“Mom?” Aldin’s voice trembled, a fragile thread of sound in the thick silence. His heart swelled with a tumultuous blend of elation and disbelief, aching at the sight of her ethereal form. “Mom, what’s happening? Why didn’t you ever tell me about…” His words trailed off into the void as he reached for her, only to grasp at air, his hands passing through her visage as if she were made of mist. He crumpled to the ground, his sobs echoing off the walls, each tear a scalding drop of reality against the cold, hard floor.

“Dear?” The voice of his father, a lighthouse in the fog of his despair, called out from the doorway. “May I have a word?”

“Always, love,” came his mother’s reply, her voice a balm to his fractured spirit. Aldin’s gaze was fixed on them, his parents, a tableau of the life he once knew.

“We need to talk about Aldin,” his father’s voice was grave, a foreboding undercurrent in the still air.

“What’s wrong?” The worry in his mother’s voice was palpable, a tangible thing in the room.

“This isn’t something we can just ignore. It’s going to shape his entire life…” his father’s words were heavy with an unspoken weight.

“I can’t place that burden on him, Arthur. I just can’t,” his mother’s voice cracked, a fissure of resolve.

“It’s a lesser evil than leaving him to confront the nightmares that lie in wait,” his father argued, his tone laced with urgency.

“No, it’s not. We’ll be condemning him to a life haunted by shadows,” she countered, her defiance rising like a phoenix from the ashes.

“If we don’t, the horrors that await are far worse. How can you not see that?” his father’s plea was desperate, a man on the brink.

“We’ll prepare him, shield him until he’s ready to face what’s to come,” she insisted, her voice a fortress against the coming storm.

“That’s not enough. If you won’t do it, I’ll find someone who will. Melissa will understand the necessity,” his father’s resolve was ironclad, a sentinel against the darkness.

“You wouldn’t dare,” she hissed, each syllable a dagger in the quiet.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to protect our son. I can’t just stand by and watch…” his father’s voice faded, a ghostly whisper as the world around Aldin began to unravel.

Blindness swallowed him again, and he felt himself plummeting, landing with a thud in the sanctuary of his parents’ bedroom.

“Alright,” his mother’s voice was a surrender, a white flag in their silent war.

“You agree?” His father sought confirmation, a lifeline in the chaos.

“Yes. I still believe it’s wrong, but you’re right. Colleen hasn’t shown any signs of the magic within her. It’s unjust to treat them differently. Perhaps Aldin can find help for the nightmares,” her voice was a reluctant concession.

“I know this is hard for you, but it’s what’s best for him. It won’t be the same as…” his father’s voice was gentle, a hand reaching across the divide.

His mother turned away, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek as his fathers voice and the vision faded. And then Aldin was back in the study, alone with the ghosts of the past. His mother stood, clutching a letter and a book, approaching the family portrait with a wistful smile. She reached out, her fingers deftly pulling at the frame to reveal a hidden safe. His heart raced as she entered the code—his birthday—and placed the letter inside, sealing it away in the darkness.

Her eyes met his across the chasm of time, a silent communion that bridged the years. He reached out, desperate for one final touch, but the cruel hands of fate shattered the illusion, leaving him grasping at the emptiness in the dust-laden kitchen. The visage of his mother lingered before him, a specter that coaxed forth tears he fought to suppress.

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“Aldin.”

He whirled around, a startled cry escaping him.

“Hey, it’s okay. You’re safe,” Luna’s voice was a harbor in the storm of his emotions.

“You scared me half to death!” he blurted out.

“I can see that. Are you alright? How did you end up here?” she inquired, her presence a steadying force.

“I don’t know. I was just at your place, and then… I was here. But wait…” he faltered.

“What’s on your mind?” she probed gently.

“How did you find me?” he asked, his voice a mix of confusion and relief.

“When we noticed you were missing, I cast a locator spell to track you down and teleported here. Were you crying?” Her question was soft, her concern genuine.

