Theia's eyes snapped open, disorientation hit her like a physical blow. Unable to see in the tight, dark space, she waited a few beats for the total blackness to fade to the familiar unused cupboard. Without conscious thought, her body bolted upright, heart hammering against her ribs, every nerve screaming. Theia's head throbbed. The scent of lavender and old paper clung to her, a ghost of another place. One moment, a grand castle, secrets whispered in shadowed halls. The next, the small, unassuming cupboard under the stairs, the cleaning tools on the shelves mocking her with their mundane familiarity. She scrambled off the cold, dusty floor. Her reflection stared back from the small, immemorial mirror still tightly clutched in her hand, wide-eyed and terrified. This was it. The exact moment. She had touched the mirror just before the scream, just before the world dissolved into lavender and ancient stone. Her hands traced along the ornate silver frame. It was cold, solid. "No," she whispered, voice trembling. "Not again." Reality slammed into her. The familiar hum of the air conditioning, the distant drone of city traffic. This was home. This was Earth. The other place, the castle, the whispers of 'Valerius' and 'Guardian of Fates'… it had been real. It *felt* real. Too real to be a dream. Had she been there for hours? Days? She couldn't tell. Her gaze darted around the tiny space, hyper-vigilant. No cold stone walls. No royal suite. The only thing that even slightly relates to her emprire, aside from the mirror, would be the old dust-covered broom that looks like it hadn't been used since the 9th century. A surge of frustration tightened her jaw. She didn't understand. Why was she back here? Why this precise moment? Before another thought could take root, she darted to the door, twisting the lock with a sharp click. Her breath hitched. She needed to be alone. Needed to process. The sheer absurdity of it all threatened to overwhelm her carefully constructed composure. She ran upstairs and slammed the door shut as she entered her room. Back in her safe haven, she leaned against the door, sliding down until she sat on the floor, knees drawn to her chest. Her mind raced, replaying every detail from the castle. The information about Valerius. The map. The Elemental Stones. The White Devil. It was all vivid, etched into her memory. A memory that hadn't existed moments before. She closed her eyes. Breathe. Control. She was Theia. Cunning. Resilient. This wasn't a nightmare; it was an expansion of her reality. A new weapon. A new stage. A soft knock echoed from the other side of her door. "Theia, Liebes? Are you awake?" Her mother's voice. Gentle. Wary. A familiar ache blossomed in Theia's chest. Today. Her birthday. She had almost forgotten. "Yes, Mama! Just getting dressed," Theia called out, forcing a lightness into her voice she didn't feel. A practiced mask. She heard the soft rustle of clothes in her mother's hands. Always a new outfit for her birthday. A small, desperate act of love in a house devoid of it. "Happy Birthday, my sweet girl," her mother said, her voice a little choked. "I've made sure your father is… occupied. Yona and Ida are out with him, shopping for some ridiculous new antique. Orion called; he's still covering for your father at the consulate, but he sent his regards. And I'm heading over to Aunt Sara's for the afternoon, just as you requested. You have the house to yourself until dinner." Her mother’s words were a carefully constructed alibi, a fragile shield against the family’s neglect. Yona and Ida, her older sisters, twenty-five and twenty-three respectively, never spared a thought for her. Orion, at twenty-six, was equally distant, though less overtly cruel. They were a decade her senior, a chasm of age that felt more like an abyss of understanding. Her fifteenth birthday meant nothing to them. But it meant everything to her mother. “Thank you, Mama,” Theia said, sincerity lacing her tone. Her mother always tried. Always. It was a weak attempt, but it was there, a flickering candle in the dark. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay? We could bake a cake, just us?” her mother offered, hope threading her words. “No, Mama. Go to Aunt Sara’s. Have fun. I want to relax. And maybe do some shopping,” Theia replied, already standing, moving to her wardrobe. She pulled out a simple, stylish pair of jeans and a fitted white top. Comfort and practicality. Today wasn’t about extravagance, not yet. “Alright, darling. I’ll see you tonight. There’s a box of your favorite pastries in the kitchen,” her mother said, a wistful sigh escaping her lips. Theia heard footsteps retreating, then the faint click of the front door closing. Solitude. Precious, absolute solitude. She moved to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face. The remnants of fear slowly receded, replaced by a steely resolve. The mirror. It held answers. But not now. Not on her birthday. She would delve into its mysteries later. Today, she would be fifteen. Today, she would be free. --- Sunlight streamed through the living room windows as Theia walked through the silent house. It felt unnervingly empty, yet liberating. Her mother’s attempts to ensure her birthday was peaceful, if solitary, were a small victory. No shouting. No demands. No cutting remarks from Yona or Ida about her clothes or her quiet demeanor. She picked up her phone, quickly sending a text to her best friend, Lena, inviting her to the mall. Lena was the only person who understood the suffocating atmosphere of Theia's home, the only one who didn’t look at her with pity or disdain. Within minutes, Lena replied, a flurry of enthusiastic emojis. A small smile touched Theia’s lips. Today wouldn't be entirely alone. As she waited for Lena to pick her up, Theia allowed her mind to drift back to Thaumeya. The innkeeper's words echoed in her memory. *“Her dear uncle had forbidden anyone except the imperial knights to find the stones and level up.”