Lara ascended to the clouds, shutting her eyes tightly as she released a radiant light from her body. To her amazement, it worked. She focused her attention on home as instructed, and a portal to her world appeared before her. Opening her eyes, she saw the portal and the light flowing into it. Meanwhile, her father continued calling out to her. “Lara…”
“Father, it’s working,” Lara exclaimed.
King Arthur rushed to the room where Zara was and witnessed an astonishing sight. A portal had formed, and Zara was enveloped in the energy of light. After a few seconds, the portal closed. Lara, exhausted, fell back to the earth with a thud, attracting the attention of her schoolmates, who left their classrooms and gathered in the field. They discovered Lara unconscious. Jane quickly called her mother, Stella, to inform her of Lara’s condition. Concerned, Stella immediately arranged for a doctor to see Lara.
Minutes later, Lara regained consciousness in the school nurse’s facility. The nurse, giving her some time to wake up fully, was relieved to see her fine.
“What happened back there?” the nurse asked.
“I think I saw something, so I followed it. That’s the last thing I remember,” Lara replied.
“I’ve been hearing from some students that you had memory loss and can’t remember certain things. Have you seen a doctor for a check-up?” the nurse inquired.
“Stella will be taking care of that later,” Lara answered.
Deciding she didn’t want to lie anymore, Lara walked out of the nurse’s facility and bumped into Steve, who was on his way to check on her.
“Look who we have here. I was coming to check on you,” Steve said with a smile.
“I’m fine,” Lara responded.
“Why don’t you let me give you a ride home in my car? You must be tired and in need of some rest,” Steve suggested.
“That’s very kind of you, but I’m fine. I want to get back to class,” Lara declined his offer.
Steve escorted Lara back to the class, where everyone expressed their concern for her well-being. In that moment, she realized how much her human classmates cared about her. As the teacher resumed the lesson, Lara heard her father’s voice once again, saying, “Thank you, daughter.” A wide smile spread across her face as she joyfully focused on the ongoing lesson.
Zara lay on the bed, her eyes fluttering open as she caught sight of Arthur, eagerly awaiting her awakening. “Finally,” he whispered, taking a seat beside her. Zara, regaining her strength, struggled to contain her anger. Arthur, too, was furious with Maya, the Queen goddess of the night, for causing Zara’s weakness. But Zara, fixing her eyes on Arthur, reached out and held his hand, saying, “Do not harm Maya, for she is the one responsible for this.” Arthur looked at her in shock. “My love, she dared to touch you and made you vulnerable before the guards and maidens,” he protested.
“Leave her to me. I will pay her unexpected visits,” Zara declared.
“Very well, then. I shall leave you to rest,” Arthur conceded.
As Arthur prepared to leave the room, Zara asked, “Has it already been a week?”
Without turning to look at her, Arthur replied, “No, it hasn’t. Hellas suggested a way to expedite your recovery.”
“She is wiser than I expected,” Zara said, closing her eyes to rest.
After school, Lara, having been informed by Jane that their mother had been called regarding the incident, expected to find a doctor waiting for her at home. She arrived with Jane and Collins, and Stella enveloped Lara in a worried embrace, as if Lara were her only child.
“I’m so glad you’re feeling better now. I was worried,” Stella said.
“I’m fine, Stella,” Lara reassured her.
“I called our doctor, and he should be here soon. Go freshen up while I set the lunch on the table,” Stella instructed.
Lara entered her room, closed the door, and performed the goddess dance to appease her mother. It was widely known that the goddess Zara would respond when someone performed the dance, as it was an offering of appeasement. However, only a select few who had found favor in Zara’s eyes could perform it. Lara was one of those fortunate ones who had learned the goddess dance, and she danced in her room as she waited for her mother’s presence. As she danced, a swirl of smoke appeared, signaling the arrival of the goddess Zara. Zara, still lying on her bed, opened her eyes and her vision took her beyond their realm to an alternate universe. There, she witnessed her daughter dancing in a room. Zara watched with joy, as Lara had never danced to appease her before. As the vision ended, Lara, disappointed that her mother hadn’t responded, went to take a shower, hoping her mother would surprise her by sitting on the bed. After a few minutes, Lara emerged from the bathroom, but there was no sign of her mother or a glowing communication mirror. Suddenly, she heard Stella calling for her. Still undressed, she conjured a green singlet and trousers onto her body, unlocked the door, and went to the living room. There, she found a young doctor seated.
