1 Introduction

Under the radiant sun, young Mia hummed tunes, her joyful steps carrying her toward the tree nestled in the heart of the field. Abruptly, her song faded as she spotted a boy, his back turned to her, standing by the tree. He appeared a few years older than Mia.

Mia stepped closer, reaching out to the boy. Before she could speak, he took her hand, chuckling, "Silly girl, enough of your tricks. Come with me, I have something to show you."

The boy sprinted ahead, still holding Mia's hand as she trailed behind, a sense of familiarity enveloping her. Despite the connection, his face remained a mystery, visible only from behind. Fueled by curiosity, she couldn't help but ask, "Do we know each other? Can I see your face?''

The boy halted and let go of her hand, yet his face remained hidden. 'You claimed we know each other. Don't you recognize me?' he questioned.

Innocently, she responded, 'No, but if I could just...'

Her words hung in the air as the boy sprinted away once more. She chased after him, pleading for him to stop, but her pleas fell on deaf ears.

She screamed, 'Don't go, please!'

But he vanished, and she gets surrounded by flames. Fear and tears consumed her as she cried out for help, but her pleas echoed unanswered in the empty expanse.

"Sister, wake up," the twins pleaded, sitting close to her, tightly grasping her hands. They attempted to rouse her, but she continued to scream and cry. Suddenly, her scream pierced the air, and her eyes snapped open. Her face was drenched with tears, her throat parched from the relentless screaming.

Both her siblings enveloped her in a comforting hug as she woke. After wiping away her tears, she hugged them back, attempting to speak but breaking into a sudden coughing fit. Liana swiftly fetched a glass of water, which Mia gratefully drank. Liana placed the glass back on the table before returning to her sister. Since the accident at the age of 10, Mia had been haunted by nightmares, recurring every few days.

"Sister, are you alright? We were so worried about you," Cheng said, concern etched across his face.

"Oh, dear, I'm fine. I'm sorry for making both of you worried," Mia replied, managing a faint smile.

Suddenly, a flash of light illuminated the room. "You crazy human, you scared the hell out of me," came the exasperated voice, breaking the tension in the air.

Mia sneered, "So, the great magical and powerful Hao Hao can also be scared." The three siblings burst into laughter.

"Humph, ungrateful," Hao retorted, his tone edged with annoyance.

"Come on, dear Hao, don't be angry. I was thinking about giving you some chocolates, but now that you're upset, you won't need them anymore, right?" Mia teased him playfully.

"Who said I'm angry? I was just joking," little Hao chimed in, his expression suddenly changing.

They all shared a laugh, teasing each other. After a while of playful banter, they sat down to enjoy their breakfast together.

Liana and Cheng, Mia's twin siblings, were just 13 years old when their parents passed away, leaving Mia, who was 16, to take care of them. Alongside them was Hao, a magical creature known as a familiar, who had a peculiar fondness for chocolate. After consuming human food, chocolate became his ultimate weakness, and he would do anything Mia requested as long as she rewarded him with chocolates. Resembling a small, adorable puppy, Hao's soul had been trapped in the Black Rose until Mia's birth.

After their breakfast, Mia prepared to leave. Just as she was about to step out, the two twins hurriedly approached her.

"Sister, are you going to the magical beast's meeting?" Cheng asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"I am, but I won't take you guys," she informed them firmly.

"Sister, you always make excuses and never take us there. We also want to see what the magical beasts look like," Liana pleaded, her expression tinged with sadness.

"If you want to know how they look, you will find out one day. I understand that you might feel frustrated because I've been saying this since you first asked me to take you there. You both may not understand my reasons now, but one day you will realize that I'm doing this to protect you. You're my only family, and I want to keep you safe. Please, promise me you won't step out of the house when I'm not around. This is the only place where my magic can protect you," she said, gently rubbing their heads, before walking away with a sense of responsibility etched on her face.

3,000 years ago ...

In this world, every human possessed magical powers, a gift that set them apart. However, among the diverse array of wild beasts, magic remained absent.

Amidst them all, there existed a malevolent magician wielding dark powers that set him apart from the rest. He was loathed not just by humans but also by the beasts, repulsed by his sinister abilities. In his eyes, every being, both human and beast alike, was a potential enemy. Driven by his thirst for recognition, he journeyed across the globe, seeking a place where his malevolence would be acknowledged and respected.

One day, he halted at a cave nestled within the vast lands, a place that held the essence of every kind of magic imaginable (modern-day China). Within its depths resided various species of majestic dragons.

Driven by his insatiable thirst for power, he dedicated himself to mastering the arcane arts. Deep within the confines of the cave, he practiced his magic. For his spells, he utilized blood crystals, extracted from the hearts of fallen beasts, and an array of enchanted herbs imbued with diverse magical essences — water, ice, fire, wind, earth, nature, and light. With intricate precision, he melded these elements together, weaving a tapestry of formidable power.

Instead of gaining power, a catastrophic blast ensued, shaking the very foundations of the Earth. This cataclysmic event was the result of the malevolent magic he had unleashed. The blast greedily siphoned all magic from every being on Earth, amalgamating it in a colossal surge, driven by his delusion of absorbing all the magic for himself. However, the human form couldn't withstand such immense power. The amalgamated magic took shape as a colossal disk, hovering ominously.

In his reckless attempt to harness this overwhelming force, the man was reduced to ashes, consumed by his own ambition. Simultaneously, the magical disk shattered into countless fragments, which scattered into the vast expanse of the sky, carrying with them the remnants of the world's lost magic.