Past and Future

Althea found herself standing at the threshold of the forsaken ancient house, immersed in the tranquil embrace of the nocturnal symphony performed by crickets and night creatures.

The ambient sounds of nature appeared to extend a warm welcome as she ventured beyond the confines of the old door. Rather than hastily retreating from the securely sealed entrance, she surrendered herself to the moment.

Her countenance was a canvas of swirling inquiries, each stroke of thought seemingly giving life to enigmatic memories that surfaced while she sought to connect with Prana, that elusive inner force she was curious about.

Alas, her recollections of her mother were scant, and the encounter she had just experienced felt like an important clue etching its way into her future.

The image of her mother, who had departed her life when she was but a six-year-old, loomed in her thoughts. The absence of that cherished presence during her formative years had left indelible scars carved deeply within her heart.

Now, the time had come, it seemed, to fathom the role that this remembrance played in the tapestry of her existence.

With a heart weighed down by gravity, Althea resolved to revisit the concealed necklace, hidden away within the palace's labyrinthine recesses.

Could this ornate trinket hold the key to unlocking the cryptic treasures concealed within her memory vaults?

Her gaze ascended to the night sky, bathed in the luminance of a full moon, its shimmering stars akin to celestial whispers of encouragement in her quest.

Though sorrow lingered in the contours of her visage, she refused to surrender to despair. Althea felt the caress of the gentle nocturnal breeze, which playfully ruffled her meticulously tied white hair.

Her fingers clung tenaciously to the cover of a weathered brown leather tome, its pages safeguarding mysteries of profound significance. With deliberate and cautious steps, she ventured forth into the darkness.

The wooden houses' corridor was softly lit by lanterns, casting warm, golden glows that danced along the weathered walls. Althea walked with an increasing sense of unease, noticing the eerie absence of fellow students along her path.

The open field, usually abuzz with activity, and the grand hall, where laughter and training once filled the air, now lay still, devoid of life. She couldn't help but wonder what time it was when she had awoken from her subconscious slumber.

Instead of heading directly to the dormitory rooms, Althea's feet led her down a winding path to the library. She hoped to find the specific books she needed for her studies, only to discover that the library was already closed for the night. All the lamps inside had been extinguished, dashing her hopes. Her enthusiasm would have to wait until tomorrow.

Passing through the fragrant garden adorned with a riot of colorful blooms, Althea noticed a solitary figure perched on a massive stone near the pavilion. The figure was shrouded in an all-black ensemble, from clothing to hair, and seemed lost in meditation.

Althea couldn't make out the person's identity from behind, but an instinctual feeling told her who it might be.

"Alorian, isn't it?" Her voice, soft and barren of haste, abruptly broke the silence, causing the young man on the stone to startle and swiftly turn in her direction.

Alorian, his attractive features marked by surprise, struggled to comprehend why Althea was present at this unusual hour. "Why are you here in the middle of the night?"

Althea furrowed her brow, a perplexed expression settling on her face. "Is it?"

"What? You don't know?" Alorian exclaimed, his bewilderment growing. "How could you not know?"

Althea's stare dropped slightly, her hesitation evident as she mulled over sharing her recent experience. "I didn't know because I was practicing Prana with Master Indari in the morning," she paused for a moment, then briefly glimpsed at Alorian, who remained perched on the rock. "But, when I returned, it was already dark."

Alorian found Althea's demeanor somewhat unusual but, having experienced something similar himself, he decided to descend from the stone. "Oh, is this your first time?"

As Alorian approached her, Althea felt her nerves intensify. She unconsciously took a step back, unable to maintain direct eye contact. Despite her apprehension, she nodded in response, choosing to hide her face behind the book she held in her hands.

"I also experienced this on less than a week of meditation," Alorian exclaimed with a reassuring smile. "A forgotten remembrance suddenly arose, didn't it?"

Upon hearing this, Althea's enthusiasm surged once more. She opened her eyes wide, her interest kindled, and she nodded in agreement. "So you have done it?"

"I am!" Alorian felt that Althea is now more... approachable. "Prana flowed through my soul!"

Alorian's confidence was reflected in his complexion, which radiated a newfound assurance. "Even though I only discovered this a few weeks ago."

