A story of healing, bikers and nummy bad boys. trigger warning, lots of swearing, abuse, PTSD. this is a Reverse Harem, sexy stuff with multiple partners that grow to love each other.

When a famed researcher of the new magic sciences finds a leather-bound journal of unknown origin and language, seemingly frozen of its time, he decides to flee from society to protect it as if controlled by a greater force. The only thing he knew at that moment was that this book can change the world more than it already has and that the gears of destiny will once more move, as it is dictated in prophecy.

An earthquake. Like it couldn't get any more cliché, there had to be an earthquake. All of those stories on the internet, where the earth moves or rain 'suddenly' starts appearing out of nowhere, suddenly don't seem as unrealistic. What the hell is happening?

"It seems the forest knows that the protector has come."

I look at her with wide eyes, "The forest? What do you mean the forest knows?"

She ignores me, looking panicked, "that means that the king has heard too, he has spies everywhere." I give her a 'what the hell' look but she once again ignores it, choosing to walk over to a nearby bookshelf and pull out a large book before walking towards the door.

"Uh...hello, where are you going? You can't just say that and then walk out."

You have to be kidding me. I throw my hands up in the air with a frustrated sigh before picking up my bag, walking after her.

"Can you at least tell me where we are going?"

"Nope, there are way too many eyes."

"Right. And exact what... does that mean?"

"You'll find out eventually, but for now just follow me."

"That doesn't answer my question." All my dear, emphasis on the dear, cousin says in reply is "I know" as she gives me a grin. Honestly, is it normal to want to strangle someone only a few hours after you meet them? Speaking of cousins, I still can't wrap my head around the fact that she is my cousin, which she seems to be. That is if she's telling the truth and not just trying to trick me. I have a sinking suspicion that she is, and that scares me more than I'd like to admit.

Shaking of my thoughts, I take a closer look at the huge book in Gem's hands. A fairy tale book? That's what was so important to her, out of all the things that she could have picked. This girl seems to get crazier and crazier by the minute. Maybe we are related. I don't know how to feel about that.

"Why did you take a book of fairy tales off of the shelves?"

"It's not just a fairy tale book, it's more than that."

"What more could it be?"

"You know, I would tell you, but I don't think you're ready for it."

"I'm not ready for fairy tales? Now, you're just being cryptic."

She stays silent, but I can see the corners of her lips twitching from my spot behind her. As the silence continues to linger, a thought creeps into my mind. I'm ready to know that I have a cousin but I'm not ready to know about fairy tales? I tell her as much only getting, "your just not ready yet" as a reply.

"Ok then...when will I be ready?"

"Patience and in time, you will come to know on your own" says my oh so dear newfound cousin, a grin adorning her face.

"You sound like a grandma."

Silence. Then, "Shut up."

Laughter bubbles up inside me at the sight of her glare. I try to contain it but can't stop the smile spreading on my face. Gem just rolls her eyes before walking off, the quickening of her steps suggesting her annoyance. I try. I really do, but the endless stream of chuckles still escapes my mouth. Gem once again turns to glare at me. But... I swear the corners of her lips rise into the smallest smile.

A messenger runs across the long castle corridor, an aged crumpled piece of paper in his hand. He stops to knock at the door of the ginormous cedar door, afraid any slight movement might doom him. "Hurry up or get lost" commands a loud voice from the other side of the door. "Right, I'm apologise for disturbing you your highness, but I may have found something of great importance."

"Then bring it over at once."

The messenger hesitates but alas, the spell is too strong for him to resist. Handing the parchment over, he immediately rushes out the door, glad to be alive.

As soon as he leaves, the shadowy figure unrolls the parchment to read the words written within. He raises an eyebrow at what it is, the prophecy of the protector of the enchanted. As if someone like that would exist. He made note to check just in case that the prophecy is justified. He would never let anyone mess up his plan, protector of the enchanted be damned.

He strode of, not noticing the paper fall onto the ground with a flutter, reflected in the pool of water.

"Gem."

"Yeah?"

"Why did you bring me to a house that looks like it belongs in a horror movie?"

"I don't know what that is but I'm pretty sure that it doesn't look like it."

My next words die on my tongue at that statement, my jaw dropping the slightest bit.

"You don't know what a horror movie is?"

"I don't know what a movie is."

"What! How? Haven't you watched one on TV before?"

"Rose...there aren't any of those around here." She hesitates like she was going to say something else but decided against it.

I just stare at her, my eyes continuing to blink, in silence.

"Did you call me Rose?"

She gives me an awkward smile, "yeah, don't people call you that?"

"No, most people just call me Astri." Only because they could never pronounce my first name, but I wasn't going to tell her that.

"Well, Astriliana just seems too long," a small smile appears, "and I like to be special so, I'm not gonna call you Astri." Her look practically screams, I'm going to call you Rose whether you like it or not.

"Well, you're special alright, specially annoying."

As I turn to take another look at the house, I hear her mutter something that sounds suspiciously like, "that's what I'm here for." I'll admit, it doesn't look that bad in retrospect but, the towering walls and arched drawbridge doors leave an unusual effect. Ok, maybe it doesn't give a horror vibe, but it does look like something that you see on TV. It does have a nice aqua blue colour on the roof, mixed with the gold, the walls painted white.

