Chapter 2: Chapter 2 : The Unveiled Connection
"You are late Iris, we need to do this quickly before they come back". Elian sighed heavily. The real nightmare was when their foster family came back from their vacation. "What happened to you Iris?"
Iris came with mud all over her body." I'm sorry, I heard this kitten crying just now, so I went to help him. I am going to keep him Elian." Iris showed Elian a grey-eyed kitten. The leopard pattern on its body was unique.
"We will figure out how to keep this kitten later, let's go we can't waste our time," said Elian. But Iris is already at the front leading the way to the abandoned hut where all of the useful items were placed.
Elian hesitated at the entrance, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension. This abandoned hut was thick with dust and had a weird smell "Uhh this place smells like rotten woods"
Iris has been here a few times before so she is getting used to the smells. "We need to find a chest, I found this book on top of that chest. It was here before, but now it is gone".
"It is okay, let us find together." As they searched all over the hut, a sparkling glow caught Elian's attention, a silver chest with a details carving. "Iris come here, I think I found it"
Quickly Iris walks towards Elian. "If I am not mistaken this is the chest we are looking for, wow it looks so antique and ancient. Look, it has the initials of our parent's name, A for Alex and R for Rose"
"It was confirmed this chest belongs to our family. Now how do we want to open this chest? I tried a few times but it is hard to open" Elian looking for something that can be used to break the chest. While Iris still carefully examines the chest.
"I don't think this chest will be opened if we break it. This chest was sealed by something, look at this" Iris swiped away the thick dust until unfamiliar words were revealed.
"Quando duo unum fiunt, potentius erit. What language is this?" asked Elian. "I never heard of it, my tongue is twisted when I read it."
Iris laughed softly. " It was a Latin word. It said that when two become one, it will be more powerful, before u ask me how I knew about this language, I studied Latin language every night whenever I couldn't sleep."
"Iris! you were brilliant. Without you, I can't even solve this. So is this a riddle?" asked Elian with curiosity.
"Kind of, I think I knew what is the answer. Can I borrow your necklace Elian?"
"Is the riddle related to our necklace? asked Elian confused. He watched as Iris combined their locket. This necklace was given by their parents eight years ago.
"Do you know what symbol is this" Iris showed the necklace that was combined in the horizontal position.
"Moon and owl?" Elian tilted his head to discover the answer. "I don't think my brain is braining right now Iris"
The position was changed to vertical. Elian's eyes widened in amazement as the locket transformed into something. When it was aligned horizontally, the symbol of an owl emerged, and the glow of the moon in the locket accentuated the delicate details of the owl. Yet, when turned vertically, the locket transformed, now resembling a key, hinting at hidden secrets waiting and weaving a tale of magic and mystery. A gasp escaped Elian's lips, and he couldn't help but feel there was a unique connection to the enchanting symbols in their necklace.
"It was a key, there must be a reason why our parents designed our necklace like this," explained Iris. "There was a small hole here, you won't notice unless you focus.". Iris unlocks the chest, and it is opened. So the answer to the riddle was true.
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As Elian and Iris opened the chest, a soft light spilled, revealing a crafted letter. Their name was written on the old rusty envelope. " I think this is from mom and dad." Elian opened the letter carefully and both of them read in silence.
My Dearest Elian and Iris.
I hope both of you are doing well when this letter reaches you. My lovely children there was an unveiled secret that will revealed to both of you when you are ready. The journey will be very tough and we hope both of you will stay together until the end. Go find the truth and finish what has been done.
Elian, find strength in this sword. A symbol of courage and resilience. Let its gleam reflect the fortitude within your soul, guiding you through challenges. Innocent blood shall not spilled.
Iris, this hourglass was determined as a keeper of the time's secret. May the flows ease your moments avoiding unwanted chronicles. In this enchanted book, unravel all of the knowledge that can be useful to unlock your journey. Don't let the evil heart know its secret.
Don't ever turn back, Mom and Dad are always here in your heart.
"I will keep this letter, Mom's handwriting was a wonderful memory for us" Elian carefully opened a black robe in the chest, and found a small hourglass wrapped nicely in the old beg made of sackcloth. he turned to Iris, saying, "I think this is yours, Iris."
"The Whisper of Wisteria" Iris read it slowly when she held the enchantment book. " I guessed this is the book that was mentioned by Mom." It seems like an ancient wizarding book", This book has a cover adorned in faded, deep-blue leather, embossed with mysterious symbols, and it was sealed with some magic. Small, delicate roots intertwined with the cover, as it sought to protect the book. Iris could sense a magical barrier securing its contents. "This book is alive, Elian". But the sound of Elian falling over broke her focus.
"This is beyond my limit, I can't even hold this sword properly. It's so heavy" Elian complained and at the same time he tried to hold the sword again and he kept failing.
