time with the egg''s frantic rhythm.

    Catty''s body in the scale armor burned under the barrage of light. She felt the little creature''s will bleeding into her¡ªits fierce determination, raw strength, and an unstoppable drive to break free. The bond between them strengthened, and each beat of the dragon''s heart resonated within her chest.

    The shell began to burst. The light grew even brighter, forcing Catty to squint. Her heart raced with a wild and erratic beat. She knew the moment was close.

    And then, the egg exploded with brilliant energy like a fireball.

    Catty cried out, eyes squeezing shut. The light was so bright it burned behind her closed eyelids. The sound of shattering crystals filled the cavern.

    She felt the egg shattered, releasing the life inside.

    Pieces of the shell lifted from her hands and then disintegrated into a shower of sparkling dust. Catty opened her eyes.

 027 // Regeneration / Part II

    The shell split, and pieces floated into the air before disintegrating into glittering dust.

    Catty opened her eyes.

    A little dragon lay in her palms. A pink dragon.

    His scales shimmered, catching the light, and his tiny wings moved, trying to get used to being free. The dragon blinked, and his big, bright eyes met hers. His gaze was filled with wonder.

    Catty felt a lump rise in her throat, her heart swelling with emotions she wasn''t prepared for. This was what everything had led to¡ªall the danger, all the running. This tiny creature in her hands was the key to it all.

    The dragon held her fingers hard with his small claws as it tried to steady. Looking up at her with a face so endearing it reminded her of a gecko¡ªwide-eyed, curious, and fragile. The most mischievous smile appeared on his snout. It was so pure and innocent that it looked as if the creature was already pleased for making him into the world.

    Catty''s heart melted. "Hey there," she whispered, barely more than a breath. Her voice felt shaky as she feared it might scare the dragon away, like this moment could shatter if she moved too fast.

    The dragon blinked again, then nuzzled its tiny head into her palm. A laugh escaped her, light and shaky.

    "Well, aren''t you the cutest little troublemaker?"

    Catty adjusted the dragon in her arms, her fingers brushing over its smooth, iridescent scales. The soft pink hue shimmered under the light, catching her off guard every time she looked at it.

    "Is it just me, or¡­ are dragons supposed to be pink?" Her brow furrowed as she studied the tiny creature. "I mean, I''ve never heard of a pink dragon before."

    "And what do you think the dragon from the prophecy should look like, hmm?" The Lord of Dragons'' deep chuckle echoed through the cavern, his massive wings shifting slightly. "The one tied to a girl destined to change everything?"

    Catty felt uncertainty. "Wait¡­ so, this is normal? Or, like, special?"

    "Normal? No. Special? Absolutely. Dragons come in all forms, darling. This pink hue¡ªit''s a sign. A sign that what you two are about to do together is something no one has seen before."

    Deep down, Catty couldn''t help feeling a strange sense of pride. This pink dragon was hers¡ªand no one else''s.

    The girl cradled the little dragon against her chest, feeling the warmth of its small body. Its wings twitched, and it shifted again like it couldn''t quite settle. She could barely believe she was holding a dragon¡ªlet alone that she was supposed to care for it.

    "So¡­ what now?" Her voice came out uncertain, her eyes flicking toward the Lord of Dragons. "How do I make sure he''s okay?"

    The massive dragon let out a long, deep rumble, his golden eyes watching her with a mixture of amusement and wisdom.

    "What do you think you do?" he replied, his voice carrying a playful edge. "You care for him. Keep him warm, protect him, and most importantly¡ªdon''t let him get into too much trouble. Simple enough, right?"

    Catty raised an eyebrow. "Trouble? He''s tiny! What kind of trouble can he get into?"

    "Tiny?" the Lord of Dragons chuckled, echoing through the cavern like rolling thunder. "For now, maybe. But even the smallest dragon has the instincts of a giant. He''ll be figuring out his place in the world. Give him space to claim¡­ Anywhere he can feel like it''s his."

    Catty looked down at the little dragon lying in her arms. She couldn''t help but smile at the idea of him staking out his little territory.

    "He already seems like he''s full of energy."

    "And that''s just the beginning," the Lord of Dragons said. "He doesn''t have much fire yet, but when he does¡­" He paused, eyes glinting. "Let''s just say you''ll want to keep a bucket of water nearby. They have a habit of sneezing flames when they''re excited¡ªor frustrated."

    "Flames?" Catty grimaced. "Great¡­ just what I need. A baby dragon that sets things on fire when he''s in a mood."

    The Lord of Dragons grinned a playful, toothy smile. "Exactly. But don''t worry¡ªhe''ll learn control over time. You''ll guide him through it and help him find balance. His powers will come in stages, just like his wings. They''re small now, but soon enough, they''ll stretch wide, and he''ll soar. But don''t rush him. Flight will come when he''s ready¡ªhis wings will know."

    Catty could feel the responsibility those words carried. She glanced at the pink dragon again, noticing how he kept gripping her fingers with his small claws as if trying to get comfortable.

    The dragon continued, "Be patient, for when he flies, your fate will also take flight. Let him explore this in his own way. Just be there when he needs a steady hand."

    "Does he¡­" She hesitated, glancing back at the Lord of Dragons. "Does he understand me? Like, really understand?"

    The Lord of Dragons'' expression softened. "Dragons feel more than most think. They understand emotions before words. He''ll sense your moods, your fears, your hopes. If you''re calm, he''ll be calm. If you''re afraid, he''ll know it too."

    "Wait¡­ so he''s like, reading my mind or something? That''s a little creepy."

    "He''ll know your heart as well as you do, perhaps even better. Guard your thoughts, but trust the connection¡ªit will grow stronger with every challenge you face together."

    The dragon became more serious now, "Some forces will challenge you, not just to test your strength, but to challenge your bond. They''ll try to sever what you share. But remember this: a dragon''s trust, once earned, is unbreakable. But if lost¡­ it''s lost forever."

    Catty''s throat tightened. "And what if I¡­ mess up?" she asked quietly.

    The Lord of Dragons let out a low rumble. "You won''t always have a clear path. There will be times when you question everything¡ªwhether you''re ready, whether he is¡ªbut those are the moments when the bond is strongest. Trust it."

    Catty nodded, her mind racing between tenderness towards the kid and the weight of the upcoming.

    The girl glanced down at the dragon, who had nuzzled closer to her, his tiny wings folding neatly as he settled in her arms. He felt so small, but in his eyes, there was a spark of something much bigger than his size.

    She couldn''t help but smile softly. "Well, at least he''s cute."

    The Lord of Dragons chuckled again, "Cute for now. Just wait¡ªhe''ll be casting shadows over entire villages before you know it."

    Catty groaned playfully, but deep down, she felt the gravity of it all. Her mind buzzed with questions¡ªhow was she supposed to take care of a dragon?

    "Great," the girl muttered under her breath, glancing at the dragon, who looked perfectly innocent. "So, how do I feed him? He''s not gonna eat¡­ like, rats or something, right?"

    The Lord of Dragons let out a huff that sounded almost like a snort. "Rats? No, no. He''ll need something better than that." His gaze settled on her bracelet, its glow still pulsing gently. "You''ve got plenty of mana in that bracelet, right? Feed him with your magic. He''ll thrive on it for now."

    "My mana?" Catty blinked. "How does that even work?"

    "You''ll figure it out. Just focus. The bond between you two is strong¡ªyou''ll feel when he''s hungry, and trust me, he won''t be shy about letting you know." His tone suddenly became more serious. "He needs your mana for now, but as he grows¡­ well, he''ll find his food himself."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    The way the Lord of Dragons said it sent a shiver down her spine.

    "What will he eat?" she asked quickly.

    "It''s better for you not to know."

    "Why?!"

    The Lord of Dragons settled back into his perch, his wings folding with a loud snap. "Don''t worry. That''s a question for later."

    His gaze softened slightly. "Right now, just focus on keeping him safe. He''ll look to you for everything¡ªprotection, warmth, trust. And believe me, darling, dragons don''t give their trust easily. If you break it¡­ well, let''s just say you don''t want to find out what happens."

    Catty swallowed, glancing down at the baby dragon, who yawned and stretched in her arms, completely unaware of the weight of responsibility pressing on her. "No pressure, right?"

    The Lord of Dragons chuckled again, "Oh, plenty of pressure, but you''ll manage. After all, you''re the Child of Dragons, aren''t you?"

    "Yeah, yeah¡­ I''m starting to feel the ''child'' part a little too much right now." Catty replied, her voice wavered.

    The cavern was quiet now, and the little dragon nestled against the girl''s chest was finally calm. She glanced up at the Lord of Dragons, his enormous  form casting a shadow across the walls, his golden eyes gleaming with something she couldn''t quite read. Pride? Amusement? Maybe a bit of both.

    "Well, look at you," the dragon said. "Already holding the future in your arms. Not bad for someone who didn''t know what to do five minutes ago."

    "Well, it''s not like there was a manual for this, you know."

    "There never is. But you don''t need one. You''ve got fire¡ªsame as him," he nodded at the little dragon. "And when the time comes, you''ll figure it out. You always do."

    The girl blinked, a bit surprised at the compliment.

    The Lord of Dragons grinned, baring his sharp teeth. "I''ve got one last thing for you."

    He raised his massive head and gestured with a nod toward the cavern walls. Crystals, shimmering in different hues and sizes, covered every surface.

    "Pick one," the dragon said. "A gift. When you''re in trouble, it''ll help you. Call it¡­ insurance."

    Catty''s eyes widened as she took in the cavern, the walls and floor glittering like a treasure hoard. Crystals of all shapes and colors¡ªsome glowing faintly, others pulsing with energy¡ªstretched before her.

    The girl stepped closer. They all looked magical, powerful¡ªexactly the kind of thing a girl destined to change the world should choose.

    "Choose wisely," the dragon continued. "One of these can help you when things get rough. It will be your lifeline."

    Catty eyed the crystals, each more dazzling than the last. She shook her head doubtfully. When her gaze moved across the ground, the girl spotted a simple pebble¡ªdull and gray¡ªlying there at the edge of the scattered crystals, almost overlooked.

    Her lips twitched into a smirk, and without hesitation, she bent down and picked up the pebble. It was rough in her hand, solid and completely ordinary.

    But it looked as if it had been waiting for her all along.

    "This one," Catty said, holding it up.

    The Lord of Dragons blinked, staring at the pebble, then let out a deep, booming laugh that echoed through the cavern.

    "Of course you would, a girl destined to change everything!" he said, his voice shaking with amusement. "These crystals could power kingdoms, and you pick a pebble that looks like it fell out of someone''s boot!"

    Catty shrugged, grinning. "Hey, you said pick one. This feels right."

    "Wise beyond your years, darling," his eyes gleamed with approval. "Sometimes, the simplest things carry the most power. Keep it close. When the time comes, you''ll know what to do."

    Catty slipped the pebble into her pocket. She glanced up at the Lord of Dragons, who watched her with something like pride in his eyes.

    "Thanks," she said quietly. "For everything."

    He lowered his massive head, locking eyes with hers. "No need for thanks. Get moving before I change my mind and keep you here to show you what real trouble looks like!"

    The Lord of Dragons shifted his gaze toward the far end of the cavern, where a narrow tunnel stretched into the darkness. "There," he said, nodding toward it. "That''s your way out. It''s dark and won''t be easy, but you''ll make it through."

    Catty followed his gaze, her stomach tightening as she looked at the pitch-black entrance. "Are you sure there''s, you know, an exit at the end of that?"

    "You''ll find out soon enough, won''t you? Just trust your gut¡ªand watch for what your head tries to forget. Courage, girl. You''ve got it."

    Catty gave him a mock salute and turned toward the tunnel, the little dragon warm against her chest, the pebble tucked in her pocket, and the weight of her future feeling just a little lighter.

    The tunnel swallowed the girl the moment she stepped inside. The light from the cavern faded behind her, swallowed by the dark. The warmth of the cavern disappeared, replaced by a biting chill that crept along her skin. Catty hugged the little dragon closer.

    The further she walked, the darker it became until the blackness pressed in on her from all sides. The air was heavy and damp, clinging to her skin like a second layer.

    The girl could barely see the outlines of the tunnel walls. Shadows twisted at the edge of her vision, curling like smoke. At first, she told herself it was just her mind playing tricks.

    ''It''s just shadows,'' the girl thought. ''Nothing''s really there.'' But the feeling gnawed at her¡ªsomething was watching, waiting in the dark. She was walking in the middle of the tunnel, refusing to let the shapes creeping along the walls get to her.

    The little dragon stirred, sensing her fear. Catty could feel his tiny claws tighten around her arm, his wings fluttering. She took a shaky breath and pushed forward, her legs heavy with dread. The shadows didn''t matter, she told herself. They couldn''t stop her.

    The shapes kept moving, morphing into ominous silhouettes. Faces without features, hands reaching out only to vanish as she tried to focus on them. It was as if the shadows were mocking her, daring her to look closer, to confront whatever hid in the dark.

    Her steps slowed, and her breathing grew louder, echoing off the narrow walls. Catty tightened her grip on the little dragon and forced herself to keep moving.

    The tunnel stretched on, and with every step, the shapes grew more defined. They were waiting for the girl to recognize them, to remember something she''d buried deep. She shook her head, trying to clear it, but the unease lingered. Catty had to keep moving, no matter what the darkness tried to show her.

    The tunnel''s darkness seemed to pulse with her heartbeat, thick and suffocating, but then¡ªsomething shifted. A faint light flickered ahead, soft and hazy, and Catty stepped forward, gripping the little dragon tighter.

    Suddenly, the tunnel walls dissolved, fading into an open field bathed in warm sunlight. The sky was a clear blue, and a small girl, no more than three, ran through the grass, her laughter bright and carefree.

    Catty''s chest tightened. There was something very dear, painfully familiar about how contagiously the girl laughed and how cutely she ran. This yellow dress, this large bow that looked like a butterfly... It was a mirror from a lifetime ago, and Catty remembered.

    That girl... it was her.

    The child giggled and darted across the field. Two figures ran after her¡ªa man and a woman, their faces blurred.

    Catty stopped and watched from the darkness, her heart aching in a way she hadn''t expected. She didn''t know these people¡ªat least, not in her present life.

    Something deep within her stirred, a sensation she couldn''t fully grasp, like a distant echo from a life she had forgotten. A quiet voice rose from the depths of her heart that felt foreign and familiar. It whispered a truth she had never dared to hope for¡ªthese were her parents. The realization hit her like a wave, overwhelming and bittersweet, filling the empty spaces inside her that she hadn''t even known was there.

    The man scooped up the small child, hoisting her onto his shoulders as she squealed in delight.

    Catty''s breath hitched. From a time she didn''t even remember, the sound of her own laughter echoed through the tunnel. The woman smiled warmly, reaching up to hold the child''s hand, the three of them basking in the joy of the moment.

    As Catty watched, the edges of the scene began to blur, the warmth draining from the air. The sun dimmed, shadows creeping back in. The happiness felt fragile, like something that had been stolen from her long ago. The figures started to fade, the laughter echoing farther and farther away.

    "No¡­" Catty whispered, stepping toward the vision, her hand reaching out as if she could grasp the memory and pull it back to her. But her fingers passed through the air like smoke.

    Before the girl could process it, the scene shifted violently.

    A grand chamber appeared before her, engulfed in chaos. Catty found herself as a small child again, standing amidst the turmoil. Her parents stood at the center, side by side, surrounded by people locked in a heated argument. The tension hung heavy in the air. Her mother''s eyes darted around until they landed on young Catty. Her father stood tall beside them, his expression fierce, ready for whatever fight was coming.

    Dark figures attacked without warning. Her parents moved quickly, defending themselves and their daughter with magic she had never seen before. Her father deflected blows with bursts of light while her mother cast protective spells, trying to hold the line.

    Catty stood frozen. Memories came flooding back to her¡ªconfusion and fear that she felt being a child. She felt the vibrations of the magic, the heat of the battle swirling around her. Her father blocked an attack meant for her mother, his body crumpling under the strong hit. Her mother''s scream echoed through the chamber, and she turned toward young Catty with tears in her eyes.

    The shadows closed in, and with a final look toward her daughter, her mother threw up a shield, her magic encircling Catty like a cocoon.

    The last thing Catty saw was her mother''s hand reaching out before everything went dark.

    The memory slammed into her like a tidal wave. The girl could barely breathe as the weight of what she saw. Her parents had died protecting her. Everything they had done in those final moments was for her.

    Catty didn''t know what to do with it all¡ªthe knowledge, the grief, the guilt. Her legs trembled, but she forced herself to stay standing.

    And then, she saw him. The Master.

    He stood at the edge of the chaos, watching. His face was calm, too quiet for the madness around him. He hadn''t lifted a finger to help. He hadn''t intervened. His eyes locked with hers for the briefest moment, and in that instant, she knew¡ªhe had been there all along, playing a part in whatever had led to this moment. But what role had he played? Why had he just stood there, watching it all unfold?

    The vision shattered, and darkness returned to the tunnel. The girl''s heart pounding in her ears, she could still feel the echoes of seen: her parents'' sacrifice, the Master''s gaze burning into her mind.

    She stood frozen for a moment, clutching the little dragon tightly. It wasn''t over.

    Not yet.

 028 // Regeneration / Ending

    Here, in the tunnel, the world still felt unreal, like the memory of a dream Catty hadn''t fully woken from. The weight of what she saw clung to her¡ªher parents, their faces both familiar and forgotten, the battle, their sacrifice. The Master watching it all unfold. Her pulse quickened, the images swimming in and out of focus in her mind.

    The girl kept moving forward, her body acting on instinct. Every step forward felt heavier as if her past was trying to pull her back. The little dragon shifted in her arms, nuzzling against her, a warm reminder that she wasn''t alone. Catty tightened her grip around him.

    The bracelet on her wrist gave a faint pulse as if sensing the turmoil inside her, but it offered no answers, no comfort. The girl bit her lip, trying to hold herself together.

    Then, the tunnel narrowed, forcing her focus back to the present. Her boots were slipping against the damp stone, and the cold air settled deeper into her skin.

    The path suddenly split, veering into two dark passages¡ªone to the left, the other to the right.

    Catty stopped, peering into the void.

    At first, her attention drifted to the right. A soft glow began to appear from the depths of the passage, spreading through the dark like the first hint of dawn. The shadows were peeling back inch by inch as the light grew stronger. It flowed outward, illuminating the tunnel walls, and invited her to step closer.

    In this bright space that opened up before her, Catty saw a girl riding the pink dragon through a sky so vast it seemed endless. They were flying straight towards her over rolling green fields and sparkling rivers. The sun glinted off the shimmering scales when the dragon''s mighty wings cut through the clouds.

    The girl''s hair danced wildly in the wind, her face lit by a carefree smile. No shadows were chasing her, no burdens pressing on her heart. Just the open sky, the dragon, and the promise of adventure with every beat of his wings.

    A life without fear or regret, with the sky as her only limit.

    Catty lingered at the edge of the passage, her breath catching as the light brightened, revealing more of the scene. The girl in the vision looked so different. Not just freer, but lighter, like she had shed everything that had ever weighed her down. Every gust of wind seemed to lift her higher, carrying her farther from all the things Catty thought she''d never escape.

    The dragon''s wings stretched wide, cutting smoothly through the sky. With each beat, Catty felt a joy in her heart. It wasn''t just the beauty of the flight¡ªit was the idea that maybe, just maybe, this future could have been real. She could almost feel the wind on her skin and hear the rush of air in her ears. For a moment, the sun''s warmth in the vision seemed to seep into the cold tunnel, thawing the chill wrapped around her bones.

    The girl''s fingers brushed over the bracelet on her wrist, the cool metal grounding her in the present. But the glow from the vision whispered promises¡ªfreedom, joy, a life without looking back. It was everything she had ever wanted, laid out like a path she could take if only she stepped forward.

    Her heart clenched. The girl in the sky didn''t carry guilt and didn''t struggle to protect anyone. No broken promises, no fear of failing again. Just her and the dragon, soaring through endless possibilities.

    Catty blinked, pulling herself back, though the vision tugged at her, coaxing her to stay. It was a future without weight, without the burden she carried now. But deep down, a knot of doubt tightened in her stomach. It felt too easy, too perfect. The kind of dream that slips through your fingers the moment you wake up.

    The dragon in her palms stirred, his tiny claws gripping her arm as if reminding her that he was here, not in the sky, and this was the only world that mattered.

    At this moment, a voice came from the darkness of the left passage. Although it was quiet and barely audible, a shiver ran down Catty''s spine. It couldn''t be. She knew that voice, the way it carried a blend of sorrow and hope¡ªfragile as cracked glass.

    The voice fell silent, making her doubt what she had heard, but the sound still lingered in the air, pulling her attention toward the darkness. Before she could stop herself, Catty stepped toward the left passage.

    Her chest tightened. There was something familiar in that darkness, something she wasn''t sure she wanted to see. And yet, she couldn''t look away.

    "Luli?" Catty whispered. She knew it wasn''t possible¡ªbut what if it was? What if her best friend was somehow there?

    Shadows stirred within the dark, shifting to the edges, and suddenly, instead of the tunnel, Catty saw the familiar outline of a narrow hallway¡ªone she knew all too well. The walls were chipped, the paint peeling away in long, jagged strips.

    The orphanage!

    And there, standing at the far end, was Luli.

    She looked so small in the flickering light, her arms wrapped around herself as if the weight of the world rested on her slim shoulders. Her hair was tangled, her clothes wrinkled, but her eyes struck Catty hardest¡ªwide, desperate, and searching for someone.

    An ache spread through Catty''s chest as Luli''s lips moved.

    "Where were you?" Luli whispered, her voice trembling. Her words carried through the silence like a breeze stirring dead leaves. They clung to the air, heavy with the kind of sorrow that burrows deep and never quits.

    Catty froze. Her hands instinctively tightened around the little dragon, but the warmth from his body couldn''t chase away the chill creeping into her bones.

    "Why didn''t you come?" Luli''s voice cracked, a haunting echo that wrapped itself around Catty''s heart and squeezed.

    The hallway between them stretched longer with each passing second as if the space conspired to keep them apart. Catty tried to move, but her legs felt leaden, her feet rooted in place. She felt the same helplessness she had carried since that day¡ªknowing she hadn''t been there when Luli needed her most.

    She opened her mouth to speak, to explain, but no words came. The shadows along the walls shifted closer, curling around Luli like a veil, and the flickering light dimmed. Luli''s eyes met Catty''s one last time, filled with regret, and then she whispered again¡ªsoft, almost like a secret meant for no one but her.

    "I waited."

    Catty sprinted into the passage. The little dragon clung tighter to her arm, but she barely noticed, her focus locked on the figure at the far end of the hallway.

    "Luli!" Catty called out, her voice echoing off the peeling walls. Each step felt like a desperate fight, her feet slamming against the cold floor as she pushed herself forward. She had to reach Luli¡ªthis time, she wouldn''t fail.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    But with every step she took, the hallway stretched further, pulling her friend away. The walls warped and twisted as if the space between them was unraveling, shifting endlessly out of reach.

    "Wait!" Catty shouted, panic rising in her throat. Luli stood still, arms wrapped around herself, her face a silent plea frozen in the twilight. But the distance between them grew wider with each passing second.

    Catty ran harder and faster, but the floor beneath her felt slick, as if this world conspired against her. The hallway tilted, and Catty stumbled, catching herself just in time before she fell.

    "Luli, please! I''m here!"

    The shadows thickened along the edges of the corridor, curling inward like smoke. Luli''s form flickered, fading in and out. Her lips moved, but no sound followed¡ªjust the memory of her voice whispering through Catty''s mind: I waited.

    "No!" Catty''s breath hitched, her pulse roaring in her ears. She reached out, arm straining toward the fading figure. But no matter how far she stretched, Luli stayed just out of reach¡ªuntouchable, slipping away like a dream she couldn''t hold on to.

    The harder Catty tried to close the gap, the further Luli seemed to drift, disappearing into the deepening dark.

    And then, with a final flicker, she was gone.

    Catty stopped, gasping for breath, her heart splintering under the weight of what she couldn''t change. The dragon stirred again, his warmth against her chest a faint reminder of the present, but it did little to ease the ache.

    She stood alone in the empty hallway, the sudden silence heavy and unyielding. Nothing was left but her heartbeat¡ªand the bitter truth that she couldn''t help. Not then. Not now.

    Catty pressed forward, frustration gnawing at her with every step. The empty hallway behind her weighed heavier than the darkness ahead, leaving her shaken and spent. Luli was gone like a cruel memory she couldn''t change, and no effort had been enough to reach her.

    Catty clenched her jaw, trying to push away the ache that lingered in her heart. She had thought she must save Luli and fix what had gone wrong before, but now it all felt like another failure.

    Her restless thoughts churned, and the girl wanted to scream. No way to make sense of the mess inside her. All she could do was keep moving, no matter how much it hurt.

    The walls around Catty seemed to pulse with the same rhythm as her heartbeat. The tunnel felt endless, a cold and winding path that offered no promise of what lay ahead. Yet she couldn''t stop.

    Then, up ahead, something shifted¡ªa glimmer of light cutting through the dark. It gleamed cold and sharp. Catty slowed, narrowing her eyes as she caught sight of it.

    The girl kept moving slowly until she bumped into it¡ªthe mirror barrier rising before her.

    Catty stopped. It stretched from floor to ceiling, a smooth, reflective surface gleaming in the dusk. At first, she thought it was ordinary glass¡ªuntil she saw the figure staring back at her.

    It was her reflection¡ªtwisted and warped by shadows. The girl in the mirror looked small, hunched under unseen burdens. She was stripped bare, revealing every insecurity and fear she carried deep inside. Her eyes brimmed with doubt, her expression hollow and lost.

    The reflection leaned closer, its lips curling into a sneer. The words that followed sliced through the silence like a cold wind.

    "You failed Luli. What makes you think you can protect this dragon?"

    Catty recoiled, her breath catching in her throat. The dragon in her arms shifted uneasily, but the reflection pressed on, relentless.

    "You''ll always be the orphan no one wanted."

