Alex - Chapter Two

  Magnus sat still, his mind still processing the overwhelming information Nara had just shared. He could feel the power pulsing within him, still raw and unrefined, but undeniably real. However, his thoughts drifted to Alex, who lay unconscious beside him. Her breath was steady, but she seemed so distant—so detached from this world that Magnus had now been thrust into. Nara’s words still echoed in his mind.

  “Alex…” Magnus whispered, glancing at his friend. He couldn’t shake the worry gnawing at him. What did this mean for her?

  Nara noticed his gaze and followed it, her eyes softening. She understood the question without needing it to be spoken. “Yes. Alex didn’t awaken.”

  Magnus’ heart sank. “What do you mean? We were both in the same situation. We were both fighting for our lives.” His voice cracked as the realization dawned on him. “She didn’t… feel anything?”

  Nara’s expression was calm, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. “No. She didn’t awaken in the same way you did. The awakening is a rare event, Magnus. It only happens when the soul is pushed to its absolute limits—when it has to break free of its own constraints. Alex didn’t have that moment of awareness. She wasn’t aware enough to connect with the essence of her own soul.”

  Magnus stared at Alex, still struggling to understand. “But she was right there. She was in the same danger. She should have felt it. She could have… awakened too, right?”

  Nara shook her head, her voice gentle but firm. “Not everyone is capable of awakening, at least not in the way you did. The soul is a complex thing. Some people, like you, are naturally attuned to it. Your awareness was triggered in the moment of danger, and it allowed you to break through to a deeper understanding. But Alex… Her soul is closed off, for now.”

  Magnus clenched his fists. “Then what happens to her? Will she be… left behind?”

  “No,” Nara answered softly. “But the path she walks will be very different from yours unless she chooses to awaken. That’s where you come in.”

  Magnus frowned, confused. “What do you mean? How could I help her awaken?”

  Nara’s expression grew more serious, as though she was preparing him for something difficult to comprehend. “The awakening isn’t something that can simply be forced, Magnus. It’s a deeply personal experience, and only the person whose soul is ready can truly undergo it. However, there is a way you can help her.”

  She turned to face him fully, her gaze intense. “You see, the path to awakening involves understanding one’s soul, as you’ve begun to do. But it’s not a simple matter of just recognizing it. You have to reachyour soul, and it has to reach out to you in return. For Alex, that will be difficult, as her soul is closed off. It requires a shock, a revelation that will force her to recognize the truth about herself. But you can help her find that revelation.”

  Magnus blinked, his mind racing. “So, I can help her awaken by making her face something? But what if she doesn’t…?”

  Nara nodded solemnly. “If she’s not ready, there’s no force in the world that can make her. But there’s a choice you must give her once you try to awaken her.”

  Magnus’ stomach turned. “A choice?”

  “Yes.” Nara’s voice lowered, her eyes thoughtful. “The process of awakening is intense. It’s not like flipping a switch. It’s like cracking open a door to a new reality—one that has been hidden inside you. For some, it’s a terrifying experience, because it shatters everything they knew about themselves. It’s not just about gaining power; it’s about becoming someone else.”

  Magnus swallowed. “And if she can’t handle it?”

  Nara hesitated. “Then… there’s a risk. The mind can break, or worse, the soul can fragment. But there’s another way. If Alex refuses to awaken, or if the process is too much for her, you can choose to erase her memories of everything that has happened. She would be left with no recollection of this world or the events surrounding her. The world would seem as it always was to her.”

  Magnus recoiled at the idea. “Erasing her memories? How could I do that?”

  “It’s not as simple as waving a hand,” Nara explained. “To erase memories, you must sever the connection between her mind and this reality. It’s a delicate process that involves binding her memories to a separate, isolated plane. Her soul would still retain the echoes of what happened, but her conscious mind would be shielded from it. In essence, she would go back to living as if none of this ever occurred.”

  “Would she be… the same?”

  Nara’s gaze softened. “Yes, but only in the sense that she would be the person she was before—unaware of the soul she carries. But be warned: erasing her memories also means erasing the chance for her to ever awaken. She would remain in the normal, ordinary world, unaware of the power that lies within her.”

  Magnus felt a sinking feeling in his chest. The decision weighed heavily on him. He couldn’t bear the thought of Alex losing her chance at this power, especially when he had just begun to understand what it truly meant. But the idea of stripping her of these memories, of condemning her to a life of ignorance… it didn’t sit right with him.

  He turned to Nara. “But… what’s this world we’re in? How is it separate from the world Alex and I came from?”

