Prologue
Year 1998
HUMAN REALM
Nuscha...
She giggled like a child after hearing her name being whispered by a soft passing wind.
Her childlike laughter broke the silence and tranquility of the rainforest.
Her real beauty was beyond the word beautiful that the temporary meatsuit she borrowed didn’t do her justice. It was a weak body of flesh that couldn’t even hold an ounce of her magic. Nevertheless, it was enough for a furtive, short period of indulgence.
Nuscha knew how risky it was for her to go on wandering around the Human Realm, but to her defense, she had been to that place more than a thousand times before.
It was her safe haven, her secret paradise on earth.
Striking lavender eyes drank in the beauty of the rainforest around her, knowing that it was her last goodbye.
Looking up, she lifted her hands skywards admiring the gigantic trees that stood tall and proud, hindering the sunlight from making it through the canopy of the trees above. It was gently coating the thick forest with darkness, making it impossible for a normal human to see the surrounding.
But she wasn’t, not even close to one.
Her enhanced vision made it easier for her to see through the almost dark forest floor. She even sighted various fruit hanging among the leaves in different colors; adding life to the surrounding.
It was eerily beautiful, just like the real her.
Her smooth steps made tiny squishing sounds on the damp forest floor, startling most of the small critters that ran about. Their sounds and noises automatically stopped as she prowled her way towards her favorite waterfall spot.
Nuscha inhaled a deep breath, letting the poignant odor of decaying leaves and musty earth assault her sensitive nostrils. She was basking in delight from the subtle aroma of wildflowers, rain, and pine.
The forest was undisturbingly peaceful.
She sighed in contentment.
It was the reason why she risked everything just to have one last enjoyment before she surrendered herself to her maturity ascension. The paradise in front of her was all worth it.
Nuscha squealed in delight when finally she found what she came for.
I will miss this place... She thought.
She excitedly stripped off her white chiffon gown and strappy sandals. Her straight golden hair dangled beautifully, covering the sensitive part of her creamy back.
She hummed a tune, dipping herself slowly into the cold crystal clear waters. Her innocent face matched her melodic voice that filled the serene place. Closing her eyes, she let the relaxing sound of the waters crushing down the rocks lull her to sleep.
“Just exactly where I want you to be,” came a man’s dangerous voice disrupting her moment of peace.
“Huh?” she gasped.
Her face instantly paled; lavender eyes widened with surprise. She quickly swam further into the water and turned to face her intruder, “who are you?”
Nuscha knew what the man was, however, she was having a bad feeling about his intentions.
“You have something that I want,” he vaguely answered. There was something uncanny by the way he looked at her. The evil glint in his fierce dark blue eyes made her heart skip a beat or two.
“You are crossing the line wizard. How dare you come near me without my permission!” she yelled at him, trying to look unafraid, regardless of the chill that slowly crawled her veins causing her to involuntarily shiver. Glaring at the seven foot tall, brawny man wearing a Victorian clothing, she tried to make subtle small steps backward.
The wizard’s thick lips quirked, forming a smug smile. He inclined his head slightly to the left, “don’t play coy. My intention is very clear. Catching you off guard in that weak humanmeat form is my only chance.”
Nuscha sucked in a surprised gasp. The danger of her situation slowly sinking in.
“You will be severely punished for this treachery,” her alarmed tone betrayed her strong facade, fearful eyes followed his every move. She puffed a nervous breath when the man picked up her discarded clothes.
“I believe, these, won’t be needed,” he raised the clothes in the air and murmured something like a spell, burning the garments.
Cold shivers ran down her spine but it wasn’t due to the icy water that enveloped her. She made a few more steps backward, water level reaching her small chin. Her arms covered her feminine parts underwater—the only thing that stood in between her unclothed body and her intruder’s perverted eyes.
“You’re making a big mistake. Turn around and I will forget this ever happened,” she desperately tried to persuade him.
“PARSIS STATIMUS FLOMINUM STAGNUM!” He recited a spell in a bizarre language.
Her shrieks echoed being suddenly lifted out of the water by an invincible force. She tried to thrash and scream for help but it was useless. Her body was paralyzed and her mouth was involuntarily shut close. Her tears flowed freely as she stared at the tree’s canopy helplessly.
Was it worth risking everything now? She bitterly scolded herself.
The wizard’s eyes bulged in anticipation. His hungry gaze gave her exposed nakedness a satisfied appraisal.
“Don’t worry, you will survive this. I just want a child. Let me tell you a secret... I very well know that it will take a hundred years in this world before someone from your realm will notice your absence. It’s more than enough time for me to complete my tasks,” he bent down to whisper in her ear when she floated stagnant to his waist level.
Nuscha was shocked by his revelation, her lavender eyes full of terror. She was crying without sound, bound with a powerful spell, not able to move an inch or speak, waiting for her unavoidable tragic fate.
