--
Darkness, that's all Evan saw and felt. An ever-expanding darkness gripping at his very being.
Along with this darkness, was silence. A silence so quiet that if you'd dropped a pen, all that would remain would be the deafening echo ringing out.
Despite the darkness and silence that enveloped him, Evan fought to remain conscious, trying to feel for whatever he can, to hear anything he could.
He wanted to struggle, to fight back. But despite his best efforts to do anything, he was left with nothing.
"..Son.."
Or so he thought. In the midst of the darkness, he swore he heard something far and muffled, like a voice of sorts.
"..Son.."
Evan's being flinched in surprise. He heard it again, although he heard it far… he still heard what sounded like a muffled voice within the vast silent darkness.
"..Son!"
Once more, Evan heard the muffled voice, though it felt closer. With all the light he could muster, Evan did his best to try and move towards the muffled voice.
"..Evan!"
Evan's being flicked again, he heard his name being called. The voice itself sounded even closer than it was mere moments—or even seconds—ago.
Again and again, the muffled voice became a bit more clear for Evan to make out.
"Evan!"
Evan's being shook once more, the voice now less muffled and closer, sounded familiar to him.
'Wait… this voice.. the tone..'
Evan's thoughts now audible in his mind. Shortly after, he'd hear the voice again, although a lot more clear.
"Son!"
Slowly, a light began to shimmer in the vast expanding darkness around him. Casting an ethereal glow of warmth and welcome. But that light isn't what caught his attention, it was the cadence of the voice that made his thoughts run rampant.
'Father?…'
Evan's thoughts rang out, his words echoing in the back of his mind as the light completely engulfed his very being in its illuminating presence.
---
Moments seemed to pass as Evan's vision slowly began to adjust to the bright engulfing light that enveloped him.
He began to notice several other things aside from the brightness that clouded his vision. He heard things again, sounds of what appeared to be flowing water, reminiscent of that of a lake.
He began to feel things again, his hands pressing against what felt like a brush of smooth grass as the wind breezed against what felt like his skin.
He even began to smell the scent of dry rain permeating the air all around him.
He was experiencing all of the senses he had thought he'd lost. Until finally, his vision fully adjusted to the light. His eyelids slowly lifted to see the rattling leaves above him being moved by the easy winds. Small glints of the sun's bright golden light peered through the creases of the leaves that bristled gently.
Slowly, Evan began to sit upwards on the grassy ground beneath him.
"Where…"
Evan spoke slowly, but as soon as the words left his mouth his eyes widened in surprise. His voice sounded much much younger. In fact, young enough to be labeled a child's voice.
Slowly lifting his hand to touch the center of his throat with the tips of his fingers, Evan tried speaking again.
"Is that my voice?…"
Evan spoke again, incredulity evident in his expression. It was, in fact, his voice, and not his imagination playing tricks on him. He had the voice of a very young child.
Evan didn't dwell much on it until what he saw made him even more confused. Looking down at his feet, he saw that he wore the shoes of a child, the black leather shorts of a child, along with the black overalls of a child.
"What in the… these clothes…"
Evan examined the clothing a bit more thoroughly. From the shoes he wore, all the way to the very white buttoned shirt he had beneath the black overalls.
"..Aren't these the clothes.. I wore when I was 5?"
Evan spoke in disbelief, his expression a mix of shock and confusion.
Standing up from the ground, Evan looked around. His gaze sweeping across the expanding field around him. Looking down where he was laying, he saw a small bed of flowers in the shape of what appeared to be his small body's statue.
In fascination as he looked around some more, he saw a variety of flowers all around him. Vibrant and colorful flowers, swaying in the wind's soft breeze.
"This place… it's the Orian Fields."
Evan spoke, nostalgia invading his mind. He couldn't forget a place like this even if he wanted to. It was the place where he and his father spent a majority of their time together, relaxing, talking, and enjoying the stories his father would tell for him to help him sleep faster.
"Why am I back here though?… this place was destroyed during the war.."
Evan spoke, his voice tinged with saddened frustration.
Splash!
But before he could think about this odd and confusing situation, the sound of running water caught his attention.
Turning his head around, he saw the flowing river nearby the sloping hill of the field. He stood there and pondered for a moment, before finally taking a couple of steps down the hill, making sure he didn't trip and fall.
As he slowly slid a little down the hill, he approached the river, kneeling down.
"Let's see.."
Evan spoke, his voice filled with curiosity. Peering into the lake, Evan's eyes widened with confusion and shock. The image that greeted him wasn't the older and much more mature version of himself that he knew.
It was the much younger and less intimidating version of when he was 5 years old. Slowly raising his hand to touch his face, Evan's eyes only widened more, realizing what he was seeing wasn't just a trick of the light flickering in the subtle waves of the river.
It was, in fact, his current appearance, from his black hair with dark brown highlights. His eyes a bluish-brown. And his young soft pale skin complexion that shown through the light of the rising sun.
"How.. How am I am so young again? I was sure I was at death's door and-"
The mental image of Alder swinging his golden sword down upon him flashed in his mind. Evan's eyes squinted as his teeth gritted.
"Ah, there you are Evan."
"?!.."
Evan's thoughts would be interrupted by the sound of the voice he heard in the depths of the darkness he was enveloped in
Though, Evan's face displayed several emotions. Shock, disbelief, curiosity, and even hope. Turning his head slightly over his right shoulder, he saw a figure approaching with slow pace.
"I asked around the town of where you might be. Celia said she'd saw you run off in the direction of the northern gate.."
Evan's breath caught in his throat, his eyes widening even more. The figures visage becoming more and more clear as they approached.
"…So I I kinda figured you'd be here of all places…"
Evan slowly turns his torso to meet the figure. They stood at a height of 5'11, their hair short but well kempt, the color a dark shade of brown. Their eyes a light brown, brining of warmth and ease. Their wore a black buttoned shirt, over it a dark brown blazer, with some black pants and brown leather shoes.
Their face gentle yet held a air of maturity, with a short trimmed beard under their chin. The figure was a man, a man Evan knew all to well.
"Wanna tell me what's wrong?"
The man said, his voice soft and gentle as he took a knee to meet the same stature as Evan.
Evan did his best to hold back the swirling emotions in his mind. Despite the notice warm tears slowly ready to fall from his cheeks.
Finally with a shudder of his voice, a mix of sadness and joy. Evan spoke with a quivering smile appearing upon his pursed lips.
"Dad…"