As they approached the edge of the city, they saw the swirling rip in the sky, pulsing with otherworldly energy. The portal looked more ominous than ever, its edges frayed and unstable. They felt the hairs on their arms stand on end as they drew closer, the air crackling with a power that seemed to hum in their very bones.

"I can't believe we're actually going back there," Ha-Yoon whispered, her eyes wide with a mix of excitement and fear. "What if we can't come back?"

Si-woo took a deep breath, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "We have to trust that we can. And if we can't, we'll find a way no matter what, together."

They stepped through the portal, the fabric of reality parting around them like a curtain. The colors swirled and danced, a symphony of light that was both terrifying and mesmerizing. Ha-Yoon felt a moment of vertigo as the world spun around her, and then they were through.

They emerged into the same place of green grass they had first stepped into, the floating city islands of Ondur hovering majestically in the distance. The siblings looked around, taking in the unchanged scene with a mix of relief and anticipation. The air was crisp and clean, the scent of unfamiliar flowers filling their nostrils. The sky above was a vibrant blue, with clouds that looked like they had been painted with a soft brush.

"Look, the two suns," Si-woo said, pointing upwards. "My guess was right. Time here moves differently."

They once again set their eyes upon the dreamlike scene they knew as Ondur. The floating city looked as majestic as ever, its towers gleaming in the light of the two suns that hung low in the sky. The siblings took a moment to appreciate the beauty of the alien world before them, their spirits lifting despite the gravity of their mission. Ha-Yoon squinted at the unfamiliar celestial bodies. "It's so strange to think that our world is out there, just a few steps away," she murmured.

Si-woo chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Just a few steps through realms and realities, huh?" He nudged her playfully. "Let's not forget we have to go to school, not a vacation."

But Ha-Yoon was already distracted. She had noticed a group of small, mystical creatures emerging from the bushes, their fur shimmering with a soft glow that matched the light of the twin suns. They had wide, curious eyes and tails that flickered with color.

"Hold on a minute," she said, her voice filled with wonder. "Look at these guys!"

Si-woo tore his gaze from the heavens and watched as Ha-Yoon approached the creatures. They didn't seem to be afraid of her, instead, they circled her, their tails swishing in a playful dance. He couldn't help but smile as she giggled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. The animals were unlike anything they had seen in their destroyed world, and their presence brought a touch of whimsy to the otherwise solemn atmosphere.

"We should go," he said gently, glancing at the floating islands in the distance. "We don't want to be late for our first day of school."

They set off, trying to retrace their steps from the day before. Ha-Yoons mind was racing with excitement and apprehension. The air was cool and fresh, the scent of alien blossoms perfuming the air. They walked in silence, the only sounds of their footsteps and the occasional chirp of the luminescent birds that flitted through the sky.

"I think we should have turned left at that giant mushroom," Ha-Yoon said, looking back at the path they had taken.

Si-woo checked the device in his hand, which had started to glow a faint blue. "It's okay," he assured her. "This way."

They followed a path that wound through the alien forest, the trees towering above them, their leaves whispering secrets in the breeze. The path grew steeper, and the siblings had to climb over fallen branches and rocks. Ha-Yoon stumbled, and Si-woo reached out to steady her. "You okay?"

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Yeah," she said, brushing off the dirt. "But where are we? These hills weren't here before."

Ha-Yoon sighs," I should have known not to let you find anything. Let me take over."

They climbed higher, the path becoming steeper and more treacherous. Just as they were about to round a bend, a shadow loomed over them. They froze, their hearts pounding in their chests. A creature emerged from the trees, its massive form blocking the sunlight. It was at least eight feet tall, with muscles that bulged beneath its sleek black fur. Its eyes were a piercing green, and its nails looked like they could tear through steel.

The beast spoke in a deep, rumbling voice, the words foreign and harsh on their ears. Despite their fear, Si-woo and Ha-Yoon recognized the cadence and tones of the Hoken language. It was speaking in the same dialect they had heard in the floating city. The creature's voice grew louder, more insistent, and they realized it was begging, its eyes filled with a desperate hunger.

"My sweet blood," it repeated, its voice cracking with need.

Si-woo and Ha-Yoon stumbled back, their hearts racing. They remembered the hologram of Princess Deane mentioning 'sprits' briefly, but she hadn't had time to explain fully before they had to leave. Now, they wished they had stayed a bit longer. The creature took a step forward, its movements surprisingly graceful for something so large.

The siblings exchanged a look of panic. "I'm scared Si-Woo," Ha-Yoon whispered with pleading eyes. Si-Woo drops his backpack.

Without a moment's hesitation, Si-woo stepped in front of his sister, "Stay back!" he yelled in the creature's direction, though he wasn't sure if it would understand. To their surprise, the beast paused, tilting its head as if contemplating Si-woo's bravado.

The pause was brief, and then the beast sprinted towards Ha-Yoon with a ferocity that seemed impossible for its size. Si-woo's instincts took over, and he threw himself between the creature and his sister. He barely had time to register the creature's raised hand before it swiped at him, "CRACK" he heard as he deflected and misguided the blow but only to be whipped by the beast's tail on his back.

"AHHHHH" Si-woo screamed as he felt the air leave his lungs and was sent flying, his body smashing into the ground thirty feet away. Pain shot through his body like a thousand burning needles, and for a moment, he couldn't breathe. He rolled onto his back, stars swirling in his vision, and watched as the creature loomed over Ha-Yoon, its jaws open in a silent snarl. Ha-Yoon screamed, her eyes wide with terror, the book and device dropping from her grasp.

Si-woo's hand throbbed, the pain intense, but he couldn't focus on it. He had to protect his sister. Through gritted teeth, he managed to pull himself up onto his good arm. He could feel the warmth of his blood seeping through his shirt, and his legs felt like jelly beneath him. He stumbled towards the creature, his eyes locked on its glowing green eyes.

The creature had Ha-Yoon in its massive hand, her hair pulled tight as it raised her into the air. She kicked and screamed, her voice high and panicked. "Big brother!" she shrieked. "Help me!"

The sight of his sister in danger was like a knife to Si-woo's heart. Memories of their mother and Ye-jun lost in the earthquake, flooded his mind. He stumbled to his feet, the pain in his back a distant throb. He had to save her. "Let her go!" he roared, his voice echoing through the quiet forest.

The creature's head snapped around to face him, its teeth bared. Ha-Yoon's eyes met Si-woo's, filled with fear but also with trust. He knew he had to do something, anything to save her. With a deep breath, he pushed through the pain and sprinted towards the creature. The ground trembled beneath his feet, and he felt the 'serein' energy stir within him, a power he didn't know he had.

But he knew he couldn't make it in time. Ha-Yoon's cries grew fainter as the creature began to squeeze, her face turning red with the effort to breathe. And then, just as the world seemed to slow down around them, a flash of white shot through the air. The creature instantly disappeared and released her, sending her tumbling to the ground.

Si-woo stumbled to a stop, his eyes wide with shock. The beast was hurtling through the air, thrown by and punched by a force that had come from nowhere. The siblings watched in awe as the creature smashed into the side of a distant hill, the earth trembling with the impact. When the dust cleared, there was no sign of it.

They turned to find the source of the blow. Standing before them, where the sprit was, was a creature similar to what they had seen in Ondur and had learned from the Princess, the common species of Ondur, called Fae. It was slender and tall, with long black hair that seemed to float around it. His clothes were made of a fabric so fine it was almost transparent, fluttering in the breeze like leaves. The most striking feature was its eyes, a deep midnight blue that seemed to hold the secrets of the universe.