Fairies, elves, shapeshifters, demons, goblins, even humans with supernatural abilities and any other mystical creatures that you’ve only ever heard about in fairytales, all coexist together in a world called; Realm Of The Yokai.

**Yokai**- Japanese word for ghosts, demons, monsters, shapeshifters, tricksters, etc. Yokai interact with the human world and some spark common notions of frightful things.**

This world can actually be accessed by crossing a portal that connects, the Earth we all know and the magical world; Realm Of The Yokai, but of course, it’s not very simple to get there, not everyone can access or even see this portal.

You see, only a few people (or other creatures) can see the portal, and those are; either people who know and truly believe in the existence of this portal (or even the Realm Of The Yokai) or people who are born with/ obtain a certain mark and happen to come across the portal to even know it exists. *The portal is hidden.*

In any case, if you are born with or obtain one of those certain marks you are what they call a “hero.”

**Heroes**-humans who get a certain birthmark/ mark that gives them supernatural abilities, who are ranked in power strength by the birthmark they have. *

There’s three classes of birthmarks/ mark that makes a human a hero in this world of fantasy;

*Mésos**-The most common and weakest of all heroes, their birthmark/ mark that could appear anywhere in the body.*

*Amplus**- Birthmark/ mark could appear anywhere in the body below the neck but was most common to appear on the right shoulder, this class was higher and more respected than the mésos. *

*Medrus**- Bithmark/ mark could appear anywhere in the body, but was more common on one cheek. This class was the most powerful one and the most respected.**

These were the heroes that protected the world of the Realm Of The Yokai, from the fallen Yokai (bad Yokai) and all evil from coming close to and harming the people and good yokai that live in peace.

Although… there might be another class of hero that I’ve not mentioned yet, and that is because the last one that was seen, lived more than a thousand years ago, it has been so long since one was seen being born, that people and yokai started remembering those heroes as legends, and don’t believe they are real.

That class of hero was called a:

Dīvus**- Birthmark/mark with the shape of a diamond that was placed right on the forehead.**

These heroes were considered the most powerful of them all, but the rarest ability they could carry, was a very special ability that allowed them to tame any beast *or anyone really* with the help of a rare crystal, but nobody really knew what it looked like, since the last one there was, disappeared from the Realm Of The Yokai a long time ago, even if they did know how it looked, they wouldn’t be able to use it, because nobody knew how to activate it in order to work.

Anyhow, this amazing magical world exists in various stories, from very old books *Who knows how old these stories are.*

And a little girl named Aella absolutely adores these stories, she especially likes the story of a Dīvus named Akio. These stories were all introduced to her by her Grandmother, who always loved telling those stories to her, it made her happy to see how much her 5 year old granddaughter was enjoying the old stories that probably everyone had already forgotten.

This little girl was taken cared of by her Grandmother, who took responsibility of her as soon as Aella’s parents had banished from existence. Nobody knew what happened to them, the police tried looking for them many times but were unsuccessful finding any clues to what could have happened to them.

Aella never lost hope that one day she’d find them, she was sure they hadn’t yet perished and was determined to go find them when she grew up.

All this hope she had, was mostly thanks to her Grandmother’s stories, that filled her heart with joy and hope that even something like those stories could possibly come true.

*You truly need to absolute Love something to the point that is blinding (or be too naive) to be able to believe stories like those are real.*

As long as she had the love of her Grandmother, and those stories, she would always be full of hope.

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Sadly, when Aella was still 5 years old, her Grandmother passed away, and for the first time alone.

her Aunt (from her Mother’s side) and her cousin took her in, but was not very well treated by them.

One day when Aella was unfairly locked in the basement for three days punishment, with barely any food and water, and on top of that was badly ill. She was in the brink of death. She had already lost all hope at this point, but thankfully a little boy saw her through the only little window in the basement that led outside, and called for help.

The little girl wasn’t able to thank him, and tried looking for him and was unsuccessful, but she found a cute little kitten instead, which she took with her.

Now she wasn’t alone anymore.

Aella found herself thinking about the little boy more and more, and came to the conclusion, that thanks to him she would never again lose all hope.