She never felt so weak and powerless in her entire existence.
In the midst of her helplessness, she prayed and prayed. In spite of knowing that her prayers won’t be heard, she still persisted. She was hoping against hope that everything was just a bad dream. A nightmare that she would soon wake up to.
Her hopes were soon crushed. Her eyes widened as she watched the man took off his own clothing and hastily settled her immobilized body onto the unforgiving coldness of the damp forest floor. She wanted to flinch when she felt the man’s cold and clammy hands peeled her hands to her sides, but she couldn’t.
Nuscha was horrified and disgusted but all she could do was cry silently. She maybe immobile but she felt every pain when her assaulter savaged her body over and over again until she could no longer bear it—both physically and emotionally. The wizard didn’t only spoiled and tarnished her borrowed body, but most importantly, her innocence and essence. Her soul was shattered.
Nuscha mentally shut herself down and succumbed to the temporary relief of unconsciousness brought on by her miserable state.
“N-nuscha...” A worried and hushed voice jolted her up. Warm hands nudged her and supported her back, feeling a soft silky fabric draped around her shoulders.
“P-please stop. Stop, stop, stop...” Nuscha hysterically sobbed and begged. Her body was shaking uncontrollably from fear. Frightened, she aggressively thrashed, scooting away from the prying hands that tried to touch her battered body. She was trying to cower behind her bruised arms as if her life depended on it.
“Sshhh. It’s me, Nuscha. Hush, he might hear us...” A woman’s soft voice tried to soothe her.
Nuscha abruptly stilled. She nervously peered out of her hand and looked up, finally recognizing the familiar feminine voice amidst her hysterical outbursts. Terrified lavender eyes locked up with a sad sapphire blue ones.
“Sy—Sylvie... How did you know I was here?” she asked stammering, relief was evident on her swollen eyes from non-stop crying.
“We have no time, here take this. Listen carefully old friend, you cannot turn back to your original form until the time you give birth.” Sylvie enclosed a bundle of cash in her trembling hands then paused glancing around, sensing the inevitable.
Nuscha’s eyes widened in disbelief, “I, I—I’m with a child?” She asked in disbelief, placing one hand on her still flat belly while the other clasped the bundle of money.
“No time, no time. He already sensed me. The child was molded by magic. Take care of her; she will be the key to the future. Do not stay in one place more than a year.” Sylvie gave her rapid, cryptic instructions.
“What?" She asked confused. Shaking her head vigorously, "why you are talking like we... We’re not gonna see each other anymore?” Nuscha gave a horrified expression as realization dawned upon her from Sylvie’s verbal insinuations. She trailed her gaze to the silk orange cloak draped around her and the combat uniform that her friend was wearing complete with battle armor and sword.
“N-no, no, no Sylvie. You cannot do this. Let’s get out of here together before he comes. P-please, I cannot lose you.” Nuscha was a stuttering mess. She begged her only friend, shaking hands gripping Sylvie’s arm not wanting to let go. As selfish as it may sound, but, she was scared to be alone in a world she barely even know.
How would she raise a child without her powers; without her magic?
“This has to be done. Goodbye Nuscha.” Sylvie gave her a sad smile, her ash white hair gave a gloomy aura to her pixie-like face, pulling her arm away from Nuscha’s flimsy grasp.
“No chance! She will stay with me,” came the blaring, devilish shout of the wizard. He appeared out of nowhere with a face so red with anger.
Instantly, Nuscha recoiled in horror behind Sylvie. Her naked body—underneath the cloak—was shuddering from the assault of memories of the horrible experience she had from the man.
“Too late wizard!” Sylvie gave the man a challenging look.
With one flick of her wrist, orange flames emerged from her fingers. It swallowed up the fragile form behind her, sending the stunned Nuscha somewhere very far away from them.
The wizard’s face distorted with rage, dark blue eyes showed primal hunger for killing. He lunged at Sylvie the moment he saw the orange flames submerged into Nuscha but he was too late.
“Noooooo!” He smashed into a barrier that was protecting Sylvie from his attack.
“By the power of The Goddess Phoenix invested in me, I hereby bestow upon you the pull’s curse! From now on, you will be tossed away to an unknown realm. There you shall be imprisoned for eternity.”
After her words, Sylvie’s body was diffused into a raging orange fire inferno, consuming the whole small island disappearing into nothingness, not leaving even a tiny trace behind.
The wizard dissipated into thin air together with what was once a beautiful paradise islet.
Sylvie glowed blindingly bright then dissolved into a fluctuating orange cord-like light which traveled towards the Antartica.
It headed straight to a lone igloo, in the middle of vast snows.
It seeped through the belly of the sleeping form of a woman.
“Haaaah!” her lavender eyes shot open as she felt a strong magic laced to her unborn child.
Deep within her, grows the key.
Deep within her grows Venuscha.
Her unborn child who would be known as Venus Andrews in that realm.
