Arthur Leywin POV
I gently placed my right hand between Lias' shoulder blades. I closed my eyes and pushed out a gentle stream of mana, just enough to sense the ebb and flow of his underdeveloped mana veins. At first, everything seemed as it should be, small specks of dormant mana floating lazily through his body like morning dust motes in sunlight.
My breath caught as my 'eyes' caught sight of the so-called spinning and shiny lights... and that Golden 'thing'... It was so magnificent that the word "Beautiful" could not be used upon it, because that would sully it.
There was a pull on my mana.
No, it surged, rushing toward my hand like a dam had burst within him. My vision blurred for a heartbeat, and I instinctively widened my mana perception. What I saw made my heart skip a beat.
The "lights" and the "Golden thing" Lias had described... weren't just dormant anymore.
They were alive. Spinning and coalescing towards an apex in his chest, where the Golden Thing resided.
Spiralling around a central point in his sternum, as if being drawn into a vortex. Elemental mana in its purest form was being gathered, but something else was present too, something golden. Something that wasn't mine or even his, but related to the Golden Thing within him.
"Lias", I started, but before I could finish, I felt a sharp spike of resistance. A foreign mana signature bloomed outward, uncontrolled and raw. His small body jerked slightly.
He whimpered, "It's really bright... Big Bro, it's getting loud... like really loud, and it's so brig-"
"Lias!"
His body suddenly fell limp, slumping backwards into my arms.
"Lias? Lias!" I shouted, my voice cracking, I turned him around, his eyes fluttering, his breath shallow. Sweat had broken out on his forehead, and golden strands of mana began to swirl around him, like fireflies drunk on magic.
"What's going on?!" My mother's voice came from behind, urgent and rising with fear. "Arthur? What happened to him?!"
"H-he's awakening, but something's wrong!" I said, tightening my arms around Lias' limp body. "His mana is surging way too fast!"
The very next second, my father, Reynolds, appeared next to Mom. "What did you do to him?!" he demanded, voice thunderous, eyes flashing with alarm.
"I didn't do anything!" I snapped back. "He was seeing the lights like he was supposed to, and then he just collapsed!"
"His mana is not normal," I added, pressing my head to his chest.
Golden light flared around his body as it continued to grow brighter. Pressure built in the air around us as Lias' skin shimmered faintly, his body trembling.
"I need to get him outside!" I barked. "If this keeps building indoors, he could destroy the whole building, or worse!"
"Go!" Dad ordered, pushing the back door wide open.
I moved, bolting down the hall with Sylvie streaking beside me. Wind magic accelerated my steps. I burst into the garden and dropped to my knees, gently laying Lias on the grass. The moment his body touched the earth, mana burst out in another wave, bending the grass outward in concentric ripples.
"Lias!" I called again, pressing a hand to his chest. His skin was burning hot with mana, but his eyes remained shut, breath shallow.
Mom was right behind me, dropping to the ground beside her son. "Baby, wake up, please!" Her hands hovered over him helplessly, shaking. "Lias, it's Mama. Look at me, sweetheart, please, wake up."
Dad knelt beside her, jaw tight, fists clenched. His usual calm had vanished, his face pale. "Arthur. You said it's not normal. What do you mean by that?"
"His core it's..." Another pulse of gold escapes the unconscious form of my brother, "He appears to be awakening."
"What!" my parents shouted in unison.
"No need to worry, I awakened younger than he did, and I turned out fine", I reassured, scratching my cheek as my parents stared down at Lias with a mix of horror and fear.
I met my mother's eyes.
"I'll keep him safe. I promise."
Her breath hitched, and she reached for Lias' small hand. "He was fine this morning. How could this be happening?"
Father put a hand on her shoulder, his own voice quieter now. "He's strong. He gets that from you."
Another pulse rippled out from Lias' chest, less violent now. Almost rhythmic. His brow furrowed as a strained breath escaped him. Slowly, the glow began to fade.
My shoulders sag slightly with relief. "He's stabilising," I breathed out as I ran a hand through his hair.
I awakened so young because of my memories of being...
I shook my head, letting my thoughts drift.
He isn't like me, though...
He's just a child.
But what are you, Lias?
Elias Leywin POV
I let out a groan, pressing a hand to my head.
What happened...?
My thoughts feel sluggish, as if I'm stuck in fog. Slowly, my eyes adjusted to the soft light that seemed to filter through the air itself. I squinted and raised a hand to shield my face, then slowly pushed myself upright.
It's so quiet.
Too quiet.
No birds. No wind. Not even the faint hum of insects. Just silence, like the whole world is holding its breath.
I pressed my palm against the ground, the blades of grass cool and strangely unmoving under my touch. I rose to my feet, brushing my clothes off as I looked around.
I stood in the middle of a vast meadow, an endless sea of flowers, swaying gently even though there was no breeze. Blues, purples, whites, and golds stretch to the horizon in every direction.
I've never seen a place like this.
Where... am I?
This place... it doesn't feel real.
