Part 1: Rose Maxwell awakening
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Nana Rose looked at Scarlett with a gentle, beautiful smile.
"My baby girl," she said softly, brushing a tear from Scarlett's cheek. "We are going to survive this. I promise you that. And your uncle will learn that he should have never laid a hand on you."
Her voice was calm, but there was a quiet strength behind it.
"But for right now," Nana Rose continued, "we're going to eat. After you have a good meal, I'll explain everything."
She wiped the last of the tears from Scarlett's face and gently guided her toward the sink.
"Go wash your hands."
Scarlett did as she was told. When she returned to the table, Nana Rose had already prepared dinner.
For the first time in a long while, the room felt warm and peaceful.
Scarlett sat across from her grandmother, eating slowly. With every bite, she felt something she hadn't felt in a long time.
Safety.
As the two of them shared the meal, Scarlett felt a quiet happiness growing inside her. Being with Nana Rose made her feel whole again.
After they finished eating, Nana Rose stood up and cleaned the kitchen. When everything was done, she walked over and gently took Scarlett's hand.
"Come," she said.
They moved to the couch together.
Nana Rose handed Scarlett a warm blanket, then sat down beside her with a cup of tea in her hands. For a moment, she stared into the steam rising from the cup, as if gathering the courage to begin.
Then she spoke.
"Scarlett… there are things about our family you were never told."
Scarlett listened quietly.
Nana Rose took a slow sip of tea.
"For most of my life, I didn't even know who my parents were," she continued. "I couldn't see them, couldn't remember them… but eventually, I learned the truth about them and about our past."
Her eyes softened as she looked at Scarlett.
"Baby girl… we belong to a clan that was destroyed a long time ago."
Scarlett's heart skipped.
"We were powerful," Nana Rose said quietly. "Intelligent. We understood the balance of the world and the forces within it. Our clan worked with many races and protected the natural order."
She paused, her expression darkening.
"But our strength also made others fear us."
Nana Rose looked down at her hands.
"We were at the height of our power… until we were betrayed by our own kin."
Scarlett felt a chill run through her body.
"The story passed down to me," Nana Rose continued, "was about your great-grandmother and great-grandfather. They were the leaders of our clan. Proud, wise, and strong. They guided our people through wars, disasters, and chaos. They made sure our clan survived and prospered."
She lifted her gaze again.
"Our people were known for one thing above all else."
"The fire that never dies."
Nana Rose placed a hand gently over Scarlett's.
"We were the Phoenix Clan."
Scarlett's eyes widened.
"But by the time I finally discovered who my family truly was," Nana Rose continued quietly, "it was already too late."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"The Phoenix Clan had been destroyed."
Scarlett's breath caught.
"My parents… your great-grandparents… were both slaughtered."
The room fell silent.
"It was nothing short of a miracle that I survived," Nana Rose said softly. "Someone managed to get me out before the attack reached us. I was taken far away from the chaos and left at an orphanage."
She leaned back slowly, her eyes distant with memory.
"For most of my childhood… I believed I had simply been abandoned."
"But the truth was much darker than that."
Part 2: Rose Maxwell awakening
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Nana Rose took a slow sip of tea before continuing her story.
"As far back as I can remember," she said quietly, "I lived in an orphanage."
Scarlett listened carefully, not interrupting.
"There were many children there," Nana Rose continued, "but it was never a kind place. Many times I was punished for things I didn't do. If something went wrong, somehow it became my fault."
She gave a small, sad smile.
"I had bright red hair and very fair skin. The caretakers used to say I looked… different. Some of the children thought so too."
Scarlett frowned. "Different how?"
"I suppose I stood out," Nana Rose said softly. "Even when I was very young, they said I had a strange, spiritual presence about me."
But not everyone liked that.
"At the orphanage there was a girl my age named Maya Blackwell. She hated me for reasons I never understood."
Nana Rose's eyes grew distant as she remembered.
"Maya had black hair, dark eyes, and very pale, sickly skin. She was always watching me. If something bad happened, she would whisper things about me to the others."
Because of that, Rose never made friends.
"As the years passed," she said, "I stopped trying."
The cheerful child she once was slowly disappeared.
