Chapter 42 – Parents Worry

Madelyn sat cross-legged on the couch, her mom beside her, a warm cup of tea in her hands. Lyra was perched comfortably atop Madelyn’s head, her tiny wings fluttering lazily. It was strange how quickly Madelyn had adapted to having the little fairy around, almost as if Lyra had always been part of her life. Her mom smiled, brushing a strand of fiery red hair from Madelyn’s face.

“So,” her mom prompted gently, “what happened today?”

Madelyn took a deep breath, her fingers playing absentmindedly with the edge of her sweater. “I logged into Astralyth Online,” she began, her voice steady. “I wanted to go back to the ruins—the ones Sarah and I found before. I couldn’t stop thinking about them after everything that happened.”

Her mom nodded, sipping her tea as she listened attentively. “The ruins where you saw the statue, the one that gave you a vision?”

“Yeah,” Madelyn confirmed. “I thought maybe I could find more answers. Something about that place felt… important. It’s like it’s tied to everything that’s been happening.”

She paused, her mind replaying the events. “When I got there, things were strange again. I could feel this pull, like something—or someone—was guiding me. Then I encountered some people… not friendly ones.” Her ears drooped and her tail flicked at the memory. “I don’t know what came over me, but I transformed into… something else. It was terrifying, and they ran away.”

Her mom’s brow furrowed with concern, but before she could say anything, the sound of the front door opening caught their attention. Her dad’s voice rang out from the hallway. “Hey girls, I’m home!”

Madelyn glanced toward the doorway as her dad entered the living room, a casual smile on his face. He froze mid-step, his eyes widening as they landed on Lyra. The fairy gave him a cheerful wave from atop Madelyn’s head, her tiny hand barely visible among the strands of her hair.

“Uh… Madelyn,” her dad said slowly, his gaze flickering between her and Lyra. “Is there a reason you have a tiny… person on your head?”

Madelyn couldn’t help but laugh, the sound breaking the tension in the room. “Dad, this is Lyra,” she said, reaching up gently to lift the fairy from her perch. She held Lyra in her open palm, letting her dad get a better look. “She’s… well, she’s a fairy, and she came from Astralyth.”

Her dad pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a long sigh. “Of course she is,” he muttered. “Why wouldn’t there be a tiny fairy from another world in our living room?” He shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “Maddy, I love you, but you’ve got to give me some slack here. Every time I think I’ve seen it all, you manage to top it.”

Madelyn giggled, the sound light and genuine, her earlier tension easing. “Sorry, Dad. Things have been... complicated.”

Her dad moved over to them, his expression shifting from bemusement to serious interest. "Alright," he said, his tone softening. "Tell me everything, Maddy."

Madelyn nodded, taking another deep breath before starting from the top. She recounted logging into Astralyth, following the familiar pull toward the ruins, and finding the place much as she had left it—mysterious and overgrown, exuding a quiet power. Then she described the tense encounter with the trio of intruders. As she spoke of transforming into a feral beast, her voice faltered.

Her fox ears drooped, and she instinctively curled her tail protectively against her stomach. "I scared them off," she admitted quietly, her amber eyes downcast. "But I hated how it felt. I wasn’t myself… It was like something else took over. I’ve never felt so angry as in that moment"

Her mom reached out, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Sweetheart," she said softly, "it’s okay. You were defending yourself, the statue, and you didn’t hurt anyone. That’s what matters."

Madelyn nodded, though the weight of the memory lingered. She continued, recounting how Lyra had appeared, guiding her deeper into the ruins. Her voice grew steadier as she described the hidden passage the fairy had revealed—a concealed entrance leading to an underground chamber.

"The room," Madelyn said, her voice softening as she recalled the vision. "It was the same one I’ve seen before in my dreams. The one where I was... the fox kit."

Her dad’s eyebrows rose, his curiosity clearly piqued. "You mean the vision you told us about? With the woman?"

