Third Person's POV
Inside the speeding taxi, the driver slammed his foot onto the gas pedal, weaving through the dark streets toward the central hospital exactly as his frantic passenger had ordered. The engine roared in the quiet night. But after traveling only a short distance, a sudden, blinding luminescence flared up in the cabin, casting sharp shadows against the windshield.
Frowning in confusion, the driver glanced up at the rearview mirror to check on the young woman in the backseat. The breath instantly left his lungs, his eyes stretching wide in sheer, unadulterated terror.
Liora was completely engulfed in a radiant, crackling aura of supernatural energy. Her eyes had transformed into a striking, vivid neon blue, and a brilliant diamond-shaped sigil was burning fiercely upon her forehead, illuminating the entire interior of the vehicle with an ethereal light.
Overwhelmed by panic at the impossible sight, the driver violently jerked the steering wheel. The tires screeched in protest as the taxi spun completely out of control, sliding across the slick asphalt before crashing heavily into a roadside utility pole.
The impact echoed through the night. Fortunately, the driver escaped completely unhurt. With his heart hammering violently against his ribs, he swallowed hard and slowly turned around to look into the backseat.
The car was dead silent. Liora had completely vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Deep within the thick, suffocating shadows of the forbidden forest, Ethan was trudging through the dense undergrowth, dragging Ronan's heavy, unconscious body over the damp earth. Walking right beside him, guiding the way through the fog, was Sophia.
The two of them finally came to a halt when they reached a small, open clearing beneath the moonlight. Ethan carefully lowered the billionaire's limp form onto the grass.
"Okay, let's finish him off right now before he regains consciousness, Ethan." Sophia urged, her voice laced with an icy, deep-seated anger as she stared down at the defenseless CEO.
Ethan stared at his hands, hesitating as a wave of heavy reluctance washed over his features. "Are you absolutely sure about this, Sophia? Shouldn't we take a moment to think this through? What on earth is Liora going to think of us when she finally discovers the truth?"
"Huh!" Sophia scoffed bitterly, turning a sharp gaze onto her friend. "Do you honestly want to stand by and watch Liora's entire life be utterly ruined because of him, Ethan? This monster isn't her real boyfriend, he has no right to worry about her. Liora will feel a small pang of sadness when she finds out, and then she will move on. Our ultimate duty is to protect her at all costs, isn't it? In the sacred name of Goddess Mo, finish him off right now. If you don't have the stomach for it, I will do it myself."
Letting out a long, defeated sigh, Ethan looked down at Ronan's perfectly still, pale face. "No... I will do it."
Taking a deep, stabilizing breath, Ethan closed his eyes tightly. He placed both of his hands firmly onto the center of Ronan's chest. Within seconds, a brilliant, blinding white light began to emanate from Ethan's skin, spreading outward into the clearing. A concentrated beam of pure white energy surged directly from his palms, driving straight into Ronan's chest to extinguish his life force.
Minutes ticked by in agonizing silence. Ethan remained in the exact same position, but his supernatural energy wasn't breaking through. Thick beads of sweat began to drip down his forehead, and his entire frame started to shake violently from the strain.
"S-Sophia... I-I can't do this." Ethan choked out, his voice strained with immense difficulty.
"What?! What are you waiting for?" Sophia demanded, growing frantic. "Hurry up and finish him off, Ethan!"
"S-Sophia, y-you need to come over here and help me right now!" Ethan gasped, his muscles locking up. "I cannot overpower him alone. There is something s-strange... something incredibly powerful inside of him."
Thoroughly confused, Sophia didn't waste another second. She sprinted to Ethan's side, instantly summoning her own hidden reservoirs of power. Extending her hands, which now glowed with an identical, fierce white light, Sophia pressed her palms aggressively against Ronan's chest, combining their strengths to crush the billionaire's soul.
"Sophia!! Stop it right now!!"
The commanding, furious shout shattered the silence of the woods. Startled, both Sophia and Ethan violently snapped their heads toward the tree line. Sophia's breath hitched in her throat, her body freezing in absolute shock at the figures emerging from the fog.
It was Michael Lewis. And standing right behind him, her expression grim, was Miss Scott.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sophia stood paralyzed. But before he or Ethan could even process Michael's sudden appearance, a massive, explosive shockwave of vibrant blue light violently detonated in the center of the clearing.
Out of the blinding flash, Liora materialized with terrifying speed. Fueled by pure, protective instinct, she unleashed a devastating, superhuman blow toward the two attackers, the sheer kinetic force sending both Sophia and Ethan flying backward through the air until they crashed heavily into the dirt.
"Sophia!!"
