The hall was quiet, the air heavy with the weight of centuries. The boys gathered near the floating crown painting, leaning in as the sisters began to speak, their voices low and steady, carrying the story of a world long lost to memory.
Saehwa started, her eyes tracing the intricate designs on the walls. "This story… it is long. And it isn't easy to tell," Saehwa began. "The Crown of Aetherion is not just a symbol. It is the source of magic, the heart of this world. It brings life, peace, and happiness to everything it touches. It keeps our world alive, balanced, and safe. But it does not belong to any one person, it chooses its owner by itself. It appears when it chooses, disappears when it wishes, and only reveals itself to those who are purehearted, wise, kind, and selfless. The crown does not seek power; it seeks the one who will protect everything without greed."
Kai leaned forward. "So it's… alive?"
"In a way," Eira said softly, "but not like a person. It appears and disappears as it wills, choosing only when the world needs a ruler it can trust. It has always been a myth… until the first king."
Noah's brow furrowed. "The first king? The king in the first potrait?"
Naya nodded, her voice calm and measured. "For centuries, it was thought to be a myth, a story told to children to keep them from greed or ambition. People believed the crown was a fairy tale, a fiction. But then, a boy who was not born a king just a small, curious child discovered it while playing with his friends. They tried to take the crown, each of them, but none succeeded. When the boy, the future king, touched it, the crown responded. It chose him as its guardian. That was the beginning of everything."
Jimin's voice was barely audible. "And then he ruled?"
Eira nodded, "Not just Ruled, With the crown's help, he brought peace to the world. He created laws, helped his people prosper, and ensured that magic flowed gently through every corner of the land. His friends aided him without any thought of greed or power, working side by side to bring joy and stability to the kingdom. Later, he married, had a family a prince and a princess and life was as it should be."
Ethan's hand went to his chin. "Then what happened? How this all happened?"
Jimin looks at them "..... something went wrong?"
Lyra added "The crown chose the prince to be its next ruler, a decision that sparked the first stirrings of anger and envy. The princess, who had hoped to wield its power, could not, and She argued with the king and left the castle, though she did nothing… or said nothing… at the time but the seeds of discontent had already been planted."
Lyra's voice grew sharper, tinged with sorrow. "When the prince became king, he had three strong heirs. They carried the magic, the responsibility, and the legacy of the crown. But when their fourth child was born, a daughter named Princess Clare, everything changed. The king's sister, the former princess returned with her own son, hoping this time that the crown would choose her or her child. But when the crown lights up, it chose the newborn Clare, The king's sister became consumed with rage. She argued, demanded, and when the crown did not yield, she transformed into.... Darkness, a force of destruction and vengeance."
Saehwa's eyes glimmered, her voice soft but intense. "Darkness killed the king, destroyed his legacy, and left the castle in ruin. Some say the remaining princes took their baby sister and the crown and hid them deep inside the castle. Others say they vanished entirely, leaving the crown to reappear only when it chooses a true and worthy guardian. But one thing is certain: the king's final act was to protect the castle with a barrier, a shield that would incinerate anyone who dared touch it without purpose, ensuring that the crown remained safe until the world was ready again."
Ethan's fists clenched. "So the crown… caused all this?"
"No," Eira said softly. "People's greed did. The crown only chooses. It doesn't force. It doesn't punish. But the anger of those denied… that's what destroyed everything."
Jimin's voice trembled. "And the crown… it still chooses?"
"Yes," Naya confirmed. "It will choose only when it deems someone worthy. That is why it appeared to this king long ago, and why it remains hidden now. It cannot be forced, taken, or controlled. It cannot be used for selfish purposes."
Kai's voice shook. "So… the crown, the family… everything is still here, somewhere?"
"Yes," Lyra said firmly. "Buried and waiting. But it is not for us."
Lyra added firmly, "We are not here for ourselves. We do not seek to take the crown or meddle with the past. Our purpose is simple: find the Gate Engine, send the boys home, and ensure that the crown and the world remain as they were meant to be."
Saehwa looked at the boys individually, her gaze steady. "You must understand, this is not a mission for glory. Every choice we make could change the past or future. We are here only to return you to your world. Nothing more. No greed, no ambition—just the safety of your lives and the preservation of what must remain untouched."
Ethan, still processing, nodded slowly. "We understand. We only want to go home. Nothing else."
Kai added quietly, "And we trust you… all of you. Even if it's scary."
Saehwa smiled faintly, her fingers brushing the edge of the floating crown in the painting. "Then we move carefully. Step by step. We find the Gate Engine, and we send you home. Nothing more, nothing less."
Noah's voice was steady but curious. "And the crown? Will anyone ever see it again?"
Lyra shook her head gently. "Only when it chooses. And when that time comes, it will reveal itself to someone worthy. Until then… it waits."
The girls fell silent for a moment, letting the story settle in the hearts of the boys. The weight of history, of magic, and of responsibility hung in the air like a living thing.
Jimin's hands clenched tightly. "We… we can really go home?"
"Only if we find it," Saehwa said. Her gaze swept the room, lingering on the portraits, the crown, the hall itself.
Saehwa finally spoke, her voice soft, resolute, and carrying the quiet authority of someone who had seen too much to be naive. "We don't interfere. We don't claim. We don't seek power. We only guide, protect, and act when it is right. That is the duty we carry, and that is the only way to survive what comes next."
The boys nodded, determination and relief mixing on their faces. Lyra gave a rare, small smile. "Then let's not waste time."
Naya added, "We will go together. We will help each other. And we will not let greed, anger, or fear lead us astray."
Saehwa's gaze lingered on the floating crown one last time. "And we will remember… that some things are meant to protect, not possess. That even in beauty, even in power… choices matter."
The hall seemed to echo with the weight of the story. The past, full of betrayal, anger, courage, and sacrifice, whispered its warning. And in the quiet, the sisters and the boys made a silent vow: they would find the Gate Engine, they would send the boys home, and they would not let history repeat itself. The echoes of the past lingered around them, but the future fragile, uncertain, and full of possibility waited just ahead.