Madelyn nodded. "Yes. But this time, it was real. I could feel the stone beneath my feet, the warmth of the torches. Everything was just like the dream, except for one thing." She paused, her fingers brushing the pendant around her neck. "I found this."

She held up the pendant, the delicate design catching the light. Her parents leaned in for a closer look, their expressions shifting to quiet awe.

Madelyn continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "And look," she said, carefully opening the pendant’s hidden compartment. She revealed the small portrait within—a woman with soft, kind amethyst eyes holding a tiny fox kit cradled in her arms. "That’s me," Madelyn said, her voice trembling. "I don’t know how or why, but I’m sure of it. The fox kit is me."

Her parents leaned closer, their eyes widening as they took in the delicate work. The likeness was undeniable. The woman in the portrait bore an uncanny resemblance to the statue Madelyn had described, and the fox kit in her arms shared the exact same fiery red fur as Madelyn’s own hair and tail.

Before they could speak, Madelyn pressed on, her words rushing out in a nervous torrent. "And that’s not all," she said, her amber eyes glistening with unshed tears. "She’s a goddess. Lyra says I’m her daughter."

Her voice broke on the last word, and she instinctively curled her tail tighter around herself, her ears drooping low. A tremor ran through her as the weight of her revelation settled in. She glanced between her parents, fear and uncertainty swirling in her eyes. "I’m your daughter too," she added quickly, her voice barely audible. "But now I know who my biological mother is, and... I don’t know how to feel."

For a moment, the room was silent, the weight of Madelyn’s words hanging heavily in the air. Then her mom reached out, gently placing a hand over Madelyn’s trembling ones. "Maddy," she said softly, her voice steady and full of warmth, "you will always be our daughter. That hasn’t changed, and it never will."

Her dad nodded, his expression a mix of pride and tenderness. "We love you, Maddy," he said, his voice firm. "No matter where you come from, no matter who your biological parents are, you’re our daughter. And nothing can ever change that."

Madelyn’s breath hitched, and tears started rolling down her cheek. Her mom pulled her into a gentle embrace, her hand stroking Madelyn’s hair soothingly. "It’s okay to feel conflicted," her mom murmured. "You’ve learned so much about yourself in such a short time. It’s a lot to process."

Her dad reached out, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We’re here for you, Maddy," he said. "We’ll figure this out together."

Madelyn let out a shaky sigh, her body relaxing slightly in her mom’s comforting embrace. The fear and uncertainty that had gripped her heart began to ebb away, replaced by a deep sense of belonging. She wasn’t alone in this journey—she had her parents, her friends, and now Lyra by her side.

"Thank you," Madelyn whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I don’t know what I’d do without you."

Her mom kissed the top of her head, her voice soft and reassuring. "You’ll never have to find out, sweetheart."

Madelyn held her parents close, her tears soaking into her mom’s sweater. Despite the overwhelming revelations of the day, their unconditional love and support wrapped around her like a protective shield, grounding her in the here and now. Deep down, she had always known how they would react. They had brought up the topic of her biological parents before, gently reminding her that if she ever wanted to search for them, they would stand by her side.

But knowing something in theory and experiencing it in reality were two entirely different things. Now, with the truth of her origin unraveling before her, she felt an unexpected weight lift—a heaviness she hadn’t even realized she’d been carrying.

Her mom pulled back slightly, cupping Madelyn’s tear-streaked face. "Sweetheart, we’ve always known you were special," she said softly, her eyes glistening. "But this... this doesn’t change who you are to us. You’re still our Maddy, our kind, brave girl."

Her dad gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "And we’re proud of you," he added, his voice steady. "It takes real strength to face all of this, to accept who you are, even when the answers are overwhelming."

Madelyn wiped her eyes, her tail loosening its tight curl. "It’s just... a lot," she admitted. "I’ve been trying to make sense of everything—this connection to Aeloria, these visions, my transformation. It feels like I’m being pulled in so many directions, and I don’t even know where to start."