The inside isn't bad either, it has a mix of colours, the rooms spacious, big enough to park five cars. The constant gold theme and painted roses make it more beautiful yet strange. Gem pulls me along behind her, dragging me through the room towards the red leather couch.

"I'll be right back"

"Right back? Where..." I pause at the empty room, no sign of Gem anywhere. Where could she have gone? Outside? I stick my head out of the door, trying to catch a hint of where she could be. Nothing. Maybe she's still inside. Sitting down on the leather couch, I sigh, this has been a long day, especially for my birthday. I have no idea where I am, I fell through a whirlpool, my hair stinks of rotten seaweed and I keep getting cryptic answers. On the plus side, I'm not in another foster home, I can finally decide where my life goes, I don't have to go to school, it finishes in another week anyway, and I kind of know who my family is. Yep, long day, at least it's nearly over.

"What're you doing all on your own?"

I jump, nearly screaming as the unexpected voice shatters my thoughts. Sitting there is an arrogant looking man, his eyes sparkling with amusement. Something about him gives me a bad impression.

"Where the hell did you come from and more importantly, what are you doing here?

"I could ask you the same thing." He replies, ignoring my first question.

Touché. "Maybe, but I asked first."

A strange look crosses his face, "I asked second."

"Nice try pal, but that's not how it works."

"I'm not your pal."

"True." I hold his gaze, "but that raises the question of who you are..."

"And what I'm doing here" he finishes with a small grin.

"Yep. Now answer the question."

An almost evil smile crosses his face as he says, "Why I'm here to talk to you of course."

"Talk to me?" I cock my head to the side, "You don't even know who I am."

"Don't I?" He looks almost manic, "Are you quite sure?"

"Yes." My eyebrow twitches, "I'm quite sure."

"How rude of me." There's an unusual glint in his eyes. I don't know if 'rude' is the word I'd use. More like borderline stalkerish on a psychotic day.

"Well then," he continues, "who are you?"

"Nice try." I deadpan, "But, you haven't yet answered my question of who you are, and I know better than to tell a stranger my name."

"A stranger?"

I ignore the question, "Are you going to tell me who you are?"

Silence. I guess that leaves us at an impasse. I just sit there in silence, not letting my eyes leave his for a second. I have enough sense to know what this truly is, an intimidation. I have some experience with those, a girl moving from place to place with no parents doesn't get much kindness. I will not be intimidated, not by him or anyone.

Several moments pass with no change, I see him scrutinise me through it all. Shoulders back, head up, I observe his actions. There's a strange emotion in his eyes, amusement mixed in with a flicker of something else. I can't tell what it is for sure but looks an awful lot like recognition. This feels like a test, as if he's testing me to ascertain my worthiness, but for what? I'm not given a lot of time to ponder that question when he suddenly lets out a chuckle. It sounds dark, like it's been dragged from the deepest pits of hell. A shiver runs down my spine, yet my gaze remains steady.

"Well aren't you something?" A smile plays on his lips. The smile, unlike the psychotic laughter, seems airy and light tinted with mischief. A powerful gust of wind and cracking of a branch draw my attention away. When I look back, he's gone. Leaving just as suddenly and mysteriously as he came.

With no one around me, I'm finally able to try and fully process all that's happened. But I can't. I may have begrudgingly accepted that Gem might be my cousin or that I might be in another world, but it's still too much to process in one day. The protector. I can't even really protect myself much less an entire civilisation. Because that's what she's asking me to do, find a way to protect not just a bunch of people, but their way of life itself. How can someone forget who they are entirely? How can they live whilst not even knowing how they got to be there?

Contemplating, my body spread out on the leather couch is how Gem finds me.

"I'm back." She yells as if we're an old married couple.

"I want to go back." I tell her, "I want to go back to Coconut grove."

Her legs seem a little shaky, her eyes slightly widening. I almost feel guilty, almost.

"What! But..."

I don't let her finish, "I don't know if I can do this. Coconut grove might not be the best place, but it's the closest thing to a home I've got."

"Yes, you can, and you can always make this..." My cousin tries to protest

I cut her off, shaking my head, "I'm sorry Gem, but I can't." The devastation on her face threatens to shake my resolve, but I just can't. She must have gotten that there was no changing my mind because she just let out a defeated sigh and lay down next to me.

It's in this awkward, unsettling atmosphere that we finally decide to sleep. The leather beneath me feeling like hot coals as the baffling guilt sinks to the bottom of my stomach. What do I have to be guilty for? Even as I allow myself to think that, the guilt still stays, creating a unbearable atmosphere to fall asleep in.

Being abandoned as a newborn baby, Astri has never known who her real parents are. After years of going from foster parent to foster parent, the time comes when she can finally go off on her own. However, a mishap leads her to a new world entirely. She starts a journey that will lead her to find herself, the truth behind what happened in the past, and find her home.

Lina followed the maid's instruction and walked towards the direction. She needed to go to the library to know more about this place. The more she knows, the more she finds her way back. When she saw a silver twisted stairs, climb up and reached the front brown doors. My palms brushed the holder and turned the doorknob to open it, as expected it was locked. She's not sure if lock picking does work in this world, unless if she tries. She grabbed a hairpin from her hair and slipped it through the hole, receiving a soft 'click' from it. 

