The little girl inside the Lantern smiled.
No one knew how long they had been staring at her.
She looked no older than eight.
Her silver-blue hair floated like gentle streams of light, and her clear eyes reflected countless stars.
Yet there was no fear in her face.
Only kindness.
Linh took a careful step forward.
"Who are you?"
The little girl tilted her head before answering softly.
"I have had many names."
"But the one you will remember..."
She smiled.
"...is Aria."
The name echoed through the Crystal City.
Hope closed her eyes.
"Aria..."
"I thought you had disappeared forever."
Aria shook her head.
"Stories never disappear."
"They simply wait for someone willing to listen."
Professor Nguyen looked at the First Author.
"Is she... the Seventh Author?"
The First Autho