Michael, who was still visibly weak and recovering from the brutal injuries Ronan had inflicted on him days prior, dragged his aching body forward with immense effort. He rushed over to Sophia's side, dropping to his knees and carefully pulling the younger girl's head into his lap.
Coughing against the dust, Ethan and Sophia forced their eyes open with great difficulty. The sight that met them struck pure, primitive terror into their souls.
Liora was standing directly over Ronan's limp body, shielding him entirely. Her face was completely blank and devoid of human emotion, a mask of terrifying, absolute destruction. She looked ready to annihilate anyone who dared to take a single step toward them. Her eyes were glowing an intense, supernatural blue, and the radiant diamond sigil on her forehead was pulsing with unparalleled cosmic authority.
"L-Liora?" Sophia stammered, her mind reeling as she stared at her roommate.
"Are you okay, Sophia?" Michael asked softly, but Sophia didn't even have the strength or the words to answer him.
Ensuring that the immediate threat was neutralized, Liora slowly dropped to her knees beside Ronan. She tenderly gathered the unconscious man into her arms, her fingers gently brushing against the nasty, bleeding head wound Ethan had inflicted with the club.
The moment Liora's glowing blue energy touched the broken skin, the wound instantly knit itself back together, healing completely without leaving even a scar.
Michael and Miss Scott watched the scene unfold with deep, loving reverence, while Ethan and Sophia simply stared at each other in utter, paralyzed disbelief.
"L-Liora's gem... it's s-fully activated?" Sophia whispered, her voice trembling. "B-But how is that humanly possible?"
"Because the two long-lost gems have finally met." Michael explained, a soft, bittersweet smile gracing his lips. He gave Sophia a knowing nod, gesturing for them to look closer at the couple.
As Liora's celestial energy washed over her, Ronan slowly began to stir, groaning softly as consciousness returned to his body. The very first thing his eyes focused on was Liora's supernatural form.
"Lio? My love?" Ronan murmured, his voice laced with confusion.
Liora didn't speak; she simply continued to channel her raw power to protect them, her eyes still locked in a defensive trance.
"Shh... calm down, baby." Ronan whispered tenderly, instantly realizing his girl was trapped in a state of panic. "Look at me. No one is going to hurt us anymore. It's okay."
Completely oblivious to the four people watching them in the dark woods, Ronan leaned up, pressing soft, desperate, incredibly loving kisses against Liora's lips and cheeks, cradling her face to soothe her racing heart. He wrapped his powerful arms around Liora, holding her in a fierce embrace.
A beautiful anomaly occurred. The moment their bodies locked together, the brilliant red diamond mark flared to life upon Ronan's forehead. As the two distinct colors blended into the night air, Liora's volatile power safely subsided. The neon blue bled out of her irises, returning her eyes to their natural, warm brown, though the brilliant blue diamond sigil remained firmly etched upon her brow.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Witnessing the ancient, miraculous prophecy unfold right before their eyes, the onlookers could only stare in pure amazement.
The next moment, Miss Scott slowly sank to her knees, lowering her head to the forest floor in an act of absolute homage and devotion. Without a word, Michael followed her lead, kneeling right beside her. Ethan and Sophia, still trembling from the sheer weight of the cosmic revelation, fell to their knees as well. Keeping their eyes glued to the earth, they lowered their heads into the dirt before their true rulers.
Breaking apart from their tight embrace, Ronan and Liora looked around the clearing, completely bewildered by the sight of everyone bowing before them.
"W-What on earth are you all doing?" Ronan demanded, his brow furrowing as his eyes landed on his elderly housekeeper. "Miss Scott?"
The next second, Miss Scott slowly raised her head and stood up. But as she straightened her spine, a collective gasp echoed through the clearing. Her entire physical form began to violently shift and rewrite itself.
Her plump, elderly body elegantly transformed into a slim, graceful silhouette. The deep wrinkles across her face melted away, revealing the pristine, delicate features of a breathtaking young woman. Her brittle, snow-white hair rapidly shifted, cascading down her shoulders in long, thick, lustrous waves of dark brown.
Within a matter of moments, a stunningly beautiful young woman stood in place of the frail grandmother they had known.
"M-Maya?" Ethan whispered, his voice cracking in sheer shock.
"Yes." the young woman replied, offering a gentle, knowing smile. "Maya Scott."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A heavy, suffocating silence filled the grand living room of the Brown estate. Following the chaotic encounter in the woods, the entire group had traveled back to the mansion to demand answers.
The six of them were now organized across three large leather couches facing one another. Ethan and Sophia, who were still visibly shaking from the sheer shock of the night, were being quietly comforted by Michael and Maya. Across from them, Ronan and Liora sat huddled closely together, their arms tightly intertwined as they stared at Maya in absolute disbelief.
