The Legend of the Grimoire

Miria straightened up after a long sigh, headed to the bathroom, and let the hot water soothe her troubled mind. Once ready, she joined the dining room where her mother, Katrina, was carefully setting the table.

"Good morning, Mom," Miria said, her tone blending fatigue and joy at seeing her mother.

Katrina looked up at her, a gentle smile lighting her face. "Good morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?"

Miria nodded softly, but her mother frowned slightly. "Is everything alright?" she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

Miria hesitated, nervously fidgeting with a fold of her shirt. "Yes… why?"

Katrina placed a plate on the table and looked at her gently. "Last night, when you came home, you didn't seem like yourself. You had this… empty expression, as if something had deeply troubled you. And when I asked what happened, you just murmured 'not now' before locking yourself in your room."

Miria's eyes widened. She didn't remember anything—not even returning home. "I… I don't know how I ended up in my room…" she stammered.

Seeing her daughter's distant look, Katrina approached and ran a reassuring hand through her hair. "Sweetheart, if something's wrong, you can tell me."

Miria hesitated again. Should she tell her everything? No, she didn't want to worry her mother further. "It's nothing serious, Mom," she lied softly. "I just witnessed an accident yesterday, and it shook me a little."

Katrina's face filled with compassion as she wrapped Miria in a warm embrace. "Oh, my poor girl… You should have told me."

Before Miria could reply, there was a knock at the door. Katrina stepped away to open it. A young girl with bluish hair and silver eyes appeared in the doorway.

"Marlie!" Katrina exclaimed with a smile.

"Good morning, Mrs. Katrina," Marlie replied cheerfully. "Is Miria here?"

"Of course, come in!" Katrina said, stepping aside.

When Miria saw her friend, a smile lit up her face. "Marlie! Come, have breakfast with us."

"Oh no, thank you, I don't want to intrude…" Marlie protested, embarrassed.

"Nonsense," Katrina insisted. "Don't be shy."

Relenting, Marlie sat with them, and the trio shared a warm meal. Between bites, Miria announced, "Mom, we're going shopping today. The school ball is coming up, and we need to find our outfits!"

Katrina raised an eyebrow. "But the ball isn't for months. You have plenty of time, don't you?"

Marlie chimed in with a knowing smile. "Exactly! If we wait, everyone will rush to the stores, and it'll be a nightmare."

"And today's the weekend," Miria added. "Perfect for shopping!"

Katrina chuckled softly, finding their plan clever. "Alright, have fun, my dears."

The mall was much busier than they had expected. Even so, the two friends began exploring stores in search of the perfect outfit. After a while, Marlie wandered off to browse accessories, leaving Miria alone in front of a display.

As she examined a dress, a man appeared behind her and pressed a cold blade against her back. "Don't move," he murmured in a gruff voice. "Come with me."

Terrified, Miria obeyed, trying not to panic. They walked side by side, the man concealing the weapon beneath her hair. "Please… let me go," she begged.

"Shut up and keep walking," the man growled.

When they reached an escalator, everything changed. A stranger appeared behind them and shoved the assailant, sending him tumbling into the crowd below. Before Miria could process what was happening, the stranger grabbed her arm and pulled her into a frantic escape through the mall.

Finally, they found refuge in a secluded corner. The man glanced back and sighed. "We lost them."

Miria, trembling, collapsed onto a chair. Uncontrollable sobs escaped her. "Why me?" she whispered. "What do they want from me? I don't know anything about that stupid grimoire!"

The man froze. "Grimoire?" he asked, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern.

Miria looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. "Yes… They think I have a mysterious grimoire. But I've never even heard of it!"

He stared at her intensely before removing his disguise. When Miria recognized her savior, her breath caught.

"You?!" she exclaimed.