Chapter 3 Finally Leaving

Loria's POV

The suitcase sitting at the foot of my bed was proof that Grandma hadn't been bluffing.

I crouched beside it and checked everything I'd packed for what felt like the tenth time. A few clothes. Some toiletries. A pair of shoes. A handful of accessories.

That was it.

I stared at the suitcase for a moment before slowly looking around my room.

Was this really all I owned?

My eyes moved over the clothes hanging in my wardrobe, the accessories scattered across my dressing table, and the little things I'd collected over the years. There were memories everywhere-some so ordinary I'd never thought twice about them until now.

So many things were staying behind.

Oddly enough, that made me feel a little better.

Maybe deep down, I still believed I'd come back for them.

Maybe this wasn't really goodbye.

But would I truly be back?

A knock sounded at the door before I could answer.

A head full of curly hair peeked through the doorway.

"Hello, princess. May I come in? This humble servant of yours is at your service."

Vivian stepped inside and bowed dramatically.

I stared at her for half a second before bursting into laughter.

"Vivian, you are just ridiculous." I shook my head, trying to catch my breath. "I'm a maid, not a princess."

The last part came out quieter.

My smile faded.

Vivian noticed immediately.

She always did.

Before I could sink into my thoughts again, she grabbed both my hands and pulled me to my feet.

"Nope. Absolutely not. We are not doing this again."

"Doing what?"

"Being sad."

She started singing one of our old childhood songs, completely off-key, while dancing around my room as though she were performing on a stage.

I watched her for a moment.

Then I joined her.

Soon, we were both singing and dancing between my bed and the suitcase, laughing at how ridiculous we looked.

For a few precious minutes, I forgot.

I forgot about the gods.

I forgot about Baklava Castle.

I forgot that tomorrow would take me somewhere I'd never imagined going.

Then the laughter faded.

My eyes landed on the suitcase.

The reality returned so quickly that my throat tightened.

Vivian saw the tears gathering in my eyes and pulled me against her.

That was all it took.

I buried my face against her shoulder and finally let myself cry.

She rubbed my back gently.

"There, there, dearest. Let it all out."

"I love you so much," I whispered between sobs.

"I love you too."

She held me tighter.

Vivian had been beside me since we were children. Through every stupid argument, every secret, every embarrassing moment, every celebration, and every crisis that had once felt like the end of the world, she had been there.

After Grandma, she was the person who knew me best.

The thought of leaving her hurt more than I wanted to admit.

"How will I cope?" I whispered. "I can't do this without you, Viv."

She pulled back and wiped my cheeks with her thumbs.

"But who said you have to?"

I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"We can ask your grandmother if there's any rule saying I can't come and visit you."

"You'd really come?"

She looked offended.

"Of course I would. Do you honestly think I'm going to let you disappear into some strange castle and sit here pretending everything is normal?"

A small laugh escaped me.

"You make it sound like I'm being kidnapped."

Vivian raised an eyebrow.

"Are you not?"

I opened my mouth.

Then closed it.

"Technically..."

She burst out laughing.

I couldn't help laughing with her.

For the first time that morning, the weight in my chest loosened.

Maybe I wouldn't be completely alone.

A little later, Vivian crouched beside my suitcase and started examining its contents.

"You really don't have much."

"I know."

She pulled out one of my folded dresses and held it against herself.

"This is coming with me."

"Vivian!"

"What? You won't need it where you're going. I'm doing you a favor."

I snatched the dress from her hands.

"You're unbelievable."

"And yet you love me."

"Unfortunately."

She grinned.

"That's better."

We laughed again.

I wished I could freeze that moment.

Not because nothing was wrong, but because for a few seconds, it felt like everything was still normal.

A few hours later, Grandma called us downstairs for lunch.

The moment I entered the room, I noticed the tiredness in her face. Her eyes weren't as swollen as they had been that morning, but the sadness was still there.

"I'll help you finish packing after lunch," she said.

I nodded.

There were still a hundred questions I wanted to ask her, but I didn't want to turn our last meal together into another painful conversation.

So I sat down.

Grandma served the food, and for a while, the three of us tried to behave as though tomorrow wasn't waiting for me.

We talked about ordinary things.

Vivian complained about the food.

Grandma laughed at her.

I joined in.

But underneath the laughter was something none of us wanted to say aloud.

