Chapter 12: Chapter 11:
The ball finally came to an end, and the three of us—Alohi, Xenos, and I—left the grand halls and made our way to Xenos' tavern. The cool night air was refreshing after the intensity of the evening, but it did nothing to sober Alohi, who was practically stumbling between us, her once confident smirk replaced by slurred rambling. She had definitely overdone it with the drinks by the end of the night, despite insisting she was fine.
By the time we got to the tavern, it was clear Alohi wasn't going to be making it back to her own place. "You two… are the best," she mumbled as we helped her inside. "Seriously. Best night. Ever."
Xenos just sighed, his usual stoic expression unchanging as he held open the door, letting me guide Alohi up the stairs. "You stay with us tonight," I said softly, steadying her as we climbed the steps. She didn't argue, simply letting her weight lean against me as I led her to my room.
As soon as we made it through the door, Alohi collapsed onto my bed with zero grace, still wearing her extravagant green gown. I looked at her, half-amused, half-exasperated. "Good night, Alohi," I whispered, shaking my head as I pulled a blanket over her.
With Alohi settled, I made my way back downstairs, holding Xenos' blazer in my hands. I found him near the bar, leaning against the counter, the dim light of the tavern casting shadows across his features. He glanced at me as I approached but said nothing.
I handed him the blazer. "Here," I said, offering him a small smile. "Thanks for lending it to me. And for… you know, everything."
Xenos took the blazer from me but shrugged it off. "I was just doing my job," he said, his voice cool and detached. "As your guardian, it's my responsibility to ensure your safety. Don't think anything of it. I didn't mean any of that."
I smiled, undeterred by his brusque response. "You always say that. But deep down, I know you don't hate me, no matter what you say. I used to think you did, but now... I can tell you don't."
He opened his mouth as if to respond, but before he could say anything, I turned and started heading back up the stairs. I didn't need him to say it—I already knew.
When I entered my room, I found Alohi still sprawled across my bed, snoring softly, her gown crumpled beneath her. But what caught my attention was the soft glow in the corner of the room—Aurora, my fairy companion, who I hadn't seen all night. She fluttered toward me, her tiny wings shimmering as she hovered in the air.
"There you are!" Aurora chimed, her voice light and playful. But then her eyes narrowed slightly as she noticed the bruise on my arm. "What happened to your hand?" she asked, her voice growing more serious.
I quickly covered the bruise, shaking my head. "It's nothing," I said softly. "Just… an inconvenience."
Aurora's glow dimmed slightly, concern etched across her delicate face. "Sage…"
I forced a smile. "Really, it's fine. I'm okay."
Though she didn't seem convinced, Aurora let it go for now, settling on my shoulder as I prepared for bed. I could still feel the weight of the night lingering in the air, but with Alohi snoring beside me and Aurora softly glowing, I felt a small sense of peace settle over me.
Tomorrow, everything would continue. But for now, I just wanted to rest.
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Three weeks had passed since the ball, and now it had been a full month since I found myself in this strange world. While I was slowly adjusting to my new life, I couldn't shake the lingering thoughts of my mom and dad. I wondered how they were doing, if they were worried, or if they somehow felt the emptiness I did.
Today marked the start of my two-week holiday. After finishing my lessons, I found Alohi waiting for me by one of the teleportation trees just outside the academy. She waved enthusiastically, her usual carefree grin plastered on her face.
"Ready to teleport?" she asked, leaning casually against the tree. "These holidays couldn't have come at a better time."
I smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I could use the break."
We stood under the branches of the teleportation tree, and as usual, Alohi reached out to activate its magic. The tree's leaves shimmered, glowing faintly as we were enveloped in its soft light. Within seconds, we were whisked through the dimensional pathways, arriving just outside Xenos' tavern.
As soon as we stepped inside, I immediately noticed something was off. The usual lively atmosphere was missing—the tavern was far quieter than usual. There was a strange heaviness in the air, an unsettling stillness that sent a shiver down my spine.
I glanced at Alohi, who seemed unbothered, but I couldn't shake the feeling. And then it happened—an intense, splitting pain shot through my head, so sharp and sudden that I staggered.
The pain was familiar, almost exactly like what I had felt the first day I arrived in this world. I grabbed my head, trying to steady myself, but the pounding in my skull grew unbearable. My vision blurred, my knees buckled, and everything around me spun out of control.
"Sage?" Alohi's voice was distant, muffled by the rush of pain that engulfed me.
I tried to speak, to tell her something was wrong, but the words wouldn't come. The last thing I saw was the worried look on Alohi's face before my legs gave out completely, and I fell into darkness.
I woke up in the same blinding white room, the same one from before. The light was so bright it almost hurt to keep my eyes open, but there, standing in the distance, was that same tall, tanned old man. His presence was calm, yet something about him felt overwhelmingly familiar, like I had known him my entire life.
Without thinking, I started walking toward him, my steps slow and cautious. But just as I was about to get closer, he spoke, his deep voice warm and soothing. "Sage," he said softly, his words stopping me in my tracks. "My lovely child, do you recognize me?"
I stood there frozen, heart racing. I wanted to respond, to ask who he was, why he kept appearing like this, but my voice caught in my throat. Before I could do or say anything, the old man smiled and began walking toward me. His presence was comforting, like a soft breeze on a hot day. He reached out, placing his warm hand gently on my shoulder, and I felt a strange sense of peace wash over me.
"Sage, my lovely child…" he repeated, his eyes kind, as if he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
But before I could even think, I gasped for air, my chest heaving as if I had been choked. The blinding room vanished, and I woke up with a jolt. I was back in Xenos' tavern, lying on a bed, my heart pounding in my chest.