"Living in the orphanage was never somewhere I wanted to stay. I always told myself that once I turned eighteen, I would leave and search for my parents. I needed to know who I really was."
By the time she was seventeen, Rose already had a plan.
"I was about to graduate high school. I even knew which university I wanted to attend."
Everything seemed like it was finally falling into place.
Until the night everything changed.
"One evening I was walking back to the orphanage,"Rose continued. "It was getting dark, and the road was quiet."
At first, nothing seemed unusual.
"But then I felt something."
She looked at Scarlett seriously.
"A presence."
Scarlett leaned forward.
"It felt wrong," Rose said. "Like someone was watching me."
She started walking faster.
The faster she walked, the stronger the feeling became.
"And then I realized something was following me."
Scarlett's heart raced as she listened.
"I didn't even remember when I started running," Rose said. "I just knew that whatever was behind me… it wasn't human."
She ran toward the forest, hoping she could hide among the trees.
"I thought if I hid, maybe it would lose me."
Rose closed her eyes briefly.
"But I was wrong."
She had barely hidden behind a tree when something dark moved above her.
"A shadow… blacker than the night itself."
Before she could react, the shadow grabbed her.
"It lifted me into the air and slammed me to the ground."
Scarlett gasped softly.
The impact sent Rose tumbling down a steep hill toward a rushing river.
"I was terrified," she said. "I didn't even know what was attacking me."
She tried to stand, but something grabbed her leg.
"The darkness dragged me toward the water."
She fought, kicking and struggling, but the unseen force was too strong.
"I screamed for help," Rose said quietly. "But we were deep in the forest. No one could hear me."
The river swallowed her.
Water rushed into her mouth as she struggled to breathe.
"I couldn't swim," she said.
The current pulled her deeper.
Above the water, the dark entity hovered silently, watching.
"At that moment," Rose whispered, "I thought I was going to die."
Her body grew weak.
Her vision blurred.
"But then… something strange happened."
Just as her life began fading, she felt warmth inside her chest.
"A small spark," she said.
The warmth slowly spread through her body.
The dark entity watched for a moment longer before drifting away, believing she was already dead.
But Rose wasn't dead.
She fought to reach the surface, gasping for air.
Then everything went black.
Moments later, Rose woke up on the side of the river.
She was coughing, shaking, and struggling to breathe.
"For a moment, I truly believed I had died," she said.
But she was alive.
She stood slowly, looking around the unfamiliar forest.
"I didn't know where I was."
She began walking through the trees, trying to retrace her steps.
But then she stopped.
"What if that thing was still out there?" she thought.
Fear gripped her heart.
Instead of going back, she followed the river, hoping it would lead her somewhere safe.
"I was terrified," Nana Rose said. "My mind kept asking the same questions."
What was that thing?
Why did it attack me?
As she walked along the riverbank, she suddenly noticed something in the distance.
"A bright light."
Curious but cautious, she moved closer and hid behind a tree to observe.
What she saw shocked her.
"There were people… but they weren't ordinary people."
Some of them were using strange powers.
Light danced through the air, and energy moved around them like living fire.
"I didn't know what to do,"Rose said. "If I approached them, would they help me… or kill me?"
Before she could decide, someone noticed her.
A small girl, about seven years old, walked toward her.
The girl tilted her head.
"Are you okay?" she asked gently.
Rose stared at her, unsure how to answer.
"I… I'm not sure," she whispered.
The little girl turned and called out, "Mom!"
A woman walked over quickly.
"Momo, who is that with you?" the woman asked.
The girl looked up at her mother.
"I found her," Momo said. "She looks sick."
The woman looked at Rose with concern.
"Dear," she said kindly, "do you need help?"
Rose tried to answer.
"Yes… thank you."
But the moment she spoke, the exhaustion took over.
Her vision blurred.
And before she knew it…
She passed out.
Part 3: Rose Maxwell awakening
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Rose heard voices while she slept.
A young girl's voice whispered nearby.
"Mom… is she okay? She's been sleeping forever."
Another small voice followed, worried.
"Mom, do we need to call the doctor for her?"
A gentle but firm voice answered.
"Momo, if you don't be quiet, you're going to wake her. Let her sleep."
