CHAPTER 16 : "A Glimpse of the Future"

The room was bathed in the dim, silvery glow of the moonlight filtering through the curtains, casting long shadows on the walls. Aiden's small body lay tangled in the blankets, his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. The night felt oppressive, as though the air itself was thick with an unseen weight. The silence was deafening, broken only by the soft rustling of the leaves outside.

Suddenly, a sound shattered the quiet—a gasp, a sharp intake of breath. Aiden sat up in bed, drenched in sweat. His heart was pounding, his breath shallow. The faint moonlight from the window illuminated the room, casting shadows that seemed to flicker and dance, much like the images that haunted his mind. He could still hear the echoes of the screams, the blood, the destruction. It felt so real, so vivid.

In his dream, his family was torn apart. His uncle's kingdom—Celestia—was in ruins. The once-beautiful city was now nothing more than a graveyard. The streets were littered with bodies, blood pooling in the cracked stone, staining the earth red. His uncle, the mighty King Keiran, lay lifeless among the fallen soldiers, his once-proud armor now a grave marker.

Aiden could feel the presence of his family. His mother, Lyria, was there—her face streaked with tears, her body trembling as she cradled his tiny form, whispering desperately for him to wake up. But there was no salvation. The world had been consumed by war, the kingdom torn apart. He could see Elena, his grandmother, in the distance, her eyes wide with grief as she watched the devastation unfold.

Aiden's vision blurred, and the nightmare twisted. He saw his mother again, holding him close, her voice desperate, pleading for him to stay alive. The grief and pain in her voice sent shivers down his spine.

"Please… Aiden… stay with me."

The dream started to fade as Aiden's panic surged. His body was shaking, his small hands gripping the sheets tightly as if they could anchor him to reality. He couldn't breathe. The nightmare felt so real, so undeniably real. And just as the final image of his mother's anguished face disappeared, Aiden snapped awake.

Gasping, he swung his legs off the side of the bed, his heart still racing, sweat dripping from his forehead. His hands trembled as he wiped them across his face, trying to shake off the feeling of dread that had settled in his chest. It couldn't be real, could it? Was it just a nightmare, a fleeting glimpse of something that didn't even exist?

Aiden stumbled to his feet, his head spinning, his breath still ragged. The room around him was silent, the only sound the soft creaking of the floor beneath his feet. He turned to the small desk where the crystal on the shelf glowed faintly in the darkness. His eyes widened in panic. The dream, the pain, the destruction—everything—it felt too vivid to ignore.

"System..." Aiden whispered, his voice hoarse.

He had only ever whispered those words out of curiosity before, but tonight—tonight it was different. Tonight, he was desperate. He needed answers. The overwhelming feeling of fear and dread gripped him tightly, suffocating him in its hold.

For a moment, nothing happened. The silence in the room felt suffocating, as if the entire world were holding its breath. But then, after what seemed like an eternity, a voice echoed through his mind, cool and calm.

[System: Greetings, Host. How may I assist you?]

Aiden's breath hitched in his chest. His hands clenched into fists. The voice was so familiar, but tonight, it felt distant—cold.

"What the hell just happened?" Aiden's voice cracked. His throat was dry, his eyes wide in shock. "What did I see? What was that nightmare? Was it real?"

The system's voice was unwavering, unflinching.

[System: The event you witnessed is known as a 'future fragment.' It is a glimpse into potential events that may occur based on the current trajectory of your world. These fragments may be altered or come to pass depending on your actions.]

Aiden's mind raced, his heart still pounding. The nightmare—the destruction, his uncle's death, the blood, the pain—it all felt so real, so tangible. Was this a warning? Was it the future?

"Is that what will happen?" Aiden asked, his voice trembling with fear. "Will my family die? Will my kingdom fall?"

There was a pause before the system responded, its tone gentle, almost reassuring.

[System: The future is not fixed, Host. You have the power to alter the course of events. However, you must be cautious. Your actions now will determine what happens next. The power you possess will allow you to influence the outcome of these fragments.]

Aiden's mind spun. He had felt that power, the power that lay dormant inside him, but he had never fully understood it. Now, he was beginning to realize just how much responsibility came with it. The future—the future of his kingdom, his family—it was in his hands.

"But how? How can I stop it?" Aiden's voice wavered with a sense of urgency. He couldn't let the dream be real. He couldn't let his mother—his family—suffer.

[System: You must grow stronger, Host. Your abilities are tied to your emotions, your will, and your connections. You must learn to harness them fully, to unlock the latent potential within you. Only then will you have the strength to change the course of destiny.]

Aiden stood frozen, his body still shaking, but now from a different kind of fear. He had always known there was something special about his power, something far beyond what anyone could comprehend. But now he understood—he understood that his choices, his very existence, could alter the fate of the world.

The responsibility weighed heavily on him, but deep down, he knew he couldn't let it be. His family's lives, his kingdom—it was all at risk, and it was up to him to protect them.

"Tell me what to do," Aiden said, his voice steady now, though the fear still lingered. "I'll do whatever it takes to save them. I won't let this future come true."

The system's voice was calm, but there was an undertone of encouragement.

[System: Your journey will be long, Host. But with each step, you will grow. You must master your power, unlock new affinities, and forge bonds that will give you the strength to protect those you love.]

Aiden nodded to himself, determination filling his chest. He wasn't afraid anymore. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he would face them head-on. He would protect his family, his kingdom, and change the course of destiny. He had to.

As he stood there in the quiet darkness of the room, he could feel the weight of the future pressing on him, but for the first time, he felt a glimmer of hope. He wasn't alone in this fight. He had the system, his power, and his will to guide him.

And with that, Aiden knew—he would never give up. Not now. Not ever.