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yan-lorkai · 22 days ago

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Chapter One: The Deities City

☆ A/N: Finally the first chapter is done, I've been working on this since last halloween but the idea was not developed enough back there so I didn't said anything till I had thought of a good, coherent plot. I said before that this was inspired by movies like Jeepers creepers and Midsommar and it's true. But this take a lot of influence of Setealem too, which is a brazilian legend where sometimes you enter another dimension without knowing through an invisible portal and, if you're lucky you will find your way back home. Otherwise you be trapped there forever (i can talk in more detail later if someone wants to hear).

Also I don't know exactly how many chapter there will be, maybe five to ten because I wrote a lot and I mean A LOT, plus I've created some random names for a few nameless characters (Jade and Floyd's parents, Azul's mom, etc). Anyway I'm rambling now, BUT not everything is what it seems! Have a fun read, y'all! :3

☆ Word account: 10553

☆ Tagging: @harukishiyo @jackalope0 @yuuandtheghost @laythestar @whimsybloom @dandyslibrary @gensou-rakuen @orisaspirin @shironakuronatasa @kiraiyugen

☆ Warnings: Yandere content, gn!reader, lovesick!jade, drugging, this chapter is more slow paced, gotta set the mood first to stole y'all breath later :D

The room was shrouded in dim light, illuminated only by the flickering flames of candles positioned around a dark wooden table. The scent of melted wax mingled with the faint aroma of damp earth, as if it had been brought from a distant place. At the center of the table, among the candles, rested an ancient ceramic bowl, partially filled with grains of black soil, as if it were the pulsing heart of something far greater.

The woman leaned over the table, gazing at the soil with deep, expressionless eyes, the tone of her eyes reflecting against the light. She lightly moved her fingers, tracing circles on the worn wood, as her voice emerged as a whisper, laden with secrets.

“The soil... it's more fertile now,” she said slowly, without raising her eyes. She seemed to be thinking deeply, unaware of the things happening around her. “It's the sign we've been waiting for over the past centuries. The roots have begun to grow more, and they are strong.”

The man, seated on the other side of the table, observed with an attentive expression and eyes trained to recognize such signs, humming in a cheerful tone. His hands rested on his knees, motionless, but his eyes gleamed with a dark curiosity.

“The roots have grown, yes,” he murmured softly. “But it was what we gave them that allowed this. You know that, Meli.”

She nodded slightly, an almost imperceptible movement. “The sacrifices... each one of them, feeding the soil. The earth demands, and we offer.” Her voice echoed in the room, as if carrying an ancient weight, centuries of secrets kept. “But don't you think the soil... has become greedier since our little lost lamb is finally returning home after all this time?”

A heavy silence hung between them, broken only by the faint crackling of the candles. The man leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes fixed on the bowl of soil. “The earth takes what is necessary. No more, no less.” He hesitated before continuing. “But the offerings... They've been brought back home now. Each one... returning to the place they came from. Whoever our little lamb is, we will find them if they've truly come back this time.”

The woman slowly lifted her gaze, locking eyes with the man for the first time. Her expression remained impenetrable, but there was a gleam in the depths of her stare, an unspoken question.

“Could you bear another millennium without them?” Her voice was a barely audible whisper.

He smiled, a brief and enigmatic smile, as if he already knew the answer before the conversation began. “The oracle foretold it, Meli. That’s how the cycle works.” His eyes shone with a mystery she seemed to understand perfectly. “The soil feeds, and so do we. Our child will return, be patient.”

The silence returned, heavier this time. The candle flames flickered again, casting distorted shadows on the walls. Both of them knew they were speaking of more than just offerings. The soil, the blood, the lives that had been given — it was all part of an ancient pact, something neither dared to mention directly.

The knowledge of primordial events, their history, a story marked upon the world, passed from father to son, from son to grandson, never stopping.

She lowered her gaze back to the bowl of soil. “Sometimes I wonder, will the sacrifices be remembered?”

“Not in the way you expect,” the man replied, his voice firm but soft. “They’ll be forgotten, like all the others, but what they gave will live on in the soil. The earth never forgets, and neither do we.”

The woman smiled, a cold but satisfied smile.

“Then so be it,” she said softly. “The soil is ready. Now, it just needs more.”

He joined his hand with hers, their fingers fitting together perfectly as she leaned over the table to seal their lips in a chaste kiss.

“Soon, we will all be together again.”

...

"Hey, Azul, are we there yet?"

Floyd asked in a bored tone, deliberately dragging out the syllables to sound as irritating as possible. His smirk widened, his heterochromatic eyes twinkling with mischief, relishing in the annoyance he was causing - Azul was his chosen target. And Floyd had been tormenting him for a while now with no intention of stopping anytime soon.

It was funny, the way his lips curled and the strict glare he directed to his friend. Floyd was having too much fun to stop, Azul's glasses were slowly slipping down his nose, which he pushed back up and gripping the steering wheel, he turned to look at Floyd exasperated.

There were many things he wanted to shout and say but he remained focused on the silent road, containing a sigh inside his chest as Floyd poked his cheek and made a “bop” sound repeatedly.

For the past thirty minutes, he had been incessantly repeating the same question, fully aware of the answer, or, like he liked to do, poking and pinching Azul's sides. His voice grew louder and more obnoxious each time he asked something, loud enough to rouse you from the deep sleep that had claimed you hours ago and earn a stern glare from his twin brother, Jade. As well as Azul, who elbowed him hard.

"We'll be there in half an hour, if you stop pestering me we'll arrive even earlier," Azul replied, his tone heavy with irritation.

The car trudged along the muddy road, rocking gently with every bump. The warmth of Jade's embrace enveloped you, your eyelids threatening to drop shut once more. You were so comfortable and cozy, and you fought against the tiredness to stay awake, nestled in his arms as if they were made to hold you. It was then that you realized that he had wrapped a blanket around you as you slept. You smiled at that.

A yawn escaped you, drowsiness seeping through your limbs as "Take Me to Church" started to play softly on the radio. The sound was hypnotizing, albeit a little strange and faded. You didn't give it much thought, returning your attention to Azul's explanation.

"We just follow the road and we'll arrive there soon," He said, pointing to the aged map in Floyd's lap. Yellowed and dog-eared, it was evident that they had traveled through this route many times during their childhood.

And, despite having their phones right now, they still decided to rely on the map instead. You could only guess the reason; their hometown was a small city in the middle of the country, not many knew about it. You yourself didn't know much about it.

