From that night on his summer went off very well. Over the next few weeks he sat in on Parliament meetings and kept everyone accountable on the improvement of Aralan and Sifinica, even going with Aiji whenever he could to volunteer and help with the projects. At the temple he played with Adrian and Ra and had some private dinners here and there to just enjoy Aiah by himself. The moments always seemed so intense and peaceful all at the same time, it was becoming very clear just how close they were becoming. On his rare days where he had nothing planned he took the Goddess up on her offer and explored the temple. Just like she said, every time he went to explore there were new doors and hallways for him to explore. Her collections were of absolutely everything you could imagine, from jewelry and cloth, to art and books he didn't even know the name of the language of. The Goddess also kept her promise of regailing him with stories of where different items came from and how she received them. Some stories he listened to while he sat with the little ones and others he got to hear in more private settings…where those intense ruby eyes never left him. It was coming up on the end of his summer season and he would be back out into the world to finish his studies abroad. He was roaming around the halls at night once again, exploring the Goddess' collection, when he caught sight of something new.
A pink butterfly with an ethereal like pink dust trailing behind it. Persie simply thought it was something new from her collection he hadn't seen before and followed after it, his curiosity thoroughly piqued. The butterfly took him deeper and deeper into the halls without him really noticing the distance, until he came around one corner and saw a new strange room that it had flown into. Strange…the doors are never usually open already. He thought to himself. He got closer and peeked inside, his eyes going wide and gasping in amazement at what he saw. The room was filled to the brim with different crystals of all different shapes, colors, and sizes, hanging down from the ceiling like unfinished strands from a chandelier. He walked inside, mesmerized by the beauty of all the twinkling lights and crystals. It was very dark on the outer rings of the circular room and felt like the walls were covered with mirrors except he couldn't see his reflection at all. Stranger and stranger this room is from the rest of Ivory Sanctuary…well except that one. I should be careful, He thought to himself as he slowly walked in.
As he crossed the threshold of this door though, the seal that usually kept his unicorn horn hidden broke and forced his true form to come out. He gently rubbed his forehead, confused as to what could've broken the seal, he usually had such a good handle on it. He glanced at the wall as a faint golden glow radiated from where he was standing but only in the mirror. He got closer to the wall, only seeing the glow from his unicorn horn in his reflection but it wasn't glowing when he looked up at it. This is just weird. He kept walking around the room trying to touch the mirrors but never getting to find the wall and while he was distracted by this phenomenon, he walked right into one of the hanging crystal strands, a dark green and almost perfect strand of teardrop cut crystal. The moment he walked into it, his horn touched it, and all of a sudden his eyes glowed pure white as his consciousness was sucked into a vision…a vision that was trapped in this crystal.
Persie feels like he's fallen as he gasps loudly, thrust suddenly into a new reality. He looks around, getting up quickly and looking around. The fog is quite dense but he can make out that he is in very very shallow water. He panics for a minute while he attempts to get his bearings, inspecting himself for injury, then realizes he is see-through compared to the world around him. He pats himself down and can feel that he's still solid and takes a breath of slight relief in that at least. Thank Aiah I'm not dead yet. That would've been a bummer. He looks around finally to try to figure out where exactly he is.
He looks down into some lilies in it of different colors, the fog rolling in a pink slow pace as he sees a person going over to a giant pink sakura tree, where the petals fell so peacefully. There was only one lone tree in the middle of this lake where it had roots growing in the water with some grass below. There were only a few fish but ones Persie had never seen before but they just swam past him. Then the fish started to swim upward and into the air as if water still surrounded them. This area is so interesting, even the Seven Kings Realms weren't like this and followed gravity rules.Am I…perhaps in a different dimension altogether? I did hear about that before. He looks around more and then sees a man coming up to the sakura tree and putting his hand on it, the fog rolls in more and a big pink cloud comes out in the shape of a woman with pink wavy/curly hair and pink glowing eyes. She swirls around him and he sees the man ask questions as if coming to a clairvoyant.
