Chapter seven-Crossing Into Nythera
999 Words
My eyes fluttered open at the sound of a soft knock on my door.
I groaned quietly, pushing myself up from the bed before dragging my feet across the room. When I opened the door, my mum stood there, her expression gentle… but something in her eyes felt off.
“Hey, Mum,” I muttered, rubbing my eyes.
“Can I come in?” she asked softly.
“Sure…” I stepped aside, letting her in.
That was when I noticed the small box in her hand.
She walked over to my bed and sat down, patting the space beside her. I hesitated for a second before joining her.
“Are you okay?” I asked, studying her face.
“I’m fine…” she said, though her voice betrayed her. She held out the box to me. “I wanted to give you this.”
Her eyes were already filling with tears.
“I was going to wait until your eighteenth birthday,” she added, her voice breaking slightly. “But… I think you should have it now. I’ll miss you, my little baby boy.”
My chest tightened.
“Can I open it?” I asked gently.
She nodded.
I lifted the lid slowly, and my breath caught. Inside was a silver necklace, a delicate pendant shaped like a tree resting in the center. It was simple… but beautiful.
“Thank you, Mum,” I said softly, a small smile forming. “It’s beautiful.”
“It’s a family heirloom,” she said, taking it from the box. She stood behind me and carefully placed it around my neck. Her fingers lingered for a moment before she stepped back, her eyes scanning me as tears slipped down her cheeks.
“It looks perfect on you.”
“Mum… are you sure you want to give it to me?” I hesitated. “It’s important. You could give it to Elena, I think she—”
“I made the right choice giving it to you, Thae,” she cut in firmly before pulling me into a tight hug.
I froze for a second… then melted into her arms.
“Remember what I told you,” she whispered. “Don’t let revenge consume you. Focus on becoming a better person.”
My throat tightened. I didn’t trust myself to speak—not without lying.
“Thae,” she murmured, pulling back slightly to look at me. “You are a good person. Don’t let the world take that away from you.”
She hugged me again, and this time I held her just as tightly.
When she finally let go, she gave me one last long look, as if trying to memorize my face.
“Go get ready,” she said with a small, trembling smile. “Before I change my mind.”
Then she turned and walked out.
I stood there, staring at the closed door.
Slowly, my fingers rose to the necklace resting against my chest. It felt… warm.
⸻
By the time I finished packing, the house felt quieter than usual.
I dragged my bag into the living room, where my parents were waiting… along with Valthra.
My mum rushed forward and pulled me into another hug. I leaned into her, closing my eyes.
“Mum, I’ll be fine. I promise.”
“I know, baby,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Just… stay safe, okay?”
“I will.”
“Thae,” my dad called.
I looked up at him. His expression was serious as always, but his eyes were softer than usual.
“Whatever you do… whatever choices you make,” he said, placing a hand on my shoulder, “we will be proud of you.”
That broke something in me.
I pulled him into a hug, holding back the tears threatening to fall.
“It’s alright, lad,” he murmured. “Just be good.”
I nodded against him before pulling away.
“Take care of Elena for me, okay?” I said quietly.
They both nodded.
It hurt… knowing I couldn’t say goodbye to her while she was awake.
“Alright,” Valthra’s voice cut in smoothly. “It’s time to go.”
I turned to her. She was smiling faintly.
“Are you ready?”
“I… I guess so,” I said, my voice unsteady.
“Good.”
She extended her hand.
The air around her shimmered faintly, like sunlight dancing on water.
“Take my hand.”
I hesitated for only a second before placing mine in hers.
Warmth spread instantly up my arm.
The ground beneath us rippled, like liquid, and the air thickened with a soft, floral scent.
Then—
The world twisted.
The house blurred, stretching and folding in on itself as if reality was breaking apart. Wind rushed past me, yet I wasn’t moving.
Or maybe I was falling.
But it didn’t hurt.
It felt… unreal.
Light exploded around us—
And then everything went still.
I blinked.
We were standing on a cliff.
Before us stretched a vast, breathtaking world—an endless sea of green and blue, scattered with floating islands like jewels in the sky. Forests shimmered with silver leaves, rivers sparkled like liquid crystal, and the air itself felt alive… humming with magic.
The scent of flowers was stronger here, almost intoxicating.
Above us, the sky glowed in a soft, endless twilight.
My breath hitched.
“That… that’s Nythera?” I whispered.
Valthra nodded calmly.
“Welcome to your new home.”
I swallowed, my fingers instinctively tightening around the pendant at my neck. Its warmth grounded me… reminding me of everything I had just left behind.
Valthra gave my hand a gentle squeeze.
“Come, Thae,” she said softly. “There is much to learn.”
I took one last look at the horizon, my heart caught between fear… and something else.
Something new.
Then I nodded.
And together, we stepped forward—into the unknown.
- Writer
