CHAPTER 246: SHADOWS CAST BY THE LIGHT OF THE PAST

While the girls were talking with Griffin, Raegar was in a world of black where he met a young man. The stranger just appeared out of nowhere, he couldn’t see a face but soon enough a soothing voice echoed in his mind. ’’What you like some closer? Aether’s chosen?’’

’’Huh?’’ he muttered in confusement.

Raegar shook his head to collect himself before answering. ’’Yes please, especially if its to do with my life on Earth.’’

The being nodded. ’’That’s the plan, call it a gift from someone far more powerful than myself but she’s had her eyes on you since your birth,’’ he revealed.

’Well that’s creepy,’ he thought with an internal chuckle.

Raegar watched as the fabric of reality bended around them. As the disorienting whirl of colors and sensations faded, he found himself standing in an unfamiliar yet strangely comforting space, a warmly lit living room, its walls adorned with memories frozen in time. The air carried the faint scent of lavender and aged wood, stirring a deep, unspoken longing within him.

Beside him the being reappeared but this time he was a smaller figure, a younger version of the older him, the strangers edges soft and translucent, giving off a eerie feeling. The smaller Raegar turned to him, its voice a gentle whisper that seemed to resonate from within his own mind.

’’This is Maria’s home, if my memory holds true,’’ the figure revealed. ’’Many years have passed on Earth since you last walked its paths, but as you’ll see, your presence lingers in the hearts of those you left behind.’’

Raegar’s breath caught in his throat as his gaze swept across the room. His eyes landed on a series of framed photographs perched on a polished mantel above a stone fireplace. The images captured moments he had long buried. Himself and Maria, laughing under a summer sky; another of them standing on a windswept cliff, her hair dancing in the breeze.

Each picture was a shard of a life he had willingly gave up for the sake of the twins, a sacrifice that now felt both distant and achingly present. Beneath them sat a small, unassuming urn, its surface gleaming faintly in the light. The sight of it sent a pang through Raegar’s chest, a reminder of the cost of his choice.

When he died, it had left ripples that still touched this quiet corner of the world. The weight of memory pressed against him, stirring a storm of emotions, grief, pride, and a bittersweet ache for what might have been. He reached out, as if he could touch the urn, but his hand passed through the air, insubstantial as a ghost.

The room seemed to hum with the echoes of lives lived and lost, a silent testament to the bonds that time could not erase. A low rumble from outside broke the stillness, the sound of tires crunching against gravel. Raegar’s heart quickened as headlights swept across the curtains, casting fleeting shadows on the walls.

’’She’s here,’’ the smaller him said abruptly. It turned to him, its eyes glinting thanks to an otherworldly light. ’’They won’t see us, so there’s no need to fear. We are but observers in this moment, shadows cast by the light of the past.’’

Raegar nodded, though the reassurance did little to quiet the chaotic emotions inside. As the sound of a car door slamming echoed, he braced himself for what was to come, standing on the edge of a reunion that could only be felt, never touched.

He stood rooted in the living room, his gaze fixed on the door as the sound of footsteps approached. The soft creak of the front door swinging open sent a shiver through him. His companion, remained silent beside him, its presence a quiet anchor in the storm of emotions swirling within.

The door opened fully, and there she was, Maria, his sister, stepping into the room. Time had etched its proof into her features: her once lively blonde hair was now streaked with grey, pulled back in a loose bun. Fine lines traced the corners of her eyes and mouth, evidence of years filled with both joy and sorrow.

Yet her eyes, those piercing green eyes he remembered from their childhood, still held the same fire, the same fierce spirit that had defined her in their youth. Raegar’s heart ached at the sight, a phantom pain that echoed the life he had left behind.

Behind her came the sound of laughter as three small figures tumbled into the room. The children, two girls and a boy, none older than ten, burst in with the boundless energy of youth, their brown hair catching the light like halos. Their excited faces, were like mirrors reflecting his own childhood when their parents were around.

The boy, the smallest, clutched a toy spaceship, waving it through the air letting out dramatic sound effects, while the girls chased each other, their giggles filling the room with life. Maria set a bag of groceries on the table, her movements practiced and steady, though Raegar noticed the slight tremble in her hands.

’’Settle down, you three,’’ she called, carrying the authority of someone who had raised children before. ’’Dinner’s soon, and I need you to help set the table.’’

The children groaned in unison but obeyed, their chatter never ceasing as they darted to the kitchen. Raegar watched as the scene unfolded. The resemblance was uncanny, the way the older girl tilted her head when she laughed, the way the boy’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

It was as if time had folded in on itself, blending past and present in a way that made his sacrifice feel both distant and immediate. ’’They’re her grandchildren,’’ the being murmured. ’’The twins grew up, built lives of their own. These little ones carry your legacy, even if they’ll never know your name.’’

Raegar’s eyes rested on the twins, a quiet pride warming his heart. He had sacrificed everything to shield them from the darkness that once pursued them. Now, watching them thrive, he realized it was all he ever wanted. Yet, for the first time, he felt the stir of his own chance to live. Maria froze, her gaze locking onto Raegar, though her eyes saw nothing. Intrigued, the being beside him spoke, its voice low and resonant.

’’Curious... a sibling’s bond transcends even time and space.’’

Raegar opened his mouth to respond, but the stranger pressed on. ’’Time’s up. My master granted one visit, this is it.’’

He wanted to protest, but darkness swallowed him. A moment later, he was back in his body, weakened to the point of collapse. As he lay there, something felt different, a subtle lightness, as if a weight had lifted from his soul.

In the dim, silent room, he raised his arm, his breath catching when seeing his skin, smooth, free of the scars that once mapped his struggles. It gleamed, fresher than ever, and paler causing his eyebrow to raise, thinking. ’Looks like the healing process was behind it.’

Raegar sat up, a sharp yelp escaping as waves of pain surged through his body. Gritting his teeth, he pushed through the agony and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, noticing they too were smooth, unscarred shocking him to the core but also made him happy thanks to getting used to the old him.

A wide smile broke across his face as he muttered. ’’This is incredible... I can’t wait to see my face.’’

Unsteady but determined, he rose on trembling legs and scanned the room. Spotting a full-length mirror nearby, he hobbled toward it, pain flaring with each step before slowly fading away. Moments later, he arrived in front of it only to be shocked when seeing his face unscarred and looking handsome.

Raegar’s change was breathtaking, his features refined to perfection by his grandmother’s Aether, which had mended every fiber of his being. Elated, he studied his body, but a fresh wave of pain tore through him, forcing a groan. He crumpled to the floor, only to summon his powers in a flicker of will, returning himself to the bed.

Sinking into the comfort of the sheets, he exhaled, a profound relief washing over him as an unnoticed weight lifted from his shoulders. The sensation puzzled him, but happiness overshadowed his confusion. He could finally move forward, eager to spend his summer break with the twins, their bond deepened by the vision hed witnessed.

After some time, Raegar fell asleep thanks to the overwhelming stress his body was put through. By the time he woke up, Griffin and his mother Victoria were sitting next to the bed, chatting quietly. That’s when the white-haired woman noticed him and a big smile crossed her face.

’’My handsome boy!’’ she suddenly exclaimed. ’’You’re finally awake.’’

Raegar chuckled before speaking, even thought he had a dry throat. ’’Hello mother, its goods to be back here and not fighting Devils or monsters. I need some rest for the next three weeks, especially if I want to meet up with Yuki.’’