Even though they had grown accustomed to the existence of supernatural anomalies, they still couldn't comprehend how a woman they had known as a fragile, elderly housekeeper for years had suddenly blossomed into a fierce, beautiful young warrior.
Recognizing the dense confusion in the room, Maya decided to break the icy silence.
"I know absolutely no one in this room can comprehend what just happened." Maya began softly, her eyes scanning the faces before her. "Sophia, Ethan, Michael... even our precious Liora and Ronan are completely blind to the reality of our existence. I will explain everything from the very beginning."
"Wait a single minute!" Ronan interrupted, his tone sharp and guarded. "Why on earth are you addressing Lio and me with such high formal respect all of a sudden? It's driving me crazy."
"Because," Maya answered with absolute gravity, "the two of you are the rightful new Emperor and Empress of our kingdom."
Hearing the word Empress, Liora's brow furrowed tightly in utter confusion, but she kept her mouth shut, waiting patiently for her to clarify.
Ronan let out a dry, incredulous chuckle. "Huh? As far as my education goes, England is a strictly democratic government run by a modern president. We don't have a monarchy, let alone an Emperor."
Maya let out a soft, melodious laugh at his skepticism. "I am not speaking of Earth or the nation of England, Your Majesty. I am speaking of the ancient realm to which we all truly belong. It does not exist on this human planet. It is a parallel world existing on the exact same dimensional layer as Earth. It is known as the Mo Kingdom."
Liora's eyes widened to the size of saucers, her breath catching. "A parallel world? Do those actually exist in reality? I thought that was just a concept made up for fantasy novels and sci-fi movies."
"Most humans believe that fantasy is strictly limited to imagination." Maya explained, leaning forward. "But if you look closely into the minds of the creators who birth those stories, you will realize that true fantasy is never just a myth. Many of the original creators of these legends were deeply mysterious individuals who deliberately stayed hidden from the public eye.
People assume that magical powers, parallel realms, and mythical creatures are simply made up out of thin air. But human imagination has a strict threshold; the mind cannot create something out of absolute nothingness. They simply refine and adapt what they have actually seen and experienced in hidden corners of reality.
We have all heard historical accounts of ancient spiritual masters who possessed extraordinary, supernatural abilities. Buddhist philosophy provides a perfect blueprint for this. Through deep, intense meditation, a soul can achieve the fruits of the spiritual path, unlocking powers like the ability to view past lives and manipulate energy. Those aren't fairy tales; they are real, advanced spiritual human capabilities.
The exact same truth applies to the concept of parallel universes. The original minds who introduced the theory of parallel worlds to humanity didn't just guess, they had personal, firsthand experience traversing the dimensions. The six of us sitting in this room right now are native citizens of that parallel world. We are not ordinary humans of Earth, Your Majesty." Maya concluded, offering Liora a warm smile.
Liora's mouth popped open into a perfect 'O' shape, utterly stunned.
"Okay, Miss Scott... or Maya, whoever you are." Ronan spoke up, turning his sharp gaze toward Sophia and Ethan. "Explain how Lio and I got dragged into this cosmic mess. What kind of powers do we actually possess? How did I magically inherit an empire in a parallel universe I've never even heard of? And most importantly... why on earth did my girlfriend's closest friends just try to brutally murder me in the woods?"
Hearing the cold accusation, Sophia's head snapped down, tears welling in her eyes as she bowed from the couch. "O-Oh, please forgive us, Your Majesty! We deserve the absolute worst punishment... please give us the death penalty for our treason."
"Oh, don't worry, I gladly will." Ronan clipped out, his jaw clenching.
"Ron!" Liora protested instantly, a heavy frown marring her features as she nudged his boyfriend's shoulder. "Stop saying things like that! She is my sister, and she only did it because she thought she was protecting me from danger!"
Seeing Liora pout so protectively, the terrifying corporate mask completely melted off Ronan's face. He let out a soft, fond sigh and gently reached over, pinching Liora's soft cheeks with a loving smile. "Fine, fine. I was just teasing."
Maya cleared her throat softly to reclaim the room. "If everyone is ready, I will officially begin by explaining the true history of the Mo Kingdom. Otherwise, the confusion will only worsen."
Ronan nodded, settling back into the cushions alongside Liora. "Oh, but wait a minute... please do me a favor and stop calling us 'Your Majesty.' It is incredibly weird and uncomfortable."
The others exchanged hesitant, anxious glances before slowly nodding their agreement, bracing themselves for the ancient truth about to be unveiled.