(Our Realm)
Alethia gazed into the mirror, her hair cascading down in the manner Chris always admired. She adorned a simple black dress, complemented by a pearl necklace and matching earrings. Her eyes shifted towards the untouched bag of belongings Chris had given her, and she closed them, taking deep breaths in an attempt to quell the tears before they even had a chance to fall.
With a sigh, she stepped out of the house and began her journey down the street towards the funeral home, a mere few blocks away. As she approached, Russel enveloped her in a tight embrace. "How are you holding up, my dear?" he asked, concern etched in his voice.
Returning the embrace, Alethia replied, her voice steady, "I'm alright, Russell. Let's go inside. I need to speak with Mrs. Johnson before the service commences."
Russell held her hand as they made their way inside, the others following closely behind.
Finding Mrs. Johnson was an effortless task for Alethia. The older woman stood near the front, conversing with the priest. When she turned to face Alethia, a gentle smile graced her features. "Hello, dear. I'm glad you could make it. Do you still wish to say a few words?"
Alethia nodded slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, Mrs. Johnson. Thank you."
A soft smile tugged at Mrs. Johnson's lips as she embraced Alethia tightly. "No, Alethia. Thank you. Chris would have cherished this. You were always there for him, just as he was for you."
Returning the embrace, Alethia replied, her voice filled with nostalgia, "Yes, Mrs. Johnson, we were. We truly were." She released Mrs. Johnson and made her way to the front row, where seats had been reserved for them as close friends.
The funeral home quickly filled with mourners as the time for the service drew near. Alethia gently squeezed Clara's hand, offering comfort. Clara smiled softly in response.
"Thank you, Alethia."
"It's no trouble, Clara. If you need anything, I'm here for you," Alethia assured her.
Clara nodded, her smile widening, and she turned her attention to the front of the room, where the pastor had taken his place at the podium.
"Thank you all for being here today. We gather to remember the life of someone taken from us too soon. Chris Johnson was a remarkable young man, always there for his friends and family when they needed him most. He excelled academically, harboring dreams of pursuing a career in medicine after high school. This is not a time for mourning his loss, but rather a time to be grateful for the time we had him in our lives. Now, I would like to invite Chris's mother to say a few words," the pastor spoke, his voice resonating throughout the room.
Mrs. Johnson slowly rose from her seat and approached the podium. "First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to each and every one of you for being here today. Chris would have been overjoyed to see you all gathered here, paying your respects. I believe he is watching us from heaven, smiling his infectious smile alongside his father, thanking us in his own special way. Chris possessed a kind soul, always wearing a smile on his face. He extended a helping hand to anyone in need, both within and beyond this community. There was something magical about him; a mere smile and a warm embrace from Chris had the power to uplift even the most desolate spirits."
"I firmly believe that he would have become an exceptional doctor someday. His teachers always praised his academic prowess, as he consistently surpassed expectations. His absence will be greatly felt by all of us. We love you, Chris, and we are immensely grateful for the time we were blessed to have you with us. Now, I would like to direct your attention to Chris's dear friend, Alethia, who wishes to share a few words."
Alethia stood, making her way to where Mrs. Johnson stood. They embraced briefly before Mrs. Johnson returned to her seat. Alethia stood there for a moment, her gaze sweeping across the crowd of people, all of whom had known Chris during his time on this earth. Her eyes locked onto one figure in particular, seated at the back of the room. Slade, with his arms crossed over his chest, awaited Alethia's words.
Clutching her fists at her side, Alethia began to speak, her voice steady and filled with emotion. "Thank you, Mrs. Johnson. Although I only knew Chris for a brief two years, those years were filled with invaluable lessons and remarkable encounters with truly exceptional individuals. I can still vividly recall the very first day I laid eyes on Chris." Alethia chuckled softly. "We quite literally collided with one another. I was getting ready to leave the school fort he day packing my bag , Chris came running down the hall and right into me, causing my bag to scatter and me to stumble to the ground. Chris immediately apologized and offered to make it up to me."
"We ended up having dinner at our local Subway. Quite the extravagant choice, right?" A ripple of laughter spread through the room.
"And that's how our friendship blossomed - a chance encounter followed by a humble meal at Subway. From that point forward, our bond grew stronger. Chris was there for me through countless hardships.”"
"Chris; accepted me for who I was and guided me towards self-acceptance. Through him, I discovered so much about myself, my potential, and my true identity. Today, I stand before you as a different person, thanks to Chris. Without him, I would still be a timid girl, afraid of her own shadow, oblivious to the opportunities that lay before her. But Chris changed all that; he instilled in me the confidence to believe in myself, just as he believed in me."
"Chris was my brother, not by blood, but through the unbreakable bond formed by friendship. Although my time with him may have been shorter than others here, I knew him intimately. Chris possessed the ability to walk into a room and instantly illuminate it with his radiant smile. His laughter had the power to uplift even the darkest of moods. He was everything and more, and his absence will leave an irreplaceable void within my heart."
Alethia closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks, before slowly opening them to gaze at her friends in the crowd, her heart aching for the loss they all shared.
