Empire of Atlantis, a country situated at the epicenter of the western land of Dystopia.
As the strongest nation in the territory of the Humanoid species, it boasts the richest resources, strategic locations, and occupies 9% of the total land in western geography.
The nation is renowned for its formidable military forces, stunning landscapes, and advanced magical technology. Additionally, it is the birthplace of many legendary heroes and mythical sages.
The Empire's democratic structure is organized from top to bottom, comprising the Imperial family, three Dukes and one Duchess, nobles such as Viscounts and Barons, and finally, commoners who are found in every country.
....
In the Aegis State, within Duchess Luminous' domain, there was a forest called Mystical Paradise, situated near the Bright Moon Estate. This forest stretched over a vast area, with unexplored depths.
Typically, Mystical Paradise is a breathtaking wonderland, adorned with vibrant greenery, stunning flora, and picturesque waterfalls. However, beneath its enchanting facade lies a perilous realm, home to ancient ruins shrouded in mystery and fierce magical creatures that roam its depths.
At present, on one of its outer perimeters, an adorable seven-year-old girl with translucent white hair, radiating childlike innocence, was weaving her way through the trees and bushes.
Her dreamy cyan eyes occasionally wandered, as if searching for something.
"Is this the way?" the little white-haired girl mumbled cutely, her tone filled with uncertainty. She suddenly halted and placed her jade-like hand on her rapidly beating chest, as if trying to confirm something.
After a few seconds, she turned right and continued to skim through the forest.
From time to time, she paused to catch her breath while playing with a pair of fluffy white rabbits that had been following her for a while. Occasionally, the little white-haired girl attempted to sneak up on the nests of fluffy wild animals whenever she found them cute.
Despite having fun with her fluffy companions, the little girl remained focused on her primary purpose and kept glancing around her.
----
An hour ago,
In one of the opulent bedrooms of the Bright Moon estate, a small girl with white hair gazed out the window, lost in thought as she stared at the distant, mystical paradise forest, feeling bewildered.
She attempted to look away, but the moment she withdrew her gaze from the forest, a slight pain began to thump in her chest, as if warning her that she might regret not going there immediately.
At first, the little girl tried to dismiss the erratic beating of her heart, attributing it to a possible fever. However, a few minutes later, she began to feel a twinge of pain in her chest.
Now, even her subconscious seemed to issue a warning, which only heightened her unease.
Despite her unease, the little girl felt a lingering hesitation about entering the picturesque yet dangerous mystical paradise forest. Her mother had repeatedly warned her about the dangers of that place, even for her; she had never allowed her beloved daughter to venture near its edges.
The little white-haired girl felt the weight of the warnings and the constant pain from her chest, prompting her to think deeply. Suddenly, she recalled her late father's teachings: (My sweet doll, Always follow your heart. Never let regrets consume you. In this world, only by believing in yourself can one break the shackles of regret.)
Remembering her father's words, the little white-haired girl lifted her head and gazed at the mystical paradise forest, her eyes brimming with cute resolve.
She quietly left her room and sneaked out of the mansion without alerting the busy maids. Following her subconscious, she made her way into the forest.
...
As the little white-haired girl played with fluffy wild animals and followed her heart, the scorching sun in the blue dome of the sky began to set, revealing the encroaching darkness and the bright moon.
"It's getting dark! Should I go home?" the little girl muttered uncertainly. "Mama will definitely scold me for not listening today. But..." She pursed her lovely lips.
Suddenly, a rustling of leaves could be heard in the distance. Startled, the girl turned to look in that direction.
"Wow! That's a multi-colored peacock! I never thought I would see one here," the little girl exclaimed as she gazed at the back of a tree. "In one of the library's books, it said that the peacock is one of the most beautiful birds in the world."
The little white-haired girl observed the multi-colored peacock with fascination. She didn't realize how lucky she was to encounter the most mysterious yet equally unique creature in existence: the Rainbow Peacock.
In the meantime, the rainbow peacock finally appeared to notice the little white-haired girl gazing at it with wide, starry eyes. It beckoned to her before darting into the depths of the forest.
"Haaa! Please wait! Let me cuddle your beautiful feathers just once!" As the rainbow peacock fled, the little girl panicked and instinctively chased after it.
