The house was completely silent.
Only the sound of rain tapping against the windows remained.
Hazel sat alone in the darkness.
An old photo album rested in her lap.
The living room lights were off, leaving only the faint glow of the streetlights outside.
She slowly turned another page.
Pictures.
Memories.
A family that no longer existed.
Her fingers stopped on a photograph of her grandmother.
For a long moment, she stared at it.
Then she quietly closed the album.
Roman's words echoed in her mind.
"Why don't you get married?"
The question refused to leave her thoughts.
She leaned back against the sofa and closed her eyes.
And before she realized it, old memories began surfacing.
---
Eight years ago.
Her twentieth birthday.
The day everything changed.
Hazel sat inside her grandmother's room.
The old woman was unusually serious that day.
No smile.
No teasing.
Only concern.
"You are twenty now," her grandmother said.
Hazel laughed.
"So?"
Her grandmother's expression didn't change.
"It's time for you to know the truth."
Hazel raised an eyebrow.
"What truth?"
Her grandmother looked toward the window.
"The truth about who you are."
The room became silent.
Hazel frowned.
"Grandma, what are you talking about?"
Her grandmother took a deep breath.
"Girls usually awaken their powers earlier than boys."
Hazel blinked.
"Powers?"
"Yes."
Hazel laughed.
"You've been reading too many fantasy books."
But her grandmother didn't laugh.
Instead, she continued.
"We are not from this world."
Hazel's smile slowly faded.
"Our real home exists in another dimension."
She pointed toward the pendant hanging around Eyrx's neck in a photograph nearby.
"That pendant is a key."
"A key that opens dimensional gates."
Hazel stared at her.
Unable to understand whether this was a joke or not.
Her grandmother continued.
"Fifty years ago, a war destroyed our world."
"Many clans fought each other."
"But in the end, a monster appeared."
The old woman's eyes darkened.
"He stole the powers of countless clans."
"He became stronger than anyone."
"He erased entire bloodlines."
"He enslaved those who survived."
Hazel remained silent.
The story sounded impossible.
Yet her grandmother's expression was deadly serious.
"The remaining clans divided the world into territories and created keys to travel between dimensions."
She looked directly into Hazel's eyes.
"And today..."
"You may awaken your power."
Hazel frowned.
"What happens if I do?"
Her grandmother's voice lowered.
"They will come for you."
"Who?"
"The people who serve the monster."
The room suddenly felt colder.
"They will appear in your dreams."
"They will manipulate you."
"They will promise you power."
"They will promise you everything you desire."
Her grandmother grabbed Hazel's hand.
"No matter what happens..."
"Never join them."
"They are evil."
Hazel slowly pulled her hand away.
"Grandma."
Her voice carried disbelief.
"I don't understand any of this."
"You must be tired."
She stood up.
"I think you need some rest."
Her grandmother lowered her head.
But before Hazel left, she heard one final warning.
"Remember what I said."
"Never join them."
---
That night.
Hazel went to sleep.
And the dreams began.
A dark place.
No sky.
No ground.
Only endless darkness.
Then a voice.
A deep voice.
A powerful voice.
"Join us."
Hazel looked around.
But saw nothing.
"We can make you stronger."
The voice echoed through the darkness.
"No one will ever defeat you."
Every night the dream returned.
Again.
And again.
And again.
For an entire month.
Hazel never told her grandmother.
Never told anyone.
And little by little...
The words began affecting her.
Tempting her.
Changing her.
One day, she left.
And followed the voice.
---
Present Day.
Hazel suddenly opened her eyes.
The memory vanished.
The dark living room returned.
She sat silently for several seconds.
Then stood up.
Her decision had already been made.
There was nothing left for her here.
No Eyrx.
No grandmother.
No family.
Only emptiness.
The next morning, she packed her belongings.
Before leaving, she stopped outside Roman's house.
Roman opened the door.
Hazel handed him a key.
"The house?"
Roman asked.
Hazel nodded.
"I'm leaving it to you."
Roman stared at her.
"So you've decided."
Hazel remained silent.
Roman sighed.
"You're really going to destroy yourself."
A faint smile appeared on Hazel's face.
"Maybe."
Then she turned around.
And walked away.
---
Several hours later.
Sunset painted the horizon orange.
Hazel finally arrived in Siphra.
Unlike Grace, she didn't search for a hotel.
She didn't ask questions.
She already knew where she was going.
The deeper she entered the forest, the darker the surroundings became.
The sound of insects filled the air.
Trees blocked most of the fading sunlight.
Then—
A man stepped out from behind a tree.
He wore black clothing
A strange symbol was stitched onto his chest.
The man smiled.
"You finally decided to return."
Hazel looked at him coldly.
"Let's go."
The man bowed slightly.
"Of course, Miss Hazel."
Without another word, he raised his hand.
A dark portal opened between the trees.
Purple energy swirled inside.
Hazel stepped forward.
Neither fear nor hesitation remained in her eyes.
Together, they entered.
And vanished.
--
A different world.
Dark clouds covered the sky.
Lightning flashed across the horizon.
An enormous castle stood in the distance.
Its walls were black and red.
Like a fortress built from blood and shadows.
Hazel walked through the massive gates.
The soldiers immediately lowered their heads.
No one dared stop her.
The castle doors slowly opened.
Inside, a grand hall stretched before her.
At the far end sat a man upon a throne.
Only his smile was visible beneath the darkness.
The same smile feared by countless clans.
The same smile spoken about in legends.
The Monster.
He rested his chin against one hand.
Then slowly smiled wider.
"Hazel."
His voice echoed throughout the hall.
"Seeing you again is truly a pleasure."
Hazel stopped a few meters away.
Her expression remained cold.
Her eyes showed neither fear nor respect.
"Seeing me is your pleasure?"
She crossed her arms.
"That's a big word coming from you."
The Monster laughed.
And for the servals years—
Hazel stood face to face with the man her grandmother had warned her about.
The man responsible for destroying worlds.