AUTHOR'S POV

Mira stood at the center, her fingers lightly brushing the pages of the ancient book, the quiet rustle of paper filling the space. The sun had begun its descent, casting long shadows on the floor, adding to the weight of the moment. Covet, lounging with his usual easygoing charm, shot her a curious glance, while Reina, humming a gentle melody under her breath, twirled a loose strand of hair between her fingers. Phoenix, as always, was deep in thought, staring at nothing in particular, his gaze faraway.

Mira cleared her throat, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. "I found these riddles... in this old book. They seem important, but I don't know who they're meant for."

"Well, that's part of the fun, isn't it?" Covet smirked, leaning forward, as if eager to turn this into some kind of game.

Reina shot him a playful look. "I'm sure you're hoping for some mystery to solve." She grinned, but her eyes were curious too.

Mira nodded and took a deep breath, beginning to read.

Riddle 1: "I'm the keeper of things unseen,
Of gold that lies where none have been.
A lock with no key, a vault with no stone,
Yet riches abound in a place unknown.
Seek not with eyes, but a heart that is pure,
For only through love can you find the cure.
What am I that shines without light?
A treasure concealed, hidden from sight."

Covet's smile faltered, just for a second. The words seemed to echo somewhere deep within him, tugging at an almost forgotten feeling. Family. The word felt heavy, not in a painful way, but like something he'd always known yet never fully understood. He glanced around quickly, his usual carefree attitude returning. No need to show that it touched him. But the feeling lingered.

Riddle 2: "I speak without words, with rhythms I flow,
Through laughter and tears, my melodies grow.
I dance on the air, with the notes that can soar,
Uniting the hearts of all who adore.
What am I, that moves like a gentle embrace
A song in the night, a moment of grace."

Reina stopped humming. For a brief moment, the world around her seemed to quiet, and she felt a warmth settle into her chest, like the gentle embrace of a song long forgotten. The rhythm of the words felt like her own heartbeat, familiar and comforting, but also elusive. She met Akira's eyes from across the room, and a strange warmth passed between them. Neither said a word, but they both felt it-a shared feeling, quiet yet undeniable.

Riddle 3: "In the desert where winds blow free,
A leader's duty, strong and key.
In battles past and orders clear,
Seek the truth that conquers fear.
Once a general, now he serves,
One of the Seven, his path preserves.
When trust is tested, truth appears,
Find the key where darkness clears."

Akira's brow furrowed. The words struck a chord, bringing with them a sense of responsibility he knew all too well. He had always been strong, always prepared for any fight, but this riddle seemed to speak of a different kind of strength-the kind that comes from understanding and kindness. He glanced down at his hands, as if the answer was there, then looked back at Mira, nodding ever so slightly, though he couldn't shake the feeling that this riddle was somehow meant for him.

Riddle 4: "From quiet depths, I rise to reign,
A crown of hues, like a sunset's flame.
In shadows, I shimmer, in silence, I gleam,
A tale of regality woven in dreams.
What am I, a symbol of might,
With grace in my might I conquer the night."

Phoenix's heart gave a sharp tug. The riddle stirred something deep, something he had long kept buried. His hands, the same ones that crafted hidden works of art, clenched slightly in his lap. He didn't move, didn't speak, but his mind raced. Why did this feel so close? So personal? A vague sense of incompleteness crept over him, like something was missing, but he didn't know what. All he knew was that the riddle hit close to home, like a reflection of his hidden self.

Riddle 5: "In the forest where secrets hide,
Among the trees where shadows glide.
In old things forgotten, the past resides,
A hidden path where the truth abides.
Beneath the moon's soft, silver veil,
Follow the whispers, let the echoes trail.
To find the star that fell from grace,
Only with eight can you end this chase."

Opal chuckled under his breath, but the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. The words lingered, touching a quiet part of him he seldom acknowledged. Treasures, yes, he had searched for them all his life, but this riddle hinted at something deeper. He glanced sideways at Meilin, his heart warming unexpectedly. The feeling was new, different-like seeing her in a light he hadn't quite noticed before. He stayed quiet, but a soft smile crept back to his lips.

Riddle 6: "By the cliff where stories are told,
A storyteller, wise and bold.
In old tales and whispers past,
Find the truth that always lasts.
One of the Seven told tales, now she shares,
The eighth's truth is hidden there.
When trust is tested, truth appears,
Find the key where darkness clears."

Mira paused for a moment as she read this one. A chill ran through her spine, and an odd sense of déjà vu swept over her. It was as if the riddle spoke directly to her, whispering of stories she had yet to uncover. Covet noticed the slight hesitation and leaned forward, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "You alright, Mira?" he asked, but his tone was softer than usual, as if he, too, sensed something deeper at play.

Riddle 7: "On the hillside,where fortunes grow,
In markets high and markets low.
In ancient tales and deals so wise,
The hidden truth before you lies.
One she saw what future sends,
Now she trades where gain depends.
One of the Seven, her fate is clear,
Seek the eighth, the end is near.
When trust is tested, truth appears,
Find the key where darkness clears."

