Chapter 24

Navine and I embarked on our journey to Lord Jekia’s palace at the crack of dawn, just as we’d planned. The world was still, as if it were caught in a deep slumber, and we were the only ones awake.

Well, not entirely. Nanash had been up and waiting for us, eager to check on me after the night’s ordeal. His concern was palpable, and as Navine and I took off, I felt a pang of guilt for leaving him behind so abruptly, even though it was necessary.

Nanash’s worried gaze was etched in my mind. He looked exhausted; he probably hadn’t slept a wink all night.

“Are you sure you’re okay? You’re not in pain, are you?” he had asked, his voice laced with worry.

“I’m okay, Nanash,” I had reassured him. “I feel a bit off, but I’m managing. I trust that Lord Jekia and his mage will be able to help me, just like Navine said.”

Nanash sighed, a sound heavy with fatigue. “I suppose the mage is our best shot. If anyone can figure out how to deal with this, it’s him.”

“There’s no need for you to worry yourself sick, Nanash. Raelina will be fine. We’ll all make sure of that,” Navine chimed in.

“I wish I could come with you. I hate just sitting around,” Nanash grumbled.

“I can’t carry both of you, but I’ll mention your concerns to Emelio. Maybe he can fetch you,” Navine suggested.

“Fine,” Nanash agreed reluctantly. “If you’ll do that, I can live with this.”

I felt for Nanash. He just wanted to ensure my safety, especially after my reaction to him the previous day. I made a mental note to apologize to him once this was all over and reassure him that I still trusted him.

Navine’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Are you okay?” he asked.

I blinked, looking at him. “I’m fine. Just trying to relax.”

“If you need me to land for a bit, I can do that. We’re not on a strict schedule to meet Jekia,” Navine offered.

“No, I’m good. Really,” I insisted.

I was stretching the truth a bit. Despite my efforts to focus on Nanash and finding a cure for the effects of the fruit, doubts kept creeping in. I was sure they were Rosaline’s, and they were driving me insane no matter how hard I tried to ignore them.

~It’s my fault. I let it happen. I don’t deserve to be here.~

Was Rosaline really this broken before she died? It was hard to believe we shared the same soul, considering how strong I’d been up until now. It made me question my purpose in being reborn.

Navine didn’t seem entirely convinced, but he let it go. “All right. If that’s what you want, we’ll keep going. We should be there in less than an hour.”

I tightened my grip around his shoulders. “Okay.”

I had to admit, I was enjoying the flight. Being in Navine’s arms, holding onto him, soaring high above the ground—it was all quite exhilarating. Maybe I missed my wings more than I realized.

The landscape below us blurred into a beautiful mosaic as we flew, and soon, the palace came into view. A wave of nostalgia washed over me. This wasn’t the palace I was brought to after the massacre, but I had fond memories of it from the many times Anika took me to visit Lord Jekia and his family during my childhood.

Those were some of my happiest days. I felt safe with Lord Jekia and Lady Lana, and their children were my true friends.

~Hold on~, I thought. ~Will I finally meet Rin and Rayne’s Betas?~

It was too late to ponder over this now. This wasn’t a casual visit, and there was nothing I could do about meeting them in my current state.

Navine spread his wings wide, guiding us gently to the courtyard below. As we touched down, a mist materialized before us, and from it emerged Emelio, his face adorned with his usual warm smile.

“Well, this is unexpected. You didn’t mention wanting to bring Raelina here,” he remarked.

Navine sighed. “I thought it best to wait until you’d handled your own issues. But this isn’t a social visit. We need your help with Raelina,” he confessed.

Emelio’s eyes flickered to me, concern etched on his face. “What’s happened? You don’t seem ill,” he observed.

“It’s not something you’d see on the surface,” Navine admitted. He exhaled a weary breath. “Someone snuck Jube fruit into my home. Raelina ate one unknowingly. Now, her soul is caught between her current life and a past one.”

Emelio’s eyes widened in alarm as he looked at me.

I felt exposed under his gaze, a wave of discomfort washing over me. I took a step back.

