Genia shrugged and said, "Curiosity! A girl loves to see new places. And anyway, I'm here on the condition of a month's freedom, remember? Freedom doesn't just mean walking around the room, but experiencing the whole world. So I want to visit your area as well."
Alex watched her for a while. He knew Genia was hiding something, but her request was giving him a golden opportunity. If Genia went to his area, he would be able to observe her more closely. He said, "My area is not as comfortable as Kevin's palace. The rules there are strict, and the atmosphere is serious."
Genia giggled and said, "Seriousness is what I like. Kevin's noise is giving me a headache now. So, will you take me, or should I find my own way?"
A very faint smile appeared on Alex's lips, and he said, "Don't try to find the way. The paths through that forest won't bring you back. I'll take you there."
As both of them turned back towards the palace, they found Kevin standing at the turn of the corridor. As soon as he saw Alex and Genia together, his eyes started burning like embers.
"What is going on?" Kevin's voice echoed. He quickly moved towards them and stood in front of Genia.
Genia smiled and said, "Good morning, Kevin! We were just planning a short trip."
Kevin gave Alex a sharp look. He asked, "Trip?"
Genia replied, "Yes, a trip. And that too in Alex's area! I've seen your area, but I want to see Alex's area too."
"In Alex's territory? Of course not! You're not going anywhere."
Kevin's anger was at its peak. He didn't want Genia to get close to Alex.
Genia narrowed her eyes and questioned, "Why not? Am I a prisoner here?"
"Not a prisoner, my love, but the protected area is boring. There are only books, silence, and dust."
Kevin tried to hold her hand, but Genia cleverly pulled her hand back.
Kevin continued, "Stay with me. I'll take you to waterfalls, we'll go hunting, I'll show you things you've never seen before..."
Alex interrupted Kevin in a cold voice, "Kevin, she is going with my permission, and I have said yes to her. Your opinion isn't important here."
Hearing this, Kevin almost growled. His pupils dilated. He said, "Your permission? She's my guest! And I don't want her to lose her smile by going into that boring world of yours. Alex, you've always been trying to pull her towards you, but it won't work."
Alex saw that the matter was now moving from an argument to a fight. She took a deep breath and stood between the two brothers.
"Stop it, both of you!"
There was such authority in his voice that both brothers suddenly fell silent.
Looking straight into Kevin's eyes, Genia said, "Kevin, what do you think? Will you win my heart by locking me in the cage of your comforts? You accepted my condition last night—one month of complete freedom."
Kevin hesitated a bit and said, "I was just thinking about your safety and happiness..."
"Safety and happiness don't mean I have to see only what you want me to see," Genia softened her tone, but remained firm. "Listen, Kevin, love doesn't bind anyone. Love is what gives the other person the freedom to fly. If you really want me to like you, you have to respect my decisions."
Kevin was stunned. "Freedom to fly"—these words pierced his heart like an arrow. He had never thought of it that way. To him, love meant something—to possess, to possess, and to protect.
Alex silently looked at Genia. He realised that Genia was not just a pretty face, but also had a sharp mind. She knew what Kevin's weakness was and how to control him.
Kevin slowly bowed his head, his voice softer now. He said, "Are you sure... you'd like me for this?"
Genia pinched his nose lightly and said with a smile, "Maybe. If you let me go without any fuss, I will definitely praise your bravery. Because I don't like being tied down at all."
Kevin sighed and looked at Alex. His eyes were still burning, but he had given up. He said, "Okay. Go. But remember, Alex, if he gets even a scratch, I will reduce your area to ashes."
Alex replied without any emotion, "My security system is better than you can imagine, brother."
Genia breathed a sigh of relief and, looking at Alex, said, "Let's go now, before Kevin changes his mind."
As they walked out of the palace's main gate, Genia looked back.
Kevin was still standing there, watching her go. There was a strange emptiness in his eyes, but also a newfound respect.
The fresh forest air brushed Genia's face. As they approached Alex's territory, the atmosphere began to change. While Kevin's area was full of grandeur and noise, as Kevin moved towards Alex's area, the density of trees increased, and a cool, mysterious smell filled the air.
Walking down the path, Alex asked without looking at her, "What do you really think you will find here? My area isn't just a haven of peace, Genia. There are many things here that are better left unseen."
