Hazel and the soldier were about to leave for their mission when a voice suddenly echoed across the courtyard.
"Hazel!"
Hazel stopped and turned around.
A messenger ran toward her, slightly out of breath.
"King Robert is calling for you."
Hazel nodded calmly and changed direction.
A few minutes later, she entered the throne room.
The enormous hall was silent. Black stone pillars stretched toward the ceiling, and crimson banners hung from the walls. At the far end of the room sat Robert upon his throne.
Hazel crossed her arms.
"What happened? Why did you call me back?"
Robert studied her for a moment.
"You've changed."
Hazel raised an eyebrow.
"Tell me the reason."
For a few seconds, Robert remained silent.
Then he spoke.
"Everyone in the realms believes you are dead."
"So when you enter the Third Realm, cover your face."
"And kill the elder quietly."
"I don't want anyone tracing the assassination back to our organization."
Hazel smirked.
"My good reputation is difficult to maintain, huh?"
Robert's eyes narrowed.
"Good reputation?"
"The only thing people feel when they hear my name is fear."
"Not everyone," Hazel replied.
Robert suddenly threw a kunai.
The blade shot through the air.
Hazel instantly stepped aside, caught it, and threw it back.
Robert tilted his head slightly.
The kunai struck the throne behind him.
Silence filled the room.
Robert's expression darkened.
"Don't forget what I did to Ren."
Hazel's smile disappeared.
Yet she showed no fear.
"You shouldn't forget what I know either."
"If the realms learn the truth..."
She leaned closer.
"You know exactly what will happen."
For the first time, Robert said nothing.
Hazel turned around and casually walked away.
Outside the castle, Hazel met the waiting soldier.
Without saying a word, she raised her hand.
A portal suddenly opened.
The soldier's eyes widened.
There was no key.
No artifact.
Nothing.
Yet the portal obeyed her command.
The question instantly appeared in his mind.
How?
Before he could ask, Hazel grabbed his wrist.
The portal swallowed them.
Darkness consumed everything.
Seconds passed.
Then minutes.
Suddenly—
Light.
The soldier opened his eyes.
His mouth slowly fell open.
They stood inside a gigantic sphere floating in endless darkness.
Twelve enormous doors surrounded them in a perfect circle.
Each door carried the energy of a different realm.
Ancient symbols glowed across their surfaces.
The soldier stared in amazement.
"Is this..."
"My first time traveling between realms?"
Hazel finished his sentence.
The soldier nodded excitedly.
Hazel smiled faintly.
"Follow me."
The two walked across the vast platform.
Eventually Hazel stopped before a massive door radiating pink energy.
The Third Realm.
Ancient symbols glowed across its frame.
A floating panel suddenly appeared.
WHO ARE YOU?
SAVIOR
TRADER
Hazel selected "Trader."
The screen changed.
VERIFY IDENTITY.
Two symbols appeared.
One resembled a keyhole.
The other displayed the shape of a hand.
Hazel placed her palm against the symbol.
A glowing mark appeared on her arm.
The door scanned it.
A few moments later, new words appeared.
VERIFICATION SUCCESSFUL.
Hazel stepped back.
Then tightly grabbed the soldier's hand.
CRACK.
The massive door slowly opened.
Brilliant pink light exploded outward.
A powerful wind rushed through the chamber.
Without hesitation, Hazel ran forward.
Then jumped.
The soldier screamed as the two vanished into the light.
Meanwhile...
Days passed.
Weeks passed.
Months passed.
Training became routine.
Every morning, Nick pushed Eyrx and Darven harder than the day before.
Weekdays were dedicated to training.
Weekends were for rest.
Nick spent most of his free time reading books.
Darven experimented with different recipes.
Eyrx mostly slept.
Or explored the surrounding forests and waterfalls.
Sometimes the three played cards.
Sometimes chess.
Sometimes they simply sat together and talked.
Three months passed.
