With a sense of anticipation, Evan finally arrived at the location where the Whispering Pages bookstore had once stood. However, as he approached, his heart sank. The familiar sight of the bookstore was nowhere to be found. In its place stood a bustling clothing shop, filled with racks of colorful garments and the chatter of customers.

 

Confusion clouded Evan’s mind as he tried to make sense of the situation. He approached a salesperson, a young woman dressed in fashionable attire, and inquired about the bookstore that had once occupied the space.

 

“Oh, you must be mistaken,” she replied with a polite smile. “There has never been a bookstore here. This has always been a clothing shop. Are you looking for something specific?”

 

Evan’s brow furrowed in bewilderment. How could this be? He vividly remembered the dusty shelves, the scent of aged books, and the conversations he had with the shopkeeper. It seemed as if his memories were playing tricks on him.

 

“No, thank you,” he managed to say, his voice tinged with uncertainty. He turned away from the clothing shop, his mind swirling with unanswered questions. Has the bookstore ever existed? Was it a figment of his imagination or some kind of elaborate illusion? 

 

It couldn’t possibly be an illusion. Moreover, he bought ‘The Chronicles of Eternity’ from that bookstore. For it to disappear when he came looking for it is strange… Another question he must add to his quickly growing list.

 

As he walked away from the perplexing scene, Evan couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss. The bookstore had represented a pivotal moment in his journey, a place where he had hoped to uncover the secrets hidden within the “Chronicles of Eternity.” But now, that path seemed to have vanished, leaving him adrift in a sea of confusion and questions.

 

Undeterred, Evan resolved to seek answers elsewhere. Perhaps there were other sources amongst those walking around the area who might shed light on the enigma of the missing bookstore.

 

* Few Hours later *

 

Evan, feeling frustrated and disillusioned, decided to seek solace in the familiar surroundings of his friend’s bookshop. As he entered the cozy establishment, the scent of well-worn pages and the soft murmur of conversations greeted him.

 

His friend, the Shopkeeper, noticed Evan’s troubled expression and approached him with concern. “Hey, Evan, is everything alright?” The Shopkeeper asked, his voice filled with genuine care.

 

Evan sighed deeply, feeling a weight upon his shoulders. “Alekz, you won’t believe what I’ve been through. There was a bookshop, the Whispering Pages, at the corner of Erkens Street. But now, it’s gone, replaced by a clothing shop. When I asked people on the streets, they looked at me as if I was crazy. It’s like the bookshop never existed.”

 

Alekz furrowed his brow, contemplating Evan’s words. He had known Evan to be reliable and level-headed, so the situation seemed perplexing. “That’s strange, Evan. I can assure you that there has never been a bookshop on Erkens Street. It’s always been a clothing shop as far as I can remember.”

 

Evan’s heart sank further, his hopes dashed once again. “But I distinctly remember visiting that bookstore, Alekz. I had conversations with the shopkeeper and even purchased a book there. It felt so real.”

 

Alekz placed a comforting hand on Evan’s shoulder. “I understand how you feel, Evan, but sometimes our memories can play tricks on us. Perhaps it was a vivid dream or a figment of your imagination that felt incredibly real.”

 

Evan immediately disagreed in his thoughts but nodded, “You’re right, Alekz. It’s just hard to let go of something that held such significance for me.”

 

Alekz offered a sympathetic smile. “I can imagine. But remember, the pursuit of knowledge is a journey filled with twists and turns. Sometimes we encounter roadblocks or dead ends, but that shouldn’t deter us from seeking truth elsewhere.”

 

Evan took a deep breath, finding solace in his friend’s words. “You’re right, Alekz. I won’t let this setback bring me down. There are still countless mysteries to explore, and I won’t give up.”

 

Encouraged by Evan’s determination, Alekz patted his back. “That’s the spirit I know you for, my friend. Keep your curiosity alive, and who knows what new paths may open up before you. If there’s anything I can do to support you on your journey, don’t hesitate to let me know.”

 

Grateful for his friend’s support, Evan smiled. “Thank you, Alekz. I’ll continue my search and see where it leads me. Perhaps the heavens will shine on me one day and help me figure out what the heck is going on.”

 

With renewed determination, Evan bid farewell to his friend’s bookshop and stepped back into the world, making a decision to wait until he returns home to research ‘The Chronicles of Eternity.’

 

Evan tilts his head, I wonder if those two children are still there? Maybe I can go give them a visit? Afterall, I should be near the area I met them at. Hopefully they’re still there.

 

Due to how close he was to where he met the two, Evan quickly arrived at the destination and immediately noticed something was off. As he approached, he immediately noticed something was wrong. 

 

The younger sister lay motionless on the ground, her pale face glistening with sweat, while the older brother wrapped himself protectively over her, his gaze fixed on Evan with a growl building in his throat. Bearing his teeth as sandy strands of hair flew over his face, eyes flashing pink.

 

Realizing the boy’s protective instincts were kicking in, Evan slowed his approach, lowering himself to the ground to be at eye level with the boy. With cautious movements, he extended his hand, palm up, showing he meant no harm.

 

“Do you remember me?” Evan asked gently, his voice filled with empathy and concern. The boy hesitated, his gaze shifting between Evan’s face and the outstretched hand.

 

After a moment, a flicker of recognition crossed the boy’s eyes. The growl softened, replaced by a mix of wariness and curiosity. He slowly released the tension building up in his body before he relaxed his back, albeit still with caution.

 

Evan offered a reassuring smile, his voice filled with genuine care as his black hair gently framed his face. “I’m Evan. We met a while ago. I… I want to help your sister. Can you trust me?”