Lina made a surprised gasp from her lips and grinned widely like a kid receive Cookies and Cream ice cream which is her favorite flavor.  Luckily, she watched a Youtube tutorial on how to pick locks.

Turning the doorknob as the door make a creaking sound, finally, she entered the library. The library was a lot smaller than she thought it would be. Lina felt a little disappointment and awe at the same time. The room had one fireplace and in front of it sat a table with two plain couches on either side and a chair; all covered in layers of dust. There are dozens of shelves of books surrounding the sitting area, all were covered in dust and some even had the beginnings of cobwebs in the corners.

Its appearance made the library feel like it'd been a hundred ages that give an impression where she was trespassing. Back home, in her world, she used to take care library with so much care especially, the books than this place. 

Lina walked over to the other side of the room to one of the windows to pull away from the closed curtains. The pieces of black, thick fabric were grime that her handprints, dark and distinctive, were left behind where she touched them. Furthermore, when the job was done she take a glimpse at the outdoors where she noticed the garden earlier. Setting the curtains aside widely, leaving a soft light that eliminates the whole room.

When she reached at the book of shelves, a sudden tickle her nose that had her sneeze, blaming the dust laying on its corner. Through watery eyes, while sniffling, she began zigzagging and between the shelves and scanning the book's spines to find something, anything that could find her answers. But none caught her eye, the brown leather of many books starting to blur together until she reached the very back of the library, where it was the darkest and smelled the most pungent.

The floorboard creaked beneath her feet just once, making Lina cringed at the sound of it, fearing she falls out within it, its sharpness of the woods which is like a dagger digging through flesh, in the silent room where she kept walking.

Then, finally, she saw it. Way back in the farthest corner, stacked lopsidedly between the above it and the books holding it up, was a book that immediately caught her eye. There was nothing really special about it at first glance, however, her curiosity encouraged her to peek at whatever was inside and chose to listen to it.

Lina got in her toes and raised her body, stretching her arms as far as they would go, which terribly wasn't enough to reach it. Damn this shortness. Lina set her mouth into an adorable moue, biting her lips in dissatisfaction. While attempting to jump to raise it, after three failed attempts, her palms made a contact to the book and pull it out from its selves. 

Yes! Lina leaped in joy.

When holding it, she noticed that whatever its cover had been made from wasn't like the polished leather ones that the other books shared.

It was fragile as thin leaves that might crush when it gripped hardly. Its roughness is almost like scales.

When she brought it down to examine it, she noticed it looked like tiny black scales that reminded her of some sort of lizard or other reptiles. The book was as thick as the width of my hand and its pages were brown with age. It looked really ancient.

The cover was covered in dust, making her blow it softly which the dust went to her face that made her sneeze again terribly. Lina waved the air and finally, take a look at the cover that was written something. She traced the title sewn into the front with soft brush strokes on her fingertips, furrowing her eyebrows together as she mouthed the foreign world aloud.

"Das Verloren Winsfleir..." Lina whispered, or at least she tried to. The word sounded almost correct on her tongue strangely and with the accent quite suiting it. Though, she didn't attempt to read it again out of embarrassment of accidentally saying it insultingly to where the language derived from. 

She couldn't understand what it says. 

Her fingers started to flip the pages and odd sensations coming through on her fingertips but she ignored it, thinking absolutely nothing of it.

There are various words and languages, making her harder to comprehend its words. While holding the book, Lina looked around only once more before she hurried back to the sitting area and plopped herself down on the, from what her eyes could perceive, least dirtiest seat. The blue couch was surprisingly comfortable and soft as she leaned the plush armrest whilst her legs crossed over one another and one foot on the floor.

The book's spine groaned in protest as she pried it open as gently as she could to peek at what was waiting inside to the next pages. Lina made sure to be extra careful with it, knowing just how fragile old books such as that one could be.

There was a long, somber introduction from the author which she quit reading after the first paragraph. Mostly, she couldn't understand those strange words. She skipped through most of it until she came upon a map, a very old looking and crinkled map that had marks all over it and faded scribbles I could hardly read. There was a prominent dent in the corner.

Her eyes shifted their way to the bottom and widened in surprise at the familiar name below it. Isharislynkia. This is the place where she was now. 

The map also showed boundary lines between kingdoms. There are six kingdoms that have various different symbols. It seemed a symbol with six elements: Fire, Water, Earth, Light, and Dark. There was the Isharislynkia Kingdom from the middle to the east coast followed by the Lyruxia Kingdom to the West, Daesyu Kingdome mostly in the north since they were better suited near the warmer environments. Off in the corner to the West which is nearly on the ocean, named Meira. A symbol of a fish tail that caught my attention. There was another one but farther than the rest below it, Her eyes drifted to the south which is circled in faded black ink with 'x's in some places. The small kingdom named, Imarnia.

The sun almost set, she kept the book and hid under on her dress, carefully not letting it fall. To avoid them finding out on her sudden disappearance she'll make sure to head back on his chamber on time. She left the library and locked it again to avoid the suspicion that she'd trespassed there. Her thoughts consumed only one thing: I needed to find a way to escape from this place.

