"I don't know much… she appeared one day and just stayed."
Aron spoke calmly, but there was a slight hesitation behind his words, still trying to organize everything in his own mind.
"Yesterday I tried to communicate with her, but our connection doesn't transmit thoughts… only emotions."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"I feel what she wants to convey to me… and she feels the same when I do it."
Arthur raised his eyebrows slightly, surprised.
"That's it?"
Aron nodded slowly.
"Yes… I don't know why, or how we're connected."
'But I feel like I came into this world with the purpose of protecting her.'
The thought came clearly… but was immediately suppressed.
He would never say something like that out loud.
"Yesterday, when we established the connection… she was very happy."
"I tried to communicate… and I think I managed to."
"But I still don't know what kind of information would actually be useful."
Sabrina listened in silence.
Then she nodded, thoughtful.
"That alone isn't very useful."
Her voice wasn't harsh, just direct.
"We need to establish a line of priorities."
She crossed her arms, looking at Aron more seriously.
"First: our safety."
"Second: the danger she represents."
"Third: why this connection exists with you."
"Fourth: what situation she's in."
"Fifth—and last: how long she can remain hidden."
She took a deep breath before continuing.
"And to understand all of that… we need you to ask her."
"Once all these priorities are addressed, we can think about a plan to help her… without resorting to violence."
Aron stayed silent for a moment.
Her words made sense.
But something still bothered him.
"So… it really is the world's consciousness?" he asked, hesitant.
"Yes," Matilda replied, looking at him directly.
"There's a ninety-nine percent chance."
"Otherwise, it would be too much of a coincidence for all of this to happen at the same time."
She paused briefly.
"I think you should try to connect with her again."
Aron took a deep breath.
"Alright."
He slowly closed his eyes.
For a moment, everything around him seemed to fade away.
The sound, the environment… even the presence of the others.
Only silence remained.
And then… he focused.
On that presence.
That familiar, constant sensation… almost like a distant whisper that had always been there.
After a few seconds, the connection formed.
The emotion came first.
Joy.
Clear.
Immediate.
Almost overflowing.
Aron remained still.
'She's happy… because I finally reached out to her.'
He absorbed that feeling for a moment.
It was… comforting.
'She tries to communicate with me often…'
'but I've been avoiding it.'
He organized his thoughts.
'First… something simple.'
Aron focused and sent an emotion filled with meaning.
[How are you?]
The response didn't take long.
It came clearly.
Directly.
[I'm fine… and you?]
Aron was slightly surprised.
'Hm… this method of communication isn't very efficient.'
'The biggest problem is interpreting the emotions… and the meaning behind them.'
'But… it works.'
He continued.
[I'm fine. Who are you?]
This time, the response took a bit longer.
[I… don't know exactly.]
[My father said you would protect me… until I became strong enough to protect myself.]
[After I awakened… and created a body for myself.]
Aron fell silent for a moment.
'So… this really is connected to my reincarnation.'
[Who is your father?]
[He is the world.]
There was a brief pause.
A noticeable hesitation.
[Or… he was.]
[He died.]
Aron stayed silent for a few seconds.
'I need to understand how much she knows…'
[Did he say why I have to protect you?]
[Yes.]
[Before he died… he said he had sealed the portal of a new race.]
[A race that had never appeared before… not even the universe recognized it.]
[They will return soon.]
[And you need to help me become strong… so we can resist the invasion.]
Aron let out a low sigh.
[Why did he choose me?]
[I don't know.]
[But he said your soul was special.]
Aron fell silent.
'My soul… special…'
'So… he really brought me into this world.'
'More than a thousand years later…'
A strange feeling surfaced.
Heavy.
Quiet.
'My other family… probably doesn't even exist anymore.'
The sadness came.
Not strong.
Not explosive.
But enough to tighten his chest.
'This isn't the time for that.'
He suppressed the feeling.
She asked as she sensed it.
[Why are you sad?]
Aron answered right away.
[It's nothing.]
[Did he say anything else about me?]
[Yes.]
[He left a message for you.]
["A soul in the limbo of oblivion is not affected by time. Past, present, and future can exist at the same point."]
[I didn't understand… but he said you would.]
Aron frowned.
[There's more.]
["I gave you a gift as payment for protecting my daughter."]
["When you awaken… you will have the opportunity to see someone you love again, just once."]
Aron froze.
'Past, present, and future… at the same point…'
'…and seeing someone again…'
'Even after all this time…?'
He took a deep breath.
[What is your name?]
[My father called me Elysia Draeth.]
[Nice to meet you, Elysia. My name is Aron.]
[Nice to meet you, Aron.]
He continued.
[Where are you?]
Elysia took a moment to respond.
[Before creating my body… I prepared a place.]
[A cave.]
[I can stay there for, at most, five years.]
[It has no connection to the surface.]
[You'll have to dig to find me.]
Aron thought for a few seconds.
[Alright… I can't help you right now.]
[I'm still only one year old.]
[And there are a lot of people looking for you.]
[I understand.]
[But after you awaken… you'll have one year to grow stronger.]
[When you're close… our connection will guide you.]
[I trust you.]
Aron hesitated.
He thought about his parents.
About what had happened.
And decided.
[Maybe… I can find you sooner.]
[Why?]
[I told my parents about you.]
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
The connection was still there.
But there was no response.
Aron frowned slightly.
'She's still here… she's just not responding.'
Aron decided to speak again.
[I trust them.]
[They won't hurt you.]
The response came quickly.
[Do you promise?]
Aron fell silent.
'Her father gave me this second chance at life…'
'That alone is enough reason to risk everything for her.'
He made his decision.
[With my life.]
[I will die before I let anything harm you.]
The emotion that came in response was intense.
Happiness.
Trust.
[If you trust them… then I'll trust them too.]
Aron breathed slowly.
[I'll talk to them… then I'll come back.]
[Okay, see you later, Aron.]
[See you later, Elysia.]
The connection faded gently.
Like a flame going out without wind.
Aron remained still for a few seconds.
Feeling the emptiness left behind.
Then he opened his eyes.
The room returned.
And with it… the stares.
His parents and Matilda were there, watching him in silence.
Waiting.
Sabrina was the first to step a little closer.
"How was it, sweetheart?" she asked, anxious.
Aron blinked once, organizing everything he had learned.
There was still a slight weight inside him.
But also… clarity.
"I have good news… and bad news."
He looked at each of them, one by one.
"Which do you want to hear first?"
The room fell silent.
No one answered.
They only exchanged glances.
As if they already knew… that no matter the choice, none of it would be simple.