    The voice in the mirror wasn''t loud¡ªit didn''t need to be. It echoed inside her mind, dredging up every painful thought she had ever buried. She clenched her jaw, her heart pounding against her ribs as the taunts wrapped around her like chains.

    "You think you''re strong, but you''re not."

    The reflection''s words lingered, not loud but persistent, like a thought she''d tried to push down for too long. You failed Luli. What makes you think you can protect this dragon?

    Catty swallowed hard. She didn''t have an answer¡ªnot one that felt right. That knot of guilt was still there, tied tight in her chest. The fear too. It always would be, she realized. And maybe that was okay.

    I carry it because I care. The thought came quietly, almost like a whisper. It didn''t erase the guilt but softened it somehow, making it easier to accept.

    Her reflection waited, patient and familiar. There was no malice in its gaze, just the weight of everything she carried¡ªevery mistake, every regret, and all the things she feared. It was overwhelming, yes, but it was hers.

    And suddenly, she felt tired¡ªso tired of fighting everything.

    Catty hugged the dragon tighter to her chest. He needs me. I can''t let him down too. That mattered more than anything¡ªmore than being perfect or getting everything right. Just being there, trying, even when it hurt.

    The reflection shifted slightly, mirroring her hesitation, her doubt, and her quiet resolve. I don''t need to fight. I just need to keep going.

    Her breath steadied. She glanced down at the bracelet on her wrist, its pulse calm and steady, matching the rhythm of her heart. The reflection smiled¡ªjust a flicker at the edges, but enough.

    Catty felt the smallest hint of a smile rise in return. Not because everything was fixed but because she understood now. I''m not perfect, but I''m enough. I''ve always been enough.

    The girl stepped forward. The reflection tilted slightly as if meeting her halfway. And as she reached out, she felt the weight of her doubts settle into place¡ªnot gone, but no longer something to fear.

    Their hands touched¡ªcool glass against warm skin¡ªand the barrier dissolved. It wasn''t broken. The reflection merged into her. And she became whole.

    Catty stood still for a moment, breathing slowly. She felt lighter¡ªthe past stopped dragging her back. The little dragon stirred in her arms and squeaked, reminding her she wasn''t alone. She had to keep moving forward.

    She glanced at the space where the barrier had been, now just air, and stepped through. There was no need to look back.

    When Catty stepped out of the tunnel, the night air brushed her face like a quiet welcome. It was cool and crisp, carrying the faint smell of distant rain. For a moment, she stood still, letting the breeze carry away the weight that had clung to her inside the tunnel.

    Eterna stretched before her, familiar yet changed. The streets, bathed in soft moonlight, looked just as the girl remembered¡ªcobbled sidewalks between tall buildings that rose into the night sky. Yet something was different, something she couldn''t quite name.

    Catty glanced down at the little dragon, his warm breath rising and falling steadily. He yawned cutely as if sensing the shift in the air. A quiet determination settled over her. "We''ll do better," she whispered, her voice low but certain. "Together."

    The night around her was still, the kind of calm that came just before the world began to stir again. Streetlamps flickered at the edges of her vision, casting pools of dim light across the cobblestones. Somewhere far off, footsteps echoed faintly, adding to the quiet rhythm of the sleeping city.

    The dragon jerked impatiently, and Catty took a step forward. She was walking home. The streets of Eterna stretched ahead¡ªwell-known but waiting, like a book she hadn''t yet finished reading. For the first time in a long while, she didn''t feel afraid of what came next.

    She tightened her grip on the dragon, drawing strength from his warmth, and kept walking. The night welcomed her, wrapping her in its quiet promise that whatever lay ahead, she wasn''t facing it alone.

    The night became cooler when Catty turned onto her street. The familiar shapes of buildings rose in the soft glow of the street lamps. The little dragon nestled in her arms had been quiet all the way home until they got to Catty''s house, but when they neared the front steps, he began to twitch and scrape.

    "Hey, what''s up with you?" Catty whispered, tightening her grip to keep him from slipping. The dragon wriggled harder, a soft squeak bubbling from his throat.

    "Easy now." She rocked him gently, trying to calm him like a baby. "We''re almost there."

    It didn''t work. The dragon''s movements grew frantic, his wings fluttering in short bursts as if something unseen was pulling at him.

    "Okay, okay, let''s just get in," she muttered, hurrying up the steps, but the dragon wasn''t having it. His claws dug into her sleeve, and he let out a worried chirp, craning his neck to look at the wall.

    "What''s wrong?" Catty became alarmed and glanced around but didn''t see anything dangerous. Just the same old quiet street she used to live. The air carried the scent of damp stone and smoke, with a slight breeze stirring the leaves scattered across the curb. A cat darted into an alley, its silhouette vanishing between trash bins. Above, clouds drifted slowly, veiling parts of the moon, making the night feel even more still, as though the world was holding its breath.

    The girl didn''t see a symbol that appeared on the wall of her house. It was a lock with an eye instead of the keyhole.

    First, a soft pulse ran across the wall as light seeped through cracks in reality. Then, the lock emerged slowly, and at its center, the eye gleamed, its gaze deep as though it could see far beyond time.

    It was the Multiverse Gatekeeper''s mark. Wherever it appeared, the boundaries between worlds weakened. It signaled a place where transitions could happen¡ªa doorway that responded to arcane energy.

    The glow held for a breath. Then, without a sound, the light dimmed, the symbol dissolving back into the night, leaving the wall bare again.

    The dragon twitched harder, wings fluttering, his distress growing. Catty, unaware of the silent warning, stepped toward the door.

    And not only the pink dragon had seen this mark.

 029 // Supplement / Safety Briefing

    [Archived Records: Initial Lecture for Beginners]

    My name is Rutger. I''m here to give you the basics of safety in magic. Let me be clear from the start: it''s not optional. It is not a courtesy. It is not something you can neglect and hope for the best. Magic is precise, unforgiving, and utterly indifferent to your intentions.

    Some of you are here because you think magic is a means to power. Others, because you believe it will grant you freedom, knowledge, or control. Let me disabuse you of a dangerous notion¡ªmagic doesn''t serve you. It doesn''t obey you. It allows you to wield it for a time, and only if you respect its boundaries. Fail to do so, and it will find ways to remind you who''s really in charge.

    I have seen the aftermath of arrogance. The scorched halls of once-great enclaves. The ruins of spellcraft gone unchecked. I''ve stood over students who thought themselves invincible until their wards betrayed them. Magic amplifies who you are¡ªyour focus, your discipline, your intentions. But it also amplifies your flaws. Your pride. Your recklessness. Your fear.

    Do not think for a moment that you are exempt. The rules I teach today are not suggestions. They are not traditions for you to question or dismiss as outdated relics. They exist because hundreds, no, thousands of practitioners who came before you made fatal mistakes, and we learned the lessons they never lived to understand.

    Now, I will not waste time on sentimentality. I''m here to ensure that you survive long enough to grasp the gift you''ve been given. But survival is not guaranteed. Magic doesn''t care about your potential. It doesn''t care about your ambition. It is a force that demands respect, or it will end you.

    So, listen closely. The first rule is simple: protect your core. It is the heart of your magic and your most vulnerable point. Fail to shield it, and you may find yourself powerless¡ªor worse, consumed by forces far beyond your control.

    The second rule is to never start while unfocused. Emotional chaos, exhaustion, doubt¡ªall these are invitations for disaster. A single moment of distraction can twist a spell into something unrecognizable. Or irreversible.

    And the third rule is to understand your limits. There is no shame in knowing when to stop, but there is always shame in hubris. Magic requires balance. Lose that balance, and you will fall.

    These are the basics. They are non-negotiable. You will learn more in time, but today, we start here. Because without these principles, no amount of talent or effort will matter.

    Remember this: magic is not patient. It does not forgive, and it certainly does not forget. Respect it, and you may live to see its wonders. Disrespect it, and you will become yet another cautionary tale.

    Now, are you ready to begin?

    Alright. Who thinks they already know what it takes to handle magic safely?

    No. Let me make it clear¡ªyou don''t know. Not yet. But by the end of these lessons, you might just have enough to keep yourselves in one piece.

    Here''s how this works: I give you the principles. You listen. You ask questions if you''re lost, and for the love of all things magical, don''t nod along pretending you understand when you don''t. That''s the fastest way to end up on the wrong side of a situation.

    Now that you understand the stakes, let us move to the principles that will guide your every interaction with magic. These are truths born of centuries of failure, discovery, and refinement. Engrave them into your mind.

    The first principle is awareness. Magic begins within. Before you attempt to manipulate any force outside yourself, you must know the state of your own energy. Are you calm? Focused? Distracted? Exhausted? Your energy will shape the spell as surely as a mold shapes molten metal. Neglect your inner state, and you will find yourself casting blindly into chaos.

    Awareness also extends outward. Pay attention to your surroundings, the currents of energy around you, the subtle fluctuations in the air. Magic is not created¡ªit is drawn, shaped, and released. Failing to sense an incoming shift could mean disaster. There are forces in the world that would seek to twist your magic to their ends. If you are unaware, you invite them to do so.

    The second principle is balance. Magic thrives on equilibrium. Too much force and your spell collapses under its own weight. Too little, and it dissipates before it can form. But balance is more than power management¡ªit is emotional, mental, and spiritual alignment. Casting while angry, fearful, or prideful will only amplify those emotions, often with catastrophic results.

    Consider this: your core is a delicate flame. Feed it too much fuel, and it flares uncontrollably, scorching everything in its path. Starve it, and it flickers, leaving you vulnerable. The art of magic lies in maintaining that flame¡ªsteady, warm, and enduring.

    The third principle is progressive learning. Magic is not a mountain you can conquer in a single climb. It is a path, winding and endless, demanding patience and humility. Overreach, and you will fall. You must master the basics before you attempt the extraordinary. It is not cowardice to take time¡ªit is wisdom.

    Some of you may think yourselves prodigies, eager to skip the tedious groundwork in favor of the advanced. To you, I say there is no faster path to failure than arrogance. Magic does not reward impatience. It rewards those who respect its pace.

    Together, these principles form the foundation of all magical safety: awareness, balance, and progressive learning. They will protect you when skill falters, spells misfire, and when the unexpected arises. Ignore them, and you will become your own undoing.

    Let me share with you some stories. These aren''t myths or legends¡ªthey''re real. And the people in them were as confident and eager as you are right now. Confidence alone didn''t save them.

    The first is about a sorcerer who was famous for his shields. No one could break through his barriers. Not rivals, not dark forces¡ªnothing. He built walls so strong that even the flow of life itself couldn''t breach them. His defenses became his identity. And so, he made them stronger and stronger, until nothing could reach him at all.

    But here''s the thing: when you block out the bad, you often block out the good as well. One day, the magic of his enclave began to shift. A storm was building, the kind of shift you can feel in the air if you''re paying attention. But not him. His perfect shields kept everything out, even the warnings. The energy surge didn''t break his barriers. It twisted around them and collapsed the very foundation he''d been standing on. By chance, he survived and never cast another spell again. His shields hadn''t protected him. They had isolated him, and isolation is a weakness.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    The second story is about an apprentice who wanted to be perfect. Everything she did had to be flawless¡ªher spells, her wards, her conjurations. She believed if she just pushed herself harder, she''d achieve greatness. But there''s a cost to every spell, and her core paid that cost.

    Each time she cast, she poured more energy into her magic than her core could sustain. The flaws were subtle at first. She ignored them. She thought effort alone would fix it. Then, one night, her core gave out completely. The backlash hit her like a tidal wave. When she woke up a week later, she couldn''t even light a candle. Her magic was gone, burned out by her own ambition. Let that sink in. Ambition isn''t strength. It''s only strength when balanced with discipline.

    And then there was the magician who let fear rule. He wasn''t reckless. If anything, he was cautious. Too cautious. Every spell he cast, every ward he wove, was tied to his fear. He thought he was being careful, but he didn''t understand that magic magnifies what''s inside you. Every ounce of doubt, every thread of anxiety, it all flowed into his work.

    When the time came to face a real threat, his fear was his undoing. His wards didn''t fail because they were weak¡ªthey failed because they had already lost in their core. His enemy didn''t even have to lift a finger. His own magic destroyed him. He survived, but the lesson remains: magic reflects who you are. If you don''t master your emotions, they will master you.

    So, ask yourselves this: what are you feeding into your magic? Are you steady? Balanced? Or are you rushing forward with ambition or hiding behind fear? What I told you aren''t stories. They''re warnings. And every one of you has the potential to become the next cautionary tale.

    Now that I''ve sufficiently terrified you, let''s focus on something actionable. Fear won''t keep you alive¡ªbut preparation might. Let''s talk exercises.

    The first is something I like to call ''The Lantern Check.'' Simple, effective, and absolutely non-negotiable. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and picture a flame inside your chest¡ªa steady, golden light. That''s your core. It''s what powers every spell, every ward, every spark of magic you''ll ever cast. Your job is to focus on it, feel its warmth, and keep it steady.

    Now, here''s the tricky part. As you breathe, imagine feeding that flame¡ªjust a little. Not enough to turn it into a bonfire; this isn''t a pyromancy class. Just enough to feel it grow stronger. If the flame starts flickering or surging uncontrollably, stop. That''s your core telling you you''re pushing too hard, too fast. Listen to it, or you''ll end up like our friend who burned herself out chasing perfection.

    Oh, and one more thing: if your flame starts turning green or blue, congratulations, you''ve made an error. Stop whatever you''re doing immediately because you''re no longer visualizing. You''re actively channeling, and this room is not equipped for spontaneous combustion.

    Good, you''re paying attention. That brings me to the second exercise: ''The Quiet Storm.'' This one''s about control. Close your eyes again, but this time, imagine a storm¡ªlightning crackling, wind roaring, rain hammering down. Now, picture yourself at the center of it, perfectly still. Your job is to hold that stillness no matter how chaotic the storm gets. If you can do this in your mind, you''ll stand a better chance of doing it when magic inevitably goes wrong.

    Don''t underestimate this one. It''s harder than it sounds. I''ve seen disciples go cross-eyed, trying to calm their storms. If that happens to you, just remember: there''s no prize for perfection here. The goal is progress. Besides, the last thing we need is another disciple blaming their headache on my teaching methods.

    Finally, the third exercise: ''Flow and Resistance.'' This one''s about learning to sense the energy around you. Stand still, arms relaxed at your sides. Now, imagine the space around you as a river. Feel the current¡ªwhere it''s smooth, where it''s rough. Pay attention to where the flow is strongest. That''s the energy you''ll be working with.

    Here''s the twist: sometimes, the flow will push back. You''ll feel resistance, like walking against the wind. That''s normal. It''s the energy testing your intent. If you push too hard, it will push back harder. If you let it guide you, you''ll find your rhythm. The key is balance. Push and pull, give and take. Just don''t try to wrestle the river. It never ends well.

    And no, don''t actually go find a river to practice this. I don''t need any of you ending up as headlines: ''Magical Apprentice Swept Away During Questionable Training.'' Keep your experiments in the classroom.

    These exercises aren''t flashy. They won''t impress anyone at a duel. But they will save your life. Build the habit now, so that when chaos comes¡ªand it will¡ªyou''re ready.

    There are three principles you must never violate. One: Always shield your core before casting. Two: Never bind a spell to emotions you cannot control. And three: Under no circumstances should you attempt to alter another''s essence without permission.

    You''ve learned the principles, you''ve heard the warnings, and you''ve practiced the basics. But magic is not a skill¡ªit''s a journey. A path that tests your spirit as much as your intellect. So now, let''s talk about what lies ahead, beyond the spells and incantations, beyond the wards and conjurations. Let''s talk about the philosophy of mastery.

    At its base, magic is an act of alignment. You are not creating something from nothing. You are not imposing your will upon the world. You are aligning yourself with the natural forces that already exist¡ªforces that are ancient, vast, and incomprehensibly complex. To wield magic is to walk alongside these forces, not to control them. Those who forget this truth often find themselves consumed by the very power they sought to command.

    Think of yourself as a bridge¡ªa link between the seen and the unseen, the material and the transcendent. A bridge must be sturdy, balanced, and flexible, or it collapses. Magic will demand all three of these qualities from you. And here''s the paradox: the more you align with the forces of magic, the less you''ll need to exert force at all. The strongest caster is not the one who can bend the world to their will but the one who can move in harmony with it, like a leaf carried by the river yet always reaching its destination.

    Now, this journey has its dangers. As you grow in power, you will encounter temptations¡ªego, shortcuts, even isolation. You may think, ''I''ve mastered this. I am above the rules.'' Let me tell you now: you are not. No one is. The moment you believe yourself superior to the principles we''ve discussed is the moment you lose your way. Power without discipline is not strength. It is chaos.

    There''s another layer to this journey that extends beyond individual mastery. Every spell you cast, every ward you weave, leaves an imprint¡ªnot just on the physical world but on the energetic and moral fabric of existence. Magic is not neutral. It carries intention, purpose, and consequence. As practitioners, you are not just wielding power; you are shaping reality.

    Ask yourself this: what kind of reality do you want to create? One of harmony, growth, and connection? Or one of destruction, isolation, and control? The choice is always yours, but so are the consequences. The forces you align with will shape not just your spells but your very essence. If you align with greed, fear, or domination, that is what your magic will reflect. Align with balance, love, and respect, and you will find yourself in harmony with the universe itself.

    This brings me to the idea of evolution. Magic, like life, is a process of becoming. It''s not about reaching a final destination; it''s about continual growth. As you evolve, your understanding of magic will deepen, and so will your responsibility. You''ll learn that the greatest acts of magic are often the quietest ones¡ªthe subtle shift in energy that heals, the delicate adjustment that restores balance, the silent connection that bridges worlds.

    And this journey is not yours alone. Every practitioner contributes to the collective field of magic, shaping its currents for generations to come. Your choices, your actions, your intentions ripple outward, touching others in ways you may never see. You are part of something vast, something eternal. Honor that connection.

    Finally, remember this: true mastery is not about conquering magic. It''s about mastering yourself. Your fears, your desires, your limitations. Magic will magnify whatever you carry within you, for better or worse. So, tend to your inner world as carefully as you would a spell. Cultivate patience, humility, and integrity. In the end, magic is not a tool¡ªit is a mirror. And what you see in that mirror is up to you.

    This concludes this initial safety briefing. I will meet you here in a week. Those who survive the training of the venerable Ganzor.

 030 // Education / Opening

    It was clear within five minutes that the little pink dragon had no concept of personal boundaries. Catty found this out when he managed to wedge himself inside her shoe, staring up with the sort of wide-eyed innocence¡ªif innocence could sneeze embers and set her pantyhose ablaze.

    "Right," the girl said, lifting the shoe with a resigned sigh. "Day one, and you''re already fooling around."

    When Catty carried the little pink dragon up the creaky stairs to the attic room, his tiny claws clutched at her sleeve with the determination of someone who had no intention of heading out anytime soon. The room welcomed her with the familiar scents of sage and lavender, beams of moonlight filtering through the small window and casting soft patterns on the wooden floor.

    Catty sat him down on her bed and surveyed the space. It wasn''t much¡ªa wardrobe, a table with a chair, and a washstand¡ªbut tonight, it felt even smaller, as if the dragon''s presence had already begun to reshape it.

    "Okay," the girl muttered to herself, hands on hips. "You need a bed. A proper dragon bed. Or at least¡­ something close."

    The dragon baby yawned in response, his small pink wings flapping lazily, and Catty couldn''t help but chuckle.

    She rummaged around the room, pulling out an old quilt, a few stray cushions, and an empty crate she found under the bed. After a few moments of rearranging and fluffing, Catty stepped back, surveying her creation. It wasn''t perfect, but it would do.

    "There! Your very own bed," she said with a sense of accomplishment, pointing proudly at the makeshift nest of fabric. "Well, get too comfy, but remember, this isn''t a vacation."

    The dragon blinked, tilted his head, and wriggled off the bed, padding toward the wardrobe instead. His claws made tiny clicking noises on the wooden floor as he sniffed at everything in his path¡ªher books, the lantern, her underwear drawer.

    "Hey!" Catty said, scooping him up just as he attempted to settle down among the folded panties like it was a luxury suite. "No exploring just yet."

    The dragon sneezed suddenly, a tiny spark shooting out of his nostrils and landing squarely on her pajamas. Both of them froze for a moment, watching as the fabric smoldered.

    "Oh no, no, no..." Catty scrambled to pat it out with her hands. "What even is this? A fire fever?"

    The dragon, oblivious to the near disaster, gave a satisfied chirp as if he had just performed a great feat. Catty glared at him.

    "Trouble. That''s what you are. Pure, pink trouble."

    This time, she placed him back on the makeshift bed with a stern look. "Stay," she commanded, pointing a finger at him. "Stay here. No fires, no escapades. And don''t go through my things!"

    The dragon blinked, gave her what she could have sworn was a mischievous grin, and curled up in the quilt. For a moment, peace returned to the room. Catty exhaled, feeling a flicker of relief.

    Then, just as she turned toward her bed, a faint sizzling sound reached her ears. She spun around to see a tiny wisp of smoke rising from the edge of the quilt where the dragon had burrowed.

    "Ugh!" she groaned, grabbing the corner of the fabric before it could fully ignite. "And we''re just getting started!"

    The dragon chirped again, utterly unbothered, and snuggled deeper into his nest. Catty sat cross-legged on the floor, rubbing her temples.

    "Well," she muttered, "at least you''re cute."

    The first night was restless.

    Catty stirred from sleep just as the first rays of sunlight peeked through the attic window, casting dappled light on the wooden floor. She felt groggy¡ªthe kind of tired that comes from dreaming you''re awake the entire night¡ªexcept the girl really was awake for most of it, thanks to a certain fire-hazard-in-training.

    A soft tug at her sleeve brought her back to reality. Blinking the sleep away, Catty looked down to see two wide, gleaming eyes staring up at her. The pink dragon was perched on her arm, his tiny claws gripping her pajama sleeve like it was his lifeline.

    Catty groaned, rubbing her face, "Good morning, naughty boy. What now?"

    The dragon responded with an urgent chirp, his wings flapping as if trying to tell her something. Then, to make his point even clearer, he bit down lightly on her pajama sleeve.

    "Ow! Hey¡ªhey! Not a chew toy!" Catty yanked her arm back, but the dragon persisted, gnawing stubbornly at her sleeve.

    "Alright, alright, you''re hungry. I get it!" She sat up, brushing tangled hair from her face. The dragon froze in her lap, looking at her expectantly, his gaze fixed on the bracelet around her wrist, which glimmered in the morning light.

    Catty narrowed her eyes, "Oh no. No way. You''re not chewing on that, either."

    The dragon let out a tiny growl¡ªadorably fierce¡ªand nudged her wrist insistently. A strange warmth spread through her when Catty touched the bracelet. As soon as she did, the glow brightened, and the girl felt a subtle pull¡ªa connection sparking between her and the little creature.

    "You need my mana, don''t you?" she whispered. It felt ridiculous, but the dragon chirped in agreement, his eyes locked onto hers as if to say, Finally! She gets it.

    Taking a deep breath, Catty closed her eyes and focused on the bracelet. A live pulse of energy flowed through it, and she felt it drain into the dragon¡ªa strange but not unpleasant sensation, like pouring a bit of herself into him.

    The dragon sighed, his wings settling comfortably against his sides. For a moment, Catty swore he looked as satisfied as a kid with a tub of ice cream.

    "Happy now?" There was a smile on her lips.

    The dragon curled up in her lap, purring softly¡ªyes, apparently dragons could purr¡ªand nuzzled against her hand.

    Catty tilted her head, watching him. "You really are a weird little guy!"

    Just as she started to relax, the dragon''s wings twitched, and he perked up, sniffing the air. Before Catty could react, he darted off her lap and latched onto one of her shoes.

    "Seriously?" Catty exclaimed, scrambling after him. "Not the shoes, man! I need those!"

    The dragon gnawed at the shoe with enthusiasm as if it were his loot. Catty lunged forward, prying the shoe out of his tiny jaws.

    He blinked up at her, sulking. A faint spark fizzled from his nostrils as if to say, You''re no fun.

    Catty crossed her arms, "Don''t give me that look. I let you nibble on my sleeve, remember? That''s where I draw the line."

    The dragon huffed and flopped onto the floor dramatically, wings splayed out like a toddler mid-tantrum. Catty couldn''t help but laugh.

    "Oh, great. Now you''re pouting?" she teased, crouching beside him. "Bold move for a guy who''s known me for a night."

    In response, the dragon emitted a tiny, pitiful chirp and gave her the saddest, most heart-melting look he could muster. Catty narrowed her eyes suspiciously.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    "You''re going to keep me on my toes, I can feel it."

    The dragon wiggled his tail in response, clearly unbothered by the accusation.

    A realization hit her as Catty sat back on her heels, watching the little creature stretch and preen himself. He wasn''t just a pet or a burden¡ªhe was someone she was already starting to care about. The bond between them felt real, alive, and oddly comforting, even amidst the chaos.

    And for the first time in a long while, Catty felt something close to hope.

    "Alright, buddy," she said, gently poking his side. "Breakfast is over. Let''s try not to destroy the place before lunch, okay?"

    The dragon chirped happily, clearly ready for whatever adventures the day would bring.

    Catty sighed, "This is going to be a long day!"

    It took a week before the little pink dragon settled into the house. Or perhaps, Catty mused, the house had started to settle around him. Wherever the dragon went, chaos followed, as if the entire place was adjusting to fit its newest¡ªand rowdiest¡ªresident. And today, it was the kitchen''s turn to fall under his spell.

    The morning sun streamed through the windows as Catty trudged into the kitchen, hoping for a quiet moment with a mug of tea. What she found instead was the dragon perched on the edge of a wooden bowl, sniffing curiously at a loaf of bread.

    "Don''t even think about it," Catty warned, pointing a spoon at him like it was a sword.

    The dragon blinked at her with wide, innocent eyes¡ªjust before sinking his teeth into the loaf.

    "Oh, come on!" Catty groaned, rushing forward to wrestle the bread from his tiny jaws. The loaf tore in half, and the dragon let out a triumphant chirp, crumbs clinging to his snout.

    She sighed. "You''re impossible, you know that?"

