The war was over, and the acrid smell of blood filled the air. Bodies of soldiers and the ashes of the dead were scattered across the battlefield. Queen Zenobia stood at the center, her gaze fixed on the tomb of the evil lord Kal, the architect of this catastrophe.

Her body was covered with wounds, but she felt no physical pain—the ache in her heart eclipsed all else. In this battle, she had lost everything. Her family, her loved ones, and countless brave warriors had sacrificed their lives. Innocent citizens had been slaughtered. The once vibrant city, once a heaven on earth, had been reduced to a graveyard by one man's insatiable lust for power.

Fresh blood still dripped from the sword in Queen Zenobia's hand as she stared at the tomb. Around her, people mourned their lost loved ones, yet there was a bittersweet relief that the war had ended. Only Zenobia knew this was not the end but a brief pause. She had sealed Kal in the tomb for now, but it was not permanent. She had to prepare for the day he would rise again.

500 Years Later

In the Land of Humans…

"Guys, I can't wait for tomorrow. I'm so excited—college is finally starting!" Vickey exclaimed.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Says the one who's always absent from classes."

"Hey, what's your problem? College isn't just about those boring classes. I'm talking about the freshers arriving tomorrow. I can't wait to see the new hotties joining this year. I'm definitely finding a girlfriend this time."

Smack!

"Ouch! What the hell, Lily? How dare you hit me like that?"

"Just trying to bring you back to reality," Lily retorted.

Vickey glared. "What? Do you all think I can't get a girlfriend?"

Jude laughed. "Chill, dude. It's better to accept reality than be heartbroken later. You've been here for two years and haven't managed to keep a girl for even a day, and you're talking about a girlfriend?"

"What the hell—"

Alex cut in, "Okay, chill guys. Let's deal with tomorrow when it comes. And anyway, how are any of us going to get a girlfriend with our two college princes around?"

Rayan shrugged. "Dude, leave me out of it. Whether they accept it or not, I'm already taken, and no one else has a place in my heart."

"Yeah, he's mine," Ria chimed in, sharing a sweet kiss with Rayan.

"Yeah, okay, we get it. Stop being so lovey-dovey in front of us. Have some mercy on us singles," Jude said, laughing.

Alex nodded. "It's known that Rayan is taken, but that doesn't solve the problem. We still have Liam."

Liam smirked. "Stop pretending, Alex. As if girls don't swoon over you. Do you know how many hearts you broke when you and Sharen became a couple? And as for those girls, it's not my fault I'm so charming. None of them are my type, and I've got better things to do. I'm not interested in getting caught up in this love business. It's great being a free bird."

Jenny grinned. "Playboy, enjoy your freedom while you can. Guys like you fall the hardest when they fall in love."

Alex laughed. "Yep, so true. Be careful, Liam."

Liam draped an arm over Alex's shoulder. "I can't disagree with you, sir. You're the biggest example."

Laughter echoed around them.

Lily raised an eyebrow. "By the way, when is Sharen coming back?"

Alex sighed. "Not sure. The last time I spoke to her, she said she was still tied up with work assigned by her father and hadn't made a breakthrough yet."