Adelina Scarlett owns a pet shop named, The Beast Tamer which is the well-known shop for taming any pets. One day, she met a strange customer who ask her request to tame his pet and she agreed him. She was brought to a huge mansion, never in her life to able to touch something rich and luxurious. The owner of the mansion needs to her tame his pet. She expects the animal was just another misbehaving pet or maybe, it has issues to make her help him. When she mets the animal, she noticed she was brought into the underground seemingly like a prison cell, everything was dark. Once she was inside the cage, it clanged shut close not giving her time to escape. She noticed there's a tail brushed her leg makes her jump in fear and confusion.

"Show yourself!" she raised her voice.

"Scum! You dare to raise your voice at me?" the dark figure reveals itself which is shocking her more.

"You're..." she gasped looking at him with disbelieving eyes.

"Don't even fucking say it!" He roared.

She fainted.

~*~*~

Warning: This book contains poorly written, unedited, and a lot grammars of mistakes. If you want flawless, perfectly written book, this book may not be for you. If you're interested in wicked imaginary adventures, feel free to open this book!

MOUNTAIN, CAPITAL SHIRE OF THE RULING SPHERE OF PHELIA.

TWENTY YEARS AGO, 

' You've been summoned.'

A confused looking Ira looked up at his mentor and from his desk, an ancient thing that had been carved out from a dark mahogany many years before his time. It was a family heirloom, a wooden piece from the dimension that had been passed on from generation to generation as reminder of what they had once been. In his hands, was yet another such heirloom. He held it possesively, too close to his chest as if it was the only thing keeping his Birr from going out and acting all berserk.

The 'thing' in his hands was a little leather bound copy. Its pages a piece of the life blood of the other realm, the same that he had been perusing all morning and just moments before Birit walked in.  Unconsciously, his long manicured fingers stroked the pages shut and the glossy navy blue cover turned to reveal the book's title all gilded and in delicately embossed letters that read, 'The Queen's' diary'. 

The old man gave him a look and almost instinctively, Ira gripped the book even closer. Holding it to his chest protectively as if he would keep it from harm even from the very man that had gifted it. The old man sighed, his neck moving his head a slow side to side. Just a boy, he remarked to himself as his mouth turned up into a little smile that tagged at the corners of his lips. All these, all of it, all for the benefit of his ward, the teenage boy that was now staring back at him guiltily as if wanting to connect with his past was such a terrible crime.

Another sigh and his chest  depressed. It sagged beneath the shimmering blue fabric of his cloak, the garb of the Gathering of the Inner circle that had an emblem of golden sun with a roaring beast tearing out from within it on his right hand chest. The hemming was also golden, binding the edges with a golden strip that covered the lower circumference of the floor length garment before rising up to trim the edges of the high necked mandarin collar. They were quite flamboyant and even though there were no other decorations apart from the Golden thread used in embroidering and the golden strip that had been used as a binding, the lustre of the fabric made it too extravagant not to stand out. 

'Tamakyi...' the old man began to say, but stilled not really sure how he was going to say it, for his ward was really just a boy, barely into his teenage years and because of that, there was really no way to accurately predict how this fourteen year old boy, mature as sometimes he proved to be, would react to the news he had to give him. 

'The Priest is here.' the man finally said after an extended pause that had left Ira feeling more anxious than he had cared to show.  Slowly, the young man rose up from his desk and stowed away his precious little book in one of his drawers before joining Birit on the other side near the entrance to his study. 

Birit, that was his name. The old man with the white shoulder length mane on his head for hair and the blue robes. His complexion however was a lot like Ira's. Even bronzed out skin, almost orange as was characteristic of his people, all the people of the this Fourth dimension. No given amount of illusions could change that. It was their signature, their identity as a people and where hair and eye colour was normally subject to change, the tanned look remained no matter what products or Birr its host was able to use. 

'It's time.'

Portals have always connected the realms and the planets that exist in this universe. When a people is threatened by an erupting volcano and the darkness it eventually unleashes, The Primevals of Phelia have no choice, but to bring their people through one such portal and into another realm that forever changes their being and their heritage.

From normal humans, a new race is born. One that is endowed with much power, but with power there is always sacrifice and no one knows this better than Ira. A descendant of the Primevals, their blood runs pure in his veins and as such, his burdens are many and so are the responsibilities that threaten to weigh him down. Despite this, he was never meant to carry this load alone. He must strive to find his Queen and even though they are worlds apart, he must bring his bride home and even harder, convince her to stay and remain by his side even as he prepares to fight in the war ahead.

May the world bend, May your will be made manifest, May your word be eternal, With each utterance make your enemies fear you for you are a truenamer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shocked awake a man woke cold sweat falling down his furrowed brows shook uncontrollably
"The hell was that, what was that"
Shaking in his covers he was befuddled by the dream, the words resonated in him and echoed even into his waking seconds and they gonged through him like an echoing cave.
he looked around, it shocked him, it felt alien .
looking to the right he swiftly covered his eyes now he realized the light was hitting his bear face
The world around him looked like an old cottage which only had one bed which he lay in , 1 table and a chair and a fireplace .....still lit.
He looked to where the light was blinding him from, it was a window, outside he saw green and a forest in the distance ....this felt even more alien , he didn't live in the countryside  ...or did he ,he thought to himself what the hell was the countryside, throwing aside this shard of unknown he moved on. 
While still shaking he moved to the fireplace shaking he stumped out of bed and with shaky legs stood and stumbled down again but fell near the fireplace, it was warm and comforting
The man just lay there and thought

"Why does this feel so weird so ...alien"

Looking around like someone was there he shook in fear, have he been kidnapped
why would anyone kidnap him he was ,he was.....

