Emerald stood in front of a towering mountain deep in the woods staring at her father with glistening emerald eyes as if begging him one last time not to let her leave. She knew this day was bound to come, when her dad would stand in front of this same portal to send her off to Mytherion.

She had been vehemently against it since the beginning he had brought it up, but now, it turns out that there was no talking him out of it. Emerald Draemir, the 19 years old rich daughter of Lorcan Draemir, with beautiful ebony skin, otherworldly emerald eyes and outstanding blueish - purple hair that made her stand out wherever she found herself.

She had always been a different child, born with such distinctive features, she had known from childhood that she was someone special. Not forgetting that she had also been born with powers that enabled her control all the elements of the earth, including humans as well. She could make everything bend to her will, but she had always been taught by her father to never use these powers to bully others.

As a child, her father had always told her fairy tales about the land of magic. But she had never once thought that he would actually send her there to hone in her powers. It had come as a complete shock to her when one day, her father called her into his study and suddenly broke the news to her.

"Wait, what? I'm going to Mytherion, the land of magic? The one you always talked about in those fairy tales you told me as a kid?" Emerald asked in shock.

"Yes, sweetheart," Lorcan Draemir replied without lifting his head from the paperwork he was working on. His was a mighty conglomerate specialized fully on technology and Intel, built from scratch with his blood, sweat and tears. One could confidently name him the richest man in Woodsville.

"Dad, is this place really real? And even if it is, why do I need to go there?" Emerald asked exasperated.

Lorcan finally dropped his pen and looked up at her, "Sweetheart, if you must become better at using your powers properly, Mytherion is the place for you. And yes, Mytherion is real", he added.

"But dad...." she tried to speak but was cut off completely by him, "No buts. My words are final".

She had stormed out of his study in anger and had tried for the rest of that month to make him change his mind, but his mind was already made up. She didn't want to leave him. Her father had been her complete solace, especially when she had faced bulling as a kid because of her difference. He had taught her to never let anyone tell her how to feel. She had grown especially with the self-love her father had instilled in her.

But most especially, she was worried he would have no one to talk to when he needed it. They had been each other's shelter for as long as she could remember. She had always asked him to get himself a girlfriend or a woman to settle down with. She was nineteen already and was ready to accept any woman he fell in love with. Her mother had died while giving birth to her so she had no memory of her mother, except for what she looked like in some photos her father had shown her.

But the man was vehement against marrying anyone afraid that she would be mistreated if he remarried. She had kept on reassuring him that he had nothing to worry about, but it had all feel on deaf ears. Now he was sending her to some unknown place, forcing her to leave him behind. She had no idea what was in store for her or even for her father, but she couldn't change his mind at all.

Now they were both standing in front of this mountain - like place that was supposed to be a portal to Mytherion. As she stared at the massive wall in front, she suddenly realized why no humans knew about this magical world. Anyone who came here would simply just see it as a huge wall with so many inscriptions on it. But she wondered one thing, *how did her father know about this place*. Just as she was about to voice out the question in her mind, he suddenly stopped her, "Don't bother asking how I know about this place. You'll simply find out in dew time. I promise."

She could only keep her questions to herself while slightly pouting her lips. "Do I really have to go? I mean I could stay you know." she looked up at him with glistening emerald eyes as if begging him to let stay. "Sweetheart, I already told you right, you need to learn to use your powers to it's fullest potentials and Mytherion's the only place for you." he sighed and added calmly. "I know this is still too much for you to handle but I'm sure you'll get the hang of it"

He gave her a hug as he sighed helplessly. "I'm gonna miss you sweetheart.". "I'm gonna miss you too dad." she said as hugged him back with tears in her eyes. She really didn't want to leave him. She was especially worried about his wellbeing and sincerely prayed for his welfare. She pulled out of his embrace and turned to face the wall, and suddenly asked him if he understood the inscriptions on the wall. "What inscriptions?" Lorcan asked looking visibly surprised. She looked at him equally surprised,"Can't you see the inscriptions on the wall", she asked.

He simply smiled and said "Honey, I really can't see anything on this wall.". "Really? I wonder why I can see it while you can't", she said surprised. Lorcan looked at the her and said,"Maybe only those with magic can actually see the inscriptions on the wall". "Yeah, well that makes sense I guess", she replied just as the portal started to open. She suddenly became excited and she tapped her father, "Look dad the portal's opening", she said excitedly.

