"Eh? What's that?" 

Aliyah crouched down and tried to reach under the bed. When she got the item she was reaching for, she was surprised to learn that it's an old notebook. When she opened it, the fragile old pages almost became delicate snowflakes with the touch of her hand. The pages within were brittle and what remains of its original stitching was barely holding it together. 

"A diary? Could it be Grandma's?" Aliyah ran down the corridor looking for her grandmother. After looking for a while, she found her talking to his elder brother in the garden.

"Grandma I found something!" Aliyah hopped towards her grandmother Kheifa. "Is this diary yours?" Aliyah showed the diary to her grandmother.

With a look of surprise on her face, Kheifa replied to her granddaughter, "Ah, that's not mine. It was owned by a dear friend." The diary was a memento she got from her bestfriend.

"How come you have it Grandma?" Aliyah curiously stared at her grandmother. How come this diary was lying under her grandmother’s bed? Shouldn’t be in one of her shelves?

“She gave it to me on her deathbed.” Kheifa replied while patting her granddaughter’s head.

“She’s already dead?” Aliyah shot her grandmother a surprised look. She even forgot to ask her why was it lying under her bed.

“Yes, she died when she was young. She was barely 18 years old then.” Kheifa sorrowfully sighed. It had been a long time since she spoke about her bestfriend, and she missed her a lot.

“The two of you must have been really close, right Grandma?” Aliyah consoled her grandmother. She doesn’t want to see her sad after all.

“Yes, she was like a little sister to me.” Kheifa smiled.

“Uhm, would it be fine if I read this diary?” Aliyah grew curious about the owner’s diary.

“As long as you promise to take care of it then I don’t see any problem with it.” Kheifa realized that somehow, the diary must have been destined to be found by her granddaughter.

“Thank you Grandma!” Aliyah hugged her grandmother before running off to her room.

Kheifa watched Aliyah’s disappearing figure while sighing. She couldn't help but wonder how that diary could be found by her grand-daughter when she had already locked it up at the attic last week.

“Grandma, is there anything bothering you?” Aliyah’s older brother, Nyk, noticed the puzzled look on his grandmother’s face.

“It’s nothing, my child. Come, let’s go to the balcony and eat some snacks. It’s getting cold out here in the garden.”

~o~

‘Today, I mostly stayed in bed. I knew he barely heard me as he kept his focus on the book he’s reading but I still kept telling him what I had done throughout the day. He’s always like this and I don’t blame him.

I knew I’ve been really selfish for asking him to accompany me all this time but I can’t help myself. I love him. I love him that it hurts.

Stolen novel; please report.

I knew he doesn’t feel the same and that he only cares about me as a friend. But I kept on hoping that someday I can tear down the walls on his heart.’

‘This diary’s owner is pitiful.’ Aliyah thought to herself while closing the diary.

“I guess I’ll continue reading later. I still have to meet my friends today.” She put the diary under her pillow then got up and changed her clothes.

At the front door, her brother saw her leaving.

“What time will you be back?” Nyk asked.

“I’ll be home before 9 o’clock in the evening.” Aliyah replied.

“Do you want me to pick you up?”

Aliyah walked towards her older brother and pat his shoulders, “Big bro, you shouldn’t be overprotective of me anymore. I am already 18.”

Nyk sighed. He’d always been protective of this little sister of his. His parents always reminded him that he must watch out for her as he’s the older one. But he knew that it’s more than that, it’s something that this family must protect at all cost.

“Ok, I get it. But you must contact me immediately if anything wrong happens ok?”

“Yes! See you later!” Aliyah ran out of the house while bidding goodbye to his older brother.

At the staircase, Kheifa slowly descended, “She’s growing up fine, isn’t she?”

“She always makes me worry.” Nyk shrugged.

Kheifa sighed, “Nyk, I know it’s been hard on you. But I know that you understand why we must do this.”

“Yes Grandma. I understand.”

~o~

“Aliyah, are you alright?” her friends became worried when they saw her holding her head due to pain.

“I’m fine. Lately, I’ve been having headaches frequently.” Aliyah slowly replied but her vision started to darken and the world began to spin around her.

"You should see the doctor.” One of her friends suggested.

“It’s just a minor issue.” Aliyah stated. But suddenly, a sudden surge of pain assaulted her that caused her to scream. “Argh!!!” After a while, her consciousness faded.

“Aliyah!”

“Aliyah!”

Her friends rushed to her side while one of them called the ambulance.

~o~

“My Lady Aetheria, would it be fine if we left like that?” Norielle worriedly asked her master. They escaped from the Sovereign of Life’s Palace heading to the Sovereign of Death’s Palace.

“Don’t worry too much Norielle, my brother will be agitated for sure but he wouldn’t do anything to harm me once he finds out.” Aetheria assured her. They must head to the Sovereign of Death’s Palace to make everything alright. But first, they must pass through the Great Celestial Forest, to meet the Lady’s lover.

“My lady, I am not worried about your brother, but about your mother, Her Highness.” Norielle voiced out her worry. The Sovereign of Life was a doting mother but once she gets angry, she could make your life a living hell.

Aetheria became silent upon the mention of her mother. Suddenly, the atmosphere became really grave.

“My lady – “

“Keep quiet Norielle.” Aetheria hushed Norielle. Then she pulled the maid servant’s arm to make her stand behind her.

Suddenly a person spoke from a distance.

“I didn’t expect to see you here Lady Aetheria.” It’s the Great General Volkia, Commander of the Celestial Army.

“General Volkia, how come you are here?” Aetheria smiled at him, “Shouldn’t you be guarding the Central Palace at the moment?”

“Your Ladyship must be joking, that job is assigned to the Secret Order. I wouldn’t dare to enter the Central Palace without the Sovereign’s permission.” The general chuckled and scratched his head.

Aetheria stared at him for a short while before her eyes became sharp. “Then how come I saw you enter the Palace last night?”

The general’s smile instantly faded. “I didn’t expect you to know about that. But since that’s the case, you must die.” The general displayed a sinister smile. “Men, enjoy yourselves!”

Several masked men appeared and assaulted them. Aetheria was able to dodge their attacks but one of them grabbed Norielle.

“My Lady please help me!”

~o~

Aliyah abruptly opened her eyes. She found herself in a hospital room. She was a little confused. She just saw a strange dream. Norielle? Aetheria? Who are they? Why do they seem familiar?

“Aliyah, thank goodness you are awake.” Her friends surrounded her bed. “How do you feel?” their faces were filled with worry. When she suddenly collapsed, they panicked and were at a loss of what to do. Thankfully, her brother Nyk arrived and brought her to the hospital.

“I feel…fine.” she tried to reply but after a while she felt a surge of pain in her head and then she lost consciousness again.