He couldn't remember who he was 
He couldn't remember where he was 
He couldn't not even remember his own name
One surety found itself in his aching mind .whatever this was it was not right.

His mind still shaking with both fear and confusion his eyes darted, it looked old-fashioned, middle ages, another thought shot through his mind, why did he know it was middle ages,

Shaking even more now with both hands and two fingers on each rubbed the temples and breathed slowly

His rapturous heart now calmed into a methodical pace but percussive throughout his body.
He touched his body, it was modest, his body was felt sturdy but still the alien feeling came over him. Something so very wrong was going on.

His eyes darted around the room and he saw a book left on the table bound in rich red leather with etched bronze corners.

Almost like he was compelled he approached.

The power of a truenamer is to utter a word and the very seas will split , reality will shift and nature will bend the knee. This is the story of aTruenamer birth into a new frontier.

A smile that is what she remembered when her eyes slowly opened. This time when she woke her body did not feel heavy and unmovable, it felt warm and refreshed. She turned her head towards the window to see it must me early morning or late at dusk. The sky was dark midnight blue but the closer it was to the ground the colors changed to a light blue to a shimmery yellow to an orange that was deep finally to a robust red. Those colors made her feel like it was all going to be ok. Turning her head to the room there was the High Priestess in a chair asleep. Just looking at the high priestess' face she could tell 'this must be the first time she had slept in a while probably because of me,' Shandra thought to herself. 
Testing her body she slowly moved to a sitting position, all while trying not to make a sound to wake the high priestess. Once she was fully in the sitting position she went to grab her hair to braid it as usual but it was cut short. 'Oh I forgot it got cut at the ceremony,' she thought with a sigh. At that thought her hand raised to her forehead, when her fingers grazed the open wound she tensed and winced with pain. Well the mark is there she is a high priestess. Looking down she saw that her clothes has been changed. She was wearing a light blue  long flared sleeves. As she improved her hands she has been cleaned. She looked once again to the High Priestess, she was still asleep. She moved slowly to not make any sounds. 
Taking off her covers she moved her legs and rest her feet on the floor. The floor was cool to the bottom of her feet. She looked around she was back in her room. 'They moved me when I was sleeping and changed my clothes. I must have scared them,' she thought to herself. The dress that she was changed in to was not the traditional clothes of a high priestess. 
Making sure that she had the strength to stand she slowly pushed herself into a standing position. Shandra's legs held her weight, there was some strain and pain but it was bearable so she took a soundless step towards her cleaning basin and mirror. Her steps were so light that they made no sound. 'Well I guess with my new position I will get some new talents as well,' these thoughts went through Shandra's head as we looked into the mirror. The reflection that looked back was a woman she almost knew but there is some differences. Her auburn hair was cut short now fell into her face, so she took a piece of string and pulled her bangs back so her face was free of hair so she could see her face better. Her blue eyes that were once a light now was very dark blue. Dark circles were very visible under her eyes like she has not slept in days. But that is all she has been doing. Then her eyes finally fell up on her high priestess mark. It looks like the rest of the high priestesses's marks. She willed some water to the basin, it took more effort then usual. This worried her a bit, 'I will ask the high priestess later no need to worry her now.' As she washed her face the high priestess awoke to Shandra not in her bed but washing her face. She let out a sign of relief. 'So you are awake. How do you feel?' Shandra let the question settle into her. 'I feel tired, and,' as to react to her saying this she could sense the world around her, 'a bit tense like something is going to happen. But I do not know what.' 
The High Priestess took Shandra's hand and lead her to the library. 'I made the other priestesses look for any book that had any notion about what happened at the ceremony.' This statement made Shandra breath a bit easier. There is a possibility that somewhere in a book could be the answers to her questions. 
The library was the way it always has been, full of books and smells like knowledge. As the High Priestess led her to the small table in the back corner with a dozen books sitting on top of the table. They looked very old older than most of the books. 'Looks like there is not much on what happened. I hope there is something in there.' Shandra thought to herself. 'I will go and grab you a chair my young high priestess' one of the lower priestess said as she went down an isle. Shandra glances at the High Priestess and the High Priestess nodded at her. Taking a deep breath she closed the distance to the small table. Looking at the books closer they were bound with dark leather that was cracking around the spines and corners. As she picked up the first book the other priestess came back with a chair. Shandra thanked her and turned her attention to the stack of books. 'We will be leaving you. If you need any assistance please come get priestess Elizabeth,' the lady that had handed her the chair nodded, 'if you like she can also bring you some food and drink.' The High Priestess told her with a smile. But with those words both ladies turned and headed out of the library. Shandra took another deep breath to steady her nerves and turned the book over in her hand in silver scroll letters the book was called The phases of the moon Goddess. She opened the book to the first page...
There is more than full moon priestesses there are also new moon priestesses. They are named light priestesses and dark priestesses. DARK DOSE NOT MEAN EVIL.
As she read that she could feel a weight left from her chest. Maybe the lady in my dream was right. She sighed and continued to read.