    Undeterred, the dragon fluttered onto the counter, his claws clicking against the wood. He poked his nose into a jar of flour, sending up a white cloud that coated him from snout to tail.

    "Really?" Catty muttered, brushing flour off his scales. "You''re a disaster on tiny paws."

    The dragon sneezed again¡ªright into a pot of porridge simmering on the stove. To Catty''s horror, the sneeze wasn''t just air; it came with a spark.

    Fwoosh!

    The pot ignited, a small flame dancing cheerfully on the surface of the porridge.

    "Are you kidding me?!" Catty yelped, grabbing a damp cloth to smother the fire. "What even is this? Breakfast or a campfire?"

    The dragon tilted his head, utterly unbothered by the culinary catastrophe he had created. In fact, he looked rather pleased with himself.

    With the fire extinguished, Catty leaned against the counter, rubbing her temples. "How are you this cute and this much trouble?"

    The dragon chirped and flapped his wings, sending a puff of flour into the air again.

    Catty stared at him, then at the flour-coated counter, the singed porridge, and the half-eaten bread. "Okay, that''s it. I''m sticking to cold cereal from now on."

    Apparently, the dragon took this as a challenge and lunged for a spoon resting nearby. Catty barely managed to snatch it away, holding it above her head like a prize in a game of keep-away.

    "You," she said, wagging a finger at him, "are the reason people say, ''Don''t play with your food.''"

    The dragon gave a mischievous chirp and curled up inside the now-empty bread bowl with a surprising amount of grace as if it were the perfect nest. He peered up at her with a look that could only be described as smug.

    Catty threw her hands in the air. "Fine! You win. But I swear, if you sneeze on anything else today, I''m banning you from the kitchen forever."

    The dragon yawned, settling deeper into his makeshift bread-bowl bed. The sight was so comical that Catty couldn''t help but laugh, her frustration melting away.

    "Alright, troublemaker," she whispered, ruffling his flour-coated head. "Let''s just try to survive the rest of the day without setting anything else on fire, okay?"

    The dragon chirped softly, already halfway to sleep, leaving Catty to clean up the mess with a weary but affectionate grin.

    Then it was the library''s turn.

    Catty barely entered the door before the dragon darted between her legs, his claws clicking excitedly against the floor. He braked sharply near a towering stack of books in the corner, which seemed to dare him with its height.

    "Don''t you dare..." Catty started, but it was already too late.

    The dragon leaped¡ªan impressive feat for his size¡ªand latched onto the side of the stack with reckless enthusiasm. With a crash, the entire pile gave way, burying him in an avalanche of covers.

    Catty shielded her head as the books tumbled around her. When the dust settled, the dragon sat triumphantly atop the heap, looking far too pleased.

    "You just had to do it, didn''t you?" Catty exclaimed, brushing the torn page off her shoulder.

    The dragon responded by pouncing on one of the fallen books, gnawing at the corner like it was a particularly stubborn chew toy.

    "Stop doing this!" Catty lunged to pry the book from his jaws, but before she could grab it, the book broke free with a panicked flap, it shot into the air, pages fluttering like wings.

    Catty froze, watching in disbelief as the book soared around the room like a startled bird. A moment later, the rest of the fallen books followed suit¡ªspringing to life with terrified flaps and flying in every direction.

    "Oh, come on!" Catty groaned, dodging a dictionary that buzzed past her ear.

    The dragon, however, was having the time of his life. He leaped into the air, snapping playfully at the flying books, sending them into even more of a frenzy. One book dive-bombed him in retaliation, only to be met with his claws.

    "Great," Catty muttered, ducking as a history textbook zoomed overhead. "Now they''re fighting back."

    The girl desperately grabbed a particularly fat novel, but it wiggled out of her grasp, flapping away like an annoyed pigeon. She plopped down on her seat.

    "I did not sign up for this," she grumbled, narrowly avoiding a midair collision with an encyclopedia.

    The dragon swatted at another book with his tail, sending it spinning into a bookshelf with a thunk. He gave an excited squeak, clearly proud of his handiwork.

    Catty, meanwhile, scrambled to her feet, eyes scanning the chaos for a solution. "Okay, okay... think. How do you stop a book from flying?"

    As if sensing her frustration, the dragon tilted his head, then pounced on a smaller book mid-flight, pinning it triumphantly under his paws. The book flapped helplessly for a moment before going still, its pages folding neatly shut.

    Catty blinked. "Well... that''s one way to do it."

    She swatted a nearby magazine out of the air, sending it skidding across the floor. "Alright, teamwork! Let''s round them up!"

    Catty and the dragon were darting around the library, swatting and stacking the rogue books until the room was, more or less, under control.

    Panting, Catty collapsed onto the floor, the dragon curling up beside her, looking far too pleased with their chaotic victory.

    She laughed wearily, "You''ll put me in an early grave."

    The dragon nuzzled her hand affectionately, and despite the mess, Catty couldn''t help but smile.

    "Well," she sighed, glancing at the haphazardly stacked books. "At least we didn''t set anything on fire this time."

    The dragon gave a contented chirp as if to say, There''s always next time.

    Salvation came from the indoor garden.

    Tired, frazzled, and on the brink of collapse, Catty flung open the greenhouse door. Without another word, she scooped up the dragon¡ªwho had just been gnawing on her favorite tank top¡ªand tossed him inside.

    "There. Enjoy nature," she muttered, slamming the door shut behind him.

    The dragon blinked, adjusting to the new world around him. The air inside the greenhouse was thick with the scent of blooming flowers, exotic herbs, and strange, shimmering plants that glowed in the shade.

    Just as the dragon started sniffing curiously at a vine, a tiny, fluttering figure zipped past his snout. Then another. And another.

    Fairies.

    They were tiny, bright, and mischievous¡ªexactly the kind of creatures who can find endless amusement in a baby dragon. Before he could react, a trio of fairies swooped down, poking at his wings, tickling his nose, and tugging at his tail.

    The dragon puffed up indignantly, wings flapping wildly in protest, but the fairies only giggled in delight, darting around him in a playful swarm.

    Catty peeked through the glass door, arms crossed and a smirk creeping across her face, "Welcome to payback, little guy."

    Inside, the dragon tried his best to keep up. He leaped into the air, snapping at the fluttering fairies, but they always stayed out of reach. When he tried to swat them with his tail, they danced gracefully around him, their laughter filling the air like the tinkling of bells.

    The dragon growled in frustration, spinning in circles as they tugged at his wings and darted under his claws. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t catch one. The fairies were relentless, treating the little dragon like a new toy they couldn''t put down.

    Catty leaned her forehead against the door, watching with a growing satisfaction.

    "Not so fun when someone else is running you ragged, huh?"

    After fifteen minutes of frantic chasing, the dragon''s energy began to wane. His wings drooped, and his tiny paws wobbled with exhaustion. With one last huff of breath, he flopped onto the soft mossy ground, completely spent.

    The fairies circled him a few more times, giggling among themselves, before losing interest and flitting off to tend to their flowers.

    Catty watched as the dragon let out a tiny yawn, curling up into a snug little ball right there in the moss. His sides rose and fell in the steady rhythm of sleep, and for once, he looked entirely at peace.

    "Finally," she whispered, opening the door. The dragon didn''t even stir.

    Catty leaned against the doorframe, letting out a deep, contented sigh. "I should''ve thought of this hours ago."

    As the sunlight filtered through the glass, casting soft patterns across the dragon''s sleeping form, Catty allowed herself a rare moment of peace. Maybe, just maybe, this little pink troublemaker was going to be manageable after all.

    At least until he woke up... but she was not destined to rest that day.

    Knock, knock.

    The sound echoed from the front door, sharp and unexpected. Catty froze.

    Nobody ever knocked on Rutger''s door. Not since...

    She straightened up, suddenly wide awake, the sense of calm evaporating instantly.

    Knock, knock.

    This time, it was louder¡ªinsistent. Whoever was on the other side wasn''t leaving anytime soon.

    Catty cast one last glance at the sleeping dragon, curled peacefully in the moss. Then, with anxiety, the girl turned toward the door. Her pulse quickened as she stepped into the hallway.

    And just like that, the peace shattered¡ªleaving only the unknown waiting on the other side of the door.

 031 // Education / Part I

    Catty looked through the peephole and saw a young woman in black sunglasses. She was dazzlingly beautiful. If Anya Taylor-Joy lived in Eterna, she would be her double.

    Perhaps the author must devote a few lines to describe her appearance. A woman was wearing a gorgeous mini dress crafted from shimmer-infused fabric. The stylish neckline opened one shoulder, and beautiful rosette detailing was on the other. The feather-trimmed hem added a playful silhouette. Black knee-high boot heels were on her feet. She held a silver wallet bag on a chain in her hands. Her outfit was complemented by teardrop earrings with yellow topaz and a vintage necklace.

    The woman tossed a wave of blond hair impatiently, waiting for an answer.

    Catty unlocked the door, cautiously pulling it open an inch. Outside, the woman slid her sunglasses down and looked at Catty over the top of the frames, waiting. In the time it took for Catty to blink, the woman''s eyes had given her entire outfit a once-over as though she were checking off a list.

    "Good afternoon," the woman said, her voice smooth and practiced, like someone who expected an audience with every word. She paused, almost as if leaving room for applause. "Would you happen to be Catty?"

    The sheer authority in her tone caught Catty off guard. "Yes, I''m Catty. Can I¡­ help you?"

    The woman removed her sunglasses with elegance, which made Catty suddenly conscious of her clumsiness.

    "You may call me Serafima," she said, her hand extending confidently.

    Catty accepted it out of instinct, feeling the cool grip of a person who was apparently unbothered by the question of whether she should be here.

    "Nice to, uh, meet you?"

    A faint smile appeared at the corner of Serafima''s mouth as though she found the question amusing. She looked past Catty, her gaze sweeping the cramped entryway and landing briefly on the walls, the floor, and finally, the doorway itself as if taking stock of everything all at once.

    "This place¡­ still holds the same charm," Serafima said, lifting one brow. "Cozy, even." Her tone left room for other interpretations, though she didn''t seem inclined to offer them.

    Catty crossed her arms, thrown off by the stranger''s thoroughness and familiarity with the place.

    "So¡­ are you here for a reason? I don''t usually get visitors," the girl said.

    "Unusual times, then," Serafima hung her silver bag on her elbow with a delicate motion, her face unreadable. "But perhaps we could discuss this¡­ indoors?"

    Catty hesitated. There was something in Serafima''s voice¡ªa suggestion, maybe, or a challenge¡ªbut before she could respond, the woman''s gaze softened just enough to feel inviting, if not entirely safe.

    Catty stepped back to let Serafima inside. As the woman brushed past her, a faint scent¡ªsomething floral, expensive, and almost timeless¡ªlingered in the air. Serafima moved with an assured grace, the quiet click of her heels sharp against the worn wood floor, as if they''d rehearsed this scene before.

    Catty closed the door, watching Serafima pause in the center of the living room, taking in the surroundings with an appraising look. Her gaze drifted from the cluttered bookshelves to the stack of empty tea mugs on the table, then up to the old beams crisscrossing the ceiling. She smiled faintly, just a flicker of something that could have been nostalgia as if seeing the place again.

    "Ah," she murmured, almost to herself, "some things never change."

    The words caught Catty off guard. "You''ve¡­ been here before, then?"

    "In a sense," Serafima replied smoothly, tilting her head just enough for her earrings to catch the light. She didn''t elaborate, instead letting her gaze fall to the worn rug beneath her feet, tapping the tip of her boot thoughtfully.

    The silence stretched a few moments longer as Serafima walked around the room with the ease of someone reacquainting herself with an old friend while Catty stood nearby, awkwardly aware of every cluttered corner and dusty shelf. It was as if Serafima were the true inhabitant here and returned to a place that recognized her.

    Catty cleared her throat, unsure if she felt reassured after Serafima''s almost possessive familiarity with the room. "So, uh¡­ you seem pretty comfortable here."

    Serafima''s smile softened. "Rutger always did have his¡­ unique approach to housekeeping," she replied, her tone light yet distant, as though she were speaking of an era long past.

    "So, you knew Rutger?"

    Serafima lingered near the bookshelf. She brushed a finger across the spine of a worn, leather-bound book perched on the edge of the shelf.

    "I suppose you could say that," the woman replied, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "He had a way of collecting people¡ªeccentric types, if you will."

    Her eyes sparkled with a touch of mischief as she glanced at Catty. "Though I can''t imagine you''d know anything about that."

    Catty gave a short smile, uncertain if she''d just been insulted or invited into some inside joke. "Well, he sort of¡­ took me in, too. Though I''m not sure ''collecting'' is the right word."

    Serafima laughed softly, "Ah, but Rutger saw potential in the most unlikely places," she said, an air of mystery lingering in her tone. "He could turn a fallen leaf into a magical charm and a passing crow into a confidant, with nothing more than a sparkle of spellfire and a dash of charm."

    Catty tried to picture Rutger¡ªthe Rutger she knew¡ªattempting either of those transformations, but the thought left her somewhere between amusement and skepticism.

    "I never thought of him as¡­ capable of things like that."

    Serafima''s smile grew, "Almost. But if you knew him as well as I did, you''d see that he had his flaws, too. He was¡­ how shall I put this?"

    She paused as though savoring the thought, her eyes distant for just a moment. "Stubborn as stone and just as immovable when he set his mind on something."

    Catty nodded, feeling sadness. That did sound like Rutger. "Yeah. He wasn''t exactly flexible. But he always meant well, I think."

    "Meaning well," Serafima murmured, almost to herself, as if the phrase had struck a chord. She nodded slowly, her gaze slipping back to the cluttered room. "Yes. I suppose that''s one way to describe him."

    A brief silence settled between them, filled only by the ticking of an old clock somewhere in the room. Catty felt a strange pull as if Serafima were casting a spell with words, making Rutger''s absence feel closer and more distant in the same breath.Stolen story; please report.

    Catty cleared her throat, cutting through the silence. "So¡­ why are you here, Serafima?"

    Before Serafima could respond, a fast, insistent thud of claws echoed from the hallway. The dragon appeared, brashly jumping out from around the corner, his eyes fixed on the unfamiliar visitor. His scales rippled from pale pink to a shade of crimson, a sure sign he was unsettled. The moment he caught sight of Serafima, he froze, muscles tensed, and a low, uncertain hiss slipped through his small fangs.

    A flash of panic crossed Catty''s face. She instinctively stepped before him, her hand raised in a silent plea for the dragon to stay put.

    "Oh¡ªuh, don''t mind him," the girl weakly smiled, hoping her body would block most of Serafima''s view. "Just¡­ an overly curious pet, that''s all." She forced a nervous laugh, glancing at the dragon with a look that could only mean one thing: Stay back. Please.

    The dragon, however, was undeterred. He edged closer to Catty, his wings spread, and his gaze fiercely focused on Serafima. A wary hiss escaped him, and the dragon crouched protectively at Catty''s side.

    Serafima''s lips curved into a smile as she watched the little dragon''s display, clearly amused but careful not to make any sudden gestures. The woman inclined her head, studying him with a glint of curiosity.

    "Interesting... pet. He seems rather spirited," she remarked. "Though I''m not sure he finds me very trustworthy."

    Catty felt her cheeks heat, and she scrambled for something to say. "Yeah, well, he''s not used to visitors," she muttered, trying to keep her voice steady. She reached down, her fingers grazing his scales to signal him to calm down quietly, but his eyes never left Serafima.

    The woman inclined her head slightly, regarding him with a curious, almost approving glint in her eye. "A protective one, too. I suppose he has good instincts."

    The dragon responded with another soft hiss, his tail twitching as if broadcasting his mistrust. Serafima raised an eyebrow, giving him a nod as though acknowledging a worthy opponent.

    Catty''s forced smile faded, replaced by a wary glance at Serafima. "Right. So¡­ back to why you''re here?" she prompted, desperate to steer the conversation away from the dragon.

    Serafima''s smile softened, her gaze flickering briefly between Catty and her "pet."

    "Of course," she said smoothly, meeting Catty''s eyes with an amused glint. "Though it seems he''s quite keen on keeping watch. No matter¡ªwe all have our roles to play, don''t we?"

    Catty sighed, gently patting the dragon''s head to calm him, but his gaze stayed sharp and unwavering. "Well, he doesn''t usually meet people like you," she admitted, unsure if she was reassuring herself or the dragon.

    "Not many do," Serafima said, meeting Catty''s eyes. "Shall we begin our conversation, then? It seems we may have a¡­ vigilant audience."

    Catty crossed her arms, still guarded. "So¡­ you''re here to warn me about something? Just a¡­ friendly neighborhood heads-up?"

    Serafima''s gaze lingered on the girl. Her expression was calm and assessing, as though she were weighing her words carefully.

    "Something like that," the woman replied. She adjusted her bag before adding, "I noticed something unusual on your house¡ªa mark. And it''s unsettling, to say the least."

    Catty''s brow furrowed, confusion mixing with a faint unease. "A mark? I didn''t see anything like that. What kind of mark?"

    "Not everyone can see it. The mark that appeared on your house is a message. It means, among other things, that you''ve returned from your journey¡­ with a pet." Her gaze shifted briefly to the dragon.

    "A message? So¡­ someone''s watching me?" She shook her head with disbelief. "Who would care enough to keep tabs on me?"

    Serafima''s expression hardened. "That mark belongs to the Multiverse Gatekeeper. It means you''re now under observation¡ªsomeone, or something, is watching. And not all eyes are friendly."

    Catty felt a chill run down her spine, though she forced herself to keep her expression steady. "I didn''t see any mark," she repeated.

    "The mark isn''t for everyone to see. And it''s enough to worry me. When I gave my word to Rutger... Actually, before he died, Rutger asked me to look after you when you returned. Which brings me here today."

    Catty''s mouth opened in a protest, though she found herself with little to say. Serafima gave a quiet nod toward the dragon.

    "There''s more at stake than you realize," she continued. "This place, for one. And your¡­ pet. He can''t live here when he grows up. His presence is like a beacon, drawing attention. And with the mark on your door, well..." she trailed off, leaving the implications unspoken.

    Catty swallowed, glancing down at the dragon, who pressed close to her leg. "So what are you saying? That we''re not safe here?"

    Serafima tilted her head, giving Catty an almost encouraging look. "I''m saying that it would be wise to consider ways to secure this place¡­ and to make plans for the dragon''s future. He''ll need guidance. He''ll need room to grow." She paused, a faint smile playing on her lips. "And perhaps, so will you."

    "Looks like we''re in deep!" Catty took a breath, trying to absorb everything Serafima was telling her.

    Serafima''s expression softened as though she understood exactly what Catty was feeling. "The mark often appears in places where worlds meet. This means that Rutger left a way to hide the house from observers."

    "Observers?" Catty echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. The thought of people¡ªor beings¡ªwatching them felt heavier now.

    "Let''s find out what Rutger has in store," Serafima smiled.

    She folded her palms with the air of a mentor as if she''d explained this sort of thing far too many times before.

    "According to Rutger," she began, eyeing Catty with an indulgent look, "there should be¡­ a lever or a gear somewhere in the house."

    Catty blinked, looking around like the magic lever or gear was an ordinary household item.

    "A lever? Or a gear? What for?" She raised an eyebrow. "Is this house secretly a grandpa''s music box or something?"

    "In a way, yes," Serafima replied, entirely unperturbed. "Rutger always had a fondness for the mechanical. It''s rather his style, you see, to tuck reality-shifting mechanisms into¡­ inconvenient places."

    She sighed, gazing around the room as though the magic lever might appear under her scrutiny alone. "So let''s start looking, shall we?"

    And with that, they began their search, the two of them poking, prodding, and prying through every odd corner the house had to offer.

    Catty started with the bookshelf, convinced a dusty old tome might suddenly be a toggle. She gingerly pulled at the spine of a book titled The Clockmaker''s Delight, which seemed far too promising to be a coincidence. But it switched nothing.

    Meanwhile, Serafima lifted a series of framed portraits on the walls as if expecting one of them to point out a secret latch conspiratorially.

    "Nothing here," she muttered, turning to the wall a picture of a solemn-looking ancestor who might have disapproved of the whole endeavor.

    Sensing the excitement, the dragon darted underfoot and contributed by nudging open a cabinet or two, apparently assuming he was in on the secret. He sniffed suspiciously at the fireplace and peered inside as though the answer might be hidden among the embers.

    "Oh, naturally," Catty grumbled as she kneeled to inspect the bathroom cabinet, muttering to herself. "Who doesn''t keep a magic lever somewhere near the ultra thin overnight pads?"

    Serafima gently tapped the floorboards with her boot as though they might yelp and confess.

    "Rutger did mention it would be somewhere¡­ unconventional," she stood back, frowning thoughtfully at the staircase as though it had personally offended her. "Perhaps it''s disguised as an utterly ordinary object. You know, something you''d never suspect. A¡­ cushion, maybe?"

    Catty gave her a skeptical look. "Rutger disguised a house-hiding lever as a cushion?"

    "I wouldn''t put it past him," Serafima replied, her lips twitching into a faint smile. "But no, that would be far too banal for him."

    Even the wallpaper seemed involved in their search. It shifted subtly in color each time they passed by, from soft greens to vibrant gold, until Catty was convinced it was watching them with silent amusement.

    They had tried the mahogany wall clock, but when Serafima tugged the pendulum, hoping to uncover some hidden lever, it began to play an eerie tune that filled the house during their search.

    "Stayin'' Alive?! Oh, my word!" Serafima stopped, her face stretching in astonishment.

    After an hour''s worth of prodding suspicious floorboards, testing lamp switches, and tapping their knuckles on random pieces of furniture, they reconvened in the living room at a large round table.

    "Well," Catty said, flopping into a chair, "unless Rutger made the lever invisible, I''d say we''ve officially failed."

    Serafima sighed, settling into the seat across from her. "It seems the house isn''t quite ready to yield its secrets."

    Her fingers tapped the table. "But if I know Rutger, he''d have made it so deceptively simple we''d miss it entirely."

    At that moment, the dragon jumped on the table, and Catty jerked, trying to catch him. She leaned all her weight on the table, and it shifted around its axis¡ªever so slightly.

    They saw the landscape outside the window transfer as though the external world was a revolving stage and a mighty hand had nudged it. Half the view remained the familiar Eterna''s street with its old trees and houses. In contrast, the other half revealed an iridescent lake beneath a green sky, with enormous mushrooms along the shore.

    The girl and the woman froze, exchanging glances. Catty turned the table back, and the normal view outside the window returned to its place.

    "I think we''ve finally found this stupid lever."

 032 // Education / Part II

    Catty held her breath, her fingers still gripping the table''s edge. "Did you see that?"

    Serafima''s gaze lingered on the window with the typical view of Eterna before shifting back to Catty. "I did. And I think we just discovered the house''s¡­ less known side."

    "So¡­ this table. Did I just, like¡­ about transporting us into another world? It''s some kind of¡ªwhat, a portal switch?"

    "Perhaps. Everything is possible where Rutger had a hand," Serafima smiled. "Let''s try not to jump to conclusions¡ªat least, not until we understand what we''re dealing with."

    Catty was about to push the table again, but Serafima touched her hand gently. "Careful. It seems the house has its ideas about where we''re going."

    They both stood still, glancing between the table and the window, wondering what lay just a twist of the lever away.

    "Though, I suspect there''s more to it than simply transporting," Serafima glanced at Catty, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "Let''s try to rotate the other way."

    Catty''s fingers brushed the table as if testing its response to her touch. She looked sideways at Serafima, who gave a slight nod, encouraging her.

    Taking a breath, Catty pushed the table slightly to the opposite side. Just for a moment, nothing happened. Then, the view outside the window slowly began to move, and Eterna''s street shifted like a revolving stage again, opening a vast plain of shimmering crystals. They stuck out like corals of glass under an alien sky.

    Light refracted through the crystal formations, casting rainbows across the ground. Large, vitreous dragonflies hovered in the air, their bodies catching the light like living prisms.

    Catty''s eyes widened. "It''s¡­ beautiful."

    Serafima''s gaze remained steady, though her fingers tightened slightly on the table. "We don''t know how safe it is there."

    As the crystalline landscape sparkled and hummed, Catty''s hand hovered near the table, reluctant to turn it again. The rainbowed light glinted off her face, and the girl leaned closer, mesmerized, but Serafima''s voice broke the spell, "Remember, we''re just testing."

    Catty looked back at Serafima, still captivated by the sparkling plain. "So¡­ what we are going to keep looking? Testing out random worlds?"

    "Not quite random," Serafima replied thoughtfully. "If we''re going to explore, we need to be deliberate. The aim is to find a truly safe place¡ªsomewhere this house can stay hidden, far from prying eyes."

    Catty nodded, glancing at the table as if it held the answer. "So, a world where the house can slip away. Like a¡­ backup sanctuary?"

    "Exactly," the woman said, her gaze steady. "A sanctuary. Where even the most persistent observer wouldn''t easily reach."

    Serafima continued, choosing her words carefully. "Let''s just say, for now, that it''s wise not to draw too much attention. Especially with this little one here." She cast a glance at the small dragon curled up nearby.

    Catty bit her lip, understanding dawning in her eyes. "Right. Makes sense."

    Serafima''s smile returned, "Excellent. Somewhere we can rely on if our world grows less welcoming. Somewhere Rutger himself would have trusted."

    Catty straightened, her hands steadying on the table. "Alright, then. How do we know a place is safe?"

    "We''ll get out and check," Serafima replied.

    Catty''s eyes glinted with curiosity and determination. And they left the house together through the front door.

    They stepped into the flatland under a sky that held no sun but was filled with a soft, even light. The air was unnervingly still, and the crystals seemed to freeze mid-motion. Jagged and sharp-edged, they rose like silent witnesses, refracting light.

    The crystals varied in shape¡ªsome slender and needle-like, others like columns, jutting up from the ground in asymmetrical bunches.

    There was a stillness, as if the sound was trapped within the crystals. Underfoot, the ground was polished and deceptively solid. Between the §ãrystal clusters grew small, glassy mushrooms, so clear they seemed to vanish if you looked at them. They flickered with an inner glow and scattered a faint shimmer across the ground, tiny flecks of light that gave life to the silence around them.

