A/N: Above is the photo of Nox, but with light purple hair and eyes :D

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After taking the liquid, her hair instantly turned black. She expected the concoction to taste foul or pungent, it turned out the liquid tasted and smell just like the plain old water. But seeing her reflection in the mirror hit her as strange, even though she used to dye her hair in different colors. Perhaps her body was adjusting to this world.

Time flew as she prepared herself and ate breakfast with the others. It felt so weird and funny dining with different people. Everyone talked as if nothing bizarre happened last night. Most of the time Ty made jokes and always ended being scolded by Krista, while Nox explained the complicated processes he did to prepare their hearty meal. It had been a long time since she experienced such a lively breakfast. It made her wonder if this was a normal scenario with friends.

During that time, she finally met the person named Hubert, a bulky guy the size of Gilbert even though he was only a year older than her. But unlike the head of their security, Hubert was silent. Only nodding and shaking his head in response. He didn't even budge when they introduced her as The Heroine from the legend. Yet, she admired the way he cared for his hair. It was long, black, and neatly tied. But it didn't end there. The guy was a fan of hair cuticle coat, which made his much shinier and silkier compared to Zoe's.

The moment they finished their breakfast, the group started walking towards the city of Lumiresia. Rich and thick green forest surrounded its high walls, serving as a sanctuary to animals of different shape and sizes. And unlike the previous ones they encountered, these ones seemed accustomed to mortal presence. Zoe even caught sight of plant creatures playing at the small river, which reassured her of their good nature.

When they arrived at the city gate, the heavily built stone wall welcomed them. A huge white banner decorated the top of the entrance, displaying a symbol of an olive green shield with a golden tree in the middle. Soldiers in full armor patrolled the area, giving the place a sense of security. Once inside the city, its citizen kept gazing towards their group, mostly greeting Darcy, calling him "Prince Jao".

"So you are Jao?" Zoe asked, pulling the viridescent coat around her.

"I need a different name to blend into your world." He smiled and waved at a group of girls yelling his name, making the three giggled.

She fought the urge to throw up at his face and decided to avert her gaze on the refreshing view of the high-spirited crowd. "What a fraud."

"We're in public, so mind your actions."

"Look who's talking."

"Is there a big celebration?" Ty said, cradling his bow. "It was never this jam-packed in this area."

The group stopped on the side road flocking with busy people as floats for the parade passed by. Zoe's head kept turning from left to right, the whole scenery was far from the modern day subdivisions she knew. Humble homes ranging from bungalow houses to second story ones occupied the place. And compared to the usual subdivisions, there were commercial buildings along the row of houses. But what her eyes enjoyed the most was the maroon cobblestone complimented by the bed of colorful sunflowers on the sides.

"It looks like there's an event," Nox said, adjusting his eyeglasses. "I'll go ask." He left them and approached a bystander.

A sudden noise caught the group's attention. They turned, laying eyes on an old man on the side street. He was holding a bag with a huge hole at the bottom, causing the fresh fruits and vegetables to roll on the ground. Zoe ran to help, followed by the others, making the flow of crowd to stir away from them.

A nearby vendor offered a new bag, and soon, they finished picking up all the fresh produce. The old man thanked the group, but after he left he went back and approached Zoe.

"You have a difficult life ahead of you. A path that shall test your every belief." He said with a sullen expression. His gray, milky eyes averted on the road as he fished something in his bag. He heaved a sigh and clasped Zoe's hand, giving her the item. "But never give up on life. Save this world using this banana."

Before the young teenager could utter a word, the old man left. Zoe looked down at the heavy object on her palm, its smooth and sandy texture made her shudder.

"But this is a potato," she said, confused if the old man knew who she was or had a problem in the head.

"I love mashed potato!" Ty shouted, receiving a tug from Krista.

Krista glared at him. "It's already too noisy so shut your damn mouth!" 

The the tall guy pouted his lip and pulled on his hood, his curly brown hair slightly jutting out.

Darcy simply chuckled and looked down at Zoe. "Don't take it to heart."

Zoe rolled her eyes on him, but where they landed surely surprised her. Across the dark alley, she spotted a group of five men ganging up on a girl. Without a second thought, she dashed towards the other side.

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Dedicated to bamchristine

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XOXO