Chereads / The Darkness and light / Chapter 7 - Ryan Alestra

Chapter 7 - Ryan Alestra

Chapter 7: Ryan Alestra

The night was peaceful, but Ryan couldn't sleep. Lying in his bed, he stared up at the ceiling, the events of the day drifting through his mind. Tomorrow, they would leave for the royal capital to meet Princess Alice, but his thoughts were elsewhere, weighed down by a feeling he couldn't quite name.

He closed his eyes, but all he could see was that endless darkness—a void he had once stood in, confused and alone. That memory, or dream, had stayed with him ever since he was born into this life. He could still hear the voice from that day echoing in his mind, calm but unsettling.

"Everything is fine, my lord."

My lord, Ryan thought, frowning slightly. Even now, the title felt strange. He was just Ryan Alestra, the youngest in his family, born into warmth and love. His mother's gentle touch, his father's deep laugh, Aria's playful banter—those were the things that defined his life now.

But sometimes, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more. Something hidden beneath the surface of who he was. Something that had been with him before he even came into this world.

That other life…

Ryan rolled over, his white hair brushing against the pillow, his blue eyes catching the faint glow of the moon outside. He didn't talk about it much—not to his parents, not even to Aria.

How could he explain what he didn't fully understand himself? He had been born with memories that weren't his, fragments of a past that lingered like shadows in the back of his mind. And then there were the runes—those glowing symbols that sometimes appeared on his skin, pulsing with a power he couldn't control yet.

He reached out, staring at his hand as if willing the runes to appear, but they stayed hidden. He knew what they meant. The voice had told him about their significance—that they were tied to his past, to powers he once wielded. But how could he explain that to anyone?

He didn't want his family to worry. Especially Aria.

---

Ryan's thoughts drifted to his sister. Aria. His protector, his constant companion. She had always been there for him, even when they were small, even when he was barely old enough to walk. She was strong, not just in magic but in heart. He admired her for it. Even though she had dreams of her own—to become the head of the Alestra family—she never wavered in her determination to look after him.

Ryan smiled to himself, remembering the countless times she had stood between him and danger, even if that danger was just a training accident. She took her role as his big sister seriously, sometimes too seriously. She was always worrying about him, always trying to protect him.

But I don't want her to carry that weight alone, he thought. He didn't want Aria to think that just because he was her little brother, he needed constant protection. Sure, he appreciated it—he loved how much she cared—but Ryan had a protective streak of his own. He didn't just want to be the one who was looked after. He wanted to be the one looking out for her, too.

He remembered a moment from when he was younger—well, not much younger, since he was only six now. It had been after a difficult training session. He had been practicing a complex wind spell from his hazy memories , and something had gone wrong.

The spell had backfired, sending a sharp gust of wind that knocked him off his feet and into the dirt. For a moment, he had felt embarrassed and frustrated, but before he could say anything, Aria had rushed over, concern etched on her face.

"Are you okay?" she had asked, helping him up.

Ryan had brushed himself off, trying to play it cool. "I'm fine, Aria. It was just a mistake."

But she had narrowed her eyes, looking him over as if checking for injuries. "You're always so reckless. What if you got hurt?"

"I won't," he had said, giving her a grin. "And besides, I've got you, don't I?"

Her expression softened, but there was still that hint of worry in her eyes. "You need to be more careful, Ryan. You're important to me you know ."

He had laughed at that. "You're the important one. You're going to be the head of the family one day."

"And you'll be right beside me," she had said, her voice steady.

Ryan had nodded, feeling the truth in her words. They were a team, even if Aria sometimes acted like she was the only one who needed to protect him. He didn't mind it, but he wished she could see how strong she was. How much he admired her.

---

Ryan's thoughts returned to the present as he lay in bed. He couldn't tell Aria about the runes or the voice. Not yet. He didn't want to burden her with something that might be nothing—or at least something that he didn't fully understand himself. There was so much he didn't know about his past life, about the power that seemed to lie dormant inside him.

He thought about the woman from his vision—the one with purple hair, standing in the ancient ruins.

The voice had told him that their fates were intertwined, that she could become his greatest ally or his worst enemy. Even now, the memory of her sent a chill through him.

He had never met her in this life, but something deep inside him recognized her. The runes on his hand had pulsed when she appeared in his vision, as if warning him, or maybe calling out to her.

Ryan knew that one day, he would have to face her. But for now, he was too young, too weak. He needed time to grow, to understand the power within him. The voice had warned him not to use the runes' full strength—not until he was ready.

That's why I can't tell Aria, he reminded himself. She would want to help, but he couldn't let her get involved in something so dangerous. Not until he was sure he could handle it.

For now, he would keep training. He would grow stronger, not just for himself, but for his family.

---

The thought of his family brought a sense of calm to Ryan's restless mind. He thought of his parents, of their warm smiles and steady presence. His father's deep voice filled the house with laughter, and his mother's gentle wisdom kept them all grounded. They were his foundation, the people who had welcomed him into this new life without hesitation.

I was given a second chance, Ryan thought. I won't waste it.

He turned onto his side, his mind finally starting to quiet as he thought about tomorrow. He didn't know what would happen when they met Princess Alice, but he wasn't worried. Whatever came next, he would face it with his family by his side.

As sleep began to pull him under, Ryan whispered one final thought to the darkness.

I'll protect you too, Aria. One day, I'll be strong enough.

And with that quiet promise, Ryan drifted off to sleep, his dreams filled with the light of the future and the shadow of the past.