It's too soft, too quiet, too... perfect. There's a stillness to it all that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
I slowly turned in my place, searching for anything, trees, hills, or even a path. Anything to anchor me, to offer any sense of understanding.
In my confusion, I heard a laugh from behind me. A musical jumping pitch sounded, nearly making me jump out of my skin.
"Shit", I murmured as I had heard father say before.
I froze, turning slowly to face the voice.
A girl stood just a few steps away, peeking at me from between tall stalks of bluebells. She looked around my age. Her hair was white, like snow, and fell in long straight sheets down her back. She was wearing a silver-blue dress that fluttered gently around her knees. Her eyes? violet, clear and calm, possessing a wisdom beyond her apparent age.
"...Hi?" I offered hesitantly.
She doesn't answer immediately. She tilted her head slightly, eyes sparkling with quiet amusement, and then she smiled. It's a strange smile, not unkind, but... knowing. Like she understands something I don't, or knows a secret she can not share.
"You scare so easily," she laughed, her voice light and teasing.
I scowled, rubbing at my arm. "I do not."
"You flinched," she replied with a coy smile and a small shrug. "I saw it."
"That's not the same as being scared," I grumbled "You just surprised me", I added, continuing my protest.
She giggled, then spun slowly in place. The flowers around her seem to bend with her movement, like they're leaning in to follow her, but I still can't feel any wind.
I stepped closer, just enough so I didn't have to shout. "Do you... live here?"
"Sort of."
"What's this place?"
"Avalon."
I paused. "...Avalon?"
The name tastes strange on my tongue as I squint my eyes in my visible confusion.
"...What's Avalon?" I asked.
She watched me for a moment, then shrugged again. "It's just... here. A place between."
"That's not a real answer."
"It's not a real place," she smiled, twirling another flower between her fingers.
I narrowed my eyes. "Is this... a dream?"
She nodded, then shook her head, not able to come up with a concrete answer. "Kind of. Not really. It's more like... a breath between heartbeats."
That didn't help at all!
I looked at her blankly as I began to think aloud.
"I was with my brother," I recalled, trying to hold onto the memory. "He was talking to me and showing me the pretty lights, and then everything went weird. It's all kinda blurry now."
"That happens," she replied, sitting down in the flowers like she's done it a hundred times before. "When your thoughts are too loud, you stop hearing the world."
I blinked. "That's... kind of deep for someone wearing flowers in her hair."
She grinned, unbothered. "Thank you."
I sat across from her. The grass here is soft beneath me, the scent of the flowers strong but not unpleasant. "Why am I here?"
She shrugged again. "Sometimes people come here when they need to. Even if they don't know it."
I looked at her more carefully. "You talk like this place is yours."
She smiled again. "It's not mine. It just lets me stay."
"...That's weird," I muttered.
"You're weird," she reversed, poking my cheek.
I swat her hand away, trying not to smile. "You still didn't explain anything."
She picked a petal from her dress. "You don't need to understand everything to rest for a bit."
I hesitated, then looked down at my hands. I didn't feel hurt. Just... tired. And weightless.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Nimue."
I wrinkled my nose. "That's not a normal name from where I come."
"It's still a name."
"Sounds made up."
"All names are made up," she said cheerfully.
I laughed a little despite myself. "You're strange."
She lifted her chin proudly. "Thank you again."
The air shifted, just slightly. A real breeze now, gentle and cool. I felt it across my face, ruffling the edges of my shirt. The meadow responds, leaves rustle, flowers sway.
I glanced at Nimue. She's watching the sky now, face tilted up.
"I think you'll wake up soon," she said, her voice quieter now, an air of sadness apparent in her voice.
Something inside my chest pulled tight, like a string being tugged from somewhere behind me.
"...What happens when I do?" I asked.
"You forget a little," she replied. "Most people do. But maybe you'll remember enough."
"Enough of what?"
She turned to me, her face suddenly serious in a way that made my heart beat faster.
"Enough to know it mattered. That you were here. That I was real." She added teasingly
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
She gave me a small, solemn smile. "Even if you don't remember my name. Or the flowers. Or what the sky looked like."
I nodded slowly, unsure why my chest felt heavy.
"I'll try," I whisper. "I promise."
Her smile grew. "Good."
The atmosphere turned brighter, and the colours of this world began to blur. The meadow feels like it's slipping away, like a picture left out in the sun too long.
Nimue's voice was the last thing I heard.
"Goodbye, Elias Leywin."
"How do yo-"
I opened my eyes before I could finish my question.
~~~
My eyes fluttered open slowly.
For a long moment, I didn't move. I just stared up at the wooden beams above, watching as pale shafts of golden morning light stretched across them in soft, flickering lines. My chest rose and fell with slow, heavy breaths, my heart beating with an odd weight to it—like I'd woken from something I couldn't quite remember.
The pale blue curtains gently swayed in the breeze. The faint scent of lavender soaked into the old wooden walls. The small dent on the far side where I'd once swung a stick like a sword and cracked the plaster.
This was my room.