“Stop staring at me!” I blurted out.

Emelio remained composed, though his concern deepened. “This is serious,” he said, shaking his head.

“No kidding. So, how do we fix this? How do we get her back to normal?” Navine asked.

“That might be complicated,” Emelio confessed.

“Complicated? Is this permanent?” I asked, fear creeping into my voice. The thought of being stuck in this state forever was terrifying.

Emelio began, “There’s a possibility—”

“But a possibility is just that. If there’s a solution, we need to find it. I won’t let her live in fear,” Navine cut him off.

“There’s no need for that. We resolved this issue long ago,” Lord Jekia interjected.

He emerged from the palace doors, the same regal figure I’d known since childhood. Despite my current state, I felt more awe than fear. I think most beings in our world felt the same way about him.

Lord Jekia was one of the first rulers of our world, known for his wisdom and nobility. His presence alone commanded respect. Seeing him and Navine together was a sight to behold.

Navine was the more imposing of the two, standing a foot taller and visibly more muscular. But Lord Jekia was no less formidable. His broad shoulders and the fit of his clothes hinted at his strength—something I’d felt firsthand as a child.

“You’ve done everything to protect and empower her. I intended to do the same, but this situation has thrown me off,” Navine admitted.

“You shouldn’t blame yourself. This isn’t your fault, even if it’s related to past issues,” Lord Jekia reassured him. He stepped closer to me and extended his hand. “Stay strong, Raelina. You’re stronger than this.”

His words echoed in my mind, silencing the panic within me. Lord Jekia had always believed in my strength—even when I didn’t.

“I know I am,” I said, taking his hand.

Lord Jekia smiled reassuringly. “We’ll handle this, my dear,” he promised. He turned back to Emelio. “You mentioned this being tricky. What did you sense?”

“I couldn’t get a clear read through her eyes, but I saw a severe disturbance in her soul. I’ve heard Jubes can trigger memories of past lives, but this seems different. It’s like it’s focusing on moments of panic from a past life. I wonder if the effects were manipulated,” Emelio explained.

“Could be,” Navine agreed, pulling a box from the small canvas bag he’d brought along. He handed it to the mage. “This is all that’s left. Thought it might give you some leads.”

Emelio opened the box, examining the fruit inside. “Maybe,” he said, nodding. He turned to Lord Jekia. “I’d like to consult with Ramone on this. He’s pretty knowledgeable about plants. He could help confirm what we need to know, if that’s okay.”

“Of course,” Lord Jekia replied. “Do whatever you need to find answers. In the meantime, Raelina and Navine will stay here.”

“Sounds good. I’ll get started right away,” Emelio said before vanishing.

Lord Jekia kept me close, turning to Navine. “Now that we’re alone, am I right to assume this has something to do with your old beef with the Prism Dragon?” he asked quietly.

“I think so, but I don’t have any evidence yet,” Navine replied. “But I do know that Dominick has been showing an unhealthy interest in Raelina lately. It seems he’s linked her soul to the past.”

Lord Jekia sighed. “That’s what I was afraid of.”

“Did you know about all this before?” I asked, gripping his arm.

“I had my suspicions,” Lord Jekia admitted. “Let’s go inside where it’s more comfortable. We can talk more there.”

I wasn’t too surprised that Lord Jekia knew about this. He’d been around back then too, and he obviously knew Navine and the other Dragons. I wondered how much he knew about what happened to Rosaline.

He seemed to trust Navine with me from the start. Was it because they were similar, or was he just willing to see if Navine would redeem himself?

Navine didn’t object to Lord Jekia’s suggestion. He quietly followed us into the palace. Despite his usual calm demeanor, I could see the pain in his eyes. He felt helpless.

I was sure that if he could, he would’ve helped me without us ever needing to come here, regardless of his relationship with Lord Jekia.

We made our way to the main sitting room, down a long hallway. I looked around, remembering the palace well. The beautiful blue, white, and gold decorations, the fine furniture, paintings, and mirrors—even the quiet, warm ambiance. It always felt like a second home, a place where I was always welcome.