*She fell in love with him (even though she doesn’t remember his face very well.)

[Flashback starts]

"Grandma, I looove these stories you always tell me, they're so magical!! I wish they were true... that way, I could become a powerful hero, just like the cool heroes from that world of theirs with a weird name, and I could go looking for Mom and Dad!!" The little girl told her Grandmother filled with excitement, and it made her chuckle, "Haha, their world is called, "Realm of the Yokai" sweetie, and I truly do wonder where you get all that hope from." The little girl's Grandmother said in amazement as she heard her granddaughter with still so much hope of finding her lost parents, while she had already given up so fast.

"I just know I'll find them someday Grandma, don't lose hope so soon just because the police failed to find them after a couple of tries, you just have to believe." Said the little girl reassuring her Grandmother.

Seeing her granddaughter with such confidence and determination made her eyes flicker with hope, and it made her get lost in thought for a moment. "But Grandma, the only problem there is, is that... well, I don't have any birthmarks like the ones those heroes do..." Said the little girl, a bit saddened. "Don't you worry dear, did you know that some of these heroes got their marks later on when they were older? and they were powerless when they didn't have it, but that didn't stop them, they were filled with hope just like you are and continued to train even though they had no special abilities. Their hard work and pertinence paid off in the end, even your favorite hero was like this at the start!" The Grandmother assured the little girl, and soon enough she was excited again, "Really!? does that mean Akio was like me?! that's so cool! Grandma, do you happen to know any martial arts so you could teach me?" The little girl asked her Grandmother, filled with excitement once more.

The Grandmother smiled and looked in amazement at her granddaughter, "She truly reminds me of Akio..." She thought to herself, and it seemed she was thinking of something as she kept looking at her.

"Oh dear, I'm sure I'm not fit enough to be able to teach you myself even if I did happen to know some... but, if you are interested, I could get a young friend of mine to teach you, although you'll have to wait until you turn 16 because I'm sure he won't take such a young apprentice." The Grandmother offered the little girl, she knew that her granddaughter would accept even if it did upset her at first. "Do I really have to wait that much Grandma?" The little girl asked with a sulk, "All right, I accept your offer, but with one condition." The little girl said with a smile, "And what is that condition dear?" The Grandmother asked. "You have to tell me more about those stories Grandma!" The little girl said as she jumped in excitement.

The Grandmother chuckled and wondered why she even bothered to question what her condition would be if it was so obvious that it had to be about those stories, it almost seemed like she was in love with them.

"All right, what do you want to know dear?" The Grandmother asked, "I want to know why all the stories you tell me are similar and sound like they're from the same place." The little girl asked curiously.

"Well, that's because all of those stories are connected, and you were right, they are from the same world." The grandmother smiled.

"Wow, does that mean the stories are real then?!" The little girl asked hopeful. "How did you even come up with that conclusion dear?" The Grandmother asked with a surprised giggle and then continued to answer her question.

*Grandmother looks up at the ceiling and sighs.*

"Well... what do you think?" The Grandmother asked with a curious smile, as she looked down at the little girl. The girl thought for a moment, and then responded, "I don't know if they're truly real... but I want to believe that they are... so to me... they're real! And one day, I'll go to their world Grandma... I promise!" The Grandmother looked at her and smiled.

"What a silly little girl... she truly believes in these stories of a world where Yokai and humans coexist together, along with these "heroes" that are born with supernatural abilities and take care of their world. But... I admire her... because with all her hope and determination... her dreams might come true, and she'll carry on what I couldn't finish." The Grandmother thought to herself, as she looked at the little girl with admiration and love.

"Dear, may I ask of you for a favor?" The Grandmother asked. "Sure! what is it, Grandma?" The little one responded with a sweet smile. "Promise me, that you'll never abandon all hope, and you will keep fighting for what your heart desires, can you promise me that my dear?" The Grandmother asked with all the hope she had left.

The little girl was a bit confused by her request but eventually she agreed joyfully, "Of course Grandma, I promise!" The Grandmother hugged her with a relieved smile.

