Chapter 1: Encounter

“What went wrong?” Shiya whispered, her voice trembling as she dabbed her tear-streaked cheeks. The twilight was thickening, wrapping the road in a somber hue, yet she kept driving into the unknown. Her mind was as lost as the path ahead. Every mile took her farther from everything she knew—everything that hurt.

The car sputtered, coughed, and then gave out entirely. The fuel gauge pointed to empty, confirming her fate. She was stranded on a murky, unmarked road, surrounded by silence and shadows.

Shiya let her forehead rest on the steering wheel. A few seconds passed, and then the sobs came—loud, heartbroken cries that echoed into the void. No one heard. No one cared.

Eventually, she stepped out of the car. The air was damp, cold, and laced with the scent of wet earth. She wandered aimlessly, her footsteps unsure. A soft light flickered ahead—a firefly, glowing gently in the darkness. As if hypnotized, Shiya followed it deeper into the forest, her mind drifting into numbness.

The firefly led her to a serene clearing. Moonlight shimmered on a still pond, creating an illusion of silver fire on water. A wooden bridge arched over the water, old but strong. At the center of the bridge, an old woman sat quietly, her eyes lost in thought.

Shiya hesitated, then approached and sat beside her.

“Life is unreasonable, isn’t it?” she murmured. “It just gives us... suffering.”

The old woman slowly turned her gaze toward Shiya. Her eyes held centuries of wisdom and sorrow.

“It is,” the woman said simply.

“Then why?” Shiya asked, her voice cracking. “Why choose to stay in such a cruel world?”

The woman smiled faintly. “I’ve been waiting for someone.”

“For who?”

“You.”

Shiya blinked, startled. “Me?”

The woman didn’t respond, but she reached into her cloak and pulled out a smooth, pale stone that glowed faintly under the moonlight.

“This... looks valuable. Why give it to me?” Shiya asked, standing slowly.

“Will you keep it safe for me?” the woman said, holding it out.

Shiya hesitated, then gently accepted the stone. It was warm, pulsing slightly in her hand like a heartbeat. Before she could say more, she looked up—and the old woman was gone.

“Where…?” Shiya turned in circles, but there was no trace. “She’s gone…”

A shiver ran down her spine.

“What’s the point of being scared?” she muttered. “I’ll be gone soon anyway.”

She clutched the stone and looked out over the water. Her thoughts turned to her family, to laughter once shared, to love she once believed in. Bitterness crept in.

“I hate you, Xyon,” she sobbed. “You left me for that damn company.”

Tears spilled down her cheeks again. Anger surged. She threw the stone into the water, watching the ripples spread. A moment later, she stepped to the edge—and jumped.

Cold. Silence. Then panic.

The water engulfed her. It invaded her lungs, her thoughts. She sank, kicking weakly. Her strength faded. As her eyes fluttered closed, she thought, No one’s coming. No one ever will.

Then—a scent. A flower?

Her lungs burned, yet her mind slowly quieted. Warmth enveloped her. She reached out and felt softness.

“A… pillow?”

Her eyes opened.

She was no longer in the pond but in a bright, beautiful room. Morning sunlight poured through open windows, revealing a lush flower garden below. Butterflies fluttered through the air.

Shiya sat up slowly, stunned. “Am I in... heaven?”

“Talking to yourself already?” a tiny voice piped up.

Startled, Shiya looked around. “Who said that?”

“Boo!” shouted a tiny, winged creature as it popped into view.

“AHH!” Shiya screamed, recoiling and accidentally swatting it against the wall.

“Ow! You hit me, Sushie!” the little creature groaned.

“What... What are you?!” Shiya gasped.

“I’m ...Chipi?,” the creature said confused, floating up. She waved her hand and transformed into human size. “And I’m still cute, even when you hit me.”

Shiya blinked. “You... turned human?”

Chipi dusted herself off. “Yes?... And by the way, what’s the big idea? Stop the act haha. You're late! It’s your special day!”

“Special day?” Shiya echoed.

“Yes! The Queen is proclaiming the new Princess of Eriland. And the one who caught the heart of Prince Liu?”

“Huh?...” Shiya's head spun. “Wait. What? Prince who?”

Chipi frowned. “Stop being silly Sushie. I told you to stop the act already."

“My name is Shiya. Not Sushie!”

Chipi rolled her eyes and dragged Shiya off the bed. “Whatever. Time to get ready.”

Soon, other pixies joined to help Shiya dress. Elegant fabrics wrapped around her, transforming her into a vision of royal beauty. Her confusion only grew.

“She looks amazing,” whispered one pixie.

A knock. The door opened.

“It’s Prince Liu,” said a soft voice.

Shiya turned—and froze. The man in the doorway... he looked like Xyon.

Tears filled her eyes. “Xyon?” she whispered.

The prince stepped forward, concerned. “Sushie, are you alright?”

“Don’t come near me!” she cried, stumbling back. “Don’t!”

Chipi rushed to her side, confused. “What’s happening?”

Without answering, Shiya ran. Past startled fairies, through majestic halls, until she reached a guarded gate. A tall warrior stepped into her path.

“You can’t leave, Princess,” he said gently. “It’s dangerous beyond this gate.”

“I don’t care! Let me go!” she yelled, shoving him.

He didn’t stop her. “Let her pass,” he told the guards.

Shiya stepped into a strange world—one of gray skies, dying trees, and sorrow. She walked, driven by pain, until a chill crept up her spine.

Something was following her.

She turned. Shadows moved. A dark mist took shape—half-human, half-specter.

“Give me the stone!” it screeched. “THE STONE!”

“What stone?...I don’t have it!” she screamed, running. The creature surged forward, catching her foot. She fell, hard. It loomed above her and wrapped around her neck.

She couldn’t breathe.

Help… someone… please…

Suddenly, a sharp whizz—an arrow pierced the creature’s head. It let out an unearthly scream and evaporated into smoke.

Shiya gasped for air, coughing violently. She looked up to see the warrior from the gate.

“Are you alright, Princess?” he asked, kneeling beside her. “Why did you run? You could’ve fought it off yourself.”

“How? I don’t know how to fight...” she murmured before everything faded into black.

“I was betrayed and left by the only person I could run to. I could only cry… and nothing more could explain how heavy this feeling is.”

~Shiya

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