The silver eyes didn’t blink.

  They glowed through the mist like two lanterns floating in darkness, fixed entirely on Althea. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t even think properly.

  Her mind went in circles:

  Monster.

  Big monster.

  Definitely not friendly monster.

  The creature stepped forward.

  Slow. Heavy. Each footfall pressed deep into the ground.

  Althea scraped backward, hands scrambling over grass and soil. “Okay… okay… let’s stay calm—Nope! Nope, I can’t stay calm!”

  The creature emerged from behind a tree, and her words died instantly.

  It was massive. Larger than any horse she’d seen, with dark plates of armor-like scales running down its back. Its nostrils puffed out warm vapor with each slow breath, and its tail swayed behind it like a giant, impatient whip. Strange orange veins pulsed faintly beneath its skin, glowing like molten rock.

  It looked ancient.

  Dangerous.

  And confused.

  Like it wasn’t sure if she was a snack or an intruder.

  “Please be vegetarian,” Althea whispered. “Salads are amazing. Try salads. Try ANYTHING that’s not me.”

  The creature lifted its head slightly, sniffing the air.

  Althea swallowed.

  Then, suddenly—

  It stepped closer.

  Althea jumped to her feet. “Nope! No thank you! Goodbye!”

  She turned and ran.

  Branches whipped past her face as she bolted through the glowing forest. Her breath came out sharp and ragged, her heart pounding so loud she could hear it in her ears.

  Behind her, the creature roared.

  Not an angry roar—

  but a hunting one.

  “Oh COME ON!” she shrieked. “I didn’t even do anything!”

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  She sprinted between trees, dodging rocks and roots she barely saw. Her legs burned, but she didn’t dare stop. The ground shook as the creature pursued, getting closer with every second.

  She glanced back—

  Bad idea.

  It was only a few meters away now, its ridged back scraping low branches, eyes gleaming with predatory instinct.

  Althea pushed forward harder—

  —until her foot caught a root.

  She crashed to the ground.

  A jolt of pain shot through her ankle, and she gasped, rolling onto her back. Her leg refused to move, throbbing sharply.

  “No, no, no—NOT NOW!”

  The creature slowed as it approached her. It lowered its head, steam curling from its nostrils. A deep rumble vibrated through its chest, making the leaves around them tremble.

  Althea’s whole body shook.

  She lifted her hands instinctively, shielding her face.

  “I don’t want to die! I still have homework! I didn’t even get to finish that cereal box at home!”

  The creature lunged.

  Althea screamed—

  And something inside her snapped open.

  Not like breaking.

  Like awakening.

  A warm pulse spread from her chest to her arms, racing into her fingers.

  Light exploded from her palms.

  Not fire.

  Not lightning.

  A barrier.

  A shimmering dome of blue-gold light erupted around her, humming like a heartbeat, forming a perfect bubble between her and the creature.

  The creature slammed into it—

  and the barrier pulsed but didn’t break.

  Althea peeked through her fingers.

  “I… did that?” she whispered, stunned. “I actually did that?!”

  The creature snarled, angered by being denied its prey. It backed up, muscles tensing for another strike.

  Althea shook her head frantically. “Please don’t—this is my first time doing magic! I don’t even know where the ‘off’ button is!”

  The creature charged.

  The barrier flared—

  Then detonated with a burst of force.

  BOOM!

  A shockwave blasted outward like a ripple of solid air. Leaves scattered. Trees shook. The creature was hurled backward with a startled roar, tumbling through the grass before disappearing behind a cluster of glowing bushes.

  Silence fell again.

  Althea lowered her trembling hands. The barrier flickered and dissolved slowly until all that remained were particles of shimmering dust drifting through the air like tiny stars.

  Her entire body was shaking, her breath unsteady.

  “What is happening?” she whispered. “I—I don’t do magic. I can’t do magic. I can’t even do pull-ups in gym class…”

  She looked down at her hands.

  They still tingled with warmth.

  The same warmth she’d felt right before the console sucked her in.

  “Maybe… it wasn’t just a game,” she murmured.

  A soft rustling sound snapped her attention to the right.

  She froze.

  Something—or someone—was watching her again.

  From behind the bushes, a small head peeked out. Big amber eyes. Rounded cheeks. Small fluffy ears twitching nervously.

  A child.

  A creature child, maybe ten years old, wearing simple clothes that looked a little too big for them.

  The child stared at her like she was glowing.

  Althea raised her hands slowly. “H-Hey. It’s okay. I’m not—uh—dangerous. I think.”

  Another head peeked out.

  Then another.

  And another.

  Within seconds, six small figures stepped cautiously into the clearing. All had the same fluffy ears, thin tails, and gentle, frightened faces.

  Althea blinked.

  “Are… are you guys squirrels? Or part-squirrel? Or—”

  “Milons,” one of them whispered.

  Their voice was soft and shaky.

  “You’re… not from here.”

  “No kidding,” Althea muttered. “Unless Earth upgraded overnight.”

  The smallest Milon stepped forward, holding the hand of another.

  “You saved us,” he said quietly. “The gragofire would’ve caught us.”

  Althea’s eyes widened. “Grago-what?”

  “The creature,” an older Milon explained, ears dipping low. “They hunt anything weaker. We don’t… fight back well.”

  Althea’s chest tightened.

  They weren’t just kids.

  They were scared kids.

  “Is that why you were hiding?” she asked softly.

  The Milons nodded.

  “We were trying to escape the patrol guards,” a girl whispered. “They make us clean the outposts all day. They yell. They say we’re useless.”

  Althea frowned. She didn’t like the sound of that. Not one bit.

  Before she could speak, the youngest Milon reached for her hand.

  His tiny fingers trembled as he touched her fingertips.

  “You’re strong,” he whispered.

  “You made a shield… like a hero.”

  His eyes sparkled.

  “You’re here to save us… right?”

  Althea’s breath caught in her throat.

  Save them?

  Her?

  She could barely save herself five minutes ago.

  But looking at their hopeful eyes… small hands… shivering shoulders… something inside her softened.

  She forced a shaky smile.

  “I… don’t know if I’m a hero,” she admitted softly. “But I won’t let anything hurt you.”

  The Milons gasped.

  One whispered, “She said she’ll protect us…”

  Another breathed, “Then the prophecy was true.”

  Althea blinked.

  “Wait—what prophecy? What are you talking about?”

  Before they could answer—

  A distant roar echoed through the forest.

  The gragofire.

  It

  wasn’t gone.

  It was coming back.

  The Milons stiffened in terror.

  Althea tightened her fists.

  “Okay,” she whispered.

  “Round two.”

  A warm light stirred in her chest again.

  This time… she didn’t fear it.

  She welcomed it.