The night seemed darker than usual and the cold wind sent chills down the spine. Within the hours of darkness, the two blood moons shone with unspeakable evil.

There was no rustling of leaves in the trees even though it was a windy night. There was no howling of wolves, which never happened before. Everything was dead silent as if the sound was completely trapped and could not break free.

The entire Draechron Empire was completely shrouded in darkness and silence. The eerie fog that began to cloak the whole kingdom gave off a sinister aura.

The Draechronians, the people of Draechron, shut their doors and windows. No one was brave enough to leave their homes. No one dared shut their eyes. Everyone held their breath and kept quiet.

Mothers tried their best to suppress the muffled cries of the young ones. They were afraid that the faintest sound might still attract that “thing” in the woods. Everyone was waiting for the fog to pass.

No one dared to break the silence. The entire kingdom was no better than a ghost town.

Not far from town, a hooded figure walked out of the woods - alone. The figure was oblivious of the prowling menace that had zoned in on its prey.

The solitary traveler felt the presence of stream nearby and instinctively moved towards its direction. The deafening silence was too much to bear, but the traveler seemed to be fine.

If it was someone from the town, he would have fallen unconscious already. It was easy to tell that the visitor was not ordinary.

The visitor finally found the stream and decided to follow it. She walked half a mile until she found a seemingly abandoned town.

“Hello, is anyone here? I’m lost,” said the sweet, gentle voice that belonged to a young lady.

There was no answer. It couldn’t be right. She heard from her travels that each town of Draechron was bustling and noisy. It was always lively even when day turned into night.

The young, pretty girl remained calm and composed amidst the dead silence surrounding her.

In her right hand, she held a stick that she used to sway around to clear her path in the woods. She had a backpack, which contained her food supplies. Sitting on her left shoulder was her contracted spirit beast.

The spirit beast looked like a furry, round bunny. No one would suspect that its original appearance was that of a ferocious, humungous spirit beast. It had big googly eyes, which made it looked innocent and harmless.

It looked adorable as it sat on the young girl’s shoulder. Its strength should not be taken lightly. Even its true size would overwhelm anyone.

The young lady saw a huge boulder and decided to sit there and rest. She took out something from her backpack and began to eat. Her face was filled with joy as if she was savoring a scrumptious dish the five-star chef had prepared.

Not far from the young lady, the black fog grew bigger and bigger as it devoured everything in its path. The young lady remained oblivious and continued to enjoy her meal.

The sinister fog inched its way to the young lady, who just continued eating even though she felt an ominous presence. The fog was about to shroud the young lady in darkness when the spirit beast on her shoulder gave off a loud shrill.

The young lady’s spirit beast jumped from her shoulder and revealed its true form. It flapped its huge wings and breathed out an enormous amount of fire. It trapped the fog within the fiery embrace.

The young lady just watched and did not flicker at the scene being unfolded before her eyes. She knew her spirit’s beast true capability, and she knew that the dark fog must be eliminated at all costs.

“That’s enough!” She spoke in a commanding tone.

The spirit beast stopped its assault. When the fire was cleared, nothing was left of the fog. Nothing was destroyed, except the fog. The trees and animals were unharmed.

“Your sacred fire is really something, isn’t it?” The young lady turned to her spirit beast as it changed back to its cute, adorable form.

“Purr!” It answered coyly.

The young lady patted the head of her spirit beast. She gathered her things and prepared to walk out of that place.

“Where do you think you’re going, little girl?” A huge hand landed on the young lady’s shoulder. She turned around and trembled uncontrollably when she saw the man’s face.

“We meet again and you are going nowhere!”

Ring! Ring! Ring!

The alarm sounded off, and Lexi quickly opened her eyes. She seated herself immediately. She was panting, and the look of horror can be seen on her beautiful face.

She had the same dream for almost a year now. She could not recall when it began exactly, but it always felt real each time she dreamed of it.

There were times when she found herself getting a bruise on the same spot that she had in her dream. She managed to control the occurrence of the bruises, and all thanks to her training.

Each time she dreamed of the familiar scene, she never forgot to try the new techniques and moves that she learned from her martial arts teacher. Mr. Hampton had been her martial arts teacher for seven years now. Although Mr. Hampton told her that she was already good on her own, she wanted to continue her training under her teacher’s supervision.

