Chapter 8 City of Hope (1)

In the air, above the warp gate, just out of sight, two people stood and watched as Jaylen left through the warp gate.

"Please be safe my baby boy" Anna's eyes glistened, brimming with unshed tears, her breath hitching as she blinked rapidly, trying to hold them back, her voice barely above a whisper.

"He'll be fine, Anna" Victor muttered, crossing his arms as if the topic didn't matter.

For a moment, her breath hitched, and the world seemed to stop. She turned slowly, her tear-filled gaze hardening as her hands fell to her sides, curling into fists. Anger flared in her chest, burning away the sadness.

"You don't know that!" Her voice, once shaky with emotion, now sliced through the air with sharp heat. The warmth of her grief turned to searing fury, her posture rigid as she glared at Victor.

"The only thing you know is that damn prophecy," she spat, her fists trembling at her sides.

Victor's arms tightened across his chest, his gaze flickering with something too fleeting to pin down—guilt, perhaps, or the dull ache of regret, but he said nothing. 

"But you don't care about that," she continued, voice rising as she stepped closer, her eyes blazing with fury. "The only thing that matters to you is the end results."

"Anna... I," he muttered, his brow furrowing in frustration as he struggled to find the right words.

"NO! I don't want to hear it. I shouldn't have listened to you and gone along with this… Stupid plan." Anna's voice cracked as she yelled, her frustration boiling over.

"I should've been there for him, I should've just acted like a mother consequences be damned" Anna's voice trembled, hick with regret, as she struggled to hold back tears.

Victor's voice caught in his throat, the words dying as Anna shot off, her body propelled by a surge of mana, leaving a faint trail of energy behind leaving him frozen in place. 

He watched helplessly as her figure grew smaller, until she was nothing more than a distant blur against the horizon, too far for him to reach—both in distance and understanding.

"I'm sorry, my son. I hope you'll understand in the future," Victor mumbled as he took one last glance at the warp gate before flying after Anna.

As Victor vanished into the distance, chasing after the woman whose love for her son burned hotter than the fire of her anger, the air around the warp gate seemed to settle. The echo of their voices faded, swallowed by the hum of the portal's energy.

On the other side, Jaylen stumbled forward, his vision blurring as the swirling lights of the warp gate gave way to solid ground beneath his feet. His heartbeat was loud in his ears, the remnants of the warp's pull still buzzing through his body like static.

A cool breeze swept across his face, grounding him back into reality. He blinked, shaking his head as if to clear away the lingering dizziness.

For a moment, he paused, staring ahead, but his mind wandered. The familiar sting of guilt crept in—gnawing at the edges of his thoughts. Sil's face flashed in his mind, distorted by the haze of his recurring nightmare. Her voice, faint and distant, still called out to him, demanding answers he couldn't give.

Jaylen exhaled, rubbing his temple as the memory tugged at him. But the past would have to wait. He was here now—The City of Hope.

"Young Master?" Mell's voice sounded pulling him out of the swirling memories and back into the present moment.

Jaylen shook his head with a sigh, ridding himself/herself of distracting thoughts. "Sorry Aunt Mell I got a bit disoriented"

Mell's lips pressed into a thin line as she gave a small, almost imperceptible shake of her head, her gaze soft but firm. "It is not your fault Young Master it seems there was unexpected spatial turbulence."

"No matter. Welcome to the City of Hope, Young Master." As Mell stepped aside, the awe-inspiring view hidden behind her back became clear.

It was a sight he was unaccustomed to and very different from back home: towering buildings of glass stretched into the heaven above, their size varying greatly from one building to the next.

The sky was crowded with Flying races, their wings slicing through the air like sleek vehicles in a high-speed lane. Some zoomed overhead, carrying packages or messages, while others hovered lazily, chatting with their companions as they floated around the towering buildings.

On the ground, wide streets brimmed with foot traffic of elves, beast-men, humans, and demons. 

Elven business professionals strode past sleek storefronts, their sharp suits matching the precision in their gaze, while beast-men in casual streetwear gathered at food stands, their animated conversations blending with the thrum of passing cars.

Humans hustled between cafes and shops, while demons with glowing tattoos lounged near the tower glass structures, sharing a laugh as their tails flicked casually.

"Wow, it's incredibly bright here," Jaylen exclaimed in amazement, his words tumbling out in disbelief.

"Pfft, that's an interesting way to put it" Mell let out a quiet, amused sound, her lips curling slightly as her eyes gleamed with lightheartedness. Her outstretched hands called to Jaylen, urging him to follow. 

Jaylen followed along his movements matching hers, his mouth couldn't help but stretch into an excited smile, his voice bubbling with enthusiasm as he explained. "Well, there's no constant eclipse that paints the city in an everlasting darkness or one that brings unnatural brightness."

"It's just regular sunlight. The buildings can be built as high as possible without worries of being destroyed, and look." Stretching out his hands, Jaylen spun around in a circle, highlighting the crowd of people walking around.

"There are so many different races walking around, not just the few who can survive in the Shadowfall domain. It just feels more lighthearted, more peaceful here." His steps slowed, each one growing heavier than the last, as the initial rush of excitement drained from his voice. His words softened, tapering off into a whisper.

His last words were uttered so softly even he could barely hear them, "And no lingering traces of Silvaria's death"

His fists clenched reflexively, nails digging into his palms as Sil's face flashed in his mind once more, that same haunting look he could never forget.

Mell suddenly stopped in her tracks and pivoted to face her master, he seemed so lonely in her eyes, always wanting others to be less formal but never taking that step himself.

She wondered what he was truly like as a person at his core.

Her voice filled with a sigh, softly called out, "Jaylen," reaching out to him.

His head snapped up, his heart skipping a beat. Mell hadn't called him by his name in years, not since he was young.

Mell's voice wavered, her eyes distant, as if she were reliving the pain herself. "I know what it's like to lose someone close to you, That empty feeling in your chest, wanting to yell out and scream profanities at the world."

She paused her hands tightening around the edges of her uniform "I won't tell you it gets better, because it doesn't."

Her gaze softened, but her tone remained firm "It can get easier to deal with—or harder—but it will continue to haunt you, smother you until you learn to let go."

Mell took a steady breath, her voice quieter now, almost gentle. "And accept that you can't change what has happened… and forgive yourself."

"Aunt Mell I…" Jaylen's voice faltered, the words caught in his throat as he struggled to continue.

Mell shook her head slowly, a gentle refusal in the caring tilt of her gaze, a soft sigh following. "Take your time, Jaylen. Whenever you're ready, we're here to listen."

The 'we' was not just an indication of herself but everyone around him; his siblings, the family servants, other family members, and even his own parents. 

Mell understood it would take time for Jaylen to open his eyes and see the world in its true colors, and until then she would guide him like she promised to do all those years ago.

"But on a more important note," Mell's voice took on a dry, almost exaggerated seriousness.

"We need to get going, or we're going to be late." she quirked a brow, the corner of her mouth twitching as if suppressing a smirk.

The lingering emotions seemed to vanish in an instant as a small, gentle smile replaced them on his face. With a slow nod of his head, Jaylen began to follow Mell once more.