TBATE-REDEMPTION

Chapter 24

"Ugh... where am I?" Sylvia thought, drifting in a vast expanse of eternal darkness. There was no light, no point of reference; she felt weak, a gnawing sensation she couldn't quite place. "Who...? Am I?" She tried to move, but her body felt as if it were weighed down by the very fabric of the darkness around her. All she could do was float endlessly in this black sea.

Suddenly, a white light enveloped her, radiating warmth and brilliance. She couldn't resist it; it consumed her, and slowly, memories and consciousness returned. "Caera... Art... Sylv," she thought, clutching the names like lifelines. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes.

Then, she began to perceive something-light, the soft murmur of chatter, and the presence of other people. Gently, she tried to wake up, her eyelids fluttering open. The moment she did, bright light assaulted her senses, and the chatter around her hushed abruptly. She instinctively covered her eyes.

As her vision adjusted, she scanned the room, noticing the faces surrounding her, all staring with concern. Yet, to her relief, she sensed no malice or hostility in them. The first familiar face she saw was Seris, her friend who had helped her escape Alacrya. Then, her gaze shifted to two kids nearby, their eyes brimming with tears.

"Art... Caera...?" she mumbled, the names barely escaping her lips. But that single utterance was enough for everyone to hear.

In an instant, Arthur and Caera rushed to her, wrapping their arms around her in a tight embrace. Sylvia didn't resist; she returned their hug, feeling a wave of warmth wash over her. After a moment, they pulled back, and Sylvia composed herself, glancing at the two strangers beside her: a handsome man with jet black hair and piercing eyes, and a beautiful woman with silvery hair and shimmering eyes.

She looked back at Caera, Grey, and Seris, her heart racing. "How am I here? I'm sure I died, so how am I back in the world of the living? And who are these two?"

A heavy silence fell over the room at her questions. Finally, Seris let out a sigh and spoke, "These are Sam and Sera. They're the ones who revived you, Sylvia. They're also the ones training Caera and Grey."

Sylvia shifted her gaze between Sam and Sera, taking in their expressions. Rising slowly, she bowed her head slightly. "Although I may not know you both... thank you for what you've done. I don't know how I can repay this favor-"

Before she could finish, Sera grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her back up, preventing her from bowing any further. "No worries, Miss Sylvia... or should I say Grandma?"

Confusion flickered in Seris and Sylvia's eyes. Sylvia furrowed her brow, asking, "What do you mean?"

From the back, Sam sighed. "Sit down, all of you. Explaining all of this is going to take a while. I'll just make a time barrier in this room so the time inside the barrier accelerates a bit. After all, both Caera and Grey have to return to their rooms before morning."

At his words, he snapped his fingers, and suddenly, the room was encased in a shimmering barrier made of Aether-two edicts working in harmony: Spacium and Aevium. Sylvia stared in awe. "H-How...?"

Suppressing her thoughts, she asked the most pressing question, urgency tinging her voice. "You should stop using Aether... Agrona will sense it."

Listening to her worried tone, Sam chuckled softly. "No need to worry. That oversized snake won't cause any trouble now... after all, dead beings can't do anything."

The bombshell hit Sylvia like a ton of bricks. "W-What?!"

Seris tugged on Sylvia's sleeve, motioning for her to calm down. After a moment's contemplation, Sylvia breathed deeply and looked at Sam and Sera, waiting for further explanation.