“I need to check something,” he deflected, urgency in his step as he moved towards his mother’s study.

“What are you searching for?” Luna followed, curiosity in her tone.

“Just… give me a moment,” he pleaded, the weight of the day pressing down on him.

In the study, Aldin repeated what he had seen his mother do, pressing the concealed button. The portrait swung forward, revealing the hidden safe. His pulse quickened as he entered the code he knew so well, and the safe’s door opened with a groan. Inside were the book and the letter, just as they had been left.

“What’s that?” Luna inquired, looking at the book.

“I’m not sure. There’s no title, just the name Alice Witmore on the first page. It might be a diary.”

“Do you know an Alice Witmore?”

He didn’t reply, already absorbed in opening the letter, eager to discover the secrets that might explain his past.

Dear Aldin,

If you’re reading this, then I’m afraid your father and I are no longer around. Life’s been full of choices but having you and your sister was the brightest of them all. Losing Colleen left a hole in our hearts, and I wanted so badly to tell you everything then. But I was scared—scared that the truth might push you further away. Still, I couldn’t leave this world without sharing this part of our lives with you.

I’ll never forget your first smile; it was like a burst of sunshine that lit up everything around you. As you grew, you only shone brighter. I’ve always wished to see the man you would become. Your nightmares have been a barrier, and it breaks my heart to think you might resent me for what I’m about to say. But you deserve to know the truth.

This might sound like a tale, but it’s not. I can almost hear you laughing it off, and that’s okay. I wanted to pass on this magical legacy to you, though your father had his doubts because of who you are. I’d probably be doubtful too if I were you.

Your father is a warlock, and I am a witch. Yes, it’s true. We knew our child would inherit some of our abilities, but you, Aldin, you’re something else. You’re the sorcerer, a being with endless potential, the protector of the magical world. The sorcerer’s power is ancient, passing from one to the next, and it can be unruly without proper training. That’s where the book comes in. It’s the diary of the last sorcerer, detailing her life and the training she underwent.

It wasn’t easy to find that book—months of searching, hitting dead end after dead end. It’s a rare find, so please take good care of it. It’s meant to help you, as we never thought we’d have a child with real magic.

Now, for the hardest part.

The nightmares you’ve been having are because of me. Your father and I argued for months before deciding to use that spell. It was supposed to keep your power in check, and I’m so sorry for the side effects. Cutting you off from your magic was the toughest decision I’ve ever made. But we did it to protect you from those who would hunt you for your abilities.

Lastly, you should know about the covens.

There are five of them, each with their own style and focus. Most see the sorcerer as just a source of power, but Evermore is different. It’s the one place you can trust. Melissa Crescent, a dear friend, and I started it. I left after you were born, but Melissa’s still there. She has a daughter named Luna, about your age. Be careful with the others, but you can trust them.

I wish I had told you all this sooner. Even if this causes you pain or makes you angry at me, my love for you will never fade. I hope for a life full of happiness and adventure for you. Your kindness has always led you to help others. I know you’ll grow into a strong, compassionate man.

Keep shining, my little star. The world needs your light.

With all my love, Mom

Aldin’s tears didn’t stop as he read the letter once more, each word heavy with meaning. Carefully, he placed it back into its envelope, a keepsake of truths untold. Clutching the book that seemed to hold centuries within its pages, he steadied his breath and faced the dim corridor ahead.

“I need to get out of here,” he said, his voice a soft echo in the quiet.

“Want to take the portal? It beats the bus,” Luna suggested, her voice laced with a gentle concern.

“Is that even a question?” Aldin managed a weak chuckle, brushing away the last of his tears.

“Are you sure you don’t need a moment alone?” she asked softly.

“No, I’m ready,” he assured her, a newfound resolve lighting his eyes.

“So, where to?” she asked, her own spirits lifting.

“Evermore. I have to talk to Melissa,” he declared.

With a confident snap from Luna, a portal spiraled into existence. “After you,” she invited, and they stepped through, leaving the past behind for a new beginning.