Lady Lana was in the sitting room when we entered, mending a dress on one of the loveseats. She stood up to greet us with a smile.

“Welcome back, Raelina. I didn’t expect to see you so soon,” she said. She then nodded at Navine. “And how are you, Lord Navine? It’s been a while.”

“I wish I could say I’m well, but this isn’t a social visit,” Navine admitted.

Lady Lana looked worried. “What’s happened?”

“Let’s sit down and we’ll explain,” Lord Jekia said.

I sat with Navine on a loveseat, trying to stay calm. But as Lord Jekia explained the situation, I couldn’t help but feel anxious. I kept looking around, afraid that my unseen tormentor from the night before would appear to take me away. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the fear.

~Am I losing my mind?~ I wondered.

Navine’s gentle touch on my back helped calm my rising panic. He didn’t say anything, but I could tell he was trying to reassure me. He might have even sensed how bad I was feeling.

“How terrible. Who would do such a thing to her?” Lady Lana asked after Lord Jekia finished explaining.

“Navine and I have our hunches, and we’re going to dig into them,” Lord Jekia said, “but right now, our main concern is making sure Raelina doesn’t suffer any lasting harm from this.”

“I appreciate your help, but I’ll be the one to handle this,” Navine interjected. “If it’s what we think it is, then this battle is mine.”

“That may be true,” Lord Jekia conceded. “I know about your ongoing feud with this other person, and usually, I’d let you sort it out. But now Raelina is involved, and I hope you understand that I see her as one of my own, even though I entrusted her to Anika. I didn’t let her become your wife just to watch history repeat itself.”

I was taken aback. ~Wait, what?~ Lord Jekia had given his blessing for me to become Navine’s wife? I had assumed Navine had chosen me right after we met. No one ever mentioned anything about Lord Jekia’s approval.

Navine didn’t flinch at this, nor did he seem the least bit intimidated. “I have no intention of letting history repeat itself. I promise to protect her,” he assured Lord Jekia.

“So, you’ve been honest about all this?” Lord Jekia asked.

“I have. I’ve told her everything. It was the least I could do, especially after what’s happened recently,” Navine confirmed.

“I’m a bit lost. What past are you talking about, and how does it involve Raelina?” Lady Lana chimed in.

I guessed that Lord Jekia hadn’t told her about the previous owner of my soul. I wondered if he’d known all along or if he’d only found out after I met Navine. But that seemed unlikely. Emelio probably would’ve told him, considering their history.

“It’s all about Raelina’s soul. Remember the Faerie Navine was involved with a long time ago? Raelina is her reincarnation,” Lord Jekia explained.

“Her reincarnation?” Lady Lana glanced at me, then back at him. “Have you known about this the whole time?”

“I had my suspicions, but Emelio recently confirmed it. This makes the situation even more serious. If this fruit has tapped into Rosaline’s state at the end of her life, it could destroy Raelina’s psyche,” Lord Jekia elaborated.

“She was in that bad of a state?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“We think she hid most of it, but all the signs of her extreme distress were there,” Lord Jekia confirmed.

I decided to voice my thoughts. It couldn’t hurt me more than I already was, and I wanted to understand more. I knew what Navine had told me the night before, but it felt like even he might not have known everything. Or maybe he just didn’t want to.

“Did you see Rosaline back then? Is that how you know so much about it?” I asked him.

“I did see her right before she died, and I know how broken she was inside, even if she tried to hide it. I regret not intervening more before it was too late,” Lord Jekia confessed.

“There was no need for you to. The situation with her was between us Dragons, and you had your own issues with the lycans. I did what I could,” Navine defended.

Lord Jekia exhaled sharply, struggling to keep his temper in check. “You did next to nothing in the end, and you know it. Why not stop blaming Dominick and admit that you failed her too?”

A tense silence fell over us. I glanced nervously at Navine, worried that he would react angrily to Lord Jekia’s accusation. It was a harsh thing to say that Navine was as responsible for Rosaline’s death as Dominick, even if it felt closer to the truth. Navine had pretty much admitted that to me.

