“There are so many things you have to learn about us and this kingdom we protect,” Namjoon’s deep voice echoes in the silence as we slowly walk down the silvery water streak in the garden of the castle.

He is trying hard to get my attention through his words because I'm too immersed in the surroundings.

The night is so silent and calming. It is so tranquil that the sound of the water flowing feels like a lullaby sung for an infant by his mother. Hundreds of fireflies light up the whole garden. Truly magical.

I go closer to the water and peer at it. It reflects the beautiful half moon that lights up the whole sky. I can even see thousands of bright stars through the reflection in the water. Even the small grass near the streak seems to be glowing in the dark.

Just imagine it; it’s like living a dream you always wanted to come true, isn’t it?

I peer closer so I can see my reflection.

But to my surprise, I am not there. Instead of my reflection, I see a little girl looking at me. She’s smiling and extending her cute little hand toward me. I watch her curiously, slowly stretching my hand toward her. As I touch the girl’s hand with my fingertip, she giggles and suddenly disappears.

The girl looks oddly familiar. My thoughts are shattered by a male voice.

“I see you’ve got distracted again,” Namjoon says with a soft sigh, shaking his head as his efforts to make me concentrate on him fail.

I look up at him with an apologetic gaze.

“I’m sorry, Namjoon. It’s just that everything here is so…”

“Weird?” He chuckles.

“Well, we could say it that way,” I say, scratching my back with an awkward smile.

“But weird in a good way, I mean magical way,” I try to justify my answer.

He silently laughs. It makes me ease up, thinking that he isn’t offended by what I said.

“Namjoon, when I looked into the water, I couldn’t see my reflection. I saw someone else,” I turn to him and glance at him with curiosity.

“That water is no ordinary water, Y/N,” he says as he steps near me, standing beside me. He gestures for me to look at the water.

I see a young man staring at Namjoon. When I look closer, I realize that the figure in the water is really familiar. My eyebrows raise as I understand who it is.

“Who do you see?” Namjoon asks me in his deep, wise voice.

“I see you; it’s definitely you. But you are younger than you are now. You look so happy,” my voice gets quiet as I say the last part.

“It’s okay to say it, Y/N,” he softly chuckles.

“It’s okay to say that he looks happier than I am now.” I look at him as he says this. I can’t say whether he’s sad or not, but I can feel a hint of gloominess in his voice.

“This water doesn’t show your reflection, Cha Y/N. It doesn’t show who you are but who you want to be, your happiest memories, the version of you that had no regrets and was just the happiest person in the world.”

My eyes trace down Namjoon’s figure reflecting in the water. After a few seconds, the boy disappears, just like the girl did before.

“So that was the happiest version of you?” I ask him, turning toward him.

“Hm,” he hums and gazes at me.

“It was me before I started losing myself, for who I was.” I may look somewhat confused when he says that because he shrugs and says,

“Never mind; that’s a story for another day. Hearing my story of misery will only make you more confused.” I laugh as he says this.

“So, whom do you see when you look at the water?” He asks me. I look again at the silvery water streak. That girl from a while ago appears again. This time, I carefully scrutinize her. I realize that it is me when I was very young.

When I had both my parents together with me. The days we three used to play together, have fun together, as a family. That’s the girl I see through the water.

As I realize it, my heart sinks. My smile fades away. I let out a sigh.

Namjoon notices the change in my face.

“Is something bothering you?” He asks.

The girl giggles and disappears again. I shake my head.

“No, it’s fine. The girl from my reflection was me when we were together—me, Mom, and Dad—before they got divorced,” I look at the water again. But the image is gone now.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Y/N,”

“It’s fine,” I mumble.

“She sure looked so happy.” I feel a little bitter but try to shrug it away.

“It does show the happiest version of yourself, you know. It’s called the Nivershine River.”

“Nivershine River? What does it mean?”

“Nivershine is a sacred place worshipped by our ancestors. It is said to be the place they went to find the inner place within the soul. The river flowing through Nivershine is known to reveal the purest and happiest reflection of a person. This is just a branch of it,” I listen to him in astonishment.

“That’s so amazing,” he smiles as I say this.

“You still have a lot to catch up on,” he winks and chuckles.

“Before you join us in the battle, we have to learn what you are capable of,” Namjoon looks serious again. When he talks seriously, his forehead wrinkles, giving him a wiser appearance.

God of wisdom he is.

“Sorry to break it to you, Namjoon, but I’ve got no magic,” I say with my lips formed into a thin line.

“Not that you know of,” he gazes at me. I widen my eyes.

“What do you mean?” I follow him from behind as we walk through the bushes of white roses and cross the mini bridge across the stream. The white roses are accompanied by the lavender-colored small flowers I saw at Jungkook’s place back then.

Every time I smell their fragrance, I feel a familiar feeling I can’t understand yet.

“Taehyung says that you hold power, Y/N.”

“Well, he’s clearly mistaken. Come on, Namjoon, I’m born to a human family. I’m just a normal human who accidentally happened to pass through your dimension on my way,” but Namjoon shakes his head in denial.

“Kim Taehyung is never wrong. And it’s no accident, Y/N. You are here for a reason. Something brought you here, and we have to find out why.” His voice is certain. His sharp gaze and stern words make me think that maybe, just maybe, what he says makes sense.

Does it?

Well, he’s the god of wisdom after all. Who am I to judge him anyway?

Namjoon turns to me.

“You have to awaken the power inside you, Y/N,” I gulp as he says this.

“Un... unlock my power?”

What is this, Barbie and the Fairytale, where I sing a song and then unlock my powers? Geez, I’m not good at singing.

Okay, try to focus on what he says, Cha Y/N. You have to get out of here, and this might be your only chance.

“Yes, you have to start training from tomorrow. You have to start training to defend yourself against the many evil things you may encounter through your journey here.” His voice gets deeper and darker as he explains.

“This kingdom is not what it used to be, Y/N. Evil is thriving now. Our only chance is to find the energy core and defeat it before it drains the life from our kingdom.”

I don’t dare to disturb his words as he talks.

“As for that, you have to be strong, Y/N, and be prepared for whatever comes to us. You’ll have to be able to defend yourself. That’s your only ticket home, you realize that, right?”

I slowly nod in agreement.

It’s truly my only way.

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Hey guys, hope you are doing well. Stay safe. Now the real story of Hwa is beginning. Hope y’all will enjoy it.