Three days has past since Olivia mysteriously turned bad. Zavier, Olivia, Chloe, Katelain, Richard, and Jessica all journeyed together to the mainland. It had been a difficult road—especially for Katelain, who had lost everyone she came to Earth with, her soldiers, loyal servants, friends all gone. The one responsible for their deaths still roamed free. Yet, for the sake of her younger brother, she kept her grief buried.
Despite their differences, they had started to grow closer, slowly becoming a team. Jessica had the rare ability to transform into any animal she desired. though she and Zavier had something together but they kept it down
Zavier could bend matter to his will, creating any weapon just by thinking of it.
Olivia—still struggling to fully understand her powers—could move things with her mind.
Richard, the youngest among them at thirteen, had the uncanny ability to read minds, which had once made Katelain want to kill him—until Zavier convinced her otherwise.
Then there was Chloe—who, unlike the others, had no powers at all.
Olivia was still recovering emotionally. She carried deep regrets for how she had once treated someone who was only trying to help her. The weight of her past clung to her like a shadow.
As dawn crept over the horizon, sleep clung heavily to their eyes. But suddenly, Richard shot up, wide-eyed.
"I hear them," he whispered urgently. "People. Their thoughts. We're close to the city. I think we're finally here."
He reached over and tapped Zavier gently.
"Zave, wake up. I think we're close—I think we're here!" he said all at once, his voice trembling with excitement. It was odd, almost too excited for someone his age—unless there was another reason for his joy.
Zavier rubbed his eyes, annoyed. "And what makes you think that? Just some random intuition?"
"No," Richard replied quickly. "I told you—I can hear thoughts when I focus. I'm telling you, we're near the city."
The commotion stirred the others. One by one, they began to wake up.
"Hey," Katelain said, stretching. "Maybe we should listen to the kid. Let's just move."
They all rose slowly, packing up their belongings and brushing sleep from their eyes. With cautious steps, they pushed forward through the last stretch of forest.
Then, suddenly, the trees gave way to an open field—and far off in the distance, they could see the outline of a massive city.
"Yeah," Zavier said with a smile. "We're here." He let out a small laugh of relief. "We actually made it."
"Yeah, we're here. Ha-ha!" Zavier laughed, patting Olivia on the back. "I always knew we were getting close."
"Oh, you knew now, huh?" Olivia raised an eyebrow as Chloe burst into laughter, nearly laughing herself breathless.
"Yeah, I knew! Olivia, don't be jealous of me. Ask them—I totally knew," Zavier insisted, puffing up proudly.
"I don't think so," Jessica chimed in, smirking. "I clearly remember Richard urging us to move forward."
"Yeah, I remember that too," Katelain added with a chuckle.
They all laughed at Zavier, who crossed his arms in mock frustration.
"Yeah, whatever. I just wanted to see what you all would say," he replied with a goofy gesture.
"Do you though?" Olivia teased. "Or do you think we don't remember what actually happened?"
They continued toward the city, which had looked small from a distance but grew grand and imposing the closer they got. It was surrounded with tall walls that ran around the city
.When they reached the main gate, a small entrance opened, and a few guards stepped forward.
"Identify yourselves," one of the guards commanded, eyeing them cautiously.
They all hesitated, unsure of what to say—until Richard stepped forward confidently.
"I'm home. I need to return to my grandmother," he said. "We live here."
Zavier blinked in surprise. Who is this kid, really? he wondered.
"Oh—Richard? Are these your...?" one of the guards asked, squinting.
"Friends," Richard said quickly. "They helped me find my way back."
"Right then—let them in at once," the guard ordered without hesitation. The group was allowed into the city.
"How... how did you do that?" Jessica asked, wide-eyed.
"They're just letting us in without even checking who we really are?" Olivia added, equally stunned.
"Well," Richard said with a mischievous smirk, "I might've done a little trick to their minds."
His face looked proud and rounder than usual, his smirk growing wider.
The city was massive. The houses looked vibrant, and woody, though most was built with real walls. The streets were clean and bustling, paved smoothly with polished stone. Shops lined the way, overflowing with goods and people.
Far off, towering over everything, was the Citadel—a magnificent structure at the heart of the city, with a sharp pinnacle that pointed high into the sky
"Ah, this is more like it," Zavier said with a chuckle. "Come on, people—let's find somewhere to drop our stuff."
"Don't worry, my grandma really lives here," Richard replied confidently. "Just follow me."
They all did, moving through the vibrant city as Richard led the way. Zavier caught up to him, folding his arms across his chest as he eyed the boy curiously.
"Hey, Richy, mind telling me a bit more about yourself? Because last I checked... humans don't have gifts like yours."
"Well, I'm not human," Richard said plainly. "I'm not from this world, either. Actually—no—I'm not from your world either," he added, answering the unspoken question already forming in Zavier's mind.
"Wow. That's great—you've been poking through my head," Zavier muttered, nodding slowly.
"Sorry, I couldn't help it," Richard said sheepishly.
"I'm not a traitor, by the way. And no, I'm not leading you into a trap," he added quickly, turning to Chloe.
"I'm going to kill him soon," Chloe said loudly, making everyone laugh as they continued following Richard's lead.
They continued on until they stopped before a large, wooden house with a beautiful, intricate design. It looked warm and inviting, standing out even among the other impressive homes in the city.
"We're here," Richard said, casting a slightly nervous look at the door.
"This is your grandma's house?" Olivia asked in amazement. "It's... well, huge."
