Path Through The Fate

In the late afternoon, as dusk began to settle, Vin Crimson was on his way home. He could feel an unseen presence following him. From time to time, the sound of snapping twigs echoed in the distance, making his skin crawl.

Nevertheless, Vin kept walking, choosing not to look back, even as his heart was haunted by the feeling that someone or something was stalking him from within the evening shadows. His breath grew heavy, and his vision began to blur and darken.

In the distance, Vin spotted his younger sister, Lisa Valentine, waiting for him outside their home. Lisa stood at the entrance, holding a lantern lit by pink fire magic, adding warmth to the encroaching darkness.

When Vin finally reached the house, Lisa rushed to meet him.

"Vin, are you okay?" Lisa asked gently, holding her brother's hand, her eyes full of concern.

Vin nodded slowly, trying to muster a smile. "Yeah, just a little tired…" he replied, though his body was weak and sweat trickled down his temples.

Lisa helped her brother inside, unable to hide her worry. Inside, the warm aroma of soup greeted them, wafting from the kitchen where their mother, Diana Valentine, was busy finishing dinner.

Noticing Vin's condition, Diana approached immediately. "What happened, dear? You look so exhausted," she asked while placing a bowl of soup on the table.

Vin sat down and exhaled heavily. "I just came back from visiting Dad's grave. But… on my way home, it felt like someone was following me," he said in a low voice.

Lisa looked at her brother with curiosity. "Did you feel any strange energy? Or something magical?" she asked, her tone reflecting her keen interest in magic.

Vin shook his head slowly. "I'm not sure… but it didn't feel like just ordinary exhaustion."

Diana patted Vin's shoulder gently, trying to reassure him. "Take it easy, Vin. Everything will be alright," she said with a warm smile.

Lisa gave a small smile and added, "If something is out there, maybe I should train more. If there's magic around, I want to make sure we're ready to face it."

As Vin shared his story, the tension on his face gradually eased. The furrow in his brow smoothed out, and the warmth of Diana and Lisa's concern slowly melted his anxiety away.

After finishing the story, the three of them had dinner together. Diana's homemade soup tasted even more delicious in the comfort of their family's presence. Over the meal, they discussed their plans for the future.

"So, what's your plan, Vin?" Diana asked softly.

Vin smiled faintly, looking at his mother and sister. "I'm still figuring it out, Mom. But one thing I know for sure… I want to become stronger. I'll keep pushing myself until I break through the limits holding me back."

Lisa grinned. "And maybe I can help! I'll keep sharpening my fire magic skills, and one day, I'll be so good at magic that we can make a great team," she said enthusiastically.

Diana chuckled softly. "I love hearing that. There's nothing that makes me prouder than seeing you two support each other. Whatever happens, we'll protect one another."

After dinner, they returned to their usual activities. Vin took a bath, Lisa dove into her magic books, and Diana tidied up the house before they all went to bed.

When midnight came, they settled down for rest, but the night wasn't kind to Vin. In his sleep, he woke up repeatedly.

Shadowy figures, voiceless faces, and the distant sound of footsteps haunted his dreams. Cold sweat soaked his forehead, and his heartbeat raced. The lingering sense of abandonment and fear gripped him, leaving his sleep restless and filled with unease.

Chapter 3