    A few large insects, transparent as the world around them, moved across the crystal surfaces. They made no sound as they crawled, and their bodies caught and bent the light. Their movements were precise and unsettlingly smooth.

    Catty didn''t have time to react when she saw the little dragon''s tail flicker through the open door. Her heart treacherously skipped as the dragon slipped past them, gliding with carefree abandon across the glassy surface.

    "Hey! Wait!" she called after him, watching helplessly as his tiny claws tapped over the smooth ground like he was meant to be there all along.

    The dragon took only a moment for the dragon to spot one of the glassy insects crawling across a nearby crystal. With a gleeful chirp, he crouched low, tail twitching, then pounced. One jump and the insect ended up in his mouth.

    A shiver ran down her spine as the girl watched the dragon''s jaws snap around the fragile insect. "No! Don''t!" she exclaimed, rushing towards him.

    The dragon only gave her a defiant look, his eyes gleaming with mischief, and darted away in a flash of the pink scales. Having played enough, he released the prey from his mouth and sprang toward another unsuspecting insect, ignoring Catty''s call.

    It fell from the crystal''s edge, waving its paws awkwardly, and shattered instantly. A high, ringing sound broke the silence and hung in the air for a long time.

    "Stop that!" Serafima''s voice was sharp, but the dragon was already bounding further, leaving a trail of shimmering shards in his wake as he chased his next target.

    The clinking sound stretched through the air, vibrating in waves that spread outward across the fragile landscape. Catty''s heart pounded as she saw the nearest crystals tremble, their transparent forms suddenly spiderwebbed with thin cracks that crept along the surface.

    Then came a new chime¡ªsoft, like a whispered warning. A crack in one of the larger crystals split wider, and the prism fractured in slow motion. Shards broke away and drifted to the ground with a delicate, almost graceful descent. The vibrations coursed through the ground underfoot, each slight tremor seeming to deepen the network of fractures spreading around them.

    The dragon, oblivious to the chaos, pounced on another insect, sending more shards skittering. The noise grew louder, each ring sharper, as more crystals buckled and collapsed, one after the next, as if a chorus of bells had been struck at once.

    Catty felt the ground shift beneath her, unstable now as if it might give way.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    "We have to get back!" Serafima shouted, her voice barely reaching the girl over the relentless, chiming shatter.

    Another crystal formation shattered, its fragments scattering like glass, and the woman grabbed for Catty''s arm.

    "Now! Before it all falls apart!"

    Without a word, they turned and raced for the house, dodging the cascading shards. The sound of breaking prisms echoed around them like a hundred tiny bells.

    Catty glanced over her shoulder, her heart sinking. The dragon, still mesmerized by the falling shards, ran behind, bounding after yet one more glittering insect with careless joy.

    Without a second thought, Catty sprinted back, weaving between the collapsing crystals. Her pulse roared in her ears as she lunged forward and grabbed the dragon.

    The girl snatched him up when shards rained down around them, and the ground trembled beneath her feet. She held the dragon close, shielding him as best she could, and ran back toward the house, barely dodging the crashing prisms.

    The sound of breaking formations chased them as she rushed through the door, clutching the dragon tight.

    She fell to the floor, and Serafima slammed the door.

    "Uh¡­ I don''t think that''s a good sign," Catty said, rising from the floor.

    They stood in the entryway, catching their breath as the last echoes of shattering crystals faded behind them. Catty leaned against the wall, clutching the dragon, who was squirming with pure, unrepentant glee.

    "That," Serafima said finally, adjusting her hair with the air of someone who''d narrowly avoided being diced into pieces, "was thoroughly ill-advised. Left him unattended."

    Catty gave the dragon a reproachful look, who responded by licking her nose. The girl flicked a few stray shards from his scales.

    "You think he''s got any idea he almost brought the house down? Quite literally, I might add."

    "If he does," Serafima replied dryly, "he''s certainly hiding it well. I suggest we don''t take him into the next world."

    Catty arched an eyebrow. "Oh? And where, exactly, do you propose we leave him? In the wardrobe with toys?"

    Serafima''s eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she inspected the dragon, now eyeing a nearby vase with worrying intensity. "Perhaps something sturdier than the wardrobe. But yes, we need a containment strategy."

    Catty huffed, holding the dragon at arm''s length as he wriggled, ready for round two. "Maybe some sort of¡­ dragon-proof door lock?"

    Serafima gave her a wry smile. "If Rutger had anticipated a houseguest with such an appetite for chaos, I daresay he would have installed a dragon deterrent¡­" She paused, glancing around the room, and her eyes settled on a massive trunk in the corner.

    "Ah," Catty said, catching the hint. "A temporary lodger arrangement?"

    "Precisely," Serafima crossed to the trunk and opened it. "If we place a few distractions in here¡ªperhaps a scarf or two and one of those interesting shoes¡ªI suspect he''ll be thoroughly entertained."

    And they did so. Catty carefully lowered the dragon into the trunk, where he immediately began to gnaw on an old boot, growling contentedly.

    After a quick glance at Serafima, Catty slowly closed the trunk lid, feeling a pang of guilt as it latched with a quiet click. For a moment, there was only silence. The girl and the woman exchanged satisfied nods.

    The calm was short-lived.

    Inside the trunk, a discontent snarl began to build, reverberating through the wood. The dragon''s claws scraped against the interior with an insistent scratch-scratch-scratch and then came a loud thump as though he''d flung himself against the side. Catty took a cautious step back.

    "Perhaps he''s just¡­ adjusting," she whispered hopefully.

    A sharper thump resounded, followed by a muffled but unmistakably outraged screech. The trunk rattled as the dragon''s claws found purchase on the inside. The lid buckled slightly, and with one final roar, the latch snapped. The trunk burst open, and the dragon shot out, wings flapping furiously, scattering bits of cloth and an old sock in his wake.

    Catty stumbled back, eyes wide, "So much for containment."

    The dragon landed on the floor, glowering at them with indignation. He lifted a paw as if to say, Nice try, but you''ll need more than that.

    Serafima sighed, ¡°Right. I suppose the leash it is, then."

    Catty glanced around the room, unsuccessfully scanning for anything that could function as a leash, and went to the pantry. There was a dusty magic top hat with a red feather, a stuffed goldfish missing one eye, a wooden ship''s wheel from the dirigible, an ornate teapot with no spout, a tarnished brass thimble for the giant finger, a hand mirror with black glass, and a lantern that glowed from within, though it held no flame.

    "What about¡­ that?" The girl pointed to a thin chain tangled around a cage for an unknown creature.

    Serafima raised an eyebrow, giving the pantry a considering look.

    "Ah, Rutger and his fascination with things that may one day be useful." She took the chain and inspected it. "Not exactly ideal, but it''ll do."

    Catty bit her lip thoughtfully and looked at the woman''s dress.

    Serafima followed her gaze. With a resigned sigh, she took off her belt, then slipped it through the end of the chain, creating a loop.

    "There," she said, securing it with a nod of approval. "A makeshift leash¡ªcourtesy of Rutger''s drawer of oddities and my sense of elegance."

    They turned back to the dragon, who blinked up at them with wide, guileless eyes. Catty slipped the loop gently over his neck, and he sniffed it curiously, clearly unaware that his exploration freedoms had just been considerably curtailed.

    "All right," Catty said, giving the leash an experimental tug. "Let''s try this again, shall we?"

    Serafima gave her a steady look, "Ready for the next world?"

    "Only if you are. And this time, we avoid anything that could, you know¡­ shatter at the sound of a sneeze."

    "Deal."

    Catty''s fingers hesitated on the table''s edge before she carefully pushed it, sending the view outside shifting like a screen. Eterna''s street was replaced by a lush jungle cloaked in darkness.

    Covered by patches of glowing moss, tall trees rose from the earth, their trunks vanishing into shadows. Tiny orbs of light floated lazily through the humid air. The light was shimmering, with violet, teal, and blue hues, penetrating the depths of the jungle and casting halos across the leaves.

    The ground was carpeted in strange fungi that emitted a warm, inviting glow. Tangled roots wound along the earth, their edges faintly luminous, as if guiding a path deeper into the unknown.

    The jungle was silent yet filled with presence¡ªa watchfulness woven into the shadow.

    There was no clear path forward, only an illumination that seemed to draw them deeper¡ªan inviting world between quiet beauty and unseen mystery.

    "Impressive," Serafima said, taking in the flickering landscape. "And not quite so¡­ brittle."

    With a gentle tug on the dragon''s leash, Catty glanced at Serafima, who nodded to her.

    "Let''s proceed carefully," the woman suggested. "The last thing we need is to startle whatever calls this place home."

    They took a cautious step forward, the glowing fungi softly lighting their way as they entered the world of the luminescent jungle.

    "Hey, slow down, you little troublemaker!" Catty held the leash tightly, giving the dragon an exasperated look as he tugged her forward.

    When they stepped further into the glowing jungle, the dragon''s attention fixed on the tiny orbs of light drifting slowly through the air. His eyes widened, and with a gleeful chirp, he gave the leash a sudden tug, launching himself upward in a wild attempt to catch one.

    "Hold on!" Catty gasped, gripping the leash with both hands as he leaped, teeth snapping at the orb with a mischievous glint in his eye. As if taunting him, the orb floated just out of reach, darting forward with a teasing shimmer. The dragon landed, huffed, and then tried again, leaping higher this time.

    "It''s not edible, you know," Serafima stifled a laugh.

    The dragon paid no mind, entirely absorbed in his pursuit. He sprang again and again, and each jump was a flurry of scales and flapping wings while the orbs danced just out of reach, weaving through the air like fireflies.

    Catty felt she was holding back the dragon with all her might. "It''s not funny!" she exclaimed, digging her heels into the soft ground as the dragon made another lunge. His claws snapped at the nearest orb, and it darted away as if amused by his antics.

    Finally, he paused, looking back at Catty with an expression that clearly said, Just one more try. She sighed resignedly, loosening her grip just a fraction as he prepared for one last leap.

    The leash was pulled out of Catty''s hands when the dragon bounded up with all his strength and flared his wings. For a brief moment, it looked like he''d finally caught the orb, but it slipped through his claws.

    The dragon landed right on a cluster of mushrooms.

    The moment his claws brushed them, there was a loud pop. The fungi burst into a swirl of neon hues, sending blue and violet light waves across the ground. Before Catty could process what was happening, the mushrooms released thick clouds of spores. They burst outward in a billowing wave, expanding rapidly and filling the air with a strange, sweet-sour scent.

    The cloud spread quickly, forming a dense cocoon wrapped around them in layers, the spores clinging to their skin and clothes. Catty tried to lift her hand to shield her face, but the spores thickened like sticky threads, weaving into an almost solid net around her. Her arms felt leaden, her movements slowing as if she were wading through deep water. She looked over at Serafima, who was caught just as tightly.

    The jungle around them came alive. Rustling sounds echoed from the shadows as though something unseen was moving in response. The orbs of light, which had hovered lazily before like curious fireflies, started spinning madly around them.

    Catty strained against the cocoon, but the spores were dense. Her heart pounded as she realized they were trapped. The girl could see Serafima trying to move, but the cloud of spores clung to her with a stubborn grip¡ªthe jungle intended to keep them here.

    The dragon, free of the leash, watched with wide, curious eyes. He chirped softly, tipping his head as if wondering why they weren''t following him.

 033 // Education / Part III

    The dragon tilted his head, watching Catty and Serafima struggle against the thick, sticky cocoon of spores. His bright eyes sparkled with curiosity, and he let out a soft, puzzled chirp, wondering why they had suddenly decided to stand so still.

    ¡°Any ideas, Serafima?¡± Catty managed a muffled groan.

    "Not unless you''ve mastered setting fire with your mind."

    The dragon perked up at the sound of their voices, tipping his head. He took a few cautious steps closer, then sniffed at the edge of the cocoon, his nostrils flaring as he caught the sweet-sour scent. Then, as if driven by a sudden impulse, he drew in a quick breath, his chest puffing out, and let loose a tiny puff of flame.

    The fire flared on the cocoon and spread around. The spores quickly evaporated, blazing like dry leaves. A warm wave of heat washed over them, and Catty felt free as the sticky tendrils around her crumbled to ash.

    The dragon snorted happily as the last of the spores burned out. Serafima broke free first, brushing charred remains from her sleeves and giving the dragon an approving, if slightly incredulous, look.

    "Well," she said, eyeing him with newfound respect. "Seems you have a heroic streak after all."

    Still shaking off the remnants of the cocoon, Catty gave the dragon a grateful grin, though her voice held a note of exasperation. "Couldn''t you have done that about two minutes earlier?"

    The dragon puffed out his chest, his wings giving a pleased little flutter as though he''d planned the entire thing. Catty reached out and looped the leash back over his neck, patting him with an affectionate chuckle.

    "Guess I owe you one," she said, and the dragon gave her a smug, chirpy response before bounding ahead, eager to find his next adventure.

    "Hold him!" Serafima exclaimed. "We have to leave this place!"

    As soon as Catty and Serafima stumbled back through the door and slammed it shut, Catty dropped the leash, letting the dragon trot off with the air of someone who had just single-handedly saved the day.

    "Well," Catty gasped, bracing her hands on her knees, "that was¡­ vivid."

    "Vivid?" Serafima brushed a few lingering spores from her sleeve. "I''d say it was somewhere between a landscape gone crazy and a test of survival skills."

    "So, our next holiday destination?" Catty managed a wry smile.

    Serafima gave her a look that suggested that humor was not on the agenda. "Did you notice the mushrooms?"

    "Mushrooms?" Catty looked blankly at her. "Well, yes¡ªhard to miss when they''re exploding."

    "Exactly," Serafima replied, her tone laced with grim satisfaction. "Every world we''ve seen so far has had mushrooms. Don''t you think it''s¡­ a bit conspicuous?"

    "Mushrooms?" Catty frowned. "Rutger''s hints were never subtle, but why mushrooms? What''s he got against them?"

    "Because," Serafima said, crossing her arms, "he didn''t like them. Loathed them, in fact. Once spent an entire summer trying to convince his neighbors that mushrooms were conspiring against his garden."

    "So you think he¡­ left them in as a warning?"

    "Precisely. They''re his mark¡ªa signal. Mushrooms mean we''re in the wrong place."

    "So, we''re looking for a mushroom-free world," Catty agreed. She chuckled, leaning back against the door, catching her breath. "Well, with our luck, it''ll probably be a desert."

    "Quite possibly," Serafima allowed herself a faint smile, "but in any case, it must be without mushrooms."

    Catty sighed, her hands on her hips. "You know what? Let''s pause for a bit. I could use a drink, and you look like you''re on the brink of¡ªwhat do they call it? ''Wizard burnout''?"

    Serafima raised an eyebrow. "Not the worst idea you''ve had today," she nodded. "I''ll be making my concoction if you don''t mind."

    Catty shrugged and poured herself a glass of her favorite glimberry juice. She sat down at the kitchen counter and watched, wide-eyed, as Serafima rummaged through various jars, flasks, and odd bottles.

    "Wait, are you... really drinking that?" Catty asked as Serafima added a dash of powdered root to a murky liquid that could only be described as "questionable."

    Serafima swirled the glass thoughtfully, watching as the contents shifted from green to a deep, iridescent purple.

    "It''s a rejuvenation tonic, Catty. It''s supposed to look unpalatable¡ªthat''s how you know it''s effective."

    "Right, because nothing says ''refreshing'' more than something that looks like dish soap," Catty said, taking another sip of her juice and giving Serafima a look caught somewhere between disbelief and admiration.

    Serafima raised her glass, observing its shimmer with something like satisfaction before taking a deliberate sip. A few seconds later, her eyes flashed with a sharp, energized glint.

    "See? It works."

    "Nope, I''ll stick to something that doesn''t look like it could turn me into a frog," the girl said mockingly.

    Serafima smirked, holding up her glass. "Suit yourself. But don''t come asking when you feel the need for a little more¡­ vibrancy."

    "I''ll manage, thanks," Catty chuckled, feeling the tension of the day begins to ease.

    She lifted her juice in a toast, adding, "To safe places, questionable drinks, and no more mushrooms."

    After resting, they continued checking the worlds. Serafima took control of the lever. She steadied her hand on the table and glanced at Catty.

    "We''ll do a quick survey of the next worlds," she said, her tone brisk but confident, "just to check for¡­ signs."

    With a twist of the lever, the world outside the window was replaced with something different again.

    They saw rows of towering stone shelves stretched indefinitely across an open landscape. Scrolls lay stacked on each level, with sheets of parchment fluttering occasionally, moved by an unseen breeze. Soft and elusive whispers filled the air, like the words of readers long gone, echoing from some distant past.

    Catty leaned closer, her eyes alight with curiosity. "An open-air library? I''ll give Rutger this¡ªhe had style."

    She squinted, noticing a shimmer of dust in the air, which made the scrolls and shelves seem to blur at the edges as if the whole place were a memory just beginning to fade.

    "Let''s take a closer look," Serafima said, her voice low. She turned the table more, and the view outside the window wholly aligned with the library.

    The sounds became more distinct. Whispers now came from the sky, carrying hints of ancient languages, so soft they were more felt than heard.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    "Wonder how long this place has been abandoned?" Catty asked.

    But Serafima wasn''t looking at the stone shelves. Her gaze had settled on the ground, where a small cluster of mushrooms clung to a fallen roll of parchment as though feeding on its knowledge.

    "There''s our answer," Serafima said with a sigh, gesturing at the pale caps.

    Catty followed her gaze, exhaling sharply, "What, even libraries aren''t sacred to mushrooms?"

    "Apparently, Rutger has other ideas," Serafima said, crossing her arms. "A shame. It''s a rather intriguing place, but if we''re to follow his signs, this world isn''t for us."

    "So much for hidden wisdom. Let''s keep looking."

    And they tried again. That''s what they saw.

    The world beyond the window was a sprawling marshland covered with tall reeds that swayed in a breeze. An enormous pyramid jutted up from the dark, murky water, and winged fish flitted in slow circles in the air above it. Yellow mushrooms sprouted around the pyramid basement, their bright tones clashing with the dark, surreal beauty.

    The next world was a forest of metal trees, their trunks polished and reflective, their branches fashioned like gears and cogs. As the wind blew, the trees creaked and rattled like an old clock needing oil. Leaves of hammered copper waved, covered by mushrooms, their caps like rust on the metallic foliage.

    The third world revealed a fortress that defied gravity and floated in the pink-hued sky among the clouds. Spiraling towers were connected by narrow bridges and stairways made of white mist. Waterfalls cascaded along the walls directly into the void below. As they looked closer, the water turned out to be a stream of mushrooms.

    They also watched an endless desert, with dunes of shifting, fine sand under two stark suns. The sands rippled with the movement of strange round creatures that rolled from one burrow to the next. When the wind kicked up, gritty storms rushed through the barren landscape. In this world, mushrooms crouched in the shadow of a large dune, their presence as discordant as footprints in untouched sand.

    And there were mushrooms, and mushrooms, and mushrooms again.

    So, after hours of failure, Serafima finally said, "This is the last attempt for today," and turned the tables strongly.

    Outside the window, the view was moving as if the world were gliding past. Gradually, familiar details of Eterna appeared¡ªthe cobbled street, the lampposts casting their familiar glow, and rows of old brick houses standing neatly along the way. Catty blinked, momentarily taken aback.

    "Are we... back?" she asked, though her voice held more disbelief than relief.

    Serafima looked over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the view outside. "It would seem so," she replied, though there was no satisfaction in her voice, only weariness.

    "All this searching!.." Catty exclaimed passionately, "...just to end up back where we started?"

    She pressed her forehead against the window glass, letting the familiar but frustrating sight sink in, disappointment settling heavily in her chest. It was as if all their efforts had led them right back to square one.

    "Rutger never was one to make things easy," Serafima sighed.

    They both stood at the window, silently grappling with the uneasy feeling that their search was nowhere near its end.

    Suddenly, something unusual caught Catty''s eye¡ªa glint of light reflected from the house across the street. She frowned, narrowing her eyes. The sign on the building across from them was...  The words on the shopfront were written back to front as though someone had applied a mirror filter¡ª"tekraM nuaF."

    Catty''s heart skipped.

    "Serafima," the girl called, her voice low and cautious. "Look at that sign. Does it seem off to you?"

    Serafima''s gaze followed Catty''s pointing finger. She blinked, then stepped back, a soft gasp escaping her lips.

    "Faun Market! Mirrored text¡­"

    The familiar street, the familiar houses, the very air¡ªit all screamed "home," but this was just a reflection. It felt like standing on the edge of a dream, where things might slip away at any moment.

    "So, we''re not back," Catty said, hope mingling with unease. "It just looks like Eterna."

    "Guess we''re not done yet," Serafima replied. "This is another world."

    "Figures we''re still caught in one of Rutger''s games," the girl sighed, slumping against the window frame.

    The faintest smile tugged at the corner of Serafima''s mouth. "Let''s see what''s on the other side."

    They both stepped away from the window, exchanging glances before moving cautiously toward the door, where the line between familiarity and strangeness remained as thin as a hair''s breadth.

    The street beyond felt almost identical to Eterna, but the differences became more apparent as they moved outside. A strange hush blanketed the air, an unnatural stillness that settled around them like mist. There was no distant hum of chatter, no footsteps echoing down the street, not even the faintest breeze to stir the leaves.

    "It''s like the street is holding its breath," Catty paused, scanning the row of familiar yet mirrored houses.

    Serafima closed her eyes for a moment, breathing deeply. Suddenly, her expression shifted, sharpening with recognition, "Here!"

    "Do you smell that?" she asked, glancing at Catty.

    Catty lifted her head, catching a strong, earthy scent of tar drifting through the stillness¡ªa smell she couldn''t quite place.

    "Creosote," Serafima said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Rutger... He used to talk about it¡­ It was a scent from his past."

    "What makes it so special?"

    "This smell is a sign that this is the right place," Serafima''s gaze softened, touched with nostalgia. "For Rutger, creosote was part of his youth¡ªof a life spent on the rails, back when he was just starting out as an apprentice in magic."

    The woman paused, searching through her memories for the right way to explain it.

    "When he was young," Serafima continued, a slight smile tugging at her lips, "Rutger worked on the railroad with his Spiritual Teacher. He used to tell me about those days. They''d lay tracks together, hour after hour, under the sun or rain, working with creosote-soaked sleepers to keep the wood strong. It was hard, honest work, and he''d always say his teacher could ''tame wild rails'' with nothing more than his willpower and a bit of magic."

    Catty raised an eyebrow, "Didn''t think of Rutger as a railway man."

    "Oh, he loved it. Said it taught him about magic in ways no spellbook ever could," Serafima chuckled softly. "His teacher wasn''t just a track layer, you see. He hid his wisdom behind a life of simple work. Magic, he taught Rutger, didn''t always have to be grand or flashy. Sometimes, it was just about making things last¡ªlike preserving sleepers with creosote so they''d hold firm, no matter the storms or trains that passed over them."

    Catty listened, drawn in by the image of Rutger as a young man, learning these simple but profound lessons.

    "The smell of creosote," Serafima closed her eyes as if to remember him, "was a reminder for him. A reminder of resilience, hidden strength, and the quiet power of things we overlook. It was also the smell of freedom. The railroad, for Rutger, was a way to see the world, to know there were paths and places he hadn''t seen yet but could reach if he wanted to. The open rails gave him a sense of freedom, and the scent of creosote became a strange kind of comfort. Over time, it reminded him that real sanctuaries¡ªsafe, solid places¡ªdon''t need to be grand. They can be simple, hidden in plain sight, like a stretch of rail that carries you miles and miles without asking for attention."

    "So, that''s why he chose it," Catty took another breath, the earthy scent filling her senses in a new way. "It''s his way of saying this place is safe?"

    "Yes," Serafima replied, her voice warm. "He wanted to make sure that anyone who came here with good intentions would feel protected. He was clever that way¡ªusing a scent only a few would understand as a kind of quiet signal, his own mark of safety."

    "Who would''ve thought¡ªRutger, with a past like that," Catty smiled softly, looking around the street with a new respect.

    Serafima nodded, "He knew the power of unseen paths. And he wanted us to find this one."

    They stood there, taking in the quiet, earthy smell of creosote, knowing it was Rutger''s word guiding them to the sanctuary he had carefully, quietly prepared.

    After a moment of quiet, Serafima''s gaze shifted to the buildings around them, and her eyes widened in surprise. She stepped forward and ran her fingers along the walls, the surface cool and strangely smooth under her touch.

    "These walls¡­" she murmured, pressing a bit harder. The texture felt wrong¡ªmore like a painting than solid stone. "It''s a stage set!"

    "You mean... These aren''t real walls?" Catty was confused.

    Serafima nodded and slapped the wall with her palm. Then, together, they braced themselves and pushed the surface. It swayed, so they pressed harder, and finally, with a crash, they knocked the cardboard wall to the ground.

    The wall fell down, revealing the true landscape beyond.

    A vast meadow stretched out before them, bathed in gentle sunlight. Wild grasses swayed softly in a breeze that carried a fresh scent. Patches of delicate wildflowers were scattered among the grass¡ªpale blues, soft yellows, and quiet pinks that bloomed effortlessly, untouched and free.

    Catty stepped forward, feeling the soft earth beneath her feet, a welcome contrast to the rigid ground they walked before. She closed her eyes, letting the quiet sounds of the meadow wash over her: the hum of insects, the faint rustle of grasses, the distant song of a bird.

    Serafima inhaled deeply, her face softening as she took in the simplicity and calm of the scene.

    "This is it," she said quietly, her voice almost reverent. "The sanctuary."

    They walked further into the meadow, each step easing away the tension. For the first time, the weight of their journey was replaced by a sense of genuine peace.

    "So, all this time¡­ we were just one step away from something like this," Catty smiled, glancing back at Serafima.

    "Rutger knew what he was doing," Serafima nodded a smile of relief on her lips.

    She looked out across the meadow, the wild beauty of the untouched landscape stretching far into the distance. "This place was waiting for us."