Mystery man takes a breath and looks at the Woman-shaped Cloud: Oh Queen of Prophecies, I implore you to take up my questions, and please answer me my future.
The pink fog swirls around more, and the woman looks him in the face, her eyes glow a bright pink but her mouth doesn't move at all: Why should I answer? Because you came all this way? How presumptuous.
Mystery Man seems desperate and puts his hands together: Please. It is about my family…I feel we are in danger. *Persie feels that the man is familiar and then it hits him, this is his father* Father?? Wh-what are you doing here?? He tries to open his mouth but no words come out.
Pink Woman frows her brow and sighs in frustration: Ah that…Yes…well, I shall warn you but my warnings can barely be changed. *she opens her hands and a pink ring of magic flashes out, its electrifying current changes the environment around them as the fog swirls and becomes thicker. The fog disperses over time and he and his father both see a scene of this man with white hair talking to a blonde woman…they exchange pleasantries and glances. They almost look relatively happy and then it switches from that to a woman hunched over throwing up with a slightly bigger belly. Persie's father gasps looking horrified.
Persie's Father: Wh-what does that mean??? Who is that man?? Why is my sister alone?
Pink woman puts her head down: I give you answers, this is a cause and an effect dear. Your sister will be with a person whose life lives longer than most and yet whose life is the burden for many folks.
The environment swirls again and Persie is taken with his Father to a quaint little cottage in North Baehalan, it's cute but a little shabby and they see a man come out that looks a lot like his father except he has blonde hair.
Persie's Father: Khalil…? My brother?
I have an aunt and an uncle? I never knew…Persie thinks to himself as he looks at the vision, staying some ways behind.
The pink fog points at the vision of Khalil and then a woman comes out with a baby, a little girl that looks like she's two years old with long black, wavy hair and little cat ears.
Persie's Father confusedly tilts his head to the side: My brother had a child…she doesn't look like a unicorn.
Suddenly, it shows his brother running far with his wife right behind him and him telling her to run off into the woods East, where she will come up on a village of Cat Folk. Khalil runs in a different direction to distract them, the vision following him as he transforms fully and starts running on four legs, his true unicorn self coming through. He was fast darting through trees and over logs and brambles. There are distant voices yelling out.
"He's over here! Let's go!!" The footsteps got closer and Khalil didn't know how. Then a magic trap tripped his back legs and he rolled down a hill. The last of the vision was Khalil getting shot and dragged away. Persie's father's eyes were wet as he watched what would happen to his younger brother. He fell to his knees.
Persie's father, named Aken gasps in horror: No…no no no! Did this happen already or is this something that will happen, can I prevent it?
The pink woman looks at him but doesn't answer the question directly: This is what may or may not happen. It is a possible future.
Aken wipes his face: What can I do to stop it?
Pink woman: It is not necessarily for you to stop but more so for you to prepare.
Aken looks down at his hands, the weight and pressure of the future feeling like the heaviness of gravity. He looks up at the pink woman with sorrow in his eyes.
Aken: Please…tell me what to do. I can't let my son not have any chance at all…please. I'll do anything…*he claps his hands together and puts them over his head, begging*
The pink woman looks at him and floats down to tilt his chin up: Make sure he keeps something from your family with him, any memento and take him to a place called Lucid City. You will find help there.
Aken, nods frantically and gets up: Lucid City? Okay okay I can do this. But…is there no way for us to survive it?
The pink woman just stares at him, but stays neutral.
Aken: Alright…I must leave. *he takes out the gift he had for her and it is this strawberry dessert* I heard these are some of your favorites. Please accept this for your answer.
The pink woman fogs the dessert away and disappears back into the tree: This is another warning, watch who you are around. Not all enemies hide in shadows. *then she's gone and she goes back in and the tree is just a tree, only a little fog now*
Persie is now shifted to a different environment, right outside the house., his family's home. He goes up to the slightly open window and sees his father with an older woman with long blonde wavy hair and tan skin, and he also sees a very pregnant woman as well. That must be my aunt…she looks so beautiful. I wish I could've met her…
Aken: We can't stay here, we have to leave!!
