The Foundation Dreams
Part VII：Arcadia Darrell
Chapter 7：Who are you running from？
Arcadia stood frozen in place.
The woman before her—Kalya—smiled gently.
“Arcadia, dear. We finally meet. I am Kalya, your aunt.”
The moment she heard those words, Arcadia’s mind went blank.
“.. . . . Aunt？”
“Yes. I am your mother Jita’s older sister. I held you in my arms when you were just a baby.”
Arcadia’s heart pounded with unease.
“That’s impossible! I am Arcadia Darrell. I was born on Terminus！”
Kalya chuckled softly and pointed at her left arm.
“Have you ever noticed that mark？”
Arcadia instinctively looked down at her arm. A small scar—what could it mean？
“In Trantor, all newborns are vaccinated. That’s the mark it leaves. Your father should have the same one.”
Arcadia took a step back.
“No . . . ！But why didn’t anyone ever tell me this？”
“It’s understandable. Your grandparents once left Trantor but later returned because of your grandmother Beta’s wishes. There must have been a reason for it.”
Kalya’s eyes sharpened, piercing into Arcadia’s soul.
“I don’t know all the details either. I left Trantor when I was young and moved to Santanni. That’s where I met Poochie—no, Lord Stettin.”
She suddenly grabbed Arcadia’s hand tightly.
“You must escape immediately！”
“Escape . . . ？”
“Yes. Not from Lord Stettin, but from something far worse. I’ll give you money, jewels—everything! Just go back to Terminus！”
Arcadia trembled. Then, in a sudden moment of realization, everything clicked.
“I understand now . . . I understand everything！”
Why she had come to Kalgan. Why her father had never told her.
“I’m going to Trantor！”
“No！”
Kalya’s voice rang sharply.
“Terminus! You must return to your father！”
Arcadia locked eyes with her aunt.
Kalya’s gaze was powerful—almost as if it could control her mind. But Arcadia resisted, stepping back.
“Goodbye, Aunt Kalya.”
Kalya’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I’m running away—from you！”
Shocked, Kalya stood frozen.
Arcadia turned and dashed into the darkness.
To be continued . . .
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