    They stood side by side, the wild meadow stretching around them. The world had finally opened its arms, offering them a place to rest, to be safe, and¡ªat last¡ªto feel at home.

    Catty took a deep, contented breath, a smile crossing her face as she glanced back at Serafima, but the moment was short-lived. Her eyes widened, and a sudden chill of realization crept in.

    "Wait... where''s the dragon?" the girl exclaimed, her shout cutting through the quiet, peaceful air.

 034 // Education / Part IV

    The meadow stretched wide and serene under the morning light, a rare slice of calm after all they had endured. Catty was starting to think they might actually breathe easily for once¡ªuntil she discovered that the dragon was missing.

    "Wait¡­" Her voice cut sharply through the quiet. "Where''s the dragon?"

    Serafima turned around slowly, her expression as steady as ever.

    "He was right here."

    "Well, he''s not now!" Catty snapped, her voice rising. Her eyes darted frantically across the meadow, from the soft swaying grass to the distant treeline.

    "You saw him, didn''t you? He was here! He was... he''s..." Her words stumbled over. The dragon, her dragon, was gone.

    "Catty," Serafima began, her voice as calm as though they were discussing tea, "he can''t have gone far. He''s small. And loud. Dragons are not known for subtlety."

    "This isn''t time for a lecture!" Catty was already scanning the ground, crouching low to check for any sign of movement or prints. "What if he''s fallen into something... or gotten himself stuck... or..."

    "Set something on fire?" Serafima offered, folding her arms as she surveyed the field.

    Catty glared up at her, her hands digging into the grass. "You''re not taking this seriously!"

    "I am," Serafima replied, her tone maddeningly calm. "I''m also pointing out that panic will not help us find him."

    Catty bit back a retort, her focus snapping to a faint trail on the grass. Small claw marks on the ground led a winding path further across the meadow.

    "Look!" She sprang to her feet, pointing, "he ran through here!"

    Serafima''s eyes followed the trail, and she opened her mouth to answer, but without waiting, Catty was already charging on the trail, her heart thudding in her chest. Serafima followed slowly, her calm both infuriating and oddly reassuring.

    The sanctuary, so safe and peaceful a moment ago, now seemed too big and unknown for a tiny dragon with too much curiosity to get hopelessly lost.

    As they followed the trail, Catty simmered. The claw marks meandered across the meadow in a way that suggested the dragon hadn''t been in any particular hurry. This only made Catty more agitated.

    "What was he thinking? He can''t even walk straight half the time, let alone..."

    Her words died mid-sentence as a flurry of movement caught her eye. Ahead of them, something pink and distinctly out of place wobbled into view. It fluttered up unevenly, wings flapping with all the grace of a book falling off a shelf.

    Catty froze, her mouth falling open, "He''s flying."

    "Flying is a generous term," Serafima shielded her eyes with one hand as she squinted at the sky. "It''s more like... creative plummeting."

    The dragon, oblivious to their observations, gave a triumphant screech as he teetered sideways, his tiny wings beating furiously to keep him aloft. He tilted one way, then the other, before performing what could only be described as a mid-air somersault¡ªcompletely unintentional, of course.

    "He''s crashing!" Catty shouted, already rushing forward as though she could catch him.

    "Unlikely," Serafima said, her voice infuriatingly calm. "Dragons are remarkably resilient. Though I wouldn''t stand directly underneath him if I were you."

    Sure enough, the dragon''s erratic movements brought him into a precarious dive, his tail whipping around like an uncooperative rudder. He plummeted rapidly and disappeared into a bush with a dramatic rustling of leaves.

    Catty sprinted forward.

    "Kiddy!" she called, skidding to a halt as she reached the bush. She shoved branches aside in dismay, expecting to find a torn body.

    Instead, she found the dragon clinging to a branch, covered in leaves and looking far too pleased with himself. He blinked at her with wide, guileless eyes as though waiting for applause.

    "You... little disaster," Catty muttered, reaching in to scoop him up. He chirped happily, entirely unaware of the trouble he''d just caused.

    Behind her, Serafima approached, "I told you he''d be fine."

    Catty shot her a glare but said nothing. The dragon squirmed in her arms with excitement, his wings still twitching as if preparing for another attempt. Catty tightened her grip.

    "Not a chance," the girl said. "You''re grounded."

    Serafima crouched to examine him, brushing a leaf from his scales. "He''s bold, I''ll give him that. But boldness without knack is a recipe for disaster."

    "What do we do now?" Catty sighed, calming down little by little.

    "Now," Serafima said, "we teach him how to fly properly. Before he turns upside down the entire sanctuary."

    The dragon, firmly cradled in Catty''s arms and still wriggling with unspent energy, let out a defiant chirp. Catty rolled her eyes but couldn''t entirely suppress the faint tug of a smile. He might be a tiny, pink menace, but he was her tiny, pink menace.

    Serafima led the way back to the house, her pace steady and unhurried, as though the dragon''s escapades had been a mere hiccup in their day. Catty trailed behind, occasionally adjusting her grip as the dragon fidgeted, his wings twitching like a child eager to try out a forbidden toy again.

    "You''d think he''d be tired after all that," the girl said, glancing down at him. "But no, he''s ready for round two."

    Serafima turned, her gaze sweeping over the dragon with the precision of a scholar cataloging every movement.

    "His energy is a good sign," she said, "but he needs proper training."

    "Training?" Catty snorted. "He can barely stay upright without knocking something over."

    "Precisely," Serafima replied. "That''s why we''re here. Rutger designed this sanctuary not just as a refuge but as a place where he could grow¡ªsafely and purposefully. This isn''t a holiday, Catty. It''s a classroom."

    Catty sighed, letting her gaze wander across the meadow. The sanctuary was undeniably beautiful, with its gentle slopes covered emerald grass and wildflowers. However, the word "classroom" made her stomach tighten. She hadn''t exactly signed up to be a teacher¡ªor a student, for that matter.

    Serafima paused, her tone softening just slightly.

    "You''ve seen what he''s capable of, even in his clumsy state," the woman continued. "Imagine what he could do with focus and guidance."

    Catty shifted the dragon in her arms, his tiny claws brushing against her sleeve.

    "I guess," the girl said, though her voice lacked conviction. "I just¡­ don''t want to mess him up."

    "You won''t," Serafima said, tone firm, "but you must take this seriously. Dragons are powerful, and that power needs to be shaped before it becomes a danger¡ªto himself and us."If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    "And if I can''t?" Catty hesitated, her fingers brushing over the dragon''s scales.

    "That''s what I''m here for!" Serafima said as though the matter had already been decided.

    "What''s for?" Catty frowned, her curiosity piqued.

    ¡°Preparation,¡± Serafima replied. "As old Mrs. Benna used to say, always know your tools."

    "Mrs. Benna?.." Catty froze. "Do you know her?"

    Serafima stilled for only the briefest moment before she opened the door. Her expression remained as composed as ever. The dragon finally broke free from the girl''s hands and ran through the open door into the house.

    "Just an old saying," Serafima said, "I heard long ago."

    The girl nodded. For now, here was a tiny dragon needing proper guidance, and Catty wasn''t entirely sure she was up to the task. So, Seraphima devoted the following days to raising the dragon.

    On a beautiful morning that didn''t foreshadow any troubles, the dragon perched on the table, his tail twitching like a spring wound too tight. Catty stood a few steps away, holding a bucket of water. Serafima stood at the head of the room, her hands clasped behind her back as she studied the fidgeting creature.

    "The first step," she began, calm but firm, "is teaching restraint. Dragons are naturally impulsive, but their power must be tempered with discipline."

    Catty glanced skeptically between the dragon and the bucket. "Restraint? You''ve seen him, right? He doesn''t even know what that word means."

    "He will," Serafima replied smoothly, stepping closer to the dragon. "Watch."

    She produced a small candle and placed it carefully on the table before the dragon. His wings twitched, and his nostrils flared as he leaned forward, curiosity radiating from every inch of his tiny frame.

    "Now," Serafima said, her tone low and measured, "we''re going to focus his fire. Controlled bursts, no more, no less. This will teach him precision."

    Catty opened her mouth to object but thought better of it. Instead, she watched as Serafima gestured to the candle.

    "Light the candle," Serafima instructed the dragon. "Just a small flame."

    The dragon tilted his head, clearly uncertain, before inhaling sharply and releasing a gout of fire that engulfed the candle, the table, and a fair portion of the surroundings. Catty yelped, sloshing water over her feet as she scrambled to douse the flames.

    Serafima didn''t flinch. She calmly extinguished the remaining fire with a snap of her fingers and turned back to the dragon, who looked exceedingly pleased with himself.

    "A bit much," Serafima said evenly, brushing a speck of ash from her sleeve. "Let''s try again."

    "Do you really think he''s going to get this?" Dripping and increasingly exasperated, Catty set the bucket down with a thud. "He''s more likely to burn the whole house down!"

    Serafima arched an eyebrow. "That''s why we''re starting small."

    The next attempt was marginally more successful. The dragon managed a short, concentrated burst of flame that missed the candle entirely but only scorched a nearby chair. Catty groaned, but there was a hint of reluctant pride in her voice when she muttered, "At least he didn''t set the curtains on fire."

    By the time the dragon produced a flame that gently lit the candle without igniting anything else, Catty was leaning against the wall, thoroughly drenched from repeated firefighting efforts.

    "He did it," the girl said, a spark of genuine excitement in her voice. "He actually did it!"

    "Small victories," Serafima nodded, a faint smile touching her lips, "but they will bring success."

    The dragon, oblivious to the significance of his achievement, flopped onto his side with a triumphant chirp.

    After he learned to control his fire breath, the following training had to strengthen the bond: energy sharing and trust exercises.

    The room was quiet, the air charged with anticipation. The dragon sat between them on a soft cushion, and his head cocked to the side as if trying to understand what all the fuss was about. Catty fiddled nervously with the bracelet on her wrist, its glimmer catching the light.

    Serafima changed into her home clothes and wore a lounge top and crop flare pants. The woman knelt across from Catty, her posture relaxed yet attentive.

    "Focus," Serafima instructed, her voice low and steady. "The bracelet connects your energy to his. Use it to guide him¡ªcalm him."

    Catty bit her lip, her fingers brushing the smooth surface of the bracelet.

    "And how exactly do I do that?"

    "Let your thoughts settle. Dragons are sensitive to intent. If you''re anxious, he''ll feel it."

    "Right," Catty muttered. "Calm thoughts. No pressure or anything."

    Serafima gave her a pointed look but said nothing. The dragon, for his part, seemed content, his wings folded neatly against his sides as his bright eyes flicked between them with curiosity.

    Taking a deep breath, Catty closed her eyes and focused on the warmth radiating from the bracelet. She pictured it as a thread stretching out from her to the dragon. The connection felt faint at first, like a distant hum, but it grew stronger and clearer as she concentrated.

    The dragon was purring softly, and the girl opened her eyes to see him tilting his head, sensing the change. A warmth spread through Catty''s chest, soft and glowing, and she realized¡ªit was him. The dragon''s energy intertwined with hers like the echo of a heartbeat. The girl felt his unshakable trust in her, all mingling with her own emotions¡ªshe was one whole with him, sharing the same breath, the same rhythm, as though they were two ends of the same thread.

    "Good," Serafima said, her tone softer now. "You''re reaching him. Keep going."

    Catty exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening around the bracelet. She focused on sending energy toward the dragon, and the tiny creature blinked and stretched, responding to her efforts.

    The dragon stretched his neck toward Catty''s hand, brushing his snout against her fingers, and a quiet trill escaped him. It was soft, uncertain, but filled with something the girl couldn''t quite name¡ªsomething that felt like gratitude.

    "You''re doing well," Serafima''s voice became delicate. She touched the girl''s knee. "You''ve always had a gift for this¡­"

    Catty raised her head. The woman''s expression shifted instantly, her composure snapping back into place.

    "Your instincts," she said. "They''re strong, but you''ll need practice to refine them."

    Serafima stood up, her gaze fixed on the dragon, now curled contentedly on the cushion.

    "He trusts you more now. That''s progress. We''ll build on it."

    Reaching out, Catty brushed a hand gently over the pink scales. The dragon chirped again, nuzzling into her hand, and despite her lingering doubts about the future, Catty smiled, "And what should I name you?"

    "Arrrrrye!" the dragon growled.

    "R.I.?" the girl tried to repeat. The dragon sniffed in response.

    "A weird name! Maybe you will be..."

    "Arrrrrye!" the dragon interrupted her insistently.

    "Okay, got it! From now on, I call you R.I."

    Then, they studied, as Serafima said, developing abilities and special powers, understanding boundaries between play and danger, strengthening emotional control, and mastering flight coordination. The dragon practiced aiming bursts of flame precisely, responding to mental commands, and navigating obstacle courses that tested his agility. They also introduced problem-solving challenges, where the dragon had to find hidden objects or maneuver through complex paths, encouraging his intelligence and resourcefulness.

    Catty and the dragon deepened their telepathic and emotional connection. The girl learned to sense his thoughts and emotions clearly, while the dragon responded to her intentions with increasing precision. This bond became their most powerful tool, allowing them to communicate seamlessly, even at a distance.

    These days were difficult but so interesting! As the dragon matured, Serafima allowed him independent exploration within the sanctuary. These excursions helped him gain confidence and learn to manage himself without constant oversight. Catty anxiously watched from afar, but she gradually realized that the dragon''s independence was essential for its growth.

    The dragon grew rapidly. At first, he was the size of a kitten, then like a sheep, and in a couple of weeks, he became like a calf. Then, the dragon began to slow down its growth, and after a month, he finally reached the size of a killer whale.

    And the time came when Seraphima said the dragon was ready to fly with the girl riding on him.

    The dragon stood proudly at the edge of the clearing, his shimmering pink scales gleaming in the sunlight. He stretched his wings wide, their span casting a shadow over the soft grass, and gave a low rumble that sounded almost like a purr. He was ready, or at least, he thought he was.

    Catty, on the other hand, was not so sure.

    "You''re certain about this?" the girl asked, glancing nervously at Serafima. "I mean, he''s big but big enough to carry me? Without, you know¡­ dropping me?"

    Serafima, dressed in her usual calmness, gave a small nod. "He''s ready. And so are you."

    "Easy for you to say," Catty snorted, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "You''re not the one about to be in the air."

    "That''s why we''ve trained," Serafima said, her voice steady. She stepped closer to the dragon, brushing a hand over his wing. "He''s strong, stable, and capable of far more than you realize. You need to trust him."

    Catty swallowed hard, her gaze shifting to the dragon''s broad back. He turned his head to look at her, his bright eyes glinting with excitement and mischief.

    "Okay, R.I., fine," the girl said, stepping closer, "but if you drop me..."

    "Now listen carefully. When you mount, keep your weight centered. Sit between his shoulder blades, not too far back. Lean with him when he turns¡ªit will help keep you balanced."

    Catty nodded, her heart hammering in her chest as she placed a hesitant hand on the dragon''s side. His scales were warm under her touch, calming her swirling nerves.

    "And one more thing," Serafima added. "He''ll feel it if you''re afraid, and it will unsettle him. Confidence is key."

    "Right," Catty said, though her voice wavered. "Confidence."

    The dragon rumbled again as if encouraging her and lowered himself slightly, his wings folding close to his body to make mounting easier. Catty took a deep breath, her hands gripping his scales, and then she swung her leg over and settled into place.

    The dragon shifted beneath her, adjusting to the added weight, and Catty instinctively grabbed hold of his long horns.

    "Relax," Serafima said gently. "Let him feel your trust."

    Catty exhaled slowly, loosening her grip just enough to feel the dragon''s movements beneath her. His muscular body radiated strength, and the girl let herself believe Serafima''s words.

    "You''ve got this," the woman said, stepping back. "And so does he."

    The dragon stretched his wings again, a low growl of anticipation rumbling through him. Catty''s grip tightened briefly, but she forced herself to relax, her breath steady.

    "Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Let''s do this."

 035 // Education / Ending

    The dragon''s wings unfurled to their full span. Catty clung to the ridge along his neck, her breath caught somewhere between awe and sheer panic. She barely had time to feel his powerful muscles coil beneath her, and he leaped into the air.

    The ground fell away faster than she expected, and a gasp escaped her lips as the wind whipped past her face. The dragon''s wings beat rhythmically, each powerful stroke lifting them higher into the sky. For a brief moment, her grip tightened instinctively, but then she felt it¡ªhis steadiness. He wasn''t flailing or wobbling as she''d feared. He was soaring.

    Catty''s gasp turned into an unrestrained laugh. "We''re flying!" she shouted, the words lost to the wind.

    The dragon responded with a deep rumble and angled into a smooth glide. Catty felt the shift immediately and adjusted, leaning forward slightly. The sensation was unlike anything she had ever known¡ªfreedom, power, and connection all rolled into one. She could feel his movements as if they were her own, every tilt and turn of his body communicating what he needed her to do.

    "Lean with him!" Serafima''s voice came from the ground, and Catty did just that, pressing her legs tightly against his sides as he banked into a turn. The dragon''s wings sliced through the air, the world below spinning in a blur of green.

    They practiced turns, each one smoother than the last, and Catty found herself grinning, the fear melting away as she began to trust him completely. He dove suddenly, the wind rushing past her ears as her stomach flipped. She let out a squeal of delight, clinging closely as he pulled up at the last second, leveling out into another glide.

    "You''re showing off now!" the girl laughed, her voice carrying on the wind.

    From the ground, Serafima watched them circle above. Her arms crossed her chest, but her posture was far from relaxed. Her gaze followed them with an intensity that hid her calm, pride, and something heavier¡ªperhaps nostalgia or the weight of memories long buried. The corners of her lips twitched upward, but the smile didn''t reach her eyes.

    Catty noticed Serafima''s expression as they passed overhead, her mentor''s figure small against the vast expanse of the sanctuary. For a fleeting moment, Catty wondered what Serafima was thinking, but the dragon''s sudden upward lurch drew her focus back to the ride.

    They climbed higher, the dragon''s wings working with renewed energy. Catty leaned into the movement naturally now, their rhythm perfectly synchronized. She relaxed her hands, spreading her arms slightly to feel the wind rushing past her fingertips. This was no longer just flying. This was freedom.

    The dragon began his descent with a grace Catty wouldn''t have believed possible just weeks ago. His wings adjusted their angle, catching the air perfectly as he eased them toward the ground. Catty bent forward, her legs pressing gently against his sides, her body moving with his as though they had been flying together for years.

    The ground rose to meet them, the grass shimmering in the late afternoon light. With one final, powerful stroke of his wings, the dragon slowed, landing with a soft thud. Catty felt the solidness of the ground beneath his paws and exhaled a breath she hadn''t realized she''d been holding.

    "We did it," she whispered, her voice barely audible over her pounding heart.

    The dragon rumbled softly and craned his neck to look back at the girl. His bright eyes sparkled with pride, and Catty couldn''t help but laugh, her hands brushing over his scales in a gesture of gratitude and affection.

    "You were amazing, R.I.," she said, jumping off from his back. Her feet touched the ground, but she still felt as though she were floating.

    Serafima approached them, and Catty looked up at her mentor with a grin that stretched ear to ear.

    "Did you see that? We flew!"

    Serafima smiled knowingly, "I saw. You guys are great! It was awesome!"

    Catty stood on tiptoe to meet the dragon''s gaze, her fingers brushing against his snout as he nudged her hand affectionately.

    "He''s incredible," the girl said, her voice softer now. "I mean, we still have a lot to figure out, but¡ª" She paused, searching for the right words. "I think we can do this."

    "This was an important step," Serafima said. "Not just for him, but for you."

    "What do you mean?" Catty straightened, her smile faltering slightly at the sadness in Serafima''s tone.

    The woman shook her head lightly with the enigmatic expression Catty had come to know and slowly went to the house.

    Catty watched as Serafima opened the door.

    "Luli!" a cry suddenly escaped the girl''s throat.

    Serafima froze in the doorway, her hand still resting on the frame. The name hung in the air between them like the toll of a distant bell, clear and impossible to ignore.

    Catty stepped forward, her voice trembling, "You''re Luli, aren''t you?"

    Serafima didn''t respond. She stood motionless, her back to Catty, the tension in her shoulders the only sign she''d heard. Then, slowly, she turned around. Her usually unreadable expression softened into something Catty hadn''t seen before¡ªvulnerability.

    "I am," the woman said quietly, "but I haven''t been Luli in a long time."

    "Why didn''t you..." Catty''s voice cracked, and she struggled to find the right words. "Why didn''t you tell me? I thought you were gone."

    "I had to be," Serafima replied. Her gaze was steady despite the sorrow in her eyes. "When you vanished, everything changed. Rutger saved me, gave me a new name, a new life. He believed you''d return, and he wanted me to be ready to help you. To protect you."

    "Serafima¡­" Catty whispered, the name feeling strange now, full of new meaning.

    "He thought a new name would help me let go of the past. But I never could¡ªnot completely," the woman smiled bitterly.

    The silence stretched between them, years spent apart settling over them. Catty''s fists clenched at her sides as she fought back tears.

    "I didn''t forget you," the girl said. Emotions overwhelmed her. "Not for a second."

    "I know," Serafima replied softly. "I was always waiting for you."

    For a moment, neither of them moved. Then, Catty rushed forward and wrapped Serafima in a tight embrace. Serafima''s hands rested gently on Catty''s back.

    The embrace was quiet, yet it spoke volumes¡ªof loss, of regret, but also of hope. They were different now, changed by time and circumstance, but the bond they had shared as children remained.

    When they finally pulled apart, Catty wiped her eyes quickly, laughing through her tears. "You''re still bossy, you know."

    "And you''re still impulsive," Serafima replied.

    They turned together to look at the dragon, who had stretched out on the grass, utterly oblivious to the moment. His tail flicked lazily as he let out a contented snort.

    "I guess we have a lot of work to do," Catty said, her voice steadier now.

    "We do," Serafima agreed, "but we''ll do it together."

    Catty nodded, her gaze lingering on Serafima''s face. There was still so much she didn''t understand, so many questions left unanswered, but she felt sure of one thing for the first time in a long time.

    She wasn''t alone anymore.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    The stillness of the house covered gently around them, broken only by the creak of the floorboards when Serafima moved toward the kitchen.

    "We should eat," Serafima said, glancing over her shoulder. "You''ll feel better with something warm."

    Catty nodded and stepped inside. She moved toward the stove as Serafima began selecting ingredients from the shelves.

    "Let''s keep it simple," Serafima said, setting a bundle of carrots, parsnips, some potatoes and turnips, and a jar of lentils on the counter. She glanced out the window, where the dragon was lying in the grass. "It''s been a long day."

    Catty picked up a knife from the counter. "I''ll chop."

    They worked side by side in a quiet rhythm. The soft scrape of the knife against the cutting board mingled with the gentle bubbling of water in the pot. Serafima added sprigs of dried herbs to the broth¡ªmoonleaves and a pinch of skyroot¡ªstirring as their zesty aroma filled the room.

    The stew began to take shape, its warm scent wrapping around them, softening the day''s weight.

    When the meal was ready, they sat at the table. The windows offered a glimpse of the green meadow, the dragon resting just outside, his wings tucked close to his sides as he dozed. The sight brought Catty a small measure of peace, though her mind still swirled with questions.

    For a while, they ate in silence. The food, though simple, was filling, and Catty found herself relaxing in the moment. As she set her bowl down, she glanced at Serafima.

    "There''s a lot I still don''t understand."

    "I know," Serafima looked up.

    She rose, placing her empty bowl by the sink before turning back to Catty. When she spoke again, her voice was quieter but resolute, "Come. Let''s sit by the fire. There''s something I need to tell you."

    Serafima sat across from Catty, her back straight but her hands loosely clasped in her lap. Her expression was composed, but the silence stretched between them like a thread, taut and heavy with unspoken truths. When she finally spoke, her voice was calm.

    "You escaped the orphanage," Serafima said, "and I stayed there."

    The simplicity of her words struck Catty harder than any accusation could. Images of that night came rushing back: the Widow''s angry shouts, the stomp of the guards behind her, the damp chill of the basement. She remembered Eldric''s voice, trials of the elements, and her heart pounding as she fled into the city. Catty shifted uncomfortably and sighed.

    "Tell me," she said softly. "How did you survive after I left? How did you endure it all?"

    Serafima placed her hand on the girl''s knee.

    "I survived because of your escape! I knew you were safe, and that gave me the strength to live on."

    Serafima''s words lingered in the air; their sincerity filled Catty''s heart with sadness. The girl stared at the fire, her throat tight, unsure how to respond. But Serafima didn''t wait for an answer. She sat back, her gaze distant, and began her story.

    When Catty escaped the orphanage, the Widow''s fury descended on the others like a storm. Luli left alone without her friend, became the lightning rod for that rage. The Widow needed a scapegoat, someone to bear the brunt of her frustrations, and Luli was the perfect target.

    The punishments began small¡ªextra chores, fewer meals¡ªbut escalated quickly. Luli was forced to scrub floors until her hands bled and spent hours cleaning the freezing courtyard while the others slept. The other children learned to avoid her, their gazes darting away whenever she passed. The Widow had turned her into an example, a reminder of what disobedience could cost.

    Luli endured it in silence. She clung to the belief that Catty had found freedom somewhere beyond the orphanage''s gray walls, and that thought became her anchor. However, the days turned into weeks, and the isolation grew heavier. Her memories of Catty''s laughter, her plans, her determination¡ªthey were the only light in an otherwise suffocating darkness.

    The turning point came when the Widow summoned Luli to her office late one evening. The woman''s smile was cold as she explained her plans. Luli would no longer be a burden to the orphanage. She would be taken to a place where her "obedience" and "usefulness" would be appreciated.

    "They said nothing as they took me away¡ªjust opened the door of the car and shoved me inside," the woman was telling. "At first, I thought they were sending me to another orphanage. But when I saw the faces of the girls who greeted me, their painted smiles and empty eyes, I understood everything."

    "Everything glittered there: the mirrors, the chandeliers, even the dresses they made us wear," Serafima continued, "but it wasn''t beautiful. It was gaudy, a mask over something rotten. I could feel it in the air, thick and stifling, wrapping around my throat until I couldn''t breathe."

