“Lissa, do you mind if we go there first?” her father pointed at the antique shop.

  Melissa nodded.

  "Welcome," The owner greeted them as they walked into the store. "Ah! Give me a second." She went to the back and return with a princess doll.

  "Lissa dear.. Happy 5th birthday!" said her mother; his father smiled.

  Melissa gleefully hugged the doll, "Thank you, mom, dad!" She smiled at the store owner “Thank you madam Webly.”

  The store owner smiled, "happy birthday, little Lissa."

  They left the store.

  His father lifted Melissa on his back. "Now, what do you want to eat, princess?"

  "Pancake!!" Melissa joyfully raised her hands.

  "Pancake it is!"

  Her mother giggled seeing them.

  They went to a small cafe. The owner greeted them, and guide them to a table at the porch. Melissa ordered pancakes with two scoops of strawberry ice cream.

  A while later, she returned with the pancakes and a glass of strawberry milk shake. "For the birthday girl." she smiled at Melissa.

  "Thank you, auntie.."

  Everyone at the cafe sang happy birthday to her and gave her their best wishes.

  Melissa was about to ate the pancake when a scream echo from the distance.

  Her father stood from his seat. "Wha-?"

  More screaming. The owner gasped, pointing at above them. Melissa looked up, the ward slowly faded away, and the mist began pouring inside.

  A group of towns guard ran past them.

  “Head to the town center!” the towns guard shouted.

  Everyone panicked. His father grabbed Melissa's hand and her mother. They ran to the town center.

  On the way, they heard a muffled scream from the corner in front of them. A tall dark figure appeared.

  Her mother screamed "Shadows!", she fell on her knees.

  "We have to go!" His father pulled her mother's hand.

  Melissa felt a gust of wind. In the blink of an eye, her father was gone. She looked up and saw bunch of flying figures carrying peoples, one of them was his father.

  Melissa stood there in shock as another flying figure grabbed her mother. Her mother screamed as she vanished into the misty skies.

  Her heart beating really fast, she's unable to move. A blinding flash, she felt a cold hand pulled her; she screamed for help.

  “Shut up!” shouted a man. “You’re going to draw them to us! Stupid girl!”

  "Melissa! Are you alright?" followed by a loud knocking.

  Melissa opened her eyes, she looked around; she was in her room. It's thar same dream again.. Melissa wiped her tears Mom... Dad...

  "Melissa? are you alright? open the door.."

  She stood up from her bed, and unlocked the door. A girl with pale skin was there, looking at her, concerned.

  "That dream again?" asked Ramius.

  Melissa nodded "Sorry for worrying you.."

  "It's alright.." she smiled. "By the way.. the others had already left for school."

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  “Okay, i’ll be ready.”

  Ramius nodded and left. Melissa closed the door behind her and went to the bathroom to change her clothes. Before she left, Melissa opened her drawer, taking out locket; It belonged to her savior. She kept the locket in hope of giving it back to him, someday.

  Ramius called for her. She put the locket back into the drawer, grabbing her bag, and head downstairs. Ramius was waiting for her at the front door.

  "Here you go.." she handed her a big lunch bag, "you missed breakfast, so.. i packed extra for you"

  "Thanks ma'am" said Melissa as she take the bag from Ramius.

  "I told you to call me by my name," Ramius pouted her cheek. "I’m still young, you know.."

  "But you almost a hundred.”

  "That's still a teen-"

  Melissa giggled and quickly ran outside before Ramius could finish her sentence. Ramius shouted at her to comeback at six or she'll miss dinner before closing the door behind her.

  Melissa walked through the back alley, passing the abandoned monorail station.

  Arriving at her school, right before the bell rang. She hurriedly head to her class. Sighing in relief, seeing the teacher haven’t arrive yet.

  “Lissa! Over here!” the girl with a glasses who sat at the back rows waving her hand.

  "You almost late!" said Olivia when she sat beside her.

  The door opened and their homeroom teacher, lady Freyra entered the classroom. The student stood up and greets her. She left the room after confirming their attendee.

  A while later, Professor Moloch, their history teacher entered the class. After greeting him, he told them to sit down. They will continued their last week lesson about the Regalian.

  He told them about the regalian world called Tearrl. There’s also ecotte the cat like race, lylwin the pointy ears people, and Norman the Tearrl human race. Then about the holy dragons, magic, and others, which made Melissa sleepy.

  Rob, the boy sitting in front of her suddenly stood up, surprising her.

  "Sir! i read, humans were once have advanced technologies?" he asked.

  "I am glad you read, child," he smiled. "According to the document we collected, human technologies surpassing even ours back then, however it was because we are more focused on magic instead of science." he took a book a from his bag, "This is an encyclopedia from year 2570." he flipped the pages and showed them a flying carriage called aeroplane, and on the other page a picture of a people living inside a huge pod in the skies called a space station. "Even this elevating town where we stand was built by your predecessor, and the monorail, and more” he sighed. “Alas the king forbade us to further research your past.”

  Professor Moloch continued his lesson, telling them about the shadows who actively searching for human to drain their life essence. He showed them a picture of ghouls, humans who had their life essence drained.

  The bell rang, signalling it's time for lunch. Melissa and Olivia went to the cafeteria. They sat at one of the table there.

  Olivia opened her lunch bag, inside were only mashed potato with chopped vegetables and a juice. Melissa opened hers; she was surprised with the amount of food Ramius has made for her. There were egg stuffed meatloaf, potato wedges, and a chicken pie. Also a dozen of sliced bread filled with jam and a large bottle of strawberry milk shake.

  "Wow! you're lucky living with Marchioness Cervantes. Baroness Valestic is stingy.." Olivia drooling.

  "Want some?"

  Olivia smiled brightly.

  After the lunch break, they head back to the classroom. Professor Moloch continued his lesson, now about this continent called America who became the last bastion for humanity when the mist engulfed the rest of the world, due to the rift didn’t appear on America.

  Melissa yawned. Olivia poked her side because professor Moloch was starring at her. She sheepishly buried her face behind her book.

  The survivors from other continent unknowingly brought along shadows and ghoul to this land, which caused a massive outbreak, and the mist soon followed.

  When all hope seemed lost, the Regalian arrived, helping human repel the mist using their light orbs. With their joint effort, part of North America was liberated.

  Another bell ringing signalling the end of school. Professor Moloch told them they will be continuing next week. All the students stood up as he left the classroom.

  Melissa packed her book, and left the school with Olivia. On the way home, they visited a store to buy some snack and candy before went on separate ways.

  Arriving at her home, she went looking Ramius. She found her at the kitchen, in the middle of preparing their meals. Melissa gave her a bag of candy as a thanks for the extra lunch.

  Ramius smiled. "Dinner almost ready, go change your uniform first."

  Melissa nodded and head to her room. After taking a shower, she noticed her drawer was glowing. The locket shone brightly. As she put it on her palm, an arrow of light began forming, pointing at something beyond the horizon.