Faul: The Reincarnation

Chapter 5: The Reincarnation

After the strange and terrifying incident with Faul and the sudden escape of Maria with her son and nephew, the story spread like wildfire throughout the Island of Shunga. Panic began to grip the hearts of the people, for many feared that the Red Death had finally found its way onto their safe haven. Whispers of the glowing dragon-like child and the ancient flying sword became the primary subject of every conversation. The tale passed from one frightened mouth to another, growing in fear and confusion with each retelling.

The fear of an invasion by the Red Death turned into another massive hindrance to the daily lives and activities of the islanders. People stopped going out at night. Children were forbidden from straying too far from home. Farmers and fishermen abandoned their work, unsure if they would return from the fields or waters alive. The once vibrant Island of Shunga turned cold with suspicion and despair. Each shadow was viewed as a potential threat, and each whisper of wind made hearts beat faster with dread.

However, as days passed and no new incident occurred, the fear began to loosen its grip. Weeks followed and still, there were no reports of deaths caused by the Red Death. There were no strange outbursts, no signs of infection, no glowing eyes, and no more magic-induced chaos. The islanders, though cautious, began to resume their normal routines. Slowly but surely, peace and tranquility returned to the Island of Shunga, like sunlight breaking through thick storm clouds.

Far away from the whispers and the fear, somewhere deep within the rugged mountains of the nation of Kaar, Maria had found a hidden valley untouched by human exploration. The area was so remote and shielded by nature that no man had ever dared to venture that deep. Within this serene and sacred space, Maria was busy setting up a shelter for herself, Faul, and Billie. She used the earth magic she possessed, shaping the stone and soil into walls and forming a modest but safe haven.

Billie stood nearby, watching in awe. His eyes were wide with curiosity and wonder. He had grown up knowing his auntie had the gift of ice magic, but this... this was something entirely different. She was bending the earth as if it were clay in her hands. The ground rose and shifted with each flick of her fingers, responding to her will as if it obeyed her thoughts. He could not contain the question that burned in his young heart.

"Mom, please," he said, walking closer to her, "how did you possess two magics?"

Maria paused and turned to look at him, her face softened by the bond she had with her nephew. The weight of everything she had been through lingered in her eyes, but her voice was calm and reassuring.

"Billie, we were born into the family of the Originals, the very ones who fought the great evil dragon Gag five hundred years ago. We are the last of our bloodline. Our lineage carries the essence of those powerful warriors. Billie, we can hold more than five abilities. I can hold only three, but you, Billie, you can hold more than I can. The men in our family can carry more magic than we women. You just need to grow stronger to be able to hold the magic without hurting yourself. Come closer, Billie."

Billie moved toward her, drawn by the warmth in her voice and the seriousness in her eyes.

"You see," Maria continued, kneeling to his level and placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, "I will need you to protect my son someday when I might not be there. So I need you to train harder and grow stronger because the war we are in is far bigger than both of us. But Faul, he has a destiny that can save all mankind. That is why we must protect him at all costs."

"Okay," Billie replied, his young voice now firm with determination. "I promise to take care of Faul and protect him."

Maria smiled, pride and sadness mixing within her heart. She knew the road ahead would not be easy, but Billie's words gave her a measure of hope.

Meanwhile, Faul still had not awakened from the sleep he fell into after the mysterious outburst. He remained silent and unmoving, his chest rising slowly with each breath. His small body rested peacefully, but within his mind, something far beyond reality was unfolding.

"Where am I?" Faul asked himself as he looked around. He stood in a strange and ethereal space. Everything was a reflection, shimmering mirrors stretching into eternity. The air felt heavy, as though filled with the weight of ancient memories.

"Welcome to the Mirror of Existence, Braf," said a deep voice.

Faul turned quickly. A shadow had appeared from nowhere, tall and formless. It hovered above the mirrored surface like smoke caught in still air. Faul shivered. He had never heard anyone call him by that name before, his real name.

"Braf?" he whispered to himself, a shiver running down his spine.

"What am I doing here?" Faul asked, his voice trembling.

"Fear not," the shadow replied. "You are here to know why you were reincarnated after your death. You were given a second chance for a reason."

"Me? Died? How?" Faul asked, disbelief filling his voice.

"You were killed by Gag five hundred years ago in the battle in your world, Azra," the shadow explained. "Gag has been taking over every world since your death. He has traveled from your dimension into the one you were reincarnated in. Braf, you have been brought back to help Kaar fight Gag. He has unleashed a terrible curse upon Kaar and the surrounding nations. Kaar holds a power that can destroy all living existence. That is why Gag desires to conquer Kaar at all costs."

Faul listened, his heart thudding loudly in his chest.

"Braf, you have been given another chance through reincarnation," the shadow continued. "You have the power to stop Gag. You can draw strength from Kaar itself. I want you to understand this clearly. Kaar has always been your original home, for over ten thousand years. People may have forgotten who you were, Braf, and what you did for them five thousand years ago. But I have not forgotten. I cannot forget. And now, it is time to reclaim the glory that is rightfully yours."

The shadow floated closer, its presence overwhelming. It reached out and gently touched Faul’s forehead with a smoky hand. At that moment, Faul felt his entire being sink into the shadow’s essence. He was not afraid anymore. A strange calm filled him.

"You have to trust your mother, Maria, and trust Billie, Faul," the shadow whispered. That was the last thing it said before Faul was pulled out of the Mirror of Existence.

Silence returned. The reflections faded. His breathing slowed.