"Gigi, don't be like that. I said I'm sorry. It's been a month already… will you still be upset even on our birthday? Gina."
Gina pretended not to hear him—until a loud thud made her turn.
George had tripped over his own feet in his haste to catch up to her.
All pretense fell apart. Gina rushed back to his side, eyes wide at the sight of his bruised knees and palms.
"Are you okay? Gina won't stay mad… don't hurt yourself."
She clumsily blew onto his already healing palms, brushing off the dust as if she could wipe away the pain.
"It's okay," George muttered. "I wasn't watching anyway. Will you come watch the tournament tomorrow? It's nothing serious… we're just kids."
"Okay… do you—" She hesitated, then shook her head. "It's okay. Let's go."
She stood abruptly and hurried down the palace hallway. George watched her go, sadness settling quietly in his chest.
Ever since that day, she had grown careful—especially when it came to their father.
The burial hadn't been held there. Their father's body had been returned to their homeland. Rachel had grown paler… but stronger. She still had two children to raise.
Now, Trevor , George, Gina, and Donald stayed at the palace to continue their studies.
Kingdom H.
Known for its tight security and mastery of combat, children were trained from a young age. George and Donald had recently registered, while Gina was already versed in the arts.
For a month, things had been… peaceful.
Or at least, they tried to be.
"Sister-in-law, you really should come back home. Dad's going to kill me if I don't return with you all."
Rachel didn't look up, folding laundry with steady hands, ignoring the stubborn young man hovering beside her like a persistent bee.
"Sis, Evelyn, tell her. You all can't stay here. Humans aren't as innocent as they seem. They killed a literal immortal. Doesn't that scare you?"
Evelyn sighed. "Lorenzo, convincing Rachel is like telling a goat not to eat grass."
A small smile flickered across Rachel's face—brief, but real.
Then it faded.
They had blended in for years. Quiet. Careful. Hidden.
Had they been found?
Lorenzo dragged a hand down his face.
"Sister-in-law, please. Pleeeaaasssseeeee."
Both women turned to him.
"So you want me to kneel?" he added.
"We both know your ego won't let you," Evelyn shot back.
"Wow. Okay. Stay here then. I'm calling your husband."
"Go ahead."
Lorenzo scoffed and snapped his fingers, a portal flickering open beside him.
"Don't you dare, you little—"
Evelyn lunged, locking his head under her arm and pinching his ear.
"Hey—get off me!"
Rachel let out a soft laugh—a rare sound these days.
Maybe… it wasn't the end of the world.
....
....
That same day.
9:56 PM
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Her heart pounded violently in her chest as she ran.
Branches clawed at her clothes, dragging at her like the forest itself was trying to hold her back—trying to swallow her whole.
"Quickly! She's over here!"
"Mummy!"
No answer.
She was too far now. Too deep in the woods.
Tears mixed with dirt, streaking her face.
Swoosh—
An arrow sliced through the air.
She froze—confused—her heart tightening just a second before the pain came.
Then she ran again.
Swoosh—
"Ah—!"
The arrow struck.
Her small body collapsed, the impact driving the breath from her lungs as it tore through her chest. Blood spilled past her lips as she struggled forward, fingers clawing weakly at the ground.
"Gotcha."
A guard stepped closer, staring down at her with disgust.
"Are you sure this one's a supernatural?"
"Yeah. Look at her hair."
"Could be dyed."
"But she's not immortal."
"Not all of them are."
"So what now?"
"Follow orders."
"Dude… she's just a kid."
"So? She's not human."
A scream cut through the air.
One of the guards dropped, blood spilling from his body.
"Another one!"
They lunged at the intruder. He fought back, fast—desperate—buying seconds he couldn't afford. But there were too many.
Bruised. Bleeding. Barely standing.
Still—he stepped in front of her.
He glanced down at the motionless child… then at the guards… then at the cliff behind him.
His breath trembled
.
Then he bent, lifting her carefully into his arms.
Gunshots rang out. Arrows followed.
He didn't stop.
And then—
He jumped
Into the abyss.