18 KNOWING HER HISTORY

::Granny Susan's study room::

After eating a hearty breakfast, Jieun and Ayana walked together to go to granny Susan's study located in the outer building on the left. After being invited in by the granny, Jieun and Ayana continued to sit in the chair that was already there. Granny Susan then serves hot tea to Jieun.

"You like Jasmine green tea, don't you?" Granny Susan asked, but she seemed to already know about it.

"I...do." Jieun is absolutely love the taste and aroma of the tea actually.

Her preference is just like Aera I must say. Granny Susan recalling her memories with Jieun's mother long ago.

"Why did you ask lady Jieun about that granny. We all know you've known her for her entire life. Your way of talking sound like you just met her today. Did you happen to be sick or something? You've been weird since yesterday and now you're worried me. " Ayana couldn't hide her feelings anymore.

Granny Susan's face looked a little tense at the words of Ayana. She is too lazy to explain to her this and that and finally drove Ayana out there. Indeed, all that she wanted is to be alone with Jieun at the time.

"Ayana, go to the cafe and help watch it for a while." Grandma Susan said in a serious tone.

"What? Don't I also need to hear about what you would say to lady Jieun? We're technically inseparable. Right my lady?" Ayana refused because she was also curious about Jieuns mother.

With a sharp gaze granny Susan said in warning tone, "Just go when I'm still in a good mood or you know the consequences."

With that, just like a robot Ayana gets up from the chair and walking directly to the door without saying anything. She knows what will happen if granny Susan is in a bad mood. She probably needs to clean the big garden alone for a whole month or worse.

Just after Ayana closed the door and left, granny Susan let out a sigh of relief.

"That kid always has something to say." She grumbled a little. "Do tell me if she's bothering you, I will give her one or two lessons."

"No, it's fine. She's a good person actually. " Jieun praise Ayana as that is what she actually feel about her.

"She is really kind. That's why I assign her to you. " Granny Susan actually affirms that statement.

Doesn't want to beat around the bush any longer Jieun just directly asking what is in her mind at the time.

"As Aya said you talk to me now like this is the first time you saw me. I take it as you know that I'm not the Jieun that you all know before right? "

She is also brave just like her mother. Granny Susan thought to herself before answering.

"Yes, I do."

Jieun seem a little surprised hearing that short confession even though she has already prepared herself to find out about it.

"So, what's happening now isn't my dream?"

"You're now sleeping in your real world, but you're still alive in Dream Land as well. Just think of it as a different dimension that you discover."

"Can I go back to the real world?" Jieun feel a little scared if that means she can't meet her father again.

"Of course you can. But you'll come back here whenever you sleep at night."

"Are you know all about this because somehow it's related to my mother?"

Granny Susan was silent for a moment. Looks like she's remembering something. The ripples on her face also seemed to carry deep meaning.

"I know you must be so confused by what happens to you right now. So, don't be rush. I will tell you everything that I know. But please, if something you curious and I didn't provide any answer it is because this is not the time for you to know about it and also it is because the answer is for you to find. Are you prepare to hear the long story? "

With determination face Jieun say, "I do."

"Let's start with this village. "

Jieun nodded and make herself focus on granny Susan at the time.

"As you can see this is just a small village called Hilleo Village. The name is given by your mother. This land and property actually all belongs to you. After you mother Aera passed away she left all this to you because she knew one day you will come to Dream Land. "

Jieun's eyes widen a little when she finds out about it but she just silently waits for the next story.

"Right. Your mother live in here since her young age. Probably at her age 15 years old she already come here. After she meeting your dad when she is adult, she get married in her real world and got pregnant with you. While she pregnant she still come here with you in her stomach and the prophecy said that the child will have the same fate as her mother and will come here one day. As you already exist here, after she giving birth, your shadow always accompany her when she's here. You'll never remember it, but that's why everyone here knows about you. "

"My shadow? " Jieun finally says something because she finds it hard to believe it.

"Yes. You live here, but not your soul. If people really saw through you, your eyes never look like you're living even you still can make conversation with us and live like normal people here. That's why I was so shocked when I saw you last night. There is light coming from your eyes which is never happen before. "

"But, my dad never told me about this." Jieun told her as she never heard this kind of story before.

"Aera never told your father about this. This is the one secret that she never told anyone and she suffers because of it. She doesn't want your father to know that she was different and that, she also craving to live a normal life for her entire life. "

"But, how can I come here suddenly when all these years I live a normal life?"

"I think you will find the answer in your real world when you wake up soon." Granny Susan then took picture taken inside the mansion long before. It's a picture of Jieun and her mother.

