Zaya stared in awe and amazement as the goblin vanished, she stood still shocked to the hilt about what had just happened. The four girls ran out of the hall like mice running from a cat, as they cut throughout the crowd of dispersing people.
Outside of the school hall a car suddenly honked as it parked beside the three, the glass then whined down. Inside were a bunch of Zaya's classmates, about three of them.
"Hop in!" One of the girls who was sitting beside the driver's seat yelled at the three as they entered the car and zoomed off leaving only specs of dust as traces.
"Where are we headed?" asked June who stared towards the car's windows as she saw a traffic was coming in. The one who drove stared towards the frontal mirror and parked suddenly, adjusting her glasses.
"Do you know what the heck just happened there?" The girl asked looking absolutely terrified. Ashara then answered, "Well a primordial goblin appeared in the…" Nope, June interrupted, "There's no such thing as a primordial goblin.
It has to be a mutated creature with a complex mind and a unique ability to extract and control electricity enough to even teleport.
That's the exact definition of a primordial goblin." Ashara said, rolling her eyes.
Ashara's gaze then shifted to Zaya.
"Did you summon it?" She asked. All eyes suddenly turned to Zaya, Zaya dumbfounded and shook her head indicating she didn't.
"What exactly do you mean to summon, Ashara?" June asked.
"Well it's very obvious, purple skin, vanishing only after Zaya escaped and only coming when she was in trouble." She gazed back at Zaya.
A look of thought appeared on Zaya's face as she tapped on her chin and blurted out, "How about we all go to my home instead. I think I've actually seen something relating to this somewhere there before."
Her classmate then nodded as she started the car with a button, slamming on the accelerator like it was a trampoline and going at full speed.
The other girls all for Zaya yelled in bewilderment, their mouths opened wide as they screamed their voices out.
Ashara stretched her neck outside of the car; she seemed to enjoy the feel of her hair dangling in the rushing wind, to her it was sublime.
They arrived at Zaya's home, Zaya was agitated, she'd not seen her parents for a long while now and ever since she'd been captured she'd always wondered of their well‑being.
"Where's Zaya?!" June asked, Ashara suddenly looked to the right where Zaya had sat before, noticing the seat was empty she was shocked.
"What the?!" While June enraged said, "I think that's quite a bit too fast for a fox."
"Is today disobeying nature's law day?!" She yelled as she saw Zaya had already reached the entrance of her house while staring at the door.
They all got down from the car, walking towards where Zaya stood. It's been quite a long while since Zaya was home last and she hasn't seen her parents since then, she has always wondered if they were okay.
She was sure they were on the look out for her and she was finally glad to be reunited with them, she gulped as the thought of them not being alive again crossed her mind and she pushed the crazy thought off. She felt her hands being held, it was Ashara who was already beside her, she was about to say something when the front door of the house creaked open.
It was her mum, the glass cup she was holding fell and broke to pieces as she was stunned at the sight of her daughter.
Zaya, even more shocked, lost consciousness.
"-_-"
Her eyes were slowly adjusting to the dimly lit room, she took in a deep breath as she was comforted by the siren atmosphere created by the air conditioner.
She was surprised those still existed after the war.
Right beside the bed where she laid were her mum and dad staring at her intently. Her mum, Naya Lexington, was a secretary who worked at a biochemistry industry in some part of the city. While her dad,
Dan Lexington, was a neurologist, he worked at the largest hospital in the city. During the outbreak of the Marine Virus, Dan tried all he could to save his daughter.
His attempts totally failed when there was an order from the higher authority to isolate the affected citizens from the unaffected ones. On that day, Zaya's dad gave her a necklace with a purple diamond at its center telling the unconscious Zaya not to lose it.
At that moment, Zaya was snatched from him forcefully and taken to quarantine. She sat up on the bed as she slowly removed the necklace. Holding it in her hands, she grinned as she spoke, holding the necklace up, "Look dad, I didn't lose it."
Rolls of tears fell from the eyes of their parents as they hugged their long‑lost daughter.
Dan then explained the necklace was a special gift which was on her neck when she was born. Zaya was stunned as she took a glance at the purple glistening necklace one more time.
Zaya took June and Ashara to her room while she told them about the necklace and why she thought it relates to the fox she's become. She also explained why the virus might not be exactly what everyone thinks it was.
Zaya sighed as she walked towards the side of her bed, staring at the image of an old man in the picture frame hung on the wall. She then turned her gaze back to where the two girls stood.
"Where are the others?" Zaya asked noticing they were no longer with them.
"They were gone," answered June.
Zaya was about to speak when she noticed the emerald purple necklace shaking immensely as it suddenly rose from her neck going towards the ceiling.
Zaya's eyes blurred as the emerald seemed to suck energy from her. The still calm voice then spoke once again, "The others have been chosen, find me before it's too late."
Zaya's eyes snapped open, she caught the purple necklace which was descending to the ground, her gaze immediately falling on Ashara and June who were fazed as they stared towards a golden map that was laid on Zaya's bed, they were at a loss for words.
"It was a world map as wide as half of her bed, glittering and sparkling brightly showing different magical places.
Ranging from ancient temples to gem waterfalls, crystal locations, wolf dens, dragon statues, underground caves, moon crafts, witches haven, haunted pyramids, goddesses mountains, underwater ancient empire ruins, dimensional portals, priceless portions, lost gods, hidden magical islands."
"Where did this come from?" Zaya asked, the two girls who stood still as statues, June managed to point towards the emerald.
On top of the golden map were six emerald‑shaped colors, six chosen ones Zaya thought to herself. Zaya reached for her drawer as she grabbed her magnifier strutting her way down to a particular place. Written on it was "The Foxes Magical Den."
Zaya stared back at her friends who were in utmost bewilderment as she said, "Would you come with me on this adventure?"
"Yes!!" They all yelled in unison.
"Fine," Zaya said, answering almost immediately. Pausing, she stared to the ground and said, "From now on I am the Phantom Paw."