Chapter 30: The Shadow in his Dreams
The heartbeat echoed endlessly through the long, silent night. It pulsed like a whisper beneath the surface of the earth, steady yet unnatural, carrying with it a strange sense of familiarity.
It was deep, dark, and alive — as if something was calling out from the depths of the unknown.
When dawn broke, faint rays of sunlight seeped through the curtains of Aiden's room. The golden light brushed against his face, gently pulling him from the grip of restless sleep.
His eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, he lay still, his mind fogged as he was feeling irritated.
There was a strange heaviness pressing upon his chest — a lingering irritation, as though someone had been present in his dreams, someone who shouldn't have been there.
He sat up slowly, rubbing his temples as fragments of the dream drifted back to him. There had been a strange voice in his dream it was distant yet sharp, echoing again and again inside his head.
It wasn't a whisper, nor was it a shout, but something in between, filled with a strange sense of desperation.
"Come here… come here… come here…"
It was the only thing the voice had said, but with each repetition, it had grown louder and more frenzied, filling his dream until he could almost feel it vibrating in his body. The more he remembered, the more a sense of unease grew in his heart.
He swung his legs off the bed, muttering softly to himself, "I'll tell Mom and Dad about this strange dream… maybe they'll know something about it."
After washing up, he changed into fresh clothes and made his way toward the kitchen. The familiar scent of roasted bread and eggs filled the air, mixed with the smell of tea.
It was comforting — a small moment of normalcy that chased away the irritation of the strange dream in the night.
As he entered the kitchen, he greeted softly, "Good morning, Mom. Good morning, Dad."
Sara turned from the counter with a gentle smile, her eyes warm as always. "Good morning, dear," she replied.
Jonathan, who was already seated at the table with a newspaper in hand, smiled as well as he said. "Good morning, son. Come sit and eat breakfast."
Aiden nodded, taking a seat at the table. The food was warm and rich with aroma. He picked up a piece of bread, chewing absent mindedly. For a few moments, he remained silent, lost in thought.
Then, finally, he spoke, his tone serious. "Dad, Mom… I had a strange dream today."
Jonathan looked up, his brow furrowing slightly. "What kind of strange dream?"
Aiden hesitated for a moment before recalling the vivid dream as he said. "It felt like there was someone in my dream — someone who shouldn't be there,"
He continued slowly. "He kept calling to me again and again. The voice said only one thing: 'Come here.' Over and over again. It kept getting louder… until it felt like the person was completely mad."
Jonathan's expression shifted, his usual calm demeanor hardening into one of seriousness as he thought for a second. "Did the voice say anything else?" he asked, his tone quiet but serious.
Aiden shook his head. "No. Just those two words. Come here."
Jonathan leaned back slightly, deep in thought. Then, after a few seconds, he spoke in a measured tone, "Don't worry too much about it for now. I'll ask someone about this." His eyes softened. "For now, just finish your breakfast."
Aiden nodded, though he could still feel a faint unease in his chest. He returned to his meal, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics. After breakfast, the morning breeze filled the garden as Aiden and Jonathan went outside for a light duel.
The air shimmered faintly as mana filled the surroundings. The father and son faced each other, the tension between them sharp yet filled with respect. Aiden's aura pulsed steadily — stronger, denser than before.
When Jonathan gave the signal, Aiden moved instantly. His hands flowed with elemental energy, his mana shifting through forms — lightning, earth, fire, and water.
His attacks came fast and sharp, each one perfectly timed. Jonathan defended gracefully, but for the first time, he began to feel the pressure of Aiden's strength.
Each clash of mana sent small ripples through the ground. Jonathan's eyes widened slightly as Aiden forced him to back away, something that had never happened before.
Then, for a brief instant, Aiden's mana surged with intensity — his movements sharper, his presence overwhelming. This was the first time Aiden had the upper hand in all the duels they had before.
Aiden continued his endless attacks after a few moments. Aiden fully overwhelmed Jonathan.
It was in that moment that Jonathan realized he had to use a Stage 2 spell just to defend himself.
He conjured a barrier of condensed energy, deflecting Aiden's lightning strike. The blast of power sent a gust of wind through the garden, scattering leaves in every direction.
When the light faded, Aiden stood panting heavily, his body trembling from exhaustion. Jonathan, standing at the center of the garden, lowered his hand slowly. The realization struck him deeply.
