Alethia continued strolling along the bustling street, her vibrant red curls bouncing with each step, her emerald eyes fixed on Chris, awaiting his explanation. "So, are you ever going to enlighten me about your intentions? What do you seek from me?" she inquired, her voice tinged with a hint of impatience.
Chris shook his head, his expression grave. "No, we must find a more secluded place. There are eyes and ears lurking everywhere," he cautioned, his voice barely above a whisper.
Halting on the sidewalk, Alethia eyed him skeptically. "And how am I supposed to know that you aren't some deranged serial killer seeking to isolate me?" she retorted, her voice laced with suspicion.
A mischievous twinkle danced in Chris's eyes as he sported a playful grin. "You can discern it, Alethia. Deep down, you know I would never harm you. Tell me, am I lying?" he challenged.
Alethia scrutinized him for a brief moment, her gaze searching for sincerity. Finally, she sighed in resignation. "Fine... Normally, anyone else would have been dismissed or faced my cries for help by now. Yet, somehow, you exude a different aura. I feel safe and at ease in your presence," she admitted, her voice laden with a mixture of trust and curiosity.
Chris's smile widened, a glimmer of pride shining through. "Because I am your guide, Alethia. It is my purpose to ensure your well-being, to lead and protect you. As long as I am by your side, nothing harmful will befall you," he reassured her, his voice brimming with conviction.
"You keep mentioning being my guide, leading me towards my destiny," Alethia remarked sarcastically. "But what does that even mean?"
Chris's eyes gleamed with determination as he offered a cryptic response. "All will be revealed in due time when we are alone. This matter is of utmost importance, and we must avoid any eavesdroppers."
Alethia caught up to him, rolling her eyes but unable to deny the pull of curiosity that tugged at her. "You know, Chris, if you were anyone else, I would be sprinting in the opposite direction. Yet, there's something about you that makes me believe you. My instincts compel me to hear what you have to say. So, let's proceed," she acquiesced.
Chris's grin remained, his joy evident. "I told you, Alethia, I would never cause you harm. I couldn't even fathom inflicting pain upon you," he declared, his words resonating with sincerity.
Shaking her head, Alethia stepped onto the street, ready to cross. "Well, Chris, actions speak louder than words," she cautioned, her voice tinged with caution.
Chris halted abruptly, glancing over his shoulder with a muttered comment. Hurriedly, he caught up to her, his hand instinctively clasping hers. "We are being followed," he whispered urgently.
"What? Chris, this is getting out of hand. Who would be tailing us?" Alethia questioned, her skepticism resurfacing.
Chris shook his head, quickening their pace toward her house. He squeezed her hand tighter as they reached the driveway, muttering under his breath while pressing his hands against the bark of a nearby tree. Alethia watched in bewilderment as the tree emitted a soft, ethereal glow. Dismissing it as a trick of her eyes, she turned and headed inside, leaving Chris to lock the door behind them before joining her at the kitchen table.
Alethia's patience waned as she observed Chris, unable to bear the suspense any longer. "So, care to enlighten me about what exactly is going on? Who was tailing us, and what in the world did you do to the trees outside?" she demanded, her voice laced with frustration.
Chris met her gaze, his eyes piercing and intense. He leaned back in his chair, tapping his forefingers together to form a diamond shape, studying her as if scanning her very essence. After a prolonged silence, he finally spoke. "If I were to tell you that there exist other realms, with multiple gods, would you believe me?" he questioned, his voice steady as he awaited her reaction. "Would you scoff, or would you take the first step toward your destiny?"
Alethia glanced around the kitchen before retrieving two sodas from the fridge. She handed one to Chris and took a seat, taking a sip before responding. "Honestly, I've always believed in the existence of multiple gods. But other realms?" She shook her head, her disbelief evident. "That's quite a stretch."
Chris nodded, his gaze never leaving her. "Indeed, other realms do exist. And if you already believe in multiple gods, you are already on the path to your destiny. The next step is revealing those realms to you, allowing you to witness them firsthand, to feel the breeze against your skin, and inhale their unique scents," he explained, a reminiscent smile playing on his lips. "In truth, you have already traversed those realms. You were born there, just as you were born here. Your destiny necessitates living multiple lives across both realms, and this is your tenth iteration."
Alethia stood, her mind reeling with disbelief, her fingers running through her hair in frustration. "Why are you divulging all this to me? Back at the school, you claimed to have a message from my long-departed grandfather. And now, you're telling me about other realms and my supposed tenth life. This is not a joke. Who put you up to this?" she demanded, her voice filled with a mix of confusion and exasperation.
Chris chuckled, his gaze shifting to the room around them. "Who put me up to this?" he mused aloud. "The same individuals, Alethia, who are currently observing us. The same ones who placed you in this realm and moulded your destiny. They brought you, and others like you, here to safeguard the mortals of this realm, just as they intended."
Alethia, with her long red curly hair and bright green eyes, weighed Chris's words heavily. "Enough, Chris! Mortals? Other realms? There is nothing special about me, nothing at all!" she exclaimed, cutting him off abruptly.