Mr. Hampton was a 60-year old martial arts master, who had a vast knowledge and expertise on different forms of martial arts. He thought Lexi the right discipline that a martial artist must possess, and explained everything that she needed to know to remain composed and level-headed.

Lexi can be considered a loner. She had no friends and was often bullied when she was still in middle school. Something happened back then and it changed her life forever. She started learning martial arts when she was ten and Mr. Hampton was the one who supervised her training. During that time, she stopped going to school and stayed at home for the remaining days of the semester. Her adopted mother Carmen was the one who decided to allow Mr. Hampton to train Lexi. She was afraid that something terrible might happen to Lexi if she was bullied again.

Lexi finally got up and prepared to go to school. She put a band-aid on her bruise to conceal it from her mother. It was ugly no matter how she looked at it. She wondered when she acquired it when she was sure she was able to dodge the attack. The bruise had deep purple color, almost black, and she did not have the patience to explain everything. Covering it was the best solution. The people around her were already used to seeing her with minor cuts.

“I’m off!” She shouted as she ran toward the door.

“Be careful and come home early!” Carmen reminded her.

Lexi heard Carmen’s reminder, and the corners of her lips curved into a slight smile. Carmen was not her biological mother, but Lexi had a feeling that Carmen and her mother shared a bond similar to that of sisters. She never once felt that Carmen resented her, but her adopted mother tried her best to avoid any discussions about Lexi’s biological mother.

It was Carmen who took care of Lexi when she was still a baby. It was Carmen who stayed by her side when she was sick or feeling down. Lexi regarded Carmen as her real mother and not just someone who raised her. She had a hunch that Carmen was her biological mother, but she had no proof that she was. DNA testing? Sure, she could do that but she chose not to. She wanted Carmen to tell her the whole story, and she was patient enough to wait a bit more. Carmen just told her that her mother died while giving birth to her, there was no other explanation.

Lexi was someone who would keep asking until she was satisfied. Even at a young age, some of her teachers regarded it as a good trait while others found it annoying. When she could not get a satisfying answer, she would often visit an old library. The librarian there was already old, and Lexi was the library’s sole visitor.

“Why do you still keep this library?” She once asked the librarian.

“Because I am waiting to serve you.” She replied with a sweet smile on her lips.

Lexi did not bother to ask the meaning of her answer. Somehow she was waiting for such a reply, but couldn’t fathom why she was waiting for that reply and why the old librarian gave her such a response.

“Lexi, over here!” It was a familiar voice that Lexi would always recognize.

“Sam!” She replied joyously.

Samantha Weinheart was the only friend whom Lexi had managed to get close to. It had been two years since she rescued her from the kids who bullied her. At the time, Lexi was already a proficient martial artist. Ever since then, Sam was always with Lexi. She was not bothered by the fact that Lexi was an outcast. No one dared approached Lexi in school, and only Sam was her constant companion.

Sam was a transferee, and she did not know Lexi’s heart-wrenching, horrible middle school years. She only learned about them when someone warned her about associating with Lexi. Sam learned that Lexi was also bullied in her younger years. Her mother, Carmen, wanted to make sure that Lexi would not suffer injustice again so she hired a martial arts teacher for her daughter. Lexi stopped going to school for a year and learned martial arts.

Sam was not very clear about what transpired at the time when Lexi came face to face with her bully once again, but ever since that day, no one dared get close to Lexi. Even the bully practically disappeared one day. It was said that his family had decided to move out of the country.

“I hope we have a nice schedule this time around too.” Sam sighed as they walked shoulder to shoulder together.

“Yeah, Mr. Hampton is going to give me some advanced training from this day onwards.”

“You’re still training?”

“I did not stop, and I feel like I still need to learn more.”

“Looks like you’re preparing to go to war.” Sam laughed as she teased her friend.

Lexi looked at Sam and felt like what she said was true after all. Was it instinct? Was she really preparing all this time so she could fight her enemies? Where? Somehow, she always felt that her dream was some sort of training. Each time she dreamed of it, she always doubled her training routine to improve her physique and speed. She always felt that she still lacked something, but what was it?

“Oh my, here comes the infamous Lexi Skyler. I was wondering when I can have the pleasure of meeting you face to face.” It was a big fat boy with a pock-marked face who spoke.

It was a group of senior high school students. Lexi was held back for a year due to the incident before. The fat boy was named Lewis Scott, and his friends kept snickering as they approached Lexi and Sam. They caught the attention of the students passing by.