Lorcan looked at his daughter with a smile on his face, "You seem awfully excited for someone who was sad a while ago". "Well, seeing the portal suddenly open made me feel quite a bit excited", she said suddenly feeling flustered. "Can you see it?" she asked him. Lorcan looked at the great wall before him and sighed dramatically, "Oh well, looks like only those with magic can see the portal too. Unfortunately for people like us, we could never have that privilege". Emerald smiled at him, shaking her head at his dramatic tone.

"Can you tell me what it looks like?" he asked her eagerly. "Well, it looks like a ball of uh, a whirlpool of really flashy lights, I guess", she answered and added,"I really wish you could see it. It's so beautiful and I'm one for pretty things. You know dad, I'm starting to think that this magical world thing might not be so bad after all", she said giving him a reassuring look.

After a while, Lorcan turned to her said, "I suppose it's about time to go right? I mean before the portal closes". "Yeah, I guess so", Emerald replied. She could tell he wasn't ready to part just yet and she wasn't ready either. But they really had no choice now, or the portal would close on her. She turned to hug him one last time. "I love you daddy. Never you forget that", she was using his against him now. He simply smiled at her as his heart melted over and over again. "I love you too sweetie, and stop using my own words against me, okay?" he said ruffling her hair slightly.

They reluctantly separated as she stepped into portal. Turning back one last time to see his face as the portal closed behind her. She was really going to miss him. Just as she turned to keep on moving, she suddenly found herself being pulled along by little tiny fairys. She suddenly thought she was seeing things until she stepped out of the portal and was welcomed by the most beautiful sight unimaginable.

As Emerald stepped out of the portal, she suddenly became entranced. She gaped in awe of what she was staring at. She had never seen anything like this world but one thing was certain. She was in for some big treat. She tried to find her way around when she was suddenly obstructed by two creatures that could have been on the same height as her if they were to stand on their hind legs.

She was suddenly pulled out of her thoughts, just as she heard them speak, "Welcome to Mytherion, Lady Emerald Draemir", the creatures said in unison. She jumped back in surprise,"Y -yyyy", she stopped and took a really deep breath before speaking again, "What are you?" she asked with obvious fear written on her face. The creatures simply signaled her to follow them. She wasted a moment before sceptically following them.

After a while, the creatures spoke up again, "We're Lycan's. We are the stewards of Mytherion. We welcome every magical creatures that come into our world. Magical creatures like you." they said again in unison. Emerald took a while to digest what she had just heard before saying, "Okay, I understand you're Lycans, but Lycans aren't supposed to talk, yet you do." The Lycans simply said, "You seem to forget that you are in the land of magic. In this world, everything is possible". After that brief conversation, they walked in silence while Emerald proceeded to observe the world she had stepped into.

As they walked, she noticed the sun in this world shone especially bright, yet felt effortlessly warm on the skin. The warm golden rays of the sun gave her a tingling sensation on her skin, like walking through a field of trimmed grasses. She also noticed that although the sun shone especially bright, it didn't feel as hot, unlike in the human world. As she looked up at the sun, she noticed fairys dressed in golden yellow like the sun, dancing and twirling around it. And as they danced and twirled, the rays from the sun moved according to their rhythm, evenly spreading out across the realm.

The Lycans noticed her gaze and answered her before she even asked, "Those are the sun fairys. They are the ones who make sure that the sun spreads our evenly across the realm during the day".

      "They dance like this all day", Emerald asked totally mesmerized by the sight. "Yes, all day from the rising of the sun to it's setting. They dance like this till the first beam of moonlight rises across the realm, paving the way for the moon fairys." the Lycans replied. After a while, the Lycans stopped in their tracks, "Alright, this is where we shall drop you off. We must return to the portal entrance and await the arrival of other magical creatures. You shall be met here by two earth fairys who will then lead to the great hall", the Lycans said as a got to a bridge that looked like it was made of glass. Underneath the bridge was a shimmering lake that reflected the rays of the sun.

Inside the lake, Emerald saw creatures she had only heard of in fairytales. Seahorses that had the bodies of fishes, fishes with wings, crabs that looked like seahorses and even mer - people. She was so entranced that she had no idea when the Lycans left. She only managed to come to when she noticed two fairys land in front of her. They were the earth fairys that had been sent to bring her to the great dome hall.