"But it takes so long..." Floyd complained, rolling up the map and stashing it in the glove compartment impatiently. In a rhythmic pattern he drummed his fingers against the window, humming along with the song. “Can't we take a shortcut?”

Nobody replied.

Though there was no shortcut. Not anymore at least. A few years ago, that road had a number of shortcuts, but eventually nature arranged so that none more could be used. Only the main road was the option now, even then sometimes the fog fell over it, blinding everyone. Even the more reckless motorists had to be careful, otherwise, they'd be put to sleep forever.

Resigned, Floyd retrieved his phone from his pocket, popped in his earphones, and tuned out the world around him.

The travel thus far had been rather lengthy, a solid eight hours of driving at a brisk pace with only a few brief stops for restroom breaks and leg stretches. You hadn't anticipated it dragging on for so long, and your legs were already feeling numb from remaining in the same position for hours.

Despite your discomfort, Jade seemed content to hold you securely in his arms, a soft smile playing on his lips as he looked at you with adoration. He always looked at you like this.

"My face is probably all puffy, huh?" You chuckled.

Jade's mismatched eyes traced over your features, and he chuckled. "Yes, it is, but it only adds to your charm, if I do say so myself. You're so adorable I could bite your cheeks."

"You flatterer," You teased, rolling your eyes but unable to suppress the smile tugging at your lips. Jade may have called you adorable, but in that moment, he was the epitome of adorableness in your eyes.

Turning your attention to the window, you watched as the verdant landscape slowly shifted before your eyes. It was a stark contrast to the bustling city life you were accustomed to, with towering trees reaching towards the orange-tinged sky and birds returning to their nests for the evening. There was a serene beauty to it all and you found yourself captivated by the tranquil scenery. You felt strangely at home, in peace, almost as if it was the first time you were feeling this kind of peace.

On the horizon, a herd of cows and calves caught your eye, and you couldn't help but press your face against the window in excitement.

"Yo, Jade, look at them!" You exclaimed, your voice brimming with childlike wonder as you pointed in their direction. Your boyfriend chuckled beside you, his amusement evident in his tone. "They're so cute."

"How much do you love them?" He asked teasingly.

"A lot!" You turned to face with a playful glare, his hand cupping your face tenderly.

"Then you're going to have a blast when we arrive. There are plenty of cows and hens in Setealem. I'm sure Grandma Marja would let you play and feed them if you ask nicely." Jade chuckled a little as if he knew a secret that you don't. He did this a lot sometimes. “Be careful with the hens though, they can be quite aggressive.”

You nodded, your heart swelling with anticipation as you imagined all the adventures awaiting you in their hometown. The city may have been small, with only about twenty families living there, but Floyd and Jade had told you countless tales and stories, while Azul had explained its unique customs.

They even had their own gods and mythology. You could remember

Setealem sounded like a fascinating place, and you were eager to explore it alongside them. Strange enough searching about it on google didn't work, nor didn't when you searched for their unique gods or history, as if it didn't exist at all - Floyd assured you that it was because many people didn't know the place, as it was just a small district without any nearby state neighbors.

You had been longing to meet Jade's parents for some time now but college was kicking your ass hard and you couldn't afford to travel with them before because of it. Sneaking a glance in his direction as he passed bottles of water to his brother and Azul, you knew you were serious about your future together. One day, you hoped to slip a ring onto Jade's finger and call him yours.

And to do that, you needed to earn his parents' blessing �� with a little help from Floyd and Azul to orchestrate the proposal, of course. You had such a clear vision of how you wanted it to be. You and him, traveling through some tranquil and beautiful place like this, and then, boom! A proposal!

There were so many ideas you wanted to explore, so many details to plan and reconsider. Everything had to be perfect. It needed to be perfect. Jade deserved it.

"Do you want some water, love?" Jade offered a bottle, and you accepted it with a small, grateful smile. Love. Oh, how you loved it when he called you that. You loved knowing that you were his love.

Your throat sang with joy at being blessed with that precious liquid, which you sipped slowly, still contemplating the landscape unfolding before you. The serene scenery seemed like the perfect backdrop for the moment you had dreamed of. And as waves of emotion swelled within you, your eyes occasionally drifted to admire Jade's gentle features — the line of his jaw, his neck that you loved to bite gently, his lips so perfectly kissable.

Sometimes, you caught yourself laughing like a little girl with a crush. But it was impossible not to feel that way around him. He was simply perfect in your eyes.

He has been such an attentive love since your relationship started. He took you to a picnic to watch the starry skies, he first kissed you with a gentleness that few had. He treated you as something made of glass, delicate and soft. And you loved it.

"Jadeeeeee, I'm hungry," Floyd interrupted the moment, turning to his brother with pleading eyes. Although they looked so alike in appearance, you found it funny how different they were in personality. "And bored. So bored I might die. I’II die and leave you brotherless," He added as if it were a fact that everyone needed to know.

And honestly, it was.

Floyd had severe mood swings and whenever that happened, he enjoyed annoying everyone, he enjoyed pulling Jade's hair, poking Azul's side and pinching you on the neck, he enjoyed the angry and frustrated looks he received back from each of you. Or the swearing and the failed attempts to hit him. Or, in some cases, he just got really sad and no one and nothing could cheer him up. In this case, it was better to let him be.

Now though, a mischievous smile was spreading onto his lips. He wasn't that bored. He just wanted to annoy someone other than Azul for a few seconds.

As you had known him before Azul or Jade, you had developed your own tricks to deal with his sudden mood swings. Distracting him worked some times, not always though nor did the same trick worked a second time. You knew you had to redirect his attention to somewhere else and you knew just what to do.

"Hey, Flo, here." You grabbed a Rubik's cube from your backpack and handed it to him. “Surely you can solve it, right?” A hint of dare in your voice, a soft, innocent smile from you and he fell into your little trap.

An instant smile formed on his face, and he let out an excited shout, making Azul flinch in the process, taking the cube from your hands and forgetting about his hunger as he promptly tried to solve it.

That would keep him busy for a few minutes. Or hours, if you all were lucky enough. You didn't think poor Azul could handle being Floyd's victim for long; he looked a little tired now, yet he refused to let any of the twins drive his car.

"Besides, should I remind you that there are cereal bars and candy in the glove compartment?" Jade responded with his characteristic smile, pointing to the indicated spot.

But Floyd just grumbled something low, not paying attention, moving his head from one side to another as he enjoyed his song.

You stifled a laugh. Jade would need to repeat that at least two more times.

