I woke in the middle of the night without knowing why. The house was almost completely silent, but… there was a voice. Low, muffled. It sounded like someone talking to Cindi.
I frowned.
But I thought no one else lived here…
I considered getting up to check, but my body felt too heavy. The sound drifted farther, farther away… until it vanished completely as my eyes closed again.
And then I was in an open field. Flowers swaying in the wind. Imi smiling at me. The two of us were skipping stones across the river, laughing like we did when we were little.
But the sound of the water began to… reverse. As if everything were being pulled down beneath the earth.
The stones I threw no longer fell into the river.
They struck her.
I laughed.
She cried.
— Why are you doing this…? — Imi asked, her voice breaking.
"I would never do this!" I tried to say, but my mouth wouldn't obey.
Inside, I screamed.
Outside, I only laughed.
I woke with my heart racing, my breath short.
It took a few minutes to realize it had only been a nightmare.
Eventually, exhausted, I fell asleep again.
When I truly woke, the morning light poured in through the window as if it were trying to drag me out of bed. I stretched and looked out over the bedroom balcony.
The roots of light from the Stone at the center glowed as if they were breathing.
— Damn… — I murmured, enchanted. — What a view. This day feels like a good one.
I went down the stairs, still rubbing my eye, and called out:
— Oud?
Nothing. Not even a trace of him.
I found it strange, but kept going to the kitchen. The light was strong there, illuminating Cindi, who leaned against the counter wearing a dark red coat with pinkish details, holding an apple in one hand and a glass of red juice in the other.
She looked like part of the morning itself.
— Good morning — I said, trying to sound more awake than I really was.
She smiled.
— Good morning — Cindi replied softly. — Did you sleep well?
— I had a nightmare about Imi… but I think I slept.
She lowered the apple slightly, watching me with that way of hers that sees deeper than it should.
— Nightmares don't come from nowhere — she murmured. — Sometimes it's just the body trying to hold what the mind can't.
I swallowed.
She continued gently:
— I know you're worried about her… and I haven't forgotten what I promised you. I'll be heading out soon, but before that I want to know how you're holding up through all this.
— I'm fine. I just need to find something to do… maybe work in the city. And, if possible, I want to find a way to travel… see other places. Who knows, maybe find a solution for my sister. I don't know. Anything that helps.
She gave a half-smile, but concern lingered beneath it.
— There is work like that. In the search division. But you'd need government prestige from certain missions.
I swallowed hard.
— If that's what it takes… I'll try.
Cindi dried her hands and smiled more gently.
— Illia told me about your chi. About the change.
— Yes… I corrupted it.
Cindi frowned.
— We don't use that word here.
I hesitated.
— Oh… sorry. That's what they told me before.
She raised an eyebrow.
— Here, we call it blue chi. I use it too. But I learned the hard way.
— And how did you do it? And why? — I asked, too quickly.
— Listen, Ark — she interrupted me, her voice firm. — I'm not saying you should never use it again. I just want you to truly learn how to use it. This isn't Chiulrom. We don't treat the use of this element as something bad… but everyone agrees on one thing: it's better to use it with knowledge.
She paused, her eyes fixed on me.
— Time will show you that.
I nodded, even if I didn't fully agree.
— Okay… fine. And Oud? He's gone.
— He left early. He wasn't here when I woke up.
The silence that followed felt alive, stirring the curtains, scratching at the glass.
And soon my attention returned to the stone.
I looked out the window, pointing to the Ancient Stone.
— That thing… it seems alive. What exactly is it?
Cindi came to the window with me, calm and serene.
— That stone… was once ordinary. Before the energy awakened there, it was just a rock with shrubs around it. Now, it gives life to the city… and it also takes.
That sent a chill through me.
— Then why live here? — I asked. — It seems far too dangerous.
She smiled, almost sadly.
— Because the most dangerous things always promise the greatest rewards. Just like you, coming here for your sister.
Cindi touched her own necklace, as if she felt something tingling there.
— It's dangerous, but so beautiful… — she murmured. — I can never stop looking.
Then she looked at me.
— Tell me, Ark… why do people live near volcanoes?
— Hm… I don't know — I replied. — Depression? A death wish? No idea.
She let out a short laugh.
— People do anything to gain advantages, even if they have to take risks.
— Because after the lava cools and time wears everything down, the soil becomes the most fertile there is. People risk a lot for immense rewards.
Before I could respond, someone knocked on the door.
— Cindi! Are you ready?
She took a deep breath.
— Just a second! — she called out.
Then she turned back to me.
— I need to go. I'll be away for a few days… I don't know how many. But I'll try to get something for you. Maybe even a way for you to stay.
She pointed to the railing.
— The keys are there. If you go out, lock the door. I always forget. Oh — she laughed — eat the fruits. And you can drink the juice too. It's good for you.
And Ark… — her eyes softened — I haven't forgotten your sister. I promise.
My chest warmed a little.
— Thank you, Cindi.
She opened the door and disappeared.
I stood alone in the kitchen for a moment.
A strange wind tapped against the glass.
A shiver ran up my spine — as if something were about to change.
I took a fruit from the counter, bit into it without thinking, then pressed the button on my necklace. The red glow pulsed just once.
I locked the door behind me.
— It's time to find Oud — I murmured. — And start doing something for myself.