Melody sat up quickly, her heart pounding. The floral wallpaper of her castle room seemed familiar and yet foreign at the same time as it swam into focus. A gentle knock echoed through the chamber, jolting her back to the present. "Come in!" she called, her voice a little shaky. "I'm decent!"
The door creaked open, revealing Xander. He was even more striking than she remembered: tall, with a shock of blonde hair contrasting sharply with his dark eyes. His white and gold attire shimmered subtly, the Rapier of Light gleaming faintly at his hip. A warm smile played on his lips. "About time you got up, sleepyhead," he teased, his voice a comforting baritone.
"Xander!" Melody squealed, leaping from her bed with unrestrained joy. She launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around him in a hug that knocked them both to the floor in a tangle of limbs and laughter. "I missed you so much!" she exclaimed, her voice muffled against his chest.
Xander chuckled, the sound rich and melodic. "What do you mean? We were together last night," he said, a puzzled frown creasing his brow. He paused, a flicker of something akin to fear crossing his features. "Wait... when was the last time you really remember seeing me?" He held his breath, bracing himself for her answer, a knot of apprehension tightening in his stomach. The playful banter had vanished, replaced by a serious undercurrent of concern. Melody's exuberant joy began to fade, replaced by a hesitant confusion that mirrored his own. The weight of an unspoken mystery hung heavy in the air between them.
"The night we found The Unwinding Clock, and I went back in time with it," Melody explained, her voice a low murmur, almost a whisper. She looked down at her baby brother, her hand instinctively reaching for his. "I was so worried about all of you during my time away. Every second felt like an eternity."
Xander's response was a warm chuckle, a sound that usually chased away her anxieties. "You succeeded, Big Sister. You saved us all." He offered her a reassuring smile, his eyes filled with a mixture of pride and concern. "I remember everything. The battles, the losses, the eventual triumph. But I also remember our new future, the one we built together after you returned." The smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. "You don't remember anything from the past sixteen years, do you?"
Melody shook her head slowly, the implications of his words slowly sinking in. "No. It's... gone. All of it. I only remember the future we left, and the time I spent in the past. The rest is just... blank." A look of pure, unadulterated shock and worry flooded her features. "Is everyone safe? Are Mother and Father alright?" The questions tumbled out, each one laced with a desperate need for answers, a desperate plea for reassurance. The weight of the lost years, the missing experiences, pressed down on her, leaving her feeling utterly disoriented and alone. The world around her seemed to tilt, the familiar castle room suddenly alien and unfamiliar.
"Get dressed, Sis," Xander stated, his voice firm but laced with affection. "Then take a stroll with me. See the fruits of your labor."
Melody nodded, a newfound determination hardening her gaze. As Xander left the room, she set about preparing herself.
Xander stood outside the door, a slight smile playing on his lips, anticipation thrumming through him. He tapped his foot lightly on the polished stone floor, waiting for his sister to emerge. The door finally opened, and Xander's jaw dropped. He was utterly, completely, and wonderfully in awe.
Standing before him was his twin sister, transformed. She was no longer the girl he knew, but a woman of power and grace. She wore a vibrant purple blouse, the color echoing the regal heritage they shared, paired with skin-tight black pants that hugged her legs, emphasizing her lithe form. Heeled black boots added a touch of defiance, and a long, flared black trench coat billowed around her, lending an air of mystery. A bright purple sash, cinched at her waist, added a splash of color and a hint of her playful spirit. A single black, skin-tight leather glove adorned her right hand, hinting at the strength and skill she possessed. A sleek, black Thrik Alloy necklace, a symbol of their family's legacy, rested against her throat.
YOU ARE READING
Dawn of the Elements - Book 4: Future Rewritten
FantasyA Kingdom, Shrouded in Darkness. Overrun by Dark Creatures, a New Elemental Mistress of Fire must go back to a better time, and stop the events that lead to the dystopian future she knows. Join her, as she rewrites the future, by saving the past.
