After what felt like an eternity, I finally glimpsed the light after years spent in darkness. Distant memories rushed back, intertwining with the new ones. I struggled to discern what was real and what was fabricated, overwhelmed by emotions from the day Emberfield fell and my family perished. My chest tightened, and my breath grew short."Mom! Iris! Silas!" I screamed frantically, scanning the room where I lay in a bed, but no one was there, or so I thought."Calm down, boy! I'm here, I'm here..." Silas sat beside me, embracing me tightly, attempting to soothe my distress.
"None of it was real, and none will ever be."
As my emotions gradually came under control and clarity returned to my mind, I swung my bare feet onto the wooden floor and sat up in bed, facing Silas."Never did I think seeing that smug face of yours would bring me so much joy," I smiled bitterly, the weight of the future still heavy on my mind."I want to apologize for what I did; my future self, I mean," Silas stuttered."You are the last person who needs to apologize," I reassured him."No, you entrusted me with your most cherished possession in this entire world, and I betrayed that trust. If only I could have saved them, nothing bad would have happened, and you would still be alive. You could say it was me who caused it all; I was the one who let the world end.""My burdens and failures are not yours to share, Silas. I was weak, and everything that transpired was because of it. I forgot my place in this world and mistook myself for someone else. I won't let that happen anymore; this time, my burdens will be mine to bear alone, and your lives will finally be free from me.""Valerian, what are you..." A knock on the door interrupted Silas mid-sentence, saving me from further explaining.The door swung open, and the fairy queen entered gracefully. She wore a flowy blue dress with golden flowers sewn on the side."If you'll excuse us, Silas; Valerian, and I should discuss some things alone," the queen spoke."I'm not going anywhere! After seeing what the future holds, how can I possibly leave you alone with him? What if you decide to kill him to prevent that future from happening? No! If that was your plan all along, then you might as well kill us both right here and now!" Silas protested, closing his eyes and flinching like a scared child."Now that you mention it, that would be a quick solution, wouldn't it?" the queen said seriously."A what now?" Silas opened his eyes in disbelief."Yes, that would probably be the wisest thing to do. But despite what you may think of me, I am an honorable person and couldn't possibly bring myself to kill the only son of our savior, Cyrus. Besides, that future was just one of many. I'm here to discuss ways to prevent it from happening. So, if you would please leave while I'm still asking nicely."Silas squinted his eyes as if in doubt until I reassured him."It's alright, Silas. I'm sure the queen has good intentions. If she wanted us dead, we would already be food for worms.""Alright, but if anything smells weird here, just scream and I'll be here!" he said as he turned around to leave, pausing to give a final remark before exiting. "Oh, and I didn't mean you smell weird or anything; quite the contrary, you smell wonderful. Lavender?" he remarked, lowering his head to sniff her blue hair."Out!" she yelled furiously.With a quick hop, he left the room and shut the door loudly. Given the way he had treated the queen up until now, I was surprised she hadn't already publicly executed him. She truly was a merciful queen."So, how did the trial end? Was I found guilty?" I asked."You haven't been proven innocent or guilty. How you feel, is up to you to decide. We have decided to drop the charges, for we believe you are innocent. We felt what that power did to you, how it used you and took control over you. In our eyes, you are not a murderer.""There is a human saying: 'A monster was not always evil, remember; shadows are not born but molded.' I never really understood it, not until now. My fate was long decided for me, even before I existed; my life was never truly my own. I am a puppet bound to others' desires; my father used my life as a bargain for your freedom, forsaking my own in the process. Naturally, the red-eyed fiend came and collected his end of the bargain, and there my life ended as soon as it began. So tell me, queen; are my shadows born, or molded?" I asked as she averted her gaze from mine, almost as if she felt guilty for my destiny."I can't answer that for you, but what I can do is help you avoid the destiny that awaits you.""You can avoid your problems only for so long." I countered."True, but that is only if you stop running. What happens if you run until you cannot run anymore?""I get caught.""Then don't," the queen said with a warm smile.After those words parted her rosy lips, silence ensued for a little while; a comfortable one."You have come all the way here to discuss something with me? What is it?" I posed a question, breaking the silence that went on for a little while.She stroked her hair gently and spoke after a short pause. For some reason, she was nervous."The truth is, your existence is a cursed one. And I don't say that to hurt you, it is the truth. You saw what happened for simply existing? Avian prophecies are true; you are destined to bring the end of times. As a queen, I am obliged to kill you and save this world from the doom you could bring. But as Sylva, a friend of your father and a mere mortal, I can't let an innocent child die because of a future many fear. That future was one of many, although, I did not see others; I know they exist.""So, what do you propose?" I asked."I propose we rewrite the script, defy destiny, and pave our own path. I have lived for three centuries and saw the world change for the better and the worse. But some things never changed. Even if you die now, someone else will take your place down the line. There is a saying among the Fey: 'What's meant, it will be.' I say we test fate, and if by some chance a world comes to an end; remember; it was me who ended it." She smiled warmly, bringing me unexpected hope with her simple words.