He playfully rolled his eyes, a mischievous grin tugging at the corners of his lips, before his gaze lingered on you. His eyes traced the curve of your wet, parted lips, silently pleading for permission as his eyes met yours.

You reciprocated his playful eye roll, trying to imitate even the way he furrowed his eyebrows a little. It always amused you how he sought permission for a kiss, even in the most mundane moments. Despite feeling a twinge of self-consciousness about kissing him in front of his brother and childhood friend, you couldn't resist him. Without thinking twice, you pulled him towards you by the shirt he was wearing until your mouths were pressed together and your tongues intertwined.

The kiss started softly, then became faster and more needy. A groan escaped your throat as Jade bit your lower lip with a little more force. Each kiss shared with Jade left you breathless, craving more, and this time was no exception.

But the need for air eventually pulled you both apart.

"You're adorable," You teased, noticing the faint blush coloring his cheeks, a sight that never failed to make your heart flutter. His usual protest didn't surface this time, a silent acknowledgment of your endearment. "My adorable little guy. What would you do without me?"

"Die," He replied simply, his words carrying a weight of absolute certainty, as if the notion of being without you was inconceivable. "I'II die without you around. My own soul would be reduced to ashes and wait till you were reborn again so we could be together. Again and again."

A choked laugh escaped Azul, followed by Floyd's infectious laughter, punctuated by exaggerated kissing noises. You rolled your eyes at their antics, watching as Jade leaned in to playfully reprimand his brother, his gaze fixed firmly on Azul.

"Focus on the road, please," You chided Azul, feeling your whole face heat up in embarrassment.

"Oops, my bad," Azul chuckled, his tone teasing as he glanced at you both through the rearview mirror. "But seriously, that was way too mushy."

As he redirected his attention to driving and changed to another song, playing "Welcome home" by Radical Face, the car shifted to a comfortable silence, the laughter gradually fading into the background. Floyd's loud munching on snacks became the only source of sound, after he proudly handed you the completed Rubik's Cube.

"Now that we've come back, mom's going to be thrilled to see my terrarium," Jade mused aloud, a mix of pride and happiness evident in his voice.

From the moment you two met, Jade had been dedicated to his terrarium. He even took the time to teach you a few things about its care, ensuring you could look after it if he wasn't around. And it was fun to take care of your little plant friends, seeing them grow strong and beautiful. It filled you with a simple sort of happiness.

"I'll never get how you and mom are into this," Floyd whined, glancing back at his brother. "And it’s not even hard to take care of. Just throw in some soil and a random plant, and it’s done or whatever."

You looked at Jade, a vein almost popping on his forehead, incredulous about such absurdity. He chuckled bitterly, shaking his head at Floyd's dismissive remark. "It's a bit more complex than that, Floyd. Each plant needs the right environment to thrive. It's about balance and harmony."

You smiled, remembering the times Jade patiently explained the intricacies of terrarium care. "It's like having a tiny ecosystem in a jar," You added, nudging Floyd playfully. "There's a lot more to it than just soil and plants. You can't water too muc-"

Floyd rolled his eyes, interrupting you. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. I spent my childhood beside him and mom rambling all about it, I know more than enough, Yuu."

You and Jade shared a knowing glance as Floyd turned around once more, Jade placed his hand over your mouth but it was an useless endeavor as you started giggling madly, your laughter echoing through the car.

You couldn't help it.

An annoyed Floyd was simply too funny.

He grumbled something under his breath but otherwise chose to remain quiet. Though you knew that he was plotting something to get back at you for laughing at him.

Well, you wanted to see him try. Back when you were both freshmen in college, he was notorious for his mischievous pranks, a reputation that preceded him, for he pranked everyone, be it student or professor alike. But you, unlike the others, didn't feel intimidated by him - on the contrary, you spent a few days thinking about how to get your revenge, when you turned into his victim.

From harmless jokes to elaborate pranks, you thought about it day in and day out, and when you finally turned the tables on him and left him speechless, unbeknownst to you a prank war was started in Floyd's perspective. No more he made the other students his victim, now his attention was solely on you, thinking how to win this - at first, one-sided - competition. He did it all; hiding your belongings, tying your shoelaces together, annoying stuff like that to make you angry.

But as the days turned into weeks and then months, exhaustion began to set in. The ideas ran dry, and both you and Floyd found yourselves at an impasse. That's why you knew that if Floyd was thinking something dumb, you always had an ace on his sleeve and a second and third plan.

Turning you to be his victim is also how you make friends with him and, later on, how you met Azul and Jade, as they tried to stop your little war a few times, needless to say that their attempts to stop you failed.

Thirty minutes passed calmly, you and Jade were watching some videos on his phone while Floyd was talking about a festival in Ysli's honor to Azul - he seemed really excited and looking forward to it.

Ysli, as far as you understood, was a genderless god, sometimes taking a masculine form and others, a feminine form, when they had to descend to the human world. And sometimes neither.

They were responsible for... You weren't sure. Your head was aching as you tried to remember.

You had no time to recall what you heard because right at that instant Azul's announcement that you had arrived at your destination sparked excitement inside the car. As anticipation filled the air, Floyd leaned out of the window, his laughter mingling with the wind as he soaked in the moment.

Jade's hand found yours, offering a reassuring squeeze as he chuckled at his brother's antics. "Almost there," He said, his eyes lightening with anticipation. "I'm glad you're here with us."

As Azul drove through the quaint town, a surge of excitement filled you. The fresh air and warm sunlight seemed to promise adventure and fun, the soft smell of flowers dancing in the wind. Your legs ache from sitting still for the past two hours, but the anticipation of exploring was enough to soothe any discomfort.

Only a few more minutes, you thought happily.

"Wow, look at all that corn!" You exclaimed as the car passed through the endless corn fields - they were so tall, shiny and beautiful. "Do you have scarecrows too? Are they really as scary as in the movies?"

Jade chuckled at your enthusiasm, his eyes sparkling with warmth. As you approached the charming houses, you noticed a wave of excitement ripple through the town. Everyone seemed to be watching you, waving and smiling.

It was as if you were celebrities.

The kids paused playing and running around, the teenagers stopped working and even the adults paused their conversations. It was a surreal sight. As you drove past them, you saw so many new faces and felt a mix of emotions. A kid with a tiara screaming in glee, a red haired teenager scolding his friends, a well dressed man laughing loudly.

Your heart pounded with excitement and a sense of belonging. It was clear that you were welcome here.

