Chapter 25 The day before tragedy struck

 Awakening to the bright sun rays filtering through the canopy, Jaylen let out a groan and squinted against the light. "Ugh... Where am I?" he muttered, scanning his surroundings. He appeared to be in a grove, nestled deep within a forest.

The grove was surreal, almost magical. Towering trees with purple-hued leaves created a colorful, mystical canopy above him. The dark bark of the trees contrasted sharply with the vibrant foliage, giving the forest an otherworldly feel. The grass beneath him was a lush, vibrant green, soft and inviting. In the center of the grove was a small, serene pond, its surface shimmering under the sunlight, reflecting the purple leaves and creating a tranquil, mirrored image of the sky above.

As Jaylen rose to his feet, a wave of nostalgia washed over him. "This place, it feels so familiar yet different at the same time," he mused aloud. His eyes drifted to one tree that stood out from the rest. Its bark had been intricately carved, and something was inscribed there. Approaching it, Jaylen ran his fingers over the carving, feeling the rough texture beneath his touch.

"It feels like it was carved recently, most likely with a knife," he noted. The carving read, "Jaylen x Yuki." 

Recognition dawned on him. "No... how could this be possible? This is the grove that was destroyed two years ago. No wonder it felt so familiar. I used to come here all the time before Sil passed away. But wait, if I'm here now, then this must be before she passes away."

Holding his chin, Jaylen delved deeper into his thoughts. 'It has to be the only logical explanation. If the grove was destroyed two years ago, I must be in the past. The only evidence I have that this is while Sil was still alive is this carving. Based on what it says, it means Yuki and I are still close. Not only that, but it was recently carved, so it can only be 2087.'

Jaylen deduced it must be 2087, the year Sil passed away and the year they had spent the most time in this grove in the Eclipsara forest. That wasn't the only reason he remembered this day—Sil's behavior had been very strange that whole day.

'Okay, now I know where I am. No, that wouldn't be proper... while I am here, it seems only my soul is here,' he thought, noticing for the first time that his hands were translucent. 'Let's make my way out of here. If I'm correct, my younger self should be just outside the forest.'

With a sense of urgency, Jaylen began to make his way out of the grove, navigating through the ethereal forest with determination. The familiar yet altered landscape stirred memories, but he knew he had to stay focused. The path was clear, marked by his past footprints and the echoes of a time long gone. As he approached the edge of the forest, he could feel the weight of the moment, the intersection of past and present, and the hope of altering the course of events that had haunted him for so long.

As he reached the large clearing, the grassland spread out before them, a sea of vibrant green interspersed with wildflowers swaying in the gentle breeze. The sun hung high, casting its warm, golden rays across the land, creating a shimmering effect as the light danced off the dew-kissed blades of grass. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the earthy aroma of freshly turned soil. In the distance, the familiar mountain where Jaylen's family lived stood tall and proud, its peak piercing the sky. The silhouette of the city of shadows loomed far off, a dark contrast against the bright blue horizon.

Jaylen lifted a hand to shield his eyes from the sun as he scanned the horizon, thinking about their next move. 'If I recall correctly, I need to head west,' he mused. 

Turning westward, he set his gaze on the distant mountain and the barely visible city of shadows. The sight filled him with a mix of nostalgia and urgency. With a determined stride, he began his journey across the expansive grassland. 

He walked for about thirty minutes, the soft rustling of the grass accompanying his thoughts, when he suddenly kicked something. Looking down, he first noticed a pair of black shoes—part of the school uniform—attached to peach-colored legs. Following the frame of the person, his eyes soon landed on a familiar face framed by light blue hair. "Yuki," he said, his voice tinged with surprise.

A small, quiet groan escaped her lips as her eyes fluttered open. Sitting up, she let out a cute yawn and stretched, her movements languid and unguarded. Her drowsy gaze locked onto Jaylen, and for a moment, she seemed confused. Then, her eyes widened in recognition and alarm. Jumping to her feet like a startled cat, she blushed slightly and assumed a fighting stance. "You bastard! How dare you attack a sleeping enemy?"

Jaylen held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Whoa, Yuki, calm down. I didn't mean to kick you."

Yuki narrowed her eyes, but her stance relaxed slightly. "What are you doing here anyway?" she demanded.

Jaylen sighed, glancing back towards the direction of the grove and then to the mountain. "I'm... not entirely sure. I think I'm here to prevent something, to change what happened."

Yuki's expression softened, her curiosity piqued. "Change what happened? What do you mean?"

Jaylen met her gaze, the weight of his mission clear in his eyes. "I think I've been given a second chance, Yuki. To make things right. To save Sil."

Her eyes widened at the mention of Sil's name, the memory of their mutual friend stirring deep emotions within her. She dropped her guard completely, her demeanor shifting from defensive to concerned. "How? How do you plan to do that?"

Jaylen took a deep breath, feeling the enormity of his task. "I don't know all the details yet, but I have to try. For her. For us."

The sincerity in his voice struck a chord with Yuki. She nodded slowly, a determined look crossing her face. "Then let's do it together. We owe her that much."

As they stood in the middle of the vibrant grassland, a renewed sense of purpose washed over Jaylen. With Yuki by his side, he felt a spark of hope. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, to rewrite their past and forge a better future.

As they made their way to the likely location of their younger selves, Yuki couldn't help but voice her confusion. "So, how are we even in the past, and how do you know we can save Sil?"

Jaylen glanced at her, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "First, take a look at your body." As he spoke, Yuki glanced down and saw that her body was translucent. "As you can see, we aren't here in our physical bodies but instead as our souls."

"Wait, there's a conflict with that," Yuki argued. "My bloodline is awakened, so my soul should be more in the form of a phoenix."

