—Mom, Dad, I'm home!

The red-haired girl shouted these words as she flung the door open abruptly and stepped inside.

—Mom, Mom, look what I found!

(The girl shouted excitedly as she rushed through the house at full speed.)

—ILIANA!

Suddenly, someone yelled that name so loudly that it echoed in every corner of the house. The red-haired girl, upon hearing it, began trembling with fear.

—Oh no... Mom is mad. Really mad.

(She said, shaking in fear.)

Morgan, confused, could only watch expectantly at what was happening.

Loud footsteps began to echo. They grew closer and closer as the red-haired girl stepped back slowly. Finally, the one who had shouted her name appeared: a woman with long black hair and yellow eyes. Her expression was furious, and she stared intently at the young girl. The woman approached slowly but intimidatingly.

—ILIANA! Where have you been? Why are you shouting so loudly? And why did you slam the door?

(The mother said angrily.)

The woman analyzed Iliana closely and noticed that she had Morgan trapped in a water bubble. Seeing the intimidating look on the woman’s face, Morgan gave a nervous smile.

—You’ve been practicing how to use the aranthiel again, haven’t you?

(The woman said, slightly disappointed, letting out a sigh.)

Iliana lowered her head, looking sad, and clutched her clothes tightly.

—I have to do it! I have to!

(Iliana said resolutely.)

—Iliana, please. Your father and I have told you countless times why you shouldn’t use the aranthiel, but you keep sneaking out of the house to practice alone who-knows-where. You know we can’t be seen, and if someone sees you using aranthiel, you know what will happen to us—not just to you, but to me and your father as well.

(The woman said, deeply disappointed.)

—That’s exactly why I practice, Mother. So we don’t have to hide anymore, so I can protect you from them.

(Iliana replied angrily.)

—Don’t say such nonsense, Iliana. All you’ll do is get caught—in the best-case scenario. So please, stop doing this. I’m doing it for you and your safety.

(The mother responded, frustrated.)

—No! I won’t! I’m tired of hiding! I want to go out! I want to explore the world! I want to live!

(Iliana shouted through tears.)

The conversation became heated, both of them yelling at each other.

—How did I end up in this situation?

(Morgan thought.)

—What do they mean by ‘protecting them from them’? Who are ‘they’? And what is aranthiel? Ahhh, this is too much information! Someone explain what’s going on!

(Morgan said, feeling like his head was about to explode.)

At that moment, someone else opened the door to the house and, in a cheerful tone, said:

—I’m home, family! How are the two most beautiful women in the world?

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A tall man with long hair and a beard entered the house. He was missing an arm and wore modest clothes. Letting out a deep sigh, he began speaking in a peaceful, calm voice.

—What happened, dear?

(The man asked, looking at the woman.)

—Iliana ran away and was using the aranthiel again.

(The mother said indignantly.)

The man looked at his daughter and, with a calm gaze, walked over to her and hugged her.

—Iliana, my girl, my princess… You know we love you very much, don’t you?

(The father said gently.)

—Yes, I know...

(Iliana said, somewhat regretful.)

—If your mother tells you not to go into the forest alone, it’s not because we want to keep you locked up or because we don’t want you to see the world. It’s because, unfortunately, the outside world is very dangerous for us humans.

(The father said seriously.)

Morgan, surprised, leaned in as much as he could to hear what the man was saying.

—The world dangerous for humans? What does he mean?

(Morgan thought, very confused.)

—Your mother and I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you. So promise me you won’t go out alone again. If you want to practice aranthiel, then tell me, and I’ll go with you. Is that okay?

(The father said, hugging his daughter.)

—But I need you to promise me, Iliana.

(The father added, a bit more serious.)

—Yes, Father. I’m sorry… I promise. I won’t sneak out again.

(Iliana said, crying a little.)

—Good. That’s my girl. And, dear, maybe you were a little too hard on her.

(The father said, looking at the mother.)

—Yes, you’re right… I was too harsh.

(The mother replied, sighing.)

The woman crouched down next to her daughter and, with a kinder smile, said:

—Forgive me, Ili.

(The mother said in a caring tone.)

The red-haired girl nodded and hugged her mother tightly.

—I’m sorry, Mom. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.

(Iliana said, crying.)

—Forgive me too, daughter. I didn’t mean to yell at you.

(The mother replied, also crying.)

—Well, that’s settled. Now, why don’t we go eat?

(The father said cheerfully.)

—Oh! I almost forgot. Look what I found!

(Iliana said, wiping her tears.)

The girl brought the water bubble with Morgan in it closer to show her parents.

—I found it in the river. Isn’t it cute?

(Iliana said, very excited.)

