Chapter 22

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting soft beams of light across my room. I blinked a few times, adjusting to the brightness, and stretched. Mama must have left at some point during the night, leaving only the faint lingering warmth of her embrace.

Sitting up, I rubbed my eyes and tried to shake off the heaviness in my chest. Yesterday's events played over and over in my mind. The memory of Creation, Fate, and Time resurfaced, tugging at my heart. Was it real? Or just a dream conjured by my own broken soul?

I didn't have time to dwell on it. Today was another day, and I couldn't let myself fall apart—not yet.

---

After a quick breakfast with Mama and Papa, I left for school. The walk to the bus stop was quiet, the morning air crisp and fresh. Around me, the world seemed alive with its usual bustle—birds chirping, neighbors chatting, children running past me on their way to school.

I watched it all like an outsider. It felt strange, almost surreal, to witness such normalcy. Was this what life was supposed to be like? Simple? Peaceful?

The bus arrived, and I climbed aboard, taking my usual seat near the back. As the vehicle rumbled to life, I rested my head against the window and let my thoughts drift.

---

Class was uneventful, for the most part. Teacher Talia continued her lesson on magic, going into more detail about the ancient heroes and their battles against the monsters that plagued this world.

"Aleena, can you answer this question?" she asked suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts.

I blinked, realizing I had zoned out. The entire class turned to look at me. Their curious stares felt like needles pricking my skin.

"I... um..." I stammered, trying to recall what she had been talking about. "Could you repeat the question, ma'am?"

Her lips curled into a kind smile. "What do you think is the most important quality of a hero?"

The question seemed simple, but it struck me harder than I expected. My mind raced, memories of my past life flooding in. The countless battles I fought, the lives I saved, the sacrifices I made... And yet, here I was, unsure of what to say.

I stood slowly, my voice quiet but firm. "It's... the ability to endure."

The class fell silent.

"Endure?" Talia repeated, her tone thoughtful. "Interesting answer. Why do you think so?"

"Because..." I hesitated, searching for the right words. "No matter how strong you are, no matter how many enemies you defeat, there will always be something that tries to break you. A hero's greatest strength isn't their power—it's their ability to stand up and keep going, even when the world feels like it's crumbling around them."

Talia's gaze softened, and she nodded approvingly. "A profound answer, Aleena. Thank you for sharing."

I sat back down, feeling the weight of my own words settle on my chest.

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur, and soon I found myself back at home. As I walked through the door, Mama greeted me with her usual bright smile.

"Welcome back, Aleena! How was school today?"

"It was... okay," I replied, forcing a small smile.

"Good, good! Dinner will be ready soon. Go wash up."

I nodded and headed to my room, dropping my bag onto the floor. As I washed my hands, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My reflection stared back at me—hollow eyes, a faint shadow of exhaustion lingering on my face.

I turned away quickly.

---

Dinner was quiet but comforting. Mama had made my favorite dish, and Papa kept the conversation light, talking about his day at work. I didn't say much, but their presence was enough to ease some of the tension in my heart.

Afterward, I retreated to my room again. The house grew quiet as night fell, and I found myself staring out the window at the stars.

They glittered brightly in the dark sky, tiny beacons of light in an endless void.

"Are you all watching me?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Creation... Fate... Time... Are you still with me?"

The stars didn't answer, of course. But as I sat there, a small sense of peace washed over me.

No matter how lost I felt, I wasn't truly alone.

Not yet.