"Silly you Elian, you need to wait and learn how to use the sword. I read once that it takes time for a sword to accept its owner"
"Alright I will wait for you to accept me Mr sword," said Elian to the sword. His heart fluttered as he laid eyes on the sword in front of him. Its silvery sheen captured his gaze, and the fine engravings on the blade seemed to tell tales of valor and ancient heroism. The hilt is adorned with the same symbols as the book given to Iris. As his fingers delicately traced its edges, a subtle hum resonated, and at that moment, Elian felt the courage spark within him.
As Iris continued to explore the chest, her fingers touched something tucked away within its depths. Pulling it out, she found a rusty leather cat collar. At the locket of this collar, there was a white, shiny stone, radiating an ethereal glow. "Hm, this suits you meow." Iris gently placed the collar around the neck of her cat.
"Meow? maybe you need to give him a name Iris," suggests Elian.
"He got a name already. I named him as Sylvan". Iris revealed the carved name on the collar. "Maybe this name belonged to the previous cat but don't worry it's nice on your furball". The cat responded to Iris by licking her hand with a purring sound giving a hint that he agreed with the name.
Excitement filled the room with memories as the twin uncovered other artifacts and a few items in the chest. Their laughs and jokes came to an end when they heard the sound of a car parking outside, signaling the return of their foster family from vacation. Panic surged through them as they hurriedly closed the chest and placed back the chest in the corner of the room. "Let's get out from here Iris, they will get suspicious if we are not in the home now."
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The house, which was in peaceful silence a few days ago now echoed with the tension in the air. "Hey Hansley's orphan, get your lazy butt and settled all of this" Mr. Langsley demanded them to carry all their belongings from the car. Iris and Elian nodded heavily. They knew if they tried to protest, the punishment would be received.
"What in the world do they bring to the vacation, all the luggage and beg are so heavy! I might break my bones at this rate" said Iris in struggle. This family never let them feel at ease.
"Wait Iris, let us do it together, it will be less heavy". As Iris and Elian were burdened with the weight of the luggage, in the middle of struggling their cousin arrived, to tease them.
"Boo Boo, our little maids need help? You poor orphan, wanna tell mommy? Oh, I forgot your mom and dad now lying in the grave." Latin laughed heavily. Without warning, he cruelly pushed Iris and Elain until they lost their balance and fell to the ground. The heavy luggage falls on Iris's back and it makes her difficult to move out. Elian held his fist ready to attack Latin but was stopped by Iris.
"Don't Elian, control yourself. It will get worse if you attack him." Iris tried to make Elian calm, she knew Latin's words and attitude were overboard this time but this was not the right time to counterattack.
Elian tried to breathe properly, but he realized that his actions with emotion would cause more problems instead of solutions. " I know it hurt Iris, I can feel it," said Elian when he saw the wound on Iris's palm. His heart was broken into pieces when Iris tried to hold back her tears. Mom, Dad I am sorry I can't protect Iris properly.
"Are you okay Elian? you need to rest! They asked you to do a lot of things today, I hope they will get their karma soon."
"I am promised Iris, I will keep looking for money and bring you out of here. I can't do it now but u need to wait when I am strong enough. Then, we will get out of here." Elian shows his little finger ready to pinky promise.
Iris held her twin's little finger. Now the pinky promise bound. " Don't worry Elian, get some rest. I need to study now." But before she can wish a goodnight, Elian already falls asleep. "Goodnight Elian," said Iris slowly while adjusting the blanket to cover Elian properly.
In the attic's dim glow, Iris immersed herself in the spell book, the flickering candlelight casting dancing shadows across rustic pages. The air in the attic at night was a delicate balance, alternating between stifling heat and refreshing coolness. Elian, undisturbed in his peaceful dream. Iris, on the other hand, tried to use basic spells but it was harder than she expected.
"Aegis Lumina". Nothing happened but it is too early for Iris to give up. She tried to correct her hand position and again "Aegis Lumina". Suddenly the candle flame flickered, and a sudden chill enveloped the attic, causing Iris to shiver. The temperature drop hinted at an unseen force, a sense of the presence perhaps drawn to the spell Iris was invoking. Iris smiled happily at her progress but her smile died when she heard a strange voice from downstairs. Thieves? She gathered all of her courage and opened the attic door slowly and peeked what currently happening in the living room and she couldn't believe what she saw with her own eyes.
Iris, paralyzed with fear, and her legs frozen behind the attic door. The mysterious creature downstairs was a monster but it was different from the previous time. The monster growls, sending shivers down her spine. She needs to wake Elian up, "Elian, wake..". She heard Mr. Langley's voice, he was in danger!
"Hey orphan can you shut the fuck..." Mr Langsley stopped his movement when he saw a scary creature in front of him. Before he can say another word, the monster aggressively kills him, and this scene is witnessed by his wife. Mrs Langsley screamed, catching the attention of the creature before she was attacked.