*Finishes hug and takes out a little box from the pocket her cardigan had. She opens it and pulls out a necklace with a beautiful blue crystal hanging down the string.*

"Here, I want you to take care of this for me." The Grandmother said as she tied the necklace to her granddaughter's neck. "Wow, it's so pretty! Are you sure you're okay with me having it?" The little girl asked with a hesitant voice. “Of course I’m sure! It even looks better on you than on me.” The Grandmother said.

“Oh, and one thing sweetheart… if you by any chance in the future get a mark like Akio’s… please, hide it very well, and keep it a secret alright?” The Grandmother said in a serious tone, which made the little girl feel a bit concerned, but she shook it off thinking it was probably because she wanted to protect her from getting tired of everyone gathering up around her to ask for her autograph or a picture.

“Wow, Grandma is so considerate.” Thought the little girl to herself, with a touched smile. “Sure Grandma I’ll do that!” She responded thankfully, and then went to play with her toys.

The Grandmother smiled relieved by how good and understanding her granddaughter was. “I’m not sure what I did to deserve such a nice granddaughter.” Thought the Grandmother lovingly.

*Grandmother smiles and looks out the window.*

“I just wish nothing bad happens to her when I’m gone…” Thought the Grandmother.

[Flashback ends.]

*Aella wakes up before her dream starts turning grey, she sits on her bed and stays silent.*

It's been two years now since Grandmother passed away, I've been kinda lonely ever since but it's not too bad being here with Aunt Milly and Keiko. Although they don't like me very much, they still give me food and a place to sleep, so I'm grateful to them for taking care of me. All I can do in exchange is do whatever they tell me to do.

"Aella!" Aunt Milly called in a scream. "What are you doing there still in bed!? Get up to hurry and help your cousin prepare for school." Aunt Milly scolded. I quickly stood up and rushed to my cousin Keiko's room to help, but when I got there she was already dressed and ready to go.

"Next time, why don't you make sure you don't oversleep and complete your duties in time hm?" Keiko said in a cold tone. I flinched at her comment and bowed.

"Forgive me, I'll make sure to be ready to help you in time next time, I assure you," I said. "I'm sure you will dear cousin, now why don't you grab this new dress my mother just bought for me to iron it and put it away neatly?" Keiko asked with a smile on her face.

I was touched by how kind she was even after I failed to complete my tasks. "Of course! thank you for being so understanding." I said, and I left her room happily with her dress in my hands.

"I'm leaving now Mother." Said Keiko as she closed the door and left for school. Seeing cousin Keiko every weekday leaving for school, always made me wonder if I would ever go to school.

Aunt Milly said that school was only for children with a decent reputation and since that wasn't me I couldn't go. But that didn't stop me from wanting to go so I kept dreaming that maybe some other day, Aunt Milly would surprise me by letting me go to school, and I would gladly go.

[Aella finishes up her morning duties and returns to her room for a break.]

"Aimi, I'm back! where are you?" I called for my rabbit as soon as I got to my room.

Aimi, my rabbit was given to me by my Grandmother, she found Aimi hurt by the side of the road and decided to bring her home to treat her injuries, she assumed she had gotten hit by a car and that's how she ended up hurt.

After Aimi was healed, Grandma tried to release her into the wild but Aimi didn't leave and so Grandma decided to keep her. I really liked Aimi so I was overjoyed when I heard that we were keeping her. I always tried my best to take care of her, and I guess it paid off since Grandma entrusted her to me from then on.

Aimi means a lot to me, she makes me remember Grandma, and other than that, she's the one that gives me company, thanks to her I don't feel alone here at Aunt Milly's house.

*Aimi runs towards Aella to greet her as soon as she hears her voice. Aella smiles and lifts her up in a hug.*

"Are you hungry? I know the food I've been giving you isn't enough to fill your hunger, but I promise that as soon as I find good food for you I'll bring enough to fill your belly to the top!" I said, a bit saddened to see my friend getting skinnier as the days here passed by.

"...Don't worry, soon you'll be plump and healthy again, so don't you worry ok?" I said as I lifted her up to my face to give her a peck on the forehead. "It will be all right..." I repeated.