  Nara smiled faintly, as though she’d been waiting for him to ask. “This world, the one you’re in now, is what we call the Essence Plane. It exists parallel to the world you know—the world of mundane reality, where people live their lives without any knowledge of the true forces that shape the universe. The Essence Plane is where souls like yours come to understand their true nature. It’s a realm of possibilities and infinite potential. Here, your soul can stretch, grow, and interact with other souls without the limitations of physical reality.”

  “Wait… So, this isn’t real?” Magnus asked, still struggling to grasp the full scope of what she was saying.

  Nara nodded. “It is real, but it’s separate from your world—the world where people live, where time passes differently. This world exists outside the boundaries of that mundane reality, allowing us to connect with the essence of things, of souls. But those who have not awakened cannot see this realm. They live in the physical world, unaware of the deeper layers of existence.”

  Magnus glanced down at his hands again, a mix of awe and fear stirring in his chest. This was all more than he could have ever imagined. The world he’d known suddenly seemed so distant, as though the veil had been lifted, and he was seeing everything in a new light.

  “And Alex?” he asked quietly. “If she doesn’t awaken, can she still see this?”

  “No,” Nara replied gently. “Alex would remain in her own world, unaware of this one. Unless she chooses to awaken, this reality will remain a mystery to her.”

  Magnus took a deep breath, looking down at Alex, who still lay unconscious beside him. He felt the weight of the decision on his shoulders. Whether she awakened or not, her life would never be the same. And it was up to him to help her make that choice.

  “I don’t know if she’ll be ready,” he said softly. “But I can’t make her forget. I won’t. She deserves to choose for herself.”

  Nara’s gaze was filled with understanding. “Then you must walk the path with her, Magnus. Just remember: Awakening is not the end of the journey—it’s only the beginning.”

  Nara’s words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of what was to come. Magnus could feel the gravity of the decision settling in his chest, but he couldn’t ignore the responsibility that came with it. Alex deserved the choice, the chance to understand her own power. He couldn’t let her slip back into ignorance, even if it meant risking everything.

  Nara’s voice cut through his thoughts. “I can help you, Magnus, but you must be prepared. Awakening isn’t just about unlocking power. It’s about opening a door to a different reality. The process can be overwhelming, even dangerous.”

  Magnus nodded, already steeling himself for the challenge ahead. “I’m ready. I have to try. But how do I help Alex see it? How can I make her understand what I’ve discovered about myself?”

  Nara approached him, her eyes calm and focused. “To help Alex, you must first understand her soul. In order to see whether she’s ready to awaken, we need to connect with her on a deeper level than you’ve done before. Not through words or actions—but through the essence of her being. It’s only when you understand the core of her soul that you can help guide her.”

  Magnus looked at Alex, still unconscious beside him, her serene expression almost haunting in its stillness. How could he reach her when she was so far removed from everything he had just learned?

  Nara stepped closer, her presence bringing a sense of stillness to the room. “I will help you connect to her soul. It’s not something you can do alone, not yet. But once you do, you’ll see her for who she truly is—the essence of her power, her fears, and what she’s been hiding even from herself.”

  Magnus took a slow breath. He didn’t know what to expect. The idea of reaching into someone else’s soul—of seeing them in such an intimate way—was daunting. But this was Alex. His best friend. His companion. He couldn’t bear to leave her behind, not when the truth of her soul was waiting to be discovered.

  Nara raised her hand, and the air around them seemed to shift. There was a faint hum of energy that resonated deep within Magnus’ chest, a pull toward something invisible. “Close your eyes,” she instructed softly. “Let go of everything you think you know. Trust in your connection to the Essence Plane. Trust in your soul.”

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  Magnus hesitated for only a moment before he closed his eyes. The room fell away, the sounds of the world fading into silence. All that remained was the pulse of his own soul—steady, strong, and alive. He could feel the raw energy of his power, the knowledge of his essence—his connection to the fabric of this strange world.

  Nara’s voice was barely a whisper now. “Now, focus on Alex. Reach out with your soul. You must look past the surface. What is hidden deep within her?”

  Magnus reached out, his mind extending beyond the confines of his body, seeking her soul. At first, there was nothing—only an emptiness, a sense of distance that felt like an impenetrable barrier. He pushed harder, straining, feeling his own essence brush against something unfamiliar.

  Then, like a flicker of light in the dark, he felt it—a spark, faint but undeniable. It was Alex. He could feel her presence, but it was muted, distant, as if wrapped in layers of fog. Her soul was closed off, and the more he tried to get closer, the more that barrier pushed back.