Lewis Scott and his friends were transferees and had no idea what happened between that boy and Lexi. They had no idea regarding the true ability of the girl named Lexi Skyler. Those who knew what happened back then could just send looks of pity to the rowdy bunch of boys.

“Lewis Scott!”

It was Principal William Scott, Lewis’ uncle who shouted. Principal William Scott knew Lexi Skyler since she was young. He also knew the things that Lexi had done to that boy, named Collin Blake, who bullied Lexi in middle school.

“Lexi Skyler, you may go now. Don’t waste your time with my nephew here. He just transferred and doesn’t know a thing.” Principal Scott explained as beads of sweat began to drop from his forehead.

Lexi and Sam looked at the principal and nodded their heads before they walked away. Principal Scott heaved a sigh of relief.

“Uncle, I-,” was all Lewis could utter.

Principal Scott turned around and his face was red with anger. He pointed his finger at Lewis and reprimanded him, “You are courting death. You have no idea what you brought upon yourself. Stay away from Lexi Skyler, it’s for your own good.”

The principal left Lewis and his friends, who had puzzled look on their faces. The other students who witnessed the whole thing simply shook their heads. They knew that if Lewis and his friends continued targeting Lexi, they could be the next Collin Blake.

Who was Lexi Skyler? Well, she was a 17-year old girl with

soft wavy hair of auburn color. She had dimples on both sides of her cheeks,

which could only be seen when she smiled. It was unfortunate that when Lexi

grew up, her smile disappeared. She became someone who was not fond of smiling.

On rare occasions, her dimples would sometimes whenever she curved her lips

slightly. Those who had seen them were often mystified and asked why she had

those dimples, which usually remained hidden.

She had an air of innocence surrounding her, and it was

seldom seen among girls her age. She had a nice body, though it was still not

fully developed. Her face could launch a thousand ships, only if people could

appreciate it clearly. It was indeed unfortunate that no one could see her

remarkable appearance. She was fond of wearing loose pants and shirts. Her wavy

bangs had hidden most of her face. She liked to wear her hair that way, and she

was already used to it.

Lexi and her adopted mother, Carmen Montes, settled in the

town of Woodard. According to Carmen’s story, Lexi’s mother was about to give

birth in an alley when Carmen happened to pass by. She helped Lexi’s mother to

hail a cab, and they went together to the hospital.

It was difficult childbirth. Lexi was fortunate to survive

the ordeal, but her mother died in the process. Her mother chose to save her,

even though the doctors warned her that the child may not be able to live at

all. She refused the doctor’s suggestion to save herself and not the baby.

Before Lexi’s mother got admitted in the delivery room, she

made Carmen swear to take care of Lexi for her. Carmen nodded without

hesitating. From birth, it was Carmen who took care of Lexi. She devoted her

time and youth in raising the child.

Although Carmen told the same story to other people, Lexi

had doubts about the veracity of the information that Carmen gave.

“Do I resemble my mother?” When Lexi was eleven, she asked

this question to Carmen.

“Only so-so, I guess you may resemble your father more,”

Carmen explained calmly.

“Was it the first time that you met my real mother?”

“Yes, that was the first time.”

“How come I always feel that you know her for a long time?”

“What made you think so?” Carmen was beginning to get

anxious.

Lexi felt her anxiousness, even though she was only eleven

years old then. Sometimes, she had thoughts that Carmen was her biological

mother.

“I don’t know. I just feel like you know my mom for a long

time. I think you’re sisters.” Lexi flashed her pearly whites and her dimples

appeared.

Carmen was stunned. She almost broke into tears when she saw

those dimples. She remembered someone so precious from her past, and she could

no longer control her emotions.

“Will you please excuse me for a minute?” Carmen dashed out

of the house and went to the garden.

The young Lexi followed her in secret and saw her crying.

Lexi just watched Carmen sobbed quietly. She was wondering why her adopted

mother suddenly became sad. That image remained imprinted on Lexi’s memory. She

still remembered that day even though she had grown up.

Carmen never got married. Lexi had no father figure to look

upon. Carmen tried her best to be Lexi’s mother and father. They moved to

Woodard when Lexi was three years old. She never asked Carmen for the reason

they had to move so far from their previous residence.

The neighbors knew that Lexi was Carmen’s adopted daughter.

