The morning mist hung low over the meadows of Jepka, curling around the hills like soft smoke.Inside a quiet wooden cottage hidden among silver trees, four unfamiliar figures lay asleep — the same boys the sisters had rescued the night before.
Saehwa stood by the window, her fingers tracing patterns in the frosted glass.The first rays of sunlight touched her hair, turning it pale blue.She hadn't slept. She never did, when something troubled her.
Behind her, Ardelle entered quietly, carrying a bowl of warm water and clean cloths. Her aura shimmered faintly, soft gold in the dawn light."They're still unconscious," she said gently. "But their breathing is steady."
Saehwa turned her head slightly. "Do you think they're from the Dark Castle too?"
Ardelle shook her head. "No. Their energy is... strange. I can't sense any magic in them at all. they were not using any power to protect themselves."
"That's impossible," murmured Eira, who floated in from the doorway, the morning breeze following her. "Every living thing in Jepka holds magic — even a flower has a spark. But these boys… they're empty."
"Empty?" Lyra repeated, leaning against the wall, her eyes flickering like tiny embers. "You mean powerless. Great. We just saved four powerless idiots."
Naya frowned softly. "Don't be cruel, Lyra. They were scared. You saw it in their eyes."
"Scared or not," Saehwa said coldly, "they don't belong here. And the people who attacked them were from the city. If other find out we helped outsiders again, it'll just cause more trouble, they already don't like us."
Lyra rolled her eyes. "You always assume the worst."
"I prefer facts," Saehwa replied curtly.
Ardelle placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "We'll handle it, Saehwa. For now, let them rest."
Just then, a weak groan broke the silence.One of the boys — tall, with dark brown hair — stirred and slowly opened his eyes. His gaze darted around the unfamiliar room in confusion."Where… where am i?" he murmured, sitting up too quickly and wincing in pain.
Eira hurried to his side. "You're safe. Don't move too fast."
He blinked at her, dazed. "Who are you? What… what is this place?"
Before anyone could answer, the other boys began waking too — four in total.
The first boy, the dark-haired one who spoke, was Ethan — calm, sharp-eyed, the natural leader type.Beside him sat Noah, with messy blond hair and a cautious look, scanning every corner of the room.The third, Kai, looked younger, restless, and curious, already trying to stand despite his injuries.And the fourth — the quietest, Jimin — stayed lying down, staring at the ceiling with wide, bewildered eyes.
Lyra crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "You boys caused quite the mess."
Ethan frowned. "We didn't do anything. Those people — they just started attacking us! We didn't even understand what they were saying!"
"Yeah," Kai added quickly. "We were just walking— no, wait— actually— we weren't even walking! We just—"He rubbed his temples. "We were sleeping. In our own beds. And then… we woke up here."
The sisters exchanged glances.
Saehwa's eyes narrowed. "You expect us to believe that?"
"It's the truth!" Noah insisted. "We were home. Then suddenly we were in some kind of forest, and everything looked… different. Like something out of a fantasy movie."
Lyra narrow her eyes and said "and where exactly your 'Home' is?"
Kai quickly said "Our home, Los Angeles?"
Eira frowned,"Lus Anglas?"
Kai narrow his eyes "U.S...?"
Lyra cross her arms and said "what's U.S? any code word of your home?"
Jimin sigh and slowly said, "Okay… this has to be some kind of prank. Hidden cameras? Augmented reality? You girls actors or something? we are from Earth, our home... we live in los angeles which is in U.S which is in Earth."
Lyra said, "That's Bullshit."
Ardelle leaned forward slightly. "Earth?" she repeated softly. "That name… doesn't belong to Jepka."
Noah blink in confusion and said, "Jepka?"
Saehwa's expression changed — curiosity flickering beneath her calm exterior. "Earth," she whispered, as if testing the word. "Another world, maybe?"
Eira frowned. "Another dimension?"
The boys stared back at them blankly.
Kai gave a nervous laugh. "What are you guys even talking about? Dimensions? Magic? Are you— are you all seriously playing some kind of prank?"
Lyra rolled her eyes, fire sparking faintly at her fingertips. "A prank? You think this is a game?"
When the flame appeared, all four boys froze.
Ethan's voice came out hoarse. "That— that's not possible…"
Ardelle sighed softly. "We're not your enemies. You're safe here. But we need to understand how you arrived in our world."
Jimin ran a hand through his hair. "Look, we don't know how we got here. We don't even know what this place is. But if this is some weird dream, I want to wake up now."
Silence hung in the air.
Then Ardelle spoke softly. "Dream or not… you're here. And until we find a way to send you home, you'll stay with us."
Saehwa snapped her gaze toward her. "What? No."
Ardelle met her eyes — warm but firm. "We can't leave them helpless — they have no power."
Naya's green eyes glowed faintly as she touched the ground. "Their essence is pure. No trace of dark energy."
"So they really aren't from the Dark Castle," Eira said quietly.
Saehwa folded her arms, deep in thought. "Fine but if they truly came from another dimension… then how?"
Ardelle looked at her knowingly. "You're the one who might find that answer."
Saehwa blinked. "Me? Why me?"
"You're the only one who ever sneaks into the Old Castle Library," Lyra said with a smirk. "Don't even try denying it, Ice Princess."
Saehwa stiffened. "That doesn't mean I want to crawl back into that half-collapsed castle again."
Eira smirked. "It look perfect from the outside and since when did a few broken stairs scare you?"
"It's not the stairs," Saehwa shot back. "That place is cursed. The last time I went, the ground moved."
Naya spoke softly. "You've always wanted to know what's beyond Jepka, Saehwa. Maybe… this is connected to that."
Saehwa's jaw tightened. She looked toward the boys sitting by the fire — lost, silent, their faces pale with confusion. They didn't look dangerous. Just scared.But still — they didn't belong here. None of this made sense.
"I don't see how any of this is my problem," she said flatly. "They're strangers from nowhere. Let the other people deal with them."
Ardelle stepped closer. "There is no other people here anymore. Only us."
That hit her. The silence that followed was heavy.
Saehwa sighed, rubbing her forehead. "You all really think the answer's in that ruined library?"
"It's the only place left with ancient records," Lyra said. "And you're the only one who can read the old script."
Saehwa hesitated — then groaned under her breath. "You all planned this, didn't you?"
Eira grinned. "Maybe."
"Ugh, fine," Saehwa muttered. "But if something comes crawling out of that castle again, I'm freezing it."
The sisters laughed lightly, easing the tension for a moment.Saehwa turned back toward the window. The boys were still watching her — especially the youngest, Jimin. His eyes held something strange… something that made her chest tighten for reasons she didn't understand.
She looked away quickly, her voice softer this time."I'll find out where they came from. But after that — they're not my problem."
Outside, the wind shifted, carrying a faint whisper through the valley — almost like the world of Jepka had heard her promise.