Amora looked at Anita. "I know her story. Like I know many stories here. But I am not her."
"Your father?" Anita asked..
"A guardian. Secrets. What secrets? What was his role?"
Amora's eyes held pain. "He was strong and quiet. He guarded knowledge. He kept the city's mind safe."
"His name?" Anita pressed.
Amora paused. "His name isn't key. His legacy is. The values he gave me."
"Values of secrets?" Anita asked. "Hiding who you are?"
"Values of wisdom," Amora said. "Knowing when to use power. To guide. To protect."
"But why hide?" Anita asked. "Why not tell us who you are?"
Amora smiled, a sad smile. "Who I am doesn't matter. The stories matter. The dreams. The future of the city. We build it together."
Roman pulled Amora away. "We have to leave. Now."
"Leave? To where?" Amora asked.
"The old city," Roman said. "The seeds are wild. They're changing everything."
"Changing how?" Amora asked.
"They're building something," Roman said. "Something dark. And it's calling to Lilian."
"Calling to her?" Amora asked.
"Like a beacon," Roman said. "A dark beacon. And it's growing stronger."
"Stronger with what?" Amora asked.
"With fear," Roman said. "With every shadow in our hearts. And in the old city… the shadows are endless."
"Endless?" Anita asked, pushing closer.
Amora looked at her. "Endless. And they're hungry. Hungry for Lilian. And for the power the seeds hold. We have to go. Before it's too late. Before the shadows consume us all."
Amora dodged questions. She was a mystery. But her stories mattered. Her belief in dreams mattered. For now, that was enough.
"Amora," Anita asked, voice sharp, "you know the city too well. Like you lived its history."
Amora smiled, but her jaw tightened. "I studied the city. Deeply."
"But Ariella?" Anita asked. "Your mother. A rebel. Why mention her?"
Murmurs spread. Ariella's name sparked questions.
"Ariella's story," Amora said, voice sad, "is a warning. About ambition. I show the city's dark side."
"You speak like you knew her," Anita said.
Amora looked at Anita. "I know her story. Like many here. But I am not trapped by the past."
"Your father?" Anita asked. "A guardian. Secrets. What secrets?"
Roman pulled Amora away. "We leave. Now."
"Why now?" Amora asked.
"The seeds," Roman said. "They're changing. The old city is dangerous."
"Dangerous how?" Amora asked.
"They're building something," Roman said. "A dark thing. And Lilian is part of it."
"Part of what?" Amora asked.
"I don't know," Roman said. "But it's hungry. Hungry for her."
"Hungry for her?" Anita asked, pushing closer.
Amora looked at Anita. "We go to find Lilian. But the old city… it's a trap. The seeds show you your fears. And they grow stronger."
"Stronger with what?" Anita asked.
"With every shadow," Amora said. "Every hidden fear. And in the old city… the shadows are endless. They want Lilian. And they want… something else."
"Something else?" Roman asked.
"Something the seeds can unlock," Amora said. "Something that will change us all. Forever."
Amora's eyes showed pain. "My father," she whispered, "was strong and silent. He guarded knowledge. He kept the city's mind safe."
"His name?" Anita asked.
Amora paused. "His name doesn't matter. His legacy does. The values he taught me."
"Values of secrets?" Anita asked. "Hiding who you are?"
"Values of wisdom," Amora said. "Knowing when to use power. To guide. To protect."
"But why hide?" Anita asked. "Why not tell us your purpose?"
Amora smiled, a sad smile. "Who I am isn't key. The stories are. The dreams. The city's future. We build it together."
Anita knew she couldn't get more. Amora dodged every question. She was a mystery. But her stories mattered. Her hope mattered. For now, that was enough.
Roman stepped forward. "We have to go. Now."
"Why now?" Amora asked.
"The seeds," Roman said. "They're wild. They're changing the old city. It's dangerous."
"Dangerous how?" Amora asked.
"They're building something," Roman said. "Something dark. And Lilian is part of it."
"Part of what?" Amora asked.
"I don't know," Roman said. "But it's growing. With every shadow. Every fear."
"Every fear?" Anita asked.
"Yes," Amora said. "And the old city is full of them. We have to find Lilian. Before it's too late."
"Too late for what?" Anita asked.
Amora looked at Roman. "The seeds… they want something. Something they need Lilian to get. And if they get it… the city will never be the same."
"What do they want?" Roman asked.
Amora's eyes were dark. "They want to break the city's mind. To control its dreams.
Five years gone. Amora left her old life. The Whispering Dome, her stories, all faded away.
She went to the capital. Power lived there. Secrets too. Big buildings, clean gardens, guards everywhere. Different from her old home.
She entered the Prime Minister's house. Fancy, powerful. Samuel, her father, stood tall. His eyes showed pride and longing. Ariella, her mother, moved with grace. Her eyes were sharp, but kind.
"Amora," Samuel said, his voice warm. "Too long."
"You're a great storyteller," Ariella said, a small smile. "The city speaks of you."
Amora smiled back. "Good to see you."
Roman stepped into the room, his face tight. "Amora, we have a problem."
"Here?" Amora asked.
"Lilian," Roman said. "The seeds… they're changing. Fast."
"Changing how?" Amora asked.
"They're merging," Roman said. "Becoming one. And they're pulling Lilian into the old city's heart."
"Merging?" Samuel asked. "What does that mean?"
"It means," Amora said, "they're becoming a single mind. A dark mind. And they need Lilian to control it."
"Control what?" Ariella asked.
"The city's dreams," Amora said. "To twist them. To break them."
"Why now?" Samuel asked.
"They're ready," Roman said. "The shadows are strong enough. And they have a way to amplify them."
"A way?" Amora asked.
"An artifact," Roman said. "Hidden in the old city. It can turn fear into power."
"Power for what?" Ariella asked.
"To rewrite reality," Amora said. "To make nightmares real. We have to stop them. Now. Before the city's dreams become its end."
They sat down. The room felt heavy. They talked about the city. Its changes. Its problems. They talked about Amora's stories.
"We watched you," Samuel said, pride in his eyes. "You changed lives, Amora."
"We're proud," Ariella said, her voice soft.
Amora felt warm. "Thank you."
Then, they talked about the future. "What's next?" Samuel asked. "Back to the Dome?"