    Catty couldn''t hold back anymore and cried.

    "If I had known¡­ if I had realized what they''d do to you¡­" she trailed off, her fists clenching in her lap. "I wouldn''t leave you in that place."

    Serafima''s tone was calm, as though recounting something far and unreal.

    "We didn''t speak much, the other girls and I. We weren''t friends. Maybe it was easier that way. We weren''t allowed to keep anything¡ªnot even ourselves. At night, I would close my eyes and remember you. I''d picture your laugh, the way you always found a way to make things better, even when we had nothing. I told myself you were out there, somewhere, free. And that was enough to keep me going. If I let go of you, I would disappear, and they''d win. So I held on, even when it hurt¡ªholding on was all I had left."

    Catty''s hand reached out, hesitating before brushing against Serafima''s arm. "You didn''t deserve any of it," she whispered. "You were punished for what I did. I... I''m so sorry."

    For a long moment, Serafima said nothing. The fire crackled softly between them before she spoke again.

    "I was no longer a person. I was a thing to be sold, but I couldn''t let them break me," the woman continued her story.

    One day, a very important person was supposed to visit the brothel. They didn''t bother speaking to Luli as they prepared her for the client. She didn''t struggle anymore¡ªit never made a difference. They stripped the girl naked, and her wrists were bound with metal cuffs. The ball gag was put in her mouth, muffling even the smallest sound Luli could make.

    Finished, they left her in the room, lit by a single flickering lamp. The air was heavy and hot. Luli sat on the edge of the bed, the chain from her handcuffs rattling softly against the frame. Her mind was blank, numbed by the hopelessness.

    Then the door opened, and a man entered. He wore a golden mask that covered his face entirely. The guards who escorted him bowed before shutting the door behind him. Luli stared at him, her heart pounding, though she didn''t know if it was fear or something else. The man stood still for a moment, looking at her, then moved closer.

    He crouched down, his face level with hers, and removed the mask. She froze, unsure of what to expect, until she saw his face¡ªnot familiar, but inspired reliance.

    "I''m here to help you," he said quietly. His voice was calm, steady. "I know Catty. I''m her friend. Rutger."

    Her breath caught, but she couldn''t reply with the gag still in place. He reached forward, gently removing it, and she gasped.

    "Stay quiet," he said. "We don''t have much time."

    Luli nodded, still unable to speak. He reached for her cuffs, muttering a spell that cut the air around them. The metal fell away, clattering onto the floor.

    As soon as the handcuffs hit the floor, Rutger took off his cloak and threw it over the girl''s shoulders. His voice filled the room with low, rhythmic incantations, the words vibrating through the air. Luli watched as the walls groaned as if waking from a long slumber. Shadows stretched unnaturally, and the flickering lamp on the table dimmed, its light bending toward the man at the center of the room. The air swirled around them into a rising vortex. Loose papers scattered, the chain on the bedframe rattled violently, and the wind howled as though alive. Luli clutched the cloak tightly around herself when the room space transformed into a whirling energy.

    Rutger stood unwavering, a fire ball rotating between his palms, and the winds obeyed his will. The walls cracked first, thin lines spidering across their surfaces before shattering outward with an earsplitting roar. Chunks of plaster and wood blasted into the hallway, forcing the guards outside to stumble back in alarm.

    "What is this?!" one of them shouted, his voice barely audible over the din. The guards hesitated only a moment longer before panic overtook them. The hurricane carried the debris in a spiral, snapping the supports like twigs. The room groaned one last time before the entire wall facing the street crumbled, revealing the darkened night beyond.

    Rutger turned to Luli, his voice calm, "Come."

    She nodded, her legs trembling as she stepped carefully over the broken wall. The storm parted as they moved, creating a clear path through the debris. Beyond the ruins, the cool night air rushed to meet them, carrying freedom.

    As they crossed into the open street, Rutger turned and gestured once. The winds quieted in an instant, and only desperate cries broke the ensuing silence. The building stood broken and lifeless, its walls gaping open like empty eye sockets in a skull.

    "I remember what Rutger said then," Serafima smiled, "he said, ''There is life in the old dog yet.''"

    Later, he explained everything. After Catty went into the dark world, he had to trace the faint thread of information about her orphanage friend, a girl named Luli. Rutger had followed Catty''s path as far as he could and stumbled upon a tangled web that eventually led to the secret brothel. Luli wasn''t the first child to vanish from the orphanage, and Rutger''s search for her carried a deeper purpose for him. He knew the current Dragon Sect Master was involved, so Rutger assumed his identity to infiltrate the brothel.

    "When we left that place," Serafima said, her gaze fixed on Catty, "Rutger told me I couldn''t stay Luli. It wasn''t safe. He gave me a new name: Serafima." Her voice was steady, but a shadow passed over her expression.

    "At first, I hated it," she continued. "It felt like he was erasing me, like the last piece of who I was would be gone forever. But he was right. Luli couldn''t exist anymore. I had to become someone else to survive."

    Serafima paused, her hands resting lightly in her lap. Catty oversaw her, saying nothing as Serafima spoke.

    "Rutger didn''t waste time and started preparing me. He said I had a purpose, and one day, I''d stand beside you and the dragon. I didn''t understand back then, and honestly, I didn''t want to. I thought I was just trading one prison for another." Her lips curved faintly, a bitter smile. "Rutger wasn''t cruel. He was relentless, yes¡ªbut not cruel."

    Her voice softened slightly, "Every day was training¡ªmagic, survival, combat. And discipline, always discipline. I hated him for how hard he pushed me. There were times I thought I couldn''t go on. But he never let me fall too far and always pulled me back."

    Serafima sighed, the firelight casting long shadows across the room.

    "I carried a lot of anger back then. Anger at Rutger for saving me, anger at you for leaving me behind. I thought if you''d stayed, none of it would''ve happened."

    The woman glanced at Catty, her gaze softer now. "The truth is, you gave me something to hold onto. The thought of you out there, alive and free¡ªit kept me going."

    "By the time Rutger died, I understood what he''d done," Serafima continued. "He helped me become someone new. Luli was a girl who couldn''t protect herself. Serafima is someone who can protect you, the Child of Dragons!"

 036 // Supplement / Live Stream

    Good evening, Eterna! Welcome to a special live stream event where we dive into the history and inner workings of our beloved Magical Delivery Service. I''m your host, Ophra Starfall, and tonight, we have the privilege of meeting some remarkable individuals who have shaped this incredible institution. Our journey begins with a visit to one of the oldest wizards, Ganzor. Let''s step into his cozy cottage and hear about the early days of magical deliveries.

    Ophra: We''re here with Ganzor, one of the most venerable wizards in Eterna. Thank you for having us, Ganzor.

    Ganzor: The pleasure is mine, Ophra. It''s always a joy to share the tales of our past.

    Ophra: Ganzor, can you take us back to the early days of Magical Delivery Service? When did wizards and witches decide to use magical creatures to transport their valuable items? How did it all begin?

    Ganzor: Ah, those were different times. Back then, Dragons, with their immense strength and speed, were among the first creatures tamed for this purpose. We relied on their strength and speed to carry precious cargo across worlds in the Multiverse, and the bond between rider and beast was sacred, forged through trials.

    Ophra: It sounds like it was quite an adventure!

    Ganzor: Exactly! I remember my first delivery vividly. It was quite accidental and not what you might expect for such a grand beginning.

    Ophra: Accidental? That sounds intriguing! What happened?

    Ganzor: Well, it all started with a simple request from a fellow wizard. He wanted to try a condiment he had heard about from a distant and supposedly bizarre world¡ªa thing called ketchup. Naturally, I was curious and agreed to fetch it. Little did I know that this seemingly trivial task would lead to the first recorded delivery between worlds. My dragon and I set off, not realizing the magnitude of what we were about to do, and before we knew it, we were emerging in a completely different world.

    Ophra: That must have been quite a surprise!

    Ganzor: It was unlike anything we had seen and beings that looked as surprised to see us as we were to see them. We landed in what appeared to be a marketplace and, with some help from the locals, managed to procure the mysterious ketchup.

    Ophra: Quite a startling discovery!

    Ganzor: Now, here''s where it gets funny. As a wizard, I was used to tasting all sorts of strange and magical concoctions, so I wasn''t too worried about this ''ketchup.'' I squeezed a generous amount onto a piece of bread and took a big bite. It was at that exact moment that I realized I had miscalculated.

    Ophra: Miscalculated? How so?

    Ganzor: I didn''t know the ketchup was quite tangy and had a sharp flavor. My eyes watered, and I blurted out, "Is this what humans use to fend off dark magic?" A nearby local looked at me, deadpan, and said, "No, mate, that''s just what we put on fries." I was still confused and asked him, "What''s ketchup?" He explained, "It''s this red sauce made from tomatoes, vinegar, and sugar. We put it on fries, burgers, pretty much anything." I said, "So, it''s like a potion made from squished tomatoes?" He laughed and said, "You could say that. It''s like if tomatoes got tired of just being part of a salad. They wanted more. So, they teamed up with sugar and vinegar to become this magical elixir that makes everything taste better." I then asked, "So, it''s like a rebellion of tomatoes against their salad fate?" The local nodded and said, "Exactly! Imagine a tomato''s existential crisis¡ªI could be a salad, but no, I want to be ketchup, the king of condiments!" And I asked again, "What happens if I don''t like it?" The answer was, "Then you''re just under a different spell, my friend."

    Ophra: Wow! That''s quite the story! And people actually eat this stuff?

    Ganzor: All the time! It''s like the tomatoes achieved enlightenment and now help them find culinary happiness.

    Ophra: Thank you, Ganzor, for sharing this wonderful story with us.

    Ganzor: My first delivery wasn''t a grand artifact but a bottle of ketchup. Yet, it opened the door to countless possibilities and adventures. That journey solidified my belief in the importance of our service.

    Ophra: What kind of challenges did the early drivers deal with?

    Ganzor: One of the biggest challenges was the unpredictability of the Multiverse. Each journey was fraught with dangers¡ªhostile creatures, magical storms, and even rival wizards attempting to intercept the cargo. But the courage and determination of our delivery drivers were unmatched.

    Ophra: How did the service evolve over time to become the sophisticated system we have today?

    Ganzor: As our understanding of magic deepened, so did our methods. We began to incorporate new creatures, each chosen for their unique abilities. Pegasi, with their grace and speed, were perfect for urgent deliveries. Unicorns, valued for their protective magic, ensured the safe passage of enchanted items. We also developed advanced enchantments and protective spells to safeguard our drivers and their cargo.

    Ophra: Evolution over time?

    Ganzor: Exactly! The integration of technology with magic has also played a significant role. The enchanted crystal interface, for example, has revolutionized our operations, allowing real-time tracking and communication. But at its core, the essence of the service remains the same¡ªthe bond between driver and creature, and the unwavering commitment to their mission.

    Ophra: It''s clear that MDS really is a marvel of logistics and shows the enduring spirit of Eterna.

    Ganzor: Certainly, Ophra. It is the legacy of countless brave souls, both human and creature, who dared to venture into the unknown.

    Ophra: Ganzor, you must have come across some enigmatic stories in all your years with MDS. Are there any mysteries or legends that have persisted through the ages?

    Ganzor: Ah, Ophra, indeed there are. One tale that echoes in the halls of our ancient archives speaks of a figure known as The Arcanist. A master of the occult arts who vanished mysteriously during the Great Magical Convergence.

    Ophra: The Arcanist? That sounds both fascinating and foreboding. Could you share more about him?

    Ganzor: The Arcanist, he was a figure shrouded in brilliance and ambition, delving into the depths of magic that many of us dared not explore. His disappearance left behind many questions and a handful of powerful artifacts that many believed were lost to the ages.

    Ophra: And you believe this Arcanist is making a return now, after all these years?

    Ganzor: Well, it''s merely speculation at this point, but the signs are there¡ªstrange fluctuations in the magical currents, artifacts reappearing, and missing delivery drivers. These could very well signify the meddling of The Arcanist or perhaps someone taking up his mantle.

    Ophra: Yikes, that sounds pretty intense! What does that mean for MDS?

    Ganzor: If The Arcanist, or those inspired by his legacy, were to return, they might seek to manipulate the magical conduits we use for our deliveries. Such actions could disrupt our operations and the very stability of the realms we connect.

    Ophra: What steps are being taken to mitigate this potential threat?

    Ganzor: We''re bolstering our defenses, enhancing the wards along our delivery routes, and consulting the ancient archives to better understand the methods of The Arcanist. We must stay one step ahead to safeguard the pathways that bind our worlds.

    Ophra: Let me tell you something¡ªMDS isn¡¯t just about moving goods from one place to another. Oh no! It¡¯s about safeguarding our universe, keeping the very fabric of our worlds intact. And that? That is a mission worth celebrating!

    Ganzor: It''s our job, and we take it pretty seriously.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    Ophra: Ganzor, let me tell you something¡ªyour stories are everything. They remind us of who we are, where we''ve been, and the magic that keeps us moving forward. And guess what? That adventurous spirit? It''s alive, right here, right now. Can you feel it? I know I can!

    Ganzor: It''s been my pleasure, Ophra. The past is full of lessons and stories that guide our future.

    Ophra: Stay tuned, everyone! You won¡¯t believe what happens next¡­ we head to the bustling delivery hub in the heart of Eterna to meet Morvena, a charming witch¡ªthe dispatcher who ensures every delivery reaches its destination. You won''t want to miss it!

    *

    Ophra: Welcome back, folks! After those wild stories from Ganzor, we''re diving right into the heart of the action here at the Magical Delivery Service hub. This is where the magic of today makes history for tomorrow. As you can see, there is a whirlwind of activity here. The air vibrates with the bass of dragons'' roars and the whisper of pegasus wings as magical creatures ready for their next journey. The gleam of driver crystals catches the eye. Each flicker is a silent testament to an assignment checked and re-checked.

    ...This architectural marvel, built from enchanted stone, radiates a gentle luminescence. Along the walls, portals pulse with every color of the spectrum, where drivers and their magical partners step through, disappearing in a cascade of light. These gateways, essential for instantaneous travel, are the veins through which the lifeblood of commerce and magic flows across the Multiverse.

    ...In the center of the hub stands a massive map table. The map is a living entity, constantly shifting and changing to display different parts of the Multiverse. Glowing dots move across the map, representing drivers in transit, and their progress is monitored in real-time.

    ...Voices rise and fall around the hall, a symphony of shouted instructions and laughs. Dispatchers, masters of coordination, orchestrate the complex ballet of departures and arrivals. Nearby, a group of young drivers huddle, eagerly discussing their upcoming missions; they are excited, the thrill of new journeys lighting up their eyes.

    ...This hub is the vibrant heart of our MDS, pulsing with the energy of countless beings dedicated to bridging worlds.

    ...Stay tuned, as we''ll meet Morvena next, the skilled dispatcher who ensures that this complex operation runs without a hitch. You won''t want to miss the insights she has to share!

    *

    Ophra: We''re here with Morvena, the dispatcher of Magical Delivery Service, who is trusted and as accurate as a sundial. Morvena, thank you for joining us.

    Morvena: Welcome to our hub, Ophra. It''s a pleasure to showcase the heartbeat of our operations.

    Ophra: Can you describe the challenges you face in coordinating such complex deliveries?

    Morvena: Certainly. Each delivery is a unique puzzle. To find the safest paths across the Multiverse, our team must be ready for anything, from magic disturbances to rogue sorcerers. My role is to ensure that every piece of the system fits perfectly, anticipating and mitigating risks before they arise.

    Ophra: Coordinating all of that must be incredibly complex. How do you ensure everything runs smoothly?

    Morvena: The Multiverse Network Hub is the central communication and processing center. It functions like the heart of the entire delivery service, managing the flow of information and coordinating deliveries across all worlds. When an order is placed through the Crystal Conduit, the request is instantly transmitted to the Multiverse Network Hub. Here, orders are sorted, prioritized, and assigned to available delivery drivers based on urgency, distance, and driver level.

    Ophra: That sounds incredibly complex. How do you match drivers with the right magical creatures?

    Morvena: Magical creatures are key to navigating the Multiverse. Only they have the innate ability to traverse these worlds, bridging the gaps between dimensions. We pair drivers with creatures that complement their skills and enhance their strengths. This synergy is vital. For instance, a driver with a knack for reincarnation is paired with a Phoenix, known for its ability to rebirth.

    Ophra: It''s fascinating how integral these creatures are to your operations.

    Morvena: The Crystals and the Multiverse Network are attuned to the magical nature of these creatures, ensuring that only beings with the necessary magical essence can access the pathways between worlds. This also safeguards against non-magical beings tampering with the system.

    Ophra: Of course, the bond between drivers and their creatures is critical!

    Morvena: It''s the real deal¡ªway beyond any ordinary partnership. It''s a deep, almost telepathic connection. Take Cyramus Janto, one of our most seasoned drivers. On a routine delivery through the Stormy Reaches, Cyramus and his dragon stumbled upon a wizard''s lost hat¡ªa ridiculous thing bright yellow with feathers. Oddly enough, the hat was enchanted to calm storms down, and Cyramus strapped the hat onto the dragon''s head. Moments later, a tempest that could have swamped them rolled in. You wouldn''t believe it, but that flamboyant hat repelled the storm. They flew through unscathed, cargo intact, leaving a trail of bewildered stormclouds in their wake.

    Ophra: Impressive! And what magical creatures are integral to your service?

    Morvena: Dragons are our primary couriers due to their robust nature and versatility in handling both aerial and terrestrial routes. Their scales naturally resist magical interference, making them ideal for transporting sensitive artifacts.

    Ophra: And I''ve heard that Pegasi and Unicorns also play a role?

    Morvena: Absolutely. Pegasi are perfect for urgent, time-sensitive deliveries because of their speed and agility. On the other hand, Unicorns provide an added layer of security with their magical horns that can dispel dark magic, protecting the integrity of our enchanted deliveries.

    Ophra: Are there other creatures that assist in your service?

    Morvena: Sure, we also utilize Griffins, Wyverns, and Nagas, each chosen for specific tasks based on their unique capabilities. For instance, Nagas excel in water-based routes, while Griffins are invaluable in mountainous terrains. Additionally, we are experimenting with Nine-tail Foxes for their illusion abilities, which might revolutionize how we handle high-risk deliveries.

    Ophra: Thank you, Morvena, for this fascinating insight into the creatures in MDS.

    Morvena: Glad to be here, Ophra. They''re not just our partners; they''re like the duct tape of the Multiverse¡ªkeeping everything from falling apart.

    *

    Ophra: We''re now joined by Krabelli, the ingenious mind behind the Crystal app, a revolutionary tool that''s changed how MDS operates. Krabelli, it''s a pleasure to have you. Can you tell us how you came up with such a novel idea?

    Krabelli: Thank you, Ophra. It all began with me messing around in my backyard workshop. I was tinkering with some old crystals and enchantments when I realized they could be programmed to store both energy and information. It was a eureka moment for me¡ªcombining traditional magic with modern technology.

    Ophra: Fascinating! How exactly does the Crystal app work?

    Krabelli: Well, magic crystals serve as the primary means of communication between worlds. They are attuned to the Multiverse Network, allowing citizens from any world to place orders directly from their personal crystal.

    Ophra: Morvena has already given us a great overview of how the crystals work for citizens, but how does this system function for the drivers?

    Krabelli: Well, it''s all about connectivity and real-time data. Each crystal is attuned to a specific driver and their creature. It collects data from their journeys, from environmental conditions to the magical flux in their vicinity. This information is then transmitted back to our hub, allowing dispatchers to make informed decisions instantly.

    Ophra: Can you explain how it specifically helps drivers manage their deliveries?

    Krabelli: Actually, the Crystal app is like the nerve center for all our delivery activities. Initially, each driver logs into the app, which is attuned to their unique magical signature and that of their assigned creature. This personalized setup allows the app to tailor delivery tasks to each driver''s strengths and location.

    Ophra: How do drivers receive and accept deliveries through the app?

    Krabelli: Drivers receive real-time notifications for delivery requests. The app calculates the optimal assignments based on their proximity to the pickup location¡ªoften magical merchants or alchemists¡ªand the urgency of the delivery. Once they accept a task, the app guides them through enchanted routes, optimized for speed and safety, using our Service of ley lines and waypoints.

    Ophra: That must require quite a bit of coordination. How does the app handle navigation and delivery confirmation?

    Krabelli: The Crystal app is integrated with a magical mapping system that navigates and adapts to real-time changes in the Multiverse''s topology. When a driver picks up an item and confirms it in the app, the customer and our dispatch team are updated simultaneously. Upon delivery, a simple magical gesture by the driver confirms the completion of the task, ensuring that all details are logged for accuracy and efficiency.

    Ophra: And what about the drivers'' earnings and feedback?

    Krabelli: Each delivery earns the driver credits based on the complexity and distance of the task. They can view their accumulated credits in real time within the app. Customers provide feedback through a charm-based rating system, which helps us maintain high service standards and influences the type of deliveries drivers receive in the future.

    Ophra: Here''s what I know for sure¡­ the Crystal app does more than streamline delivery¡ªit ensures a seamless, efficient, and interactive experience for everyone involved.

    Krabelli: Without a doubt, Ophra. Our goal was to create a great tool! We aimed to enhance the magical synergy between drivers and their creatures, making every delivery an adventure.

    Ophra: What problems did you face while integrating this system?

    Krabelli: The biggest problem was ensuring the crystals could withstand the diverse and often harsh environments of the Multiverse. We had to invent new enchantments for protection and durability. Plus, syncing them without causing interference to the existing magical fields was no small feat.

    Ophra: It certainly sounds like a complex blend of magic and innovation. How do you see the future of the Crystal app evolving?

    Krabelli: I envision a future where our Crystal app can automatically predict and adapt to changes in the Multiverse, maybe even before they happen. We''re also exploring features that enhance the bond between driver and creature, making their journeys safer and more synergistic.

    Ophra: No doubt, your invention is a game-changer for MDS! Thanks, Krabelli, for giving us the scoop on this cool new tech.

    *

    Ophra: Thank you all for joining us on this enlightening journey through the heart of Magical Delivery Service. From the tales of old with Ganzor to the innovative strides we''ve seen with Morvena and Krabelli, it''s clear that the spirit of adventure and the pursuit of magical excellence continue to thrive here. As we close today''s live stream, remember that every delivery brings a story, and behind every story, remarkable individuals make magic happen every day. Stay tuned for more adventures, and as always, keep believing in the magic!

 037 // Competition / Opening [Hidden LitRPG]

    The faint crackle of the hearth filled the quiet space, casting flickering shadows against the walls. Catty sat on the threshold of the house, leaning against the doorframe. The cool night breeze ruffled her hair as she gazed out at her dragon, who lay stretched across the meadow. His immense pink form glimmered under the moonlight, his breathing steady and deep. The creature''s head rested close enough that Catty could reach out and run her hand over the ridges of his massive snout.

    Serafima stood behind her, silhouetted by the warm glow of the fire inside. She held a glass with the purple liquid in her hands, her posture as steady as ever, though her gaze lingered on the dragon with thoughtfulness.

    She turned her gaze from the dragon to Catty, her expression unreadable. After a long silence, she asked, "What will you do now?"

    "Do now?" Catty blinked, caught off guard. "I¡ªI don''t know. Survive, I guess?" She shrugged, her hand brushing over the dragon''s scales. "Keep moving forward. Isn''t that enough?"

    "For now, maybe," Serafima said, her voice calm, "but moving forward without direction is just wandering. You need more than survival. You need purpose."

    "It''s not like I have a map, Serafima," the girl frowned, avoiding her gaze. "Not like there''s a signpost that says, ''Here''s what you''re meant to do.'' I''ve got¡­ this." She gestured to the dragon. "And myself. That''s all."

    "That''s not all," Serafima tilted her head, studying Catty closely. "You are the Child of Dragons, and your power is being wasted if you settle for just getting by."

    "Wasted? I''ve been fighting to keep my head above water for as long as I can remember. I think I''ve done okay."

    "You''ve done more than okay, but there''s a difference between surviving and living. Half of Eterna is hunting you. And I know how to get out of this for you."

    "Well... how?" Catty raised an eyebrow. "I''m guessing you''re not about to suggest I take up knitting."

    A smile flickered across Serafima''s lips, though it didn''t reach her eyes. "No. I''m suggesting something far more dangerous¡ªand far more important. Have you ever heard of Magical Delivery Service?"

    "The courier guys?" the girl blinked, confused. "They deliver enchanted stuff between worlds, right? I thought that was for, like, professionals. And Sects people."

    "Mostly. But MDS... they are currently looking for new delivery drivers. There will be a competitive recruitment in two days. This opportunity cannot be missed. That''s why I think it''s your next step."

    "You can''t be serious!" Catty snorted softly. "What makes you think they''d even look at me? I''m not exactly their type."

    Serafima folded her arms, her gaze steady. "Because you have what they value most: resilience, resourcefulness, and the courage to act when others hesitate. The rest¡ªskills, technique, experience¡ªyou can learn everything."

    "What happens when they find out who I really am?"

    "They won''t if you''ll keep your mouth shut. I''ll take care of the rest!" Serafima said simply. "It''s your shield, Catty, and a chance to hide in plain sight. Excellent camouflage!"

    Catty glanced at her dragon, who rumbled softly in his sleep, his massive tail twitching slightly. "So, you''re saying I should join up and hope nobody notices the pink dragon?"

    "It''s time to stop running anymore, Catty," Serafima said, rising to her full height. "It''s the safest way forward for you¡ªand the only way to prepare for what lies ahead."

    "And if I can''t handle it?" the girl said quietly. "This must be difficult."

    Serafima leaned over to meet Catty''s eyes. Her tone softened, but the resolve in her words didn''t waver, "You''ve survived this long because you''re capable."

    Catty looked away, her fingers tracing the dragon''s scale. "It still sounds crazy. Why now?"

    "MDS is your way to move safely between worlds. It''s a system that protects its drivers as long as they do their part."

    "You believe their badge will keep me safe?"

