Part 1: How Rose Met Brian Carter
———-
The fear on the lieutenant's face was obvious when he saw the shadow disappear.
All around him, soldiers stood frozen in shock.
Then Rose shouted, snapping everyone back to reality.
"This fight is only the beginning! Attend to the wounded!"
The lieutenant finally shook himself out of his daze.
"That… that was dark arts magic," he said, his voice tense. "Magic that was lost a thousand years ago with the Blackwell family."
He looked around at the soldiers.
"Marina was right. The Blackwells are still alive."
Rose stepped forward immediately.
"We need to go to her now."
She and the lieutenant quickly headed toward the house where Marina had taken shelter, protected inside a barrier.
"The threat has left the village!" the lieutenant shouted.
The barrier slowly dissolved.
A female soldier stepped out, helping Marina walk. She looked exhausted, her face pale.
"We need to go to my house," Marina said weakly. "My energy is nearly gone."
The soldier tightened her grip on Marina and supported her as they walked. The lieutenant and Rose followed closely behind.
⸻
When they reached the house, Momo ran toward Marina.
"Mom! Are you okay?" she cried, tears streaming down her face.
Marina steadied herself and gently held her daughter.
"My darling Momo," she said softly. "Mommy is perfectly fine. I just used too much energy today."
Momo sniffled.
"Let's go inside, Mommy. I don't want to see you hurt."
The two of them walked inside together.
Jack came up beside Rose.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly. "You left the hospital and suddenly everything was covered in flames. I thought you were on fire. I'm still not used to this."
Rose ruffled his hair.
"I'm fine."
But deep inside, she felt something snap.
Something inside her power felt unstable.
That was exactly why she needed to speak with Marina.
⸻
Inside the house, everyone gathered in the dining room.
Marina turned to Momo.
"The grown-ups need to discuss something important. Go play in your room."
Auntie Emma volunteered to keep the children company.
Momo turned back toward Rose with a serious expression.
"Big Sis… don't get hurt again."
Then she quietly walked to her room with Jack.
⸻
Once the children were gone, Marina immediately opened a mind link with the General and the Sergeant.
"This is urgent," she said.
"This battle now involves all three clans."
She explained everything that had happened in the village.
When she finished, she asked,
"How is the war outside the village? Has anything changed?"
The General spoke first.
"Nothing has changed. The only difference is that new creatures are appearing more frequently. They're being created through dark magic."
He paused.
"We are doing everything possible to make sure the outside world never learns about this war."
Then the Sergeant spoke.
"We're still working with the government to find a scientific way to control the situation. So far… no results."
Marina took a breath.
"There is something else."
"Maya Blackwell is still alive…"
Both the lieutenant and the General looked stunned.
"Maya Blackwell?" the General repeated. "If she's alive… that means the Blackwell family survived."
The Sergeant sighed heavily.
"Maya Blackwell was infamous," he said grimly. "She tortured anything that breathed if it wasn't part of her family."
"To her, everyone else was beneath her."
"She burned them. Hung them. Invented new ways for people to die."
The room fell silent.
⸻
"Back then," the Sergeant continued, "no one knew how to stop the Blackwells."
"Until one day… one of their servants decided she had nothing left to lose."
"Her name was Mary Goose."
The Sergeant's voice grew quieter.
"Maya killed Mary's daughter."
"Mary begged for justice."
He paused.
"But the Blackwell family laughed at her."
"They said an insect is just an insect. It lives and dies. But if it dies by a Blackwell's hand, you should be grateful."
Mary walked away from the chamber with rage burning in her eyes.
She went into the kitchen and secretly put sleeping powder into their food and drinks.
Then she waited.
"I will get my justice," she told herself.
"At that time, the Phoenix Clan and the Dragon Clan were working together with the Utopia Clan."
"They were already planning to stop the horrors happening in the Blackwell domain."
"What the Blackwells were doing wasn't humane."
"When Mary put the Blackwell family to sleep…"
"That was when the three clans launched their attack."
Mary wanted to kill them all with her own hands.
Everyone believed the Blackwell family was wiped out that night.
⸻
"But if Maya Blackwell is still alive…" the Sergeant continued.