Her mom nodded, brushing a strand of Madelyn’s fiery red hair behind her ear. "One step at a time," she said gently. "You don’t have to have all the answers right away. And you’re not alone. We’ll help you figure this out, piece by piece."

Lyra, who had been quietly observing from her perch on Madelyn’s shoulder, fluttered into the air and hovered in front of them. "Your parents are right, Madelyn," she chimed in, her tiny voice like the soft ringing of bells. "You don’t have to do this alone. We’ll figure out what’s happening together."

Madelyn managed a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Lyra," she said, her voice steadier now. "I don’t know what I’d do without all of you."

Her dad leaned back slightly, his expression thoughtful. "So, what’s next, Maddy?" he asked. "Do you have a plan for what to do now?"

Madelyn hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I think I need to keep searching in Astralyth," she said. "There’s still so much I don’t understand, and I feel like the answers are there, in that world. But I also want to learn more about the people who created this mirror world and what their motives are. If they’re after Aeloria’s power, then I need to stop them."

“Mirror world?” her father raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly.

“Oh, I haven’t told you that part yet,” Madelyn admitted, her voice soft. “After we found the pendant, Lyra explained more about Aeloria and everything that’s been going on. But she also mentioned something strange about Astralyth Online—it feels… wrong somehow. Lyra says it’s not the real Astralyth.”

Her mom’s brow furrowed in concern. “Not the real Astralyth? What do you mean?”

Madelyn took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. “It’s like Astralyth Online is a copy, a mirror version of the real world where Aeloria and I are from. The people who created it—they’re the ones who captured Aeloria, who want to use her power. This world is their way of controlling or replicating something they don’t fully understand.”

Her dad’s expression grew serious, his eyes narrowing in thought. “A duplicate world, created by these… people,” he murmured. “And they’re after Aeloria’s power. But why? What do they stand to gain?”

Madelyn shook her head. “I don’t know all the details yet. Lyra said they might be trying to harness her power for their own purposes, maybe even to control both worlds. But she doesn’t know exactly what their endgame is either.”

Her parents exchanged a worried glance, the weight of the information settling between them. Her mom broke the silence, her tone gentle but firm. “If what Lyra says is true, then this isn’t just about you or Aeloria. It sounds like both worlds are in danger.”

Madelyn nodded, her tail swishing slightly behind her. “That’s why I have to keep going. If I can find out more about who’s behind all this, I might be able to stop them. And maybe, just maybe, I can figure out how to free Aeloria.”

Her father's expression grew serious, his brows knitting together. "I don’t know how I feel about that, Maddy," he said, his voice heavy with concern. "It doesn’t sound like something a sixteen-year-old should be facing. It sounds very dangerous. If it’s true what you’re saying, and the Astralyth Corporation somehow captured your…" He hesitated for a moment, searching for the right word. "Mom. A goddess."

Madelyn’s ears flattened slightly, her tail curling around her leg. She understood his concern; it mirrored her own fears. But despite the danger, she couldn’t ignore the pull she felt—the responsibility to do something. "I have to help her, Dad," she said, her voice trembling but resolute. "I can’t just let her stay trapped, and the real Astralyth without its goddess. If I don’t try, who will?"

Her dad sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. "I get that, Maddy, but after everything you’ve told us, I really don’t trust Astralyth Corporation or their game at all." He exchanged a glance with her mom, who nodded in agreement.

Her mom leaned forward, her hand resting gently on Madelyn’s knee. "Your dad’s right, sweetheart. This isn’t just some game anymore—it’s real, and it’s dangerous. We’re worried about you."

Madelyn opened her mouth to respond, but her dad continued, his next words making her heart skip a beat. "I don’t want you to get hurt, Maddy. And there’s something else… something I’ve been looking into." He hesitated, his voice lowering. "Recently, I found a possible connection between the Astralyth Corporation and the missing people I’m investigating."

The room fell into a stunned silence. Madelyn’s breath caught in her throat, her amber eyes widening. "What?" she whispered. "A connection? How?"