The next morning, sunlight stretched gently across the sky as the black family car rolled through the gates of Velancia International Airport.
Inside, Ariel sat quietly beside her sister, hands folded neatly over her lap. She wore a pale blue blouse and cream skirt, simple yet elegant, her hair tied back in a soft ribbon. Serena, beside her, tapped her phone excitedly, already chatting about their first week in Country C.
"They said the university has its own botanical garden," Serena said. "Can you imagine studying literature surrounded by flowers?"
Ariel smiled faintly. "That sounds peaceful."
Her mind, however, was focused elsewhere — on the promise she had made to herself.
This trip was not just for study. It was a doorway to her new life.
When the car stopped, airport staff rushed forward to help with luggage. Leonard and Eleanor Volvolk stepped out first, followed by the girls. Cameras flashed nearby — the Volvolk family was well known in Country B, and their appearance drew curious stares.
Ariel held her mother's hand one last time. "I'll write every week," she said softly.
Her mother smiled. "Just remember to eat well and sleep enough. Don't get lost in your books."
Her father placed a hand on her shoulder. "Protect your sister and look out for each other. Country C can be competitive, but you have what it takes."
Ariel nodded firmly. "We will make you proud."
After the final goodbyes, the sisters passed through the private departure terminal reserved for diplomats and high-profile travelers. The air smelled of polished wood and imported perfume.
Ariel paused for a moment to take in the sight. Outside the tall glass walls, several sleek private jets waited on the runway, their metal surfaces glinting in the morning sun.
As she turned the corner toward their gate, a small group of men entered the lounge from the opposite direction. They carried themselves with quiet authority — the kind of presence that filled a room without a word being spoken.
Their suits were tailored, their steps deliberate. One man at the center drew Ariel's attention immediately. He was tall, with dark hair brushed neatly back, his expression unreadable. Even from a distance, she could feel a cold sharpness in him — the kind that came from power and experience.
A ripple of whispers moved through the staff nearby.
"That's the delegation from the Xian Group," someone murmured. "They control half the private trade routes in Country C."
Ariel's breath caught slightly. The name was familiar from business articles she had read before. The Xian Group — a global conglomerate known for its influence across finance, shipping, and technology. Their chairman was said to be one of the youngest and most mysterious magnates in modern history.
As the group passed, one of the attendants carrying papers brushed too close, causing Ariel's folder of travel documents to slip from her hands. The papers scattered across the polished floor.
Before she could bend down, someone crouched to pick them up.
It was the man from the center of the group.
He handed the papers back to her, his movements precise and calm. "Be careful," he said, his voice low and smooth.
Ariel looked up, and for a heartbeat, the world seemed to quiet around them.
His eyes were dark, focused, and unreadable — eyes that carried the weight of someone who had seen too much and trusted too little.
"Thank you," she said softly.
He gave a small nod, his expression indifferent, and turned away as his group continued toward the private jet lounge.
Serena ran up, slightly breathless. "Are you all right? You dropped your papers."
Ariel nodded. "I'm fine."
But her gaze lingered on the glass door where the group had disappeared. A faint unease curled in her chest — not fear, but something like recognition she couldn't explain.
"Who was that?" Serena asked.
"No one," Ariel said quietly, though her tone held a trace of thought. "Just someone important."
Moments later, the sisters walked to their boarding gate. As they stepped onto the plane, Ariel glanced once more through the window. In the distance, the private jet from the lounge was preparing to take off, its engines rumbling softly.
She watched it lift into the sky, silver against the morning light, unaware that their paths would cross again — not by accident, but by fate.
Settling into her seat beside Serena, she closed her eyes and whispered to herself, "Country C, here I come."
The plane began to rise, carrying her toward the life she was meant to build and toward the people who would test her strength, her heart, and her destiny.