—What is that, Iliana?

(The mother asked, confused.)

—I don’t know. I saw it in the river while practicing aranthiel and decided to bring it with me.

(Iliana said happily.)

—Have you seen anything like this before, dear?

(The mother asked, looking at her husband.)

—No, I’ve never seen anything like it. It doesn’t look like any fish I’ve ever seen.

(The father said, poking the bubble with curiosity.)

—Can I keep it?

(Iliana asked excitedly.)

—Hmm, I don’t know, Iliana. It’s very suspicious.

(The mother said hesitantly.)

Morgan, seeing the situation, smiled nervously, trying to appear friendly so they wouldn’t see him as a threat… or something edible. The mother, noticing Morgan’s small smile, became excited.

—It’s so cute!

(Iliana’s mother shouted.)

—Right?

(Iliana said, thrilled.)

—We have to keep it!

(The mother said, staring at her husband.)

—If you say so... Fine, let’s keep it.

(The father said, laughing.)

—But I think we need to find it a better place to stay, don’t you think?

(The father said playfully, looking at his daughter.)

—In that case…

Iliana’s mother rushed to the kitchen and returned with a large glass container.

—I think it can stay here.

(The mother said happily.)

Iliana nodded quickly and placed Morgan into the container. The three family members stared at Morgan as he swam in the tank.

—Well, I guess this is okay. At least they didn’t eat me.

(Morgan thought sarcastically.)

But look at the time! We need to have dinner. Put it over there.

(The mother said kindly.)

Iliana took the container to the kitchen and placed it somewhere visible. The family immediately began setting the table. Morgan watched them in silence, a wave of nostalgia washing over him as he saw them laughing, talking, and enjoying each other’s company during dinner.

Morgan could only muster a melancholic smile, reminded of his previous world and the family he had left behind. Finally, the family finished eating, and Iliana took the container up to her room.

—Good night, Iliana.

(The mother said, kissing her forehead.)

—Good night, my princess.

(The father said, patting his daughter’s head.)

Iliana, with a big smile, replied loudly:

—Good night!

The young girl climbed the stairs to her modest room. She placed Morgan on a piece of furniture near her bed and, as she snuggled into her blankets, looked at him fondly.

—Good night, little buddy.

(Iliana said sleepily.)

Morgan smiled and replied softly:

—Good night.

Finally, Iliana fell asleep, and Morgan simply got lost in his thoughts, reflecting on everything that had happened and the destiny that had brought him there.

—Wow, so much has happened these past few days. I died, met a god of death, reincarnated as an axolotl, and now I’m in a glass tank as the pet of a girl who knows magic.

(Morgan said, sighing.)

—Well, I guess it’s not so bad, though I’d really like to have a human body again, haha.

(Morgan said, closing his eyes to fall asleep.)

Morgan drifted off and, when he opened his eyes, he noticed he was floating in darkness once again.

—Huh? Where am I?

(Morgan said, confused.)

Morgan quickly looked at his hands and saw they were human hands. He quickly looked down and saw he had feet. He touched his face frantically, but noticed strange things coming out from the sides of his face.

—What is this?

(Morgan said, puzzled.)

Then, out of the void emerged a giant stone resembling the necklace his father had given him. The stone had various drawings on its rings, some of which he recognized as animals he had seen before. The center of the stone began spinning rapidly, changing its surface to the shape of a human silhouette.

Morgan approached the massive stone and touched it. It lit up, and a torrent of images flooded his mind until one final image appeared: the painting his sister had made for him.

—Buddy, it’s late. I’m going to feed you and step out for a bit.

(Iliana said, opening her room door.)

Iliana opened her door and froze.

On the floor, surrounded by shattered glass and water, was a young man with pink hair and delicate features, almost like a woman’s. The tank was broken, and the mess was evident.

Morgan, unsteady, tried to stand but collapsed again. He extended a hand toward Iliana and tried to speak, but no words came out.

—MOM!

(Iliana screamed in terror.)

—There’s one of them! There’s one of them in my room!

(Iliana screamed again, her voice filled with panic.)

Iliana backed away until she hit the wall and fell to the floor. Her eyes filled with tears, her breathing erratic, and her body trembled. The figure of Morgan, soaked and clumsy, seemed like something out of a nightmare.

—No... Please don’t hurt me!

(Iliana cried.)

Morgan tried to speak again but only managed unintelligible sounds.

—Huh?

(Morgan s

aid, confused.)

Iliana screamed one last time—a scream that echoed throughout the house—while Morgan’s gaze met hers. There was something human in his eyes… but not quite enough.

Next chapter: The Story of the Fallen Kingdom – Part 2