(Author POV)
Maria shrugged lightly, her gaze fixed ahead as if what stood before them was nothing unusual, even though everything about this night had been anything but normal. "Looks like we've reached our destination," she said, her tone calm, almost casual, like she had done this a hundred times before.
Elira didn't answer immediately. Her eyes stayed locked on the island, narrowing as she tried to process what she was seeing. It didn't look like a destination. It looked like a warning. Slowly, she turned toward Maria, frowning. "What is that? And don't give me another mysterious answer. Is that really where we're going?"
Maria's lips curved slightly, amused by her tone, but before she could respond, Cain spoke, his deep voice cutting in smoothly. "Yes, it is—but not entirely," he said, his tone steady, almost teasing in a subtle way. "Try being patient for once. You'll understand when we get there."
Elira shot him a look. "You really enjoy saying things like that, don't you? 'You'll understand later.' 'Not entirely.' You people seriously love suspense."
Cain still in his dragon form but Elira swear saw him smirked faintly but didn't reply, and that somehow annoyed her even more.
She huffed quietly and looked back at the island. Fine. Whatever. Keep your secrets. This whole night has been one giant surprise anyway.
But then—something shifted.
It wasn't loud or visible. It was a feeling. A strange, quiet disturbance, like something brushed past her senses and disappeared. Her body reacted before her mind could catch up. She turned sharply to her right, eyes scanning the empty air.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. But she was sure—completely sure—she had seen something. A shadow. A flicker. "I'm not imagining things…" she murmured under her breath, her brows pulling together as unease crept in. "I definitely saw something."
She kept staring, her gaze lingering longer than necessary, like if she focused hard enough, it would reappear.
"Elira?" Maria's voice broke through gently. "What happened? You look like you're about to fight invisible enemies."
Elira blinked, snapping out of it quickly. She forced a small smile, casual, controlled. "Nothing. I thought I saw a bird or something."
"A bird?" Cain repeated, glancing sideways. "In a place like this?"
Elira shrugged. "What? Birds don't exist in creepy islands now?"
Maria chuckled softly. "We'll be there soon," she said, though her eyes lingered on Elira a second longer, as if she wasn't fully convinced.
Elira looked away again, but the feeling didn't leave. It stayed, quiet and watchful, sitting at the edge of her awareness.
As they got closer, the island grew larger, darker, more… unsettling. The cave openings looked like hollow eyes, staring straight at them. For a moment, Elira felt like she wasn't the one approaching it.
It was watching her.
"Yeah… not creepy at all," she muttered under her breath.
Cain didn't slow down. He flew straight into the left opening.
The moment they entered, the air changed. Elira felt it instantly. It grew heavier, thicker, pressing lightly against her skin. Mist surrounded them, curling through the space like it was alive.
Her breath slowed.
Her senses sharpened.
"Okay… since when can I feel air like this?" she murmured, glancing around. "Did I unlock some kind of upgrade or something?"
Her eyes traced the jagged rock walls as Cain carefully navigated through the narrow paths. Every edge looked sharp enough to tear through anything careless enough to get too close.
They moved deeper.
Further in.
Until the outside world disappeared completely.
"I've never seen an island like this on any map," she said quietly.
"Because it's not meant to be seen," Maria replied simply.
Elira scoffed lightly. "Of course. Hidden world. Secret entrances. Why not?"
And then—
She saw it.
Wings.
Huge.
Red and silver.
For a second, her entire body froze. It didn't feel like she was looking at something in front of her. It felt like she was looking at—
Herself. Her breath hitched. She blinked rapidly and rubbed her eyes. "Okay… no. Nope. That didn't just happen."
"What didn't happen?" Cain asked, glancing back slightly.
"Nothing," she said quickly. "Absolutely nothing. Ignore me."
When she looked again—
Nothing was there.
Her chest tightened slightly. "Am I actually losing it now…?" she whispered under her breath.
Maria turned slightly. "We've arrived."
Her eyes landed on Elira, and she paused. "Are you okay? You look pale."