"That means something went wrong during that ambush."
"It also raises another question."
"What happened to the Dragon Clan and the Phoenix Clan?"
"And where did the Utopia Clan disappear to?"
⸻
As the Sergeant explained the fall of the Blackwells, Rose felt stunned.
When he paused, she asked the question that had been building in her mind.
"How old is Maya Blackwell?"
The Sergeant shook his head.
"No one knows."
"The Blackwells have existed for thousands of years. They are part of ancient history."
The room fell silent again.
Marina spoke softly.
"If Maya is still alive… she could be one of the original ancestors of the Blackwell family."
"That would mean there may be more of them out there."
She looked at Rose.
"But the biggest question is…"
"Why was she at the orphanage?"
Rose frowned.
"When I arrived at the orphanage, Maya was always sick. She couldn't even walk without help. Sometimes she needed a wheelchair."
Rose shook her head.
"I still can't believe that girl could be older than all of us."
The General finally spoke.
"Rose."
"My name is General Baxter."
"You lived in the orphanage with her… and you survived."
He leaned forward slightly in his office.
"Tell us what it was like."
⸻
Rose looked around the room.
Everyone there already knew what her life had been like in that orphanage.
But the General and the Sergeant did not.
So she began explaining.
"Maya hated me the moment I arrived."
"I always suspected the orphanage director."
"She obeyed every order Maya gave."
"And whenever I questioned her, she slapped me and told me to follow orders or leave."
Rose paused.
"At first I thought she was just cruel."
"But when I looked into her eyes…"
"They looked empty."
"Like she wasn't really there."
Marina whispered under her breath.
"Mind control."
Suddenly everything clicked in Rose's mind.
Because Rose could hear people's thoughts…
Maya couldn't control her.
Rose let out a small laugh.
"I think I know why she hated me so much."
The General cleared his throat and returned to the main issue.
"How do we inform the three clans about this?"
⸻
After the meeting ended, the mind link disconnected.
Rose stopped Marina.
"Marina… we need to go to the cellar."
She placed her hand over her chest.
"Something feels wrong. I've been holding it in this whole time."
Marina studied Rose carefully.
Rose looked like she might collapse at any moment.
If another power burst happened upstairs, someone could get hurt.
"Come with me," Marina said.
⸻
They walked deep into the basement cellar.
The moment they reached the bottom…
Rose collapsed to the ground.
She screamed in agony.
Her chest felt like it was burning.
Her entire body trembled.
She ripped open the front of her shirt.
A glowing mark appeared over her heart.
The symbol of the Dragon and the Phoenix.
Pain surged through her body.
Her eyes blazed with fire.
Her hair whipped wildly around her.
Suddenly her power exploded.
Flames surrounded her.
Her body lifted into the air, floating as a sphere of fire wrapped around her like a cocoon.
Marina stepped back in shock.
"Goddess… is this real?"
"Am I really witnessing the Dragon–Phoenix evolution?"
Her voice trembled with awe.
"Rose… you are truly our treasure."
Now Marina finally understood something she had never been able to explain before.
Rose belonged to both the Dragon Clan and the Phoenix Clan.
But there was also painful news.
Those clans no longer existed.
Marina sighed as she waited for the evolution to finish.
Thousands of thoughts raced through her mind.
How would she tell Rose the truth about her clan?
At the same time, she felt excitement.
The evolution had answered many mysteries she had been trying to solve for years.
Now she understood why she could never find any trace of Rose's family.
⸻
Slowly, the flames faded.
Rose dropped to the ground, landing on her hands and knees.
She looked up at Marina, breathing heavily.
"What… is happening to me?" she asked shakily.
Marina helped her stand.
"I think it's over now."
Her eyes shone with excitement.
"Rose… you just went through an evolution."
"You've been reborn."
"I'm not completely sure how it happened. Maybe the power you released earlier triggered it."
She smiled gently.
"But your evolution revealed something important."
"I now know something about your family."
Rose was exhausted, but hope filled her chest.
Finally.
After all these years…
She might finally learn the truth about her family.
Part 2: How Rose Met Brian Carter
__________________________
Marina held Rose for support as they slowly walked out of the basement.