When Shandra was a little girl she was groomed to be the next High Priestess of Avalon. One day a she met a boy that would make her loss everything. Years go by and their paths cross again will they be able to find Avalon again?

"Well, anyway, a man who can only do it twice a night really can't satisfy me. Thank you for taking him away," after saying that, Luosang quickly finished cleaning and headed back downstairs. While going downstairs, she began doubting if she had become as shameless as Nian Junting after spending some time with him recently.
With that thought, she stuck out her tongue. After that, she glanced down and suddenly saw Yi Jingxi standing by the entryway, holding a brown jacket.
The look in her face changed as she angrily rushed down and yelled, "Why did you touch my stuff!"
"It's a man's jacket," Yi Jingxi held the jacket, sneered, "Gucci customized. It's worth a fortune. Xu Luosang, what kind of a man did hook up with? Or, are you planning to seduce someone?"
"You're sick. Give it back to me," Luosang reached out a hand to try grasping the jacket, "I'm done with you. So even if I want to be with someone, it'll be none of your business!"
Yi Jingxi was so angry that even his heart was shaking. She used to love him so much. He couldn't imagine her loving another man. He knew that she was beautiful, and was afraid of losing her. However, he didn't want her to know that he still cared about her. That was why he used Zhong Yi to keep her around. On the one hand, he wanted her to suffer, on the other hand, he wanted to stimulate her, to make her jealous. Because that was the only way for him to feel that she still loved him.
He admitted that he was sick, but after falling in love with Luosang, he was no longer able to control himself.
Now, as he realized that there might be another man around Luosang, he even wanted to kill that man. "It's none of my business indeed, but I just don't want you to be happy."
Yi Jingxi dodged Luosang, then grabbed a pair of scissors and cut the jacket broken.
Luosang was so infuriated that even her eyes turned red. "This jacket is worth tens of thousands at least. I need to return it to someone. How can I possibly afford it? Do you want me to die?" She said.
Yi Jingxi took a bank card out of his pocket, threw it on the table and said, "There's tens of thousands yuan. Give it to that man."
"Who wants your money?" Luosang felt disgusted. She didn't want his money. Nian Junting definitely wouldn't want the money either, but he might be angry.
'Just let him be angry then, I have no fear,' thought Luosang.
"Without my money, how are you gonna pay for the jacket?" Yi Jingxi frowned. He surely knew that the owner of the jacket wouldn't care about tens of thousands yuan, but he worried that man might use the broken jacket as an excuse to get close to Luosang.
"Leave me alone," Luosang angrily glared at him, then turned and left with the broom.
Looking at the broken jacket and the band card, Yi Jingxi slowly clenched his fist.
Was he annoying to her now?
Did she have another man in her heart?
…
Afternoon, Luosang accompanied Zhongyi to the filming site again, so did Yi Jingxi. In the filming site, Zhong Yi and Yi Jingxi were surrounded by all kinds of people.
Luosang took the opportunity to text Lu Kang—'Mr. Lu, I need your help. I broke Mr. Nian's jacket, what should I do?'
In Shengting Investment, Lu Kang read the message and knitted his brows. A while later, he went to knock the door of his boss' office. When finding his boss sitting in the leather armchair reading a book about horoscope, his mouth corners twitched slightly.
"Mr. Nian, Miss. Luo messaged me. She said that she broke your jacket, and doesn't know what to do," said Lu Kang.
"Why did she ask you?" Nian Junting gave him a threatening glance with narrowed eyes and asked, "Is she closer to you than to me?"
Lu Kang immediately had cold sweat oozing out of his back. "How can that be possible? I think Miss. Luo is afraid that you might get angry. But, I've thought about it, your jacket has a very good quality, so how could it be broken? I think, Miss. Luo might have done it on purpose."
Hearing that, Nian Junting put down the book and said, "You've got a point there. Why do you think she did it then?"


It was supposed to be a perfect deal in which both parties got what they needed. However, after the child was born, he tore up the agreement with discontent and told her, “Who said that we'd only have one child? I want twins! Twin brother and sister! You’ll continue giving birth to more children until you bore me a pair of twins!”
Luosang was beyond endurance. “Nian Junting, damn you…” she raised up against him, “Nian Junting, is this fair to the pure love in your heart?” 
Then, a marriage certificate was thrown at her. 
He landed on her, slowly curved his lips in a smile, saying, “Aren’t you my pure love?” 

"THERE'S SO MANY people out and about town!" Alice gasped, turning her head to follow a little boy that was holding onto a candied apple that had rushed past her.

"Yes," Wyatt beamed, his eyes pressed closed due to his smile, crinkling at the corners. "It's always rather busy in the capital of Gladiolum." 