     "Hello there. We're Zane and Leia Luxe and we are the earth fairys sent to bring you to the great dome hall." both fairys spoke together rather enthusiastically. Emerald smiled awkwardly at them while offering them a polite "Hi, I'm Emerald Draemir". "Well, nice to meet you Lady Emerald Draemir", Leia said with a beautiful smile on her face then added, "Don't mind that we are like this. We're twins actually, so you we're kind of connected".

"Oh, it's okay. I totally understand. Besides, I can actually see the resemblance." Emerald said with a polite smile. The twins were dressed in the same way, with leaves and flowers for clothes. Leia's dress was a made from green plants and styled intricately with beautiful daffodil flowers, while Zane's was simply made with just green plants, yet they still had an intricate design like they were styled with magic. As she looked around her, she noticed all earth fairys were dressed up the same way.

"Ok, let's take you to the great dome hall where your welcome ceremony is being held. We still have a long way to go." Zane said as he pulled her along.

Are we gonna get there on foot if we still have a long way to go?" Emerald asked puzzled. "Who said anything about walking", Leia asked looking obviously excited. Emerald simply stared in confusion when suddenly a large eagle landed right in front of them. Emerald yelped in shock, "Th - th - that is a giant eagle, right?". "Yep, meet Star. She's My beast companion," Leia said enthusiastically, "She's the one who's gonna be taking us to the great dome hall," she added.

"What? There is no way in hell I'm getting on that bird. What? You want me to die before I even make my mark here?" Emerald asked looking so scared. Suddenly the eagle cawed like it was trying to say something and surprisingly, she could actually understand it. But she said nothing as she was still obviously so scared of the bird. The Leia looked at her in surprise, "Star says it would be an honor for her if you were to ride on her back".

"Awwww, really? She said that?" Zane said obviously doting on his sister and her beast companion.

"You understand what she's saying", Emerald asked in surprise. "Yeah. Everyone understands their beast companion", Zane replied and was about to reply when Leia cut in, "Once you bond with your beast companion, you'll always be able to understand whatever they say". "You'll get to feel it too when you bond with your beast companion", she added.

The eagle cawed again, "She obviously understands me. She's just pretending not to". Emerald simply smiled awkwardly as Leia looked at her again in surprise. "Uh, why don't we hurry up and take off to the great hall or we might end up being late for the ceremony ", she said, her fear suddenly disappearing. She was afraid of being discovered this early on than of falling off the back of the giant eagle bird. She clearly remembered her father's warning, "Don't let anyone realize that you have control over everything around you unless absolutely necessary. Okay?". "Okay dad," she had replied obediently.

Soon they took off and she set to admire the world in all it's glory.

As they flew over the ground, and Emerald began admiring the world below, she felt a sudden sense of familiarity, like she had once been here. She simply shrugged it off and kept on admiring her surroundings. They soon got to the school and landed in front of the school gate.

The moment she stepped through the school’s gates, the air changed.

It wasn’t hostile — not exactly — but it pressed against her skin in a way that made her acutely aware of herself. Of her breath. Of the unfamiliar weight settling in her chest.

The gates sealed behind her with a sound too final to be comforting.

The academy rose before her in layered towers of stone and crystal, ancient runes drifting faintly across its surface like slow-moving constellations. Magic hummed through the ground beneath her boots — old, deep, and restless.

She swallowed.

Why does this feel like coming back somewhere I shouldn’t remember?

Other students filtered in around her, their voices low, their eyes bright with awe or ambition. Some glanced her way and looked quickly away. Others stared openly, brows furrowing as if something about her didn’t sit right.

She tried not to let it bother her.

Inside, the corridors curved in impossible ways, stairs shifting subtly beneath their feet. The academy breathed — that was the only way she could describe it. The walls pulsed faintly as students passed, responding to spells and signatures she couldn’t see.

Then she stepped forward.

The runes brightened.

A whisper ran through the hall — not voices, but magic reacting, stirring like something waking from sleep. The light along the walls flared before dimming again, leaving an uneasy silence in its wake.Several instructors exchanged looks.

Her fingers curled instinctively.

I didn’t do anything.

As they got to the great dome, the twins finally left, "Well we'll leave you on your own now. This is as far as we can go", Zane said while Leia wished her her good luck. She simply waved them goodbye with a small smile on her face and turned to face the great dome hall before, where she would finally begin a new version of her life.

The Great Dome stood at the very heart of the academy, a structure so vast and flawless it felt less like architecture and more like a living thing shaped by ancient will.

