Usher closed his eyes as soon as his foot stepped through the portal. The reason for this was a strange vibration that immediately greeted him, flowing through his body like an invisible force that pulled him into the portal.
Behind the golden-blue hue of the magical aura, a vortex of energy enveloped Usher. He felt like he was being swallowed by an unstoppable force, separated from space and time, like being caught in the eye of a storm.
The blinding blue light filled Usher’s vision as if trying to penetrate his tightly closed eyelids. The vibrations coursing through his body intensified, making him feel as if he were waking from a long dream and being thrown into an unimaginable reality.
Usher’s feet no longer touched the ground. He had been lifted off the ground and was now floating between unimaginable dimensions.
Everything around him was suddenly changing. Usher felt himself thrust into a different time span, slicing through layers of time like an ocean with unexpected force. He also felt every cell in his body being shaken by an unseen force, causing confusion and fear.
The portal waves rolled over Usher, growing stronger and faster. It was swift and powerful. Usher found himself trapped, unable to break free.
Usher’s emotions soared amidst the onslaught that tested his physical being. His fear rose, and he tried to calm himself as best he could. Then Vione’s face appeared in his mind.
Usher felt a slight calm. He realized that he couldn’t give up so easily. For there was Vione waiting for him. He also remembered a promise he had made long ago, when they were young, that he would always protect Vione.
The golden-blue light surged. Shadows of the past, present, and future yet to come spun like a tangled record.
Usher traversed a colorful landscape, through time and space, uncontrollably. He passed through them all until the endless journey of time reached its climax. He was thrown and landed face down on the refreshing green grass.
A groan vibrated through Usher’s chest. He didn’t get up for a moment, struggling to shake off the pain and discomfort that still lingered. He clutched at his chest, which felt like it was about to burst, then finally rose with great effort.
Usher sat down on the grass. Not far from his feet was a small box containing a pair of moon pendant necklaces. He picked up the box and opened it. As he exhaled to calm himself from all the confusion that filled his mind, he decided to wear one of the moon pendant necklaces.
Usher’s face dropped. He saw the moon pendant necklace hanging around his neck and then he stood up.
Usher had several plans in his mind, but the most important thing for him was to know where and when he was now. He couldn’t act recklessly without knowing the situation.
Noisy footsteps trampling through the bushes caught Usher’s attention. He turned and quickly hid as someone approached.
No.
Usher’s eyes narrowed. It wasn’t just one person, but two.
“Vione, you only have to tell me when someone is bothering you. But why don’t you ever listen to me?”
Usher’s expression changed. The voice, the words, everything was familiar to him. It couldn’t be.
Two children emerged from behind the tall trees, a girl and a boy. The girl seemed to be walking fast, apparently trying to avoid the boy.
The boy became angry. “Vione!”
The girl’s steps stopped abruptly. She stood still with her head bowed, and from a distance Usher could see tears welling up, ready to spill.
Usher immediately covered his mouth and shook his head repeatedly. M-me and Vione. Oh, God. I’m back in our childhood.
Back when Usher was eight and Vione was seven. Back then, they were little kids who loved to play, and their favorite playground was the forest in the backyard of the Palace.
Usher lifted his face and looked around again. Indeed, I am now in the backyard forest of the Palace.
Basically, the Palace grounds were always warm and open to everyone. They were free to roam the palace grounds, except for the Main Palace where only dignitaries were allowed to enter.
Usher remembered how he and the werewolf children used to play together in the palace forest. They often ran around and marveled at the natural beauty there. Various animals and plants often left them mesmerized.
However, Usher wasn’t sure if he and Vione were playing in the past right now. Their facial expressions were a clear indication. So, he tried to remember, and suddenly his eyes widened.
Usher should have realized that there was a reason why he had been thrown into that time. It was because he and Vione had almost drowned in the lake.
“Stop following me, Usher. I want to be alone.”
Little Vione’s voice interrupted Usher’s reverie. So, his focus returned to little Vione and Usher. He had to make sure they weren’t hurt.
“I won’t follow you unless you stay away from me,” little Usher replied, approaching little Vione. His steps were quick and wide. “You’re always like that. You always run away when they bother you. Even though I’ve told you repeatedly to meet me. I will definitely-”
Suddenly, little Vione fell to the ground. She sat down and buried her face in her knees. “I can’t meet you. They’ll bully me even more if they find out I’m confiding in you.”
Little Usher was taken aback, apparently not expecting Vione to actually cry. “Vi-Vione, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just-”
“Besides, what do you know? They bully me more because they know we’re friends.”
Little Usher was at a loss for words. “I thought-”
“They think I’m deliberately exploiting my sad story to gain your sympathy, Usher.”
“No,” little Usher shook his head. Then he sat down on the floor to comfort little Vione. “You’re not doing that at all. Besides, there’s no connection between our friendship and your family. Besides, I’ve been friends with Hilary and Addy since before you came.”
Little Vione closed her eyes, causing her tears to well up even more. “But I’m not their biological daughter. I’m just an adopted child of unknown parentage. I was found in the forest, Usher. So…”
“So what?” little Usher pressed with a flushed face. “That’s not important. They love you, and everyone in the Palace loves you.”
*