Elira straightened instantly. "I'm fine."
"You don't look fine," Maria said, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"I said I'm fine," Elira repeated, a little sharper this time.
Maria held her gaze for a moment, then sighed softly. "Alright. I'll believe you. For now."
Cain landed.
The moment they touched the ground, Elira's attention shifted—and her eyes widened.
Inside the cave… was a lake.
A beautiful one. It was stretch inside the cave deeper and there was hole in top to where one can see outside.
"Okay… that I didn't expect," she said quietly, stepping forward.
Maria jumped down gracefully and instinctively extended her hand, but Elira had already jumped off on her own.
Maria paused, then smirked faintly. "Stubborn."
Elira didn't even hear her. She was too focused on the lake.
Cain transformed behind them, fully clothed this time.
Elira stepped closer, slow, drawn in like something was pulling her toward it. The water shimmered softly, casting light across the cave walls even though there was no visible source.
"That makes zero sense," she muttered. "And I'm somehow okay with that."
She knelt down on one of rock near lake and dipped her fingers into the water.
Cold.
But deeper than that… empty.
"Huh…" she murmured. "That's… weird."
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Maria said, sitting beside her.
Elira glanced at her, then back at the water. "Yeah… beautiful and slightly suspicious."
Her reflection stared back at her.
And for the first time… she really saw herself.
Silver hair flowed down her back like liquid moonlight, catching the faint glow of the lake. Her golden eyes—no, not just golden anymore—held a thin ring of red around them, subtle but unmistakable. Light freckles dusted across her face, soft and natural. Her lips, full. The faint dimples that appeared when she moved slightly.
She had never looked at herself like this before. Not really. Not even when boys write her what love letters. Because she never believed them. Her mind was filled with society rubbish.
Maria lowered herself beside her, her gaze calm. "What are you thinking?"
Elira let out a quiet breath. "That I was stupid… for listening to them and calling myself a freak."
Maria didn't hesitate. She placed her hands gently on Elira's shoulders, steady, grounding. "Remember this—never underestimate yourself."
Elira didn't argue. She just nodded.
Then—
"Are you done?" Cain's voice interrupted. "We don't have all night."
Elira turned her head slowly. "Wow. You really know how to ruin a moment."
Maria stood up, sighing. "Ignore him." She extended her hand toward Elira again. This time, Elira looked at it for a second… and took it. Maria smiled faintly. Progress.
Cain raised his hands. "Hey, I'm just being practical."
"So… what now?" Elira asked, standing up. "How do we get to your world?"
"Our world," Maria corrected again.
Elira smiled slightly. "Right. Our world."
Cain smirked. "That didn't take long."
Elira rolled her eyes. "Don't get used to it."
"Well," Cain said, pointing toward the lake, "you jump."
Elira blinked. Then stared at him for solid 10 sec. Then at the lake. Then back at him. "You're joking," she said flatly.
"Nope."
Maria elbowed him hard.
"Ow! What was that for?" he complained.
"Explain properly," she snapped.
Elira nodded. "Yes, please. Because I'm not jumping into a random glowing lake based on 'trust me bro.'"
Cain sighed. "It's a portal. It connects our world to this one."
Elira crossed her arms. "And you couldn't just say that first?"
Before she could say anything else—
He ran. And jumped.
"Wait—ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" Elira shouted, rushing forward. Gone. Just like that. She stared into the water. Nothing. "Okay… that's insane," she whispered.
"Just follow," Maria said.
Elira turned. "Wait—don't—"
Too late. Maria jumped. Gone. Silence. Elira stood there alone, staring at the lake like it had personally offended her. "You've got to be kidding me," she muttered. She looked around the cave, then back at the water. "…This is a bad idea," she whispered.
Then she crouched down slowly. "Just testing," she told herself. She leaned forward and dipped her head into the water. The cold hit instantly—
And when she opened her eyes—
She froze. She was still in the cave. But something about it was different.
********
Who wants Elira pic?