Althea's curiosity rushed like a rising tide, her eagerness tangible in her wide-eyed expression. "What does mana feel like? Prana, I mean? Can you perform magic?"

A gentle, awkward chuckle escaped Alorian as he skimmed downward, collecting his thoughts. "I haven't quite reached that stage, however. I'm still in the method of learning how to refine the Prana within me."

With a determined look, Alorian lifted his eyes to meet Althea's. "Since we're both relatively new to this search, how about we practice together?"

The unexpected invitation briefly caught Althea off guard, her face peeking out from behind the old tome. Alorian continued, "I mean, sister Isvhara is far ahead of us in terms of skill and knowledge. We don't want to disturb her with our studies, right?"

"I'm well aware that I'm at the beginner's level when it comes to Prana also," Alorian admitted while glancing around the garden and absently rubbing his hair. "With you, maybe we share common ground in our quest for knowledge."

"So, what do you say?" the young man with black hair inquired, extending the invitation with a warm smile, mindful not to force Althea. "It's fine if you'd rather not."

The girl's reply didn't come immediately, leaving an inexplicable rapid heartbeat within her. A strange warmth enveloped Althea's chest, momentarily leaving her uncertain about how to respond to Alorian's proposal.

Upon deeper reflection, she recognized the potential value of establishing a relationship with another Prana practitioner. Learning from different perspectives and gaining insights into how others harnessed Prana could be an enriching experience. Besides, having a friend apart from Isvhara could be a welcomed addition.

Althea nodded modestly, her captivating eyes unable to resist stealing glances at Alorian, who appeared rather fetching in the moonlight. "I don't mind it."

A wide smile returned to the boy's face, his earlier distracted state during meditation now replaced with a sense of excitement. "Excellent! I believe we'll make progress in our unique way—"

"You have disappointed me, son."

The voice struck Alorian like a heavy blow, causing him to abruptly cease speaking. As he stared at the front, Althea had vanished, replaced by the stern figure of Artonius.

"I never thought you would resort to such a wicked method," the deep and resonant voice emanated from Artonius, his beard motioning as he spoke. "I wish Amarta had never born a child like you."

Alorian's legs gave way suddenly, and he knelt before his father in an instant, overwhelmed by shame. His emotions churned with frustration and a sense of helplessness as Artonius steadily approached.

Unexpectedly, Artonius drew his sword, his face a portrait of disappointment mingled with a wave of restrained anger. Without a hint of remorse or sadness, he uttered, "If only I could have taken this action before it became too late."

With one swift and slashing motion, Alorian's world shifted drastically. He felt a strange sensation at his neck, and short, he could no longer sense his body, only his disembodied head. A harsh surge of blood spurted from his severed neck, and he found himself suspended in the air, rolling on the ground that had transformed from grassy to snowy.

His detached head spun uncontrollably, splattering reddish liquid onto the now snowy ground until it came to a halt upon colliding with someone's foot. The face of the individual to whom the severed head belonged now looked upward to the silver-haired woman, her expression cold as she looked down at Alorian.

"Stand."

The two eyes on Alorian's severed head, which had seemed lifeless moments ago, suddenly widened at the sound of the woman's voice. It became unmistakably clear to him that the figure within his field of vision was Althea herself.

"Rise, Alorian!"

The voice echoed so hard that it shocked Alorian back to his senses. Cold sweat streamed down his face, his expression filled with fear, and his breaths came in ragged gasps as if he had just finished a marathon.

His eyes fixated on the star-studded expanse of the cosmos. He was no longer standing but seated on the earth, leaning against a large rock.

Beside him, he found Althea, who was kneeling with equal bewilderment and fear as lost as he was, unsure of what had just occurred. Althea's eyes reflected both concern and tension because, during their conversation, Alorian had suddenly collapsed and fallen.

"Alorian, are you alright?" the white-haired girl muttered, a sense of blame mingling in herself. "Sorry... I truly don't know what to do!"

While Alorian struggled to regain his composure, his rapidly rising and falling chest gradually calmed. However, that brief vision had been an extremely terrifying experience for him. Even for his own father to do such a thing was beyond comprehension.

"Althea... it was you," Alorian uttered in a very soft voice as if he had no strength left. "You were there with me. Did you see it all?"