future

Zephyr stood up, his eyes locking onto Alicia's direction, a gentle smile on his face. "That's all for now, at least you know the story of how I met Lord Lucian."

Alicia's eyes narrowed, her mind still racing with questions. "Yes, now I know how you met Lord Lucian, but you still haven't told me how you know my full name or about the hidden land of Lacdon. You know more about it than I do, despite never having visited it," she said, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Zephyr's expression turned thoughtful, anticipating her next question. Alicia's brow rose, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "And another thing, you said you have the ability to see the past, present, and future. So, why didn't you see that Lord Lucian would come to your world?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder.

Zephyr's smile grew wider, as if he had been expecting this question. "That's easier to explain than you think," he said, his voice filled with a hint of mystery.

Alicia's eyes remained fixed on Zephyr, her gaze intense. "And now you want to know how I know about Lacdon, right?" Zephyr asked, his voice low and soothing.

Alicia nodded, her response barely above a whisper. "Yes."

Zephyr's eyes seemed to gaze into the distance, as if collecting his thoughts before revealing the answers to Alicia's questions. The air was thick with anticipation, and Alicia's heart raced with excitement, knowing that she was on the cusp of uncovering secrets that would change her life forever.

Zephyr took a deep breath, his voice filled with a sense of purpose. "The answers you seek, Alicia, are tied to the very fabric of our existence. Are you prepared to uncover the truth?"

Zephyr settled back onto the floor, his gaze drifting to the water as he listened to its soothing sounds. He continued his tale, recounting how Luna had shown Lucian the wonders of their world, and how she had inquired about Lacdon. Alicia's imagination ran wild, conjuring up vivid scenes as Zephyr spoke.

He described how Luna's curiosity had gotten the better of her, and how she had bombarded Lucian with questions about the mysterious land. Zephyr's eyes sparkled with amusement as he recalled the scene.

Alicia's eyes remained fixed on Zephyr, absorbing every detail like a sponge. She could almost picture Luna's eager expression and Lucian's patient smile.

Zephyr's expression turned nostalgic as he revealed how he had learned Alicia's name through Lucian. "He mentioned it when we were alone," Zephyr said, a hint of a smile on his lips. "And then, I heard Selina mention the same name that Lucian had told me. It made us all very happy, like a little child learning to swim for the first time."

Alicia's eyes sparkled with delight as Zephyr described the joy that Luna and Sparkle had felt upon seeing the Chosen One for the first time. "They were overjoyed, knowing that they had been lucky enough to witness the beginning of something extraordinary," Zephyr added, his voice filled with warmth.

As Zephyr finished his tale, Alicia felt as though she had been transported to a different world, one filled with wonder and magic. She looked at Zephyr with newfound appreciation, grateful for the secrets he had shared with her. The sound of the water and the warmth of the cave created a sense of tranquility, and Alicia felt her heart fill with a sense of belonging. She knew that she had found something special in this place, and in Zephyr's words.

"Thank you for telling me all of this, Zephyr," Alicia said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Zephyr's smile was gentle. "I'm glad I could share it with you, Alicia. You deserve to know the truth."

Zephyr revealed, "I had planned to tell you earlier that we knew about you, but Sparkle didn't give me the chance, saying it wasn't the right time for you to know." He paused, then continued, "Now you know why we were acting weird in front of you. I figured it was better to tell you everything earlier rather than later."

Alicia nodded, taking in the revelation. "Okay."

Zephyr added, "And also, the reason I didn't see Lucian coming to our world is that I didn't have my powers at that time."

Alicia's eyes widened in understanding. "Ooh, I see."

She then asked, "Since you have your abilities now, do you see if I'm going to be a good guardian in the future?"

Zephyr closed his eyes, and a soft glow emanated from his horn. The air around them began to vibrate, and a light burst forth, displaying a kaleidoscope of colors. Alicia watched in awe, her eyes wide with wonder.

Zephyr explained, "That's psionic energy, which I'll be using to guide and protect you."

The energy swirled around Alicia, its gentle caress making her feel ticklish, and she couldn't help but laugh. The power lifted her body, suspending her in mid-air like a bubble, while a tiny sparkle fell down, leaving her looking confused but delighted.

As the sparkles combined, they formed a shape of a girl in an unknown place. Zephyr smiled, "That's you, Alicia, in the future. You're destined for great things."

Alicia's eyes sparkled with excitement, "Wow, this is incredible!"

Zephyr's voice was filled with warmth, "I'm glad you're seeing this, Alicia. It's a glimpse of your potential as a guardian. You have a crucial role to play in the future, and I'm honored to be a part of your journey."

