The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the modest suburban street as Diana finished securing the last lock on their front door.

Her fingers trembled slightly—not from the morning chill that whispered through the maple trees, but from the anticipation of what lay ahead.

She was a little nervous about going back to the magical realm, as she didn’t have any good memories. She had grown so accustomed to the life here that she had forgotten about that realm.

But now, as Jaegar asked her, she couldn’t deny his request.

Turning from the door, she made her way around the side of their weathered three-story home, her footsteps muffled by the carpet of fallen leaves.

The backyard stretched before her, enclosed by a tall wooden fence that had seen better years, its paint peeling in places where ivy had claimed dominion.

Here, away from prying eyes and the curious glances of neighbors, they could begin their true journey.

Jaegar stood waiting beneath the old oak tree that dominated the center of their yard, its gnarled branches reaching skyward like the arms of some guardian. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

At twenty-one, he possessed an otherworldly presence that seemed to shimmer just beneath his human facade. His dark hair caught the light, and his eyes—those remarkable eyes that seemed to hold depths of starlight—watched her approach with a mixture of affection and barely contained power.

"Ready, Mom?" he asked softly, using the title that had become as natural as breathing, though they both knew the truth of their relationship.

It was more than intimate, a bond that was forged through the test of time.

Diana nodded, reaching up to adjust the simple silver pendant that hung at her throat—a protective charm Angelina had crafted decades ago.

"As ready as one can be for visiting your grandmother," she replied with a wry smile that didn’t quite mask her nervousness.

Jaegar stepped forward and gently drew her into his embrace.

The moment his arms encircled her, Diana felt the warmth of Jaegar.

He leaned in closer, pressing his lips to hers, kissing her for a second, tenderly and passionately, before pulling back slightly to gaze into her eyes with unwavering love and reassurance. "Just relax, Mother, for it is me, Jaegar, who is with you," he whispered.

She playfully slapped his arm, smiling at him, as she wrapped her arms around him.

Unlike the wizards of old tales who required elaborate rituals, ancient words, or mystical implements, Jaegar’s gift was as natural as drawing breath. His magic flowed from pure intention, guided by will alone.

The world around them began to shimmer and fade, reality bending like heat waves rising from summer pavement.

Diana closed her eyes and pressed closer to her son, feeling the ground disappear beneath their feet as they were pulled into the space between spaces, that void realm that existed in the pause between heartbeats.

When the sensation of movement ceased and solid earth materialized beneath them once more, Diana opened her eyes to find herself standing before a scene that belonged more to forgotten fairy tales than the modern world they had just left behind.

It was like seeing a new one. The appearance of the house had changed yet again. It wasn’t the same as she remembered.

Before them rose a stone wall, roughly hewn from local granite and standing a full meter in height. Moss and lichen decorated its surface in intricate patterns, while wild roses had claimed portions of it for their own, their thorny vines creating natural battlements along its length.

Beyond the wall, the farm spread out in pastoral splendor that seemed untouched by the march of centuries.

The farmhouse itself was a magnificent structure of timber and stone, its peaked roofs covered in slate tiles that gleamed like dragon scales in the fading light. Smoke curled lazily from two chimneys, promising warmth within. Tall windows glowed with golden lamplight, and flower boxes beneath each sill overflowed with late-blooming chrysanthemums in shades of burgundy and gold.

To the left stood a barn of impressive proportions, its weathered red sides speaking of countless seasons endured.

Through its open doors, Diana could glimpse the gentle movement of cattle—creatures that were likely far more than they appeared, knowing Angelina’s tendency toward the extraordinary. The soft lowing of the beasts mingled with the evening chorus of crickets and the distant hoot of an owl claiming its territory.

Gardens stretched in carefully tended plots around the buildings, though even in the gathering dusk, Diana could see that these were no ordinary vegetables and herbs.

Plants with leaves that seemed to glow with their own inner light grew alongside mundane carrots and potatoes.

A section devoted to what appeared to be munflowers was just beginning to open its pale, luminescent blooms to greet the approaching night.

Jaegar took Diana’s hand, guiding her along the whitestone path that wound through herb gardens.

As they approached the main entrance, where carved oak doors stood framed by climbing ivy that bloomed out of season, the air itself seemed to thicken with anticipation.

The heavy doors swung open before they could knock, revealing a figure that commanded immediate respect.

Sage Eradarin emerged from the shadowed doorway.

"Oh, Jaegar," the sage’s voice resonated with warmth and surprise.

"It was you who came. I just sensed a huge surge of energy, so it was you." His weathered features creased into a smile that transformed his austere face, revealing the fondness of someone who had watched a child grow into something magnificent and terrible.

Jaegar answered with a smile.

"Hey, Old man. It’s good to see you again."

Diana frowned, snapping towards him. She didn’t know who the sage was, but calling him "old man" directly to his face was quite rude. She was staring at him with a look of disapproval.

He gestured to Diana, who stood slightly behind him, her nervousness evident in the way she clutched her traveling cloak.

"This is my mother, Diana."

Then she turned to look at the Sage, smiling.