The Older Woman yelled back at him: Your sister cannot travel in these conditions! She's too sick. *the older woman is bent over trying to attend to the woman, wiping her brow from fever sweats*
The younger woman coughs, trying to catch her breath: Aken, brother, please…find some place safe for the twins…please…there's not much time. He's coming…
Aken: I….yes…of course. *kisses her forehead*
The older woman addresses both of them, her eyes are glowing as she can tell they don't have much time: Whatever happens, our legacy will prevail even if we can't be there to witness everything. I know they will be safe where you place them.
Aken breathes slowly, still frowning: I understand mother…Zahra just hold on for a little bit longer, alright?
Persie gets pulled into seeing Zahra have the babies and his father, Aken, goes to bring them to someone, the same person he asked to smuggle Persie out. Persie also sees that same person working with some other people and a figure with a large smile but he can't see what he looks like at all. Persie goes back to the house and the sky looks so ominous. He is outside again and Aken is trying hard to get things packed but Zahra is weak…too weak.
Zahra: Are…are they safe?
Aken stops packing, hearing his sister's voice: Zahra I…I hope so, I gave them to the same person as before.
Zahra smiles weakly: Good…*She passes away as their mother holds her, tearing up. Persie can see people coming forward to the house with no light sources. They open the door but all he can hear is this man's voice. Aken is holding Zahra's hand and crying as her lifeless body lays there.
Mysterious Man: Ah. There you are. Oh…seem's I was too late, she's passed already. What a pity…I was hoping to bring her back as well but no matter…Where are my children?
Aken with resilience, gets up fast and tries to stab him with his horn but this man steps out of the way and throws him against a wall. Aken collapses against the wall hard with a thud, clutching his chest.
The Older Woman fiercely yells at this evil man: You lost Sermon! You will never get them. You will never know peace!
One of the mages starts to light the inside on fire, it's a magical fire that can't be put out by normal means. The fire casts horrible shadows but lights up…familiar orange hair. Persie is screaming for help, trying to manifest water but nothing happens. He tries to go inside but his feet won't move. He just watches as Sermon kills his family and watches as the house burns.
He is then transported to the house after everything is burned…and the tears just stream from his eyes. It begins raining and all he sees are the charred remains of a family home and some remnants of his family's bodies. He drops to his knees and cries heavily and then the vision ends and he's back in the room, being knocked on his back and balancing himself on his elbow.
Persie's body shakes with astonishment, disgust, fury, and sorrow. He gets up and runs back to his room, passing Clover in the meantime who felt his emotions strongly. Clover follows after him, still trying to complete her task to check on him, and knocks on his door softly.
Persie doesn't answer, sitting on his bed and crying softly to himself. He ignores her knocks. He can't get over what he saw, what he felt, what he smelled. It clung to him, gripping his soul as if he couldn't breathe. He stripped his clothes and got in the shower and just sat on the shower floor, crying. What's wrong with people? My father…my grandmother…my aunt…my uncle…all gone! I…I'll find him…I'll FIND HIM!...
He just continues crying and then comes out after 45 minutes and flops his wet body on the bed, crying himself to sleep underneath the covers. The sleep is dreamless but he feels that heavy pain all the more.
______________________________________________
Morning comes and he doesn't unlock his door. He does not come out. He stays in his room and doesn't even stir from his bed. Throughout the day Clover tries to knock and check on him, Autumn brings him food and leaves it outside the door, even the little ones try to knock and see if he's alright. After being in his room all day with no answer, all of them go to Aiah with their concerns. Even she begins to worry and at the end of the night, she goes to check on him herself.
Aiah: -she looks at the door to his room with a worried look, seeing the trays of food left untouched at the door and the get well cards the children had left. She knocks on the door- Persie dear?...Are you sick? Are you alright?...No one's seen you all day…is something the matter?...