* Valerius. The Emperor. Her father’s counterpart. He was already making moves to control her power, even in that other realm. The paranoia, Theia’s fatal flaw, thrummed beneath her skin. Trust no one. Especially not family. Not even alternate-world family. Finding the White Devil, the fourth elemental stone, was crucial. The map from her alternate mother had shown its rough location. But location was only the first step. Each stone was guarded by tests, riddles, traps. And the ultimate judgment of 'worthiness.' Her Core was at Level 3. She needed more power. She needed to level up. Lena’s car horn honked outside, a cheerful sound that pulled Theia from her strategic musings. She grabbed her purse. Time to pretend to be a normal teenager. The mall was a vibrant blur of colors and sounds. Laughter, pop music, the enticing smell of cinnamon pretzels. Lena, all effervescent energy, dragged Theia from store to store. Theia, despite her inner turmoil, found herself relaxing into the role. She tried on clothes, giggled at ridiculous accessories, and bought a new book she'd been wanting. While Lena debated between two identical-looking tops, Theia's eyes scanned a display of intricate puzzles. *Traps. Riddles.* The thought surfaced unbidden. How would she prepare for challenges that spanned dimensions? She needed knowledge. Ancient texts. Lore. Perhaps her mother’s hidden library, the one her father never touched, held clues. Later, as they sat in a bustling food court, sharing a plate of fries, Theia observed the people around them. So many faces. So many stories. Her own story was now split, woven between two worlds. Her mind clicked. The hardest part wasn't locating the White Devil. It was *entering* its domain. If only imperial knights could seek the stones, then she needed an inside man. Or, more accurately, an inside woman. Maria. Her headmaid. Her ally in that other world. But could she trust Maria? Paranoia pricked at her. Everyone had an agenda. Especially in a place like Thaumeya, where power was everything. Maria seemed genuinely fond of her, in a subservient way. But loyalty could be bought, or broken. Theia knew that better than anyone, growing up in her father’s house. Her plan began to solidify. She needed to find out more about the imperial knights. Their hierarchy. Their weaknesses. Their allegiances. If she could somehow infiltrate their ranks, or manipulate one of them, it would be her key to the White Devil. And she needed to learn *how* to be deemed worthy. What did that even mean? Courage? Purity? A high Core level? Lena nudged her. “Earth to Theia? You’re spacing out again. What’s on your mind?” Theia blinked, pulling herself back. She smiled, a practiced, easy expression. “Just thinking about what to get for dinner. My treat tonight.” “Ooh, fancy! It’s your birthday, you shouldn’t have to pay,” Lena protested, but her eyes sparkled. “Nonsense. It’s my day. I decide,” Theia said, a hint of her true resolve bleeding into her tone. It was her day, and she would control it. After dinner, they parted ways, Theia feeling lighter than she had in weeks. The illusion of a normal birthday had been surprisingly effective. She had almost forgotten the interdimensional travel, the oppressive uncle, the quest for power. Almost. She arrived home to an empty house. Her family wouldn't be back for hours. Perfect. She shed her new clothes, put on her favorite oversized t-shirt, and padded to her bathroom. A long, hot bath, complete with scented oils and bath bombs her mother had left, was exactly what she needed. Submerging herself in the warm water, Theia let the tension drain from her muscles. She closed her eyes, and the image of Thaumeya flashed behind her eyelids. The purple sunset. The sprawling castle. Maria’s earnest face. The map tucked into her mother’s secret compartment. It was all there, waiting. A parallel life. A chance for revenge. Absolute control. Her mind, even while relaxing, continued to churn. She needed to be methodical. The 'White Devil' map. The traps. The worthiness test. The imperial knights. Valerius’s decree. She would break every rule. Subvert every expectation. This wasn't just about leveling up her Core; it was about tearing down the patriarchal structures that had oppressed her in both worlds. Coming out of the bath was both a nice comfortable feeling and yet it reminded Theia that her day of solitude had ended.. She stared at the mirror laying so falsely innocent on her nightstand.. She took the ancient key to her destiny in her hand again and looked at herself... Theia looked unbelievably gorgeous. She always dreamt of having such soft fluffy hair. And don't get her started on the doe eyes, giving her an extra layer of innocence, which she would ruthlessly use to her advantage. She stared dazedly at her own reflection for a few moments. Theia may not have the highest ego but she was in no way humble. She touched the surface of the mirror again... and wakes up screaming..

Acting Is The Best Weapon In A World Full Of Stages