 

The boy studied Evan’s face, searching for any signs of deception. The desperation and worry etched on his features slowly began to give way to a glimmer of hope. He nodded hesitantly, his grip tightening around Evan’s hand.

 

“I remember you. You were the one who gave us food and coins hidden along with it,” the boy murmured softly, his voice laced with vulnerability. “Please… please help my sister.”

 

Evan nodded, his heart swelling with determination. “I’ll do everything I can. Let’s get her to safety first.”

 

Gently, Evan lifted the unconscious girl into his arms, cradling her carefully. The boy followed closely, his eyes never leaving his sister’s still form. Together, they hurried their way towards the nearest inn, where Evan was staying.

 

As they reached the inn, Evan quickly secured a room and laid the sick girl on the bed, his eyes scanning her flushed face with worry. He sighs in relief, seems she should be fine with just a little bit of help from his powers. He gives a small grin to the boy, “Wanna see a little magic trick?”

 

 A light shimmered from his hand as he touched the girl's forehead, creating a soothing aura that enveloped her. Slowly, her temperature began to subside, and her breathing became more relaxed as her pink hair stuck to her sweaty face.

 

The boy watched with awe, his earlier wariness fading further. The sight of his sister’s condition improving in Evan’s care eased his worries, fostering the beginnings of trust between the two.

 

“Thank you… I couldn’t bear seeing her suffer,” the boy confessed, his eyes filled with relief.

 

Evan offered a warm smile, his voice gentle. “You’re welcome. She just needs some rest now. If you want, you guys can stay here for a while until she recovers.”

 

With the immediate crisis addressed, Evan realized that these two children needed more than just a temporary respite. They needed a stable and nurturing environment, a place where they could heal and thrive. Thoughts of his friend, the bookshop owner, came to mind. Perhaps he could offer guidance and assistance in ensuring a brighter future for these siblings. It would rest his worries of what would happen to them once he left the town to go back home.

 

A small voice breaks his chain of thought as it hesitates before asking, "What was that light you used to help Lily? I- I’ve never seen anything like it.”

 

Evan paused for a moment, noticing the odd tone in the boy's voice before contemplating how to explain his awakened abilities to the boy in a way that wouldn't overwhelm or confuse him. "Well, you see, some people have special gifts that they can unlock. We call them Awakeners, and I'm one of those people. I have the ability to manipulate the energy around me.”

 

The boy’s eyes widened in awe, his gaze shifting between Evan and his sister. "So... you can use it to help people?"

 

Evan nodded, a gentle smile on his face. "Yes, in a way. I can harness and direct a type of energy that promotes healing and restores balance. It's a gift I've been blessed with, and every Awakener who awakens their abilities receives a sigil ingrained into their skin.

 

The child’s breath hitches for a split moment. “A blessing? Those damned bastards, so it wasn’t a curse! I knew she was never cursed!” The boy mutters. His eyes lit with anger as he quickly raised a hand to bite his thumb.

 

Evan’s eyes narrow at him before focusing them onto the girl laying on the bed. He had a feeling ever since he first met the two, and the feeling reinforced itself even more so when he picked up the girl to take her to the inn with her brother. 

 

The girl was an Awakener.

 

There she laid with her fever finally coming down, while her older brother sat waiting. His eyes stuck on her small form with pain in his eyes as he lost himself in memories filled with shards of glass.

 

To think there were still some families in this world who would reject awakeners and call them cursed instead of blessed… Evan’s eyebrows furrow before relaxing just as quick, the scent of blood reaching his nose.

 

“I just realized,” Evan tilts his head with a small smile on his lips before extending his hand to the boy, his grip gentle yet firm. "I'm Evan. What's your name?"

 

The boy snaps out of his thoughts, slowly pulling a bloodied thumb from between his lips. He hesitates for a moment, his gaze shifting between Evan's face and his sister lying on the bed. Finally, he responded, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm Lucas, and my sister's name is Lilith, but I call her Lily."

 

Evan nodded, a soft smile playing on his lips. He gently grabs the hand with the bloodied finger before a small glow appears right on Lucas’s injured thumb. "Lucas and Lilith. Beautiful names," he remarked, his eyes reflecting warmth and empathy. "You've been through a lot, haven't you?"

 

Lucas nodded slowly, his eyes alight with amazement as he watched his thumb get healed. Distracted, he replies, "Yeah, it's been tough. But we've managed so far."

 

Evan's gaze softened as he empathized with the weight Lucas had been carrying on his young shoulders. "You've done well, Lucas. You've been strong for Lilith." He tightens his grip on Lucas’s hand before releasing it.

 

Lucas's guarded expression softened as his eyes began to water, his shoulders shaking slightly. "I had to. She's my sister, and I promised I'd protect her."

 

Evan's heart swelled with admiration for the young boy's inner strength. "You're a remarkable brother, Lucas. Lilith is lucky to have you."

 

A flicker of pride crossed Lucas’s face, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Thank you, Evan. For helping Lily... and for caring."

 

Evan's smile widened, genuine warmth radiating from his eyes. "Of course, Lucas. You and Lilith are not alone anymore. I promise things will get better for you guys starting from now on.”

 

With that promise hanging in the air, Evan turned his attention to the next step: introducing Alex and Lily to his friend, the bookshop owner. He believed that with his friend's kind-hearted nature and love for stories, he would be willing to extend his support to these two young souls in need.

 

Afterall, a promise is a promise. And promises must never be broken, especially to those who are young