**The Next Day** The entire country was in shock as the news spread like wildfire. Every media outlet covered it, and social media buzzed with discussions. Older generations tended to believe the government's narrative, but the younger generation finally had answers to the mysteries and inexplicable events occurring around the world. It wasn't just editing; it was them. The world government had tried desperately to hide their existence, but in the end, all walls had ears, and the one built around this secret loved to gossip. Bell went to school as usual, although she occasionally trembled and looked sleep-deprived. All the students who were put to sleep by Hypnathos eventually woke up without injuries, but Max was nowhere to be seen after the inexplicable events of the previous day. Most people wouldn't return to school after experiencing what Bell had, but she knew she had to. The news hadn't mentioned it, probably because the large-scale terrorist bombing made the headlines, she

"Doesn't anyone else live here?" Bell asked as the massive black doors of Harper's Castle creaked open. "It's called a castle because of how massive and old-fashioned the building is. Harper comes from old money, so most of her family’s mansions are pretty ancient, some even over a hundred years old," Bell thought, glancing around. "No, I live alone. The caretakers come in the morning and leave in the evening. I'm not from Washington, so my parents aren’t here year-round," Harper replied, her voice echoing in the vast, empty hall. "Oh," Bell said as Harper led her deeper into the castle. They ascended a flight of stairs and walked through a dark corridor. The walls were mostly undecorated, except for a conspicuous painting of an old duchess in ancient European noble attire. "Is your family from Europe?" Bell inquired. "No," Harper answered plainly. "Here we are, your very own room." Harper smiled, though the gesture didn't reach her eyes. Bell fell silent, slowly walking

Liam yawned while stretching his hands broadly, his muscles pulling taut after a long night's rest. The early morning breeze chilled its way down his lungs and back out in a mesmerizing fashion, filling him with a sense of rejuvenation.He briskly gazed into the sky, observing the dark clouds that slowly began to form after yesterday's sudden downpour. Liam stood on a spacious balcony, savoring the scent of rain lingering in the air. He marveled at the beauty of the rose garden below, the petals glistening with dew. The wet weather was his favorite, a perfect backdrop for introspection."Breakfast is ready," Jacky called out to Liam in a loud yet subtle voice that carried through the morning stillness.A moment later, Liam was at the dining table, seated calmly. It was as if he wasn’t the same person who had been suddenly thrust into the world of demigods just a few days ago. He appeared serene, almost nonchalant, as he prepared to face the day.Liam glanced down at a peculiar little

Golden pillars that seemed forged from pure gold stood tall and gracefully, holding up the massive ceiling. The interior of the room Bell had found was unlike anything else in Castle Deasil. It was as if this room existed in a separate space of its own.Not that Bell would know, but it surely seemed that way to her."Woah," Bell exclaimed.The room was over a hundred feet tall, adorned with ancient carvings in a strange language unknown to Bell.Bell tried studying it, but all she could discern was that it was definitely not of this world. She opened an ancient tome, hoping to find something related to the language. After a moment of searching, she found a reference, but unfortunately, the book couldn't help her translate it.For starters, the language was called Soul Tongue."Where's the rest?" Bell flipped through the book, but the name of the language was all she could find.She eventually gave up on studying the ancient carvings and focused her undivided attention on the pedestal

The weather today was mild compared to the previous day. Harper, as the master of the castle, didn't really need to do much apart from perusing the beautifully sculpted altars scattered around the castle or maybe even enjoying the serene scenery of the garden out back. Today, Harper found herself sitting in a little canopy in the middle of that very garden, with Bell right opposite her. The sun above radiated clear, bright rays, illuminating the world around them. Bell was still studying the ancient book while Harper simply sat there enjoying a cup of afternoon tea. "Ahh, it's days like this that make you forget all about this cursed place," Harper said lightly. Harper was wearing a straw hat with a purple bow tie on it, a short decorated purple dress with a beautiful golden belt around her waist. Bell glanced at Harper while pretending to read her book. Harper was beautiful. Bell even compared herself to Harper and found that they were more or less evenly matched. Bell, w