“And then the Evil Demon just escaped into the hole and started his war in the other World, Grandma?”

“No, not at this time. He was here still for a long long time.”

“But he had the way back! Why not go right away?”

“Oh, little one. He found the place, but it was not ripe for his invasion.”

“...don’t get it…”

“You do not need to. I did not understand either, but he could not go right away. So he made the Countries around suffer some more while cleaning up the Mess the ancient Kingdom had left. Many Secrets were broken by him, while mighty Heroes got humbled.”

“But he was evil, right?”

“Oh yes, very evil. As we are cursed to wear his marks on our skin, we were not able to become without flaw, when the Mana came back. His Generals made clear here and on other continents, that this place is only accessible for those who are cursed like us.”

“I think those blue scars are pretty. I do not see them as a curse…”

“...To be honest? No one thinks that, but we still pretend. As long as the World fears this place, we are safe to live peacefully.”

“But we are already living peacefully, is the Flower Queen not protecting us?”

“There are so many people still protecting us. Better not knowing everyone. I have seen the Armies and Generals. I even was best friend with one of them.”

“You were?! Was it the Woodwalker or the Witch of the Crater?!”

“No, it was the Rat Empress. She and her played together when I was little. While we had our own lives to live after I got married, we often talked. So many Memories…”

“Grandmother, is that really true? You look so… boring sometimes.”

“Anna! Do not disrespect your Grandmother and my Mother! You have her Name for a reason! She does not lie or is boring!”

“It is okay Snow dear. Your daughter just says what she thinks. It is a blessing for our children and grandchildren to be that free while everyone thinks we are cursed, no?”

“Well… true, but still! No Dessert for tonight, for that remark!”

“EHH!!!”

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“I can not do anything, your Mother spoke, and I can also understand her.”

“Grandma…”

…

“You should not tell her too much Mother. She is a whirlwind, and might someday travel the World. There are so many Secrets to our place better not be told.”

“They will be revealed sooner or later. This place will still hold. The Lake where the Castle once was has so many Fish Men inside and the Boar Berserkers inside the Woods are also a deterrent.”

“But those are the ones, that were left… are they strong enough to secure the place?”

“You do not understand. Just because they were left here and called the weakest does not mean anything. Lord Null used the years to grow more and more Power. When he sent the first Generals through the Gate he suddenly worked hard to increase the power of the People.”

“...Why did he need so much? Was he not able to shake the World already?”

“Yes Snow. But we do not understand what it is in another World. Maybe the Power over there was more than he remembered? Maybe everyone gets weakened by travelling through Worlds? Maybe both… I miss somehow the turbulent times.”

“You do?”

“Yes, it was always fun. His Mana soothed everyone. It made us enthusiastic and work harder. Now the Mana is just Mana. It has still strengthening powers on us, but… The enthusiasms and drive is gone.”

“Sounds like mind Control.”

“Maybe, but if it was, many miss to be controlled.”

“While I was just a Baby, I am content with all right now. We lived under the umbrella of a Demonic being. That could not be good at the end…”

“...maybe you are right…” (You are not, my silly daughter…)

…

Visiting the Lake in the middle of the night, some Fish People look who intrudes, but after seeing Anna, they swam away and left her to reminisce. She often comes to the place where the former Castle stood. Now there is only a hole, that filled with Water over the time. A runic Circle glows below the surface and is guarded by the Fish people to turn Miasma into Mana over time. With time somehow Miasma now drifts to places to be turned back into Mana. All of them are Monster Nests full of the strongest and most dangerous Creatures ever wandering the tunnels of the now called Dungeons.

“...except here… No that is not right, maybe this is the most dangerous place of them all.”

Outside of the Crater is the Illusory Dark Forest, that has so many dimensional folds, it could be called its own continent. To find their way here… close to impossible without a guide. Then there is the Gate of the Witch of the Crater. No one can enter without being given permission.

Oh the Boar Berserker are not afraid of dying and often do in their bloody spars. Fish People have the upper hand in any place where there is water, and their dark Sorcerers have the ability to turn the Blood inside the bodies of their Enemies into a weapon to cut them from the inside.

The Flower Queen and her Wife are also present, living their lives in solitary embrace with each other. Every Plant would alarm them if there would be an invader, and attack with the wrath of Nature themselves.

While it is so lovely and peaceful, since Her Husband Mack died, she often reminisces of the old days. Running around and trying to catch the white rat girl she always called her best friend.

“I hope you are well over where you are. When I am dead, I wish to be reborn in your world to play with you again Snow.”

While she turns around she hears a little voice from behind her at the corner of the lake.

“Anna… Let’s play again?”

…

End Book 1