Marina felt excited because she finally knew which clan Rose belonged to and who her true family was. But along with that truth came a painful history she would have to tell Rose.
As they reached Rose's room, Marina helped her sit down on the bed.
"Are you okay?" Marina asked gently.
Rose was exhausted, but strangely energized at the same time. It felt like power was surging through her entire body.
"I think if I rest a little, I'll be fine," Rose replied.
Marina nodded, but her expression remained serious.
"Rose… this can't wait. I need to tell you what I saw in my vision."
She pulled a chair from the desk and sat close to the bed. Taking Rose's hand, she looked into her eyes.
"You belong to the Phoenix and Dragon bloodline. Your clan is called the Radiance Clan."
Rose's eyes widened.
"Your lineage was one of the bravest and most powerful clans that ever existed. They were guardians of balance—between humans and beasts, between darkness and light. They protected the weak and helped the world prosper."
Marina's voice softened.
"But everything ended when the war began."
She paused before continuing.
"The war we are fighting now… the one we are trying to keep hidden from the world… if the Radiance Clan still existed, things might be very different."
Marina looked at Rose with concern.
"I don't know where your journey will take you. But if you want to learn the truth about your parents… you must find the remaining members of the Radiance Clan."
Rose sat frozen.
At least she had a lead.
Her mind raced with questions, but she understood something important.
Marina had just given her a lifeline.
The next step was finding out what happened to her clan… and her family.
Rose suddenly leaned forward and hugged Marina.
"Thank you."
Marina hugged her back tightly.
"There's no need to thank me. I'm just happy you're here."
She gently pulled away.
"You need to rest. Today was a big day."
Marina stood up and walked toward the door. Before leaving, she glanced back at Rose and smiled softly before closing the door.
Rose could hear her footsteps fading down the hallway.
She sat quietly, staring at her hands.
A small flame suddenly flickered across her palm.
Startled, she shook her hand and the fire disappeared.
Rose sighed.
She stood up, walked into the bathroom, and took a long shower.
When she stepped out, she looked at herself in the mirror.
"This is just the beginning," she whispered.
"I hope my mom and dad are still alive."
She turned off the light, walked back to her room, and went to sleep.
⸻
Part 3: How Rose Met Brian Carter
______________________
"Big Sis! Big Sis! Wake up!"
Rose groaned and pulled the blanket over her head.
"Wake up! It's already noon!"
"Momo… let me sleep a little longer," Rose mumbled.
"But Big Sis, you missed training!"
"I'm tired…"
"But we were waiting for you all morning!"
Before Rose could respond, Marina's voice came from the hallway.
"Momo, leave your big sister alone. She went through a lot yesterday."
"I already spoke with Sanju. She's resting today."
"Okay, Mom," Momo said reluctantly.
The door closed, and the room became quiet again.
Rose slowly opened her eyes.
Her mind was racing.
What do I do next?
She grabbed her phone and checked the time.
"Alright… time to start the day."
After taking a shower, she called for Marina.
Marina knocked and entered.
"Is everything okay?"
Rose nodded.
"I was thinking about the orphanage."
Marina's expression darkened.
"I had people investigate it."
"One of the directors died. They found his body barely recognizable."
"The other director… her memories were erased. It seems Maya wiped her mind."
Rose frowned.
"And the kids?"
"They're safe," Marina replied. "The government is already investigating. They discovered embezzlement and abuse."
"Director Shoemaker has been arrested."
Rose stared in shock.
"Miles Becker is dead… and Karen was arrested."
She shook her head.
"I'm not surprised. She abused those kids so badly some of them could barely walk."
Rose's voice suddenly turned cold.
"She deserves it. I hope she rots in hell."
Suddenly heat filled the room.
Marina's eyes widened.
Fire began to flicker around Rose's body.
"Rose! Calm down!"
Rose looked down and realized flames were dancing across her skin.
But they didn't burn.
They didn't hurt.
She slowly breathed in… then out.
The flames faded.
Marina exhaled slowly.
"It seems we need to start a new type of training."
⸻
The Next Morning
Monday arrived.
At five in the morning, Rose stood alone in the training field.
She stretched her body and began slow breathing exercises.