"Mommyyyyy" Latin screams when he sees his mother being eaten alive by the creature.
Elian woke up from sleep when Iris slapped him. "Ouch it was hurt, what is wrong Iris?" asked him with a closed eye.
"We need to run, there is a monster downstairs and he killed Mr and Mrs Langsley. Hurry up Elian wake up" Iris started to panic and quickly packed the important things that could be brought.
Hearing that, the sleepiness that dominated him disappeared immediately. Elian asked for confirmation "Tell me again Iris, I am not dreaming, right?
"I can slap u again if you want! Hurry up Elian we need to get out of here or .." . Iris was stunned when she heard the steps which were getting closer.
Elian pulled his jacket and opened the window as wide as he could. It is snowy outside now and they need to jump out of the window to escape. "Grab your jacket, Iris, we will jump! There is no other way. You jump first then I will follow you "
"No we jumped together" Iris grabbed Elian's hand when the creature broke into the attic, leaving them no options.
They closed their eyes and tried to accept what would happen once they landed.
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"I am not ready to die, Elian." Iris gathered again her courage, hoping this time the spell would work out. You are ready now Iris!
"Aegis Lumina,"
Suddenly, a blinding burst of light erupted from the spell. The radiant glow surrounded them to form a shield. The creature recoiled, its eyes squinting against the mighty light that came from the twins. The protection spell used by Iris creates a barrier of shimmering energy to protect anyone who uses it.
"How can we bring all of this with us? It gonna be hard for us! plus our strength is not enough even you also can't hold the sword properly" Iris raises an eyebrow at Elian.
Elian with a normal expression suddenly smile. He discovered something in the chest before this. It was a small bag! At first, he thought it was a useless thing until Sylvan came and hid all of his toys in this bag. "This bag can keep everything without limit Iris, Thanks to Sylvan now I know how to use it. Now you try" he gave the bag to Iris and at that moment Iris smiled.
"This is amazing, come on we need to put everything inside before that creature comes back"
In the dark, Elian and Iris continued their way through the dense forest where they didn't even know where this path would lead them. Their torchlight starts to flicker forming a cast of eerie shadows, revealing fleeting glimpses of any shape of trees surrounding them. As they followed the winding path, the trees seemed to lean in against each other producing a scary noise. Suddenly, a distant rustle echoed through the woods, prompting the twins to quicken their pace. Under the sprawling branches of a colossal oak, Elian and Iris paused, they were breathing heavily due to fatigue.
Elian decided, "We'll rest here until morning. It's too dangerous to continue our journey in the dark, we can't predict what danger will lurk us."
Iris nodded. " We can sleep under this tree," suggested Iris. After they had made sure their place was safe, both of them fell asleep.
Iris awoke abruptly, her sleep disrupted by the gentle strokes of her cat, Sylven. As he opened her eyes, a mysterious figure in a black robe stood in front of them.
"Hello Iris, good morning. It is nice to meet both of you again." said the man with a wide smile.
Iris fixed her position to sit properly. " Mor..morning, who are you, sir".
"Where is my manner, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Lucian a wizard from Arcanumia, your cat sensed my presence, so he helped me to wake you up."
"How did you know my name? and how did you know I am here? Why are you here sir?" asked Iris with confusion. There are a lot of questions running in her head right now.
"Slow down Miss Hansley and good morning Elian. You have a nice sleep?" The way Lucian approached Elian caused him startled.
"Who are you? Don't come near Iris" Elian tried to warn ready to protect Iris from harm.
"I believe I don't need to answer the same question again. There is something that both of you ought to know" The calm expression on Lucian's face now turned into a serious gaze as he continued "The day you went into the forbidden forest, you two accidentally broke the barrier between two worlds and it allowed the evil creatures to attack humans world, but don't worry the barrier has been sealed back"
Both Iris and Elian are confused. They exchanged glances with each other, struggling to understand the real situation and issues mentioned by Lucian.
"Well, what did I expect? Both of you are just kids, it will take time to comprehend my words. I have other matters to do so I can't directly assist you on this journey. To seek the answer you must go to the place called Aetherion Grove"
"Sir, how can we go there? we don't know which way we should follow especially in this forest. Everything looks similar to us." Elian's eyes show his curiosity. They can't continue this journey without any guide.
Lucian responded with a smile, saying "Trust your instinct, even though both of you are only 10 years old, you are different from other kids, you will learn something in this journey and enjoy the secret revealed by the forest. I wish good luck to both of you"
"Thank you, sir," said Elian and Iris.
Before Lucian left, he turned to Iris and said "I think you know what to do with the hourglass your mother gave to you Miss Hansley." He winked at both of them.
"But how I want to..."
"That man disappeared Iris. It is fast as lightning" Elian said with excitement.
"We also can be like that Elian," Iris holds his hand and...
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