She told the neighbors the same story that she told Lexi regarding her mom.

They believed that Carmen had such a good heart.

“If you did not tell us that Lexi is your adopted daughter,

we really thought that you are a mother-daughter duo. The child looks so much

like you,” commented Mrs. Eliza Parks.

“Yeah, I thought so too.” Another one voiced out her

thoughts.

It was a nice neighborhood. Everyone tries to extend a

helping a hand whenever possible. Carmen told their neighbors that she knew how

to prepare traditional herbal medicine because she learned it from her

grandfather, who happened to be half- Chinese.

Some of the things that Carmen told their neighbors were

lies. There was no half-Chinese grandfather. Carmen really knew how to make

herbal medicine. Even though she was still very young when they left their

former place, Lexi could still remember the garden full of different herbs. She

could still remember the scent of the different herbs and be able to tell their

names.

Carmen had the same garden as before. The entire community

was thankful to Carmen for having a vast knowledge of herbal medicine. She

often concocted some for a particular ailment of her neighbors. Everyone agreed

that her herbal medicines are more effective than the ones that can be bought

over-the-counter.

She never charged a single cent for every herbal medicine

that she had given. The whole community sang praises of her and her daughter.

They often brought some fresh vegetables and meat for the mother and daughter

since Carmen refused to accept monetary payment. Lexi was only four years old

at the time.

“Young Lexi needs a father. Don’t you really want to get

married?” It was Mrs. Eliza Parks who popped the taboo question while everyone

was busy preparing for the annual feast of a good harvest. Everyone in their

community had participated in the preparation.

Everyone seemed to had forgotten how to breathe when they

heard Mrs. Parks’ question. Carmen spat out the water that she had just drunk.

“Sorry.” She apologized for her behavior as her cheeks

flushed a deep crimson.

“You are beautiful, virtuous, and talented. Any man would

love to have you as his wife. Take Mr. Matthew Larson, for example. Although he

doesn’t say much, I know that his intentions are pure.” Mrs. Parks tried to

convince Carmen.

Everyone knew that Matthew Larson was Mrs. Parks’ nephew. He

was five years younger than Carmen. He did not look mature enough, although he

was responsible and hardworking. It was a known fact that he was interested in

Carmen, and he was quite vocal about it. Carmen had no reason to turn him down,

except she looked like his aunt whenever they stood together. She hated that

feeling.

Carmen coughed a couple of times to clear her throat. She

knew that she needed to make it clear to Mrs. Parks and her nephew to avoid

misunderstandings and possible conflict in their relationship as neighbors.

“I know that he has good intentions, but I promised myself

that I will just devote my time taking care of Lexi in this lifetime. Besides,

I am not someone who can take care of her husband properly.” Carmen tried to

sound calm and convincing. She wanted Mrs. Parks and Matthew to stop.

Mrs. Parks could not believe her ears, but she still

respected Carmen’s decision. She patted Carmen’s hands and said, “I

understand.” Mrs. Parks got up and simply walked away from Carmen.

Not far from where they were, Matthew observed everything

and saw that his aunt stood up and walked away. He knew that Carmen turned down

the idea. He simply shook his head, and then he looked at Carmen, who was so

absorbed in gazing at the retreating back of Mrs. Parks.

When Lexi turned five, she still refused to play with other

children of the same age as her. She often stayed with Carmen who often busied

herself discovering other herbal concoctions. At a young age, Lexi could

prepare an effective remedy for colds and flu. Carmen even praised her that she

was better than the master of the house.

When Lexi was still a very young girl, Carmen did not force

her to play with other kids. Carmen just let Lexi do what she wanted to do as

long as it wouldn’t cause harm to anyone, including herself.

“Mom, why do you use this plant when making that?” Lexi

would often ask Carmen whenever there was a new herb that she had never seen

before.

Carmen looked at Lexi and sighed. She knew that the little

girl wouldn’t stop asking. She stopped what she was doing and picked up the

little girl.

“Lexi, if mom teaches you to read now will you be fine to go

to the library by yourself? The librarian there was an old acquaintance of

mine. She will take care of you.”

“Can she answer all of my questions?” The young Lexi looked

at Carmen with mirth in her eyes.

“Of course!”

Carmen taught Lexi how to read and she looked forward to

better days ahead. Lexi took the initiative to open a book when Carmen could no

longer give a satisfying answer. One day, Carmen brought Lexi to the library

that she mentioned before.

