Chapter 3

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...Elara quietly slipped into the village library and gently closed the wooden door behind her. The small room fell silent, the only sound coming from the soft rustle of pages and the distant waves of the sea outside. Tall wooden shelves covered the walls, filled with books whose language she could not understand....

...Without wasting any time, Elara stepped into the center of the room. Taking a slow breath, she closed her eyes and whispered a soft spell. A faint glow began to form around her fingers as her magic awakened. As the crown princess of her world, her magic was powerful. Within moments, knowledge began flowing into her mind. The strange symbols in the books slowly became clear, as if the meaning of every word was being placed directly into her thoughts....

...But using magic in the human world was dangerous for her. It drained her strength quickly....

...Just as she finished the spell, the library door suddenly creaked open....

...Kian stepped inside....

...For a brief moment, their eyes met in silence....

...Before Elara could react, the room began spinning around her. Her vision blurred, and all the strength left her body. The next second, she collapsed....

...Kian quickly rushed forward and caught her before she could hit the floor. His strong arm wrapped around her waist, holding her steady. Her body felt light and fragile in his arms, her breathing weak....

...Without wasting another second, Kian lifted her in a bridal carry and hurried toward the doctor’s hut....

...The doctor immediately began examining her while Kian stood nearby, his expression serious....

...“What happened to her?” Kian asked quietly. “She was fine before.”...

...The doctor checked her pulse carefully before letting out a slow breath....

...“She is only exhausted,” he explained calmly. “Her body is still weak after the storm and the cold river water. She fainted because she pushed herself too much. There is nothing to worry about.”...

...Hearing this, Kian nodded slightly, though something still felt strange to him....

...Later that night, he returned to his small hut and tried to sleep. But sleep refused to come. Every time he closed his eyes, the same memories returned to him—the moment he pulled the mysterious girl from the river, the strange curiosity in her eyes, and the way she seemed to observe everything around her....

...It felt as if the memories were replaying inside his mind like scenes from a film....

...Something about her was different....

...And he could feel it....

...Morning soon arrived, and the villagers began preparing for their daily work. Some fishermen were getting ready to sail into the sea while others prepared to travel to the nearby city to sell their goods....

...Kian was among those who would go fishing that day....

...As he walked through the village, his eyes suddenly landed on Elara . She was standing near the clinic, quietly watching him. For a moment, she simply stared at him....

...He looks handsome… she thought to herself. But why is he always so cold?...

...Noticing her gaze, Kian walked toward her....

...“Don’t try to harm my people,” he said coldly. “If you—”...

...Before he could finish speaking, Elara suddenly raised her hand and gently placed her finger on his lips....

...Kian froze in shock....

...For a brief moment, his heart began beating faster, a strange feeling rising inside him that he could not explain....

...Elara leaned slightly closer to his ear and whispered softly, “I dare not… and I will not.”...

...Their eyes met again for a second before Kian quickly stepped back. Without saying another word, he turned and walked away....

...Elara watched him leave, curiosity shining in her eyes. She wanted to understand him more....

...Later, she returned to the doctor’s hut. While speaking with him, she accidentally called him “father.”...

...The doctor froze for a moment. His eyes slowly filled with tears. He had never married and had never had a family of his own....

...Realizing what she had said, Elara quickly lowered her head....

...“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “May I… call you father?”...

...The doctor smiled gently and nodded. In truth, he had already begun to think of her as his daughter....

...“Since you cannot remember your past,” he said kindly, “how about I give you a name?”...

...Elara nodded....

...“How about… Vira?” he suggested....

...Her eyes brightened instantly. She smiled happily and hugged him tightly....

...Excited like a small child who had received a new toy, she ran outside and began telling the villagers about her new name....

...From that day forward, the mysterious girl who had appeared during the storm was no longer just a stranger....

...She was Vira....

...And slowly, she began to feel as if the village had become her new family....

...As the sun slowly disappeared behind the sea, darkness began to spread across the village. The soft orange light faded from the sky, and the villagers gathered near the shore, waiting for the fishermen who had gone out to sea earlier that day....

...Lanterns flickered in the evening breeze while worried whispers moved through the crowd. The fishermen usually returned before nightfall, but today the sea remained strangely silent....

...Suddenly, a man came running toward the village....

...“Doctor! Doctor!” he shouted loudly, his voice filled with panic....

...Everyone turned toward him in shock. The doctor quickly stepped forward, his expression serious....

...“What happened?” he asked....

...The man was breathing heavily, clearly exhausted. “A shark attacked us,” he said between breaths. “It happened when we were returning to the shore. Some of the fishermen are injured.”...

...The villagers gasped in fear, their faces instantly turning pale....

...“How many are hurt?” the doctor asked urgently. “Is anyone seriously injured?”...

...The man hesitated for a moment before answering, his voice lowering....

...“Kian… he…”...

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