"So you're saying I'm the villain and Dad's the victim?" Mom asked with a pout, her voice laced with fake annoyance.
I nodded slowly, and Dad followed suit. Mom's expression instantly turned more annoyed.
"You two... One's as cold as an ice wall, and the other's a troublemaker," Mom grumbled, then stood up with the intention of pinching our ears.
But Dad and I had already jumped off the couch and ran to the other side of the room.
"Don't run! You two are stressing me out! Get back here!" Mom shouted, laughing as she began chasing us around the room.
That night turned into a lively game of tag. Dad and I laughed freely, throwing out teasing remarks that only made Mom more flustered and even more eager to catch us.
"Stop running already!" Mom's voice finally sounded tired as she collapsed onto the floor, breathless from laughing.
Dad and I laid down next to her. He pulled both of us into his arms.
The warm silence only lasted a few seconds before my stomach growled.
Hearing it, Mom and Dad both turned to me and chuckled softly.
"Looks like our little princess is hungry," Dad teased, and Mom giggled along.
"Go take a shower. Then come down to the dining room. I'll make your favorite omelet," Mom said gently.
My eyes sparkled. I quickly got up, and Mom and Dad followed me out of my room.
Once they left, I stepped into the bathroom. But as I undressed and glanced at the mirror, I froze.
There was something on my back. Like a burn mark small, faint, but clearly unusual.
"What is this?" I muttered, touching it lightly.
It didn't hurt. Maybe it was a bruise from when I slipped in the school bathroom the other day? I thought. Yeah… that must be it.
I decided to ignore it and began my shower. A few minutes later, after getting dressed, I went downstairs to the dining room.
Dad was already seated at the head of the table, while Mom was still busy arranging the dishes.
My mouth nearly watered. The table was almost full not just my favorite omelet, but also a variety of other tempting dishes.
"Sit here, sweetheart," Dad said, pointing to the seat beside him.
I nodded and sat down. Once everything was set, Mom joined us, sitting to Dad's right.
"There's so much food, Mom!" I exclaimed happily.
"Yes, sweetheart. Because today is special for our little troublemaking princess," Mom said with a smile, and Dad quickly nodded in agreement.
I pouted in protest, but instead of comforting me, Mom and Dad just laughed at my spoiled expression.
"Dad, you have to defend me. Mom keeps teasing me," I whined.
"Alright, sweetheart don't tease our daughter too much," Dad said to Mom, trying to mediate.
"Look at her, so spoiled, even wants her Dad to defend her," Mom quipped, still teasing.
Mom and I kept bickering playfully, making Dad finally sigh deeply.
"You two, stop arguing and eat! The food's going to get cold!" Dad said, trying to sound firm.
Mom and I exchanged looks and giggled. Dad could only sit back and sigh in defeat.
That night, our dinner was filled with laughter, joy, and warmth that made my heart feel at peace at least for tonight.
After our delightful dinner, the three of us sat together in the family room. Mom then handed me a small golden box adorned with a phoenix carving.
"What's inside, Mom?". I asked curiously, eyes gleaming at the tiny box.
"Just open it, sweetheart," Mom replied gently.
I slowly opened the box, and my eyes widened as I saw the contents a vintage necklace with a phoenix-shaped pendant, and on the phoenix's chest, a sun-like symbol glowing faintly under the light.
"It's so beautiful, Mom," I said, smiling in delight.
"It belonged to your grandmother. That necklace is believed to protect you from danger... So, wear it always." Her tone was calm, but something in her voice hinted at a hidden meaning I couldn't yet grasp.
As soon as I put it on, a warm sensation spread through my body. It was as if some strange energy was flowing into me through my veins.
"Does it suit me, Dad?". I asked, showing Dad the necklace.
"It suits you perfectly, sweetheart," Dad said with a soft smile.
"This one's from Mom... What about Dad's gift?" I teased, expecting more.
Dad chuckled. "It's ready. Tonight, come to Dad's study, okay?"
I nodded and hugged them both, kissing their cheeks before we got absorbed in Dad's favorite TV show.
Around ten o'clock, Mom let out a small yawn and went to bed. I was getting sleepy too and headed upstairs to my room. But just before I entered, Dad called out.
"Sweetheart, come with Dad to the study for a bit."
"Okay, Dad." I turned around and followed him.
We entered his cozy study full of old books. Dad opened a glass case in the corner of the room and took something out an intricately carved phoenix flute I had once said I liked.
"Are you serious, Dad? This is for me?" I asked in disbelief.
"Yes, sweetheart. Keep it. Use it when you're...". He paused for a moment, almost slipping.
"When I'm what, Dad?"
"I mean, just use it however you like," he replied quickly, trying to sound casual.
"I'll take good care of it. It's a precious gift from you." I said sincerely.
"Now off to bed. Tomorrow morning, Mom and Dad will take you on a tour around Velmoria," he said, ruffling my hair.
My eyes lit up. "Really?!"
"Really," he answered with a warm smile.
But just before I stepped out, my eyes fell on something on Dad's desk an old, faded manuscript with strange symbols and foreign letters that, for some reason… felt incredibly familiar. Even stranger, I could understand every letter and sign.
A faint dark red glow emanated from the page, visible only to me.
"Dad, why is that glowing?" I asked, pointing at it.
Dad turned. "Glowing? What do you mean? That's just an old manuscript... maybe it's your imagination from being sleepy."
But I knew it was real. Almost unconsciously, my hand moved on its own, reaching out to touch the page.
"Dad, do you know what these writings and symbols mean?"
Dad shook his head. "Not yet, sweetheart. But I'm trying to figure it out. Why? Is something strange?"
"I can read it," I whispered.
Dad laughed softly, unbelieving. But as I started reading out loud, word by word, as if the text had been written by my own hand, Dad fell silent, staring at me with shock and tension.
("Zhal'kareth mor Kael Tharon... Rex nocther, shalara ven drav'za! Zyra'val vel'nareth sel. Thalen vekha'rin, nowar sel velthar. Nar'zar Kael, veln'ar zharth quor'thas.")
(O Kael Tharon, Slumbering Lord of Darkness... King of the night, rise with your eternal curse! With the voice of the Goddess I awaken you. Rise from your long sleep, Forgotten Kael, reignite your devouring fury.)
After the final sentence left my lips, it was as if my consciousness was flung somewhere else. The world around me spun. The ticking of the clock, the sound of my breath, even Dad's voice all became distant, floating in the air.
Then something strange happened.
Something surged from within me, like a subtle but powerful current. It felt cold, but pressing from the inside. My legs grew weak. My vision blurred, and my body lost balance.
"Dad... I... what's happening...?"
My voice was barely audible. Just as my body began to fall, Dad caught me in time. In his warm arms, I felt my body grow lighter… and my awareness began to fade.
Just before darkness fully swallowed me, I saw something that made my heartbeat slow in an unsettling way.
A smile.
Dad was smiling but it wasn't the same smile as usual.
There was something behind that smile. Not just warmth. Not just love. But... a secret.
"Sleep now, sweetheart," he whispered gently, so soft yet far too calm... far too deliberate.
And in that embrace... everything went dark....