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, a far cry from what the future would change about him. Younger and more innocent lacking an ever-present coldness.
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.
The soft hum of insects and the occasional rustle of leaves seemed almost mocking in their peacefulness. Every step they took felt heavier with unspoken fears, the golden light filtering through the trees reminded them of the innocence they had lost.
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 taking hold of 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.
Silvaria 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," Silvaria 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," Silvaria 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.
As Yuki cradled the letters, a faint warmth seemed to radiate from the bundle as if Silvaria had poured a fragment of herself into each one.
"They hold more than just words," Silvaria murmured, her voice tinged with a cryptic tenderness. "They carry the strength you'll need to face what's coming."
Jaylen frowned a knot of unease tightening in his chest "What do you mean?" he asked, but Silvaria's only response was a knowing smile.
Before sending them on their way, Silvaria 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 or see you later. 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, The light around them grew brighter, filling the clearing with a radiance that blurred the edges of reality.
For a moment Jaylen felt weightless, as though he was floating in a sea of light. But then, without warning, the warmth vanished.
The light snapped out like a dying flame, replaced by an all-consuming darkness. The sudden Chill made his breath hitch, and the oppressive silence beat down on him like a drum. Confused, he muttered, "Huh, where am I now?"
As if answering his question, a voice Silthered through the darkness, its tone a mix of playful mockery and chilling malice. Each word reverberated in the void an echo that seemed to cling to Jaylen's skin like a cold sweat. "That wasn't very nice, kiddo. Leaving without saying hi"
The voice sounded like his but with an eerie, mocking undertone as if the speaker delighted in imitating him for sport.
The air around Jaylen felt thick and oppressive, the darkness so complete it seemed to swallow sound. His breath echoed unnaturally, amplifying the sense of isolation.
"Who are you? No, what are you?" Jaylen demanded, a Bead of sweat trickled down his temple as he scanned the black expanse for any speaker.
The voice responded with a thoughtful hum, as though considering its reply, before bursting into a chilling laughter that reverberated through the emptiness. "Ha ha ha… Well, kiddo, I can't tell you that right now. That grumpy guy is watching, wouldn't want to make him come here."
Jaylen's skin prickled with unease. The voice continued, "But you know what, kiddo? I'll tell you one thing. You made a fatal mistake: you almost told your little friend something you shouldn't. That would ruin the fun. You wouldn't want me to take extreme actions against her. Hmm, What was her name? Ah, yes—Silvaria."
"Keep her name out of your mouth!" Jaylen roared, his voice trembling with fury.
The laughter stopped abruptly, then resumed, louder and more mocking. It seemed to emanate from every direction, surrounding Jaylen and making him feel as though the very darkness was closing in on him.
Finally, the laughter subsided. "Alright, kiddo, I won't keep you here any longer. Just remember, you're nothing without me."
Jaylen's anger flared, but before he could respond, the oppressive darkness dissolved. He woke to the familiar antiseptic smell of the nurse's office, the bright, sterile lights making him squint. 'Argh, back in the nurse's office,'
{A/N} Sorry for the short Chapter, I plan to revisit this Chapter at a later point to expand on what's already here. Also switching to two chapters a week.