Then she moved into gentle Tai Chi movements.
Energy flowed smoothly through her body.
She didn't notice the other students arriving.
They quietly watched her.
Even Jack stood there, staring.
Rose moved like flowing water.
When she finally stopped, she realized everyone was staring.
Teacher Sanju walked toward her.
"What did you just do?"
Rose looked confused.
"Just breathing exercises… and some Tai Chi."
Sanju shook his head.
"That was not Tai Chi."
"I've never seen movements like that before."
He studied her carefully.
"We will discuss this later. Everyone, take your positions!"
Two hours later, training ended.
Sanju called Rose over.
"Follow me."
Since Sanju belonged to the Utopia Clan, he began demonstrating flowing movements similar to water.
Rose followed.
Suddenly her body glowed again.
But this time her eyes burned like fire.
Her body lifted off the ground.
Sanju froze in shock.
A flaming phoenix shape briefly formed around her.
"Rose! Stop!"
She suddenly dropped back to the ground.
Rose looked confused.
"Did I just… levitate?"
Sanju rubbed his chin.
"No… that technique only gathers energy."
"You created something completely different."
He looked at her seriously.
"We will train privately from now on."
Rose nodded slowly.
"Yes… teacher."
⸻
Part 4: How Rose Met Brian Carter
___________________
Later that morning, Rose walked through the university gates.
She spotted Sarah waiting near the entrance.
"Sarah! Is everything okay?" Rose called.
Sarah looked frustrated.
"My friend Brian is having problems with his family again."
"Richard went to help him."
Rose frowned.
"What friend?"
"Brian Carter," Sarah replied. "Me, Richard, and Brian grew up together."
"His family is… complicated."
She sighed.
"They keep showing up at his house and causing problems."
Rose tilted her head.
"Let's go see."
When they arrived near Richard's house, a loud argument filled the street.
Brian's grandmother was lying on the ground dramatically screaming.
"He's hurting me! My grandson is hurting me!"
People nearby were whispering and laughing.
Richard stood at the door shouting back.
"If you don't leave, I'm calling a cops!"
Brian suddenly stepped outside.
Rose froze when she saw him.
Even with bruises on his face, he was handsome.
Her heart skipped.
As he walked past her, their eyes met briefly.
Brian immediately looked away.
Rose instinctively read his thoughts.
Why did the girl I like have to see me like this? This is so embarrassing…
Rose blushed.
Later that day, Rose approached him again on campus.
She tapped his shoulder gently.
Brian turned around.
"Hi," he said awkwardly.
Rose smiled.
"Are you okay?"
He laughed softly.
"This is normal for me."
Rose shook her head.
"No… it's not."
They began talking.
Rose secretly read his thoughts again.
Oh my God… the most beautiful girl just came to talk to me.
Rose tried not to laugh.
"Why don't you wait for Sarah and Richard?" she suggested.
"We can walk together."
Brian tried to act cool.
"Yeah… sure. That sounds fine."
Inside his head, he was panicking.
Play it cool. Don't act weird.
Rose giggled.
When Sarah and Richard arrived, Sarah immediately grinned.
"Oh my God, you two already look cute together."
Rose blushed.
They all headed toward the café together.
Brian hesitated.
"Is it okay if I come with you guys?"
Sarah laughed.
"You're one of us now."
Richard grabbed his shoulder dramatically.
"Welcome to the dark side."
Everyone laughed as they continued walking.
Part 5: How Rose Met Brian Carter
_________________
They arrived at a small café and sat by the window at their usual table.
Rose had been thinking about what she heard earlier—Brian's grandmother and stepmother thoughts. Something about it bothered her deeply.
She didn't want to sound like she was prying into his personal life. Brian was still a new friend, and she didn't want to overstep. But at the same time, something told her he might be in danger.
So she started with simple questions.
"What's your major and hobby ?" she asked casually.
Brian blushed slightly, clearly happy that Rose was talking to him.
"My major is economics and business," he replied. "As for hobbies… I enjoy reading. But I also like sports."
They chatted for a moment before Rose cleared her throat.
"I hope you don't mind me asking," she said gently, "but… what's going on with your family?"