He looked at his son — still catching his breath — and spoke, his voice filled with pride as he said. "I lost,"
He continued. "I used a Stage 2 spell in a Stage 1 duel." He paused, then added with a small, proud smile, "Congratulations, Aiden. You've already surpassed a Stage 1 mana cultivator. You even defeated me in a duel. This is a moment worth celebrating — we'll have a party this evening."
Aiden blinked in surprise, then smiled brightly, his exhaustion melting away. "Thank you, Dad! But it's only because of you and Mom that I've reached this stage."
Jonathan shook his head, laughing softly. "No, son. It's your hard work that has brought you this far. We just provided you some help and instructions — you did everything else on your own."
From the side, Sara's voice chimed in, warm and filled with joy. "Congratulations, dear! You've beaten your father — that's a huge achievement! We'll have a feast at lunch to celebrate!"
Aiden smiled widely and nodded. "Alright, Mom!"
Sara went to the kitchen to prepare food, while Aiden and Jonathan set out toward the forest.
The tall trees swayed gently as they entered the cool shadows beneath the canopy. Birds fluttered above, and the faint sound of rustling leaves echoed all around.
They hunted together, working in harmony, their movements synchronized. After some time, they found and hunted down a large boar.
When they returned home, they skinned it together. The smell of fresh herbs and spices soon filled the air as Sara prepared the meal.
When lunchtime arrived, the table was filled with a feast — roasted boar, steamed vegetables, bread, and warm soup.
The atmosphere was lively as laughter filled the house. Aiden couldn't remember the last time he felt so lighthearted.
But just as they were enjoying the meal, something strange happened.
A plate lifted itself from the table — slowly, soundlessly — and hovered in the air. Then the food on another plate began to float upward, drifting through the air as if guided by invisible hands.
Aiden froze mid-bite, his eyes widened in surprise. His mind raced because there were only three people in the room. How could this be happening?
Sara's cheerful expression vanished, replaced by cold seriousness. Jonathan's gaze hardened instantly, his senses flaring.
The air in the room thickened with mana. Someone had entered their home — someone powerful enough to slip past their senses without any detection.
Just as they were about to react, Jonathan recalled something, then he straightened his back, his eyes narrowing as he spoke in a firm voice. "Come out. I know it's you."
For a brief moment, there was silence. Then, the air shimmered near the floating plate.
A figure began to materialize — a woman dressed in a regal black gown, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders like silk. Her skin was pale, almost luminous, and her sharp blue eyes held a strange, icy calm.
Aiden stared in disbelief. She was unlike anyone he had ever seen — elegant, beautiful, but her presence carried a sense of superiority that only the strong had, like there was some frightening about her.
Sara sighed, her voice carrying both familiarity and mild irritation as she said. "Julia, can't you change these strange habits of yours?"
The woman, Julia, glanced at her expressionlessly and replied, "I'll be careful from now on." Her voice was calm, distant, and without any emotion.
She pulled out a chair and sat gracefully, as she began to eat from the floating plate as though nothing unusual had happened.
Aiden continued to stare, his mind struggling to process the scene before him. She just appeared out of nowhere… and even Mom and Dad didn't sense her coming, he thought, shock flooding through him. Just who is she?
Jonathan noticed his son's expression and chuckled lightly as he said. "Aiden," he then continued, gesturing toward the woman, "she's the teacher I mentioned yesterday — the one who'll teach you illusionary and parasitic mana. Her name is Julia Azirph."
Aiden blinked and quickly composed himself. "Good evening," he greeted politely.
Julia turned her head slightly toward him, her blue eyes cold yet observing. She gave a slight nod, acknowledging his greeting, and then continued eating in silence.
While seeing her gaze, Aiden felt as if he had been fully checked.
Aiden couldn't help but think to himself, She's definitely stronger than Mom and Dad.
As the meal continued, the air was thick with tension and curiosity. Aiden glanced occasionally at Julia, trying to gauge her aura, but she gave away nothing.
Her mana presence was hidden like a normal human being — perfectly concealed, yet the faint pressure that leaked from her told that she was extraordinary.
He didn't know it yet, but this was only the beginning.
Author's Note: Aiden's path grows darker, and the shadow calling his name begins to stir. Beneath his peaceful days, something ancient listens — and waits.
— The Hymn of Evil