"My name is Chella and I kind of know you because I've seen your memories."

"You're saying that you could read my mind?"

"Indeed, and I'm from the surface."

"The surface? I've read about it in the royal library but I never believed there could be a place with no shiny ceiling."

"The ceiling looks nice but on the surface there's the sky, it can change color like from cyan to red or black."

"That sounds nice but...I can't go. I must atone for my mistakes in here for an eternity."

"But I need your help, my friends need your help too."

"I'm sorry but I can't. The power given to me was a lie but now it's gone. Maybe it's better this way. It was because I had fallen into the sultan's trick that everyone became a monster."

"Don't blame yourself for that one. I know you just didn't want to worry the others. I'm sure they don't hate you."

"How would you know if you never lost your parents?"

"I...never knew if I had parents or not."

"Huh?"

Chella's respond seems to surprise Evaline. However she knows that she can't fathom the experience of not knowing your origins. She feels a pang of guilt for reminding Chella of her life experience. Chella continues on.

"But that doesn't stop me from wanting to see the world for myself. I'm not saying that you should forget the past. It's just that you shouldn't be too fixated on what has happened, paying attention to what is about to happen is as important as the past."

"..."

"I'm sure that your parents wanted the best for you. They never wished to burden you with the future. It should be something you enjoy. None of their hate for you is real, it is your guilt that influences this inner world of yours. Which means, you could wake up from it all if you choose to."

"..."

"But I won't force you. This is your mind after all. It is up to you to decide if you should shell yourself in this world or go out and appreciate what is waiting to be seen."

"Thanks..."

Chella removes her consciousness from Evaline's mind as she sees her disappearing into thin air. Chella then regains control of her body and wakes up. Seeing Evaline is still sleeping, she leaves the chamber decides to explore on her own.

Meanwhile, Evaline is sitting on her bed in the middle of the abyss. Without a single soul to be her company, she gazes into the distant darkness once more as she thinks about her life. Then she hears a faint laughing in the distance, someone she had seen in her life emerges from the shadows.

"Hello, princess. Long time no see."

"Sultan Edmont! Why are you here?"

"Just visiting my partner is all. You were a big part in my plan of reigning the kingdom."

"I hate you! You ruined the kingdom."

"No, you know that you had a part in this right? It ended that way because of single choice made on a wimp."

"No! No! No!"

"And now your soul will continue rotting in here for the eternity, while have everything right in my palm."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

*sob*

The echoing voice of the person she despised continues tormenting her. Evaline collapse from her seat and begins crying. She mourns over her inability to make the right decision when suddenly, a glowing figure shows up.

"Cease what you're doing now, fiend. I won't let your words cloud her mind any longer."

"Father, is that really you?"

"Not quite, I am a being created using the memories you had of him so in a way I am him."

"..."

"And that fiend over there was created from your guilt."

"My...guilt?"

"Indeed, he manifested from your very perception as you believed yourself to have some fault in what happened."

"Damn you Reinhard! Your daughter must suffer for her inability and there's nothing you can do to go against this amount of guilt."

"Evaline, you must overcome your guilt. It is a part of your perception so you must control it."

"But how? How can I forget the impact of my choice that led to people dying?"

"By learning to make a better one in the future, it's never too late."

"The future...?"

"Don't you want to see more than just our land? Back in the days you always wished to visit the surface if it were real. Now someone has come to prove that it's real. It's just a matter of keeping your beliefs, you will never waver knowing that there's something to see in the future. So for one last time, Evaline...believe in yourself!"

Evaline always remembered her father - the esteemed ruler to always be someone encouraging but it was not because he wanted to convince his people that there would be hope. He wanted show people that there would always be a chance in one way or another. He didn't want anyone to miss out anything in the future so that they would not end up in regret. That was what he was like as a ruler. Perhaps the queen saw it in him hence she chose to spend the rest of her life with him. And now the father whom she wanted to make proud is here to give her his wise words again. A glowing figure looking like her mother shows up as well.

"Evaline, your father and I never regretted giving birth to you. We know you're more than fitting to carry on his will. You just have to believe in yourself and your future like he just said."

"I did not mention her future but that would be what I meant to transpire into her. Also Rosaline, we haven't had anytime alone together for so long that after this, I want to..."

"Gosh, dear. Are you going to let your daughter hear those kinds of words from a noble ruler?"

"Father, mother. I already said I was no longer a child."

"Have you 3 done with the talking? Because I'm about to deal a final blow."

"We won't lose! Aid me, Rosaline. You too, Evaline."

"Yes!"

With the united hearts, the 3 of them channel their strength into a huge crystal sphere and it clashes with the dark crystal sphere that the sultan just created. Both side focus their all into their attack but eventually justice triumphs. The sultan dissipates into nothingness after being hit by the crystal sphere.

With that done, Evaline knows that it is time to bid farewell to her parents. Even though they're just manifestations from her mind, she wishes to give them a few words out of gratitude. Her parents stand in front of her, patient as they are to here what she has to say.

"I always wanted to say thank you for bringing me to existence. I had lots of happy moments with my encouraging father and perceptive mother."

"Gah! Little gem, are you saying that I'm not perceptive?"

"She's right. Remember that one time you failed to notice that one maid lured you to bed?"

"Uh, I thought she was just being nice because I was kind of tired back then."

"For real, father?"

"Look! Our daughter is starting to doubt her image of me!"

"Don't worry, your father was simply being considerate and...hoping to try a new flavor."

"My queen, please just cease the teasing."

"Mother, I was also thankful that you noticed my worries. I wouldn't get consulted by my father if it wasn't for you."

"It was simply my duty as the perceptive one to make sure no one was sad."

"Again..."

"Well, I guess this is farewell. I'll miss you 2 a lot."

"Your mother and I will always be in your heart though in this case, mind. Remember that."

"Farewell, father, mother."

Evaline opens the crystal door behind her and exits the mindscape while her parents hug each other before dissipating into thin air. She opens her eyes and sees that the wound on her torso was healed. The large crystal containing her starts cracking then it shatters into small pierces. Now she knows what to do next, which is to chase after Chella and accepts her invitation.

Chella as of this moment is still finding a way to climb back up. It's been a few minutes but apparently there's no place that can be climbed. Then she sees someone running in her direction. It's Evaline, the girl she has waited to come with her. Evaline runs to her and is about to say something.

"I...I want to come with you, and your friends too, to the surface. I won't cower in insecurity ever again."

"Good to here. Now that I actually see you in person, you look really nice with the purple shirt and your relatively short skirt."

"That because wearing a long one diminishes your mobility. Also I'm used to being seen as a model."

"That's a princess for you."

"No, I'm a former princess. My kingdom was gone. Now I'm just a person like you, who would like to venture out of their home to see the world."

"Then, let me ask. Will you come with me?"

"Yes, let's move on."