Brian hesitated, then sighed.
"Have you heard of the Carter family?" he asked.
Rose nodded. "Yes. They're one of the wealthy families. They own several businesses."
Brian looked down at his coffee.
"That's my family," he said quietly. "I'm the illegitimate son."
Rose blinked in surprise.
"But… they say the Carter family only has one son."
Brian gave a bitter smile.
"They actually have two. I'm just the one they hide from the public. My stepmother made sure of that."
Rose felt a wave of shock.
Brian continued slowly.
"My mother died two years ago in a car crash. But it wasn't an accident."
Rose's eyes widened.
"My stepmother arranged it," Brian said quietly. "It happened right in front of me. I was in my sophomore year of high school. She pushed me out of the way when the car came speeding toward us… and she died instead."
He clenched his fists.
"I saw the driver. It was her."
Rose reached out and gently held his hand.
"Please," she said softly. "If it hurts too much, you don't have to talk about it."
Brian smiled faintly and squeezed her hand.
Across the café, Sarah and Richard had been quietly listening. The story hurt them deeply.
At the same time, Sarah couldn't help thinking that Rose and Brian seemed perfect for each other.
⸻
Time passed quickly, and soon it was time for Rose to pick up Momo and Jack.
She said goodbye to the three of them and walked toward the school. Momo and Jack were already waiting.
"Big sis!" Momo shouted happily as she rushed to hug Rose.
Rose laughed softly and hugged her back before they headed home together.
⸻
Meanwhile, Brian returned to Richard's house.
As they approached, a man stepped out from the front yard.
Brian froze.
It was his father.
Mr. Carter looked at him coldly.
"Are you not coming home tonight?" he asked. "We have a family dinner. You need to attend."
Brian's expression hardened.
"We stopped being family the moment you allowed that woman to kill my mother," he said.
"I'm not part of your family anymore."
Richard stepped forward.
"Sorry, sir," he said firmly. "But Brian has been living with us for a long time now. You have no claim over him. Please leave our property."
Mr. Carter's eyes darkened.
"If you don't come home willingly," he said slowly, "I will make you come home."
Brian looked him directly in the eyes.
"Whatever you want to say to me, say it here. I sever ties with you."
Mr. Carter sighed and snapped his fingers.
Six bodyguards stepped forward.
Before Brian could react, they grabbed him and began dragging him toward the car.
Richard quickly pulled out his phone to call 911.
But one of the guards shoved him violently.
His phone shattered against the ground, and Richard slammed into the pavement, hitting his head.
Everything went black for a moment.
When Richard regained consciousness, 45 minutes had already passed.
Panicking, he ran four blocks to Sarah's house.
"SARAH!" he shouted, pounding on the door. "Big trouble! Brian's father took him!"
Sarah immediately called the police. They said they would arrive in twenty minutes.
Unable to wait, Sarah and Richard ran toward the Carter mansion.
Standing outside the gates, they shouted.
"BRIAN!"
"Don't worry! The police are coming!"
A bodyguard stepped outside.
"You are on private property," he said coldly. "Leave immediately."
Richard pointed at him angrily.
"That's exactly what I told you earlier before you shoved me! I have a concussion now! I'm going to sue you!"
The shouting attracted nearby neighbors who began gathering to watch the scene.
Mr. Carter stepped outside.
"I simply brought my son home," he said calmly. "What is the problem?"
Sarah glared at him.
"Didn't you disown him? Why are you dragging him back now?"
Mr. Carter smirked.
"He's getting married. He needs to fulfill his duty to the Carter family."
Sarah and Richard stared in shock.
"Married?" Sarah repeated.
"Is he even willing to marry?" she demanded.
Mr. Carter shrugged.
"What difference does it make? He's my son."
⸻
While Richard continued arguing, Sarah pulled out her phone and quickly messaged Rose.
We need help. Brian is being held hostage.
Five minutes later, a message appeared.
I'm on my way.
⸻
Soon after, the police arrived.
But after hearing the story, one officer said dismissively:
"This is a civil matter."
Sarah was furious.
"If someone is being held against their will, isn't that a crime?"
The officer scoffed.
"That's his father. There's no crime here."