    "It won''t stop your enemies, but it will make their task harder," Serafima replied, her voice steady. "You''ll have a reason to be in different realms and the tools to stay ahead of them."

    Catty''s gaze shifted toward the night horizon. "I''m not sure I can trust a bunch of strangers to keep me safe."

    "You don''t have to trust anyone," Serafima said. "Their routes, their resources, even their alliances¡ªit''s all designed to keep their drivers delivering in time, no matter the dangers. The rest is up to you."

    "Why do you think this will work?"

    "You let the work speak for itself. Keep your focus, follow their rules, and no one will ask questions they don''t need to."

    Uncertainty flickered in Catty''s eyes. "You''re sure this isn''t just another way to put a target on my back?"

    "It''s the best chance you have," Serafima replied. "Staying here will only give them time to catch up. Moving forward gives you a way to direct what happens next."

    Serafima''s gaze shifted briefly to the dragon. His immense frame stretched out under the moonlight. She continued, "Running has kept you alive, but it won''t prepare you for what''s coming."

    "Ready for what?" Catty asked. "For more people to hunt me down? For the prophecy to ruin everything?"

    "Nobody knows what the prophecy will demand of you," Serafima replied, her voice steady. "It''s not just the enemies you''ll face, but the choices you''ll have to make. Choices that no one else can."

    "I''m not ready for that, Serafima," Catty shook her head, "I don''t even know where to start."

    "That''s exactly why you need this job," Serafima said. "It will challenge you. Every delivery, every mission will force you to grow¡ªsharpen your instincts, strengthen your bond with your dragon. It''s the kind of preparation you can''t get by standing still."

    Catty glanced at her dragon, whose massive chest rose and fell with each steady breath. "And you think delivering packages will prepare me for a prophecy?"

    "MDS connects every realm. You''ll find knowledge and resources you can''t access anywhere else through it. It''s a way to understand the Multiverse and uncover how it truly works."

    "Understand it? What''s that supposed to mean?"

    "It means access," Serafima said. "As a driver, you''ll be in the middle of it. You''ll find tools, information, and beings who can help you, even if they don''t realize it."

    Catty frowned, "How am I supposed to get these tools? Just pick them up along the way?"

    "Not everything will come easily," Serafima admitted. "But every delivery, every mission will bring you closer to what you need. Artifacts, allies, knowledge... you''ll gather everything without drawing attention."

    "This job," the woman continued, "will teach you to see the Multiverse for what it is¡ªand to find what others overlook. It''s the safest way to prepare for what the prophecy demands."

    Serafima''s words hung in the air. Suddenly, the pink dragon belched so deafeningly that the curtains fluttered. Catty looked at Serafima, and both laughed.

    "You think this is his answer?" the girl asked.

    "Well, if that isn''t a glowing endorsement, I don''t know what is."

    Applying for a vacancy in Magical Delivery Service was carried out through a portal linked to the Multiverse Network Hub. Catty stood before the glowing gateway in the heart of the local courier outpost near Grand Bazaar. The pink dragon rested nearby, and his presence drew no small amount of attention from curious onlookers.

    Every citizen possessed a personal crystal attuned to their magical signature, serving as an identifier within the Multiverse. The candidate imbued their crystal with intent magic for the application, allowing it to interact with the portal.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    A cube of pure light, humming with a resonance, hovered before Catty.

    The instructions were clear: place your crystal into the cube to begin, but Catty hesitated, turning it over in her fingers. Beside her, a line of other applicants stretched out, their creatures waiting impatiently nearby. Griffins ruffled their feathers; a unicorn pawed the ground; a wyvern hissed softly as the driver whispered in its ear. Each candidate eyed the pink dragon with barely concealed disdain.

    With a deep breath, the girl stepped forward. She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly, focusing her thoughts. A glow brought the crystal to life¡ªwarm and pulsing like her heartbeat.

    The cube''s light intensified as she placed her crystal inside. A disembodied voice came from somewhere above:

    Registration is complete. Your application has been accepted. We will notify you when it is approved.

    The murmurs of the crowd faded when Catty turned. For a moment, before the girl pulled her crystal away, she caught the narrowed gaze of a competitor¡ªa kobold with a venomous wyvern.

    The application result was still ahead, but the first step had been taken.

    The waiting room at the courier outpost was large, with high arched ceilings and metal walls that reflected the magic glow from the application portal. Catty sat on the edge of a long bench, her fingers absently running along the polished edge. The air carried the subtle hum of the Multiverse''s omnipresent energy, and the vague voices of other candidates echoed from the corridor.

    The dragon lay outside the building, his form too large to fit in the outpost''s confines. Catty glanced sideways at Serafima, who sat poised and calm, her back straight and hands folded neatly in her lap.

    "How long does it usually take?" Catty asked, her gaze fixed on the glowing walls ahead.

    "As long as it takes," Serafima replied, not looking up from the small crystal Catty held in her palm. Her tone was steady, almost indifferent, but Catty caught how tense the woman was.

    Catty exhaled sharply and leaned back, crossing her arms. "They''d figure out how to send a result faster with all this magic."

    A group of candidates nearby began to whisper, their eyes darting toward Catty. One, a tall valkyrie with a pegasus, smirked and spoke just loud enough to be heard, "Look at her, thinking she stands a chance with that pink lizard."

    Another, a dwarf accompanied by a massive griffin, chuckled, "Maybe she thinks it''s a beauty contest."

    Catty''s grip tightened around her crystal, her knuckles whitening. Serafima placed a calming hand on her shoulder, "Remember why you''re here. Their words hold no power over you."

    The valkyrie sneered, taking a step closer. "What''s the matter? Need your nanny to fight your battles?"

    The girl frowned but said nothing, her foot tapping softly against the stone floor. A few other candidates were around her¡ªsome sitting quietly, others talking to their companions. A djinn in the corner seemed engrossed in tinkering with a jug while a tall elf adjusted his unicorn''s saddle.

    The waiting hall buzzed with restless energy, and those gathered were nervous and anxious. The air seemed heavier with each passing second, broken only by the occasional cough or murmur. Catty sat tensely on a bench, and Serafima took the girl''s hand.

    Suddenly, a soft chime echoed through the chamber, and everyone froze. The djinn, leaning casually against a pillar, straightened as a glowing message flew out of his crystal. The letters shimmered with golden light:

    Registration Approved. Candidate: Josassod. Exam Entrance Confirmed.

    The djinn smirked, his fiery aura flaring slightly as he stretched lazily.

    "Well, looks like someone recognizes talent," Josassod drawled, his gaze sliding toward Catty. "Try not to be too discouraged, little dragon girl."

    Before Catty could respond, a second chime interrupted her thoughts. This time, the gnome let out a delighted whoop as his own confirmation appeared. He hopped onto a nearby table, waving his gauntlet for attention.

    "Bron the Brilliant, officially in!" the gnome declared, spinning in place. "What a shocker!"

    The elf received his next, the words floating elegantly above his hand. He barely glanced at it, her demeanor cool and aloof. "Expected," the elf said simply, though the hint of a smile tugged at his lips. His gaze lingered on Catty pityingly before he turned away.

    One by one, the announcements came. The strongman in the corner shouted joyfully at the top of his voice, and then the kobold hissed gleefully as his name materialized. He shot a sharp-toothed grin toward Catty, his tail flicking with triumph.

    "Better luck next year, maybe?" the kobold sneered.

    The valkyrie was the last to receive confirmation. The glowing text illuminated her stoic face as she nodded, her wings folding neatly behind her back. As she passed by Catty, she paused, a malicious smirk playing on her lips. Placing a firm hand on Catty''s shoulder, she leaned in just enough for her words to drip with quiet malice.

    "Don''t worry, little girl. We always need spectators to watch the real contenders."

    The valkyrie gave a gentle pat, her fingers lingering for a moment before pulling away, leaving the weight of her words to hang in the air like a blade poised to drop.

    Catty''s hands tightened Serafima''s hand as she tried to steady her breathing. Every approval felt like another punch to her chest.

    "She''s still here?" Josassod said with mock surprise, leaving the outpost. A chorus of chuckles followed, some forced, others genuinely cruel. "Poor thing must''ve gotten lost on the way here."

    Bron chimed in, "Or maybe the dragon scared them off? Not every day you see someone dragging a pink mountain around with them."

    Their laughter echoed in the chamber, growing louder as Catty''s silence stretched. She fought the urge to lash out, knowing it would only make things worse. Instead, the girl stared at her crystal, praying it would turn on.

    The vibrant chatter of the candidates had faded as they came out one by one. The hall was silent now, and Catty sat on the bench alone. Her dragon''s rumbling breaths filtered in from outside, steady and comforting, a contrast to the hum of the glowing cube.

    Serafima leaned against the wall, her arms folded as she thoughtfully observed Catty. "You don''t seem too bothered about missing the cut."

    Catty shrugged. "Maybe it''s better this way. I don''t think I''d survive whatever they planned in that exam, anyway." She looked up, a weak smile tugging at her lips. "Besides, I''m not exactly anyone''s favorite here, am I?"

    "Favorites don''t always win," Serafima said, pushing off the wall. "And you''ve never been one to care about what others think."

    "True. But it''s nice not having to deal with them anymore. I might even thank MDS for sparing me."

    "What if they''re just making you wait longer to see if you''ll walk away?"

    Catty raised an eyebrow. "You think they''re testing me with all this waiting?"

    "Maybe," Serafima shrugged lightly. "Or maybe not. But you''re still here. And as long as you''re here, there''s still a chance."

    "You''re really good at this whole pep-talk thing, you know that?" Catty let out a soft laugh, shaking her head.

    "It''s not a pep talk," Serafima said, her tone flat but not unkind. "It''s the truth."

    Catty stood, stretching with exaggerated laziness as if to shake off the moment''s weight. "Well, truth or not, I think I''m done waiting. Let''s go."

    She turned toward the door, her steps deliberate and without urgency. The dragon stood up outside, sensing her move.

    Then, as the girl reached the threshold, a soft chime echoed through the hall. It stopped her in her tracks.

    Catty was completely cool when the glowing letters materialized before her. It hovered there for a moment before unfurling into golden text:

    Registration Approved. Candidate: Catty. Exam Entrance Confirmed.

    Catty stared at it for a long moment, then let out a small, breathy laugh. "Figures," she said quietly. Her hand reached out, brushing the edge of the glowing message. "Just when I think I''m off the hook."

    THE JURY

    The jury room was dimly lit, and its enchanted walls pulsated with energy that mirrored the nervous tension of its occupants. Ganzor leaned back in his chair, his bushy brow furrowed, as he studied the list of approved candidates projected in shimmering light above the circular table. Across from him, Morvena twirled her crystal between her fingers with an unreadable expression. Krabelli, meanwhile, paced the room, his sharp features tense with agitation.

    <blockquote>

    Josassod (race: djinn | mount: Phoenix)

    Bron (race: gnome | mount: Griffin)

    Tingstan (race: human | mount: Dragon)

    K¨¢ra (race: valkyrie | mount: Pegasus)

    Qreggex (race: kobold | mount: Wyvern)

    Silvamor (race: elf | mount: Unicorn)

    Catty (race: human | mount: Dragon)

    </blockquote>

    "This is madness," Krabelli snapped, gesturing toward the name at the bottom of the list. "A human girl with a pink dragon? The Dragon Sect will have our heads for this. Do you want to risk drawing their ire?"

    Ganzor waved a hand dismissively, his tone calm but firm. "The Sect doesn''t own every dragon, Krabelli. This one''s independent. More importantly, we''ve never had a pink dragon in our ranks before. Do you know what that means? The sheer attention it would bring to the MDS? The possibilities for expansion?"

    "Attention isn''t always a good thing," Krabelli shot back. "You''re playing with fire, Ganzor. This isn''t some marketing gimmick."

    Morvena sighed, "Enough, both of you. This is about evaluating the candidate''s potential. Do you believe she''s capable?"

    Ganzor leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with conviction. "She wouldn''t have been approved as a candidate if she didn''t meet the baseline requirements. And think about it, Morvena. Rutger saw something in this girl. Would you question his judgment now, after everything?"

    Morvena''s gaze faltered momentarily. "Rutger," she murmured, the name hanging in the air like an unspoken plea. She straightened, her tone more resolute. "You''re right. He wouldn''t have guided her if he didn''t believe in her."

    Krabelli threw his hands up in frustration. "You''re basing this decision on sentimentality? This isn''t about honoring Rutger''s memory¡ªit''s about running the most dangerous exam we''ve ever designed. One misstep from her, and we''ll be the ones cleaning up the mess."

    Ganzor met Krabelli''s glare, his voice steady. "And if we deny her, what does that say about us? About the principles this service was built on? She has the potential, Krabelli. All she needs is the chance."

    A heavy silence fell over the room as Morvena exchanged a glance with Ganzor. Then, with a nod, she made her decision. "We''ll approve her. In memory of Rutger¡ªand because I trust your instincts, Ganzor."

    Krabelli groaned, throwing himself into a chair. "Fine. But if this blows up in our faces, you''re explaining it to the Sect."

    Ganzor allowed himself a small smile. "Noted."

    He didn''t hear Krabelli whisper, "Thank the gods that only one candidate will advance. She has no chance."

    THE CELESTIALS

    The voices drifted through the void, each carrying a distinct tone, like echoes of distant storms, whispers of flowing rivers, or the crackle of roaring flames.

    "I''ll take the djinn," one said. "Fast, cunning, and ruthless. He''s got what it takes to win."

    Another scoffed, "You''re underestimating the kobold. Small, sneaky, and downright vicious when cornered. I''ll bet on him. He''ll tear through the exam before anyone knows what''s happening."

    A third voice, "I like the pink dragon and his rider."

    The void fell silent momentarily before incredulous laughter erupted.

    "You''re crazy! The girl is out of her depth, and everyone knows it."

    "And her dragon? A novelty. Nothing more. This isn''t some fairy tale."

    "We''ll see."

 038 // Competition / Part I [Hidden LitRPG]

    Catty sat on the edge of her bed. The morning light streamed in through the cracks in the curtains, casting bright lines across the room. She stared at the small crystal on her nightstand, glowing softly with the notification from Multiverse Delivery Service. Exam Day.

    A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Before she could answer, the door creaked open, and Serafima stepped in. Her silhouette was as elegant as ever, her heels clicking softly against the worn floorboards. The woman looked over Catty with the same appraising gaze she always carried when serious.

    "Couldn''t sleep?" Serafima asked. She folded her arms and leaned against the doorframe, tilting her head slightly.

    "What''s the point?" Catty shrugged, her hands knotting together in her lap. "It''s not like I''ll be ready no matter how much I rest."

    Serafima stepped closer, the faint scent of her perfume trailing in her wake. "You underestimate yourself," she said, pulling out the chair and sitting gracefully. "Which isn''t uncommon. Most people are their own worst enemies."

    "I''m about to go against people who''ve been training for this their whole lives. What chance do I have?"

    Serafima glanced at her momentarily and asked, "Do you think any of them have faced what you have? Do you think any of them have had to survive on savvy and grit alone?"

    "They''ve probably had a lot fewer people chasing them, if that''s what you mean," Catty said, her lips curving into a weak smile. "And they definitely don''t have a giant pink dragon out there making them stand out."

    "True. But standing out isn''t always a disadvantage. You have enough to succeed, Catty."

    "What about the others?" the girl sighed, running a hand through her hair. "You know who they are, don''t you?"

    "Of course I do," the woman grinned. "It''s my business to know."

    "Well?" Catty prompted, leaning forward. "Who am I up against?"

    Serafima leaned back in the chair. "You''ve got the Sect''s prodigy¡ªa dragon rider as skilled as he''s arrogant. He underestimates you, which is a weakness if you know how to exploit it. Then there''s the djinn with the phoenix. Cunning, fast, and entirely self-serving. I''d keep an eye on that one."

    She paused, her fingers brushing the edge of the desk. "The others are less straightforward. The kobold will play dirty, no doubt. The gnome and the valkyrie are disciplined but predictable. And then there''s the elf, noble to a fault but proud. He''ll be your least troublesome adversary, though not an ally."

    "Great. A lineup of people who are better, stronger, or sneakier than me. What''s my angle?"

    Serafima stood from her chair and brought her face closer to the girl''s.

    "Your angle," the woman snapped, "is to stop whining, get yourself together, eat something, and drag your ass to the exam! How many times do I have to spell it out for you!"

    Catty glanced out the window. The pink dragon rested in the meadow, his tail curled like a massive crescent over the grass. He was watching the horizon, his body as still as a statue.

    "I hope you''re right," Catty murmured, her voice quieter now.

    Serafima smiled, her expression softening. "I usually am."

    "Modest as always," Catty snorted softly, her nerves easing just a little.

    Serafima turned toward the door, her heels clicking again. "Get ready. The exam won''t wait for anyone, and neither will I."

    As the door closed behind her, Catty let out a slow breath, her fingers curling around the crystal on her nightstand. She looked out the window again, watching her dragon, who turned his head slightly as if sensing her gaze.

    "Well," she murmured, "I guess it''s just us." The dragon blinked, his eyes calm and steady, as if to say he wouldn''t have it any other way.

    The MDS exam was an inner test of skill, hidden from public view. It was a trial in which drivers and their mounts were judged by their ability to embody the values of Multiverse Delivery Service. For the candidates, it was a chance to prove their worth. For the jury, it was a search for drivers capable of delivering goods throughout the worlds under any circumstances.

    The exam required more than speed¡ªit demanded exact execution. There were three stages and only one winner. Contestants began with a simple task: collect a sealed artifact from a pickup point and deliver it to a dropoff point. The following tasks were more complex. The trips tested them with unknown worlds, magical anomalies, and beings that could hinder or help. To succeed, they had to overcome obstacles and deliver.

    There was a catch from the beginning that the candidates were unaware of. Their crystals informed them of only two main stats: Vitality and Mana, which were set as 100. The jury saw everything¡ªboth driver and mount stats.

    <blockquote>

    DRIVER STATS

    Satisfaction: Measures the customer''s experience with the driver based on factors such as communication, professionalism, and the quality and speed of the delivery.

    Performance: Measures route efficiency, physical dexterity, adaptability, and ability to meet deadlines in dynamic challenges.

    Magic Level: Represents magical capabilities, including spell use and detecting magical traps or anomalies.

    Luck: A wildcard stat affecting random events, discoveries, and opportunities.

    MOUNT STATS

    Mount Bond: Represents the synergy between the driver and the mount, impacting coordination and advanced maneuvers.

    Speed: Determines how fast the mount can move, especially in races or during critical moments.

    Stamina: Determines the mount''s ability to sustain prolonged activity, endure harsh conditions, and resist harmful magical effects, such as traps, curses, or enchanted terrain.

    </blockquote>

    At the start, both Driver and Mount Stats were set to 0. They were changing during the exam, adding up after each stage, and reaching a maximum value of 100 at the final. Only the jury could see these parameters. Unseen by the contestants, these stats would determine their future.

    "Have all candidates read the exam protocol and schedule?" Morvena asked, her voice cutting through the low hum of nervous conversation. She stood at the front of the vast hall. Her silver robes shimmered under the glow of floating orbs that illuminated the space, highlighting her commanding stance.

    The hall stretched endlessly, its vaulted ceiling supported by arching columns twisted like growing vines. The walls were alive, pulsing gently with magical energy, as if they, too, were witnesses to the unfolding event. The jury sat at the end of the hall, cloaked in garments that marked their rank and role. They observed the candidates gathered before them in the hall''s center, each accompanied by their mounts.

    A ripple of murmurs broke through the hall as the candidates finally noticed Catty entering. Tingstan, promoted by the Dragon Sect, folded his arms across his chest, his posture radiating disdain. His dragon, larger and sleeker than Catty''s, let out a low rumble as its wings flexed, drawing attention to its polished scales.

    "Her?" Tingstan''s voice cut through the murmurs. "They''re letting her take the exam?"

    The kobold, Qreggex, snickered, his wyvern hissing next. "Let''s see what happens when her luck runs out," Qreggex added, his grin sharp as his teeth.

    Josassod, the djinn, was more direct but no less scathing. He arched a brow and leaned toward his phoenix, whispering something that made its fiery feathers shift in what seemed like amusement.

    "I''m sure she''ll last¡­ five minutes, maybe six if she doesn''t trip over her own dragon."

    Silvamor frowned but said nothing. His unicorn snorted, the sound sharp in the growing silence. The elf glanced at Catty, his expression less hostile but still guarded, as though weighing whether to speak up.

    Catty''s shoulders tensed as their words reached her, but she forced herself to meet their gazes. Her dragon stood behind her, his massive tail brushing the ground as if to remind her he was there.

    K¨¢ra, the valkyrie, regarded her with pity. "She doesn''t even have a mentor from the Sect."

    "She''s an embarrassment to the dragons," Tingstan agreed.

    "That''s enough!" Morvena said, her voice calm but leaving no room for argument. "You can all measure yourselves against her in the exam. Until then, save your judgments for something useful¡ªif you''re capable."

    The room grew quieter, though Tingstan''s sneer lingered as he turned away. Catty let out a breath she hadn''t realized she was holding, her fingers brushing her dragon''s side as he lowered his head slightly toward her, offering silent reassurance.

    "The exam," Morvena continued, her sharp gaze sweeping over the group, "is not merely a test of your ability to navigate and deliver. It is a trial of character, adaptability, and resourcefulness. The setting for this examination will be the Maze of Realities¡ªa construct forged by the Multiverse''s oldest magics, capable of adapting to test your strengths and expose your weaknesses."

    She gestured to a multidimensional map that appeared midair before the candidates. The map displayed shifting pathways, floating landmasses, and environments ranging from fiery craters to icy wastelands, from city streets to lifeless landscapes.

    "This maze does not exist in a single location. It is conjured anew for each exam, designed to push you beyond your limits. Its paths will change, its rules will bend, and its obstacles will challenge your skill and your resolve."

    Morvena paused, allowing her words to settle before continuing. "There are six tasks, divided into three stages. First, you will locate and pick up an artifact¡ªthis will test your navigation and adaptability. Then, you must deliver it to a designated endpoint. Each subsequent stage will grow in complexity. By the final stage, only one candidate may claim victory."

    The hall grew quieter, tension rippling through the crowd as Morvena''s gaze settled on each of them again.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    "Do not forget," she added, her voice growing colder, "the jury watches everything."

    Her eyes lingered on Catty for a moment, then shifted back to the group.

    "You will proceed to the starting point. There, your crystals will activate, you''ll get the first task, and the maze will open. Prepare yourselves¡ªyour mounts, your minds, and your resolve. The exam begins now."

    At the starting point, the contestants stood on the circular platform, each driver near their mount, waiting for the signal. Ahead, a portal shimmered, marking the entry into the maze.

    Catty shuddered when the crystal in her palm flared to life, projecting a multidimensional map with her route: the direct line leading from the portal to the grove in some unknown land. The location of her order shone like a gold dot deeper within the grove.

    <blockquote>

    Order: Enchanted Orb

    Vitality: 100

    Mana: 100

    </blockquote>

    ''Simple enough,'' R.I. said telepathically. ''Go in, grab the shiny thing, come out. Easy.''

    Catty sighed, tightening her grip on the crystal. ''It''s never that easy.''

    The contestants around her focused on their crystals, some already climbing onto their mounts. Tingstan, calm but determined, gave his dragon a slight nod before swinging into the saddle. Nearby, Josassod whispered something to his phoenix, his smile sharp and confident. K¨¢ra and her pegasus stood motionless, their disciplined poise setting them apart. Each rider exuded readiness and attention.

    Catty studied the map carefully. The dragon impatiently shifted beside her, his tail knocking lightly against the ground. The girl looked at the glowing portal ahead when Morvena''s voice sounded again.

    "Your tasks are assigned. Proceed into the maze and begin. Remember¡ªtime, skill, and right choice will determine your success."

    The portal pulsed, and the platform beneath them vibrated subtly as the exam officially began. The contestants moved as one, mounts leaping forward toward the glowing entrance. Catty hesitated for just a second, then felt her dragon huff beside her, his eagerness unmistakable.

    "Alright, alright," she said, climbing onto his back. "Let''s do this."

    The dragon sprang forward with a mighty leap, carrying her toward the portal and the unknown challenges.

    They flew inside, and the space around them changed instantly. The air was dense and energized, like slipping into a stream. For a brief moment, Catty felt weightless, her dragon''s massive body beneath her seeming to float. Colors refracted around them, ribbons of light spiraling and twisting in impossible patterns. The sensation was almost soothing¡ªuntil the space shattered.

    The crystal light broke apart into shards scattered in all directions, reflecting glimpses of a thousand incredible worlds. Their images flashed and spanned around, fleeting and impossible to hold onto.

    And then they flew out of the cloud of swirling fragments into the open sky. The air was clear and fresh. Below them stretched a grove, its trees swaying as though welcoming them. Light trails danced between the trunks, weaving patterns across the forest floor.

    ''Nice touch with the sparkles,'' R.I. said in her thoughts, ''but a bit overdone, don''t you think?''

    ''Let''s try not to crash this time, alright?'' Catty''s gaze swept the crystal.

    <blockquote>

    Vitality: 100

    Mana: 95

    </blockquote>

    The pink dragon banked slightly, tilting his head toward her. ''Crash? I''d never. You wound me.'' His tone was light, but she felt the subtle tension in the powerful muscles beneath her, ready for what awaited below.

    ''Just focus,'' her voice steadier than her racing pulse. The grove loomed closer as they descended, the trees seeming to wait for their arrival.

    The sky above the grove was alive with movement. The girl saw the unicorn and the griffin, with their drivers, soared above her. Catty''s gaze lingered on Tingstan, whose dragon carved a confident arc toward the trees, its wings slicing through the air with precision. Nearby, Josassod''s phoenix streaked past in a blur of fiery feathers, leaving a shimmer in its wake. Each rider was moving toward their pickup location, their silhouettes shrinking as they descended to the grove.

    Catty stared at the map projected from her crystal. Her location¡ªa golden dot¡ªwasn''t static like she''d expected. It drifted chaotically across the grove, weaving between trees like a wayward balloon at a festival. She groaned, "Great. My order moves. Because, of course, it does."