Genia gave him a mischievous smile and said, "I like things that are overlooked, Alex. And I think you're one of those things—a mystery I'd love to solve."
Alex paused and looked deeply into Genia's eyes for the first time. For a moment, a spark flickered in his cold eyes. "Be careful, Genia. There are some secrets that, once revealed, are impossible to close again."
Genia boldly grabbed his hand and pulled him forward, saying, "Then let's go, let's see how deep this mystery is."
Alex didn't remove his hand. He felt this little monkey-beast breaking the silence of his life that he had cherished for years.
As they entered the precincts of Alex's private palace, Genia's eyes widened. It was not a grand golden palace, but an architecture that blended with nature. White stone walls were draped with blue vines. Small waterfalls flowed all around, and the air was filled with music.
"This... this is so beautiful!" Genia said in amazement.
Alex saw the expression on her face and gave a slow smile. He said, "This is just the beginning, Genia. The real secrets are still inside."
Genia realised that she had not just come to a place, but had entered Alex's world where feelings were deeper than words. But she also knew that this peace was only a curtain, behind which Alex's questions and her own truth were waiting for her.
Far away, from a tower in the palace, Kevin was watching them. He clenched his fists and whispered, "Go, Genia, wander around. But remember, you'll come back to me in the end."
Back in the Forest Goddess's divine palace, Mara took a deep breath. "The game is getting interesting now," Mara said, smiling.
The forest goddess simply nodded. Her divine eyes reflected all that was yet to come. She knew that Alex's suspicion and Kevin's passion would both bring Genia closer to her true self.
Genia, who was now walking with Alex towards his library, suddenly stopped. She felt someone watching her. She looked back, but there was no one there. Only a blue feather was floating in the air, which gently landed on her palm.
Genia looked at the feather and then at Alex. She thought to herself, "Nothing in this world is ordinary. And perhaps, neither am I."
Alex noticed her silence and asked, "What happened?"
"Nothing," Genia said, hiding the feather in her fist. "I was just wondering what new things I would learn on this trip."
"I hope you'll learn what you came here for," Alex said, ushering her inside.
Alex wanted to ask Genia a lot of questions, but he was waiting for Genia to tell him everything herself.
Both of them went inside the palace, leaving behind a silence that had now become even heavier and more meaningful.
Genia's eyes widened as she stepped inside the palace. This magnificent palace, from the outside, seemed like an endless ocean of knowledge from within.
The library's ceilings were so high that light barely reached them, and thousands of old leather-bound books lined the huge shelves lining the walls. The air was filled with a mixture of old papers and an ancient fragrance.
Alex stopped at a heavy mahogany table and pulled a large, dusty book towards him.
"This is one of the oldest books in our history," he said in a serious voice. "Here you may find the answers you seek."
Genia nodded, but her attention was on the blue feather hidden in her closed fist. She felt a strange warmth in her palm, as if the feather was breathing instead of being lifeless.
She carefully loosened her fist, avoiding Alex's gaze. The feather emitted a faint, blue glow, visible only to her.
"Genia?" Alex interrupted her, "You're lost again. Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine," Genia said, quickly regaining her composure and moving closer to the table. "What's in this book?"
Alex turned the page, where something was written in an ancient script and a picture was drawn along with it.
Genia was stunned when she saw the picture. It was the same blue feather that had fallen into her palm just moments before, and beneath it was written—"Message from the Skywalker."
Alex touched the picture and said, "According to legends, whenever a major crisis is about to befall the Beast World or an extraordinary force enters the Beast World, the 'Blue Feather' appears. But it's just a story; no one has seen it for centuries. It's just something people talk about, and it's mentioned in a few books."
Genia's heart began to beat faster. She clutched the feather hidden in her pocket. She understood that bringing her soul into this world, her meeting with Kevin's mother, meeting those four beast birds, was not a coincidence, but the beginning of some great destiny. She looked at Alex and asked, "And what if this story is true? If that feather really comes to someone, what would it mean?"
Alex fixed his deep eyes on Genia; there was a strange doubt and seriousness in his eyes. But he didn't say anything to Genia. He replied, "That would mean history is repeating itself, and that person has the power to change the fate of this world."