The town's warmth and friendliness made you feel right at home, clearly they were different from the town's folk, always so closed off and rude. You couldn't wait to see more, so excited.

Azul brought the car to a stop in front of Jade and Floyd's childhood home.

"Finally home, thank Lilum!" Floyd leaped out of the car excitedly, opening the door and running inside in a matter of seconds.

“Mooooooom,” You heard him scream, excited to be back.

You watched as Jade's hand hovered over the door handle, his eagerness palpable in the air. But just as he was about to step out, you couldn't help but voice the nagging question that had been weighing on your mind, making him turn to look at you.

"Do you think your parents will like me?" you asked, your voice laced with a hint of uncertainty despite Jade's reassuring smile.

His response was immediate, his confidence unwavering as he turned to face you. "You didn't even have to ask, sugar. I know they'll love you!"

His words were like a warm embrace, dispelling any lingering doubts as he pressed a tender kiss to your forehead. Still you stayed seated there for a few more seconds, gathering your courage and breathing hard.

You were here.

You wanted to be here.

You've been wishing you could come here for months. A growing need to see the unknown, to breathe new airs, to taste new flavors.

Retrieving your backpack, you stepped out of the car with confident steps - they do say that to be confident, first you have to pretend.

As you approached the half open door, a warm feminine voice drifted through the air, a comforting melody that anchored you in the moment. Drawing in a deep breath, you prepared yourself for the impending introduction, for any variable possible.

Floyd was laughing loudly while his mother, you supposed, scolded him for acting foolishly while praising Azul for being a good driver.

What if they don't like me? What if they don't approve of me? Oh heavens… You try not to focus on these negative thoughts for too long. Can I still run to the cornfield and hide there?

A sudden movement caught your attention. Swift and nimble, something darted towards you from the corner of your eye. You turned just in time to see a child hurtling toward you with reckless abandon, a grin stretched wide across his bubbly face.

Though he was still small and very young, the child's smile was warm like the sun breaking through clouds. The boy was wearing a little tiara with cat ears and held another one in his chubby hands, which he extended towards you, his excitement palpable. "Hey Mx, take this!"

You couldn't help but mirror his grin as he held out the second tiara towards you, his chubby fingers trembling with excitement. His energy was palpable, filling the air with a sense of joy and wonder. With a gentle laugh, you reached out and accepted the tiara, marveling at its delicate craftsmanship and the cat ears at its base.

They were soft, akin the real ones.

"Thank you," You said, your voice filled with grace. "This is a lovely gift."

The boy beamed at your words, his eyes sparkling with delight as he giggled to himself. "You're welcome!" He exclaimed. "Now we can be tiara twins! I'm Cheka by the way."

"Oh, what a charming name!" You smiled and ruffled his hair, making him laugh, his eyes enlightening. "I'm Yuu."

"I know," Cheka murmured, his words dripped with a sinister undertone, each syllable carrying a weight that seemed to press down on you like a leaden weight.

You laughed awkwardly, leaning to his height. “And how would you know that?”

For a second his eyes, unnaturally large and filled with innocence, seemed to bore into your very soul with a chilling knowingness. Like he knew a secret that you don't. "Because Jade told me all sorts of things about you in his pho-ne calls.”

You rubbed your eyes, probably still a little tired from the trip and mishearing him. When you looked at him again, Cheka was looking at you with those very beautiful and innocent green eyes again.

Uncertain, you asked him softly. "Only good things, I hope?"

He nodded, smiling. “He said that in the future I'd find myself someone as loveable as you, if I behaved well, that is. Otherwise, Lilum would punish me."

“And who is Lilum by the way?” You asked him, curious to hear more about this God or Goddess of theirs.

For a long second, Cheka looked at you, considering what to tell you - he knew a lot, yet not enough, you could see the screws turning on his head as he squinted his big eyes, trying to remember something specific. Whatever he wanted to tell you though was interrupted by a sharp, angry call.

"Cheka!" A man's voice sliced through the air, tinged with frustration.

It was clear that he was not very pleased that the child had wandered off again. The boy glanced back at you, his expression a mix of feelings. "Be very welcome to Setelarion, Mx Yuu."

After that, Cheka called out to the man - his uncle - and jumped at the man's arms to hug him too, with the same, if not more, excitement than before, almost making both of them fall on the ground.

His uncle begrudgingly held his nephew in his arms, you could tell he was reprimanding the boy for annoying people again for the way he was talking so sternly. You half wanted to go there and explain the situation, that Cheka wasn't annoying you at all.

You didn't need to, though. Cheka had everything under his control as he giggled and smiled at his uncle, changing topics and making jokes.

You giggled, watching the scene with a sense of nostalgia, since you couldn't remember your childhood well. But in your dreams you remember your father, his sun kissed skin and long hair cascading down his shoulders, pushing you in the swing, while your mother's humming song filled the air. It was all you could remember before everything was consumed by darkness.

Car accident, the doctors told you. The car flipped over several times after being hit by a truck, and the driver didn't even stop to offer help.

Years later, you found a newspaper about the accident. The photos… they weren't pretty.

The sun was shining bright and the wind was so gently swaying your hair, like a mother welcoming her child back. You could stay like that for a few more seconds if it wasn't Jade calling you to enter, making you forget all about those bitter memories you held onto, about this Lilum - who must be or not, another deity of theirs -, about everything.

"Mom, I'd like to introduce you to my lover." Jade pulled you from behind him, a gentle smile on his lips as he gazed at you and, by extension, the tiara on your head.

A little blush came to rest upon his cheeks but he brushed it off quite easily, almost giggling to himself because he was too excited.

He turned to face her.

“Oh, heavens, are we finally meeting Jade's lover?” The woman raised her hands to the sky as if giving thanks for something. "Thank Meliantha and Levioron. I've been waiting for this moment for so long."

The voice belonged to a beautiful lady, whose silky, dark hair was tied in a loose bun and had a gentle smile on her lips. The same smile that existed on Jade's face. "His father and I have been asking this stubborn boy so hard to bring you over as soon as we found out about your relationship. It's finally good to meet you, darling!"

The warm intimacy made you feel happy, Jade's mother wrapped you in a big comfortable hug that instantly made you feel calm, even your heart had settled in your chest. At that moment you knew immediately that Jade had acquired the ability to hug warmly from his mother, because you were almost melting in her strong arms.

"Oh my, Floyd, Azul, aren't they a beautiful couple? It reminds me of me and Asher when we were younger." Their mother gestured to the couple, wiping small imaginary tears from the corners of her beautiful blue eyes.