    Everything in this grove was moving not only her order. All the trees shuffled their roots like spiders, and branches swayed and stretched with the grace of a startled octopus, occasionally reaching down to prod or poke anything that seemed out of place¡ªwhich, judging by their apparent mood, were Catty and her dragon.

    The dragon, R.I., bounded toward the nearest tree with the enthusiasm of a toddler let loose in a toy store. ''Got you!'' he hit the trunk with his tail so hard that the tree flew off to the side. Unimpressed, it creaked ominously and ran, moving its roots.

    "Stop it!" Catty snapped, yanking at the horns. "We''re supposed to find the order, not annoy the entire grove!"

    Her words were utterly ignored. R.I. leaped toward another tree, snapping at its leaves, which fluttered indignantly. He spun in midair, swatting at a cluster of low-hanging branches, then froze dramatically.

    ''I think this one''s hiding something. Very shifty vibes.''

    "It''s hiding its patience!" Catty exclaimed, watching helplessly as the trees moved. The grove wasn''t just alive; it was awake now and didn''t look pleased.

    The first dryad emerged from a tree trunk with all the grace of an irritated librarian catching someone dog-earing a first edition. Her wooden arms raised threateningly as she fixed Catty with a withering glare.

    "Control your beast," she said, creaking like timber.

    "Oh, he''s not really mine," Catty tried, laughing nervously. "I just¡ªuh¡ªborrowed him from the universe."

    The dryad stepped forward, her leafy hair rustling. She waved her long hand, and thorny vines shot toward them, slapping Catty hard in the face. Blood flowed from the abrasion.

    <blockquote>

    Vitality: 95

    </blockquote>

    "Get out of here! They''re trying to kill us!" Catty yelled and kicked the dragon''s sides with her heels. R.I. dodged and ducked through the grove, clearly having the time of his life.

    ''Kill? Nonsense!'' R.I. twirled midair, batting away a vine like it was part of some game. ''They''re just a bit sportive. We''re bonding.''

    "I''m bonding with my death!" Catty gritted her teeth, leaning low as another vine lashed past¡ªthis time, it hit her on the back.

    Catty''s crystal flashed red again.

    <blockquote>

    Vitality: 90

    </blockquote>

    Another dryad aimed a particularly thick branch at them, but R.I. spun sharply, evading it with a flourish.

    ''Ha! Did you see that? They can''t catch me!''

    ''They don''t have to! Will you stop provoking them?''

    ''Provoking?'' the pink dragon asked innocently, flicking a twig from his tail. ''I''m just saying hello.''

    Another vine narrowly missed her head.

    "They don''t speak ''hello''! They speak ''get out of my forest''!"

    The dryads were gathering now, their wooden faces etched with anger. Catty yanked at the horns, forcing R.I. to stop, "I don''t care what you''re doing. Just fly higher before we get turned into compost!"

    R.I. huffed but obeyed, spiraling upward as the dryads receded into their trees. Catty slumped on the dragon''s neck, panting.

    ''Why do you always make everything worse?''

    ''I make it memorable,'' R.I. corrected with a smug flick of his tail. ''And you''re welcome.''

    Catty raised her head to protest but suddenly turned her attention to other drivers.

    Tingstan''s dragon leaned against a tree while the man stood on his back and rummaged through leaves. Nearby, Josassod''s phoenix flared its wings, casting golden light as the djinn reached into the crown of a massive tree, withdrawing something sparkling before tucking it away with a smug smile. Even K¨¢ra, ever dignified, climbed a tree, and her pegasus snorted disapprovingly.

    Catty frowned, watching as one driver after another plucked glowing objects from the trees with the practiced ease of a gardener harvesting fruit. The order is on the tree!

    ''What are we going to do?'' the girl asked the dragon. ''And how are we going to get to our tree after all this mess?''

    The dragon turned his head, ''Point me at it.''

    Catty blinked. "What?"

    ''Point me. At the tree with the order,'' he grinned, his teeth glinting. ''I''ll handle the rest.''

    The girl hesitated. ''You''re not going to do something reckless, are you?''

    ''I,'' he said with mock indignation, ''am the very definition of caution.'' His tail whipped to one side, ''Now, where is it?''

    Catty sighed, looking at the crystal. The glow pulsed brighter as she turned toward a massive tree moving at the grove''s edge.

    ''That one.''

    ''Finally!'' and R.I. roared, surging forward with a mighty flap of his wings. Catty clung to his neck as they shot through the air, weaving past shifting trunks and snapping branches. The target tree seemed to sense their approach, its roots dragging through the ground as it tried to shuffle away.

    "Don''t let it escape!" Catty shouted.

    ''Oh, it''s not going anywhere,'' R.I. growled, swooping low. With a triumphant roar, he extended his claws and latched onto the tree''s crown, his grip tearing through branches and scattering leaves. The tree shuddered violently, its roots clawing at the earth, but R.I. held firm.

    And the dragon gave an almighty tug. The tree resisted momentarily, creaking and groaning like a ship in a storm before finally giving way. With a thunderous crack, it came free, roots dangling awkwardly as R.I. hauled it into the air.

    ''You pulled it out of the ground!'' Catty was horrified.

    ''Well, you wanted the order,'' R.I. replied, ''and I don''t see them handing it over politely.''

    Below them, several dryads shrieked in outrage, their voices echoing through the grove.

    ''We should probably leave,'' Catty guessed.

    ''Excellent idea,'' R.I. said, angling upward with the tree still clutched in his claws. ''But I think this counts as a pickup.''

    ''Depends on where we should deliver it,'' Catty muttered, watching the furious grove move away below them.

    THE JURY

    The jury discussed the results of the first task.

    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 99.9817%; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td style="width: 30%"> </td>

    <td style="width: 10%">A</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">B</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">C</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">D</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">E</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">F</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">G</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="width: 30%">1. Tingstan / Dragon</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">15</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">16</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">12</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">14</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">15</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">16</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">15</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="width: 30%">2. Josassod / Phoenix</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">14</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">15</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">14</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">13</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">14</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">15</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">14</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="width: 30%">3. K¨¢ra / Pegasus</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">13</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">14</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">11</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">12</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">14</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">14</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">13</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="width: 30%">4. Qreggex / Wyvern</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">12</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">13</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">11</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">13</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">13</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">12</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">12</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="width: 30%">5. Silvamor / Unicorn</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">13</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">12</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">13</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">11</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">13</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">12</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">11</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="width: 30%">6. Bron / Griffin</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">11</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">11</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">10</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">12</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">12</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">11</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">10</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="width: 30%">7. Catty / Dragon</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">0</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">9</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">0</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">0</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">5</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">10</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">10</td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    <blockquote>

    Driver Stats:

    A - Satisfaction, B - Performance, C - Magic Level, D - Luck.

    Mount Stats:

    E - Mount Bond, F - Speed, G - Stamina.

    </blockquote>

    Krabelli slammed the table with his palm, his frustration barely contained. "I told you! Look at this¡ªlast place. She''s floundering out there, Ganzor. The dryads practically chased her out of the grove!"

    Ganzor raised an eyebrow, unperturbed. "She retrieved her order, didn''t she? That''s the task. I don''t recall specifying ''how'' they had to complete it."

    Krabelli leaned forward, his voice sharp. "Dragging an entire tree out of the ground like a lumberjack is hardly the dignity we expect from a driver. She''s reckless, untrained, and worse¡ªher dragon encourages it."

    Morvena cut in, her tone measured but firm. "Recklessness aside, she did it. That counts for something."

    "Tingstan dominated the task, as expected," Krabelli shot back. "He and his dragon are a model of efficiency. The rest are at least playing by the rules. But her? She''s a liability."

    Ganzor''s lips curled into a faint smile. "And yet, she''s still in the running. Isn''t that the point of this exam? To push them, to see what they''re made of under pressure?"

    Krabelli snorted, crossing his arms. "If you want to see what she''s made of, you''ll need a broom to sweep it up when she falls apart in the next stage."

    Morvena tapped the table to regain their focus. "Enough. Tingstan leads, and the rankings reflect each candidate''s performance fairly. Catty has time to prove herself or not. Let the results speak as we proceed."

    THE CELESTIALS

    "Well, the djinn isn''t first¡ªyet¡ªbut close enough. Steady, efficient, and unrelenting. He''ll outpace Tingstan soon enough. My bet''s as good as won."

    "Close enough isn''t good enough. My kobold''s lagging, but he''ll strike when the others least expect it. You''re far too impressed by flashy results."

    "And yet," the third voice interrupted, light and calm, "neither of you seem to be addressing the most exciting part of this stage."

    "If you''re about to mention that ridiculous girl again¡ª"

    "She''s in last place. Her dragon flailed around like a hatchling. That tree stunt? Absurd. She barely scraped through."

    "Perhaps. But every great story needs a wild card. She''s mine."

 039 // Competition / Part II [Hidden LitRPG]

    Catty, riding the dragon, crossed the boundary between worlds again. They emerged from the vortex of glittering fragments and entered the next stage. At this moment, the tree had been reduced to a burning wisp of energy and evaporated, leaving only the Orb cradled in R.I.''s claws.

    An incredible market stretched before them, a chaotic network of glowing platforms suspended over a shimmering void. Signboards hovered above them, emblazoned with flickering symbols: "Potion Junction," "Runes & Relics," "Mystic Meats & Magical Eats," "The Wand Depot," "Spectral Textiles," "Golems ''R'' Us," and many others. Below the platforms, the void pulsed with soft, radiant light, its color shifting like a restless sea.

    The air buzzed with a clamor of voices. Merchants called out to a motley crowd, their stalls overflowing with enchanted wares. Potions bubbled in oversized flasks, magical trinkets hummed with restrained energy, and spell scrolls glimmered like tiny starlit constellations. An occasional burst of errant magic sent sparks flying, briefly illuminating the swirling mist that hovered above the void.

    Catty''s dragon landed on a platform near the market''s edge, claws clicking against the enchanted surface. He turned his head toward the girl. She sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face as she surveyed the chaos. Other contestants darted through the market, each clutching their Orb like a lifeline, their mounts weaving between stalls, platforms, and shimmering pathways.

    Somewhere at the center of the market, a massive structure loomed¡ªan immense, gleaming construct of metal and magic, hovering above the largest platform. Gears turned precisely along its sides, and countless segmented arms extended outward, managing tasks. Runes glowed along its surface, pulsating with the rhythmic hum reverberating through the entire market. Above it, a countdown timer hovered, burning bright:

    00:04:59

    Catty''s crystal pulsed suddenly, displaying her next task in shimmering letters:

    Deliver Orb to Designated Dropoff Point

    She glanced at the colossal Automaton and the area surrounding it. The crystal map indicated that her dropoff location was near the central platform.

    Just as the girl prepared to direct her dragon toward the Automaton, a signboard appeared ahead. "Catty''s Dropoff Point" blazed across the glowing banner in bright letters. It pointed to a smaller platform just before them, connected by a narrow, shifting bridge.

    She blinked, startled. "Really? That''s... convenient."

    R.I. rumbled something with doubt. Catty hesitated, glancing around. She spotted other contestants veering toward similar signboards, each bearing their names and identical instructions. Tingstan''s dragon banked sharply to a platform marked "Tingstan''s Dropoff Point," while Josassod''s phoenix swooped toward a glowing sign labeled with his name. The others followed suit, each contestant drawn toward their designated signs.

    "Seems easy enough," Catty murmured, nudging her dragon forward. Her doubts flickered briefly, but the countdown''s relentless glow left no room for hesitation.

    00:04:32

    R.I. circled around the platform marked with Catty''s name, the Orb in his claws pulsing softly. The stall below shimmered with inviting light, and the figure waiting there waved cheerfully, their expression bright and welcoming.

    Ahead of them, Bron and his griffin touched down on their platform. The gnome marched confidently toward the stall bearing his name, carrying the Orb like a prized treasure.

    "See?" Catty said, nudging the dragon. "Bron already done it. Hurry up!"

    00:03:48

    R.I. huffed, wings beating steadily as he hovered. ''The gnome''s ideas usually lead to... complications. You really think that''s the real deal?''

    Catty leaned forward, her focus locked on the stall. The figure waved enthusiastically, its smile broad and warm. "Welcome, esteemed contestant!" the figure called out kindly, its voice cheerful. "Your success awaits here. Just place the Orb in the stall, and glory will be yours!"

    "Oh, sure. Glory and all that," the girl muttered, glancing at the shimmering sign bearing her name. The figure continued to wave.

    "Don''t delay!" the figure urged, its tone growing louder and insistent. "Hesitation leads to failure. Don''t get left behind!"

    Something about the voice prickled at the edges of Catty''s mind. Her bracelet warmed on her wrist, and suddenly, the usual luminescence shifted to an uneasy red pulsing.

    "Trust me," the figure added, its voice dipping into a smooth, almost conspiratorial whisper. "This is your moment."

    00:03:10

    ''Catty, don''t do it,'' R.I. said, his tone unusually cautious. ''That stall''s got ''trap'' written all over it.''

    Before she could respond, a commotion broke out ahead of her. Bron reached his stall, placing his Orb down with a confident flourish. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the stall flickered violently, the smiling figure dissolving into shards of light. The platform beneath Bron cracked with a deafening snap, and he plummeted down.

    "It''s a fake!" Catty''s breath caught as Bron''s griffin screeched, diving to snatch him mid-fall. The Orb exploded into fragments, and the voice above boomed:

    Candidate eliminated.

    Catty froze, staring at her sign. It looked just as inviting as Bron''s had moments ago. Her bracelet''s red glow pulsed insistently now, matching the rhythm of her racing heart.

    R.I. turned his head, ''Let''s not audition for the starring role in Dumb Ways to Drop Off.'' And he rumbled in satisfaction, angling his wings to glide toward the center of the market.

    <blockquote>

    Magic Level: 15

    Luck: 10

    Mount Bond: 10

    </blockquote>

    Catty''s gaze flicked to her crystal map. The real dropoff point waited somewhere in the swirling chaos of platforms and stalls. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the other contestants follow her example and fly from the false drop off locations.

    The countdown above burned steadily, every second a reminder of how little time she had left.

    00:02:30

    It started as a light breeze, the kind that might ruffle Catty''s hair and make her feel momentarily at one with the world. Then it escalated to the kind of wind that hit them like an invisible hammer, flipping R.I. upside down. Catty tumbled off the dragon, and the wind quickly swallowed her yell.

    "Catch me!" she shouted, though she wasn''t sure if the words had made it to R.I. or joined the wind''s symphony of chaos.

    R.I. reacted instinctively. He released the Orb, letting it fall, and reached out with his claws to snag the girl.

    "What are you doing?!" Catty yelled.

    The Orb gleamed as it tumbled through the air, and R.I. was already diving after it. His claws held the girl firmly, but his wings strained against the gusts whipping around them. Catty craned her neck to follow the Orb''s fall.

    "Let me go!" she shouted.

    ''Are you serious?'' R.I. bellowed but didn''t wait for an answer and unclenched his claws. With a sharp twist, Catty broke free, plunging after the Orb.

    ''Madness!'' R.I. roared, flipping midair to follow her.

    The wind howled around the girl, tugging at her clothes as she stretched her fingers toward the falling Orb. She snagged it and clutched it to her chest.

    "Got it!" she yelled, and R.I. swooped beneath her, catching her on his back at the last moment.

    <blockquote>

    Luck: 15

    Mount Bond: 15

    </blockquote>

    ''Brilliant,'' he grumbled, angling his wings to stabilize their flight. ''Hope that wind doesn''t want another round.''

    00:02:15

    The market rumbled beneath them as the platforms began to shift, sliding and rotating like pieces of an enormous, chaotic puzzle. They flickered out of existence only to reappear elsewhere, forcing contestants to adjust their routes mid-flight.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Tingstan and his dragon moved like a well-rehearsed performance. The massive creature dipped and turned precisely, slipping through narrowing gaps and gliding to safety before the paths closed entirely. Josassod and his phoenix took a different approach, soaring high above the chaos, their sharp turns and calculated dives timed perfectly to reach each newly formed pass. The winged K¨¢ra''s pegasus leaped gracefully from platform to platform, its hooves sparking as they landed briefly before springing to the next.

    Catty and her dragon were lagging.

    R.I. wasn''t impressed with this ordeal. ''The shortest route is not always the fastest!''

    ''Just keep flying!'' Catty snapped, her eyes darting to the crystal in her hand. The map flickered, struggling to keep up with the ever-changing layout. A gap loomed ahead, the next platform spinning lazily away.

    ''I''m flying,'' R.I. replied. With an impatient roar, he leaped forward, landing on the edge of a disappearing platform just as it started to dissolve. His claws scrabbled for purchase, the glowing surface crumbling beneath him.

    "R.I.!" Catty shouted, clutching the Orb tighter as her dragon heaved himself upward, his wings beating furiously to stabilize their flight. "Stop taking the fastest way!"

    ''That wasn''t the fastest way,'' R.I. retorted. ''That was survival.''

    Catty''s heart pounded as she scanned the platforms ahead. Contestants were darting in every direction, their mounts weaving through the chaos with varying degrees of success. Silvamor''s unicorn stumbled briefly, its hooves sparking as it jumped to safety. Qreggex''s wyvern narrowly avoided clipping its tail on a spinning platform.

    Ahead, the center of the market beckoned, where their dropoff points had been determined near the Floating Automaton. Catty spotted Josassod swooping in first, his phoenix gleaming like fire. Tingstan followed closely. K¨¢ra arrived moments later, her pegasus landing breathtakingly.

    Catty gritted her teeth as R.I. dove toward a rapidly narrowing pass. "Don''t miss!" she shouted.

    ''I don''t miss,'' he shot back. And for once, he didn''t. They hit the point just as the final platform almost crushed them. The Orb was still in Catty''s arms.

    00:01:44

    The market''s central area stretched wide and gleamed under the swirling light of the void below. At its heart, the Floating Automaton, a massive construct of gears, tracked transporters, and segmented arms, hovered above a long, winding queue snaked toward the loading bay.

    This was no ordinary line. Magical beings of all shapes and sizes filled it, glaring at the contestants with annoyance, clearly affronted by their presence.

    The contestants had joined this bizarre gathering, each clutching their Orb as they tried to navigate the chaos. Tingstan''s dragon was nowhere to be seen¡ªhe stood alone, his sharp gaze fixed on the path ahead. K¨¢ra''s armor gleamed under the magical light as she stepped forward with unhurried grace while Josassod adjusted his cloak, a faint smirk playing on his lips as though the entire scene amused him. Catty stood near the back of the line, gripping her Orb tightly as her eyes darted between the receiver far away and the queue''s slow motions.

    00:01:30

    All orders must be delivered before the countdown expires!

    The Automaton droned, echoing ominously above the queue and making it move.

    The contestants pushed through the chaotic queue, a dense line of magical beings vying for a place near the receiver. A hulking stone golem, swinging its massive arms, blocked Tingstan''s path entirely. Its fists glowed with enchanted runes, and its movements were slow but powerful. Tingstan didn''t hesitate. He darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the golem''s sweeping strikes. Finally, Tingstan timed a perfect maneuver and rushed between the golem''s legs, holding the Orb like a football player with his ball.

    Just as Josassod approached the queue, a mimic disguised as a treasure chest snapped into action, bouncing directly into his path. Its sharp teeth gleamed, and it let out a menacing hiss. The djinn smirked. Without missing a beat, he reached into his satchel and pulled out a magical bait. "Fetch!" he commanded, tossing it to the mimic. The creature''s focus shifted immediately, leaping after the trinket like an enthusiastic pet.

    Silvamor skidded to a halt as a swarm of enchanted giant bees pounced on him, buzzing angrily. The bees formed a swirling cloud directly in his path. The elf retrieved a sprig of glowing herbs and waved them before the bees, releasing a disgusting aroma. They dispersed rapidly, clearing the way.

    While K¨¢ra was dealing with her illusory clone who had gotten in her way, and Qreggex was struggling with the living rope that had entangled his legs, Catty came across a hunched merchant, his beady eyes gleaming beneath the shadow of his hood.

    00:00:59

    "You''re cutting it close, aren''t you?" he crooned, his crooked fingers twitching. "Why waste time? Just hand me the Orb, and I''ll make sure it gets where it needs to go. Quick. Easy."

    The merchant''s words slid through her mind like honey, and for a moment, the idea seemed almost... reasonable.

    ''Don''t listen to him,'' R.I.''s voice grumbled in Catty''s head.

    "Quiet, you!" the merchant snapped, his tone taking on a sharp edge. He turned back to Catty, his expression softening. "You don''t have time to second-guess. Do you want to lose here, so close to the end?"

    The Orb pulsed in her hands. It was heavy. Catty''s bracelet grew warm against her wrist, and the bright red light was a clear warning.

    "Not this Tuesday," Catty said firmly, raising the Orb above her head. She brought it down with all her might on the merchant.

    His face twisted into a grimace, his form warping to reveal a shadowy creature beneath. "Suit yourself," the being hissed before vanishing into the air.

    00:00:42

    The contestants reached the dropoff point one by one. Tingstan arrived first, placing his Orb with a calculated, steady motion. The Automaton buzzed approvingly, and the words "Task Complete" appeared in shimmering letters above him. He turned sharply and strode away, his posture as crisp as his execution.

    Josassod was next, his stride exuding a confident ease. With a flourish, he delivered his Orb, the Automaton announcing his success in the same mechanical tone: "Task Complete."

    K¨¢ra followed, calm and composed. Her armor caught the light as she stepped forward. The Automaton hummed in recognition, its glowing text confirming: "Task Complete."

    Silvamor arrived moments later, and the Automaton registered his delivery: "Task Complete."

    00:00:10

    Catty''s breath was ragged as the words floated before her like a challenge. The Orb in her hands felt heavier now, each second a weight dragging her down. For a brief moment, doubt crept into her mind, clawing at her resolve. Then she gritted her teeth, clutching the Orb tightly.

    "Now or never," the girl muttered, sprinting forward.

    Her legs burned, and her lungs screamed, but the Automaton grew closer with every step. She lunged forward at the last moment, slamming the Orb into the receiver just as the timer hit 00:00:01.

    Task Complete

    Behind her, Qreggex let out a frustrated growl, charging forward with his Orb. The kobold barely managed to place it in the receiver before the final second ticked away.

    00:00:00

    The Automaton''s voice echoed across the platform.

    All orders delivered

    Task complete

    Catty collapsed to her knees, clutching her sides as relief washed over her. "Never again," she whispered, her voice trembling.

    ''Never?'' R.I.''s voice cut through the haze in her mind. ''You''re in the middle of a four-part exam.''

    THE JURY

    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 99.9817%" border="1">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td style="width: 30%"> </td>

    <td style="width: 10%">A</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">B</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">C</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">D</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">E</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">F</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">G</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="width: 30%">1. Tingstan / Dragon</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">30</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">28</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">25</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">27</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">26</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">28</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">27</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="width: 30%">2. Josassod / Phoenix</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">28</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">26</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">24</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">25</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">25</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">26</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">25</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="width: 30%">3. K¨¢ra / Pegasus</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">27</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">24</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">20</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">23</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">25</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">24</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">23</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="width: 30%">4. Catty / Dragon</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">25</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">23</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">19</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">20</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">22</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">23</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">22</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="width: 30%">5. Silvamor / Unicorn</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">24</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">22</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">21</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">19</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">21</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">22</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">21</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="width: 30%">6. Qreggex / Wyvern</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">18</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">17</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">16</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">15</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">19</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">18</td>

    <td style="width: 10%">17</td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    <blockquote>

    Driver Stats:

    A - Satisfaction, B - Performance, C - Magic Level, D - Luck.

    Mount Stats:

    E - Mount Bond, F - Speed, G - Stamina.

    </blockquote>

    Morvena tapped her fingers on the table, her eyes scanning the glowing scoreboard hovering before them. "Two tasks down, and Tingstan remains firmly at the top," she said, her tone even. "Impressive, but expected."

    "Expected?" Krabelli scoffed, leaning forward in his chair. "Tingstan''s precision borders on obsessive. Of course, he''s leading. The real surprise is Josassod. I didn''t think the djinn had the discipline to maintain second place."

    Ganzor smirked, reclining comfortably. "He''s clever. Charm and strategy go a long way, Krabelli. Distracting that mimic with a bauble? Genius."

    "Not genius," Krabelli snapped. "Showmanship. It won''t last in a real-world scenario. A mimic isn''t going to care about shiny trinkets when you''re carrying something valuable."

    Ganzor turned his attention to the middle of the rating. "K¨¢ra''s consistent as ever, but Silvamor''s handling of the enchanted bees impressed me."

    "And the human girl?" Krabelli asked, his tone dripping with skepticism. "Still bumbling her way through, I see."

    Morvena glanced at Catty''s stats, her expression unreadable. "She''s improving."

    "Improving? She barely made it through the queue!" Krabelli threw up his hands. "I still don''t see why she''s here."

    Ganzor chuckled. "She''s here because she finishes. Chaos or not, she delivers. And let''s not pretend her flair doesn''t make things... interesting."

    "Interesting doesn''t win exams," Krabelli growled. "And with the Dragon Sect watching, we can''t afford interesting."

    Morvena raised a hand to silence them, her gaze lingering on Catty''s stats. "Her results are fourth this time," she said thoughtfully. "That''s enough to keep her in the running."

    Ganzor leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. "And isn''t that what makes it worth watching?"

    "The next task," Krabelli muttered under his breath, "is more than she can chew."

    THE CELESTIALS

    "Well, that''s the end of your kobold," the first voice said, its tone sharp with mockery. "Barely scraping by in last place. So much for grit and guile."

    The second voice rumbled like stone. "Luck wasn''t on his side. A setback, nothing more."

    "A setback?" The third voice chuckled, low and smooth. "Face it, your champion was never more than a filler candidate."

    The second voice growled, but no rebuttal came. The third voice continued, now thoughtful. "Tingstan dominates, Josassod adapts, but Catty¡­" A pause lingered. "She surprises me."

    "Surprises you?" the first voice snapped. "She''s an accident waiting to happen."

    "Perhaps," the third voice mused, its tone almost playful. "Or perhaps not."