Ada had no idea which day had dawned upon her so brightly. All she desired was more sleep, feeling physically and mentally drained. Yet, the relentless sun seemed to have different plans. She reluctantly opened her heavy eyelids, and the marred white ceiling, as always, welcomed her.

Sitting up in bed, she noticed the chaos that surrounded her - bedding hanging haphazardly and pillows strewn across the carpeted floor. The only solace was the ashy blue blanket that still clung to her like a makeshift burrito. She felt overwhelmed, both physically and mentally. She couldn't quite grasp why her body felt as if it had been driven over by a truck or why her mind seemed foggier than ever. After much thought, she decided to blame it on her busy work schedule at the café.

Sighing, she slowly peeled herself away from the warm cocoon of her comforter, her feet hitting the freezing floor. Cursing, she balanced herself on the wooden planks, her steps faltering slightly as if her limbs had forgotten how to move properly. A shiver ran down her spine, making her wonder where the plush rug that used to greet her in the morning had gone.

Stretching her body sideways and muffling pained moans caused by her aching muscles, she staggered across her room and down the stairs to the kitchen. Her vision was slightly blurred, despite the many blinks she attempted, and the edges of her sight seemed to waver. The soft morning sunlight cast a pale glow through the curtains, illuminating the quiet kitchen as she walked in with lazy steps. It seemed as if the elf had not come this morning - or it would have left the windows open already. Ada wondered what had happened to it, for it had never once missed its morning tea before.

Sighing, she pushed aside the thoughts of the elf as she wandered about her kitchen, searching through drawers and cupboards, hoping to find something to eat or drink. It seemed she hadn't done grocery shopping in a while, and the options were limited. Her movements were sluggish, and she couldn't shake the heavy feeling that pressed down on her, as if she were moving through a thick fog.

After rummaging for a bit, she finally came across a packet of chocolate chip cookies, the kind Flitch used to enjoy. She tore open the pack and took a bite, savouring the familiar taste. Then she prepared herself a cup of barley tea and settled on one of the high stools by the counter. Placing her mug in front of her, she reached for the small saucer lying nearby. Out of habit, she poured some tea off her cup and started blowing. Then it dawned on her that the elf wasn't there.

Sighing, she put down the saucer and gazed into the void. Though she wouldn't admit it, Ada felt rather lonely without its presence. Sure, it was annoying, but it was the only company Ada could afford. Now that it wasn't here, she felt a lot more lost and abandoned than she usually did.

The morning seemed to be a little cooler, though it was sunnier outside. As she rubbed her hands together, she noticed a fresh tinge marking her wrist. Looking at it, she saw a series of unfamiliar scars that distinctly looked like freshly made frostbites adorning her entire forearms. Her mind tried to make sense of it, but the memories were fuzzy, like a half-remembered dream slipping through her grasp. Her thoughts were muddled, a side effect of the sedatives still lingering in her system, though she remained unaware of this fact.

A vague memory from the previous night flashed across her mind - the stranger with amber eyes, the overwhelming sorrow, and the cold. She couldn't piece it together fully, but the haunting fragments were enough to send a chill through her already cold body.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

After the blinding explosion and the ensuing chaos had subsided, Ada had slowly regained consciousness. The room had been a wreck, with shattered glass and debris scattered all around. Her ears still rang from the cacophonous cry that had echoed through the Crepusculem. Groaning and clutching her pounding head she had tried to sit up. Naturally her first instinct had been to check on her brother.

Her vision had been hazy, and her body had felt heavy and uncooperative. Blinking through the haze, she had seen Auden lying in the distance, still but seemingly unharmed.

Relieved she had taken a breath thanking the heavens till out of the corner of her eye, she had noticed a figure approaching. It had been of a stranger, adorned in black leather boots to see from her level of sight; their steps slow and deliberate, heavy with an eerie presence. Panic had surged through Ada as she wriggled and strained to reach her brother before the stranger. Her instinct had only been to protect Auden at any cost.

Yet, her body had not been cooperating, her movements sluggish, like a puppet with its strings severed, and her strength fading rapidly. Desperation had coursed through her as she continued to squirm and wriggle, her struggles ultimately attracting the stranger's attention. And they had changed course. Instead of heading toward Auden , the stranger had crouched down beside Ada.

She had reached the verge of panicking when she felt a chilling touch on her head. The stranger's touch had sent a chill through her. His hand on her head had felt like an icy grip, cold and formidable. Yet Ada had continued to wriggle, her heart pounding, till exhaustion began to overtake her, and eventually, she had accepted her defeat.

With her vision blurring and her energy waning, Ada had looked up and met with a radiant and enigmatic flame, alive with an intensity she couldn't fathom, the stranger's gaze meeting her weary gaze, in his amber eyes. The world around her had faded as her consciousness slipped into darkness.

Ada couldn't fathom how she had managed to emerge from her ordeal unscathed. It was as if she had been plucked from the tumultuous battleground and securely transported to the familiar confines of her room. She had no idea who it was that mediated in their battle or why. She wondered what had happened at the Crepusculem after.

Instinctively, her hand reached for the curtain behind her, and as the still-closed window revealed itself, she was met with a clear view of the looming mountain and forest. Yet, it appeared different from the seven years she had spent sitting in the same spot, gazing at the scenery every morning-the rugged mountain worn by tides and time, and the gloomy forest that acted as its natural barrier seemed different.

To Ada's surprise, this morning's view included the roofs of Crepusculem's many halls and the top half of the bright red walls peering through the greenery. Her heart skipped a beat. It seemed like something had lifted the veil guarding the barrier that separated her people's world from the mundane.

As if on cue, her phone buzzed feverishly from the other end of the counter. She had been ignoring the continuous buzz for sometime now, doubting it to be either David or Lucy, checking on why she was running late for work.

She jumped off her seat, snatching the phone and hastily unlocking the device. A swarm of notifications bombarded her, half of them being emergency news alerts and the other half resulted by desperate attempts of the only two Normies she was close to-David and Lucy, trying to reach out to her.

With a sense of urgency, she tapped on the most recent alert, and a bald-headed reporter at the south shore, just two or three flights of stairs down from her apartment, jumped onto the screen. Behind him, the view focused on people swarmed in the area, eagerly watching the mountain beyond the ocean ripples and the dark forest line. Ada watched in utmost terror as the reporter narrated the news.

"Ladies and gentlemen, an astonishing update on the mysterious town that has materialised in Serenel's cityscape. We've just received information that this ethereal phenomenon is not just a town, but an entire magic castle, emerging from a literal fog that enveloped the nearby mountain. This unexpected fog has also brought an unseasonable chill to Serenel, defying the norms of the midsummer heat. Authorities suspect unauthorised constructions within the ecologically sensitive rainforest, and a specialised investigation team is set to be dispatched shortly."

The news reporter continued, his voice carrying a tone of intrigue and urgency.

"This biodiversity ally rich rainforest, untouched by human presence for over half a century, has become the epicentre of an unparalleled event. Positioned on an island in the middle of the sea, the castle's sudden appearance has raised eyebrows and prompted a flurry of questions. How did this fog-veiled construction go unnoticed for so long? What secrets lie within the untouched rainforest? Stay tuned as we follow the unfolding mystery and bring you the latest updates on this captivating occurrence and its potential implications for our city. Back to you in the studio."