Chapter 1 We Will Meet Again

• Deep in the heart of the American Rocky Mountains, bathed in the warm glow of the late summer sun, a young girl stood beside an unmarked tombstone, her unique tribal garb contrasting with the rugged landscape. She was Meredith, the long-lost daughter of the Kane family in Northerndale.
• In a case of mistaken identity, Meredith had been switched with another baby at the hospital seventeen years ago, growing up blissfully unaware of her true heritage.
• Now, with the truth finally revealed. Today, she was embarking on a journey to the unfamiliar world of city life, a world she had never known.
• "Let's head down, Merry. Your family should be arriving soon. Once you're back in the city, you'll be officially part of the Kanes. Put the past behind you..."
• The old woman's gaze shifted from the tombstone to the young girl.
• "Grandma, you head down first. I want to stay here for a bit," Meredith replied softly, her eyes lingering on the tombstone.
• The old woman gave another glance at the tombstone and sighed, "Don’t be too long, Merry."
• With that, she turned and left, leaving Meredith alone to her thoughts.
• Later, a sudden rustling sound from the woods behind her shattered the silence. Something was moving through the trees, approaching Meredith with urgency.
• Meredith cautiously turned around, her long eyelashes casting distinct shadows under the sunlight, lending a mysterious and somber quality to her gaze.
• Suddenly, an imposing figure clad in rugged combat suit emerged from the woods. It was Zenon Stormborn. His face was smudged with dirt, making their features indistinguishable.
• However, Meredith's eyes were instantly drawn to the emblem on their right arm. The rustling sounds from the woods continued, hinting at more unseen figures lurking within.
• "Danger! Run!" the man let out a low growl. His surprise at finding someone in this remote, mountainous region was evident.
• His voice drained of strength, trailed off as he stumbled. He crashed to the ground, sprawled out amidst the lush grass, a crimson stain spreading across it.
• Meredith furrowed. The intensity of the blood scent told her this man had lost a significant amount of blood. If she wouldn't intervene and stop the bleeding soon, he'd bleed out.
• Just then, two men emerged from the rustling woods.
• "Look! There's a girl here!" exclaimed the curly-haired man excitedly.
• "Let's take her with us," the bald man behind him echoed, his thick lips curling into a lecherous grin. Seeing a beautiful girl in this desolate region had clearly stirred something within him.
• Meredith's heart pounded like a drum in her chest. Having lived in the mountains for eleven years, she was no stranger to its dangers. But this was the first time she had faced such a situation.
• She couldn't help but feel relief that her grandmother had already left the scene and was safe at home now.
• She glanced at the weapons in their hands and mustered a weak voice, "Please don't hurt me. I'm just an ordinary villager..."
• The bald man stepped forward, lifting Meredith's chin with the spout of his gun. He fixed his gaze on her elegant features and unblemished skin that seemed to invite touch...
• He licked his lips and grinned, "Of course, sweetheart. Join us, and I'll show you a life of excitement and luxury."
• Meredith glanced at the menacing gun, her long lashes quivering slightly. She gasped, "Spare my life; I'll do whatever you want. I can go with you."
• Her apparent submission only fueled the man's predatory intentions. He chuckled, "Since you're up for anything, let's get started!"
• Snicker echoed around as the bald man carelessly let his weapon drop, seizing Meredith's right arm and forcefully pulling her into his embrace.
• Meredith's left hand deftly moved along the side of her garb as she collided with his chest, revealing a small but potent device. In a lightning-fast motion, she delivered a non-lethal shock that rendered the bald man unconscious.
• "Ugh..." Before succumbing to unconsciousness, he caught a glimpse of Meredith's cold, steely eyes, devoid of any trace of her earlier timidity.
• Meanwhile, the curly-haired man, sensing trouble, let out a curse and raised his gun. However, fearing for the safety of his bald companion, he aimed the dark barrel at Meredith.
• Reacting quickly, Meredith shoved the unconscious bald man aside, rolled nimbly on the ground, and positioned herself behind a tombstone.
• She grabbed a handful of white powder from a nearby basket and flung it at the curly-haired man.
• Simultaneously, he loaded his gun, but he was still a step too late.
• The white powder dispersed in the air, and as he inhaled it, his vision blurred, his senses weakened, and then he fainted.
• The potent concoction she'd used, a homemade animal repellent with no antidote, had knocked the guy out cold for at least an hour.
• As Meredith got to her feet, she noticed the new garb her grandmother had sewn for her, now stained and snagged. A frown creased her beautiful eyebrows.
• She turned her attention to the fallen man and realized a bullet had pierced his right scapula, and blood was oozing out.
• Meredith loosened the man's heavy combat suit, raising her garb to reveal a collection of tools concealed beneath the fabric.
• Choosing one, she casually gathered some leaves and plants, chewed them, and spat the mixture onto the man's wounded scapula. Without a second thought, she tore a strip of cloth from her torn garb and wrapped it around the injury.
• The critical nature of the situation made bullet extraction impossible.
• Zenon's consciousness flickered back, his right shoulder feeling numb but pain-free. In a daze, he felt hands on his chest, and a sudden wave of alarm hit him.
• Just as Meredith finished tending to the wound, her hand was captured by a larger one.
• "Relax, I'm just helping you with the wound," she explained soothingly.
• Zenon finally got a clear look at the girl's face and couldn't help but stare in disbelief, "...Naomi?!"
• Upon hearing that name, Meredith's stoic face transformed into one of shock.
• Through her widened pupils, she caught a glimpse of the man's face, smeared with dirt. With a sudden surge of strength, she wrenched her hand free from his grasp and stepped back.
• Naomi is a guarded secret known only to the Stormborn family! Could this man be one of the Stormborns?!