Phone pressed to his ear, Ray walked slowly down the sidewalk, his eyes lost in thought.
The voice on the other end had gone silent, replaced by the dull beeping of a call ended.
He sighed, about to put his phone away—when a familiar voice called from behind.
— "Ray? Is that you?"
He turned around.
A young woman was walking toward him with a gentle smile.
An old friend from university — Mila. He hadn't seen her in months.
— "Mila? Wow, didn't expect to see you here."
— "Me neither," she laughed softly. "You haven't changed. Always looking rushed."
— "And you still have that same smile," he said with a small grin. "How've you been?"
— "Pretty good. And you? And… Isabella?" she asked hesitantly.
Ray raised a brow.
— "She's fine. Why do you ask?"
Mila's smile faded slightly.
— "So… you don't know?"
Ray frowned.
— "Know what?"
She looked around nervously, then whispered:
— "About what happened with Klaus."
Ray's heart skipped.
— "What do you mean? Speak, Mila."
— "They say Klaus… tried to hurt her," she said, her voice trembling. "He lured her somewhere private and… drugged her. Luckily, Gale arrived just in time."
Ray froze, his face going pale.
— "What?" he rasped. "Do you realize what you're saying?"
— "It's what people are saying, Ray. I don't know everything… just, please, be careful with this story. And don't tell anyone I told you."
— "Yeah… don't worry. Thanks, Mila."
He turned away, fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
His eyes darkened as he walked off without another word.
---
Meanwhile, Asher was helping Miria back home.
She was trembling, her face pale as snow.
He sat her down on the couch and knelt in front of her.
— "Miria, look at me. What happened? You're shaking."
Tears filled her eyes.
— "I… I thought I saw a little girl in the water. She was drowning… I tried to save her."
Her voice broke.
— "But when I got close… it was me, Asher. Me, as a child. She looked at me, and I felt something pulling me under."
Asher placed a comforting hand on her knees.
— "Hey, breathe. It's over now, okay? You're safe."
Before he could say more, the front door flew open.
— "I'm home!" sang Alix.
Seeing their faces, her smile vanished.
— "Whoa, what happened here? You two look like you've seen a ghost."
Miria lifted her head, still trembling.
— "What I saw… it was me, Alix. Me as a kid. I don't understand…"
Alix stepped closer, her expression suddenly serious.
— "Then it's what I feared. You might be Amnesic. You'll need the Anamnesia spell."
Miria frowned.
— "The what?"
Asher answered for her, his tone low.
— "Anamnesia is forbidden magic. It drags a person back into their buried memories. Not just to see them — to relive them. Every feeling, every pain. It's dangerous, especially if the memory is traumatic."
A chill ran down Miria's spine.
— "So… I could relive everything I've forgotten?"
— "Yes," said Alix softly. "And that's why she'll have to go back there."
She turned to Asher, her eyes firm.
— "And you'll dive with her."
— "What?! Me?" he exclaimed.
— "You said it yourself — she can't face this alone. And don't worry," she added with a small smile. "I'll guide you both from outside. If something goes wrong, I'll pull you back."
Asher let out a long sigh, looking at Miria's frightened face.
— "Alright… I'll go with her. But promise me we won't lose the connection."
Alix nodded slowly.
— "I promise."