  He opened his eyes, sweat beading on his forehead. “I felt something,” he said, his voice strained. “But it’s like… a wall. Her soul feels… distant, like it’s not letting me in.”

  Nara’s expression softened, but there was a hint of understanding in her gaze. “Her soul is locked, just as I told you. But you’re not giving up, are you?”

  Magnus shook his head, determination settling over him. “No. I won’t give up on her. She has to see the truth, Nara. I need to find a way through.”

  Nara studied him for a long moment before speaking again. “There is a way, but it’s not easy. You must first see your own soul more clearly. Only by understanding your own connection to this realm will you be able to help Alex. You cannot give her the clarity she needs unless you understand what it means to be awakened.”

  Magnus nodded, his heart pounding with both fear and resolve. Nara was right. He had to understand his own power fully before he could guide Alex through the process. There was still so much he didn’t know.

  “Take a deep breath, Magnus,” Nara said, her tone gentle yet firm. “Focus on yourself. Connect with the core of your soul again. Once you do, you’ll be able to find the thread that connects you to Alex. It’s there, waiting for you.”

  Magnus took a deep breath, letting the air fill his lungs as he sank deeper into his own consciousness. This time, he wasn’t searching for anything outside himself—he was searching for the very core of his being. The part of him that had awakened in that fight, the part that had broken free of the limits he had once known.

  As he dug deeper, the energy within him responded, growing stronger and clearer, like the shifting of clouds parting to reveal the sun. His soul was no longer a mystery to him. It was a part of him that he could touch, feel, and understand. And in that understanding, he found a new clarity.

  He reached out again, this time with the full force of his awareness, focusing on the faint thread he had felt earlier. His mind stretched, seeking out the connection between his soul and Alex’s.

  And this time, there was no wall. There was only a thread—delicate and fragile—tugging him forward.

  Magnus focused all his attention on it, pulling gently at first, afraid to break something fragile. The thread vibrated, responding to his touch, and then, suddenly, the fog around Alex’s soul began to shift. Like an awakening breeze, the layers began to peel away, revealing more and more of her true self.

  But it wasn’t enough. Alex’s soul was still closed, still unsure of its own power. There was something deeper holding her back—a fear, a doubt, something she was unwilling to confront. Magnus could feel it in the depths of her being, a resistance that she had built up over the years to protect herself from the world.

  Nara’s voice cut through the tension. “She’s afraid, Magnus. You’ll need to show her that the awakening is not something to fear. It’s a part of who she is, a truth she has yet to accept. If you push too hard, you might break her, but if you’re gentle, she will come to see it for herself.”

  Magnus closed his eyes again, taking a slow, steadying breath. He needed to be careful, patient. This wasn’t about forcing Alex to see the truth; it was about helping her want to see it.

  He focused on the thread, his mind reaching out to hers. He wasn’t pushing this time; instead, he was offering her something—a hand, an invitation to step into the light of her own soul.

  The thread shivered again, then tightened, pulling him closer to Alex’s soul. And this time, as Magnus felt his own soul stretch toward hers, he knew it wasn’t just his power she was feeling—it was the beginning of her own awakening.

  Magnus’s mind trembled as he reached deeper into Alex’s soul, feeling the fragile thread connecting them pulling tighter, drawing him in. He could sense her presence growing clearer, the fog around her slowly dissipating. But as he drew closer, a sharp, almost painful resistance surged against him—a deep, overwhelming sense of fear and doubt that pushed back with all its might. It was as if something inside Alex was instinctively fighting against the very idea of awakening.

  He felt her hesitation, her internal struggle, like an invisible barrier pressing against his chest, making it harder to breathe. He winced, almost physically feeling her fear.

  “Why… why is this happening?” Magnus whispered to himself, reaching out with his soul even further, trying to penetrate the walls that had been erected around her.

  It wasn’t long before he began hearing her voice—soft at first, like an echo in the distance, but growing clearer with every heartbeat.

  “I don’t want this…” The words were faint, barely a whisper in the back of his mind, but they were unmistakable. “I don’t want to change. I don’t want to be a part of this world. I just want to live a normal life.”

  Magnus froze. The realization hit him like a cold wave: these were her thoughts. Her true feelings. The fear wasn’t just about the awakening; it was about everything that came with it—the power, the responsibility, the destruction that this world could bring. She was terrified of losing herself, of becoming something she didn’t understand. The weight of it was too much.

