[Music Recommendation: "Dream Aria" by Yu-Peng Chen (Genshin Impact OST) - available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

[Please note: We're still in Hora's POV - during breakfast, when they accidentally saw Aunt Vora using magic to set up the table]

Aunt Vora and Silky—or her twin—probably didn't notice us when we arrived. But when Aunt Vora turned around and saw us, she was surprised and ended up breaking the plates, making them fall on the floor.

"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry, my dear," Aunt Vora apologized. "I didn't notice you were there already. And good morning to the both of you. I hope your handsome boyfriend here is okay."

"It's alright. I actually saw Hora do it once so I'm not surprised anymore," Verrill politely answered back. "And good morning, too."

"Is that so? You're not creeped out or scared?"

"Hm? No. I'm good with it," Verrill answered confidently. That was a huge thorn removed from my chest. If he's really fine with that fact then we're good. Phew!

"Oh my, what a good little kid you are," Aunt Vora smiled warmly at him.

Whisking her hands, Aunt Vora mended the plates back to their forms and asked Silky to get new ones while handing her the mended ones to wash themselves on the sink. Once done changing them, we all sat for breakfast and ate. The food was great and some of them were even native dishes I hadn't tried in a while. I should bring back some to Sena and for Crystal to try it. I wonder if it would suit her taste. He-he.

Anyway, a few minutes passed and finally, we settled into the living room where the three of us sat across from each other, ready to discuss my concern—the moment I had been waiting for since we came here. Hwaaaiiiting me! (Fighting!)

Starting off the conversation, I explained to Aunt Vora about the other "Silky" that Sena saw at RDIU. That same Silky also told her that she's on a secret mission and she's not allowed to tell. Plus, that sudden static that they felt when their hands touched. I also explained about Kaiden's report and of course, introduced who Kaiden was. Aunt Vora was familiar with Sena since she saw her a few times during our childhood but not the same for Kaiden.

After hearing my retelling of the story, Aunt Vora fell silent. Meanwhile, Silky had been rotating around the corners of the living room since before I started my story—just walking around, touching the walls.

Curious as to what she was doing, I asked, "Auntie, why is Silky roaming around the room? It's spooky."

"Ah, that's because she's concealing the room," she said. "I'm not sure if your mom told you but Silky also got an awakening and her specialty is concealment. I knew you were going to ask about this so I asked her to conceal the room—from other people of our kind."

"Huh?!" I was bewildered. "But why would you need to do that? And by other of our kind do you mean…?"

"Yes, my dear," Aunt Vora answered in a sigh. Looking at Verrill she asked in return, "I trust that you trust him enough about all these?"

I glanced towards Verrill and he smiled back at me, holding my hands.

"Yes. I trust him."

"Alright. That's good. In case anything falls amiss, I can always just wipe his memories about all this," Aunt Vora said with a smiling face but that was pretty much a warning. Oh my goodness.

Verrill and I chuckled.

"Don't worry, auntie, I'm not telling anyone if that's your concern. No one will believe me anyway and I have nothing to gain."

Aunt Vora chuckled in return.

"That's good then."

After that, we all fell silent for a few minutes. Aunt Vora breathed in deeply before she confessed everything to me.

"Now, my dear Hora… what I'm about to tell you both is something… something really sensitive and could be dangerous. But you need to know, especially you, so I'm gonna tell you. And I trust that you will be mature about it, understanding, and continue to abide by our laws. Can you promise me that?"

Badump! Badump! Badump!

It was an easy question but for some reason, my heart beat wildly in my chest from all the nervousness I'm feeling at that moment. Something in me told me that whatever it was, it's not good news.

"Yes, auntie. I promise."

"Thank you. Now, I will need to show you something—something the 'organization' may or may have not noticed yet. I'm hoping they haven't though."

Then, Aunt Vora waved her hands in the air and suddenly, a golden weighing scale made of golden dust floated atop the coffee table. Maybe she's making a representation for us to easily understand her point.

"I know this may all be too confusing for you since you just manifested but there's something you need to know," Aunt Vora continued. "In this world, there exists the highest organization that governs all the other organizations of witches all around the globe. They call themselves 'Fatum Praeses' and their main task is to ensure that the balance of the world is not disrupted in any way possible."

"Fatum Praeses… I think I read that somewhere. It's the latin word for 'fate' and 'guardians' or 'protectors' of some sort, right?"

"Yes. They are indeed the Guardians of Fate."

"Okay. But what's that got to do with Silky?"

Aunt Vora sighed again. Whatever it was, she's having a hard time telling me. Because of that, my fear just grew worse inside me. For what could it be that would be so hard to tell me? I had always been an understanding and open minded person, as far as I knew.

"Ahm… Hora, this would be hard but I need you to be strong and brave, okay?"

"A-Alright. I'll do my best."

"You see, last year… something 'big' disrupted that balance. It's not too big yet as of now. If we're talking about a hundred percent disruption, it only did not even one percent but still, that degree itself was a really big impact if we would consider it as a worldwide event."

"Last year? What happened last year? And if it happened last year, why did Silky only come now? She just arrived this Tuesday."

"That's because… aside from last year's event, another disruption happened just this week—July 6th. And it was even bigger than the last disruption. If it continues, then Fatum Praeses will be alarmed and…"

"I still don't understand. What's that got to do with Silky?"

"Hora, I… I sent Silky to RDIU. I'm the one who gave her a secret mission. And this Silky I have with me right now, is a clone. We're using it as a disguise so we won't be noticed by them for now since they barely do any cross-country check of witches."

"And? What is Silky's secret mission?"

Aunt Vora stared into my eyes, hesitant to answer my question. But even if she didn't say it… there was only one thing that she knew would affect me so much that she had to tell me to be strong and brave.

Realizing "who" it was… tears formed in the corners of my eyes.