So why did it feel so... strange?
Like I had taken a step onto a stair that wasn't there. Like something in the world had shifted without telling me.
My body ached, stiff and heavy, as if I'd been asleep for days. My thoughts swamed in slow circles, too clouded to catch. At that moment, I remembered something about flowers and a meadow bathed in light?
The very memory itself, feeling as if it were already slipping away.
And then I noticed the warmth beside me, itd weight offering a familiar maternal reassurance.
I turned my heavy head with great effort to face her.
"Mama...?" My voice came out as a hoarse whisper.
She stirred at the sound, her breath catching. Her head jerked up from where it had been resting against the bed, eyes wide and disbelieving. For a second, she just stared at me.
Then she moved, raising her hands to her face as tears began to once again in her bloodshot eyes.
"Lias," she gasped.
Her hands were trembling as she reached out to cup my face. A second later, I was crushed into a tight embrace, her arms wrapped around me like she never wanted to let go.
"Oh God. sweetheart, you're awake," she breathed into my hair. "You're really awake. We were so scared."
I blinked against her shoulder, confused. "Mama... what happened?"
She pulled back just enough to look at me, her fingers brushing my hair from my face. Her eyes were red and puffy, her cheeks streaked with dried tears. "You collapsed, baby. Out of nowhere. You just... fell, and then you wouldn't wake up."
My mouth felt dry. "I... don't remember..."
"You scared us so badly," she whispered, voice cracking. "We didn't know if you were ever going to open your eyes again."
I frowned, trying to push through the fog in my head. "I remember a field. It was warm. Full of flowers. And... There was a girl. She knew my name."
Mama froze, looking at me as if I were insane.
"She had white hair," I added slowly, "And purple eyes. Like... like amethysts. I think she said her name was..."
I paused.
"Actually, I don't think she told me."
Mama swallowed hard, but didn't say anything.
The bedroom door creaked open.
"Honey, how is he-?" Father's voice caught mid-sentence.
I turned my head just as he stepped into the room, his eyes wide. He looked exhausted, still wearing yesterday's clothes, beard even more unkept than usual, with his hands clenched into fists at his sides. But when our eyes met, everything in his expression softened.
"Lias," he said, almost in disbelief. And then he moved in two long strides to the side of the bed and knelt down beside us.
He reached out, placing a hand firmly on my back, the way he always did when I'd had a bad dream.
But this time, his hand trembled.
"I thought we'd lost you," he said quietly, "Just like when..." he added, trembling slightly.
His other hand rested gently on my shoulder. "Don't do that again. You scared the hell out of us."
"I didn't mean to," I murmured.
"I know," he said with a rough chuckle. "Of course you didn't."
He pulled me into a careful hug, strong arms wrapping around both me and Mama. The three of us held together in silence, the kind that spoke louder than words ever could.
I closed my eyes for a moment, breathing them in their worry, their warmth, their love. It was overwhelming. Almost too much.
"Wasn't I just... asleep?" I asked after a moment.
Papa exhaled slowly. "You stopped breathing."
"What?" I added, my breath hitching slightly.
"It was only for a second, but your mana burst out of you like a storm. It nearly knocked us off our feet. We had no idea what was happening. You wouldn't wake up, and we couldn't get anywhere near you."
"Mana?" I murmured slightly, confused by what they meant.
Mother's voice was softer, but no less shaken as she continued to recount the events of my unconsciousness. "Your brother had to carry you outside. Into the garden. The house was... it wasn't safe. The walls were shaking."
I stared at them, heart pounding faster now. "I did that?"
"You didn't mean to," Father said quickly. "Your body was overwhelmed." He added, offering further insight
My breath caught. "I... I don't remember any of that."
"What do you remember?" Mama asked gently.
"There were loads and loads of flowers and a girl was there." I hesitated.
Father and Mother exchanged a glance.
"It wasn't a dream, I don't think it was a dream," I said quietly. "It felt real."
Father brushed his thumb over the top of my head. "Of course it was Lias."
"Do dreams ever feel like they're real?" I asked, looking up at him.
He smiled faintly. "When I met your mother, I thought she was a dream. Sometimes I still do."
Mother rolled her eyes, but smiled, brushing her hand across my cheek.
I let out a small laugh. The tension in my chest loosened.
"Can I stay here a little longer?" I asked.
"Of course you can sweetie," Mother said instantly.
"We're not going anywhere," Papa added.
WC – 2950
Thanks for reading this chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it. 😊
All Criticism and feedback are welcome. Any suggestions for the story or plot are also more than welcome.
I hope you guys enjoyed Nimue's introduction. she'll play a role in advancing the plot as Lias reconnects to his past.
Cartethyia is out tomorrow, Good luck to all those pulling for the Blessed Maiden. I will be R6S1 best girl. Septimont looks to be very good from the trailers, and I am looking forward to its story after how amazing 2.4 was.
Special thanks to LancelotDragonroad for editing this chapter.
The next chapter is out at 10 Likes or Sunday.
Rius out.