“Jekia, I’m not going to sit here and argue with you,” Navine finally conceded. “I know I messed up before, but I promise you, I won’t repeat those mistakes. Raelina isn’t Rosaline, even if they share the same soul. I won’t see her as anyone but herself. I just want to undo the past and let Raelina be Raelina again. I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.”

“All right then,” Lord Jekia responded, “I guess that’s all we can ask of you for now. But know this—I’ll be watching this situation closely, especially now that things with Luna are settled.”

That piqued my interest. “You found the people spreading those awful rumors about Luna?” I asked.

“We did,” Lord Jekia confirmed, “and in doing so, we also uncovered a much bigger problem that’s been lurking in the shadows for years.”

“Was it at the Bergan House?” I asked.

Lord Jekia and Lady Lana looked surprised. “How did you know about that?” he asked.

Navine chimed in, “Dominick mentioned it to Raelina. She confronted him about not talking to you about Luna’s issues. Did he finally decide to talk?”

“He did,” Lord Jekia confirmed, crossing his arms. “A few days ago, he sent us a letter. He’d overheard the matron of the Bergan House telling her girls stories about Luna being a succubus and using Rayne. He also said he sensed a dark presence in the House, which is why he thought we should investigate.”

Navine scoffed. “How convenient for him to deflect suspicion from himself.”

“I wouldn’t put it past him,” Lord Jekia agreed.

Lady Lana nodded solemnly. “From what I’ve heard, Lord Dominick knows a lot about what happens in those houses. I’m not happy that he let Luna suffer. And now I’m worried about Selenia. She’s been spending a lot of time at the houses lately, and I don’t want Dominick to manipulate her.”

“I won’t let that happen,” Lord Jekia declared. “If I have to, I’ll pull Selenia away from the Houses. There are other ways for her to learn and socialize.”

“But she loves going to those Houses and taking classes with her friends,” I protested. “It’s not fair to isolate her because of Dominick.”

I meant every word. Selenia was like a little sister to me, and I didn’t want her to suffer because of something I could prevent.

“I understand your concern, Raelina,” Lord Jekia said, “but I have to protect my family, especially my youngest.”

“I know you will,” I said, “but let Navine and me handle Dominick. He’s our problem.”

Navine nodded. “I promise, I won’t let him hurt Selenia.”

I could tell Lord Jekia and Lady Lana weren’t entirely comfortable with the idea, but they agreed.

“All right,” Lord Jekia said, “you can handle Dominick. But if I need to step in, I will.”

“I will too,” Lady Lana added. She then turned to Lord Jekia. “Back to the previous topic, is Emelio coming back soon with an answer?”

“He should be,” Lord Jekia replied. “In the meantime, Navine and Raelina can stay here. It’s probably safer.”

“I agree,” Navine said. “We’ll stay as long as we need to. All that matters is keeping Raelina safe.”

I wasn’t exactly thrilled about the idea of sticking around, especially with the looming threat of bumping into Rayne and Luna. But I also knew I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. This gnawing panic was like a monster, slowly devouring my soul, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep myself—or my sanity—intact.

For the moment, all I could do was twiddle my thumbs and wait for Emelio to come back. I was banking on him finding the right solutions to piece me back together.

EPISODE 26: Chapter 25

I never could have predicted the significance of my encounter with Navine that day. The idea that I was destined to meet him, let alone marry him, was beyond my wildest dreams. I couldn’t have fathomed that our paths had almost crossed centuries ago.

When people say life has a way of coming full circle, they’re not kidding. But in our case, that circle included a tragic past that left a deep imprint on my soul. Coupled with my childhood experiences, I questioned whether I could truly overcome it all.

Even if Emelio could prevent further damage, would I ever be the same Fae I once believed I was? It felt absurd to question my identity after fighting so hard to preserve it. Yet, there I was, pondering this under a willow tree in the courtyard.

