Prologue
Miya POV
Cradling our child in our arms, we fled from the world of Verra—a world unforgiving to those like us, the Tesha.
Verra is a realm divided in two. On one side are the Ayzih, the powerful ones who rule the lands of Verra. They possess extraordinary strength and magic that bend the very fabric of nature to their will.
On the other side are the Tesha—our kind—the lowest caste in this world. We too carry power in our blood, but it pales in comparison to the might of the Ayzih.
In Verra, power dictates worth. And to them, we are worth nothing.
My husband and I were nearly out of breath, desperately chasing each other just to reach the gateway—our only escape into the human world. A world where we believed, perhaps naively, we might finally be accepted.
“Hurry, my love! Hold my hand!” my husband shouted, already at the mouth of the portal, his arm stretched out to me.
I didn’t dare look back at the terrifying Zerrafo—a monstrous dragon whose name alone could chill the soul. He was closing in fast, spewing fire that scorched the ground behind us.
But in that final moment, something made me stop.
I turned to face him. I reached out my hand.
“I’m sorry,” was all I could say.
And then, from deep within me—something awakened. A power I never knew I had surged through my palms. A violent whirlwind burst forth, ripping through the air, and with it, the mighty dragon was shattered.
We stepped through the portal, breathless, and fell into each other’s arms. My husband gently cupped my cheek, his eyes searching mine.
“Where did that power come from?” he asked, awe and worry lacing his voice.
I shook my head. I had no answer. Even I had no idea I was capable of wielding such immense power—hidden deep within me all this time.
He pulled me into a tighter embrace, as if afraid to let go. Then together, we cradled our daughter, Naziya, between us.
We had crossed over into the human world.
In front of us stood a towering stone house—modern and grand. People nearby had already noticed us. Their stares were long, curious, surprised—undoubtedly because of the strange clothes we wore.
“They’re so handsome and beautiful! Are they models?” one whispered.
“Look at that guy—so handsome! His nose is perfect! Too bad he looks married... but to be fair, his wife is stunning too!”
My husband and I did not know what kind of life awaited us in the world of humans. All I knew was that here—we were more accepted.
All I knew was that in this world, things seemed easier for us. And most of all, I knew that in this place, our hearts could finally be at peace.
I could see it clearly—in the eyes of the people who looked at us—astonishment, wonder, not fear or ridicule.
My guess had been right: in this world, they welcomed us. They never mocked our appearance; instead, they praised it. And that baffled us.
Because in the world of Verra, beings like us were considered hideous—creatures to be pitied or avoided. We were the ugliest of them all. But here, in the human world? It was different. They admired what we looked like. They saw something beautiful in what we had always believed to be strange or shameful.
We don’t yet understand why. But perhaps, in time, as we remain in this world a little longer, the answers will reveal themselves.
Because of our unusual appearance, we immediately drew the attention of everyone around us. People stopped in their tracks, their eyes fixed on us with a mix of curiosity and unease. A crowd began to gather, encircling us like moths to a flame.
An overwhelming sense of embarrassment and discomfort washed over me. I knew I had to act.
Just this once. Just for a moment.
I closed my eyes and willed the world to stop.
When I opened them again, time had frozen. Everyone stood still—motionless, lifeless—like statues captured in a breathless moment.
I turned to my husband. That look between us was all the signal we needed. It was time to leave this place and find somewhere safer—somewhere we could blend in, where we could appear human, as though we belonged in this world.
I closed my eyes again, summoning a mental image of the humans’ clothing. In an instant, our outfits shifted, reshaping into the style of the people around us.
This was one of my powers: I could predict the movements of other beings, mimic their appearance—even the way they spoke.
And so, little by little, I knew—we would learn how to live in the world of humans.
