A few minutes before:
My body fell to the ground, and I had disappeared to defeat Kraken. My sister came to see if my body was doing okay. Rowan furiously asked, "Anna! Why did you support his recklessness!?"
Anna sighed, looking at my unconscious body on the ground. "Rowan, you know Magnus. Once he sets his mind on something, it's nearly impossible to change it. Besides, he's strong."
Rowan crossed his arms, a frustrated expression on his face. "I get that, but what if something happens to him? We can't afford to lose him again."
Lumina, hovering nearby, chimed in, "Don't worry, Rowan. Magnus is strong. They'll figure it out together. We just need to have faith."
Rowan grumbled but nodded, realizing that arguing further wouldn't change the situation. Lumina went towards one of the mechanisms nearby. It was the portal mechanism that my father had encountered before.
She solved the mechanism in no time, and suddenly they felt a gust of air again. Alex became annoyed. "What's this wind!? Always gets us."
The carved portal lit up with a radiant glow, the runes shimmering. A powerful gust of wind swept through the cavern, signaling the activation of the ancient mechanism. The air seemed to ripple as the portal opened, revealing a gateway to another realm.
A figure emerged from the portal. Alina stepped through, her presence commanding attention. The portal closed behind her, leaving an air of mystique in its wake.
She flipped her hair and said, "Finally, I managed to unlock this portal. It looks like it was a two-way gate."
Her eyes scanned the chamber, and she set her eyes on Rowan. Her eyes widened. "Rowan! I finally found you!"
Rowan, initially surprised and then gradually recognizing Alina, stared at her in disbelief. "Alina? Is that really you?"
Alina, with a smirk, replied, "In the flesh. It's been ages, Rowan. You've not grown much."
Rowan was still shocked. "But have you grown older!?" She smirked again and said, "Yes, twenty-five to be precise."
As Rowan processed the revelation, he shook his head in amazement. "Twenty-five? When I disappeared, you were barely older than me. What happened?"
Alina chuckled. "I fear that time would be different in different dimensions."
Before Alina could continue, Rowan said hurriedly, "Alina, I will save the explanation for later. You see, Magnus isn't Magnus exactly. He was reincarnated."
Alina didn't look surprised. "I know. I came to find Magnus only." Rowan sighed. "Well, that saves the trouble of explaining everything from scratch. Please save Magnus from the Kraken. And get him back here. We need a plan to defeat the monster."
Alina looked surprised and said, "Wow, while I was gone, the roles were reversed. You were the reckless one."
Rowan scratched his head. "I know. Just save him. We will discuss things later." On hearing that, Alina made her way towards the Kraken chamber.
Alex couldn't process anything, while Anna looked unexpectedly excited. She made fangirl noises and said, "No way. Is that Alina Mapisto? The villainess!?"
Rowan sighed, "Yes." Anna shook Rowan's hand vigorously and said, "Wow! My dream came true again."
Rowan's mind voice said, She forgot about her brother.
Back to the current scene:
Alina caught me in her arms, and I shouted, "Alina!"
Feeling a bit embarrassed and trying to maintain composure, I said, "Uh, thanks, Alina. But, you know, I can stand on my own."
She chuckled. "Save your strength, Magnus. You've done enough. Let's get you out of here."
As she carried me out of the kraken chamber, I protested, "I really appreciate the save. But I'm not a damsel in distress."
Alina smirked. "Maybe not, but you did look pretty distressed back there."
We reached a safer distance from the ongoing battle, and Alina gently set me down. I grabbed her hand and said, "Wait, how do you know me? The last time we met was when I was in Magnus Thaddeus' body."
She threw a knife next to my head, and her eyes widened. "That's what I wanted to ask, Magnus. You kind of betrayed us."
I gulped, feeling a sudden tension in the air. "Betrayed you? Alina, I didn't have a choice. I needed to follow a greater purpose. You of all people should understand."
Alina's expression hardened. "Understand? I understand that you left us without a word or any explanation. We were a team, Magnus. And you just vanished."
I sighed. "It wasn't about abandoning anyone. There are things beyond our control, Alina. I had a mission, and I had to complete it."
She crossed her arms, her gaze unwavering. "A mission that involved leaving your friends behind? You could have told us that you were a different person."
I tried to explain, "It's not that simple, Alina. There are forces at play, and I had to navigate through them. I didn't want to involve you or anyone else in the complications."
Alina's eyes softened slightly, but the tension remained. "Complications or not, you should have trusted us. We could have faced whatever came our way together."
Before I could respond, the ground trembled as the Kraken searched for us. Alina glanced towards the ongoing chaos and said, "Save the explanations for later. We have a bigger problem to deal with."
I shouted, "No," and I created a spatial realm around us.
Inside the spatial realm, a serene calmness replaced the chaos outside. Alina seemed surprised by the sudden change in her environment. I took a deep breath, my eyes meeting hers. The air seemed charged with a mix of emotions, and I began to narrate my journey, explaining the twists and turns that led me to this point.
As I spoke, Alina's expression shifted from skepticism to understanding. The complexities of my journey unfolded in the confined space, and I could feel a connection building between us. Her eyes softened, and I could sense a subtle change in the atmosphere, as if an unspoken understanding had emerged.
The tale of Lemuria, the astral realm, and the cosmic balance resonated within the spatial realm, creating a bond that transcended the immediate predicament. Despite the ongoing battle outside, there was a moment of stillness between us.
As I concluded my narrative, I looked into Alina's eyes, searching for a response.
She finally said, "Fine! Let's say you went through a lot of trouble. But even though I went through a lot of trouble to find the real you,. So let's say it is even now."
I smiled and went to hug her. "I promise I won't leave you again." Alina's stern facade softened, and a playful glint danced in her eyes. As I leaned in for a hug, she pushed me back slightly, our eyes locking in a shared understanding.
A mischievous smile played on Alina's lips as she teased, "Fine, your puppy nature saved you this time. I think it's about time I punished you a bit." Before I could react, she closed the gap between us, her lips meeting mine in a gentle yet lingering kiss. I just realized she was almost as tall as me but a little shorter.
The world beyond the spatial realm continued its chaotic dance. Within that moment, time seemed to slow.
After one moment, we parted from each other. So many emotions were flowing into my brain. The only thought lingering in my brain was the scene when I kissed her. I accidentally muttered, "It was so good."
Alina chuckled, her smirk returning. "Good, huh? Maybe next time, you'll think twice before disappearing on me."
I became flustered and said, "Hey, wait. I am supposed to say that."
As we left the spatial realm, the chaotic sounds of battle greeted us once again. The Kraken's roars echoed through the ruins. Alina looked at me with a serious expression, her earlier playfulness replaced by determination. "Let's finish this, Magnus. Together."
I clenched my fists and smirked. "Let's do this."
As Alina and I faced the formidable kraken in the heart of the Lemurian ruins, the air crackled with magical energy. The massive creature, its stone form animated with dark power, thrashed its tentacles menacingly.
Alina, with her dual blades, moved with unmatched agility, slicing through the air and striking at the Kraken's stony limbs. I channeled my astral magic, creating protective barriers and launching astral projectiles at the creature. Lumina, in her dragon form, added bursts of magical flames to the onslaught.
The battle was intense, the clash of magic and stone echoing through the cavernous space. However, the Kraken seemed impervious to our attacks, its dark aura repelling every assault.
In a moment of desperation, Alina yelled, "Magnus, combine your magic with mine! We need to break through its defenses!"
As we synchronized our magical abilities, a surge of power emanated from us, creating a dazzling display of light. The kraken recoiled, showing signs of vulnerability for the first time. We seized the opportunity, launching a final assault.
Yet, just as victory seemed within reach, the kraken unleashed a shockwave of dark energy, sending us flying. As we struggled to regain our footing, the kraken's eyes glowed with an ominous intensity.
The ground trembled, and the ruins echoed with an eerie hum. The kraken, now imbued with even greater power, prepared for a devastating counterattack.