Sarah narrowed her eyes.
"Did he bribe you?"
The officer stopped and turned.
"If you keep talking like that," he said coldly, "you're the one who will be arrested."
The officers left.
At that exact moment, Rose arrived.
She saw the police cars leaving and frowned.
Something was clearly wrong.
She walked through the gate and saw Sarah and Richard arguing with an older man who looked eerily similar to Brian.
Sarah ran to her.
"They're holding him hostage! The police won't help!"
Mr. Carter scoffed.
"We are not holding him hostage. He is staying home and getting married. He will no longer attend school."
Rose looked directly at him.
And she read his thoughts.
These foolish children. They don't understand discipline. Good thing I already shipped him off. The police I paid did their job.
Rose's eyes darkened.
"So," she said slowly, "where did you send Brian?"
Mr. Carter froze.
"How did she know he wasn't here?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," he snapped.
"Please leave my property."
Rose stepped closer.
"So now you're lying to me?"
Her eyes briefly shifted color.
Sarah and Richard didn't notice.
But Mr. Carter did.
He began stepping backward in fear.
"If you don't tell me where he is," Rose said quietly, "you will regret it for the rest of your life."
Suddenly, a woman stormed out.
"Who the hell are you?" she shouted. "Why are you threatening my husband?"
Rose looked her up and down.
"So you're the stepmother."
Her anger surged violently.
Before she could stop herself, Rose grabbed the woman by the throat and lifted her easily.
"Tell me where he is," Rose said coldly. "Or you'll regret ever crossing me."
Terrified, Mr. Carter shouted:
"Fine! We sold him to traffickers! They needed a kidney!"
Rose dropped the stepmother.
She collapsed to the ground gasping for air.
Rose stared at them with killing intent.
"He better be alive," she said coldly.
"If he isn't… your kidneys will be next."
She turned to Sarah and Richard.
"Stay here," she said calmly. "I'll bring him back."
⸻
Rose moved behind the house and followed the trail.
When she was sure no one was watching, she began running.
Faster.
Faster.
Then something strange happened.
Her feet lifted from the ground.
She was flying.
Startled but focused, Rose pushed forward through the sky.
Soon she spotted a black van heading toward the port.
Rage burned through her.
She flew faster.
The van stopped near a boat. Five men stepped out carrying an unconscious Brian.
Rose landed on the roof of the van with a loud crash, denting the metal.
The men looked up.
A girl surrounded by flames stood above them.
They rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
Rose jumped down.
"You touch my people," she said coldly, "and think you can walk away?"
The men trembled.
They immediately dropped Brian.
"He was sold to us!" one shouted. "We don't know anything! Our boss told us to pick up the goods!"
"Who is your boss?" Rose demanded.
"Diego," one said nervously. "He lives on a private island north of here."
Rose glared at them.
"So… may I take my people with me?"
"Or would you rather burn alive?"
They backed away quickly.
"Take him!"
One of them added nervously:
"But remember… you are crossing Diego."
"If he wants to find me, tell him to look for a girl named Rose at Bright University."
Rose picked up Brian and walked away.
Moments later, police sirens echoed through the port.
The traffickers tried to escape—but were caught.
⸻
Brian later woke up in the hospital.
He told the police everything: the Carter family had drugged him and tried to sell him.
Mr. Carter and his wife were arrested for trafficking and drugging.
But Rose knew they wouldn't stay in prison long.
She sat beside Brian's hospital bed.
"I don't think you should stay at Richard's house anymore," she said.
Brian frowned.
"Then where should I go?"
"I'll arrange something," Rose said calmly. "Don't worry. I'll take care of everything."
Brian looked at her with warmth.
He didn't question anything.
He was simply happy that the girl he loved had saved him.
As Rose turned to leave, she read his thoughts.
I can't believe the girl I love saved me…
I would do anything for her.
I wish I could tell her how much I like her.
His expression turned sad.
Rose stopped.
She turned back and gently held his hand.
"Get some rest," she said softly.
"We'll talk soon."
"I'd like to get to know my new friend better."
Then she walked away.
Brian stared at his hand in awe.
"My goddess touched my hand…"
He was completely over the moon.
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