|1| - Call of forgotten past

Aira managed a smile. “Just thinking about... schoolwork.”

Lila raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “You? Thinking about school? Now I know something’s up. Spill it!”

Before Aira could respond, Rei, their practical friend with an ever-serious demeanor, joined them. “Can we save the gossip for later? We have history class, and you both know how Mr. Lorrence gets if we’re late.”

“Fine, fine,” Lila sighed, but Aira could see the curiosity bubbling beneath the surface.

The trio walked through the busy corridors toward their classroom, but Aira’s thoughts were miles away. As they settled into their seats, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her dreams were somehow intertwined with her reality. 

As Mr. Lorrence droned on about ancient battles, Aira’s mind wandered back to her dream. She pictured the cliff, the crashing waves below, and Kael’s outstretched hand. She had to know more about him, about the world he inhabited.

After class, Aira decided to take a different route home. Instead of heading straight back, she found herself gravitating toward the forest that bordered the edge of town—the very forest that people discussed about in fearful tones.

The moment she stepped into the shade of the trees, a sense of calm washed over her. It felt as though the forest was welcoming her, its secrets murmuring through the leaves. She walked deeper, her heart racing with excitement and trepidation. 

Aira paused beneath the ancient oak tree she had dreamt of, its gnarled branches stretching toward the sky. She ran her fingers over the bark, feeling a strange energy pulse beneath her fingertips. It was here that she felt the strongest connection to Kael, as if he had once stood in this very spot, just as she was now.

“What are you trying to tell me?” she murmured, looking up at the expansive canopy above. “Who am I meant to be?”

Suddenly, a rustle in the underbrush caught her attention. Aira turned sharply, her heart racing. It was probably just a deer or some small animal, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t alone.

As she peered into the shadows, she caught a glimpse of movement—a figure, cloaked in the darkness of the trees. Aira’s breath hitched. It couldn’t be. But there, stepping into the light, was Kael, just as she had seen him in her dreams.

“Aira,” he said softly, his silver-gray eyes locking onto hers. “You came.”

“Kael!” she gasped, taking a step back. “How are you here? Is this real?”

He moved closer, and the air crackled with an energy that made her heart race. “This is as real as it gets for now. You needed to understand.”

“Understand what?” Aira asked, confusion swirling in her mind. “What’s happening?”

Kael’s expression was serious, the weight of their connection palpable. “The dreams are a doorway, Aira. They are trying to awaken something deep within you—something tied to your past.”

Aira shook her head, trying to process his words. “My past? I don’t remember anything. I just want to know why you haunt my dreams.”

“Because our fates are intertwined,” he replied, stepping closer until he was just inches away. “You must remember who you were to understand who you are meant to be.”

His presence enveloped her, and Aira felt a rush of emotions—the fear, the longing, the connection she couldn’t deny. “What do you mean? I don’t understand any of this!”

Kael hesitated, as if weighing his next words. “You have to trust me. There are forces at work that want to keep us apart, to keep the truth hidden. But you have a choice—to embrace your past or to let it consume you.”

Aira’s heart raced. “What choice?”

“Find the truth about your lineage, about the curse that binds us. Only then can we break free of the cycle.”

His words sent a shiver down her spine. Aira felt drawn to him, to the promise of answers that hung in the air between them. Yet, fear gripped her heart—what if uncovering the truth only led to more pain?

“I… I don’t know if I can do this,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kael’s gaze softened. “You are stronger than you realize, Aira. Trust your instincts. They will guide you.”

As the words settled in her heart, Aira realized she stood at a precipice. The dreams, the visions, the mysterious pull toward Kael—they were all leading her to a singular point. The weight of her decision pressed upon her, and the forest around them seemed to hold its breath.

“Okay,” she said finally, determination igniting within her. “I’ll do it. I’ll find the truth.”

Kael smiled, a mixture of relief and something deeper flashing in his eyes. “Then we begin our journey. Together.”

With a newfound sense of purpose, Aira took a deep breath, feeling the pendant against her chest glow brighter, a sign of the awakening that lay ahead. The world around them shimmered, and she knew they were about to embark on a path filled with danger, mystery, and perhaps—if fate allowed—a chance at love.

As they stepped deeper into the forest together, Aira felt a stirring within her—a promise of what was to come. Little did she know that their journey would lead them to face the shadows of the dreadful past and unearth secrets that had long been buried.