"This is…" Jieun cannot believe her eyes at that time. That was her picture in that mansion with her mother. She can see her eyes that look dull there. Maybe that is what granny Susan means before.

"I am here." Jieun say in a low voice.

"After knowing about the prophecy your mother actually tries to prevent you to ever come here but lastly she knows that she cannot fight fate. That's why I was so strict to your shadow not allowing you to get involved with people, or doing something reckless because you're the special child. Your existence is supposed to be secret. "

"Why is that?"

"Your mother is actually working with the previous king as a palace physician. With her knowledge about the herbs and medicine, the king honor her with this land and village. But after the king passed away, your mother never set foot again in the palace and wanted to live a quiet life here. She also asks me not to let anyone, especially from the palace know that you are her child. And she doesn't want you to ever leave this place. But when asked, Aera never told why she was suddenly too possessive and seemed to live in fear. But, at the end of her life she managed to tell me that if you come here, whatever way of life you choose, she asked me to support, protect and help you. Because no one can stop you from choosing your own destiny. And also because she believes in you completely. " Granny Susan said at a lengthy explanation.

"But… Why is there is a prophecy? What is this world actually? " Jieun can't seem to understand how this new world work.

"This world also contains other lands. Our king in Dream Land has conquered all small areas in this world called winter region, spring region, summer region and autumn region. As their name, their season is the same for all years. Only Dream Land got 4 season in here. Meanwhile there are also other big kingdom which is Coastal Land, Elysium Land and also Devil Land. Before, our country is in a good term with Coastal and Elysium land, but never with the Devil land. You can guess who they are with just the name. The prophecy that your mother tells actually from Elysium Land. People in Elysium land are gifted with the knowledge for the future. When your mother comes across someone in there she has been told about her. "

"You mean everyone in this world has power?"

"We all do. People in the Dream Land can use power of earth, water, fire and wind. Like me, I can use wind power. We use this power to manage our daily life. Some people will look stronger than others if they know how to manipulate the power well. And people like that, usually works in the palace as the king's soldiers. Each land has its own strengths and specifics power that have been passed down from generation to generation. Except you… " Granny Susan suddenly sound serious.

Jieun give a curious look.

"The reason why your mother is special and treated well by the king is not only because of her knowledge but also because she is different. She does not have the power like all of us here just like you. There is a story that was once told by the witch ..."

"The witch?" Jieun is surprise again. Why are there so many fairy tales in this world?

"Yes. The king's father previously only trusted the people of Elysium to foretell something, but he also allowed representatives from the Devil Land who were witches to work in the palace as a sign of peace with the land just to avoid war. But, suddenly something happened. After his death and the new king took over the crown, he now only joins hands with the Devil Land to use the power of their sorcerers to foretell something and sever ties with the Elysium Land."

"So… Not only Elysium people can do that but also people in devil land? And we are now not in good term with other land except devil land? " Jieun try to manage her thinking.

"But, the witch is using a black magic. Black magic is never good to begin with. We never know what they could do behind our back. And yes, because of that, other lands no longer agree with our country since we joined hands with the Devil Land as their reputation is never good to begin with. By the way, the witch once says that the special one will hold this world in the palm of her hands and whatever she chose will bring light or doom to others. "

"So they know that someone special is a girl and can bring them good luck or bad things?" Jieun begin to understand.

"Yes. That's why your mother wants to protect you."

"Huh..." Jieun sighed for a moment while holding her head which started to ache. Too many things were playing in her mind at the time, also too many questions that she didn't know how she should ask.

"Did people in Dream Land know about all this. About the king and the Devil Land?"

"I believe they don't. I know it just because your mother told me about that. It doesn't means that our king or the royal family is having a bad intention or something. It is all about their decision and their political thinking that normal people like us can never understand it. People like us, as long as this world is in peace it is enough for us to keep loyal to the king."

"But... Did I need to avoid the royal now?" Jieun want confirmation.

"It's all your choice my child. Your mother already carrying out her responsibilities to protect you. We will never know our fate but it's up to you to avoid fate or face it."

Granny Susan seemed to understand Jieun's heart at the time. She put her hand on Jieun's shoulder softly. Jieun raised her face to look towards the granny with soft smile.

"Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you while I'm still alive. If you have something to say or have any question, I'll be here for you. But for now, let's end this here. I don't want you feel too overwhelmed by all this. While you're here the most important thing is that you get along with this environment first. That's why I'm telling you all this so you can be prepared. I don't intend to burden you. "

"No, it's not. I'm glad I found out all this thing actually as I was here in confused thoughts since yesterday. I must say thank you. " Jieun said honestly.

"Go and rest first. You'll need it."

Jieun then comply with that suggestion.