Horsy rode swiftly through the storm, and with mud clinging to its hooves, each step became heavier and heavier. Elvo was holding onto Horsy for his dear life, while Miro was riding, his eyes squinting against the pounding rain. After several hours of riding through the storm, they finally arrived at the castle.
Miro stormed inside, completely drenched from the journey but determined to get his answers.
"I CALL UPON ME THE HIGHER UPS!" Miro screamed down the empty hallway.
"No, no, no! What are you doing?" Elvo asked in a confused tone, shaking his head in embarrassment. "If you're going to call them, you should not scream but start with-"
He stopped as the ground began to shake. They froze on the spot.
"They're here," Elvo whispered, hiding behind Miro, not wanting to see the Higher Ups.
"Why are you hiding?" Miro whispered.
"You'll see for yourself soon," they whispered back.
Suddenly, a deep voice echoed through the hall.
"Who called us?"
Elvo pushed Miro forward.
"M… me. Umm, I had a question."
"Speak."
"Well, my Elvo said… that, umm, well-" He stepped to the side, revealing his Elvo. Elvo forced a smile. "Elvo said that my soulmate is a 1000 years in the future, so I would like you to send me there… so I can find her."
"What makes you think we would do that? Did your Elvo say we could?"
Elvo interrupted quickly. "I told the boy that it's impossible, with the accent on impossible."
Miro broke down, feeling the cold of his wet clothes clinging to his skin.
"Please, there must be a possibility. Why else would I have gotten an Elvo? I must be able to see her."
Tears started falling from his eyes.
"I'm begging you… please send me to the future. I just need a chance."
A deep voice at the end of the hallway spoke again.
"What if you regret it? What if you won't find her?"
Miro fell to his knees.
"I would do everything to find her… I won't fail."
The Higher Up had a smug grin on their face, intrigued by his determination to find his soulmate.
"Mhmm. I'll give you one week, one week into the future. If you don't find her and unite with her, you'll disappear from every timeline."
Elvo and Miro turned to each other, their faces frozen in shock. Elvo gave him a warning look, but Miro had already decided his answer.
"I accept it."
The Higher Up's power began to awaken. Light sparked, and a sudden wind wave filled the castle.
"Close your eyes, and once you open them, you'll be where you need to be."
He closed his eyes. He was surrounded by darkness, but everything felt calm. He couldn't hear the raging winds or the storm outside anymore. He took a deep breath
and opened his eyes.