Neverport had always been shrouded in mystery, but what happened now was beyond anything Becca had ever imagined.
"Mom, wake up!" Emily's voice rang out, followed by the relentless shaking of her shoulders.
Becca groaned, her eyes fluttering open slowly, "What is it—" she began, only to stop mid-sentence as her surroundings registered. Something was wrong.
This wasn't her usual setup. She typically slept on a stretch chair in the living room, not in a bedroom like this.
The walls were adorned with pictures of her family, her musical instruments rested neatly in the corner, and jewelry she hadn't seen in years was displayed on a polished dresser.
Her jaw dropped, "Where... where are we?" she asked, clutching Emily's hand.
Emily grinned brightly, "This is our home, Mom! Everything's better now!" She tugged Becca out of the room, "Come and see!"
Becca followed, still groggy and skeptical. But when she stepped out of the bedroom, her breath hitched.
The entire house had been transformed. Modern furniture, intricate decor, and a layout that made the place feel almost luxurious greeted her.
"This can't be real…" Becca muttered, pinching her arms, her cheeks—anything to see if she was dreaming.
But no matter how hard she tried, the reality remained.
The commotion outside drew her attention, and she rushed to the window.
The sight was even more unbelievable.
The village of Neverport no longer looked like a humble settlement.
Every house had been rebuilt with bricks and stone, replacing the old wooden structures.
The once-dirt paths were now paved with smooth stone, forming well-laid pathways.
A massive stone wall surrounded the village, its towering height both imposing and protective.
Stepping outside, Becca joined the other villagers, all of whom were staring in awe.
Overnight, Neverport had transformed into a town.
---
"Like I said, Becca," Vender explained, his arms crossed, "There's no way our construction team could've done this in a single night."
The council had gathered in the presence room, joined by Axel and Becca, to make sense of what had happened.
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Becca twirled a strand of her hair, her confusion evident, "I get that, but... how do we even begin to explain this to the people?"
Soji raised his hand, "If I may," he began, "this phenomenon seems to be more of a blessing than a problem. The store owners have reported that their products have doubled in quality, and their shops have received a sudden deposit of fifty gold coins each."
Hinata chimed in, raising her own hand, "I'd like to add that our crops, which weren't supposed to be ready for harvest until the end of the season, are fully grown and healthier than ever. To top it off, we found thirty types of seeds in our shed—enough for four different growing seasons."
Vender added, "And that's not all. The walls, houses, streets, and even the port were completed overnight. My team and I have suddenly found ourselves with time to focus on other projects. And... we were paid for work we didn't even do."
Becca's confusion only deepened as she tried to find the right words. But it was Axel who broke the silence.
"It's the Third Prophet Child," he said calmly, his words drawing everyone's attention.
"The what?" Becca asked, her brow furrowing.
Axel rose from his seat, walking between the council members and Becca, "Every thousand years, a child is born. This child is no ordinary being but a hybrid—a combination of two powerful races. Their monster parent is always one of the strongest in the world and their is usually a human, making the child a nearly godlike from birth. With such a lineage comes an unlimited supply of magic from their monster side, capable of altering the world around them. And the endless potential from their human side, making them entire a realm of possibilities that only they are allowed to enter."
Becca's eyes widened, "But... why? Why would they help a random village like ours?"
Axel paused for a moment, then answered softly, "Love. Their reasoning could be love."
The room fell silent as the weight of his words settled on everyone.
Finally, Becca stood, breaking the stillness, "Meeting adjourned. We'll decide later whether or not to make the Third Prophet Child's existence public."
The council members nodded, bowing respectfully before filing out of the room. Only Becca and Axel remained.
"Do you ever wonder," Becca mused aloud, "if the gods look down on this world and feel disappointed in what it's become?"
Axel brushed a strand of hair behind his ear. "I think many gods hoped their creations would follow their teachings and wisdom. But after centuries of neglect, those teachings fade, and the world strays far from what they envisioned. Perhaps that's why gods, like Joseph, seek to destroy their creation. Who's to say the others won't cast their judgment when the time comes?"
Becca sighed, "We're so small in the grand scheme of things."
"You have no idea," Axel replied.
As Becca moved to rest her head against his chest, she collided with something—or someone. Startled, she stepped back.
"Who's there?" she demanded.
The figure revealed herself to be Ivy, who was clinging to Axel like a vine. Her legs were wrapped around his waist, her arms tucked under his shoulders.
Becca shot Axel a death glare, arms crossed expectantly, "Care to explain?"
Axel chuckled sheepishly, "She's... clingy on certain days. I woke up with her hugging me, and now she refuses to let go."
Becca stared in disbelief, "Okay, time to break it up. This is a private meeting." She grabbed Ivy's arm, attempting to pull her off, but the woman's grip was like steel.
Axel laughed softly, "Sorry, but her grip is otherworldly. She'll let go when she's satisfied."
Becca pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering under her breath.
Before she could retort, Cj and Philly entered the room with a white eagle perched on Philly's arm. In its beak was a letter.
"Yo, King Kurtis's eagle is here," Philly announced.
The bird flew over to Becca and dropped the letter into her hands. She opened it, scanning the contents quickly. Her face paled as her eyes widened in shock.
"We've been invited to a party at the royal palace of Sungalepore," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.