Chapter 34: The Secrets of the Past and Future

  The day dawned calmly, but Valterion didn't feel that way. Something inside him worried him, a feeling he couldn't ignore.

  Since the night before I had noticed something strange in Scarlett. She had been waking up like crazy, rummaging through books, parchments and jars in the mansion's library. Valterion, with his unwavering loyalty to Juan, decided to follow her in silence.

  Scarlett seemed desperate, her eyes reflected tiredness and frustration. Val didn't understand what he was looking for, but he knew it wasn't a good thing.

  "What the hell are you doing?" Val murmured to himself.

  The next day, while Juan and the rest of the group were enjoying a quiet breakfast, Valterion stepped aside without saying anything.

  Without wasting time, he activated the ruler's portal and went straight to Waru's planet.

  ?

  Meeting with Waru

  Waru, the eccentric dark arts sorcerer, was already waiting for him. Sitting in his stone chair, he received him with a slight smile, but in his eyes there was concern.

  "I was waiting for you..." Waru said in a serious tone.

  "How did you know?"

  Waru let out a slight laugh.

  "When someone wears so much armor that it looks like a walking castle... it's impossible not to notice that he's nervous."

  Val wasn't in the mood for jokes.

  "Waru... Scarlett is looking for something, or someone."

  Waru's smile disappeared.

  "I was afraid that this would happen..."

  "Do you know what he's looking for?" Valterion asked.

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  Waru nodded slowly.

  "I don't know exactly... but if she's so desperate, it means that something is about to be unleashed. And if something is about to be unleashed... there is only one way to know the truth."

  Waru paused.

  "We have to go into Juan's memories."

  Valterion took a step back, incredulous.

  "Are you crazy?" Juan would never allow that!"

  Waru stood up, looking into his eyes seriously.

  "Val... if we don't do it, we're dead."

  ?

  The Ritual

  The night came. Waru began to draw an arcane circle on the ground, with dark symbols shining like burning embers. Valterion knelt in the center of the circle, feeling the weight of the situation.

  "If something goes wrong, I'll take you out immediately," Waru warned.

  Val nodded, although a part of him doubted that this was a good idea.

  The ritual began. A gust of air enveloped the room and Valterion's mind was dragged into Juan's memories.

  ?

  The Memories

  The first thing he saw were beautiful moments:

  Lightning laughing while bothering Charlotte.

  Scarlett exploding a potion in her laboratory.

  Elizabeth smiling while training with her sword.

  Juan... relaxed, happy...

  But soon the scene changed.

  Chaos.

  Screams.

  Juan, alone in his room, plunged into despair.

  Valterion wanted to stop.

  "Get me out of here!" he shouted.

  "No!" Waru insisted. “Look a little more.”

  Then... the voice appeared.

  "Do you really think you can protect them?"

  The voice sounded cold, mocking... powerful.

  The image showed Juan sitting on his bed, with his head down and an empty expression.

  "You... are nothing..."

  Suddenly, Juan raised his head. His gaze shone with an intense purple tone.

  "Val...?" Juan said in an intrigued tone.

  Val felt his blood freeze.

  "How the hell is he looking at us?!" Waru shouted.

  "Get me out of here!"

  "Val... is that you?"

  Juan's eyes shone with fury and power. His presence was monstrous...

  Just when Juan extended his hand towards Valterion... Waru broke the ritual.

  Val woke up agitated, soaked in sweat.

  "That... that was impossible..." Waru whispered.

  ?

  The Warning

  The next day, Val returned to the mansion.

  While the group was sharing a breakfast, Juan commented casually:

  "Last night I dreamed of you, Val... you were watching me."

  "I...?" Val replied, pretending to be confused.

  But his thoughts were far from the table.

  ?

  The Confrontation

  Later, Val found Scarlett in the library, surrounded by books and scrolls. His tone was cold and sharp.

  "Who are you looking for?"

  Scarlett ignored him.

  "Scarlett..." Val insisted, approaching dangerously.

  Scarlett turned abruptly. His eyes were tired, but his expression was firm.

  "It's none of your business."

  "Who... are you... looking for?" Val repeated, with a firm voice.

  Scarlett clenched her fists and finally murmured:

  "I'm looking..." -he paused- "...the bastard who is going to lead us to death."

  Valterion was frozen.

  The scene closes with a shot of Val watching Scarlett, while the camera slowly moves away, showing that, in the shadows... something lurks.

  End of chapter.