"Why is your voice shaking so much?" said the young woman, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Although, I must admit, you're more boring than I thought. I figured you'd be more exciting," she continued, standing on her tiptoes, trying to reach Kayl's height, which was clearly impossible for her.
Kayl felt another chill run down his spine. The cat approached him eagerly, and in that moment, a wave of energy enveloped him. His connection with Ellie and Felix seemed to reveal hidden knowledge; the past he was only beginning to remember felt closer than ever.
"Were you… waiting for me?" Kayl repeated, trying to process what was happening.
"Of course, genius, what else would I be doing here?" said Ellie sarcastically. "Does it look like I enjoy waiting?" she replied, with a smile that blended sweetness with a hint of madness. "I had to risk coming out of hiding, and trust me, that's not something I do often."
Kayl frowned, trying to understand. "Hiding? What are you talking about?"
"Well, you know, I'm a witch. I need to hide from humans and things you wouldn't want to know about," she said, twirling around with a carefree movement. "But don't worry, here I am, a savior of humanity, or at least of your little existence."
"I still don't understand what you're doing here. Does this have something to do with my dreams?" Kayl asked, watching as the young woman calmly made her way to his kitchen.
"Oh, about that, they're not really dreams," she said while rummaging for something to eat. "They're memories—the memories of your previous life."
Throughout his life, Kayl had always believed that things like reincarnation, spirits, or demons were more than mere legends. Hearing what the young woman was saying, he felt a wave of desperation; the dreams had been tormenting him.
"Hey, don't you eat around here? I'm starving, and I can't find anything; it's all empty," Ellie said, searching every corner of the kitchen.
"Here," Kayl said, tossing her a mango from the table. "If all this is true… what should I do? Because these memories are tormenting me now."
"You see, you were condemned many centuries ago. One day you disappeared while we were at war," Ellie seemed a bit sad as she said this. "We needed you, but when we realized you weren't there, the chaos only got worse. The world of humans and the world of spirits became a disaster. I can't tell you more about your case because I'm forbidden to speak of it, so you have to discover your purpose yourself."
Kayl felt overwhelmed by Ellie's revelation, but curiosity pushed him to ask:
"What about Isaac? How do you two know each other?"
"He's my brother," she said calmly.
"Well, it makes sense, there's a strong resemblance between you… except in personality, of course," Kayl replied, noticing how the young woman's eyes suddenly turned a fiery shade of yellow.
"Isaac and I are twins, but I'm the older one by a few minutes, so I always take care of him as if he were my little brother," Ellie said as she played with Kayl's camera. "By the way, what is this strange thing? I can't figure out what it's for."
"It's a camera. Don't mess with it too much, or you'll break it."
Ellie placed the camera on the table and sighed, crossing her arms. "Sometimes I'm amazed at how much you've forgotten. You're not even a shadow of what you once were."
Kayl looked at her, trying to stay composed. "And what exactly was I before?"
"Someone important… someone powerful," Ellie replied enigmatically. "But now, look at you; you have no clue about anything, and that's dangerous."
Kayl frowned, frustrated. "Then help me remember."
"It's not as simple as you think. If I give you all the answers, you could…" Ellie paused, searching for the right words. "You could lose yourself. There are things you need to discover on your own."
At that moment, the cat that had been wandering around the room jumped onto Kayl's lap, as if seeking comfort. Ellie smiled.
"It seems he does remember you," she commented, stroking the cat's head. "Spiritual animals never forget. He seems to have been with you for a long time, longer than you might imagine."
Kayl immediately looked at the cat. "Wait, are you saying that he was part of my previous life?"
Ellie nodded slowly. "He's one of the few links left to that life. But be careful, Kayl. If you decide to remember and regain your power, you'll attract the attention of beings you'd rather not meet."
Kayl swallowed, feeling a knot of nerves in his stomach. "What kind of beings?"
Ellie leaned in closer, her expression turning serious for the first time. "Beings that even I fear. Dark spirits, demons that feed on the memories of other lives. They already know you've begun to remember."
The atmosphere in the room seemed to grow heavier, and Kayl felt his skin prickling.
"So I have no choice? I have to remember or…?"
"You must, if you want answers. But if you choose to continue, you need to be prepared to face them. And remember, Kayl, reincarnation is not always a blessing. Sometimes it's a punishment."
Kayl felt fear, a kind of fear he had never experienced before; this was entirely new to him.
"Can I ask you about these demons you mentioned?" he asked, deeply curious.
"There are demons of light and demons of darkness. Light demons are beings with a dual nature. Although they have a demonic instinct, they can develop emotions and compassion. They often choose to help humans in times of need, which has earned them the title of 'light demons.' Although they can be mischievous and enjoy playing harmless pranks, these pranks are usually inconsequential and without real malice. Each light demon has the ability to take on a human appearance, allowing them to interact with mortals without raising suspicion. This ability gives them a unique closeness to humans, who see them as mysterious figures appearing at the most unexpected times to help, protect, or even teach. They often have great respect for the majestic Deities, who control both worlds."
"And what about dark demons?" asked Kayl eagerly.
"Dark demons are beings completely devoid of emotion. In them, there is no compassion or kindness, only an unyielding desire for suffering and death. Their true appearance is terrifying, a manifestation of their dark intentions, although they manage to hide by possessing vulnerable humans, those whose will is easily bent. Under the possession of a dark demon, humans become puppets without control, driven to commit horrible, unscrupulous acts. Recently, a dark rumor has surfaced about one of these demons in particular, whose cruelty distinguishes him from the rest. No one remembers his name, for he has managed to possess the body of a powerful sorcerer, erasing his original identity from everyone's memory. This demon has perfected the art of manipulation, hiding in the shadows while sowing chaos and despair."
"I guess you know some of these demons, right?" Kayl asked.
"My father is a light demon," Ellie said with complete seriousness. "I think I can tell you this. My mother was a witch, the most powerful there was in the spirit world. One day, a very powerful dark demon managed to possess her. She tried to resist, but that demon had consumed many human souls, which made him even stronger. When he took control of my mother's body, a war broke out. My father had to fight her because he's the strongest light demon there is…" Ellie said, her tone showing she was holding back tears.
But before the young woman could finish her story, a blood-curdling scream echoed in the distance, interrupting their conversation. Ellie and Kayl exchanged worried glances.
"We have to go. Now," Ellie said in a tone heavy with gravity.