prologue—the tales of the arcanist world.

—"You promise to come back, right?"

Little Elodie felt her heart ache with each passing moment as her older sister Xakheia prepared to board the train and depart from Earth. The busy train station was teeming with travelers rushing to their respective trains, but Elodie remained rooted to the ground, her gaze fixed on her sister's retreating form.

She only clung onto her older sister for dear life, whispering her name. Which was not spoken outside of their circle. The town's natives only know her name as 'Ella', but her real name was a rare, exotic, but it was too strange to be known as a human name. It had no meaning in any language.

Despite the crowds, Xakheia's beauty radiated like the sun, illuminating the dark and dreary day. Her golden locks tumbled down her back in loose waves, and her golden eyes shone with an otherworldly light.

"It depends on how long it will take." Elodie could feel the warmth of her sister's hug. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to savour this moment to the fullest.

But in the end, she knew she had to pull herself together and accept the reality. Xakheia would have to leave, even if it meant leaving Elodie here all alone. On Earth. But Elodie wasn't ready for it.

"Sis Xakheia, please. Take me with you to the homeworld. I don't...I don't feel safe alone here. Please..." The 12-year-old's tears soiled her sister's dress. "I want to see the homeworld too."

Ella, or rather named Xakheia, embraced her youngest sister in one of her warm hugs.

The two stood at a train station and one was ready to depart. Many men and women sauntered on the brick roads, in coats and hats because a chance of rain. Elodie wore one of her sister's old jackets, pretty much she had all her old clothes. They were living averagely in the eyes of the humans. But they weren't considered poor.

Elodie's sister had a mission to do back in their homeworld, and it was a crucial job assigned only to her. And it meant she might not back down from it because her superiors won't let her. The job was to bring back one of their own. Their lost sister, 'Beatrice'. But rather her real name.

One that symbolized chaos and melancholy. And that was 'Pandora'.

The three sisters once lived together in one home. But they had to hide a lot of things about themselves. Their identities as well as their backgrounds and special...abilities, kept secret from the locals around them.

Elodie was the only one without a rare name. Her name was basic. Named after a lily found only on Earth. A type of lily. Elodie didn't know why she didn't have an otherworldly rare name like theirs, not even her sisters knew.

The only answer they gave her was that their parents were picky people. Whoever they were.

Elodie grew up having to not feel the love of a mother and father. She was a baby when they left, she doesn't have a memory of them. Not even a photograph. Her sisters never kept a family album or anything. She was raised more normally than her sisters. Although normal was an understatement in their family.

And then one day, Xakheia and Pandora were in a heated argument, and soon after that, Pandora just...ran away.

They were fighting, it was something about, going back home. And having to fend for their lives amongst the 'magicless'. Elodie knew this sort of conversation too well.

Of course, she wasn't a normal person herself. Or at least, she wasn't half a normal person. She was what you call, a Gaian. A being born of mystical talents. Her sisters often told her stories about their homeworld. A place where magic was free and unjudged. Where strange creatures roam and most of all...where magic is the greatest spectacle to all.

Elodie and her sisters were a considered a hidden species of human with magical powers. Whose ancestors go back centuries, whereas the magicless people of Earth continued to remain unaware of them or the homeworld.

The 'homeworld' was an alternate realm that exists on a different plain. Called: -The Six Islands of Gaia.-

Elodie was taught a lot about her heritage. And most importantly, that Magic was the realization of imagination. However, without Quintessence to source, magic cannot be made. One must feel the power of Quintessence flowing in their body.

QUINTESSENCE was a source of all Magic in existenece, not without a speck of imagination.

There were often times her sisters demonstrated it to her. They could fly and cast magic to levitate things. Even create elements from thwir fingertips. Their talents were just outstanding.

"All aboard, last call!"' The train conductor hollered.

Elodie clenched her sister's dress even tighter. Her tears overflowed. "Please, Sister. Please..."

"Elodie, you must understand. It's too dangerous," Xakheia murmured under her breath. Aware of the crowds around her. Her shiny golden eyes were shrouded under the band of her brilliant blonde hair. "And you still haven't fully unlocked your alpha-Arcane yet. You're not ready."

"I know...but..." Elodie looked up to her sister with her wet blue eyes. Xakheia brushed away her stream of tears and softly squished her rosy cheeks. "Earth is the safest place to be. Don't worry about it. I know you'll be fine."

"But...not without you."

"I trust Alasdair and Trixie to keep you company. Keep being the good little Gaian you've always been..." Xakheia cooed to the young child. She kneeled over to her height and kissed her forehead gently.

"Did...did Sis Pandora do something...bad?" Elodie hesitated. "Is she in trouble again?"

The taller blonde woman could only frown and let out a quiet sigh of disappointment. "If only...she didn't."

"Will you bring her back?"

"Of course, my little lily..." Xakheia looked back as she heard the steam train rearing to go. "I will bring her back. I promise," she said with a firm, reassuring smile. With one last word of encouragement, Xakheia boarded the train, and the loud whistle blew, signaling the start of the journey.

Elodie chased after the steam train until she reached the end of the dock and the carts were already far away. The poofy line of smoke was the last line of sight she could catch of the train. Elodie's eyes flew open, catching one last glimpse of her sister's receding figure.

Elodie watched as the train slowly disappeared into the horizon. She felt a deep longing gnaw at her heart, the tears once again threatening to fall. But this time, Elodie didn't allow them to.

She stood there for what felt like an eternity, staring out into the distance, wondering about all the possible dangers that her sister might face in the homeworld, and all the adventures they would go on together once they were reunited again. It was a strange feeling, being so far apart from her family—but at the same time, she felt a sense of excitement and wonder for the journey that lay ahead once they come back. And possibly see the homeworld like she's dreamed of.

"Please...hurry back soon."

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[ AUTHOR: heyo, hope you've enjoyed so far! Please vote and comment on what you think about it! It would mean so much if you supported this book! Ill try to update, about 5 chapters per month. I don't have much time because of college and other matters. But I hope you liked it. TSYM! ]