Chapter 165 Slyvia visions

Slyvia's breaths came in shallow, uneven gasps, her hands gripping the edges of the table as if it were the only thing tethering her to reality. The dimly lit room felt oppressive, the flickering light from the old lantern casting elongated shadows on the walls. Rose and Harlan exchanged nervous glances, their unease palpable.

"Slyvia?" Rose's voice broke the silence, tentative and soft, as if afraid that speaking too loudly might shatter her already fragile friend.

Slyvia didn't respond. Her eyes, wide and unseeing, stared ahead, pupils dilated as if she were trapped in a world only she could perceive. Sweat dripped down her temple, and her lips moved soundlessly, her body trembling like a leaf caught in a storm.

Harlan stepped forward, his movements deliberate but cautious. "Slyvia," he said firmly, "you need to tell us what's going on. What's happening to you?"

Suddenly, Slyvia let out a scream that froze the air. It wasn't just a cry of fear—it was a sound so raw, so visceral, that it sent chills racing down their spines. Her body jerked violently, and she collapsed to her knees, clutching her head as though trying to block out some unseen torment.

"Slyvia!" Rose dropped to her side, gripping her shoulders. "Please, talk to us! What's wrong?"

Slyvia's hands trembled as they fell to her sides. Her voice, when it came, was barely above a whisper, yet it carried the weight of something ancient and foreboding. "I saw it… I saw everything."

Rose swallowed hard. "What did you see?"

Slyvia's gaze shifted to her, haunted and unfocused. "A portal… a tear in the very fabric of the world. I was standing on barren land, the sky above churning with black clouds streaked with blood-red lightning. And then, it opened—a massive, swirling vortex in the ground. From it, they came."

"Who came?" Harlan pressed, his voice steady despite the growing dread in his chest.

"The dead," Slyvia whispered, her voice cracking. "An army of them. Corpses twisted into grotesque forms, their bones exposed and their hollow eyes burning with an unnatural green light. They moved as one, driven by a purpose I couldn't understand. Their weapons were ancient, corroded, yet deadly. As they marched, the land beneath them turned to ash, the air thickened with the stench of decay, and their cries…" She paused, shivering violently. "Their cries were the worst. Like a thousand tortured souls screaming in unison."

Rose covered her mouth, her face pale. "Oh my God…"

"They didn't stop," Slyvia continued, her voice rising in pitch. "They destroyed everything in their path—villages, cities, people. They burned the world to the ground, and no one could stand against them. They're coming, Rose. They're coming for all of us."

The room fell silent, the weight of her words pressing down on them like a physical force.

"And that's not all," Slyvia said, her voice now trembling with barely contained panic. "The dead witches… they're trying to come back. Their souls are trapped in the Dark Trench, but they've found a way to influence the living. There's someone here—someone in this school—working for them. They're preparing for the witches' resurrection."

Harlan frowned. "Someone here? Are you sure?"

Slyvia nodded, her expression bleak. "I don't know who, but they're close. I could feel their presence, like a shadow lurking just out of sight. If they succeed, if the witches return…" She didn't finish, the implications clear.

Rose clenched her fists, her fear replaced by determination. "We'll find them. Whoever they are, we'll stop them."

But Slyvia's voice dropped to a whisper, barely audible. "It won't be enough."

Harlan leaned closer. "What do you mean?"

Slyvia took a deep, shuddering breath. "The Red Oak Tree. We have to find it. It's the only thing that can help us. Its gift is meant for the Guardians, the ones destined to protect the world. Without it, we're doomed."

"The Red Oak Tree?" Rose echoed, her brows furrowing. "Where is it?"

"I don't know," Slyvia admitted, her frustration evident. "But the visions… they said the Child of Light will lead us to it. We have to find them first. Only through them can we locate the tree."

As the words left her mouth, Slyvia's body tensed. Her breathing became erratic, and her eyes rolled back. Without warning, she began convulsing violently, her limbs thrashing uncontrollably.

"Slyvia!" Rose cried, panic gripping her.

Harlan rushed to her side, trying to steady her. "Hold her still!"

But before they could do anything, a brilliant silver light erupted from Slyvia's body, illuminating the room like a second sun. The energy surged outward in a powerful wave, throwing both Rose and Harlan across the room. They landed hard, dazed and disoriented.

When the light faded, they looked up to see Slyvia sitting motionless on the floor. She blinked slowly, her hands reaching out to feel her surroundings.

"I… I can't see," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm blind. I can't see!"

Rose scrambled to her feet, rushing to Slyvia's side. "No, no, Slyvia, you're going to be okay. We'll fix this, I promise."

Harlan knelt beside her, his jaw tight. "What just happened?"

A deep, resonant voice filled the room, echoing from nowhere and everywhere at once.

"To regain your sight, you must complete your mission. Locate the Red Oak Tree and its Guardians, and your sight shall return."

Slyvia slumped forward, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. "I can't do this," she whispered. "I'm not strong enough."

"Yes, you are," Rose said firmly, taking her hand. "You're not alone in this, Slyvia. We're with you every step of the way."

Harlan placed a hand on her shoulder, his gaze steady. "Rose is right. We'll figure this out. Together."

A sudden ringing shattered the tension. Rose glanced at the phone vibrating on the table.

"It's Lamia Alexandria," she said, her voice filled with confusion.

Slyvia's head snapped up. "Lamia? Oh, I've missed him so much. Please, Rose, answer it. We need his help."

Rose hesitated, then answered the call and put it on speaker.

"Slyvia?" Lamia's familiar voice came through, calm yet urgent.

Tears welled up in Slyvia's unseeing eyes. "Lamia… it's me. I need you. Please, we need your help."