Morning in Eldrin's house felt warmer than usual. Soft sunlight slipped through the large windows, casting a gentle glow across the dining table, where the aroma of toasted bread and herbal tea filled the air. Anza, Hana, and Haya sat together enjoying a simple breakfast, while Eldrin sat at the far end of the table, his calm gaze fixed on Leo, who now looked better, though still cautious.
Haya, as always, was the most energetic. "Today I'm taking you guys around the city center! You won't believe how beautiful Heavenly really is."
Hana smiled, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I've been wondering about that. If it's as peaceful as this, the city must be amazing."
Anza remained quiet, his thoughts divided between Heavenly and the human world he had left behind. The mountain of unfinished work, unpaid debts, and burdens still weighed on him. He wasn't sure he could truly enjoy this place.
Eldrin finally spoke, his voice deep and steady. "You must have seen the scorched island on your way here."
Anza nodded. "Yeah. That was caused by the Hoplites, right?"
Eldrin paused for a moment before answering. "Yes. That happened seventeen years ago, during the first great war between Heavenly and the Hoplites."
Hana leaned in, while Haya, normally cheerful, went quiet.
"At the time, the Hoplites succeeded in capturing the Griffins," Eldrin continued. "Griffins weren't just natural guardians of Heavenly… they were the only beings capable of stabilizing interdimensional portals. The Hoplites used them to fuel the opening of a massive gate."
"Did they succeed?" Anza asked, eyes narrowing slightly.
Eldrin shook his head. "Not completely. The gate did open, and the Hoplites invaded with full force. The war lasted for days… but they didn't account for one thing."
"What was that?" Hana leaned over the table, intrigued.
"Griffin energy wasn't enough to keep the portal open for long," Eldrin explained. "Gradually, the gate began to weaken. Without additional energy sources, it became unstable. They had to retreat before being trapped in Heavenly forever."
Haya, who had stayed silent, finally spoke, her voice deeper than usual. "But that doesn't mean they stopped."
Anza glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"The portal can no longer be opened permanently… but sometimes, it still opens briefly," Eldrin said. "And whenever that happens, the Hoplites use it to force their way in."
Haya clenched her fist on the table. "They don't just come to steal Heavenly's resources."
Hana swallowed hard. "Then… what else are they doing?"
"They also kidnap people," Haya continued, her voice trembling slightly. "Five years ago, they took my sister."
The room fell silent.
Hana stared at Haya, wide-eyed. "Your sister…?"
Haya nodded slowly. "She was one of many elf girls kidnapped and enslaved."
Anza clenched his hands in his lap. Now everything felt more real.
Eldrin looked at them calmly. "That's why we have to be careful. The Hoplites haven't given up. They're only waiting for the next opportunity."
The mood at the breakfast table shifted to a quiet tension.
Haya eventually took a deep breath, trying to lighten the mood. "But enough of that! We're not here to mope around today!" she said with a small smile. "Let's head to the city center!"
The path they walked was damp with morning dew. Golden light pierced through the canopy, painting the forest in magical hues, as if the entire woodland glowed under a gentle spell. In the distance, the sound of running water could be heard, accompanied by a melodic hum like a whispered lullaby.
"Hear that?" Haya turned toward the river to their right.
Perched atop a large rock facing the flowing water, a siren sat quietly, her voice harmonizing with the stream. Her deep blue hair shimmered in the morning sun, and her silver scales sparkled like living jewels.
The water around her rippled in rhythm with her song, as if the melody itself had the power to sway nature.
"Her voice… it's beautiful," Hana whispered, mesmerized.
The siren noticed them and turned, her ocean-colored eyes meeting theirs with a gentle smile. She didn't stop singing, but lifted her hand in a soft wave.
They smiled back before continuing on.
When they arrived at the wide fields near the city edge, a massive minotaur with thick brown fur was busy tilling the soil, his muscles flexing with each swing of his tool.
"Oh! That's Mr. Grom," Haya said. "He's one of the best farmers in Heavenly."
The minotaur paused and turned. "Haya!" His voice was deep, but warm. "Not going to school today?"
"It's a holiday, Mr. Grom! I'm a tour guide today!"
He nodded with approval. "Good. Don't get lost in the city."
They left the fields and entered the city center. Glowing buildings, diverse residents—elves, centaurs, and wolf-eared hybrids—strolled casually along cobbled paths. Everything felt peaceful… until suddenly, the crowd stirred.
Someone darted across the rooftops with ease, leaping over flagpoles and flipping gracefully before landing right in front of them.
His cloak fluttered, his face glowing with confidence. His golden eyes sparkled like morning light.
The townsfolk let out a collective sigh, as if this was nothing new.
The figure turned toward them—and froze when he saw Hana.
"What's your name?" he asked, his voice suddenly softer.
Hana blinked. "Uh…?"
Haya covered her face. "Oh no… he's doing it again."
"I'm Reinalt, Crown Prince of Heavenly," he said, his eyes still locked on Hana. "And you… you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in this world."
Anza looked up at the sky in frustration, massaging his temples.
"Seriously… guys like this exist in other worlds too?"
Amidst the chaos, something caught his attention. In the corner of the city, beneath the shadow of a building, a pair of eyes watched them sharply.
When Anza tried to get a clearer look, the figure vanished.
His skin crawled. "We're being watched."
While Reinalt continued flirting with Hana, Anza couldn't help but wonder—who was watching them, and what did it mean for their journey in Heavenly?