As she pursued the peacock, the little white-haired girl soon approached a shimmering pond, glistening under the bright moonlight.
The rainbow peacock quickly vanished into the bushes surrounding the pond. Believing it might have flown there to drink, the girl's jade-like hands pushed through the foliage, revealing the sparkling pond before her.
However, instead of the multi-colored peacock, which seemed to have disappeared into thin air, what met her was a pair of lightless Grey eyes, leaving her stunned.
...
Upon hearing the rustling of bushes and sensing someone's presence, a beautiful boy with unkempt pitch-black hair cascading down his petite back, who had been dipping his small feet in the cool pond water, turned his head.
From the corner of his lifeless grey eyes, he noticed a stunning girl with pure white hair and vibrant cyan eyes, devoid of any impurity, creating a stark contrast with his dull grey gaze.
The surprised little white-haired girl quickly emerged from her daze and stepped out of the bushes. She scanned the pond, hoping to catch a glimpse of the peacock, but it was nowhere to be found.
Feeling slightly frustrated, she glanced at the black-haired boy but avoided eye contact, her cheeks flushing. She opened her mouth to speak but struggled to find the right words to address him.
She was doesn't know who this mysterious boy was or why a child who appeared to be her age was alone in such a perilous forest.
After a moment of contemplation, she said, "Big brother, did you happen to see a multi-colored peacock passing by here?"
Unfortunately, upon realizing that she was merely a harmless little girl and sensing no threat, the black-haired boy ignored her. He stared at the reflection of the bright moon in the shimmering pond with an emotionless expression. Even when the white-haired girl addressed him, he remained unresponsive.
Receiving no reply, the little white-haired girl was taken aback and approached the black-haired boy.
Standing next to him, she noticed signs of dried blood on his clothes, and the wounds on his skin were visible.
This filled her heart with sorrow. "Big brother, are you hurt?" she asked with eyes full of concern, completely forgetting about the rainbow peacock.
Unsurprisingly, the black-haired boy did not respond nor did he glance ar her, remaining completely expressionless.
Despite his silence, the girl refused to give up and sat down next to him, dipping her sore feet into the pond.
She stole a glance at his face, which had been obscured by the dark strands that covered his right eye when he had turned back earlier.
A pink blush spread across her adorable cheeks as she gazed at his bewitchingly beautiful face with wide, dazed eyes. However, when her eyes met his lifeless, dull grey ones, an unfamiliar sensation surged through her chest.
She hadn't noticed it before, but his eyes lacked the natural spark of life, as if he had lost the will to live.
Seeing him in this state, for some inexplicable reason, her heart, which had calmed since she arrived at the pond, tightened painfully once more.
Slightly out of breath, she looked away and patted her chest as she panted for breath.
Before long, she composed herself. The little white-haired girl suddenly seemed to understand something: "It's you... So you are the one who has been calling out to me."
The black-haired boy, who had remained indifferent and had not paid any attention to the white-haired girl from the beginning, displayed a barely noticeable frown.
Nonetheless, he neither responded nor glanced at her. He continued to stare blankly at the reflection of the bright moon.
After a moment of murmuring, the little white-haired girl fell silent as well. She followed his gaze and began to stare at the reflection of the round white moon.
...
Meanwhile, at the Bright Moon Estate:
A woman was seen flying back to her mansion. The woman was a stunning lady with platinum white hair and deep blue eyes. Regrettably, her mature face was contorted in sorrow, displaying a lost expression on her otherwise remarkable features.
Soon, she arrived at her estate and took a seat in the tranquil hall.
Still lost in thought, she failed to notice a group of maids standing before her, who had gathered after sensing her arrival.
The head maid hesitated, biting her lip before calling out, "Miss...mistress!"
Upon hearing the call, Duchess Luminous snapped back to reality. She glanced at the maids and, slightly annoyed at their interruption, asked, "What is it?"
Noticing the irritated look on her mistress's face, the head maid stammered; however, she mustered the courage to speak. "The young... miss...! She has disappeared..."
"WHAT!" Duchess Luminous sat up in disbelief. Her expression turned furious as she glared intensely at the head maid. "What do you mean, 'disappeared'?"
The head maid recoiled in fear and fell onto her back. She replied, stuttering, "When we... went to check ...on her, the young ...miss was no longer... in her room."
....