June 2nd, 956
In the grand halls of the towering castle, the cry of a newborn echoed through the stone corridors — a new soul had arrived into this world.
Yet no trace of joy was to be found. Fear and dread ruled the moment. The servants stood frozen, their faces pale with horror, paralyzed in place.
The heiress of the curse had been born.
The fall of the empire and its fury was no longer a possibility — it was inevitable. Their bloodline would be erased, it was only a matter of time.
Estella, the Heiress of the Curse — or Athy, in the other world…
Which one is she, truly?
Estella, daughter of the tenth emperor of Cardinia, was never meant to exist. An unwanted child. A harbinger of doom. A crow of misfortune perched atop the empire's cradle.
They did not kill her — not out of mercy, but fear.
They bound her in iron chains while she was still in the crib.
Whenever a servant approached, she could hear their breath quivering, feel the tremble in their bones.
And her soul? It was not of an infant… but of a sixteen-year-old girl — who, somehow, had found herself trapped in this place.
She came from another world. She was certain of that.
But how to escape — that, she did not know.
—
Back to Safyan
Kayan opened the door, and his limbs stiffened from the shock. Raven, on the other hand, rushed forward and embraced the figure standing at the threshold.
Yes — it was Eliora.
She returned the hug with tears in her eyes.
Maria, Raven's wife, stood frozen in disbelief.
Who was this girl?
And why was her husband hugging her so tightly?
A thousand questions swirled in her head, until—
Kayan:
"My sister… it's really you? We searched for you for fifteen years! Where have you been, for God's sake?"
Eliora stepped inside and hugged him gently, her voice shaking.
Eliora:
"I'm truly sorry… but I did it to protect you. To protect everyone."
Kayan's mind spiraled.
So many thoughts…
Could it be because of the river? Or… because of that?
Maria couldn't bear the secrecy any longer.
Maria (shouting):
"I think you all owe me an explanation!"
Before the tension escalated, Eliora stepped forward calmly.
Eliora:
"I'm Eliora — sister to these two idiots."
To understand Eliora's bond with the boys, we must return fifteen years in time…
June 13th, 956
I returned to my cursed village — the birthplace of sorrow and the cradle of curses.
That day, as I took my first steps back, I was greeted with a bucket of cold water.
Yes — it was one of Kayan's infamous pranks.
I didn't have the strength to be angry. I collapsed in tears.
It shocked him. He began apologizing in the most adorable way — like a kitten whose food had just been stolen.
I didn't even know who he was, until my aunt Laura arrived.
Laura:
"Kayan, dear Lord! When will this boy ever grow up? Look what you did to my brother's daughter!"
Laura, a forty-year-old woman with a gentle heart, never resented Kayan or Raven.
She would cook for them, buy them clothes — despite everyone's protests.
The villagers often blamed her, whispering:
"You'll bring doom upon us. Why do you care about those creatures?"
To which she'd snap back in anger:
"Why do you clothe them in guilt? Did they choose to be cursed?"
Silence would fall. Only murmurs would remain.
She took me into her home.
That night, over dinner, she told me to keep my family's death a secret.
Eliora:
"Why must I hide it?"
Laura (with a mysterious look):
"So you can live in peace. Please… promise me."
Eliora (in confusion and reluctance):
"I… I promise."
With time, I began to understand.
I saw how the villagers treated the boys — and somehow, I saw myself in them, after I had lost everything.
So I decided we needed to complete one another.
I heard they often hung out by the river, so I went to find them.
Eliora:
"Hey. I'm Eliora."
Kayan:
"You scared me! I never thought anyone else would come here."
Eliora:
"Looks like we're all in the same boat. You can call me your sister."
Raven (scowling):
"I don't know who you are… but don't you dare try to take my sister's place."
Eliora knew then she had to approach them slowly.
She smiled… just as—
Raven:
"What did you mean by 'protecting us'?"
Eliora's face turned pale.
She said nothing.
—
Cardinia
The sleeping angel… and the cursed demon… had awoken.
Estella.
But the one staring at the ceiling wasn't Estella. It was Athy.
Athy (to herself):
"I swear I'm going insane. I went to bed in my room, and now I wake up… here?
And… curses? Who believes in those in this day and age? What world is this?"
Her thoughts were interrupted by a shriek.
A servant, crawling on the ground, trembling, had soiled herself in fear.
Servant:
"She's awake! The monster is awake! Don't look at me, please!"
Athy recoiled in terror.
She tried to stand — but Estella's small body was too weak.
She screamed — and fainted.
—
Athy, a girl who loved books — especially novels —
was once walking home in Safyan when…
June 2nd, 1056
…she spotted an old woman, nearly ninety, with white hair and a back bent by time.
Her eyes carried oceans of sorrow. Her wrinkles screamed of life's cruelty.
The old woman dropped a book just before crossing the road.
Athy ran after her.
Athy:
"Excuse me, Grandma — I think you dropped this."
Old Woman:
"Oh, thank you, my dear. What's your name, lovely one?"
Athy:
"I'm Athy. And yours?"
The old woman smiled.
"You'll know soon enough… Here. Take this book. It's a gift."
She looked at her meaningfully.
"You seem like someone who loves to read."
Later that night, in her small room, Athy began reading the book titled "Cursed Creatures."
It was gripping — and the characters, Kayan and Raven, touched her soul.
She'd always resented that village… and that river.
But she didn't know yet…
That the curse was coming for her, too.