✦ Illusion Dream ✦
She was dreaming.
The first thing that reached her was the smell.
The warm aroma of Desi ghee ( clarified butter ) … sizzling softly, spices blooming in the air—cumin, turmeric, something earthy and comforting.
"Nora…"
She was small again. Twelve… maybe thirteen.
Barefoot, school bag still hanging from one shoulder, she ran into the kitchen.
"Amma!" she laughed, breathless.
"I'm back from school. I'm so hungry—really hungry. Hurry, hurry, give me food first!"
Her voice was loud, demanding, spoiled—in the way only loved children were.
Her grandmother turned from the stove, eyes crinkling with joy.
"My Nora… my Ghudiya (my doll) has come home."
The smell deepened.
Bhindi masala.
Dal simmering with tadka. (North-East Indian dishes)
Fresh rice, steaming.
Nora inhaled deeply.
"Mmm… masaledaar bhindi (spicy lady's finger) … and dal-chawal," she said happily.
They sat together on the floor, eating, laughing.
The world felt whole. Safe.
Midway through the meal, Nora suddenly pushed her plate aside and dug into her school bag.
"Amma, look!" she said excitedly, pulling out her sketchbook.
"See what I made today."
She flipped the pages.
A drawing—bright, imperfect, full of imagination.
Rapunzel.
And beside her… a prince.
Her grandmother adjusted her glasses and leaned closer.
"Hm… she's very pretty," she said softly.
"Just like my Nora."
Nora beamed.
"And this prince," her grandmother continued, tapping the page gently,
"he looks like the prince from my doll's dreams."
She smiled knowingly.
"My doll's prince…"
"One day, a prince will come… and he will take my doll with him, making her his bride."
The words echoed.
Prince.
The air around them shifted.
A thin fog crept in, curling around the edges of the room.
Nora looked up.
Her grandmother's form began to blur—cracks of light spreading through her image like fragile glass.
"Amma?" Nora whispered, stepping forward.
The illusion shattered.
Light burst everywhere.
Petals drifted through the air—white flowers. Soft music with no source.
Nora looked down.
She was no longer a child.
She was dressed in white.
A bridal dress flowed around her feet as if it belonged there—as if she had always worn it.
Ahead of her stood a man.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Dressed entirely in black.
Black gloves covered his hands.
She didn't feel afraid.
"Prince…"
She moved toward him, instinctively.
The man turned.
No-Gul.
His eyes were calm. Waiting.
He stepped forward and extended his hand.
Nora smiled—without hesitation—and placed her hand in his.
✦ Behind the Dream ✦
No-Gul sat beside her bed, studying her face in silence.
Slowly, he lifted his hand and brushed his fingers near her neck.
A soft pink glow stirred there, forming a delicate swirl—almost like a feather made of light.
"What are you…?" he murmured.
"What is your connection to all of this… to this fox power?"
"You owe me answers—for appearing in my dreams, for calling out to me…"
He stood and walked to the window.
Outside, the city glowed—and across the street, a massive digital billboard lit up the night.
VELVET.
A flawless face.
A beauty mask promising perfection.
No-Gul raised his hand, a drink swirling lazily in one hand.
With the other, he traced a slow red line across the glass, pointing straight at the glowing advertisement.
"Velvet…" he murmured.
"This name will end—very soon."
"Kang."
He took a sip, savoring it.
✦ Morning ✦
Morning light knocked softly at the windows.
No-Gul was in the kitchen, making breakfast—but not the normal way.
Seated calmly at the counter, he barely moved.
With subtle gestures, vegetables chopped themselves.
Eggs sizzled, flipping perfectly.
A blender whirred on its own, fresh juice pouring neatly into a glass.
Controlled. Precise.
His new power—refined.
Then—
A sound.
From the bedroom.
His focus snapped.
Everything in the kitchen froze mid-air—then dropped.
Knife. Pan. Steam.
No-Gul turned and walked toward the room.
The bed was empty.
Nora was gone.
His eyes scanned quickly.
Wardrobe closet—open.
Inside, behind the hanging clothes—
Bare feet.
He understood instantly.
He moved slowly, carefully, so he wouldn't scare her.
Behind the clothes, Nora stood trembling, clutching the fabric tightly, trying to disappear.
No-Gul extended his gloved hand gently.
"Nora," he said softly.
"Come out."
She didn't move.
He tried again, quieter, warmer—
"Noraya."
Still frozen.
He reached a little closer.
Suddenly—
Nora's hand shot forward and grabbed his gloved hand with both of hers.
"Yeobo…"
She stepped out, eyes lifted to him, searching his face like a safe place she finally recognized.
"Yeobo…"(Honey) she whispered again.
No-Gul's thoughts stilled.
She's calling me that…? Does she think I'm her husband?
He gently turned her hand over, soothing her trembling fingers with his thumb.
"Nae sa-rang."(My love)
He lifted her at once and made her sit on the bed.
Then, kneeling in front of her, he carefully cleaned her feet and slipped the slippers onto them.
Nora watched him with eyes full of warmth and quiet affection.
His voice was full of concerned , "You shouldn't walk like this without slippers… what happened? Why were you hiding?"
Nora whispered, her voice shaking,
"I was scared. I don't understand anything… I don't even know where we are."
"We're at our new home. You're safe here. Didn't you like it?" He brought her into the dining hall, but she barely moved on her own.
"New home" She stayed pressed against him, clutching his gloved hand—
No-Gul pulled out a chair and guided her down gently.
"Sit," he said softly.
She obeyed, but didn't let go.
He crouched so he was at her eye level.
"Do you remember… how you were on that cruise?" he asked carefully.
Nora looked at him.
Blank.
"Cruise…?" she repeated, trying to grasp the word.
To Be Continued…