“Good morning madam,” greeted Mrs. McMillan, the librarian,

who looked like a 90-year-old woman.

“Good morning Mrs. McMillan. This is my daughter Lexi

Skyler, the one I mentioned to you before.”

“Ah, yes. Don’t worry madam, I will take care of the young

mistress for you. No one will dare come near her while I’m around.” Mrs.

McMillan gave Lexi a warm smile as she reached out for her.

Lexi hid behind Carmen when she saw Mrs. McMillan’s bony

fingers. Lexi was afraid at first, but she felt warmth all over when Mrs.

McMillan handed her some cookies.

“T-thank you very much.” Lexi took the cookies, and her

mother pointed her to a chair. She obeyed and seated herself while Carmen had a

talk with Mrs. McMillan.

“What are your plans, madam? Did you tell the young mistress

the truth?”

Carmen shook her head. “No, I haven’t told her anything yet.

She’s still too young to know things.”

“Do you want my honest opinion madam?”

“Go ahead, don’t hold anything back.”

“I think it is best to tell her now before it’s too late. We

never know when Endera’s minions would discover us here.”

“I know. If I could, I never want to return to that place.”

“How about Master? Didn’t he promise you that he would wait

for your return?”

“Do you honestly believe that Endera will just sit still and

do nothing? For all we know, Lucian may not even know his own name anymore.”

There was frustration in Carmen’s tone.

Mrs. McMillan remained silent. She knew that what Carmen

told her was not far from the truth. She witnessed Endera’s brutality with her

own eyes. Mrs. McMillan was only forty years old. It was Endera who turned her

into a wrinkly old lady. Carmen was able to stop her inner body from aging too

fast but could do nothing about her outward appearance.

Carmen had given Mrs. McMillan a special kind of tonic that

must be taken every day to prevent her skin from aging fast. Even though Carmen

was able to stop her internal aging, she would still perish if her skin kept

deteriorating.

They both looked at Lexi who was already busy reading a

book. Tears began to fall from Carmen’s eyes. She had to lie that Lexi was not

her biological daughter to mislead their pursuers. The mother and daughter, as

well as Mrs. McMillan, belonged to a region known as the 9th Realm. There,

everyone had a special ability to jump from realm to realm.

The solar system belonged to the 3rd Realm. Everyone in the

3rd Realm had no idea about the existence of the other realms. Carmen envied

the people in the 3rd Realm because they kept living a blissful life while

being kept in the dark. It was best for them not to learn about the existence

of the 9th Realm and the other realms for that matter.

“Mommy, look at this man.” Lexi ran to her mother and showed

her the picture that she found in the book she was reading.

Carmen quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks. She smiled

at her daughter and asked, “What is it, sweetheart?”

“Look, this man looks like me! It’s like his my real uncle

that I have never seen before. Could he be my real mother’s brother?”

Carmen took the book from Lexi and she could not believe

what she saw. The man in the book was Lucian Burnell in his younger years.

Carmen looked at her daughter once more and could not decide whether she should

tell the little girl the truth or let her live a happy, blissful life.

“Lexi,

listen carefully…”

Carmen was about to reveal everything to Lexi when they heard a commotion by the door. Mrs. McMillan and Carmen looked at each other. They had a hunch that their greatest fear had finally come true. Endera’s henchmen from Czarnae Tribe may have finally reached the third realm. Carmen and Mrs. McMillan were not certain whether the people by the door were Endera’s henchmen.

The dwellers of the different realms possessed a unique aura that only the Czarnaens could differentiate. Carmen tried her best to conceal their aura, and she was certain that no one would be able to detect them, not even the Czarnae Tribe Chief.

Mrs. McMillan had the ability to create dimensional arrays that she could control. She kept the library hidden in an array so no one could see it. However, the ones who were in the library could clearly see the happenings outside. Carmen and Lexi were the only ones who could see the library and go there freely. Lexi had no idea that no one else could see the library, and it was the reason why she was its only visitor.

“Madam, who are they? Are they from Czarnae Tribe? Did Endera find out?” There was worry in Mrs. McMillan’s voice.

Carmen kept observing through the window. “I’m not sure. But, I don’t think they can sense us here if they are the Czarnaens under Endera.”

