Crossed Spells

Chapter 17: Echoes of the Past (Part 2)

The next morning, Lucas woke up with a sense of urgency that hadn't left him since he had witnessed the strange phenomenon with Aria. He got ready quickly, eager to meet his friend to discuss what they had seen and question their familiars.

During breakfast, his father, Damien, observed him with a piercing gaze that made Lucas uncomfortable. He felt as if his father could read his thoughts, see the secrets he was keeping.

"You look preoccupied, Lucas," Damien finally said, breaking the tense silence that reigned in the kitchen.

Lucas tried to keep an impassive face. "Just stress for the exams," he lied, hating how easily the lies came to him now.

Damien stared at him for a moment longer before slowly nodding. "Don't forget what I told you, Lucas. In a town like Ravenswood, you always have to be vigilant."

These words resonated in Lucas's mind as he left the house.

At school, Lucas met Aria near their lockers. She seemed as agitated as he was, her eyes constantly moving as if she expected to see another rift in reality at any moment.

"We need to talk to Glimmer and Shade," she whispered as soon as he was close enough to hear. "After school, in our usual clearing."

Lucas nodded, understanding the urgency in her voice. The day passed in a blur, neither of them managing to concentrate on their classes. The whispers about the strange events in town continued, fueling their growing concern.

Finally, when the last bell rang, they rushed out of school, carefully avoiding their friends to avoid having to answer awkward questions. They walked quickly towards the forest that bordered Ravenswood, delving into the woods until they reached the clearing where they usually trained.

Once sure they were alone, they called their familiars. Glimmer appeared in a flash of golden light, while Shade materialized from the shadows of the surrounding trees.

"We need to talk," Lucas said without preamble. "You saw what happened last night," Lucas began. It wasn't a question.

Glimmer and Shade exchanged a meaningful look before turning to their masters.

"What you saw," Shade began in his deep voice, "is a manifestation of the curse that weighs on Ravenswood."

"The curse?" Aria repeated. "The one our parents told us about?"

Glimmer fluttered nervously around them. "Yes and no. The curse is much older and more complex than what your parents told you."

Lucas frowned. "But why is it manifesting now? And why these cycles every fifty years that we found traces of in the archives?"

Shade undulated, his shadow body seeming to stretch and contract. "The curse is not constant. It intensifies in cycles, like the tides influenced by the moon. But this time..."

"This time, it's different," Glimmer finished. "Your powers, your awakening, have amplified the cycle."

Aria's eyes widened. "You mean it's our fault? That we're responsible for what's happening in town?"

"No," Shade replied firmly. "You are not responsible. You are... catalysts. Your presence, your awakened powers, intensify forces that were already in motion."

Lucas ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "But why? What makes this time different from the other cycles?"

Glimmer and Shade exchanged another look, seeming to weigh what they could reveal.

"Your families," Glimmer finally said, "the Blackwoods and the Luminosas, have always been at the heart of the curse. Your ancestors were among the founders of Ravenswood, and their actions have... well, let's say they had unforeseen consequences."