Jaylen paused, looking at Yuki with an incredulous expression. "Hey, what's that look for?" she demanded, her voice rising in frustration.

Sighing, Jaylen muttered under his breath, "Haah, is this what Brandon feels like with Sarah?" before addressing her more directly. "You know, for your score being just behind mine by two points, I really question how smart you are sometimes."

"Hey, that's not fair! Unlike you, I didn't research in-depth about bloodlines and their effect on the soul," she retorted, crossing her arms defensively.

"Allow me to enlighten you," Jaylen said, his tone a mix of patience and exasperation. "First, from the way you used your bloodline during our fight, it's obvious you can't access its full power. Second, you're still human. Unless you transform into your phoenix form, you'll look human. This also applies if you have a specter; it can change forms too."

Yuki's eyes widened in understanding. "Okay, I get it now. What about my other question?"

Jaylen's expression grew serious. "Well, this is just a theory, but if we warn her about what's about to happen or try to prevent it by telling someone else, then just maybe we'll be able to save her life." His fist clenched tightly, hope burning in his eyes.

Yuki fell silent, considering the gravity of his words. Then she asked the question that gnawed at both their hearts. "What if we've arrived the day before she died? If we have time, we can save her, but if it's the day before…"

Jaylen clenched his fists, the weight of her words heavy in the air. "Let's just hope that isn't the case," he said, quickening his pace as if trying to outrun his fears. It wasn't until five minutes later that they arrived at the location they believed their younger selves to be, and just by luck, they spotted three kids talking under a tree not far from where they stood. Jaylen's heart skipped a beat as he recognized his younger self among them.

The clearing was a beautiful expanse, a sea of soft, green grass that stretched out beneath the azure sky. The sun bathed the landscape in a warm, golden glow, casting dappled shadows through the leaves of towering trees that encircled the area. Wildflowers peppered the grass, their vibrant colors adding to the serene beauty of the scene.

As Jaylen and Yuki drew closer, the voices of the children reached them, a mix of laughter and earnest conversation. Jaylen felt a pang of nostalgia, mingled with the urgent hope that they could change the course of events.

"Look," Jaylen whispered, pointing to the group. "There we are."

Yuki's eyes softened as she saw her younger self, carefree and unaware of the tragedy that would soon befall them. "We have to do this right," she murmured, determination steeling her voice.

Jaylen nodded, a resolute expression on his face. "For Sil," he said quietly, his gaze fixed on the younger versions of themselves.

As they drew closer, Jaylen and Yuki overheard the conversation between the children. The oldest, a girl with a calm, gentle demeanor, spoke to the other two, "Hey, Jaylen and Yuki, do you think you guys could get Brandon and Sarah? They should be here soon."

The younger Jaylen grinned mischievously. "Sure thing, Sil. They'll be here before Yuki can even say how she feels about me," he teased before darting off toward the usual meeting spot.

"Hey, that's not fair!" the younger Yuki pouted, her cheeks flushing, before chasing after him.

Sil watched them with a warm smile, her eyes full of affection. "You two don't have to feel embarrassed about how you used to behave," she said, turning her gaze toward the present-day Jaylen and Yuki, who stood hidden in the shadows.

Jaylen and Yuki were taken aback that she noticed them. Yuki leaned toward Jaylen, whispering, "Did Sil ever tell you she could see souls?"

Jaylen shook his head. "No, she never did."

"You don't have to be so surprised," Sil explained, walking toward them. "There's a lot I never told you." She reached out and took their hands, her touch warm and reassuring. "You two have changed so much."

"Sil," Yuki whispered, tears welling up in her eyes as she smiled brightly. Jaylen managed a smile of his own, but he remained silent, emotions swirling inside him.

Sil continued, her tone gentle but firm. "I know why you're here. In fact, I know even more than that."

Jaylen began to speak, but Sil raised a hand to stop him. "I always knew I was going to die," she said softly. "Before you ask why I didn't try to fight against my fate, it's simple. I didn't want to. You see death differently than I do. I had no problem accepting my fate because I believed you would face any difficulty my death might cause."

She paused, her expression growing somber. "But my death happened sooner than it was supposed to. I was meant to die once you all turned fifteen, when you would have awakened your bloodlines. But as you can guess, plans changed. For me, that time will be tomorrow."

"What?" Jaylen and Yuki shouted in unison. Yuki added, her voice trembling, "You mean tomorrow is—?"

"Yes, it is," Sil confirmed, her smile bright but tinged with sadness.

Jaylen sighed deeply, while Yuki, in frustration, slammed her fist into the ground. "Dammit!" she yelled.

"If you understand, then take these letters," Sil said, handing them a bundle of envelopes. "They will follow you back to the present. There is one for each of you. Make sure the others get theirs and don't read them until you're alone."

"Alright, Sil," Yuki replied, taking the letters with a determined nod.

Before sending them on their way, Sil added a warning. "Jaylen, don't rely only on your instincts when casting a spell again, or you might end up in the past. Next time, I won't be so nice."

Jaylen nodded in response, a small smile playing on his lips.

Suddenly, the area around Jaylen and Yuki began to glow with a bright, ethereal light. Sil's voice echoed around them, cheerful yet final. "Alright, guys, I guess this is goodbye. Hehe. Work hard and give me a godchild!"

Yuki blushed furiously, while Jaylen gave a cheeky grin. "Sure thing, Sil—" But before he could finish, the world around them froze, and they were enveloped in a blinding light.

Yuki returned to the present, but Jaylen found himself in a place completely devoid of light. Confused, he muttered, "Huh, where am I now?"

As if answering his question, a voice echoed around him. "That wasn't very nice, kiddo. You almost spoiled the fun."

—-

Chapter End

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Sorry it was a late chapter totally forgot the date.