Without realizing it, you released the breath you had been holding all this time, your legs almost turning into jelly as the tension began to slowly dissipate. The woman seemed really happy to meet you and that made you happy too.

Many of your friends had told you about how their in-laws' reactions were sometimes exaggerated and rude, you were glad that didn't seem to be the case here.

Not with Mrs. Leech, at least. Now… You had to wait for Ms Leech's reaction.

"Come, come, I'll serve you a big slice of apple pie. All of you must be so tired." Mrs Leech said gently, holding your hand as she guided you to the kitchen. Jade and the others following right behind you.

“Oh! And I see Cheka already shared his tiara with you, he always gives one to newelcomers.” Mrs Leech praised you, laughing a little at your shy expression. “You're cute like that.”

You thanked her with a smile and a nod.

The house was built with old wood and the floor creaked with every step, yet it was so cozy. You counted the worn boards as you walked towards the kitchen, hoping they wouldn't give way under your feet. Behind you, you could hear Floyd and Azul whispering something about tea and soil.

And Jade was humming, in another room to water his mother plants.

"Ah, what a mind… I was so excited that I didn't even introduce myself properly." She turned to you, a little laugh leaving her glossy lips. Mrs Leech let go of your hand as soon as you arrived at the kitchen, smoothing her apron as she turned to face you. "My name is Amelie, my husband, Asher, should be here soon. And he'll be so happy to meet you too."

“It's a pleasure, Mrs Leech.” You replied, a smile growing on your face as you looked at her.

Then you side-eyed Jade when he returned to the kitchen. “Though I had no idea you were so eager to know me. Jade's been keeping me a little in the dark, I think.”

He let out a laugh, albeit it sounded strange. Almost twisted. Then it was gone just as suddenly.

Mrs Leech wheezed, looking menacingly in her son's direction. Her arms crossed over her chest, her foot hitting the floor in a rhythmic pattern. “Is that so, Jade?” She sounded disgruntled. “And why is that?”

“I presume my motives won't be as good as you want, mom.” He smiled. Then took the tray from her sore hands and placed it on the table, like a dutiful son - a mere tactic. “But Night Raven College was chaotic and had a hectic curriculum and routine. The headmage... Well, he didn't do much. Honestly, I don't know how we graduated from a place like that.”

“Oh please, as if that's a good enough reason.” Mrs Leech rolled her eyes. “Yuu, you have my permission to hit my son now.”

“Oh, goodie.” You smiled.

Without warning, you raise your hand and lightly slap his shoulder. Weak and feather-light, but enough to make everyone laugh as Jade throws himself back, pretending to have been hit by a brutal punch.

“He's not lying, though.” You were quickly to say, intertwining your hand with his. “I was struggling with some classes and he helped me a lot.”

Jade gave her mother a smug look, as if to say “I told you so”. Amelie rolled her eyes.

“Ma,” Floyd pulled her attention to him. “Where 's dad?”

Floyd and Jade's father worked on the plantations while Azul's family and another friend of theirs that you had yet to meet were responsible for making sweets and food with the corn and then selling it to companies. You didn't know much about what the other families did.

Some help, of course, you suppose, maintaining a huge plantation that size was impossible alone.

“He went out to buy some more eggs and flour.”

Amelie then began to skillfully set the table, carefully placing the cutlery and adjusting the napkins. There was a genuine happiness in her eyes as she worked and a peaceful hum left her lips. Little 'ows' were flying everytime Floyd tried to steal a piece of pie and was hitted by his mom's wooden spoon.

The sweet, earthy smell of freshly baked corn filled the air, mingling with the subtle aroma of herbs slowly boiling in a kettle on the stove. The kitchen was full of small details, from wildflower vases on the windowsill to the wooden shelves lined with ceramic bowls, each different from the next, as if they had been collected over the years.

“Mind your manners, Floyd!” She scolded him.

The golden, perfectly baked crust cracked lightly as she cut the first slice, moving the knife with precision and serenity, as if each motion was part of an ancient ritual. Her gestures were slow, almost meditative, and the kitchen seemed to follow this calm rhythm, as if time had a fluidity of its own, unhurried to pass.

The sound of birds chirping, the sunlight slowly fading as the evening approached. Jade, Floyd and Azul sat at the wooden table in the center of the kitchen, and you joined them, your gaze wandering across the walls decorated with old plates and hand-embroidered dish towels.

Floyd, restless as ever, tapped his fingers on the table, but even he seemed affected by the kitchen's serene atmosphere, his eyes drifting to the slices of pie that Amelie was delicately serving.

“I hope you like it,” she said softly, almost like a whisper that floated in the air, as she turned around with a plate in each hand. She placed the first slice in front of you, and the scent of sweet corn and freshly melted butter rose, filling the air with a rich, inviting fragrance.

You were almost salivating. After hours on the road, you hadn’t eaten anything nutritious or that tasted this good. And with the first bite, you smiled, it was so delicious.

“This recipe is one of the favorites here at home. I made it with corn harvested this morning.” Amelie seemed radiant that you liked the pie she had prepared.

You observed the slice of pie in front of you, the thin, crispy crust still warm, with a texture that seemed too perfect to be real. The first bite was soft and sweet, with a touch of salt that balanced the flavor, and as you chewed, you felt like you were tasting something made with more than just ingredients — there was care and attention in every layer.

Jade received his piece with a calm smile, murmuring a “thank you, mother” that was answered with a gentle pat on the shoulder. He cut a small piece and brought it to his mouth, his eyes closing for a brief moment as he savored it.

Next to you, Floyd grabbed the slice even before Amelie could place the plate in front of him, eliciting a laugh from her. He was already chewing eagerly, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

“It’s delicious, ma,” he said, his mouth still full, and Amelie just shook her head, laughing softly.

Floyd would always act that way, no matter where.

Azul, more reserved, watched Amelie for a moment before thanking her and accepting his piece with a simple “thank you, aunt.” He cut a small portion, and when he tasted it, his face softened, losing some of the meticulous control he always displayed.

“I’m glad you liked it,” she replied, returning to the stove to finish the tea. The fire seemed very hot, and you could feel it from a considerable distance.

But Amelie seemed used to it.

The kettle began to whistle, a soft, continuous sound that briefly cut through the room's calm. She turned off the heat and picked up the kettle with one hand, pouring the hot liquid into a light blue porcelain teapot that she had prepared with fresh herb leaves.