Alohi was the first to react, rushing to my side. "Sage!" she cried out, her earlier argument with Xenos forgotten as she knelt beside me. Her hands hovered over me in a mix of concern and panic, unsure if I was truly okay. "Are you alright? What just happened?"
Xenos stood nearby, arms crossed, his face unreadable, though his eyes were sharper than usual. Whatever had just happened clearly didn't sit right with him either. Alohi shot him a quick glare, but her focus remained on me.
I took a few deep breaths, still shaken. "I… I don't know," I whispered, the lingering memory of the old man's words echoing in my mind. "I saw him again…"
Alohi's worried eyes searched my face, and she gently placed a hand on my arm. "You saw him again?" she asked softly, her voice no longer teasing or sarcastic. This time, she was all serious concern.
I nodded, still trying to steady my breathing. "The same man... the tall, old man with tanned skin. He spoke to me this time." I paused, trying to recall the feeling of his hand on my shoulder. "He asked me if I recognized him... but I didn't get the chance to respond before I woke up."
Alohi exchanged a quick glance with Xenos, her lips pressing into a thin line. "That's the second time you've seen him, right? This can't be a coincidence," she muttered, her tone a mix of worry and frustration.
Xenos remained silent, his gaze fixed on me, but I could feel the weight of his thoughts pressing down on the room. He wasn't one to reveal his emotions, but something about this clearly had him on edge.
I sat up slowly, my hands shaking as I ran them through my hair. "Who could he be?" I whispered, more to myself than anyone else.
Before anyone could respond, Xenos finally spoke, his voice low and steady. "Whatever or whoever he is, it's no accident he keeps appearing to you." He paused, his jaw tightening. "And it's not something we can ignore."
Alohi, still kneeling beside me, nodded in agreement. "It's not just some weird dream, Sage. Maybe… maybe it's connected to you being the chosen one. I mean, it makes sense, right? Whoever this guy is, he's trying to reach out to you for a reason."
I sighed, rubbing my temples. The throbbing in my head was starting to fade, but the confusion lingered. I wasn't ready to accept that everything strange in this world tied back to me being the chosen one. "But why now? And why didn't I get to see more?"
Alohi stood up and crossed her arms, her gaze thoughtful. "Maybe we need to find a way to get you back into that dream or vision or… whatever it is." She looked at Xenos, then back at me. "There has to be something that can trigger it again. Or better yet, control it."
Xenos stepped forward, his expression dark and serious. "I'll look into it. There are ways to navigate dreams, but they can be dangerous. We'll need to be careful." He glanced at Alohi. "But for now, Sage needs to rest."
I frowned, shaking my head. "I've had enough rest." I swung my legs over the side of the bed, trying to ignore the lingering dizziness. "I want answers. I'm tired of just waiting for something to happen to me. I want to know why this is happening and what I'm supposed to do."
Xenos watched me for a moment before nodding. "Fine," he said quietly. "But we're going to take this slow."
Alohi smirked, her usual playful self returning just a little. "I'm in. We're not letting you handle this alone."
I couldn't help but smile, even through the confusion and worry. With Alohi and Xenos by my side, I felt a little less lost, even if the road ahead was filled with more questions than answers.
For now, the old man's words echoed in my mind—My lovely child, do you recognize me?
I didn't yet, but something told me that soon, I would.
As I sat there, still reeling from the vision and the fainting spell, something nagged at me. The pain I had felt… it wasn't random. It was familiar.
"The pain," I began, my voice breaking the silence. "It felt like the first day I arrived here… when we went through the Brugmansia flower wall." I looked at Xenos and Alohi, both of them listening intently. "And now that I think about it, there was the same exact smell at the entrance of the tavern."
Alohi frowned, looking puzzled. "The Brugmansia flower wall? You mean the barrier?"
I nodded slowly, my mind racing. "Yeah. There was something about the smell, that strange sweetness. It's like it triggered the same pain, the same sensation." I glanced over at Aurora, who was fluttering nearby. "Aurora, could you check outside for me? I think there might be something… off."
Aurora gave a quick nod, her tiny wings shimmering as she darted off without another word. The room fell into an uneasy silence as we waited. Xenos remained still, his gaze occasionally flickering to the entrance, and Alohi sat on the edge of my bed, her brows furrowed in thought.
After a few moments, Aurora reappeared, her expression serious. "There was a bouquet of Brugmansia flowers outside, Sage," she said, her voice soft but urgent. "And… there was a letter. For you." She handed me the folded piece of parchment.
I stared at the letter, my heart pounding as I reached for it. The paper felt heavy in my hands, the smell of Brugmansia flowers lingering in the air. I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of unease.
Alohi leaned closer, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "Are you going to open it?"
I hesitated, turning the letter over in my hands. "I don't know," I admitted. "What if it's dangerous? Whoever left the flowers clearly knows something about me. And I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing."
Xenos remained silent, his eyes narrowed as he watched me. "You don't have to open it right now," he finally said, his voice calm. "But ignoring it won't change whatever message it holds."
Aurora hovered beside me, her tiny voice adding, "I didn't sense anything harmful from it, but… it's still your choice, Sage."
I took a deep breath, staring down at the letter again. My fingers hovered over the edge, debating. What could it say? And who had sent it?
This could be the key to understanding why I fainted, or it could be a warning, something dangerous waiting to be revealed. Every part of me wanted to throw it away, but at the same time, I couldn't help but feel like I needed to know.
With a shaky breath, I finally made up my mind. "I'm going to open it."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone