I'm surprised there is no one watching the place. I would have bathed in their blood. I hissed.
"They don't need anyone to guard the place," Urza replied. "It's spelled, and whoever owns this place is feared. People dare not come without permission."
I can't wait to lay my hands on them. I growled.
You all can leave, Urza said his voice echoing through the spacious room. You three come with me, he gestured to Zhan, Cheng, and Yubin.
Our reunion was not what I imagined. Instead of the joy and warmth I expected, I face disappointment and confusion. Zhan won't even look at me, let alone speak to me. I find myself at a loss for words, unsure of what to say.
Imagining our reunion, I had envisioned laughter and shared memories. I imagined catching up and reminiscing about the past. Instead, Zhan's indifference has left me feeling isolated and misunderstood.
I used to feel a deep connection with Zhan, a bond that had withstood the test of time. But now, it feels like that connection has been severed, leaving us mere strangers. It hurts to see the distance between us, the disconnection that has grown over the years.
I want to reach out to him, bridge the gap and rekindle the relationship we once had. But words elude me, and every attempt to initiate a conversation fails. The distance between us feels insurmountable, and the silence weighs heavy on my heart.
Give him time. He has been through a lot. Urza sighs. I know a friend. Let us go to her place and stay there until we are done here.
As we made our way to her place, it became evident that Zhan, Cheng, and Yubin were struggling to keep up. It seemed that their lack of physical activity over the past three years had taken its toll on their stamina.
"He will be fine, Wang. Liu mind-linked me, but I wasn't sure what to say, so I just nodded." Zhan's mom looked devastated, with a hint of regret in her eyes. I'm sure she is regretting why they left him, but it was for the best. The prophecies were too much to ignore, and the witches would have killed him.
"A little bit more," Urza added, voicing his belief. "I'm certain he is concerned about Zhan as well, but he simply didn't know how to interact with him. But now, Zhan knows everything about his parents, and it must be overwhelming for him to take in."
"I'll be here whenever he is ready to talk. It's imperative that he knows he has my support and that I'm willing to listen whenever he feels comfortable sharing."
I was getting impatient with Zhan's refusal to look at me. So, I thought to myself, if he doesn't want to acknowledge me, the least I could do is piggyback him. I walked a few steps backward, and, in one swift motion, I swept him off his feet and put him on my back. He was too shocked to speak, but I could feel his heart racing. The scent of fear hung in the air, and his body was rigid against mine. But I didn't care. I'm here for him now, and he's never leaving my sight.
Jackson approached Yubin and picked him up, while Liu did the same with Cheng.
In no time, we found ourselves standing in front of a dilapidated and worn-down mansion. Urza rang the doorbell, and the door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit hallway. As we stepped inside, we were greeted by two youthful maidens who escorted us into the building. The atmosphere was both low and foreboding, and as we ventured further, we were captivated by the majestic sight that awaited us.
As we toured the building, we noticed the stark contrast between the outside and the inside. The mansion's exterior portrayed a worn-down and neglected appearance, while the inside exuded a sense of opulence and refinement. It was as if we were transported into a different era, where the grandeur of the past still lingered in the air.
You still use your old trick? Aren't you tired? Urza spoke and we wondered who he was talking to until a lady appeared in front of us. Apparently, she had clocked herself.
"Yes, Urza," she replied, her voice thick and rich. "I see you've brought mutts and blood-sucking demons to my house," she hissed, her eyes narrowing with anger.
Selene, you will refrain from insulting my wife and son, as well as their friends. I have taught you this magic, and I assure you that I can always erase your memory if necessary.
As Urza hissed and snapped his fingers, to our surprise, the young beautiful woman aged rapidly before our eyes. Her once radiant features now bore a wrinkled complexion, her hair turned silver, and her teeth turned brown, resembling those of an elderly person. It was as if time itself had been reversed, transforming the young woman into a wizened old woman.
"I'm sorry, it won't happen again," she choked out, and as she spoke, the wrinkles vanished, her hair regained its lustrous shine, and her teeth became pearly white once more. In an instant, the young beautiful woman had transformed back into her radiant self, as if the aging spell had never occurred.
Stay as long as you want. I will ensure that I won't be in your way. Before she vanished, she dropped tokens. You can use these tokens to buy whatever you want. I owe Urza that much. And she vanished, leaving Zhan looking lost and bewildered. He had seen us, but the sudden disappearance was too much for him to comprehend.
"Pick any room you want," Urza sighed, and Zhan's mom immediately pulled him up. "Come stay in our room while your dad gets a few things for you." Zhan followed her, still in a daze.
Involuntarily, Yubin and Cheng followed Zhan and his mother. A sad smile formed on the mother's face as they walked past, as if she was concealing her feelings.
When they left, I turned towards Urza, feeling desperate. "Why don't you erase Zhan's memories?" I pleaded. "Make him forget everything that has happened in the past three years."
Unable to mask my distress, I allowed the tears to cascade down my cheeks, unable to hide the anguish and exhaustion that had consumed me. In that moment, the weight of the past three years weighed heavily on my heart, and I needed a respite from the memories that haunted my every waking moment.
Erasing Zhan's memories was the only way I could shield him from pain and suffering. I wanted to protect him and shield him from the pain that consumed our lives.
But Urza remained unmoved, his eyes filled with compassion and understanding.
Urza reminded me that memories were an essential part of who we are, shaping our identities and defining our experiences. To erase Zhan's memories would be to rob him of a part of himself, to take away his sense of self and identity.
He gently held my hand, offering comfort and reassurance. "Remember," he said, his voice filled with empathy, "it is not our job to erase Zhan's memories. It is our job to support him, to guide him through these difficult times. It is his journey, and he needs to experience it for himself."
I nodded, knowing that Urza was right. Zhan's memories were his own, and he needed to confront them head-on. It was my duty to stand by his side, to offer him love and compassion, to help him navigate through the pain and find strength in the memories that would shape his future.
With a heavy heart, I dried my tears and took a deep breath, ready to face whatever challenges came our way. Together, we would overcome the past and build a better future, one filled with love, hope, and endless possibilities.