Today was Sunday.
A rare day without training.
Eyrx lay in bed trying to sleep.
But for some reason, he couldn't.
After several failed attempts, he sat up and walked toward the window.
Far beyond the castle grounds, something caught his attention.
Tiny rooftops.
Smoke rising from chimneys.
A town.
Eyrx quickly opened a drawer and grabbed a magnifying lens.
His eyes widened.
A huge smile appeared on his face.
Then he ran.
Inside the library, Nick sat reading while Darven quietly drank juice nearby.
Morning sunlight streamed through the windows.
Suddenly—
BANG!
The door flew open.
Eyrx stormed inside.
Darven nearly spilled his drink.
"Whoa! What happened?"
Nick ignored him and continued reading.
Eyrx snatched the book from Nick's hands.
Nick slowly looked up.
"What kind of behavior is that?"
"I saw something!"
Nick sighed.
"What? A ghost?"
"No!"
"A town!"
Nick blinked.
"That's it?"
Eyrx froze.
"You knew?"
"Of course."
Eyrx turned toward Darven.
"You too?"
Darven nodded.
"I know."
Eyrx pointed at himself.
"So I'm the only person who didn't know there was a town nearby?"
"That's your fault," Darven replied.
"You never asked."
Eyrx groaned.
Then looked at Nick.
"Let's go there."
"No."
"Please."
"No."
"I've spent three months inside this castle!"
Nick crossed his arms.
"I don't like towns."
"People stare at me."
"They know what happened."
"It's awkward."
Eyrx turned toward Darven.
Darven nodded.
"We also need supplies."
That finally got Nick's attention.
After a long silence, he closed his book.
"Fine."
Eyrx jumped in excitement.
"Yes!"
"Go get ready."
A short while later, Nick and Darven waited near the castle gate.
Then Eyrx arrived.
He stopped.
A jeep stood beside them.
His eyes widened.
"We have a vehicle?"
Nick rolled his eyes.
"Get in."
Moments later, the engine started.
The castle disappeared behind them as they headed toward the distant town.
The next morning, Grace sat at a large dining table inside the laboratory headquarters.
Several leaders of the organization were present.
Emily.
Larissa.
Kael.
And the other high-ranking members.
One woman examined Grace carefully.
"You really look like Isabella."
"Anyone would mistake you for her younger self."
"The resemblance is unbelievable."
The room fell silent.
Then another leader spoke.
"So you've officially joined our laboratory?"
Grace nodded.
Emily cleared her throat.
"I've made a decision."
Everyone looked toward her.
"I asked Kael to train Grace."
A few eyebrows rose.
Emily continued.
"Kael understands her power better than anyone."
"He trained directly under Isabella."
"If anyone can help Grace, it's him."
"Any objections?"
The leaders exchanged glances.
"No."
"We don't mind."
The woman smirked.
"Kael training someone?"
"He can't even handle himself."
"He's drunk more often than he's sober."
A few people struggled to hide their laughter.
Kael sighed.
"Please stop."
Emily smiled.
"He's a troublemaker."
"But maybe training someone will finally make him mature."
Larissa quietly looked away.
"Kael training Grace..."
Emily noticed.
"Is there a problem?"
Larissa immediately shook her head.
"No."
"None at all."
Then she lowered her gaze.
The conversation moved on.
Far away, Robert stood in the castle gardens.
James knelt before him.
"Your Majesty."
Robert looked toward the night sky.
"What is it?"
James smiled.
"I bring exciting news."
Robert turned toward him.
James continued.
"I found a girl."
"She looks exactly like Isabella."
"The same face."
"The same appearance."
"Everything."
Robert's expression remained unreadable.
"But?" he asked.
James nodded.
"She claims her name is Grace."
"And the laboratory is protecting her."
For a moment, silence filled the garden.
Then Robert smiled.
A slow, dangerous smile.
"Oh..."
"I see."