Meilin's fingers froze on Yuvi's fur. Something within the riddle sent a strange ripple through her mind, like a distant echo. She swallowed, her heart beating just a little faster. What was this feeling? It was as if she was on the edge of remembering something, but the memory stayed just out of reach. She forced herself to remain calm, but the unease lingered, gnawing at her thoughts.

Mira glanced around, sensing the growing tension in the room, but she didn't know what to make of it. She continued with the last two riddles.

Riddle 8: "In shadows where secrets hide,
A teacher's watchful eye beside.
She guided Seven of noble line,
In old stories, clues you'll find.
Look for truths in tales long told,
Hidden words, secrets unfold.
The eighth, not of noble blood,
Saw the danger, understood.
When trust is tested, truth appears,
Find the key where darkness clears."

The room fell silent as the last words left Mira's lips. It was as though the air grew heavier, weighed down by the weight of knowledge. The mention of teachers, of lessons passed down, brought with it a sense of timelessness. Each of them had learned from someone, been guided by someone. But this riddle felt different-broader, like it reached into the past and the future all at once.

Riddle 9: "Seven stars shine bright in the sky,
An eighth one hidden, watching by,
Together they light the night so far,
Guiding us to where we are."

The mention of the eighth star sent a shiver through the room. Phoenix stared out the window, his heart heavy with a sense of incompleteness, though he didn't know why. The riddle seemed to tug at something deep inside him, something he couldn't grasp. The others shifted uncomfortably, as if the words held some truth they weren't ready to face.

Mira closed the book softly, looking around at her friends. "I don't know what these riddles mean," she whispered. "But I feel like... like they're important."

As the room fell into a thoughtful silence, Meilin rubbed her temple, her head throbbing slightly. For the briefest moment, she thought she saw something--but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. She shook her head, trying to clear the strange feeling that had settled over her, not knowing what was yet to come. . .

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Meilin's head throbbed relentlessly ever since she heard the riddles. Her thoughts raced, colliding with endless what ifs, as if her mind had been flung into chaos. Strangely, it felt like she had been expecting this all along. The riddles felt so familiar, as if they were reaching out to her from a time forgotten. But why? Why did they feel like old wounds reopening?

Pain gripped her chest, sharp and unyielding. A single tear slipped down her cheek, despite her best effort to hold it back. She knew that if she gave in, if she let herself break, the tears wouldn't stop until she was emptied—numb, hollow, and feeling nothing at all.

This wasn't new. It happened every time the nightmares came. Nightmares that terrified her, yet left no trace behind, no memory of what she had seen. It was as if she wasn't meant to remember the Forgotten. That was the cruelest part—being given a glimpse of something precious, only to have it stolen away. Each time, she felt lost. But this time, she feared that if she lost her way, she wouldn't find her way back.

Her thoughts swirled like a storm, images drifting in her subconscious as she stared out the car window. If not for Yuvi, her faithful golden retriever, resting his paw on her hand from time to time, she might have collapsed under the weight of it all. But she held on, clinging to her last shred of control. She couldn't let the flood of emotion take over—not yet.

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Meilin gripped the steering wheel tighter, her knuckles white from the pressure. Her head still ached from the overwhelming thoughts and emotions, but she forced herself to focus on the road. The familiar path leading to the mansion felt longer than usual, stretching out like her endless, unanswered questions. The moment she passed through the mansion gates, her heart clenched. This was supposed to be her home—yet now it felt like just a structure.

As she pulled into the driveway, the soft crunch of gravel beneath the tires echoed in the stillness. Yuvi stirred in the passenger seat, sensing her unease, and nudged her arm with his wet nose. She absentmindedly patted his head, but her mind was elsewhere—back to the riddles, the nightmares, the mansion that was no longer a sanctuary.

When she stepped out of the car, something unusual caught her eye. Just beyond the entrance to the mansion, in the overgrown garden, movement stirred in the shadows. At first, she thought it was nothing, but then she saw it—a sleek, silver cat, its fur shimmering like moonlight. Its eyes, an otherworldly shade of blue, glowed as they locked with hers.

There was something almost unnatural about it, as if it didn't belong to the world she knew. The cat moved slowly, gracefully, weaving between the bushes, but its gaze never left her.

Meilin froze, an inexplicable chill running down her spine. The air around her seemed to thicken, and she couldn't shake the feeling that the cat had come for her, as if it knew something she didn't. A distant memory, foggy and fragmented, tugged at the corners of her mind—of her past life, when she had once gazed into crystal balls and read the stars. There had been a presence back then, something powerful and silent, watching over her. Could it be that this cat was tied to her past?

Yuvi barked softly, but the cat remained unfazed, its eyes narrowing as if to communicate something. Before she could process it, the cat slipped back into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. Meilin stood rooted to the spot, a sense of unease mingling with strange familiarity.

It was just a cat… wasn’t it?

But as she walked toward the mansion, the image of those blue eyes stayed with her, stirring something deep within her soul. Something she couldn’t quite remember—but something that was far from forgotten.

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