"Yeah, I know," Richard replied, stepping forward and raising his hand to knock—only for the door to swing open before he touched it.
"Richard!" came a plump woman's voice. She wore a loose pink gown and had a high-pitched, musical tone. She looked to be in her late seventies, her grey hair braided into a bun.
"Oh, Richard, come here, boy!" she cried, pulling him into a tight embrace. "Where have you been? I've been worried sick! And—who are these behind you?"
"These are my friends," Richard said quickly. "They need somewhere to stay. Don't worry—we'll explain everything once we're inside."
"Well, come on in, people!" she said, waving them in cheerfully.
They stepped into the cozy house. It was cool and smelled of herbs and freshly baked bread. Candles flickered from bronze sconces mounted on the wooden walls, casting a soft golden glow. The floors were covered in thick, warm furs, muffling their footsteps.
"Would you like something to eat?" she asked warmly, motioning toward the kitchen.
"Yes, ma'am, we are starving," Zavier replied, and for once, everyone nodded in agreement.
Grandma Luu smiled warmly and began setting the table. Soon, the table was covered with food—steaming chicken soup, golden pudding, soft cakes, and a bowl of fresh fruits.
It looked like it had been ages since they had real food, and the way they devoured the meal showed just how hungry they truly were.
"Well, Grandma Luu, this food is amazing," Jessica commented between bites, and everyone murmured their agreement, too busy eating to speak clearly.
"Oh, thank you, dear," Grandma Luu said, her eyes crinkling with delight. "You look beautiful, too—you and her," she added, pointing to Olivia, "and her as well," gesturing to Katelain, "and her, indeed," she said finally, pointing to Chloe.
They all laughed, the atmosphere finally light and cheerful.
Then, after a pause, Grandma Luu took a sip from her soup and asked, "Well then, what brings you to the Mainlands?"
There was a short silence before Zavier cleared his throat and began recounting their story, taking care to explain things in an orderly fashion. He spoke of the journey, their powers, the battles they had faced, and the strange twists that had brought them all together.
Grandma Luu listened intently, her expression gradually becoming more thoughtful. When he finished, she took a deep breath, her eyes settling on Olivia.
"Olivia Craig, right?" she asked softly, as if the name had stuck with her the moment Zavier mentioned it.
"Right…" Olivia replied cautiously, unsure why her name had drawn such attention.
"Is your mother Lindallof Craig? And… her mother—was her name Choo Shang?"
Olivia froze, the piece of meat she had been about to bite slipping slowly from her fingers. Chloe looked at her in confusion.
"Yes…" Olivia finally said, her voice low and cautious. "That's right. But… how do you know that?"
Grandma Luu sat back in her chair, her eyes filled with memory.
"I knew your mother. In fact, we were all from the same world—Belmund, the Realm of Beauty."
The room fell into stunned silence. Everyone looked at Grandma Luu, and then back at Olivia, who seemed frozen in place.
Even Chloe swallowed hard, her expression suddenly unsure.
"You see, your mother was a very powerful woman," Grandma Luu began, her voice soft and laced with memory. "She was very powerful and had this gift—a rare ability to see what had not yet happened. She was also my very good friend. I knew her well, through an even older friend, Choo... Oh, I still can't believe she's gone."
She paused, sighing deeply before continuing.
"Well, your mother, Lindaloff, started having these visions—disturbing ones. They troubled her greatly. So she began researching them, trying to understand. That was when she stumbled upon knowledge of the weapons. The mystical relics. She discovered that some of the visions she had were tied to these weapons... and she dug even deeper into their whereabouts."
Grandma Luu's eyes dimmed with the weight of memory.
"It became too much. She finally confided in her mother, Choo—but Choo didn't approve. She feared what her daughter's actions might awaken. She warned her to stop—that it was dangerous, and that she could be drawing unwanted attention."
"But Lindallof didn't stop," Grandma Luu said gravely. "She was determined to make sure the weapon sealed within our world—Belmund—was kept safe. No one was allowed near it. Not the Diamond of Wish. Not ever."
At this, she paused. Her face went still.
"She was caught trying to confirm that the Diamond was still secure, she had broken into were it was hidden just to make sure it was safe. It was forbidden—even for someone like her. She was judged, and as punishment… she was banished."
Grandma Luu looked down at her soup, as if seeing the past ripple in its surface.
"But just before she left… something happened. She fell into a trance right there in front of the Elders. And then—she spoke. But not in her voice. It echoed… powerful, unearthly."
Grandma Luu's tone dropped to a whisper as she repeated the words:
"'Beware, for a deadly and bloodthirsty king will rise, seeking ultimate power. He will rip the heart from Beauty itself. And the greatest power within the realm will be his to spare.'"
"They called it the Olyrida's Curse after that," Grandma Luu said. "That was the name she used in our old secret circle—Olyrida."
"Olyrida…" Olivia whispered, her eyes wide. "That was the name she gave to the fountain… the one she said was sacred to her."
"Perhaps that was no coincidence, child," Grandma Luu nodded. "We never knew she was pregnant when she left. And we certainly didn't know who the father was."
She looked directly at Olivia now, her eyes solemn.
"But, child… the man you believed was your father—he was not. He was Chloe's father. But not yours, Olivia."
A heavy silence settled over the room. Olivia's face drained of colour. Her grip tightened on the table's edge. Chloe looked stunned. No one knew what to say.
"Then… who was my real father?" Olivia pondered.