The psionic energy continued to swirl around Alicia, revealing more visions of her future, each one filled with promise and possibility. Zephyr watched over her, his eyes shining with pride and admiration.

"That's you in the future," Zephyr said, his eyes shining with excitement.

Alicia stood up, her eyes fixed on the figure, which was indeed her. "Wow, this is incredible, Zephyr!" she exclaimed, trying to take in every detail as the power slowly dissipated.

"Where am I?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Zephyr's voice was filled with pride. "You are in Lacdon, fulfilling your duty as a great guardian. You've brought happiness to the universe by accepting the role of guardian of a land once destroyed by a dark power. You've ended the reign of that power and restored peace to the land, creating a solution to revive the lost honor."

Alicia's eyes widened as she tried to process the information. Her mind was racing with questions. How was Lacdon destroyed? She had visited before, and it didn't look like that. Which dark power was Zephyr talking about? How could she defeat it? What solution could she bring?

Zephyr opened his eyes, sensing Alicia's confusion. He saw the desperation in her eyes, the need for answers.

Alicia looked at him pleadingly. "Can you please answer all my questions? You heard my thoughts, so you know what I'm thinking."

Zephyr nodded, his expression softening. "I'll do my best to answer your questions, Alicia. But remember, the future is not set in stone. Your choices and actions will shape the outcome."

Alicia took a deep breath, eager to uncover the secrets of her future. "Let's start with Lacdon. What happened to it?" she asked, her voice filled with determination.

Zephyr's eyes clouded, his voice somber. "Lacdon was destroyed by the dark sorcerer, Malakai. He sought to conquer the universe, and Lacdon stood in his way. The land was ravaged, its people scattered or enslaved."

Alicia's eyes widened in horror. "Malakai? I've never heard of him."

Zephyr's expression turned grim. "He's a powerful foe, Alicia. But you have the power to defeat him. You've been chosen for this task, and I'll be here to guide you."

Alicia's mind reeled as she tried to process the information. She thought of her visit to Lacdon, the beauty and peace she had seen. It was hard to imagine the land destroyed, its people suffering.

"What solution can I bring?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Zephyr's eyes shone with hope. "You'll find a way to restore the land, to bring peace and prosperity back to the people. You have a special gift, Alicia, one that will help you on your journey."

Alicia nodded, determination rising within her. She would do whatever it took to save Lacdon, to defeat Malakai and restore peace to the land.

"I can't help you with that because the future is unwritten and its possibilities are endless. It's up to you to discover its shape with your choices, creativity, and innovation," Zephyr said with a tinge of sadness in his voice.

Alicia's eyes narrowed slightly. "You're trying to say you can't help me answer all my questions?"

Zephyr shook his head. "No, I can only show you glimpses of what's possible. The rest is for you to discover and shape with your choices. That's what makes the future exciting."

He stood up, ready to return to the others. "I think that's all for today. Let's go back before they start looking for us."

As they walked, Alicia turned to Zephyr with a curious expression. "One more thing, will Lucain be single forever?"

Zephyr's expression turned thoughtful, and he paused before responding. "What makes you think that?"

Alicia's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "It's because he looks lonely, or does he not feel lonely sometimes?"

Zephyr's silence was palpable, and he seemed to push the words out of his mind before responding. "I can't tell you about his future."

Alicia's brow furrowed. "Why?"

Zephyr's voice was gentle but firm. "The future is meant to be discovered, not spoken out loud. That's the fun part of it."

Alicia's eyes pleaded for a hint. "But at least can you just give me a yes or no?"

Zephyr's expression turned resolute. "I can't tell you either way. To say yes or no, or even nod, would be wrong. You're trying to intrude on someone's privacy."

Alicia's face fell, but she tried to hide it with a fake smile. "How is that? He doesn't know I'm asking."

Zephyr's voice was firm but kind. "Just leave it for the future to decide and play accordingly."

Alicia nodded reluctantly. "Okay, as you said, I'll just leave it for the future to play accordingly. We can go now."

With that, Zephyr allowed Alicia to climb onto his back, and he began to make his way out of the caves. He knew the girl had been through a lot in just one day, and he wished he could help her more. But some secrets were meant to remain hidden, at least for now. He would help her in the ways he could, and that would have to be enough.

As they emerged from the caves, Zephyr couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Alicia's determination and curiosity. He knew that she would face many challenges on her journey, but he also knew that she had the potential to overcome them. And with that thought, he continued on their path, ready to face whatever lay ahead.