welcome back

Five years had passed since Cior had left with her father. Everyone missed her, but they respected her choice to be responsible, just as Amaias had, in the mutual decision of the other boys for him to become king after her reign. It was a choice made to stabilize the country, and though the transition was difficult, they understood the necessity of it.

With Cior's departure, the boys became more focused on their duties. Arven and Mateo both took on greater responsibilities, caring for their siblings and managing their respective lands. Ziven, too, found himself occupied, his attention pulled in many directions, as life continued to demand more of him.

"Father, what do you think?" Cior asked, her voice laced with uncertainty. "How will they react? I mean, five years have passed. Will they even remember my face? Oh, I'm so confused."

Kieran, standing by her side with his usual playful confidence, smiled reassuringly. "Everything will be alright. Just be confident," he said, his tone light but filled with an undercurrent of belief.

Cior took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. The weight of returning after so many years, of facing those she had left behind, pressed heavily on her heart. But Kieran's unwavering support was a small anchor in the storm of her thoughts.

The five years Cior spent on this continent were nothing like the life she had known before. Here, everyone was much like her—individuals with powers that rivaled her own. She had encountered both her grandmothers, one from her father's side and the other from her mother's, and both had welcomed her with open arms, offering a warmth that had helped her heal. The weight of the trauma she had carried had lessened in this place, the air of acceptance and understanding around her slowly mending the cracks within her.

Yet, despite the peace she had found, the memories of her friends never faded. Amaias, Arven, Ziven, Mateo—the faces that had filled her life with laughter and challenges, that had supported her through every hardship. Five years had passed, but they remained in her heart, constant and unforgettable. The distance between them had never dulled the bond they shared.

As the days passed, a quiet longing stirred inside her. No matter how much she tried to focus on the present, her thoughts would always return to them. She missed them, more than she had anticipated. The pull to see them again had grown too strong to ignore, and after much contemplation and preparation, Cior made her decision.

She would go back.

It wasn't easy—there were countless things to arrange, uncertainties in her heart, but Cior knew it was the right time. She was ready to face them again. To reunite with those who had been her family in a different way.

With determination, she prepared for the journey, knowing it would not be simple. But after years of wondering, of missing them more than she ever thought possible, Cior couldn't wait any longer.

For the past five years, Cior had not had a single contact with her friends. Their continent was far away, and there had been no way to send letters, no means of communication that could bridge the vast distance between them. It would be the first time in all those years that she would see them again, and she didn't know what to expect.

She had no idea how they were, what they had been doing, or even if they were alive. The uncertainty gnawed at her, a constant whisper in the back of her mind. What had happened to them all? Were they happy? Had they moved on without her? So many questions, so many fears.

Cior's heart fluttered with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. She found herself hoping, praying that they were all okay. That they were happy, that life had treated them kindly. Above all, she wished they had been able to live their lives, even without her by their side.

She wanted to believe that time had been kind to them, but the uncertainty was a heavy weight she couldn't shake off. She could only hold on to the hope that no matter what had happened, when she finally saw them again, they would be alright. That would be enough.

Cior took a deep breath, the weight of her decision settling on her shoulders. With determination, she began to prepare. She donned her clothes, carefully choosing an outfit that felt right for the journey. Then, with a flick of her hand, she changed her hair color, transforming her appearance into something new—a fresh start, a way to ease the nerves that were bubbling up inside her. She wasn't sure if it would help her blend in or if it was simply a way to prepare herself for the uncertainty of what lay ahead.

Once she was ready, Cior turned to the powerful tool that would make it all possible—the portal. Her father had helped her master the art of opening these rifts between worlds, and with a quiet incantation, she summoned the swirling energy before her. The massive portal opened, shimmering with the promise of the journey ahead. A gateway that would lead her to the other continent, to her friends, and to the life she had left behind.

Despite the power she wielded, her heart raced with nerves. She had no clear destination. The thought of returning to the continent she had once called home made her second-guess herself. Where should she go? Should she seek out her friends directly, or should she start by returning to the place she used to live—the one place she knew, the home she hadn't seen in years?

After a moment of hesitation, she made up her mind. Her home. It felt like the right place to begin. The familiar streets, the memories tied to every corner—it was where she could begin to rebuild the connections she had lost.

With a final glance toward the portal, she stepped through, the familiar tug of magic pulling her into the unknown.