"Okay, Mom… but I want to play with Big Sis later."
⸻
Rose's thoughts
Why can't I open my eyes? What's going on? Where am I?
She tried to move, but her body felt heavy.
If I can just open my eyes… maybe I can see who was talking.
But the exhaustion pulled her back down.
Let me sleep for five more minutes… I'll check later.
⸻
Six hours later…
Rose slowly opened her eyes.
The ceiling above her was unfamiliar.
She looked around the room and realized immediately—
This was not her home.
Startled, she sat up too quickly, and a sharp pain shot through her head.
"Ah…"
Before she could panic further, a gentle voice spoke.
"Are you awake, my dear?"
Rose looked up.
Standing in the doorway was a beautiful woman with soft brown hair and warm brown eyes. There was something graceful about her, almost like a woman from a fairytale.
At that moment Nana Rose's stomach growled loudly.
Embarrassed, she rubbed her stomach.
"I'm sorry… if I caused you any trouble."
The woman smiled kindly.
"There is no trouble here. You needed help, and I helped you. I'm grateful I found you. If I hadn't, you might have been lost in the forest, and that wouldn't have been good."
She turned and gestured toward the hallway.
"Come, dear. Let's eat. I know you must be starving."
Suddenly, a little girl burst into the room.
"Are you awake?! Are you awake, Big Sis?! Are you okay?"
Nana Rose blinked in confusion.
"Big Sis?"
The little girl nodded eagerly.
"Yes! You're Big Sis! Big Sis that fell on the floor! I wanted to save Big Sis!"
Rose smiled softly and gently patted the girl's head.
"Alright… I'll be your Big Sis."
She sat up straighter.
"My name is Rose Maxwell."
The little girl beamed.
"My name is Momo! Well… it's actually short for Monique Gardner. And I'm eight years old!"
Just then, the woman returned.
"Supper is ready. Come, let's eat."
⸻
As Rose stepped out of the bedroom, she froze.
The house was beautiful.
A lavish living room connected to an elegant dining area, decorated with warm lights and wooden furniture that made the entire place feel welcoming.
She walked slowly to the table and sat down.
Lowering her head politely, she spoke.
"I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused. Please forgive me if I did anything wrong."
The woman shook her head.
"My dear, you haven't done a single thing wrong."
Her expression turned serious.
"But what I don't understand is… why were you alone in the forest? Did you lose your family? Did you get lost?"
Rose hesitated before answering.
"I'm not sure what happened. I was on my way back to the orphanage where I live… when suddenly I felt something wrong."
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"A presence… something I've never felt before."
"My instincts told me to run into the forest."
Her voice lowered.
"But it chased me… and it caught me."
Momo and her mother both went still.
"I don't know what it was… but it was trying to kill me."
Rose swallowed.
"I fought back… kicking and punching… but nothing worked."
She looked down at her hands.
"The strange part was… it was floating. Like… death itself."
Momo's mother's face turned pale.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"That was a Shadow."
Rose looked up.
"We call it the Shadow of Death. It follows powerful beings… feeds on their energy… and leaves them to die."
She studied Rose carefully.
"But surprisingly… it didn't kill you."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"I wonder what power you have that made it run."
Rose laughed awkwardly.
"Power? Me? I'm just an ordinary girl. I have nothing special."
Her expression softened with sadness.
"I've been an orphan for as long as I can remember. I don't know who my parents are. I was told they abandoned me."
She sighed.
"I was planning to leave when I turned eighteen to search for them… but now it seems I can't even return safely to the orphanage."
She looked determined.
"I guess my journey begins now… but first I need to go back and get my things."
Momo's mother looked at her seriously.
"My dear… you survived because there is power inside you."
She leaned forward slightly.
"This town is protected by a barrier. No one can enter unless they possess extraordinary power."
She paused.
"When I found you, you were deep inside the forest—far beyond where normal people can reach."
She smiled gently.
"You have power, Nana Rose. It may not have awakened yet… but I can feel how strong it is."
Rose frowned.
"If that's true… why hasn't it appeared yet?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"I've been living in misery… and nothing ever helped me."
She looked down.
"I just want to find my family… and hope they didn't abandon me."