Persie is sitting up already, his face looks worn as he gets up and opens the door, he doesn't meet her gaze and his expression is that of utter numbness: …I'm fine. You can tell everyone I'm fine…*he begins to shut the door*
Aiah: -she gasps quietly, and stops him from closing the door- No you are not…my dearest what's wrong? What happened?
Persie keeps his head down, trying to shield his face with his dark blue hair: I…I don't know how to explain it…
Aiah: -she kneels down and gently touches his hand- Did something happen? Did someone hurt you or say something?
Persie leans into her touch: I…I…saw something but I don't know how. Can we talk…somewhere? I just…my mind is racing…
Aiah: Come, we can go to the garden. I think you're overdue for some fresh air. -she stands up fully and offers her hand-
Persie looks at her hand and takes it after a few moments of hesitation: alright…
Aiah: -she notes his hesitation and holds his hand gently and leads him to the garden. It's quiet, no one around, only lit up by the moon and fireflies-
Persie follows behind, not saying anything, not doing anything, his head is just down. He looks around at the scenery, kind of reacting a bit to the environment and how quiet it is.
Persie: Mmm…
Aiah: -she takes him over to a bench that's in front of a small pond and guides him to sit with her- Tell me dear…what's on your mind?...
Persie sits beside her, still not looking at her: I….too much Goddess…too much that I don't even know where to begin…I saw something and it was crazy because I've never experienced anything like it before…
Aiah: What do you mean? What did you see?
Persie: A pink butterfly…it was interesting but it was random…should I tell her everything? Aiah…I…I just have a lot on my mind. I'm going to be leaving back to Baehalan soon enough. And I just have a lot to think about for the next three years. This whole summer has been an experience I will never forget…
Aiah: A pink butterfly?... -the faintest flash of recognition comes and goes from her eyes- Those are harbingers of prophecy or visions…did you see something about your time away that made you worried?
Persie: No…I…I can't explain I just need time…to sort through what I saw. It was something I'll never forget though. *he looks in her eyes and he is trying not to tear up again* Thank you for being so kind and considerate of me…
Aiah: -she gently caresses his cheek- Of course my dear…and no matter what you saw, know that I will always make sure you are protected. I promise. So don't fret my dearest.
Persie looks in her eyes: And you really do have my best intentions at heart?
Aiah: Of course I do. All I have done is so that you may be happy and flourish, and pursue your dreams. That will never change. You are a rare shining light to this world, I would never do anything to dim that.
Persie touches the necklace as it dangles and looks down at it, fidgeting with it in his hands: I…thank you. I feel that. I just have some things to think about but I don't know if I can talk about them right now…*looks down at his hands* I…just need time…
Aiah: ..Of course, please, take all the time you need. Heh thank you for at least letting me see your face.
Persie blushes but tries to turn his face away: I…ummmm *coughs* Ahem well yes…I should eat and you should go to bed. It's quite late heh.
Aiah: …Alright. I'll have Autumn bring you something fresh. -she stands up- I hope you have a peaceful night, good night. -she gives him one last look then leaves-
Persie looks up at her as she leaves and sits outside on the bench even after she returns inside: What am I doing? Why couldn't I tell her? I…don't know what's going on. I'm scared…
A small breeze blows through the garden and all around him the garden blooms fully. All the flowers in the bushes, trees, and even the lily pads open up more almost as if the garden itself was trying to calm and comfort him.
Persie feels the breeze and walks through the garden, feeling the breeze between his hands, through his legs and his feet. Persie looks at the moon and he tears up a bit but also starts thinking of his best friend, Ajii, the parliament meetings, Metatron, Prime Minister Vesta, the kids, and…Aiah…his thoughts linger on Aiah, her long hair, her warm hands, her calming smile. He wonders why things are so complicated in his head, thinking that he could forget the vision and yet, the screams echo in his mind throughout his walk.