I had sought solitude, but I knew Lady Lana was watching me from the palace. Lord Jekia and Navine were in a private discussion, likely about recent events. I had no doubt that these events were somehow linked to Dominick.

I was almost certain that Dominick was the cause of my current predicament. It was too convenient that all this happened to me. I suspected he had someone sneak those fruits into the palace, possibly with the weekly delivery. He stood to gain the most from my unraveling.

If he wanted to torment me, this was the perfect way to do it. I sighed quietly, leaning against the tree trunk. I was exhausted from the internal battle.

I longed for Emelio’s return with some answers. I barely registered the sound of approaching footsteps.

“How are you holding up, Raelina?” Navine’s voice broke the silence.

I opened my eyes to find him standing before me. Despite his neutral expression, I could see the concern in his eyes.

“I’m just tired, so I was resting. I think I’m doing okay otherwise,” I replied, not bothering to shift my position.

Navine sat next to me, wrapping an arm around me gently. “Emelio should be back soon, so just hang in there a little longer,” he whispered.

I shivered slightly as I leaned into him, fighting the urge to pull away. I hated feeling this way. I shouldn’t have been afraid of being close to Navine.

But then I remembered what he had told me about the past. Lord Jekia had mentioned it too, saying Navine shared the blame for what happened to Rosaline. Was that why part of me feared him? Because it blamed him too?

I knew in my heart that it was likely the truth, even if I would never admit it. Everyone makes mistakes, and I was sure that emotions had run high back then, leading to rash decisions.

“I don’t blame you, Navine,” I whispered, coming to terms with this.

He turned to look at me. “What do you mean?”

“About the past,” I clarified. “Even if you made mistakes, I know you never meant to hurt Rosaline. And I know you’d never want to hurt me. You’re not that kind of person.”

Navine was silent for a moment. “No, I’d never intentionally hurt you or Rosaline. But I can’t deny that her loss taught me valuable lessons. I know I share the blame for her death. I was young and impulsive, and I didn’t know how to listen without letting my emotions cloud my judgment. My mistakes cost us everything, and I won’t let history repeat itself, even if I feel like I’m struggling now,” he finally said.

“You know that struggling doesn’t make you weak. None of us have all the answers,” I reminded him.

“Did Jekia teach you that?” Navine asked.

“Yes. He used to tell his children and me that all the time when we were growing up.”

“It seems you spent a lot of time here as a child. I assume Anika brought you to visit often.”

I gave a nod, a sense of contentment washing over me as I leaned into him. “Yes, she did. Rin, Rayne, Selenia, and I were close, and she thought it was important for us to remain friends. Lord Jekia and Lady Lana felt the same. I think if circumstances were different, they might have adopted me, but with everything that was happening, Lord Jekia was concerned it might not be in my best interest to be away from other Fae.”

Navine nodded in understanding. “That makes sense. It’s usually better for the young ones to be raised by their own kind. Do you miss being with the Fae?”

I shook my head. “Not really. It’s different when they’re not your sect,” I replied, sitting up to face him. “And for the record, I don’t feel trapped in your palace. It was a bit of an adjustment at first, but you’ve helped me get out more. Plus, I have you and Nanash. You’ve even said Anika can visit whenever she wants, which I’m really looking forward to. So don’t let what Dominick said bother you.”

A soft chuckle escaped Navine as a resigned smile played on his lips. “Here I am trying to comfort you, and you’ve turned it around to comfort me.”

I returned his smile, feeling a bit lighter. “I prefer to think of it as a talent.”

“Could be,” Navine agreed, sitting up with me and surveying our surroundings. “It’s been a long time since I last visited this place. It doesn’t seem much different from Jekia’s original palace.”

“I don’t think so either,” I concurred. “I’m surprised I haven’t seen any of Lord Jekia’s children. Rin and Rayne have their own homes nearby, and Selenia often visits the Matchmaking House in Jumal. I wonder if they’re unaware of all this.”

“Probably, and it might be for the best. No offense to them, but we shouldn’t complicate things further,” Navine advised.