  He felt her resistance deepen, an unshakable wall of self-doubt that pushed against him like a tidal wave. And just as he thought he could push through, her voice rang out again, louder this time, stronger.

  “I don’t want to be special. I don’t want the burden. I just want peace, just to be normal. Please, Magnus… I can’t handle this.”

  The words broke through him like a blade, shattering the calm he had so carefully built. His heart ached as he listened. She didn’t want this power. She didn’t want to face the same reality he had just begun to understand. She wanted to stay the same, to avoid the pain and the fear that came with the awakening. She wanted to live a life where she didn’t have to fight.

  Magnus’s soul recoiled, the pressure building as her doubts weighed heavier and heavier upon him. He was losing her. The barrier around her soul was getting stronger with each passing second, the path to her awakening fading further into the distance.

  And yet, he couldn’t help but understand. He knew how terrifying the unknown could be—how terrifying it was to be pulled into something bigger than yourself when all you wanted was to be left in peace. He had already felt the pain of being thrust into a reality that felt far too large, too chaotic for him to ever truly grasp.

  But is that what I really want for her? Magnus thought, his breath catching in his chest. His mind was at war with itself, torn between the duty he felt to help Alex unlock her potential and the raw, painful understanding of her fear. What right did he have to push her into something she didn’t want?

  He felt himself being pushed away from her soul now, as though the very fabric of their connection was ripping apart, separating them. The thread between them snapped taut, and with it, the link began to unravel.

  “No,” Magnus whispered, his voice barely audible. He reached out, desperately trying to pull himself back into her mind. “I can’t let go. I won’t—”

  But the force of her rejection was too much. With a surge of energy, Magnus was forcefully pulled away from her, the connection breaking with a final, resounding snap. The room around him seemed to return to normal, the Essence Plane fading back into the background, leaving only the quiet sound of Alex’s steady breathing beside him.

  Magnus opened his eyes slowly, his body trembling from the intensity of the experience. His heart raced, and his head spun as he processed everything that had just happened. He could still hear the echoes of Alex’s voice in his mind, the fear, the doubt, the longing for something simple.

  He turned to Nara, his chest tight. “I—I couldn’t do it. She didn’t want to awaken. She doesn’t want any of this.”

  Nara stood silently, her gaze distant as if she had been anticipating this moment. She nodded slowly, her expression somber. “It’s never an easy choice, Magnus. The path of awakening isn’t something to be taken lightly. It’s a powerful, life-changing decision. Sometimes, the soul must be ready before it can face that truth. Sometimes… it chooses to stay where it feels safe.”

  Magnus clenched his fists, frustration and sadness bubbling inside him. “But she’s meant for this. She’s so much more than what she’s letting herself believe. I can’t just leave her in the dark.”

  Nara’s voice softened, her eyes thoughtful. “And you won’t. But the journey is hers to take. You can’t make her choose this path—only guide her. If she doesn’t want to awaken, then you must respect her choice.”

  “But—” Magnus began, his voice tight with emotion, “She doesn’t understand! She’s just scared!”

  “I know,” Nara replied gently. “And that’s the hardest part. But you can’t carry her fear for her. She must find the courage herself. You can help her, but you can’t make her see the truth unless she’s willing to face it.”

  Magnus stared down at Alex, his heart heavy with guilt and doubt. He wanted to force her to see what he saw, to make her understand the power within her. But Nara was right. It wasn’t his choice to make. Alex had to want it for herself.

  He took a slow breath, trying to steady himself. “But what if she never wants it? What if she never sees what she could be?”

  Nara met his gaze, her eyes calm and unwavering. “Then that is her journey, Magnus. Some souls are destined to remain in the world they know, and others will awaken. But the choice is never forced. That’s the nature of the soul. It finds its own path, and if it isn’t ready to awaken, no one can make it.”

  Magnus sat still, his mind a swirling storm of emotions and thoughts. His eyes were locked on Alex, lying unconscious beside him, her chest rising and falling with steady, peaceful breaths. But inside, Magnus was anything but at peace. The battle within him raged on, fiercer than any fight he had ever faced.

  The words Alex had whispered in his mind echoed in his ears. “I don’t want this… I just want to be normal. Please, Magnus… I can’t handle this.”

  Her voice, so full of fear and uncertainty, sliced through him like a blade. He had felt her terror—the sheer, overwhelming weight of not wanting to change, not wanting to face the responsibilities of this world, this power. And now, the weight of her wish pressed down on him like an immovable force.

