Semua Bab Welcome to Aetherborn: Crushes, Curses & Creatures: Bab 1 - Bab 6

The wind howled fiercely, like a wild animal, matching the raging fire that engulfed the old hall. Flames flickered against the stone walls, casting eerie shadows that swirled in the chaos of the night. Blood stained the marble floor, glistening in the madness, while screams, some chilling, others heartbreakingly human echoed through the grand columns that had stood tall for centuries. In the center of this turmoil stood a girl with striking blue eyes, unmoving, her face unreadable. A crown of fire flickered above her, flames entwining in her hair like a haunting halo. She didn't cry; not a single tear fell from her eyes. Maybe she should have. With a shaking hand, she reached out toward the grand gate, beautifully designed from bones and shimmering moonstone, locked tight by magic long forgotten. Now, ancient symbols glowed brightly, almost as if they responded to her presence and her pain. The gate seemed to remember her. Behind her lay four boys, broken and hurt. One of them cou

The next morning, Seraphine crept down the stairs in her oversized sleep shirt and the faded slippers she kept hidden from the world. The hallway light buzzed faintly overhead, casting a sterile glow that always lingered in her aunt and uncle's estate, reminiscent of a hotel that didn't expect its guests to linger long. When she reached the laundry room, an unsettling silence met her. Seraphine paused at the doorway. A brand new washing machine gleamed back, chrome and pristine, still encased in plastic wrap. But in her mind, the shadow of the other one loomed, the one that had... exploded. As she edged closer, doubts swirled. Was this some cruel trick? She reached out tentatively, as if it might bite her. "You're lucky no one else saw it," a voice chimed in, making her jump. Juna, one of the housemaids, stood just behind her, a folded towel resting against her hip. Her soft brown eyes, perpetually warm yet weary, seemed to know more than she let on. "You replaced it?"

The world beyond the cellar door was a realm unlike anything on Earth. Seraphine stepped onto a lush, emerald carpet that unfurled like a pathway through an enchanting twilight. The air hung heavy with the scent of lavender mingled with the crackle of lightning. Floating lanterns danced above her, their gentle glow casting playful shadows on ancient stone walls that seemed to thrum with a powerful magic. Her heart raced as she walked forward, each step echoing like a heartbeat in the stillness. And then she saw it. A gate. Massive. Arched. Timeless. Crafted from dark, shimmering stone and veined with glimmers of silver and glowing green crystal, the gate loomed at the foot of a colossal mountain. Vines snaked around its edges, adorned with strange flowers that pulsed with an ethereal light. Yet despite its breathtaking beauty, the gate stood resolutely shut. Seraphine reached out, pressing her palms against the stone. Nothing. Then a whisper, like the rustling of lea