I never thought today would be the day my life turned into something straight out of a fantasy novel. It all started with a frantic phone call from my best friend, I-seo.
"Sena, please… hurry…" Her voice was shaky, filled with panic.
Before I could ask what was wrong, the line went dead.
A chill ran down my spine as I grabbed my keys and bolted out of my apartment. The drive to her house felt agonizingly long, even though I sped through every light. Whatever was happening, it couldn't be good.
When I finally arrived, I slammed on the brakes and stumbled out of my car. My jaw dropped.
Where I-seo's backyard used to be, a massive stone tower now loomed, its spires clawing at the sky. The air shimmered faintly around it, like heatwaves rising from asphalt, though this shimmer carried a sense of magic—something alive. The tower looked ancient yet pristine, as though it had been plucked from the pages of a fantasy novel.
People had gathered around, their reactions a chaotic mix of awe and fear. Some were shouting about aliens, while others were snapping pictures, their faces glowing with excitement.
"Is this some kind of publicity stunt?" someone asked.
"No way. This is real magic!" a teenager exclaimed, practically bouncing as she recorded the scene on her phone.
I pushed through the growing crowd, my heart racing. "I-seo!" I shouted.
"Sena, over here!" Her voice pulled me toward the base of the tower.
She wasn't alone. Standing beside her were two men who looked as though they'd stepped out of another time entirely.
The first man, tall and regal, had sharp, angular features that exuded authority. His dark hair framed piercing eyes that seemed to take in everything around him with quiet intensity. His ornate clothing and dignified posture screamed nobility—or perhaps royalty.
The second man was equally striking but in a completely different way. His golden hair and angelic features gave him an almost ethereal presence, though something in his sharp smile hinted at danger.
"Sena, thank God you're here!" I-seo called, pulling me close.
I stared at the men, then at the tower, then back at her. "What is this? Who are they?"
Before I-seo could answer, the sharp-featured man stepped forward. "You," he said, his voice like steel, "are the saint who must traverse our world. This is your doing, isn't it?"
"What?" I stammered, taking a step back. "I have no idea what you're talking about!"
I-seo clutched my arm. "It's not Sena's fault!" she said quickly. "It's mine. I wrote about your tower, about you—and somehow—"
The golden-haired man smirked, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Then should we eliminate you instead?"
"What? Eliminate?" My voice rose as my pulse quickened. "Who even talks like that?"
"Enough," the sharp-featured man—Lucien, as I would later learn—snapped, shooting his companion a glare. "We have no time for games."
A commotion behind us made me glance over my shoulder. The crowd of onlookers was growing bolder, stepping closer to the tower. A few people began murmuring, their words carrying a mix of curiosity and fear.
"Is that… Prince Lucien?" someone whispered.
"And Lord Damiel!" another voice hissed.
The murmurs spread like wildfire, and soon, the tone shifted from awe to panic.
"Why are they here? Where's the court? What's going on?"
"Where are we?"
Lucien's expression darkened, and he turned back to me. "We need to leave. Now."
"Yeah, no kidding," I muttered, grabbing I-seo's wrist. "Come on. My car's the fastest way out of here."
As I led them toward my car, the crowd began to surge closer, their curiosity and fear pushing them into a frenzy.
"Get in," I said, fumbling with my keys.
Lucien hesitated, his hand resting on the door. "What is this contraption?"
"Just get in!" I snapped, pushing I-seo into the passenger seat.