The woman extended a hand, though her expression remained cautious, her dark eyes filled with layers of emotion Aiden couldn't decipher.
"I'm Einya," she said, her voice soft. "This is my husband, Vesper."
The man, taller and broader, inclined his head slightly, his sharp features shadowed in the moonlight.
"It's an honour to finally meet you, Aiden."
But there was no warmth in it, only a kind of quiet sorrow that made Aiden feel even more out of place.
Aiden shook Einya's hand briefly before returning to his place.
"When you said 'your world' earlier," Aiden began, his voice hesitant, "what did you mean by that? Are you saying… you're not from here?"
The two adults exchanged a look, their expressions unreadable in the dim light. Adrian leaned against a nearby tree, arms crossed, his dark eyes flicking between Aiden and his parents. The tension in the air was palpable.
"This isn't the right place to talk," Einya said gently. "The woods aren't safe, especially at night. If the Hunters are tracking us-"
Aiden hesitated, glancing around at the shadowed trees, the faint rustle of leaves carried on the cool night breeze. He shifted his weight, clearly considering her words, but then shook his head.
"I understand, ma'am, but…" He looked back at her, his expression polite but resolute. "I'm sorry, I can't go with you unless you explain what you mean. Please, tell me the truth."
Vesper sighed, his expression hardening as he exchanged another glance with his wife.
"Very well," he said, his deep voice carrying an air of authority. "If you insist on answers, you'll have them. But be prepared, Aiden. What we're about to tell you isn't an easy truth."
Aiden gave a small nod, his gaze unwavering. "I'll listen."
"We're not from this world, Aiden. We come from a place called Espera."
Aiden blinked, the name unfamiliar. "Espera?" he repeated, tilting his head slightly. "I've never heard of it before. What kind of place is it, sir?"
Einya spoke next, her voice gentler than her husband's. "It's a universe like this one, but it was created specifically for Magi and other beings tied to nature. It's a sanctuary, Aiden- a world where we can live freely without fear of the Hunters. Because the Hunters," she said simply. "for centuries, sought to eliminate us, driving us to extinction not once, but twice."
"Long ago, Magi were not what you see now. We were sacred animals- creatures tied to the elements, revered by humans for our connection to nature. They respected us… at first. But as they expanded their settlements, they grew greedy and fearful. They hunted us for sport, destroyed the forests that were our homes. Many of us were killed. The rest… we were nearly wiped out."
Aiden's gaze dropped briefly to the ground before returning to Vesper's face. "And the second time?" he asked softly.
"Those of us who survived the first extinction tried to adapt. We learned to take on human forms, hoping to live among humans undetected. But this only made them fear us more. In human form, we could wield incredible power and shift back into animals at will. To them, we became witches, or that's what they used to call us before—unnatural beings to be hunted and destroyed." Einya replied, her expression tinged with sadness.
The air seemed to grow heavier as the words sank in. Aiden's eyes flicked to Adrian, who was leaning casually against a tree, his arms crossed, watching the conversation unfold.
"And that's why Espera was created," he said slowly. "To give your kind a chance to live without fear."
"Exactly," Vesper said with a nod. "The two most powerful Magi combined their strength to create a sanctuary- a world untouched by the human influence."
Aiden turned his gaze back to them, his green eyes sharp. "And what does this have to do with me?"
Adrian, who had been leaning casually against a tree, stepped forward, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Because, Chase, you're one of us. A Magi, to be precise."
"So now you're going back? To this… Espirit?" Aiden asked, his tone soft but tinged with curiosity.
Adrian straightened and spoke up. "Espera. And not just anywhere in Espera," he said. "We're going to Soleil. It's one of the regions there, tied to the sun element. It's where I'm from and where Genvah is located."
Vesper nodded. "Under orders from the headmaster of Genvah Academy, he asked us to bring you to Espera, but he also made it clear that the decision is yours. We won't force you to come with us."
Aiden tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. "The headmaster? Why would he want me to come to this… academy?"
Adrian grinned faintly. "Because you're the right age to join as a first-year. Same as me. And school starts in about a month, just in time for Solana season. You'll have the chance to learn about who you are, about your powers, and about what it means to be a Magi."
