After wandering for a long time, turning through several paths, I suddenly stopped.
My eyes widened at the sight before me.
My mouth slowly fell open in awe.
In front of me stood a magnificent throne made entirely of crystal. It shimmered brilliantly, reflecting light just like the gown I was wearing.
That was when realization struck me.
I was inside the Forbidden Palace.
Fear slowly crept into my chest, but curiosity was stronger than the fear beneath my feet.
I took a careful step forward.
Something about the throne felt… familiar.
As if it was silently calling to me.
I slowly reached out my hand, wanting to feel the smooth surface of the crystal.
But just as my fingers were about to touch it—
"Stop."
A voice suddenly echoed behind me.
Startled, I jerked my hand back and turned around quickly.
Dylan stood behind me.
His tall figure looked imposing, and for the first time since I met him, his face was completely serious. There was no sarcasm, no teasing—only cold silence.
"That is the Queen's throne," he said calmly.
I quickly stepped away from it.
"I—I didn't mean to touch it," I explained nervously. "The wind was too strong earlier, and I ended up here by accident. I believe you noticed it too."
I wonder what might actually cause that heavy wind I said rubbing the back of my head nervously.
I hesitated before asking,
"And the girls… Denise, Kate, and Flora. I haven't seen them since after the incident."
"I already sent them back," he replied with a calm voice.
Relief immediately washed over me.
"Oh… good."
I cleared my throat awkwardly.
"You said that throne belongs to the Queen," I said carefully. "The girls told me she disappeared thousands of years ago. What really happened to her?"
My eyes drifted back to the lonely throne.
"And why does this place feel so… empty with no life?"
Dylan remained silent.
For a moment, I wondered if I had crossed a line.
"Maybe I shouldn't have asked," I muttered, turning to leave.
But then—
"Thousands of years ago," Dylan finally began, "a great war broke out between the demons, humans, and the witch clans."
I stopped walking.
"The demons lost control and began invading the human world," he continued. "They corrupted souls, consumed them, and even turned humans into demons."
My chest tightened.
"This continued for years," he said. "Until the witches finally decided to intervene and protect the human race."
"And what happened after that?" I asked softly.
His gaze darkened.
"The demons became furious. They infiltrated the witch clan and corrupted many of them."
He paused before continuing.
"That was when the witch clan split into two factions."
"The Black Witches, who were corrupted by demons."
"And the White Witches, who resisted them."
He gestured around us.
"This land you are standing on now… belongs to the White Witches."
My eyes widened slightly.
"So that's why different creatures live here?" I asked.
"Yes."
He nodded.
"The world was close to destruction, so the White Witches created this sanctuary for creatures who opposed the demons."
Then his voice grew colder.
"To finally end the war, a powerful witch named Ellen sealed away the Book of Evil, hiding it where no one could find it."
"But her actions enraged Lylithrix, the Demon Queen of the Underworld."
My heartbeat quickened.
"Lylithrix challenged Ellen to a final battle."
"Is Ellen the Queen?" I asked.
"Is she the owner of the throne?"
"Yes," Dylan replied.
"Then what happened during the battle?"
"Did Ellen got to defeat the demon queen?"
Dylan took a slow breath and answered yes.
"Ellen and Lylithrix fought for days and nights without rest."
"Their power shook the world."
"But in the end… Ellen managed to seal Lylithrix into a deep slumber."
He paused.
"But doing so cost Ellen her own soul."
Silence filled the throne room.
"If the demons were sealed," I said slowly, "then why are those monsters attacking again?"
My voice began trembling.
"And what were those creatures we saw earlier?"
Dylan's expression darkened.
"Yes, Ellen had sealed them."
"But Lylithrix has now resurrected."
"And evil have come back to the world again planning to consume it".
My heart skipped a beat.
"The demons are gathering again."
"They want revenge."
"And rulership over the whole world".
He paused.
Then he looked directly into my eyes.
"And…"
My toes curled nervously under his gaze.
"Ellen's lost soul was believed to have fallen into the human world."
My breath caught.
"It was reborn."
My heart pounded loudly.
"You… are the reincarnation of Ellen in the modern world, Clover."
My eyes widened in shock.
"What…?"
My voice trembled.
"What did you just say?"
"The changes you have been experiencing," Dylan said calmly. "Your white hair. Your purple eyes.The weird dreams."
"They are signs."
"You carry Ellen's lost soul."
" You are Ellen from the future ".
He handed me a portrait.
My hands trembled as I opened it.
The woman in the painting looked exactly like me.
Same face but her face was more pale than mine.
Same eyes.
But her hair was dazzling white, unlike mine which still have red strands on it.
I quickly folded the portrait and shoved it back to him.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said coldly.
"And honestly, I don't want to know."
I took several steps backward.
"This is insane."
"Ellen this, Ellen that… I just want to go home."
"This must be some kind of dream."
Dylan didn't argue.
He simply watched me quietly.
"I'm sorry," he finally said.
"I never wanted to drag you into this."
"I tried to keep you away from all of it."
" You aren't even from this world".
His voice softened.
"So I'll give you a choice."
"You can accept this fate."
"And we will fight beside you."
"Or…"
"You can return to your world and forget everything."
"We will continue fighting the demons ourselves."
"With your identity hidden, the demons will not invade your world again and won't easily find you."
" The crack have been sealed".
Silence filled the throne room.
My thoughts spun wildly in my head.
My entire world had just been turned upside down.