"Well, to start our story, we have to go back to the beginning—the very beginning," Linda says with a smile.
"This world was small. The lands rested, unmoving—until something happened. A rift opened in the skies above a very famous empire."
Ellowen looks confused. "A rift?" he asks.
Linda laughs. "That's right. A rift opened up, and from it fell these strange, golden gems. Some people thought they were gold."
She laughs again. "But let's just say what fell wasn't gold. It was something that only intensified greed."
Raising her hands, Linda begins moving her fingers as if performing shadow puppets. She freezes the air above into a bowl of ice and brings it down to their eye level.
"That kingdom was called Velvande. The king summoned every scholar, mechanic, builder, engineer, architect, and magician. They used those stones to enhance their empire."
Linda giggles as she recalls the events.
"From those stones, they built dwarves—short, boulder-like beings created to help forge weapons."
She sighs and looks up at Ellowen, who is watching her intently. He raises an eyebrow.
"So? Continue the story," Ellowen says, his eyes locked on her. Linda chuckles.
"Now, where was I?—OH YEAH. They were enhancing their empire, making more powerful weapons, fusing the stones into their walls, advancing their technology faster than even the magical city of Umbra."
She looks up at him again.
"So, what do you think the other kingdoms and empires did after seeing how fast Velvande was advancing?"
"They followed in their footsteps?" he replies, a bit uncertain.
"That's right. They started researching the stones too. Eventually, everyone started calling them Magalite."
With her fingers, Linda shifts the ice into the shape of a castle.
"The greed pulled from every participant was overwhelming. These kingdoms and empires started fighting one another—as if trying to prove they had better control over Magalite."
The ice castle crumbles in her hands as her voice darkens.
"One day, the Empire of Velvande was attacked by a nearby nation. They fought using Magalite weapons, discarding the lives of innocents. The mechanics, architects, and magicians built something in the palace corridors—at the emperor's request."
Linda scowls, then sighs and looks up at Ellowen, her voice now low and grim.
"The emperor activated the weapon—a box made of pure magic and Magalite. It was designed to open the Gate of the In-Between, a place many believed housed the gods. But when the gate opened... what came out weren't gods. They were monsters."
She sighs again.
"All across the world, monsters emerged from golden gates—gates people mistook for holy, for divine."
Linda laughs softly, eyes on Ellowen.
"So are you just going to keep staring at me, or are you going to finish the story?"
Ellowen, slightly annoyed by her glances, asks, "You're still not going to tell me you're an angel?"
She raises an eyebrow. "An angel? Me? I have a tail that looks like your stereotypical demon."
He gives her a deadpan look. "Plus, angels usually have, you know, gold eyes. Not blue."
Linda looks surprised—he doesn't know.
"I thought I could get answers from him about the facility," she thinks to herself.
"Well, since you have no idea, I'll finish the story and let you figure things out," she says with a giggle. The ice shifts again, now showing a battlefield with people running across it.
"People stopped fighting each other as monsters began to ravage the world. The creatures already in our world became stronger, harder to kill, more nightmarish. And the ones that came through the golden gates... were just the icing on the cake."
Tiny ice figures in the bowl fight, slashing and tearing one another apart.
"Many people—from famous knights to workers, to everyday citizens—joined the frontline at the Great Gate, where the biggest battle took place."
The ice morphs into a laboratory scene, with figures moving within.
"But one place kept researching how to use Magalite for survival. They called themselves the New Order. They believed they were the future. They melted the stones, fused them with soldiers to enhance them and create—"
"Angels," Ellowen cuts in.
Linda smiles. "You're catching on."
"They called them angels, but they were artificial—manufactured through Magalite. Though they had wings, they didn't match the image of angels. They had demon-like tails, blue eyes instead of gold, and triangular halos instead of circular ones."
The ice shifts again, forming an image of these beings.
"They became known as the Knights of Dawn. Where most people could control only one element, these knights controlled three—fire, ice, and lightning."
Linda's expression turns serious, her voice darker.
"As the fighting dragged on, the New Order wondered—if they could create angels artificially, could they create them naturally? Why think that?"
She sighs.
"Because they were running out of Magalite. So, they posted job applications—for women. Nothing dangerous, just 'help with tests,' in exchange for money, food, and protection."
Ellowen grimaces. He already knows where this is going.
"Many women got pregnant with angels... and many died during the development process. A few gave birth and survived."
Linda sees the disgust on his face and smiles gently.
"But the really messed-up part? They tried it again with the next generation. And fewer women died that time. They realized it was because those women already had Magalite in their bodies. And with that, they discovered a way to create an endless army of Knights of Dawn—real angels."
The ice starts melting, the fire behind them crackling louder. Crows watch from above in the trees.
"But, as with all things, it came to an end. No one knows exactly what happened. People saw explosions at the facilities. The sky rained red—some say gold, like Magalite itself. No one knows if it was sabotage... or if the angels turned against them."
Ellowen looks baffled. That last part left him confused.
"If the facilities exploded... how did I end up in a forest? Was I already outside when it happened?"
His mind spirals.
"Did I forget to mention? This all happened ten years ago."
Ellowen freezes.
"TEN YEARS AGO?!"
If that was ten years ago... he would've been eleven.
"They wouldn't be crazy enough to send an eleven-year-old to fight... right?"
But then the memory flashes through his mind—the dream of him and his class beating up a girl, their teacher watching and approving.
"What am I saying? Of course they'd be that crazy."
Ellowen groans, facepalming.
"Enough moping around," Linda says, breaking the tension. "It's dark—we should rest for tomorrow's travels."
She removes her crow-feather cloak and pulls two sleeping bags from her backpack—one for herself, one for Ellowen.
He takes it, looking at her. Without the cloak, he can see her clearly—surprisingly strong and curvy. He already thought she was beautiful despite his suspicions, but now she's... even more so.
Linda notices his stare, her smile turning playful, her voice low and sultry.
"Oh? Am I too hot for you? Eye candy, huh?"
She lays down in her sleeping bag.
"No, I just thought you looked strong. Pretty well-built. Also... where are we going tomorrow?"
"Don't know," she mumbles, already drifting off. "I'm following you. You look like you've got somewhere to go... I've got nowhere."
She falls asleep.
Ellowen sighs, turning in his sleeping bag. Thoughts flood his mind.
"Is my life going to be okay? Where am I even going? Is this life even mine?"
The story. His memory. His past. Nothing feels like it belongs to him. He wonders if he ever had dreams of his own to begin with.
Eventually, he stops thinking. The questions are heavy, and he's tired. Slowly, he drifts off to sleep.