The next day, I woke up and noticed Isaac had still not returned.
"Hey Eliza, have you seen Isaac?" I asked.
"Isaac? Who's that?" Eliza asked, confused.
"Don't mess around right now, Eliza. I'm really worried. He didn't come back to the dorms last night," I said.
"Madoxx, are you sure you're okay?" She looked at me, concerned.
"What do you... Hey Bethany, wake up!" I said, panicked.
"Mmmm, what is it? I'm tired," she said groggily.
"Have you seen your brother today?" I asked.
"Mmmm, brother? That's funny, Madoxx. Let me sleep, please."
"What is going on here, Ola?" I shouted.
"Madoxx, are you alright?" Eliza stood and walked towards me. "Calm down, you're scaring me," she said.
"Did something happen? Did you hit your head or something?" Ola asked, joining Eliza.
"Isaac! How do you not know who Isaac is?" I said, tears falling from my eyes.
What was this sick joke? Was I losing it? I swear Isaac was just here, laying in that bed right there, the guy I shared a room with for 13 years.
"Calm down, Madoxx. It's always been just the five of us: Ola, Bethany, Eliza, Ren, and you," Ola said, sitting on the bed and looking me in the eyes.
"I know you've been having a rough time, but we will always be together. We are all going to Lux together; we won't be separated."
"Lux? What do you mean, Lux? You saw what they did to Ethan. There is no Lux, Ola."
"Madoxx, calm down. It's okay. We are here."
I took a deep breath and looked at Bethany
"Bethany, listen to me," i pleaded, my voice trembling. "Isaac is your brother. We grew up together in this orphanage. How can you not remember him?"
Bethany frowned, I could tell she was confused. "Madoxx, I don't have a brother. It's always been just us."
"Eliza, Ola, something strange is happening. Last night, there was a strange light. Do you remember it?"
Eliza nodded slowly. "Yes, there was a flash of light, but I thought it was just a dream."
Ola added, "It was real. We all saw it."
"That light... it must have done something to our memories. It's the only explanation for why you can't remember Isaac."
"How do we prove it?" Eliza asked, her voice trembling. "How do we know you're not the one imagining things?"
Bethany held her head and began screaming out in pain.
"Bethany, what's wrong?" Ola asked.
"My head hurts, please help me," she said, screaming.
"What do we do?" Ren asked, looking at me.
"I'm...I'm not sure." Bethany let out another cry before passing out on the bed.
They all sat and looked at me, waiting for answers I didn't have.
I'd disturbed the once happy life they had here. Was I really going to do it again—tell them what this place was? Was it better to leave them oblivious, let us enjoy our last few years or months of peace?
Then I remembered what happened to Ethan. I imagined Ola, Eliza, Bethany, or Ren strung up on that altar, their lives being sucked from their bodies, the life leaving their eyes. I couldn't do that, not again.
I sat there and explained it all to them again.
"That's insane," Eliza said. "How could I forget something like that?"
"It's not your fault," I said. "The light from yesterday did something to your memories. But why didn't it affect me?"
Three months went by, and Bethany only got worse. Any mention of Isaac would send her into episodes of painful headaches.
Se would wake up a few hours later and would somehow forget all about Isaac
One day, I saw Bethany sitting outside on a bench. The weather was windy, and the skies were gray.
"Nice weather to be reading outside," I said sarcastically.
She looked up and smiled weakly. "Hi, Madoxx."
"I had a question. I found this book in the library. Have you ever seen it before?" I asked, handing her the book.
She examined it and frowned. "No, I've never seen it, but look at all these runes and this language. It's so strange. I can't read a single word of it."
"Yeah, that's what I expected."
"Sorry I couldn't be much help, Madoxx," she said.
"No, don't worry about it. It's dumb," I replied.
"How have you been feeling lately?" I asked, trying to break the silence.
She giggled. "Wow, Madoxx, really? That's the best you've got?"
"What? I'm just concerned."
"It's okay. I can tell this has affected you too. We are all scared, but if we stick together, we can do it. That's what I truly believe," she said, smiling.
"But what if more people die? What if I can't save everyone in time?" I said, a bit more pathetically than I intended.
"That's unfair, Madoxx. You don't get to put this on your shoulders alone. We have to do this together," she said, looking me in the eyes.
"I'm sorry," I said, hanging my head.
"Don't be sorry, Madoxx," she said, hugging me.
"So why are you out here in this type of weather?" I asked.
"I like the rain," she said. "I feel like when the wind blows really intensely or when lightning strikes really loudly, that's the way the world releases its frustration, shouting loudly, its presence felt by everyone. It reminds me that it's okay to be a little frustrated sometimes."
"You're frustrated about something?" I asked.
"Yeah, a little bit. I sometimes feel like I'm forgetting something or someone so important to me, but I can't ever remember their face or name. Then my head hurts so much as if it's punishing me for forgetting. But after talking to you a while back, I remembered. Madoxx, I know Isaac was real. He was my brother, but I forgot him."
"I feel like I'm a monster. What kind of person forgets something so important to them? How was I able to freely smile when I'd forgotten the most precious person to me? How could I forget my own brother like that?" she began crying.
