𝕳𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖙 𝕺𝖋 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕾𝖊𝖆

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Soon, the day arrived, and Layla hugged her parents tightly before leaving for New York. Her father, gave her a reassuring smile, while her mother watched with a mixture of pride and worry in her eyes. The journey ahead was dangerous, but Layla felt more prepared than she had ever been.

“I’ll be back soon,” she whispered, holding onto them for a moment longer.

“We believe in you,” her father said, his voice still faint but filled with warmth. “You’ll do great things, Layla.”

With a final wave, Layla turned and made her way to the airport. Her heart was racing with anticipation as the plane soared into the sky, the distance between her and her parents growing with each mile. But now, it wasn’t just about the exhibition—she had a mission. She had to find Captain James Orion, her father, unlock her powers, and face the growing threat of Ursula and to save her mother.

When the plane touched down at JFK, Layla stepped off and immediately felt the overwhelming energy of New York City. The noise, the crowds, the fast pace of life—it was all so different from what she was used to, but there was no time to be overwhelmed. She was determined to find out every answers she needs to know.

As she made her way through the bustling airport, weaving through the crowds, she spotted a familiar face—her biology teacher, Ms. Thompson, waiting for her near the exit. Her teacher’s bright, energetic smile was unmistakable, and Layla felt a surge of relief at seeing a familiar face in such a massive city.

“Finally, you’re here!” Ms. Thompson said with an enthusiastic tone, waving as Layla approached. “Excited for the exhibition?”

Layla smiled, trying to match her teacher’s energy despite the swirling emotions inside her. “Yes, I’m excited,” she replied, her tone light. The Marine Biology exhibition had been her original reason for coming to New York, after all, and it was something she had looked forward to for months. But now, there were bigger things at stake.

“I bet you are,” Ms. Thompson said, oblivious to Layla’s deeper thoughts. “This exhibition is going to be amazing. Some of the best marine biologists in the world are here, and the research they’re presenting—well, it’s cutting-edge!”

As her teacher rambled on about the exhibition, Layla’s mind wandered. She had to stay focused on her mission, even while attending the event. She would meet Captain James later, train, and discover more about her powers. And to find about her father and the way to win her mother back he is the only hope she has within her.

But for now, Layla would play the part. She would attend the exhibition, smile, and learn from the experts, all while keeping her true purpose hidden from everyone.

After Ms. Thompson dropped her off at her hotel, Layla wasted no time. She pulled out the envelope with the address and hailed a cab, her hands trembling slightly as she read the destination to the driver. “4567 Brooklyn Heights.”

The ride felt like an eternity, but eventually, the cab pulled up to an older, weathered building. Layla took a deep breath and stepped out, her heart pounding as she approached the door. She knocked, and after a moment, the door creaked open to reveal a tall man with graying hair and piercing blue eyes.

"Who are you and how do you know my address ?" hes asked with a deep and confused voice.

" Are you Captain James Orion? I'm Layla Charles daughter"  she said hurriedly.

He nodded in a yes " please come in " he said with an serious look he moves aside to let her in .

As she sat down into the living room , Orion looked at her with a serious expression, the weight of years behind his eyes. After some initial greetings, Layla couldn’t wait any longer.

“ Do you know where is my father?” she asked, her voice thick with urgency. " I really need him a Danger is heading towards us, I need him to know the answers of my questions."

Orion sighed deeply and shifted in his chair, clearly uneasy. “Layla, there’s something you need to understand,” he began, his voice low and careful. “Your father… after he left you with your adoptive parents, I haven’t seen him since. He just disappeared.”

Layla's heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean? He disappeared?” she asked, disbelief seeping into her voice.

Orion nodded slowly. “He left without a trace. No one knows where he went or why. Before he left, though, he gave me something. He told me that if you ever came looking for him, I should give it to you.

”Layla’s mind raced. “What did he leave for me?” she asked, her voice tense with a mix of hope and fear.

Orion stood and crossed the room to a small chest tucked away in the corner. He carefully pulled out an old wooden box and handed it to her. It was worn, the wood smooth from years of handling. Layla stared at it, her hands trembling slightly as she held it.

“He didn’t explain much,” Orion said, his tone softer now. “He just said that this box holds the answers to the questions you’ll have. But he warned me—you’ll need to be ready for what you find inside.”

Layla’s pulse quickened as she traced her fingers along the edges of the box. “Did he say why he left?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Orion shook his head. “He didn’t. All I know is that he was trying to protect you from something.

Taking a deep breath, she slowly opened the box. Inside, she found several items: a stack of old letters, a small, intricately carved compass, a silver dagger, some dry sea- holly plant and a weathered leather journal with her father’s initials embossed on the cover.

“This is my father’s journal,” she whispered, her fingers lightly grazing the cover. She opened it carefully, the pages brittle and yellowed with time. His handwriting filled the pages, detailing his life with Marlia and his attempts to protect Layla.

Orion’s voice cut through her thoughts. “I don’t know where your father is, Layla. But I believe that everything he left in that box is meant to help you to get your answers . He trusted you to be ready when the time came.”

“I’ll save him. And I’ll save my mother too.” Layla whispered, her eyes burning with resolve.

As Layla skimmed through the first few entries, she saw that her father had written about Marlia, the underwater kingdom, and the dangerous magic surrounding Ursula and her minions.

Orion nodded solemnly.“I know you will. But be careful, Layla. Ursula’s influence runs deep. This battle won’t be easy.”

Tears stung her eyes, but she swallowed them back, her mind steeling itself. Whatever secrets her father had hidden were inside this journal, and it was up to her to piece everything together. But one thing was clear—her father had left this trail of clues because he believed in her ability to unlock the truth.

But what Layla didn’t know was that someone was watching. Hidden in the shadows, someone had been keeping a close eye on her every move—following her from the moment she’d learned the truth about her parents, trailing her through New York, and even now.

As Layla left Orion’s apartment with the box clutched in her hands, unaware of the dark figure moving silently through the streets behind her, a low voice echoed from the shadows.“It’s only a matter of time now.”

Layla’s journey was far from safe. Unknown to her, the watcher had a vested interest in her powers, and her quest to find her father and save Marlia was no longer just a family matter. Forces beyond her control were gathering, and this mysterious figure had plans of its own for Layla and her abilities.