A day after the ball, Wyatt had suggested bringing Alice around the town square to soak in the sights. He personally had to do a little shopping and thought that it would be a wonderful chance for Alice to grow more familiar with the capital. She had been living with the Ragans for nearly two weeks and yet she had barely even stepped out of the mansion's walls. It was best for young ladies to enjoy their time around town with friends. Being constantly cooped up in the study room with Charlie wasn't exactly an ideal situation in Wyatt's opinion. Of course, not that Alice had ever complained.

Strolling through the cobbled streets, Wyatt pointed out some of his personal favorite shops along the way. They passed by boutiques selling beautiful ball gowns, stores selling sparkling jewels, and even quaint little cafes that wafted out the sugary sweet scent of freshly baked pastries. However, while Alice acted as though she was very interested in those, he could tell that was all it was. An act. She simply smiled and nodded to Wyatt's words, not once asking to step into any of those stores like he had expected. Yet again she had him colored surprised.

Just the thought brought a curving smile onto his lips. The girl that his family had chanced upon was most certainly different from the rest of the girls in the capital. She stood out in such a way that there wasn't any spare place for the others to shine. She was the lone star now, a happy and proud resident of the Ragan household. While still suspicious of her origins, Wyatt couldn't help but admit to himself that he was growing fond of Alice Clemente.

"Are you not interested in any of the shops I pointed out?" He prodded. "Those are all famous names here in the capital."

"Oh!" Alice exclaimed. Wyatt watched with his practiced smile as the girl's eyes widened delightfully, eyelashes fluttering like a pair of butterfly wings under the golden sunlight. Her lips parted just a little in surprise before she quickly gathered back her wits, shaking her head politely. "They are all wonderful shops. I just… I don't have any money to buy all those things. Looking through the store window is more than enough."

For years Wyatt had worn the same smile on his face. It was his perfectly crafted mask made to shield his true emotions from the rest of the nobles. No matter what he felt inside, a smile was always the answer to dealing with those that had to be schemed against. However, every time Alice spoke or made one of her silly little expressions, he found his smiles to turn true as day.

"Let us go into that one, then." Wyatt pointed to a little bookshop down the street, a corner store with a gleaming bronze sign. "There are some things I wish to purchase."

Alice nodded. "Alright," she said.

Although her expression remained as still as possible, Wyatt still caught the slight twitch of her lips. The sparkles in her eyes practically screamed of her excitement. She couldn't fool anyone. Even the blind could tell that she was particularly eager to enter the bookshop. 

The little bell that hung above the door rang when Wyatt entered the shop. Inside, there were no other customers, simply a store clerk that had a book in hand. A pair of round spectacles rested on his crooked nose bridge, his eyes scanning the words at an immense speed before he licked his finger and flipped to the next page. At the call of the bell, the clerk looked up from his book, squinting at the door before rising to his feet. The book was placed pages-down onto the counter, a smile upon his lips.

"Master Wyatt!" The old clerk greeted enthusiastically. "I was wondering when you'll be visiting next. The books you ordered two weeks back are finally here." 

"Greetings," Wyatt replied fairly. "And thank you so much for your help with those. It's nearly impossible to find them anywhere else."

The old man waved, his cheeks reddening just a little. "It's no problem. Let me go get them for you." Shuffling towards the back of the shop, the clerk disappeared behind a dividing curtain.

"Do you come here often?" Alice asked, looking around the small bookstore with great interest. At random, she pulled out one of the books from the shelves, her fingers tracing the title of the book on the cover, feeling the indented words on the hard leather.

'History of Gladiolum. Volume III,' it read. Alice had seen a similar history book in Charlie's study room before. Making a mental note to briefly read through the contents of the book, she slotted the book back to its original position.

"Hmm, I wonder." Tapping a finger to his chin, Wyatt looked deep in thought. "I guess I do visit this store a little more than the average folk. They sell writing supplies as well as books and I run out of the former a little too often. Besides, this store is the only one in the capital that can procure rare and often out-of-print."

Walking a little further into the shop, Alice glanced through the assortment of reading materials offered. They had both fiction and non-fiction books in the store, leaning closer to non-fiction books. Most books were new copies, their covers still brightly colored while others were much older and encased in glass covers. Those books seemed old and tattered but the words were still in dark black ink, most likely having been re-written over so that it wouldn't be lost to time. 

The one that had caught Alice's attention was a purple leather-bound book that was almost as thick as a dictionary. The title of this book was written in bright, glittery gold in thick block letters. A small sign that indicated the price of the old tome was placed beside the book. Alice's eyes widened at the number of zeros, her head reeling back a little in surprise. She still wasn't sure about how the currency worked in Gladiolum but with so many zeros, the book was bound to be expensive no matter the exchange rate.

'The Theory of Magic. Volume I,' the title wrote.

"Are you interested in that one? Ooh, that's a pricey one." Wyatt's voice was right by Alice's ear, causing her to jump a little, her ears tingling from his breath. Stepping away, she held both hands to her chest, staring wide-eyed at Wyatt who looked as amused as ever.

"Just looking," she answered before firing back a question of her own. "How much is that book? I don't really know how the currency works here."