The ones outside the library looked like ordinary people. The Czarnaens had black skin and black sclera. They had bright yellow irises and fiery orange hair. Carmen was not sure whether the ones outside just happened to be there or searching for them. What was puzzling was that they seemed to be looking for something – as if they knew that a library was there.

“There’s nothing here. Are you sure that you detected the disturbance here?” One of the men asked. He was a burly man holding a big machete in his left hand. He had an imposing aura and seemed to be the leader of the group.

“I’m positive!” The skinny man confirmed, and he sounded annoyed with the way he was being questioned. He dared not voice out his discontent in front of the burly man.

“Humph, there’s obviously nothing here! Commander, we are just wasting time here. It’s best to move out.” The rest of the group agreed to the suggestion of the man wearing a black mask.

Carmen could see them from the library. She was trying to figure out the identity of the strangers. They did not seem to be Endera’s minions. Carmen seemed to recall meeting the man wearing a black mask before, but she could not remember clearly.

Ever since they arrived in the third realm, Carmen noticed that her memory seemed to be fading slowly. Her real name was not Carmen, and she just assumed the identity of the woman whom she helped in the alley. She only twisted the story a bit, but all the involved people were true. It was her who was pregnant back then and not the woman she helped.

The real Carmen had her days numbered. She had no family. When she was about to die, she gave Lexi’s biological mother her identity and left all of her assets to the mother and child. Mrs. McMillan had not known the real name of Carmen since she only called her madam all her life.

“Mom, do you know who those men are? Are they looking for something? We should go out and help them.” The young Lexi tugged at her mother’s sleeves as she tried to run toward the door.

“No, Lexi!” Carmen almost got dragged by Lexi’s sudden movement. Even Mrs. McMillan was stunned at Lexi’s display of strength. Just a mere child, and yet she was able to yank Carmen.

Mrs.McMillan tried to increase the barrier within the library to prevent Lexi from going out. Carmen blew some soporific dust to make Lexi fall asleep. The young girl stopped on her tracks and decided to lie down. Lexi had fallen asleep almost immediately.

“Madam, this is bad. The young miss’ power seemed to have awakened.”

“No, it’s not yet time for her power to manifest. The abnormality may have been triggered by the presence of those men. But, who are they?”

“Madam, do you think that someone is trying to awaken the power of the young miss?”

“Hmm, it is possible. Quickly, help me suppress it for now until the proper time comes. No one from the Ninth Realm must trace Lexi’s presence.”

The two women gave everything they got to stop the awakening of Lexi’s power. Carmen did everything she could to hide the truth from her daughter. She did not mention to Mrs. McMillan about her plan to completely forsake their identities. She knew that Lexi may not be able to live a peaceful life when Endera or Lucian traced them. She recalled something when she was about to lose hope.

“Mrs. McMillan listen carefully to what I’m about to tell you. Lucian once told me about the existence of the Imemorettis. They can track people from the Ninth Realm via their memories. If I remember correctly, the Imemorettis work for money. As long as they are satisfied with the payment, they will track down the person that the contractor wants them to trace. They can always capture the person when they locked onto his memories. I don’t know how they do it but they almost always catch their target.” Carmen looked at Mrs. McMillan with pleading, teary eyes.

Mrs. McMillan felt an ominous aura. She feared that Carmen may resort to erasing her own memories completely, and forget about the place where they originally belong. The madam was abandoning the master who could be under Endera’s spell already.

“Are you telling me that they can track you down because you have the memories of your existence in the Ninth Realm? What about me? If they can track you, madam, they will be able to find me too.”

Carmen shook her head. “No, they won’t be able to trace you. Endera thinks that you are already dead. She may not even think of the possibility that we are together in this place. The Imemorettis only track down the person that their contractor wants them to find.”

Mrs. McMillan fell silent. She could not think of any reason to contradict Carmen anymore. Carmen took a deep breath before uttering her wishes.

“I need you to erase my memories and make me believe the stories that I have told the others are true. Please help me live the lies I have created and turn them into absolute truths. This is the only way to save my daughter and you.”

“Madam, I can’t do that! What about the master, your husband?” Mrs. McMillan’s tears, which she had been trying to suppress, trickled down her cheeks.

Carmen saw it, and she tried to console and to convince Mrs. McMillan. She was left with no other option, but to make herself believe that they belonged to the Third Realm. As long as she kept remembering the Ninth Realm and Lucian, their enemies would find them soon.