Outside Tim Hortons, they gathered, sipping their coffees, waiting for their rides or for the others to head home. Zepher and Sarah had already departed, leaving Jen to speak freely.
"What do we do now?"
David nodded, his expression filled with uncertainty. "Yeah, where do we go from here? Our mentor is no longer with us."
Alethia stood, shaking her head. "I don't know, guys. But what I do know is that whatever lies ahead, each of you will have to face it alone. I can't continue on this path anymore. With Chris gone, so are my aspirations."
Jen and Corie exchanged worried glances. "What do you mean?" Corie asked.
Alethia turned away, taking a step forward. "It means I'm quitting." Alethia found herself once again at the waterfall, peering over the edge. In her arms, she cradled the bag of belongings Chris had given her on the day he passed away. Taking a seat, she began to unpack its contents. The candles were the first to go, tossed over the edge, their descent mirroring her own sorrow. Slowly, she started pulling out the books, one by one.
The first book was her very first spell book, a gift from Chris. It contained knowledge of natural magic. As she flipped through its pages, tears welled up in her eyes, memories flooding her mind.
Galen materialized behind her, his voice filled with concern. "Alethia, you can't do this. This isn't what Chris would have wanted."
Ignoring him, she closed the book and placed it beside her. Moving on to the next, she pulled out her journal, filled with accounts of her adventures in other realms. Flipping through its pages, memories of her time with Chris resurfaced, stirring up a mix of emotions. Setting it down, she reached for the last book, feeling the magic pulsate through her as she held it. This one contained a written record of all her prophecies and visions.
Opening the book, she discovered two loose pieces of paper. Setting the book aside, she began to read them.
Dear Alethia,
If you are reading this letter, it means I have made the decision that has been tormenting me for the past week. Understand that my intention is to ensure your safety. With my absence, Slade will not harm you; he will show respect for the deceased and wait for two years. I never intended to cause you pain, Alethia. Remember the promise I made to you, the promise never to hurt you. I deeply apologize for breaking that promise. My intention was to shield you from harm, but in doing so, I have hurt you myself. Please find it in your heart to forgive me and understand that I did this for your well-being.
Alethia, I love you with all my heart. You are not only my sister but also the most cherished person in my life. Please, Alethia, embrace your destiny. It is inescapable. Do not give up on what you are meant to do. Seek out the other Chosen and continue your training. Above all, have faith in yourself. Without self-belief, Alethia, you will be lost, falling back into the darkness that we fought so hard to rescue you from. You are an extraordinary individual, Alethia. Never let anyone convince you otherwise. If they attempt to, do not lend them your ear, for their words are nothing but lies.
I am finding it increasingly difficult to continue writing. Galen and Phraan will be there for you now. Listen to their guidance and heed their words of caution and love. They will never lead you astray; they desire what is best for you, just as I did and still do.
With all my love, dear sister,
Christopher Johnson
Alethia's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she eagerly turned to the next page.
"I penned this melody with your essence in my heart, Alethia," the writer's words whispered through the parchment. "Though it may not possess the enchantment of a true song, I confess my shortcomings in composing."
Unveil your eyes and heed my voice
No longer shall anguish be your choice
Guiding you is my sacred quest
Ensuring your safety, I am obsessed
My cherished sister, forever in my heart
Never shall I from you depart
Sing out this anthem, and I shall appear
Attentive and caring, your sorrows I'll clear
Unveil your eyes and heed my voice
No longer shall anguish be your choice
Guiding you is my sacred quest
Ensuring your safety, I am obsessed
Expand your mind, retain your sight
Abandoning your gift would not be right
I have never forsaken you, always by your side
Oh dear sister, do not let hope subside
Unveil your eyes and heed my voice
No longer shall anguish be your choice
Guiding you is my sacred quest
Ensuring your safety, I am obsessed
I swear, I have never departed
Unveil your mind, my words imparted
Invoke my name, and I shall be there
Open your eyes, beloved sister fair
Alethia brushed away her tears and rose to her feet, clutching her deck of tarot cards tightly. With a determined flick of her wrist, she cast them over the edge, where they disappeared into the abyss. Phraan materialized beside Galen, his presence a silent reassurance.
Gathering her books in her trembling hands, one by one, she sent them cascading into the void. But when she reached her prophecy book, her fingers hesitated. She couldn't bring herself to let go, not yet. She carefully slipped her crystal necklace over her head, holding it tightly, cherishing its familiar weight one last time.
"Goodbye, Chris," she whispered, her voice filled with regret. "I'm sorry, but I can't continue this journey without you."
Summoning all her strength, she released her grip on the crystal and the book, watching as they plummeted towards the water below. But as fate would have it, they never reached their watery destination. Instead, they vanished into thin air.
Alethia turned away from the edge, her mind set on finding her way back home. Little did she know that her books would reappear in her life the following year, hidden deep within a box, tucked away in her closet. Magic, as always, worked in mysterious ways, and no matter how far she ran, her destiny would inevitably catch up with her in the end.