Magnus's spell wasn't as perfect as I thought. It had cracks in it. Completely taking away people's memories must not be as easy as I imagined. Seeing Bethany in so much pain was hard to watch. Yet, I didn't know how to help her. seeing her like this made me angry.
I leaned in and hugged Bethany.
"I know it's hard not being able to explain things sometimes, but never blame yourself for how you feel. Scream and shout back at the world if it makes you feel better. It's hard to explain why our bodies do what they do, but I know you are a kind person, the furthest thing from a monster, so never call yourself that."
She hugged me back as she cried. A few moments passed before she let go.
"I'm happy to have a friend like you," Bethany said.
"Same here," I replied.
Three weeks ago, we decided it was best not to stress Bethany anymore. This spell had a huge effect on her, giving her headaches, but it was clear that Magnus's spell was cracking. For now, it was best not to tell Bethany that her brother might be dead.
In the past three weeks, four students had gone missing. It seemed Magnus had abandoned the entire Lux Academy facade, opting instead to erase everyone's memories. Strangely, though, it no longer affected Ola and the rest of us.
"We just need to leave!" Ren shouted.
"We can't just up and leave! These are children's lives!" Eliza shot back.
I walked in to find Eliza and Ren arguing, with Ola trying to mediate the chaos.
"Ren's right," I said, cutting through the tension. "We can't keep wasting time. Four students are already gone—probably dead. I can't keep doing this. We have no plan, no way to stop the deaths, so let's just leave."
"So, what? You want us to gather the children and run? Do you really think Magnus would allow that?" Eliza asked, her voice sharp with frustration.
"No, but what choice do we have, Eliza?" I replied, my tone softer but no less serious.
Everyone went silent. No one had an answer to my question.
With an exasperated sigh, Eliza stormed out of the room.
Later that night — The Backyard
I found Ola sitting outside on a bench in the backyard. The sky was unusually clear, with stars sparkling like diamonds, while the moon bathed everything in a soft, silvery glow. From this spot, the white forest and the distant docks were visible, their outlines stark against the night. Ola sat quietly, staring out at the scenery, lost in thought.
"You're going to get sick and die if you're not careful," I joked
"Yeah, not the worst way to go though," she replied sarcastically.
"Can I sit with you for a bit?" I asked.
"Yeah, go ahead," she said.
We sat together, admiring the stars for a while before she broke into tears again."
I know it's embarrassing, right?" she said dismissively.
"No, I think it's good to cry, you know, let it out," I said.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," she said.
Listen Ola about the..
"My sister and I would look out at the stars sometimes when we felt overwhelmed. She used to tell me that in a world where the biggest stars look so small compared to the universe, how big can our problems really be?"
"Your sister really is something, she was the one who forced me to go to that cabin that night the one who pushed me with out her we would all be marching towards our death without even knowing it you remind me a lot of her sometimes I said
"I'm nothing like her," she said. "My sister is brave, smart, caring, and the one who is going to help you get us out of here not me she said
"Earlier today, when you were the one who stood between Ren and Eliza as theg fought it takes someone very brave ro do that you know you are the kindest person I know to you can't even lie in a game of Hot Pocket I mocked and you truly care for us I can tell that from a mile way
"Well, you didn't give a reason to show I was smart," she said jokingly.
"Well, we can't have it all now, don't be greedy," I replied.
She smiled, almost letting out a chuckle.
"Do you really think we can get out of here?" she asked.
"Nothing in this world is guaranteed until we make an effort, and nothing is lost until we give up," I said.
"Where did you hear that, oh wise one?" she teased.
"I'm not sure, but it's something I hold dear to me," I replied.
"It's not going to be easy, and we will most likely face impossible odds. I feel like we met for a reason, and the five of us were meant to overcome the odds together. So no matter how big the obstacles are, they are still tiny compared to the stars in our sky and tinier still compared to the vast universe."
"I don't give you enough credit, you know," she said, moving closer to hug me.
"You aren't as dumb as I thought," she said, smiling and laughing.
"Rude," I said, joining in her laughter and hugging her back.
"We should probably head back to the dorms," I said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah, but I think I'm going to stay out a bit longer," Ola replied, her gaze still fixed on the scenery.
"Fine. Just don't get sick," I said with a small shrug.
"Yeah, yeah, Mom. I'll be in soon," she mocked, flashing a teasing grin.
Unknown Area~
"Sir, everything seems to be proceeding as you said it would," a man reported, his voice steady but laced with nervousness.
"Well, naturally," the other man replied, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Maybe now the church will finally realize that the only way forward is my way."
He turned slightly "Now, we need results. Begin Project 441."
"But, sir… the others have agreed that this is too risky. There are too many unknown variables," the subordinate protested, hesitation clear in his voice.
"I didn't ask what the others think," the man snapped, his grin fading into a cold glare. "I'll be heading to my station now. Inform the Guardians—they are to observe only. No one is to interfere."
"Y-yes, Magnus sir. Understood," the man stammered, standing stiffly as he gave a sharp salute