Momo's mother gently took her hand.
"I don't believe your family abandoned you."
She smiled warmly.
"My name is Marina Gardner."
"I am an Oracle."
"I can see things others cannot… and feel things others cannot."
She gestured around the house.
"This village exists only for extraordinary people like us."
She chuckled softly.
"Little Momo and I live here peacefully."
Then she laughed playfully.
"And the name of our town is Mystery."
"A town full of mystery."
Rose and Momo laughed together.
⸻
After dinner, Rose stood up and bowed her head.
"Thank you for everything. I truly appreciate your kindness."
She hesitated.
"I would love to stay… but I need to go back to the orphanage first. It's been more than ten hours."
She shrugged sadly.
"I know no one will miss me… but I don't want them to report me as a missing person."
She looked at Marina.
"After I collect my things… may I stay here until I turn eighteen?"
Marina smiled warmly.
"I was actually going to ask if you would stay."
She spoke gently.
"You need to learn to control your power. If that Shadow returns, you may not survive the next encounter."
She placed a comforting hand on Nana Rose's shoulder.
"You can always come back here."
Meanwhile, Momo was jumping excitedly beside them.
"Yes! Yes! Stay! Stay!"
Nana and Marina both laughed.
"I will return," Nana Rose said gratefully. "I want to learn more about this world… and discover the truth about my family."
Marina stepped forward and pulled her into a warm hug.
"This is your first journey," she whispered. "Be careful."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"There is something wrong with the person watching you at that orphanage."
Nana stiffened slightly.
"Don't be afraid," Marina continued softly. "Just take what you need and leave. Staying there any longer will only bring you harm."
She released her.
"You can sleep here tonight. Tomorrow morning, go and come back safely."
⸻
Later that night, Rose returned to the bedroom.
They are so kind, she thought.
I've never felt motherly love before.
She stared at the ceiling.
I wonder if my real mother would hug me the same way Marina did.
She pulled the blanket over herself just as the door creaked open.
Momo peeked inside.
"I want to play now!"
Nana chuckled softly.
"It's late, Momo. Come sleep with me."
"We'll play tomorrow."
Momo pouted for a moment before climbing into the bed.
"Okay…"
She snuggled close and hugged Rose tightly.
Within minutes, the two of them fell asleep. 🌙
Part 4: Rose Maxwell awakening
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"Big Sis! Big Sis! Wake up! It's time to wake up!"
Rose groaned and pulled the blanket over her head.
"Please… give me five more minutes."
But Momo shook her again.
"Come on, Big Sis! Wake up! You're going to make the whole day burn out!"
Still half-asleep, Rose opened her eyes slowly.
For a moment she forgot where she was.
Then she saw Momo standing beside the bed, shaking her excitedly.
"Momo… how long have I been asleep?"
Momo crossed her arms dramatically.
"Big Sis, it's already noon! You've been sleeping forever! I tried to wake you up a thousand times, but you kept saying 'five more minutes.' I got tired of waiting, so I tried one last time!"
Rose suddenly sat up and looked out the window.
"Oh no! I need to go back! I overslept—I should've gone to school!"
She quickly looked at the watch on her wrist.
Then she froze.
"…It's Saturday."
She sighed in relief and looked at Momo.
"Thank you for waking me up. I'll go get my things and come back. Would you like that?"
Momo jumped with excitement.
"Yes! Mom! Big Sis is coming back! I finally woke her up!"
Just then Marina walked through the doorway.
"Finally awake?"
Rose lowered her head shyly.
"Yes… I'm sorry. I didn't realize I could sleep this long. I usually wake up early to clean and go to school."
She looked around the room.
"But sleeping here… I felt so comfortable."
"I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble."
Marina smiled gently.
"No, it was best that you slept."
She studied Rose carefully.
"Your powers are regenerating themselves. Whenever you sleep, they grow stronger."
She frowned slightly, thinking.
"Your energy reminds me of a very distant clan… but I can't remember which one right now. It will come to me in time."
Then her tone turned serious.
"You do have somewhere to go today. But don't stay there long."
"The Shadow has not disappeared yet. It cannot enter our village, but once you leave the barrier… it will sense you."
"Be careful."