"See that symbol over there?" Wyatt gestured to the symbol behind the number as he spoke. "That's the symbol for our currency, 'fleuron'. That's the larger of the two units that we have in our country's currency. The smaller unit is known as a 'flois'. Ten flois equates to one fleuron. To give you an example of its value, five flois can buy you a piece of stale bread at the end of the day in the capital's cheapest bakery, maybe? Books, on the other hand, are usually five to ten fleurons, if it's a common title that can be easily found."

Alice gulped. Judging by the examples Wyatt provided, the currency here in Gladiolum seemed similar to the system she was used to. A single fleuron held as much value as a dollar back home and a flois would be around ten cents. Her hands were starting to feel clammy as she stared hard at the price tag of The Theory of Magic. 

"And yet this book is…" she trailed off.

"Fifteen thousand fleurons," Wyatt finished the sentence for her chirpily.

Fifteen thousand dollars.

Taking another step back, Alice no longer dared to hover near the expensive article. If anything had happened to it, she wouldn't be able to pay the store back for the damages incurred. She had never seen a book as expensive or even half as pricey. 

"Why is this book so… so…"

"Ridiculously priced?" Wyatt supplied. When Alice nodded numbly, Wyatt chuckled. "This is an ancient tome about magic. There are only five copies of this book that was ever produced. But if you're really interested in this book, there's no need for you to fork out such a hefty amount just to read it. We have a copy of it back in the mansion's library."

Flabbergasted and speechless, Alice blinked dumbly at what Wyatt had so casually revealed. Although she long knew that the Ragan mansion was a sprawling estate with many different needlessly fanciful rooms, she hadn't even thought to think that it might house precious artifacts within its walls. 

In Gladiolum, it seemed as though the gap between its people was wider than the ocean. The rich lived in heaven while the poor couldn't even afford hell.

"Why don't you take a look around the bookshop and see if there's anything that catches your eye?" Wyatt offered. "If we don't already have the book back home, I don't mind making a few extra purchases. It's the least I can do for dragging you out here with me on such a warm afternoon."

Alice's heart skipped a beat. She braved a step closer, momentarily forgetting about the book in the glass display case. Cupping her hands together as if they were in prayer, Alice beamed.

"Really? Any book?"

Wyatt's smile didn't falter. "There's no budget, if that's what you're asking."

Alice wasted no time. Her feet went scurrying across the dark wooden boards of the store, quickly scouring the bookshelves in search of any title that might help her or catch her fancy. Her fingers ran down the spines, quickly pulling out a few covers that had caught her attention, some fiction and some not. She had a feeling that most, if not all, of the non-fiction books were already available in the Ragans' library but there was no harm in bringing the books over for Wyatt to look through. These books will become her survival guide in this foreign world.

As the store clerk returned to the front counter, Wyatt slowly made his way over. However, he was still gazing in Alice's way, watching silently and bemused as the girl darted from shelf to shelf, climbing ladders and bending low in search of more. There were already over seven books in her hands and she only ever added more to the collection.

"My," the old clerk exclaimed. "I've not seen anyone so frantic for a good title since you first came to my humble store years ago. The old ladies at the bakery next block over will go mad once they hear that the young Master Wyatt is no longer single."

The white-haired man chuckled. "She's just a curious little bird my brother picked up a while back."

The old man shrugged, unconvinced, but he didn't say a word more on that topic. With a heavy thump, he placed three thick books onto the counter, the covers in the three primary colors. The titles were all written in gold, large block letters.

"This set was a little trickier to find as compared to your other requests but there you go. Though, Master Wyatt, don't mind this old man prying but are you sure you want to dabble in this subject? There's always a price to pay when you go against the laws of science."

"I can pay whatever price the world throws at me," Wyatt casually remarked. Picking up one of the books carefully with a gloved hand, he examined the old cover, grinning with satisfaction. "Besides, I'm just completing my collection. With these, the set will now be complete. There's no need to worry, sir."

"Oh well," the old clerk sighed, pursing his lips. "If you're sure, youngin. Let me wrap these up for you."

Tottering away, the elderly went to retrieve a few sheets of brown wrapping paper and some strings to bundle up Wyatt's purchases while waiting for Alice. 

Partially leaning on the counter, Wyatt continued to observe Alice. She no longer had the strength to carry the books she had picked out. Instead, she placed most of them on an empty table by one side. The stack of books was almost taller than she was and yet she continued to hunt for more, her eyes practically dripping with avarice.

'How peculiar,' Wyatt thought to himself. 'She is unaffected by fanciful dresses or glittering jewels and yet dusty old books can bring her into a craze. What an odd woman. She is most certainly a woman before her time.'

❝I want you to visit me even if it's only in your dreams.❞ 

Gifted a candle that was said to be able to make wishes come true, Alice Clemente burned it that very night only to find herself in an unknown world the next morning. 

She had wished for a life of adventure away from the city and its routine. With her wish granted, she was whisked away to a world very different from the one she grew up in. 

Thrust into a new life, would Alice learn how to adapt? Or would she fall down the rabbit hole only to never surface again?

Ana doesn't know her place in the world, and she's happy with the life that she's somehow built after losing her parents. A mysterious trip to the library reveals the secrets of her heritage and her destiny. She finds the portal to Malaya, the magical and dangerous world that neither time and history never touched. Ana may not know her place in the world, but her destiny awaits her in the land of lost things.

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