“You’re right. It would probably complicate things if they were here. Rin and Rayne were always protective of me and Selenia growing up. I’m sure they’d be upset if they saw me like this,” I conceded.

“They saw you as a sibling, despite Anika taking you in, didn’t they?”

“They did.”

“That’s good. It’s always better not to grow up alone.”

A strange sensation coursed through me at his words. My mind flashed to Temple. It seemed like he and Navine had been close before everything happened. At least, that’s what I gathered from Rosaline’s memories.

“You miss your brother, don’t you?” I ventured.

“I do,” Navine admitted. “I can relate to what you went through as a child. I know what it’s like to lose your family and feel alone in the world. Even with the other Dragons, it wasn’t the same after Temple left and died. Even knowing Lyric is alive and maintaining a relationship with him hasn’t eased the pain much.”

“Maybe not, but at least we’re not completely alone. We have people who care about us, and we have each other,” I offered.

“Yes, we do.”

Our conversation was interrupted by a mist materializing near us. Emelio emerged from it, bowing politely. An irrational fear bubbled up within me, and I instinctively moved closer to Navine.

“I apologize for the interruption and for causing distress to your lady,” Emelio said, giving me a sympathetic look.

“Unfortunately, it’s to be expected,” Navine sighed, keeping an arm around me. “I assume you have information for us?”

“I do. If you two would please follow me, we can discuss what I’ve discovered,” Emelio responded.

I couldn’t say I was comfortable with any of this, especially with so much at stake. Either I could be cured and return to my old self, or I would remain as I was forever—a prospect I wasn’t sure I could handle.

We followed Emelio back into the palace, where he led us to the back parlor. It was a spacious, open room. Lord Jekia and Lady Lana were already there, waiting for us.

I took a seat in one of the chairs as Lord Jekia addressed Emelio. “Let’s not waste any more time. What have you found out?”

“Let’s start from the top,” Emelio suggested. He raised his hand, revealing a box of fruit.

“I had a long chat with Ramone, and he helped me figure these out. Lord Navine was spot on—they’re Jubes, and we think they’re most likely from the mountains down south.”

“That helps us narrow down who could’ve gotten them. Not many can reach those heights,” Lord Jekia pointed out.

“True,” Navine agreed. He then turned to Emelio. “Did you figure out how to counteract their effects?”

“Well, usually there’s a simple solution, but this situation seems a bit more complex,” Emelio replied.

“What do you mean, more complex?” Navine questioned, his face showing skepticism.

The fruit rose from the box, floating around Emelio’s hand, glowing a bright blue.

“The problem is what else has been done here. I have to admit, whoever did this is pretty skilled. I didn’t even notice until Ramone started looking at them. These Jubes don’t just affect the soul—they’ve been enchanted to amplify the worst memories of whoever eats them,” he explained.

“So, that’s why Raelina’s been reacting so strongly to everything—because her soul is being affected by memories she doesn’t even have?” Lady Lana asked.

“It’s more like she’s recalling memories she shouldn’t be,” Emelio clarified.

“Most living beings are reincarnations, and usually, they don’t remember anything from their past lives, even if they carry traits from them. Even with the effects of this fruit, the damage might just result in some phobias or a sense of disillusionment.”

“But this spell intensifies the effects by using primal fear against her,” Lord Jekia hypothesized.

“Exactly,” Emelio confirmed.

“So, what’s the solution? Can we stop this?” Navine asked.

“Yes and no. Ramone gave me an antidote for the Jube’s effect, but he’s not sure it’ll be enough to counteract the additional spell. The worst-case scenario we came up with is that Raelina’s soul might split between her and Rosaline. Even though she’s had other lives since then, Rosaline’s life had the most impact on her soul. We think that’s why this spell was used—to tap into that,” Emelio explained.

Navine didn’t seem surprised. “Of course. This pretty much confirms who’s behind this.”

“I agree, but we still don’t have solid evidence,” Emelio said, letting the fruits fall back into the box and crossing his arms.