She paused and giggled softly.
"Wait a moment. I'll give you something."
"A little good-luck charm, so you can make it there and back safely."
Nana smiled.
"Thank you."
Marina walked to her bedroom, picked up a small charm, whispered a few quiet words over it, and returned.
She gently placed it into Rose's hand.
Then she leaned closer and whispered into her ear so Momo couldn't hear.
"The pale-skinned girl… is not human."
"She wants to kill you."
"Be careful."
Rose's back stiffened instantly.
A cold chill ran down her spine.
She looked at Marina in shock, wondering how she knew.
But Marina had already stepped away, smiling as if nothing had happened.
"You should go now," she said calmly. "If you want to return before nightfall."
"Your path will guide you."
"And remember… you are not alone."
Rose nodded.
She walked toward the door and smiled down at Momo.
"Big Sis is coming back, so don't worry."
She ruffled Momo's hair before leaving.
⸻
As Rose stepped into the village streets, something strange happened.
People began staring at her.
Some looked amazed.
Some bowed their heads.
A few even looked like they wanted to kneel.
They whispered quietly as she passed.
Rose walked slowly, confused.
Why are they looking at me like that?
She didn't understand, so she simply smiled politely and kept walking.
Soon she reached the edge of the village.
She didn't know the way out, but strangely… she felt the path.
Something invisible seemed to pull her forward, guiding her toward the exit.
As soon as she stepped beyond the village barrier, she felt that presence again.
The Shadow.
But it felt weaker now… distant.
Maybe it's far away, she thought.
She followed the glowing path that seemed to guide her toward the road leading to the orphanage.
⸻
When she finally reached the orphanage, that unsettling presence returned again.
Marina had told her that her coming of age would happen on her eighteenth birthday.
That was when her power would fully awaken.
But even now, Rose felt something inside her… like pressure building beneath the surface.
She walked inside the orphanage and went upstairs to her room.
Quietly, she began packing her belongings.
No one stopped her.
The other children only stared and whispered.
They hadn't seen Rose all night.
Some thought she ran away.
Others believed rumors that she had run off with a boyfriend.
Nana finished packing.
She looked around the small room one last time.
Her bed.
The walls.
The lonely space she had lived in for years.
I'm never coming back.
Just as she turned to leave, a voice suddenly echoed in her mind.
Finally… that girl is leaving.
She doesn't deserve to be here.
I wish she had died somewhere instead.
Nana stopped walking.
She slowly looked around the room.
No one had spoken.
The children were still whispering among themselves.
But she knew she had heard it.
Then the voice returned again.
I thought the Shadow would have killed her already.
Don't worry. I'll make sure it drains her energy and finishes her off.
She deserves it.
Rose frowned and looked directly at Maya.
Maya hadn't opened her mouth.
But somehow Nana knew.
Maya is the one who sent the Shadow.
So this is what Marina meant.
She warned me about Maya.
Nana glanced at her watch.
It was already two in the afternoon.
I should leave quickly. I don't want to face that Shadow again.
She looked at Maya and whispered quietly.
"What you wish for others… will return to you."
"Don't be greedy."
"Your life will be doomed."
Maya read her lips.
Her eyes widened in shock.
⸻
Rose turned away and walked to the director's office.
She placed the paperwork on the desk.
"I'll be staying with relatives. I'm leaving."
The director frowned.
"I never approved this. You can't leave."
Nana slowly turned back toward him.
Her expression was cold.
"Don't make me expose the things you've done."
The director froze.
His face turned pale.
"You… you have nothing on me."
Rose looked straight into his eyes.
For a brief moment, something flickered in her gaze.
Like fire burning deep within her.
"Do you want to test that?" she asked quietly.
"If you stop me one more time… you will regret it."
The director collapsed back into his chair.
"Just go," he muttered nervously.
"And never come back."
Nana smirked slightly and walked out.
⸻
As she walked through the hallway, the children whispered again.
One boy finally stepped forward.
"Good luck," he said quietly.
"I don't think all of us will have the strength you do… but we'll try to fight too."
He lowered his head.
"Sorry we didn't become friends sooner. We actually liked you."
"It's just… Maya scares everyone."
Rose looked at him gently.
"Jack… we're not strangers."
She gave a small smile.
"If our paths cross again someday… I hope it will be on good terms."
"Take care of yourselves."
She turned and walked out the front door.
⸻
From an upstairs window, Maya watched Rose walking away.
Her expression was cold.
"You may have left this place," she whispered.
"But you'll die out there."
"I'll make sure of it."
She raised her hand and summoned the Shadow.
"Follow her."
"Kill her."
"And bring me proof."
The Shadow nodded silently.
Then it slipped through the wall…
and drifted after Rose. 🌑
Part 5: Rose Maxwell Awakening
___________________________
As Rose walked away from the orphanage, she felt a pair of eyes watching her.
She already knew who it was.
But she didn't look back.
Instead, she kept walking in a straight line until she reached the edge of the forest.
When she finally stepped beneath the tall trees, she clutched the charm tightly against her chest. Her book bag bounced against her back as she suddenly broke into a sprint toward the barrier.
She knew the moment she left the orphanage, Maya would send the Shadow after her to finish the job.
Rose had heard Maya's thoughts earlier, and the memory still stung with disappointment. Maya had always disliked her, though Rose never understood why.
Branches whipped past as she ran through the forest.
Strangely, her steps felt lighter.
Faster.
It was as if the wind itself was pushing her forward.
Then she felt it again.
That dark presence.
The Shadow.
It was right behind her.
Her heart pounded as she ran even faster. The ground beneath her feet blurred as if she were gliding through the forest.
She didn't know what was happening to her body, but she was grateful for it.
The barrier was getting closer.
But so was the Shadow.
Rose pushed herself harder than she ever had before. Just as the Shadow reached for her—
She leaped.
Her body passed through the barrier, and she landed hard on the ground inside it.
Behind her, the Shadow slammed into the invisible wall with a violent force.
The creature paused in confusion.
It searched the area, sensing something strange in the air. It could feel the barrier, but it couldn't see Rose anywhere inside it.
After a moment, the Shadow disappeared, returning to Maya.
Inside the barrier, Nana lay on the ground, gasping for air.
Then she began to laugh.
A breathless, relieved laugh.
"I made it… I made it!" she said between gasps. "Thank God… thank God for this charm."
She held the charm tightly, smiling and giggling in pure relief.
Suddenly, small footsteps rushed toward her.
"Big Sis!"
It was Momo.
The little girl ran over, her face full of worry.
"Are you okay?" Momo asked.
Rose grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug, playfully tickling her as both of them started laughing.
"I'm safe," Rose said happily. "I made it back. I get to see you again."
Momo giggled.
"Of course, Big Sis! Mom said you were coming. You promised."
As their laughter slowly faded, something strange happened.
One by one, the villagers stopped what they were doing.
They turned toward Rose.
Then they bowed their heads respectfully.
Their voices spoke together in perfect harmony.
"Welcome to our family."
Rose froze.
She looked around at all the people surrounding her.
A warm smile slowly appeared on her face as tears filled her eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered softly.
Momo looked at her curiously.
"Don't cry, Big Sis. They just want to say hello. They want to play with Rose too."
More tears rolled down Rose's cheeks, but these were tears of happiness.
The villagers gathered around her, trying to cheer her up. Some handed her fruit, others offered small baskets filled with handmade trinkets.
Together, they walked toward the house of Marina.
Marina was the leader of the village, and everyone respected her deeply.
The elders of the village had long believed that one day a mythical goddess would appear among them.
When they saw Rose, they bowed their heads again.
Rose looked confused.
"Why is everyone bowing to me?" she asked nervously. "I'm just an ordinary girl."
The villagers laughed gently.
Marina stepped forward with a warm smile.
"I told you before," she said softly. "You are not ordinary."
"There is a power inside you that is extraordinary. Every race that carries magic in the ancient legends can sense it."
Rose stared at her in disbelief.
Marina continued.
"Starting today, the village and I will train you. You must learn to understand your power."
Her expression became serious.
"Because if you do not learn to control it… it may break you."
Then Marina smiled again.
"But don't worry."
She gestured to the entire village.
"We will help you."
"This mysterious village will guide you through the next chapter of your journey."
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