“Doc, here she is,” Stella said.
Lara couldn’t take her eyes off the doctor. She felt an inexplicable attraction, a strong desire that she had never experienced before. As she watched the doctor approach her, the touch of his hand on her skin intensified her longing. Yet she quickly pushed aside her desires, knowing that the doctor appeared to be married. Lara observed him as he attempted to draw her blood, but she knew her skin was impenetrable. She tilted the doctor’s head slightly and gazed into his eyes, trying to be cautious and avoid suspicion. The doctor’s eyes surrendered to her gaze, and in Greek, she commanded him to go home, assuring him that there was nothing wrong
 With her. The doctor walked towards the kitchen, where Stella was cleaning up.
“Doctor Charles,” Stella called after him.
“Mrs. there seems to be nothing wrong with her,” the doctor replied.
“Doctor, why don’t you run a brain scan?” Stella suggested.
Ignoring the question, Doctor Charles slowly left the house. Stella found his behavior peculiar since he was usually eager to find answers to his patients’ conditions. She approached Lara, who was about to join Collins and Jane at the dining table.
“Did he examine you, or did you do something to upset him?” Stella asked.
“He did, I guess. I don’t really know how doctors do their thing,” Lara replied.
“Alright, go and have your lunch,” Stella instructed. Lara joined Jane and Collins at the table and noticed Collins staring at her. She often wondered why he hardly spoke to her and only gazed at her. After their meal, Lara helped Jane with her assignments. Jane marveled at how quickly Lara learned, wishing she had a brain like hers. After finishing their tasks, Lara watched movies with Jane until Jane fell asleep on her shoulder. Lara gently lifted Jane and carried her to her room. Returning to the living room, she turned off the TV and headed to her own room to retire for the night. As she slept, she dreamt of finding herself in a temple engulfed in flames. Frightened by the cold night and eerie sounds, she materialized a sword in her hand, believing she had been pulled into this dark, fiery temple. As she prepared to face whatever awaited her, her mother appeared.
“Drop the sword, daughter,” Zara instructed.
“Mother, is it really you?” Lara asked in astonishment.
“Yes, it is. I came this way instead of appearing in your room while you danced the goddess dance,” Zara explained.
Hearing her mother mention the goddess dance, Lara ran towards her, and the sword disappeared from her grasp as she embraced her mother.
“Mother, I heard about what happened,” Lara said.
“I am fine now. You have nothing to worry about. Now tell me, how are things going with that boy who likes you?” Zara inquired.
“I can’t say for certain, but he has shown great concern for me,” Lara replied.
“Make him kiss you soon. I can’t wait to have you back home,” Zara urged.
“Okay, mother. I will,” Lara promised.
“That reminds me, the young mortal girls in our realm have been praying to you, but you haven’t been listening. While I was on the clouds, I heard them pleading for me to tell you to grant their requests,” Zara revealed.
“Mother, is it possible for me to help them while I am so far away?” Lara asked.
“Despite the curse upon you, you answered them while you were among them. Even when you learned of my condition, you strengthened the light within me. From this world, you were still able to bring me before you. Everything is possible if you believe,” Zara reassured her before vanishing, bringing the dream to an end. As Lara opened her eyes, she was surprised to see that it was already morning. She quickly freshened up and ran to catch up with Collins and Jane, who were already on their way to school. When she reached them, she asked, “Why didn’t you wake me, Jane?”
“Funny you should say that. I did try to wake you, but you were sleeping so deeply, it was as if you were in a coma. I knew you were just asleep because you moved your body,” Jane explained.
Lara smiled, feeling even more excited after seeing her mother in her dream.