For all she knew, her husband may have turned into someone else’s groom already. It was all too late. They had nothing to return to. It might as well better if she and her daughter could live in peace in the Third Realm.

“Mrs. McMillan, treat this as a friend asking you for help. I think it was Lucian who sealed parts of my memory. He knows that as long as I can remember anything related to the Ninth Realm, Endera’s minions will be able to locate us.”

“Are you certain about this?”

Carmen nodded.

“How about this library, should I make you forget about this too, including me?”

Soon, tears fell from Carmen’s eyes.

“Make me forget everything, but let Lexi come visit you often. I don’t think Endera, Lucian, or anyone who holds the power in the Ninth Realm will be able to recognize Lexi. I have covered her aura since she was young, and she had no memories of the Ninth Realm at all. They wouldn’t and shouldn’t know that she is my biological child.”

“But madam, I strongly feel that we will be able to get back to our real world soon.”

Carmen shook her head. “It’s still too early to say that we will be able to go back. Don’t hold much hope. Why don’t you just stay here?”

Mrs. McMillan looked at Carmen with the saddest pair of eyes.

********************

Three years had passed since the incident in the library. Lexi continued going there and meeting Mrs. McMillan, but Carmen never set foot in that library again. Lexi did not pester her to go together to Mrs. McMillan’s library.

“Mrs. McMillan, what do you call this?” The young Lexi was always curious and Mrs. McMillan was always ready to help her.

She gave Lexi a warm smile and taught her the things that she wanted to know. Her line of sight happened to land on the sealed door in the library. She looked at the young Lexi and shook her head.

‘It’s not a proper time yet. Let’s wait a bit more.’

At the end of the day, Lexi bid goodbye to Mrs. McMillan who was no longer taking the tonic for her skin. Carmen had completed her treatment, although the condition of her skin was beyond salvaging. Carmen’s memories were completely sealed off. Mrs. McMillan just couldn’t bear to erase them completely, although Carmen specifically told her to do so. However, sealing off the memories was as good as erasing them. She just hoped that nothing would trigger the unsealing.

“Mom, I don’t want to go to school. The library is already full of books that can teach me everything I need to know. I don’t need to go to school. Mrs. McMillan can teach me.”

“You keep mentioning this Mrs. McMillan, who is she?”

Lexi chuckled and found her mother’s remark ridiculous.

“You were the one who introduced her to me. She’s the librarian of the library in the woods.”

Carmen felt pain in her head as she tried to recall who Mrs. McMillan was. She felt she could trust the person and decided not to think much about it anymore. The pain she felt earlier began to subside.

“You still need to meet other people and interact with them.”

“But I already know many people,” Lexi answered while pouting her lips.

Carmen sat down and pointed at the chair next to her. Lexi obediently sat on the chair. She was a smart girl, and she already knew so many things. But, it was Carmen’s wish for her to grow up properly and be like any normal kid her age. Carmen knew that her daughter was gifted.

“When you go to school, there will be teachers who can guide you as you learn things.”

Lexi pleaded with her mother, but Carmen already made a firm decision. She sighed and agreed to Carmen’s wishes.

“Okay mom, I will listen to you.”

Lexi began going to school the following day. Everything should’ve been smooth if not for the boy named Clancy Brown. On the second day, he hid Lexi’s lunch box. On the third day, he took away her book. Almost every day, Clancy brought trouble to the young Lexi. Carmen remained oblivious of the bullying. Lexi did not say anything to Carmen.

“How was school?” Carmen suddenly asked her daughter one day.

She was afraid that Lexi could be having trouble trying to get along with her classmates. She was curious why Lexi did not mention anything about school ever since.

“It was fine.” It was all the Lexi said, and she gave her mother a sweet smile.

Her classmates knew the bullying, but none of them reported anything to the teachers. One of Lexi’s classmates even advised her that she should learn to keep everything to herself and not to trouble her mother.

Lexi did as she was told until the bullying got worse. Lexi was beaten beyond recognition after she hit Clancy with a shoe when he tried to take the handkerchief that Carmen embroidered for her. Lexi was taken to a hospital, and that was the only time that Carmen learned about the bullying. Lexi clenched her handkerchief and refused to hand it over. The staff in the hospital failed to take it away from her, even though she was already unconscious.

Carmen cried so hard that day. She looked at her daughter who was half-dead on the hospital bed.