I was leaving.

And this time, there was no pretending otherwise.

After lunch, Grandma helped me finish packing.

She moved slowly around my room, folding clothes and checking what I'd chosen to take. I noticed how often her hands paused, as though every item she placed inside the suitcase reminded her that I wouldn't be here much longer.

Then she stopped beside my wardrobe.

"Take this."

She reached into the back and pulled out a small wooden box.

I stared at it.

It looked old.

Not simply old from being forgotten in a cupboard, but old in a way that made me wonder how long it had been waiting there.

"What is that?"

"Something that belonged to your mother."

My heart skipped.

"My mother?"

Grandma nodded.

"She wanted you to have it when the time came."

I reached for the box.

Before my fingers could touch the lid, Grandma placed her hand over mine.

"Not yet."

I looked at her.

"Why?"

Her expression changed.

"Because there are some things you need to understand first."

That familiar feeling returned.

The same feeling I'd had since yesterday.

The feeling that Grandma was standing in front of a locked door and refusing to let me see what was behind it.

"What things?"

She shook her head.

"One day, Loria."

I wanted to push.

I wanted to demand answers.

But something in her eyes stopped me.

So I reluctantly nodded.

"Fine."

Grandma placed the box carefully inside my suitcase.

I watched it disappear beneath my clothes.

Whatever was inside had belonged to my mother.

And somehow, I knew it wasn't just an old keepsake.

It was connected to the life I was being forced to enter.

I just didn't know how yet.

That evening came far too quickly.

Vivian stayed until sunset, and when it was finally time for her to leave, neither of us seemed ready.

"This isn't goodbye," she said as she pulled me into another hug.

"I know."

"You'll see me soon."

"I know."

"You better answer every call."

"I will."

"And don't let those gods intimidate you."

I laughed softly.

"I haven't even met them."

"Exactly. So don't let them intimidate you."

She pulled back and pointed a warning finger at me.

"And if any of them annoys you, remember that you have a best friend who's only a few phone calls away."

"You're ridiculous."

"You're welcome."

She hugged me one last time before turning toward the road.

I stood in the doorway and watched until she disappeared from sight.

The house suddenly felt much quieter.

I looked down at my suitcase.

For the first time since Grandma's confession, I allowed myself to believe that maybe I could survive this.

Maybe I wouldn't lose everything.

Maybe Vivian was right.

Maybe somewhere beyond this familiar life, I could find a new one without completely losing the person I had been.

The next morning, the sound of a vehicle stopping outside our house pulled me from my sleep.

My heart immediately began pounding.

It was time.

I dressed quietly and stood in front of my mirror for a long moment.

The girl staring back at me looked exactly the same.

Same face.

Same eyes.

Same nineteen-year-old girl who had gone to sleep believing adulthood meant freedom.

But somehow, I didn't feel like that girl anymore.

I picked up my suitcase and walked downstairs.

Grandma was waiting.

She didn't say anything at first.

Neither did I.

We simply looked at each other.

Then she walked toward me and pulled me into her arms.

I hugged her tightly, breathing in the familiar scent of her clothes.

"Take care of yourself," she whispered.

"I will."

"And Loria..."

I pulled back.

"Yes?"

Her eyes filled with tears.

"Whatever happens, remember who you are."

A strange chill moved through me.

"What does that mean?"

She smiled sadly.

"You'll understand one day."

Before I could ask anything else, she kissed my forehead.

I picked up my suitcase and stepped outside.

The morning air brushed against my face.

I turned around and looked at the house one last time.

This was where I'd grown up.

Where Grandma had raised me.

Where Vivian had spent countless afternoons with me.

Where I'd believed my life belonged to me.

Now I was leaving it behind.

The driver opened the door.

I took one final breath and climbed inside.

As the vehicle pulled away, I watched my home become smaller through the window.

The familiar road stretched behind me, while the unfamiliar one opened ahead.

I didn't know what waited for me in Baklava Kingdom.

I didn't know what kind of people the four gods were.

I didn't know why Grandma had been hiding so much from me.

But somewhere inside that old box sitting in my suitcase was a piece of my mother's past.

And perhaps, if I was brave enough to uncover it, I would finally understand mine.

I rested my head against the window.

Baklava Kingdom was waiting.

And this time, I wasn't simply travelling toward the unknown.

I was traveling towards the truth.