  “I don’t want her to suffer,” Magnus thought desperately. “I don’t want her to be part of this dangerous world. I’ll do it. I’ll erase her memories. It’s the only way.”

  His chest tightened as the thought took root. Erasing her memories… it felt like a betrayal. But was it? Wasn’t he doing this for her sake? So she wouldn’t have to fight, so she wouldn’t have to face the horrors of this world? Alex had made her choice clear. She wanted peace. She wanted a simple life, free of the chaos and fear that had followed Magnus ever since his awakening.

  But that didn’t make the decision any easier.

  He closed his eyes, running a hand through his hair in frustration. His heart screamed in protest. “What if she’s wrong? What if she regrets it later? What if she’s meant for something greater and I’m stealing that from her?”

  The voices in his head clashed. The part of him that wanted to protect her, to respect her wishes, fought against the part that believed she had more potential, that she was destined for something far beyond what she could see right now.

  “She doesn’t want this life. She doesn’t deserve to live in fear. She deserves to be happy, to be safe,”Magnus whispered to himself, almost pleading, as if trying to convince himself.

  Nara stood silently across from him, her gaze calm but understanding. She had seen this kind of struggle before. But Magnus wasn’t sure he could take her advice now. The weight of Alex’s request was too much. He couldn’t—he wouldn’t—let her suffer.

  “I’ll do it,” Magnus muttered, his voice tight with the weight of his decision. “I’ll erase her memories. I’ll give her the life she wants. The life she deserves.”

  Nara remained silent for a moment, then stepped forward, her expression softening. “Magnus, you must understand that erasing her memories comes with a cost. She will never be the same person again. She’ll return to the world she once knew, but the person she is now, the person who experienced all of this with you… that will be gone.”

  Magnus felt a pang in his chest at her words, but he steeled himself. “I know. But it’s what she wants. And if that’s what she needs to be happy, then I’ll do it.”

  His mind swirled with the consequences of his decision, but there was one question still gnawing at him.

  “Nara,” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, “if I erase her memories… will I still be able to see her? Will she remember me?”

  Nara hesitated for a moment, her eyes filled with a quiet sadness. “No. Once her memories are erased, she will return to the life she once had. She won’t remember the world we’ve shown her, and she won’t remember you, Magnus. Not the way you know her now. She’ll live her life as though none of this ever happened.”

  The words hit Magnus like a blow to the chest. No. The thought of losing Alex—of having her walk through life not even knowing he was there, not even knowing what they had shared—was a pain he couldn’t bear. But he also knew that this was the only way to keep her safe, to protect her from the storm that was building in this world.

  “She deserves peace,” Magnus muttered to himself, his voice wavering. “She deserves to live a normal life.”

  He closed his eyes, breathing deeply, the weight of his decision suffocating him. It felt like a betrayal, but at the same time, he couldn’t let her suffer. He couldn’t let her be dragged into the mess he had found himself in.

  But could he really let her go? The thought of Alex, of everything they had gone through together, slipping away like sand through his fingers—he couldn’t bear it.

  As if sensing his turmoil, Nara placed a hand on his shoulder, grounding him. “Magnus, this is the hardest part of being a guide. You can’t make the choice for her. You can only help her make her own.”

  He looked up at her, his eyes filled with pain and uncertainty. “But I’m not just taking away her memories. I’m taking away who she is now. I’m taking away the choice I made for her.”

  Nara’s gaze softened even more. “No, Magnus. You’re not taking away her choice. You’re respecting it. She has chosen peace, and you will give her the opportunity to have that peace. It’s the greatest gift you can give her.”

  Magnus swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his decision sink deeper into his bones. “I don’t know if I can live with this,” he thought. “But I have to. For her.”

  He glanced at Alex once more, his heart aching with a mixture of love and sorrow. He closed his eyes, steadying himself for what was to come.

  “I’ll do it,” Magnus said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll erase her memories. I’ll let her live her life as she wanted.”

  Nara nodded, her expression unreadable but understanding. “Then you must proceed carefully. The process is delicate, and once it’s done, there’s no turning back.”

  Magnus took a deep breath, his hands trembling, but his resolve firm. He had made his decision. It wasn’t the one he wanted, but it was the one he believed Alex needed. The world they had shared, the power they had just begun to understand, would be erased for her—for her peace.

  And for the first time in what felt like forever, Magnus couldn’t help but wonder: Would he ever see her again? Would their paths cross in another life?

  But for now, all he could do was honor her choice.