“I went through the records with Ramone before coming back here because I wanted to know who was behind this and why, but unfortunately, we couldn’t find anything concrete linking the Prism Dragon to it.”

“That’s not surprising. He knows we’d suspect him, so he’d make sure to keep his distance. That’s his M.O.,” Navine scoffed.

Lord Jekia agreed. “I had little doubt. The connection to Rosaline’s soul is enough for me. But putting that aside, do you think the antidote will help Raelina now?”

“I think it will. We’ll just have to wait and see,” Emelio replied.

I wasn’t exactly thrilled about taking the vial he handed me. The fear of drinking it was almost paralyzing, and it took all my strength to overcome it and take a sip.

There was an immediate burning sensation deep within me, and before I knew it, I blacked out.

Time seemed to stand still as I floated in a chilling darkness that I was sure was my own mind. But slowly, a tiny speck of light appeared in the distance.

It grew brighter and brighter until it was almost blinding, forcing me to shut my eyes. When I opened them again, I was surrounded by warm air.

I realized I was standing outside. “Where am I?” I wondered, looking around.

A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I took in the familiar surroundings. It had been more than ten years, but I would recognize the village my sect had built anywhere.

I spun around, realizing I was standing behind what used to be my home. The afternoon sun bathed everything in a warm, vibrant glow—almost bringing tears to my eyes.

God, how I missed this place, even though I was certain I’d never see it again.

The creak of a door opening snapped me out of my reverie. I glanced to my right and saw the back door of my old house swinging open.

A little girl stepped out, shutting the door behind her before she started skipping across the yard. Her blonde curls bobbed behind her, and she was dressed in a cute green sundress.

“Wait, that’s me!” I realized with a start.

I looked about five years old, just as I remembered from my reflection before the attack. But where was I headed? I didn’t remember venturing toward the woods alone.

My parents had always warned me about the dangers lurking there.

I quickly followed my younger self, curious to remember where I was going. I had this nagging feeling that I was eager to meet someone, but I couldn’t remember who.

My past self ventured into the woods, stopping about ten feet in. “Are you here?” I called out, my tiny voice echoing through the trees.

A strange yet familiar sound followed by a familiar voice made me look around.

“Shh, my dear. We wouldn’t want to attract unwanted attention,” the voice cautioned.

The Snake slithered down from the trees. I ran to him, jumping into his arms and hugging him tightly. He hugged me back, a pleased expression on his face.

“Nanash?” I whispered, disbelief clouding my thoughts. Was this a dream, a desperate attempt to let him know I was okay?

No, this felt too real, like a long-forgotten memory resurfacing.

“I’m so happy you came to see me again!” my younger self exclaimed.

She reached into her pocket when he set her down and pulled out a pink and black stone. “I found this and wanted to give it to you.”

Nanash accepted the stone. “What a beautiful stone.”

“Mommy said it’s a Rhodonite stone. I found it on our way back from Bergan. She said it’s special; it helps heal our soul. You said your family hurt you a lot, so this can help you feel better,” my younger self explained.

“How thoughtful,” Nanash murmured, his eyes reflecting a mix of joy and regret as he examined the stone. “Thank you, little one. I will cherish it.”

“Will you stay here? I think Mommy and Daddy would like you because you’re my friend,” my younger self asked.

Nanash shook his head. “No, I can’t let them see me. And I doubt they’d be happy knowing you’re talking to me. Sadly, this might be our last meeting.”

“Why?” I asked, confused.

He leaned in closer, his voice barely a whisper.

“Be brave, little one. No matter what happens, know that I’ll protect you as much as I can, even if it costs me my life.”

His words echoed in my mind as the scene faded away.

The next thing I knew, I was waking up in a bed. I sat up slowly, rubbing my head and looking around.

The room looked like one of the guest rooms in Lord Jekia’s palace. They must have brought me here after I fainted.

But waking up alone in a strange room didn’t worry me.

Instead, I was consumed by the dream—or rather, the memory that had just resurfaced.

It was real; I was sure of it.

Nanash had known me before, and he had warned me about the impending doom of my sect.