The tea exuded a herbal and floral aroma, fresh but comforting, with a subtle note of sweetness that matched perfectly with the pie.

“Ready for the tea of the gods?” she asked her children, looking at each face before moving.

She brought the teapot to the table and began to serve them, first filling Jade, Azul, and Floyd's cups, each receiving the drink in different cups, all with delicate designs faded by time.

Amelie did not serve you.

And you were too embarrassed to point it out. She stepped away. Taking from the fridge, Amelie brought you a very beautiful cup, decorated with designs of the sun and moon, with a liquid that had a slightly unfamiliar scent.

“Since it’s your first time drinking our teas, I made a milder, lighter infusion for you,” Amelie smiled. “Experiment this,” She said, her tone soft and melodical.

“It’s a hometown specialty of ours, something special that will ease your mind and allow you to glimpse our gods, if only for a moment.”

There was something in the way she spoke, a lilt to the rhythm of her words that made you accept the cup without hesitation — in every sense, you didn’t doubt the existence of their gods. But you didn’t want to see them either.

“But what is the tea of the gods?” you asked her, watching as Floyd drank from his cup in big gulps, a very strange and disturbing laugh slipping from his lips as the seconds passed. “What it is made of?”

Mrs. Leech tilted her head to the side, her dark eyes glimmering for a moment under the kitchen's fluorescent light, as if she was considering your question. The smile on her lips was soft, almost maternal, but there was something indecipherable there, a shadow of mystery that made each of her words sound like a riddle.

“The tea of the gods is... an ancient, harmless recipe,” she said finally, her voice low and slow, as if she was sharing a secret, even if she wasn’t telling you anything at all. “Something passed down through generations, from mother to child, from grandmother to grandchild. It is a gift from the earth, a way to connect us with what lies beyond what we can see.”

She paused, pouring a little more tea into her own cup, the hot liquid falling smoothly, almost like a continuous stream of honey. When she finished, she set the kettle aside and watched you for a moment, with a gaze that seemed to delve deeper than usual, as if she was trying to see something beyond what you revealed on the surface.

Floyd, still seated next to you, laughed to himself, a light, childlike laugh, but one that carried a disturbing strangeness, like the laughter of someone seeing something no one else could. He tapped his fingers on the table in an erratic rhythm, his nails making a soft, almost hypnotic sound on the wood, while his eyes gleamed in a way you couldn’t decipher.

“It’s magical,” he murmured suddenly, as if speaking to himself. “Everything becomes... different, clearer.”

You raised the cup to your lips and took a sip, feeling the warmth of the tea spread through your mouth and slide down your throat. The taste was smooth, almost sweet, but there was a slight bitterness that lingered at the end, leaving a trace that didn’t fade immediately. It was a curious flavor, making your tongue tingle a little, and for some reason, it made the world around you seem a bit slower.

You weren’t sure if you were imagining it or not.

“What do you mean by different?” you asked Floyd, but it was Azul who responded before his friend could.

“Sometimes, the gods show us what we need to see,” he said, pouring tea for himself this time, bringing the cup to his lips and gently blowing the steam before drinking. “Other times, they show us what we want, even if we don’t realize it. It’s a way of opening our eyes and seeing beyond, just another one of our customs.”

Jade, who had remained silent until then, was watching you over his cup, his eyes fixed and attentive. It was the same way he looked at you when he wanted to share a secret but couldn’t. He didn’t laugh like Floyd, but there was something distant in the way he drank the tea, as if lost in thought.

Azul, on the other hand, seemed more focused, as if analyzing everything, but even he had a slight smile on his lips, as if he was enjoying a joke only he understood.

You took another sip, the strange taste spreading in your mouth, and a peculiar sensation began to infiltrate your body. It was faint and almost imperceptible, so you ignored it for now. Just as you ignored Cheka and his strange words. You were ignoring a lot of things, afraid of being disrespectful to a different culture. So, you took another gulp of tea.

Floyd leaned forward, and his eyes, now as dark as Amelie’s, glistened with a strange joy. “You’ll see,” he said, his voice soft, almost singing. “Everyone sees when they drink the tea.”

In a leap, he was on his feet, spinning and laughing as if he was truly dancing with someone and didn’t want to ever stop. His movements were erratic, like he didn’t know the dance steps, but what he didn’t know, Floyd made up for in improvisation.

Amelie continued to drink her tea calmly, as if nothing unusual was happening, but her eyes met yours, and you realized she was watching you closely, as if waiting for a negative reaction.

“Don’t be afraid,” she whispered, almost tenderly. “The tea is a portal, a key. Let it show you what you need to see.”

You felt your heart race, the warmth of the tea now spreading through your chest, pulsing in your veins, and you weren’t sure if you wanted that.

Floyd’s laughter echoed through the room, distorted and reverberating, while he tapped his fingers on the table, each beat seeming to mark a rhythm for the shadows only he could see. “They like visitors,” he said, his voice hissing in your direction. “The gods always like visitors.”

Amelie leaned forward, still with that enigmatic smile. “And you are a special visitor,” she murmured. “Drink more, and you will see. You will see what they want to show you.”

The cup was still in your hand, heavy and warm. You hesitated, feeling the beats of your heart echo in your ears, each pulse a call to the unknown. It felt as though time was stretching, dragging you to a place you didn’t know if you wanted to go.

But there was a part of you — a part that couldn’t resist the curiosity, the invitation — that brought the cup to your lips again, drinking what was left of the tea. The bitter and sweet taste mingled on your tongue, and as you swallowed, it was like falling into an abyss, where the shadows finally stopped hiding, revealing what was on the other side.

Your worries began to slowly dissipate as the seconds passed, your back fell right into the chair and your body felt heavy and hot all over.

“This is very good,” you confessed.

Like a mother’s embrace. Like a brother’s laugh. Like a father’s kiss.

Like home.

A strange sensation began to emerge, as if the world around you was melting, expanding and stretching, and softening everything at the same time. The room suddenly seemed vaster, the colors on the walls intensified, dancing slightly around you, as if vibrating with a life of their own while Jade laughed, drinking the rest of his tea in big gulps.

He seemed accustomed to it.

Floyd was no longer dancing alone, you couldn’t discern who this invisible person was, but you could see their silhouette. It was translucent and small, with short hair and formally dressed, yet you couldn’t see their face.

Amelie watched from afar, her smile unchanged, her eyes curious and expectant.

You blinked, feeling a weight on your eyes, as if they were being pulled down. When you tried to focus on the table in front of you, the environment seemed to distort, rippling like the surface of a lake under the wind. The shapes around you began to change – the fridge on the left seemed to stretch, growing in height, while the curtains swayed like smooth serpents sliding across the floor.

The sound of Floyd and Jade’s laughter now seemed to come from far away, distorted, echoing like the song of a distant bird in an unknown forest. But soon you stopped hearing anything, because something else caught your attention out of the corner of your eye.

Silhouettes.

You turned around to see three beings, vaguely human in form but grotesquely elongated, emerged from the shadows of the room. Their eyes – if they could be called that – shone a total, lifeless black.

They didn’t walk; they seemed to float, gliding across the floor towards you, the ends of their thin fingers extending as if they wanted to touch your skin, probe your mind, eat your soul.

Your heart began to race, and you tried to stand from the chair you were still sitting in, but your body no longer responded. It was as if you were trapped, sinking into a bed of soft clouds and, at the same time, too heavy to support. The first of them – a tall female figure with a narrow, mouthless head – leaned over you.

Her shadow covered your face, and you felt an inexplicable chill run down your spine. The tea left you with a warm feeling and this figure… This goddess of theirs made you feel a primal fear.

You couldn't even put into words what she made you feel. But it was horrible.

Then, she spoke, but not with words. Her voice echoed in your mind, a cacophony of murmurs and whispers, and screams, everything overwhelming you beyond words. “You crossed over the bridge. Now, you see what others cannot, it's been a while.”

The room dissolved, the walls faded, and all that remained was a dark field, an infinite abyss dotted with those imposing figures from SeteAlem. In the distance, there was something larger – a colossal form that seemed to watch, waiting. You felt that, somehow, you already knew this place, as if your dreams had tried to warn you of its existence, but you never listened.

Time lost its meaning. Maybe it was seconds, maybe hours. And you kept staring at her, watching her floating, hearing her soft grunts.

“Who are you?” You asked her.

A laugh sounded behind you. And you turned around at the same time. Another figure, this one wearing a mask over his face as he leaned over you, as if to see you from a better angle.

“Oh, I like this one, they have a lovely face,” His voice was loud and exaggerated.

The feminine figure swatted the male figure away with a slap on his back. “Do not come near them to taint them with your ugly face, Leyarion.”

You took a step back, unsure, your heart beating faster. You could hear the sounds of bells echoing through the darkness, the same bells you used to hear in the church you were raised in. You hated that sound with a burning passion.

“Look at what both of you did,” A third voice sounded. Yet you could not see anyone, no matter what direction you looked, there was nothing there. “Do not be afraid, child. They are harmless.”

The voice, soft yet commanding, slithered through the air, its echoes reverberating in your bones. It was as if it came from every direction, creeping closer, suffocating.

The feminine figure tilted her head to look at the other entity, her eyes gleaming with a cold, predatory curiosity. "Harmless?" she murmured, her voice dripping with something far from gentle and something like a smile spreading through her face.

“It’s not every day we get a visitor like them, I just got happy, is all." Leyarion, the masked figure, straightened, and you could feel his eyes boring into you from behind that mask.

“Curious indeed. We’ve seen many wanderers, but none like you. The tea always reveals the interesting ones.” His voice was smooth, but there was a sharp edge to it, like a knife scraping metal

“I shall give you my blessing.”

Your heart pounded, each beat drumming louder than the last. You wanted to move, to run, but your feet felt glued to the floor, held in place by an invisible grip. His fingers touched your forehead and a heat seemed to take over your body for several minutes, like fire melting your skin, muscles and tendons, a muffled scream never got the chance to leave your lips.

After a second, everything stopped. The heat, the pain, sweat was clinging to your head as you struggled to breathe correctly.

“What... What do you want from me?” you stammered, barely able to get the words out without choking on them.

The bells rang louder now, shrill and relentless, twisting the air around you. They were deafening, as if mocking your fear of them.

Another voice, one you couldn’t place, rumbled through the darkness, so deep it made your chest tighten. "We want nothing from you, child," it said, slow and deliberate, each word sinking like a weight. "You have stumbled into our domain, and that is... intriguing. We merely wish to see what kind of person you were."

The shadows writhed, twisting and shifting, and you could make out the vague shapes of other figures. They were immense, towering, their forms impossibly tall and blurred, like ancient statues hidden in the mist. They moved slowly, as if savoring each moment, and though their faces were shrouded, you could feel their eyes on you — heavy, ancient, and unforgiving.

“I thought… everyone who drank that tea, came here?” It was what Amelie had told you, after all.

“So much more complex than this,” Leyarion moved closer, his masked face so near you could almost see yourself reflected in it. Behind the mask, you could sense a grin, wide and cruel, sharp teeth showing as his eyes were glistening, finding joy in how he could fright you. "I could show you the truth, if you'd let me."

He whispered, his voice sickly sweet, curling around you like smoke. "All the truths your world hides, all the secrets it keeps buried... even from you."

“No!” The feminine figure snapped, her voice cracking like a whip. She stepped between you and Leyarion, her presence suffocating, as if the air itself was shrinking away from her. "You will not overwhelm this one."

You could barely breathe, the air thick and suffocating. Panic clawed at your throat, and every instinct screamed at you to flee, but your legs refused to move. You were trapped, caught in the middle of a silent battle between these beings. Leyarion’s mask glinted in the dim light as he pulled back, his laughter echoing, low and mocking. “As you wish. But remember, child, the gods only offer their wisdom once.”

Your hands shook as you tried to steady yourself, every nerve in your body on edge. “Who... who are you?” you managed to ask again, your voice trembling. “And... What is this place?”

The feminine figure looked down at you, her gaze piercing, like she was peeling back your skin, layer by layer. “We are the forgotten gods of the In-Between, you don’t know what Setealem means, don’t you?,” she said softly, but there was no kindness in her tone.

“Sete-alem, the beyond seven, seven gods that shaped this world and once walked your world. Now, we dwell in the spaces between what is seen and what is hidden. You stand at the edge of SeteAlem, where our realms meet.”

Her hand hovered near your face, close enough that you could feel the chill radiating from her. It felt like ice seeping into your skin. “You drank our tea and the earth brought you to us. While everyone can see our realm, not all of them can pass through our borders nor talk to us. You’re special.”

From the shadows, that unseen voice rumbled again, its tone dark and amused. "SeteAlem is the reflection of everything that has been lost... and everything yet to come."

The bells tolled louder, each chime resonating in your chest, vibrating through your ribs. Your heart raced, each beat out of sync, struggling against the crushing weight of the sound. The air was heavy, carried with something you couldn’t quite put into words.

Something else was coming. Something far more frightening than them.

“I... I want to leave,” you said, your voice cracking, barely a whisper. “Please, let me go.”

The gods said nothing, but you could feel their eyes on you, their immense forms looming like dark clouds ready to consume you whole. The silence stretched, cold and suffocating, until the feminine figure spoke again, her tone almost pitying, but not quite.

“You will leave, in time. But the tea you drank binds you here, for now. You must witness what you came here to see.”

Leyarion’s mask gleamed as he leaned in again - he, as Azul had said once, didn’t have any notion about personal space. In fact, he was closer than ever, his voice barely more than a breath against your ear. “And perhaps, once you see, you will find you never truly wanted to leave.”

A hand, heavy and cold, brushed against your shoulder. You gasped, spinning around, but there was nothing there — only the dark, endless void. Then, slowly, another figure began to materialize, taller than the rest, cloaked in shadows so thick they seemed to swallow the light. You couldn’t see its face, but you could feel its gaze, as if it was peeling back your very soul.

“Do not fear,” it said, its voice softer than the others, yet far more chilling. “This place is not meant to harm you. It is meant to reveal. Let it show you what you need to see, if you weren’t ready, it would have brought you here.”

The room around you twisted, the shadows curling and stretching, pulling at the edges of your vision. The gods’ forms began to merge with the darkness, their outlines becoming distorted and monstrous. You could no longer tell where they ended and the void began. Everything seemed to pulse and writhe, as if reality itself was unraveling around you without caring about your permission.

And then, in the distance, you saw it — a vast, ancient presence, rising like a black tide. Dark, towering figures moved within it, their silhouettes barely discernible, but you could feel their power, raw and overwhelming, like a storm ready to consume everything in its path. They were older than anything you had ever known, older than the earth itself, and they called to you, their voices a low, haunting chorus that echoed in your head.

You felt a pull, an invisible force dragging you closer to them, closer to whatever lay hidden in that dark abyss. Your body trembled, fear and a twisted sense of curiosity warring within you, but something in the darkness whispered your name, soft and seductive, beckoning you forward.

"See," the unseen god’s voice rumbled, echoing through the void. "See what lies beneath, and know that you were always meant to find it."

And as the shadows parted, revealing the ancient, twisted truths hidden within, a cold, sickening realization washed over you — you were no stranger to their world. You were trapped, bound to it, as if the very darkness had woven itself into your soul. It was familiar, like home.

Why was it familiar like home?

You took a step ahead. You had to be brave to discover it, to see what you were meant to see.

The darkness felt alive, pulsing like a heartbeat beneath your skin. You couldn’t shake the feeling that you’d walked these shadowed paths before, that each twisted root and jagged rock was an old, familiar friend. The unseen god’s words lingered in the back of your mind, an echo that tugged at something buried deep within.

Home. It felt so wrong, yet so right. The shadows around you hummed in recognition, as though they, too, knew your presence, knew the parts of you that you had long tried to ignore. A cold shiver ran down your spine, but instead of backing away, you felt a strange pull, an urge to press forward.

As you took another step, the faintest memories flickered at the edges of your mind: faces you couldn’t quite place, words spoken in a language you thought you had forgotten. Fragments of laughter mingling with cries, love mixed with a deep-rooted fear. It was more than familiarity — it was like a piece of your soul had always belonged to this place, hidden beneath layers of denial. The very air felt like it knew your secrets, your hidden fears, and still it welcomed you.

You inhaled deeply, forcing yourself to steady your shaking hands. “Show me,” you whispered, barely audible. You weren’t sure if you were speaking to the god or to the darkness itself, but it didn’t matter. You have come this far. You couldn’t turn back now.

And as the shadows deepened around you, something ancient stirred, waiting for you to remember.

The shadows seemed to twist, drawing closer, as if listening to your whispered invitation. A chill seeped into your bones but the unease didn’t deter you. Instead, you felt drawn forward, each step awakening more of the strange, haunting familiarity that clung to you like a forgotten dream. Then, suddenly, the shadows pulled back, revealing a stone altar covered in intricate carvings that pulsed with a faint, dark glow. You stared at it, the patterns and symbols tugging at the edges of your mind.

You felt as though you should recognize them — no, you did recognize them.

As your fingers traced one of the symbols, memories, raw and jagged, began to surface: whispers in the dark, soft words promising you secrets, a cold, comforting presence always by your side. You could see glimpses of yourself, younger, reaching toward the darkness like an old friend. You had once sought it out, welcomed it, allowed it to cradle you when no one else would.

Because this darkness was your home. Your safe haven.

The realization hit you like a punch to the gut. *This wasn’t the first time you had come here.*

You’d been part of this ancient place, this dark world, long ago. The shadows were a piece of you, their promises and secrets entwined with your very being. It wasn’t just a memory, far from this, it was the truth.

"You remember," the god’s voice purred, Lilium, low and satisfied, resonating through your chest. "Your spirit was woven with ours from the beginning. You were lost, child, but you have found your way home."

A hollow ache settled in you, both frightening and strangely comforting. This darkness, this forgotten past, had always been part of you, waiting for you to come back. You weren’t just a visitor here; you were Ysli.

Lilium’s voice softened, almost gentle. "You are ready to see it all, to accept what you truly are. To walk in the shadows and find the power that has always waited for you here, when you would come home."

And in that moment, as you gazed at the ancient carvings and let the memories wash over you, you understood. There was no going back. You were as much a part of this darkness as it was of you, and whatever lay ahead, you would face it — not as a stranger, but as someone finally coming home.

Yet, you couldn’t help but wonder… Why did you escape this place before?

You wanted to question them, you wanted your answers.

Still, when you blinked again, everything started to dissolve like smoke, and the room around you slowly returned to reality. The abyss of SeteAlem was closing, but you knew it was still there, waiting, on the other side of a thin veil.

You finally turned to Amelie, your eyes misty, your breath heavy. She watched calmly, as if she knew exactly what had happened.

“You saw it, didn’t you?” she murmured, bowing her head slightly, as if in respect to your experience. “Now you understand. Sometimes, the gods of SeteAlem show us more than we are ready to see.”

The cup was still in your hands, empty. The drink was gone, but what it had revealed remained deeply etched in your mind. You didn’t even know how to explain to her, to them, what you were. Who you were.

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