Einya's voice softened. "This is an opportunity to find your place, Aiden. To understand the part of yourself you've always felt but may not have known how to explain."
Aiden stood in thoughtful silence, the wind stirring his wavy hair. He glanced up at the sky, the stars barely visible through the thick branches above. His heart was steady, but he felt the weight of their words pressing against his thoughts.
"And if I don't go with you?" he asked finally, his tone cautious but polite.
"If that is your decision, we cannot do anything about it, Aiden," Einya replied. "But you know what will happen to you, as you're from the family who leads the Hunters."
Aiden hesitated for a moment longer, his gaze lingering on each of them before he finally spoke. "Alright," he said. "I'll go. I don't understand all of this yet, but… I want to. And I'm holding you to your word, sir, ma'am that you'll answer my questions."
Einya smiled warmly. "Of course, Aiden. You'll get all the answers you need."
As they turned and began moving deeper into the forest, Aiden followed, his curiosity outweighing his caution.
The forest stretched endlessly before them, dark and imposing. Twisted branches hung low, clawing at the sky, and the damp earth muffled their steps.
Aiden walked in silence, his suit now dulled by dirt and sweat. The air was heavy with the scent of pine and wet leaves, and the occasional hoot of an owl punctuated the quiet.
When they finally reached the small camp tucked away in the woods, the tension eased slightly. Lanterns hung from low branches, casting a soft, flickering glow over the modest setup.
"Is it safe?" Aiden asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Adrian glanced over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow. "Safe?" He let out a short laugh. "Not at all. If the Hunters find us, we'll be dead by morning."
Aiden's face fell, and Adrian sighed, shaking his head. "Relax, Chase. It's safe. We've got a concealment stone. They couldn't find us if they tried."
Aiden didn't reply, too drained to react to the teasing.
Mrs. Caleena, her soft voice carrying an air of authority, approached them. "Adrian, you'll share your tent with Aiden tonight."
Adrian nodded, but his brow furrowed. "I'll need to fix up the inside first."
He turned towards his tent, muttering something about clearing out his things.
As soon as Adrian left, Aiden hesitated before speaking to Mrs. Caleena. "Is it... okay if I sleep outside? I—" He paused, his voice faltering. "I've never slept in the same space as someone else. I don't want to wake him if... if I have nightmares."
Mrs. Caleena's expression softened, and she gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to sleep outside, Aiden. We have a spare tent. You can use that."
Relief flickered across his face, and he nodded. Mrs. Caleena turned to Adrian as he returned, telling him, "You don't need to fix up your tent, dear. Aiden will sleep in the spare one."
Adrian groaned theatrically. "Could've told me that before I started cleaning!"
Aiden almost smiled but stayed quiet, retreating to the spare tent as Mrs. Caleena handed him a plain shirt and trousers.
"Here, change into these," she said. "You'll sleep better without that suit."
"Thanks," Aiden muttered, his voice barely audible, before disappearing inside to change.
The camp settled into stillness as the night deepened. Yet, Aiden couldn't sleep. His dreams were vivid and cruel, images of Magi consumed by flames flashing before him. He saw himself on the pyre this time, with his father standing before him, torch in hand. The fire roared, and Aiden screamed himself awake.
His chest heaved, sweat plastering his hair to his forehead. The tent flap was open, and Mrs. Caleena was kneeling beside him, wiping his face with a damp cloth.
Without thinking, Aiden lunged forward and wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her shoulder.
"I don't want to die," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I just want to live normally. I didn't want to be a Magi... but I am."
"I don't want to die..."
"I don't want to die..."
His voice cracked, and he clung tighter. "Mom... I'm scared."
Einya's heart ached at the sound of the word. What torture did this kid endure for him to cry in his sleep?
She pulled him closer, her arms steady and comforting as she rocked him gently. "It's okay, Aiden," she murmured, her voice soothing. "You're not alone. We're here for you, and we'll protect you. No one will hurt you."
Her words were a balm to his frayed nerves. Slowly, Aiden's breathing steadied, and his grip on her loosened. Exhaustion took over, and he drifted back to sleep, cradled in her embrace.
Mrs. Caleena stayed by his side, her hand brushing through his wavy hair, watching over him as the forest around them stood silent and still.