Its surface was smooth, pale stone veined with runes that glimmered faintly beneath the light, as though something beneath the walls breathed slowly and patiently. As the gathered students approached, the runes brightened in recognition — not of faces or names, but of the magic carried within each of them.

The doors did not creak or groan.

They parted silently, stone flowing away from stone, revealing an interior that made her stop short without meaning to.

The Dome expanded upward into impossible height, the ceiling dissolving into shadow where floating lights drifted like constellations caught mid-creation. They moved slowly, deliberately, rearranging themselves as though responding to something unseen. Tier upon tier of curved platforms rose around the central floor, each etched with sigils softened by centuries of use.

Magic saturated the air.

Not wild, not aggressive — but deep, heavy, ancient. It pressed against her skin gently, insistently, like a memory she couldn’t quite grasp.

This place was old.

Older than kingdoms.

Older than laws.

Students were guided toward the center, where a vast sigil had been carved directly into the stone floor. Its design was asymmetrical, its lines looping and intersecting in ways that made her eyes ache if she stared for too long, as though the symbol resisted being fully understood.

The moment her foot crossed its boundary, something shifted.

The air tightened.

Her breath caught.

High above, figures emerged from the shadows — senior mages of the academy, robed in layered fabrics stitched with symbols of authority and restraint. Their faces were composed, distant, but their eyes glowed faintly with power as old as the Dome itself.

“The Great Dome welcomes those who bear magic,” one of them spoke, their voice amplified without echo. “It does not judge your worth, nor your lineage. It sees only the nature of your power.”

A quiet murmur rippled through the gathered students.

One by one, names were called.Each student stepped forward, placing themselves at the heart of the sigil. Light responded obediently — flaring crimson, sapphire, gold, violet — clear manifestations of affinity. The runes lining the Dome’s walls glowed briefly, then dimmed, recording each result with quiet precision.

Order.

Control.

Predictability.

When her name was spoken, the Dome went unnaturally still.

Even the floating lights above slowed.

She told herself it meant nothing.

As she stepped into the center, warmth spread beneath her feet. The sigil pulsed once — then again — not in response, but in recognition, like a heart finding a familiar rhythm.

Light did not rise.

Instead, the air bent.

The runes along the walls flickered unevenly, some blazing bright while others dimmed, as if uncertain how to react. Symbols surfaced among them — curved, archaic markings long removed from modern spell craft. A few of the senior mages stiffened visibly.

Her chest tightened.

For a fleeting, terrifying instant, she felt an ache so sharp it stole the breath from her lungs — the sensation of standing somewhere she had once loved… and lost.

The Dome shuddered.

Not violently. Not dangerously.

But enough.

“Enough,” one of the senior mages said sharply, raising a hand.

The sigil dimmed. The air settled. The lights above resumed their slow drift, as though nothing had occurred.

But the silence left behind was heavier than before.

“She will undergo further assessment,” the mage announced smoothly. “The ceremony will continue.”

She was guided back to the edge of the floor, her legs unsteady, her pulse racing. Around her, whispers spread — curiosity tangled with unease. Some students stared openly now. Others avoided her gaze entirely.

Above them all, the Great Dome dimmed its runes — not in rejection…

…but in restraint.

As though it had seen her.

And chosen to wait.

...****************...

Far beyond the academy’s walls, at the very edge of the realm, the world itself stirred.

Krien Krade, the almighty Demon God froze mid-step.

The sensation struck without warning — a ripple through the ancient magic binding the realm together, sharp and unmistakable. It was not a threat. Not an attack.

It was a presence.

His breath caught painfully in his chest.

That magic…

No one else would have recognized it. No one else could have felt the disturbance for what it truly was. But he knew it the way one knows their own name, their own heartbeat.

Her.

The realm answered her instinctively — wards flaring, ancient systems awakening, the Great Dome itself reacting to something it had not felt in centuries.

He closed his eyes.

For a moment, the world tilted — memory crashing against restraint, grief pressing hard against ribs that had learned to endure far too much.

She had returned.

And she did not remember.

Good.

No — not good.

Necessary.

He turned away from the pull with effort that left his hands clenched at his sides, shadows curling restlessly around his feet.

Not yet, he told himself, the thought sharp and deliberate.

Let her live. Let her learn. Let her choose.

Because if she saw him now…

He was not certain the realm would survive it.