Chris shook his head, suppressing a chuckle. "That's where you're wrong, Alethia. In fourth grade, you wrote a poem that you didn't fully comprehend. It didn't rhyme, but it came to you intuitively." He watched as Alethia turned around, disbelief etched on her face, her mind racing to the box of poems hidden under her bed. The one Chris spoke of, sitting at the bottom of the box.
"How?" Alethia asked, her voice trembling.
Chris smiled knowingly. "It speaks of four daughters—of the Sun, Moon, Clouds, and Stars—who could one day unite with four chosen males to fight against the darkness. A broken veil, the God of Chaos, and demons emerging from it."
Shaking her head in disbelief, Alethia questioned, "How do you know?"
Chris grinned, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "Because I am your guide, Alethia. I am here to explain the veil, the other realms, and your abilities. I will reveal who you truly are—the Seer, the leader, the Daughter of the Stars. Your mother was the queen of the stars, and your father was the God of War. That's why your reflexes are so sharp. Just wait until you wield a weapon. You are destined to unite with your true love and save this realm from its impending destruction. You are Chosen, Alethia—a beacon of hope that will bring this realm out of the darkness it has been shrouded in for far too long."
Closing her eyes, Alethia took a seat in her chair once again. "How? How can you prove any of this? If you can provide proof, I will try to follow along."
Chris smiled, taking his seat once more. "Give me an hour and a half of your complete cooperation, and I will prove the existence of other realms to you. After that, we can proceed accordingly."
Nodding slowly, Alethia agreed. "Fine, you have an hour and a half. But if there's no proof by then, I want you to leave and never come back."
Chris grinned, sealing the deal. "Deal. Now, do you have a room that can be locked from the outside, requiring a key?"
Confused, Alethia replied, "We do—the spare room. It needs a key to lock it from the outside. My grandmother arranged it that way because my cousin sleepwalks. Why do you ask?" Chris stood up, a plan taking shape in his mind. "Because I'm going to explain some things to you, and then I want you to lock me in the spare room." Alethia's confusion deepened, but she nodded in agreement.
"Now, Alethia, have you ever meditated before?" Chris asked, though he already knew the answer.
"Yeah, I do it when I'm really stressed or when my grandmother annoys me," Alethia replied, feeling overwhelmed by the unfolding events.
Chris smirked, pleased with her response. "Great. Do you recall ever dreaming about a glade?"
Once again, Alethia nodded, her mind spinning with confusion.
"Wonderful. That's where we'll meet," Chris announced, leading her into the living room. "Now, where do you usually meditate?"
"On my bed. Why?" Alethia questioned, her curiosity piqued.
Chris nodded, understanding the need for comfort. After half an hour of discussing their plan to meet in the glade from her dreams, everything was set. Chris walked back into the kitchen and set the timer for one hour. "When this goes off, it will bring you back," he explained, glancing back at Alethia with a reassuring smile.
Still uncertain about what was happening, Alethia nodded as Chris gently took her hand and guided her toward the spare bedroom. They stopped outside the door, and Chris turned to her. "When I go in there, lock the door with the key. Once the time is up, you'll let me out."
Alethia watched in silence as Chris entered the room. "Don't worry, Alethia. You will have all the proof, all the answers in the end," he assured her, his voice echoing through the room. She reached into her pocket, pulled out her keys, and locked the door. Staring at it for a moment, she then turned and headed into her room, sitting on her bed, and burying her face in her hands. "This is all just a dream. I'll wake up and realize none of this has happened."
Chris leaned back against the wall, his gaze fixed on the corner of the room. "Has she begun to meditate, Father?" he asked, knowing Mace was present.
Mace, standing there with a smile, replied, "Not yet, my son. Give her a few minutes, and I will let you know when she reaches the glade."
Chris nodded, his mind filled with anticipation. "What do you want me to do once she arrives?"
Mace crossed his arms over his chest, his expression serious. "Give her tangible proof—a revelation of everything that surrounds her."
Chris sighed, his fingers running through his hair. "But she's so kind. I fear I might scare her away."
Mace shook his head, his voice firm. "It's the only way to open her eyes. Remember, she is the Chosen Daughter, Chris. Be careful not to lose your head."
Chris nodded, determination etched on his face. "I understand, Father. I won't let you down."
Mace smiled softly, his eyes filled with wisdom. "This is the final cycle, and it has become easier with each life she has lived." Chris sighed, a mix of hope and uncertainty in his voice. "I hope you're right, Father. I truly do."
Alethia reclined upon her bed, her vibrant red curls cascading around her. "I did promise to cooperate with him," she mused, her emerald eyes filled with apprehension. "He possesses an unsettling knowledge about me. What course of action should I take?" A faint voice whispered within her thoughts, urging her to delve into meditation—an unexplored path worth exploring. With a resigned sigh, she sat up, allowing her body and mind to relax, and embarked on the journey of clearing her thoughts, focusing solely on the ethereal glade that had frequented her dreams.
Mace's countenance blossomed into a smile, his posture straightening with purpose. "The time has come, Chris," he declared, his voice infused with determination. "In a matter of moments, she shall grace the glade."
Chris nodded, his eyes closing to embrace the depths of his consciousness, immersing himself once more within the realms beyond.
