The Soul Keeper

Time seemed to slow for a moment as the figure wreathed in shadow spoke. Then, like any of this never happened, it disappeared. 

I blinked a couple of times and looked at the spot where the shadowy figure stood moments ago, where it wreathed entire room in darkness. Now, the sunlight shone through the windows like nothing had happened at all.

I hesitantly approached the spot the figure stood moments ago, my heart beating fast, almost as if it were trying to escape from my chest. 

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Nothing unusual. It had disappeared without leaving a single trace behind. 

"Kai?" I head Aoife calling for me. Breakfast was probably ready. 

I got dressed, while still constantly glancing around, expecting to see a shadow jump at me any minute. Yet, nothing happened. 

Eventually, I left my room and headed downstairs. A hallucination, I told myself. It had to be a hallucination. It would be best to give Inspector John another call after breakfast. 

"What took you so long?" She asked as I entered the dining room. I hesitated, then decided to not lie to her too much. "I'm a bit tired – haven't been sleeping well, so I thought I saw something." I shrugged. "Turned out to be nothing though."

Aoife didn't say anything as we ate, though I could see the worry in her eyes as she constantly glanced at me. I wanted to tell her that I was fine, but I knew full well that I'd be lying, and so would she. Instead, I remained silent as well.

Eventually, after I finished my breakfast and helped her tidy the kitchen, she sighed. I glanced at her. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head. "Mother warned me that you might still be living in the past." She said as she put the last plate in the cupboard. "That you'd need time to recover, a lot of time."

I flinched – those weren't words I expected Mother to speak. "Did she?" I mumbled. 

Aoife nodded. "She also told me to leave you be. No not pry." She seemed hesitant. "I… I don't know what happened in that game, Kai, but I can tell how much it changed you." She stepped closer and shuffled my hair. "You're silent, you're always tired, always worried…" 

I forced a smile. "Sorry, Aoife." I stepped back and looked at her. "I don't know how to explain it… I know nothing that happened there was real, but it felt so. And now it's difficult to put it all behind me and move on because…" I shrugged. "I did live there for months."

She nodded. "I know, I didn't expect you to just leave things behind you and move on." She smiled and lightly squeezed my shoulder. "I just want you to know that I'm here. Always. No matter what it is, you can talk to me, ok?"

I appreciated her offer more than she could imagine, but I didn't intend to take it. Just knowing she was here for me was enough.

I watched some of her practice matches afterwards, then did some training of my own as she watched me. 

"When are you going to take up a sword again?" She asked as I wiped the sweat off my forehead.

"Not yet," I said with a chuckle. "I'm too weak – forcing it will do more harm than good." A mischievous smile appeared on my lips as I glanced at her. "And I know full well I need to be at full strength if I want to have the slightest chance to beat you."

She laughed out loud. "You? Beat me?" She grinned. "In your dreams, Kai."

I also laughed. "Hey, I did spend the last several months fighting, remember?" I made a vague gesture. "Usually against people and creatures stronger than me." I grinned. "Who knows, maybe I can put some of that knowledge to use against you."

Aoife laughed again, she knew I had a point, and I knew she had one. So far, I had never beaten her in a match. The skill gap between us was too large, and she had the physical advantage too, being older and taller.

"That's some good thinking, Kai." Mother's cold voice echoed in the training hall as she stepped inside. Startled, both me and Aoife flinched. 

"Mother, I didn't see you." My sister chuckled. "You scared me."

"I wasn't being particularly silent." Mother shrugged. She raised her chin as a faint smile appeared on her lips. "Kai should have noticed me though." She said with an almost questioning tone. She was asking how I hadn't noticed her.

I shrugged. "Lack of sleep and inability to trust my senses."

Aoife shot me a questioning glance while Mother furrowed her brows. "Come, let's go for a walk." Mother didn't even wait for me to say anything and just left the hall.

"What's up with her?" Aoife asked. I shrugged. "I'll find out, probably. I should go," I ran after Mother, knowing she wouldn't wait for me.

I caught up to her at the other gate of the settlement. 

"Out of breath already?" She asked as she continued walking among the woods that surrounded the settlement.

"I just finished training, of course I'm tired!" I protested. My muscles hurt from the effort. "Is something wrong?" I asked with a more serious tone. 

"I should ask you the same." She stopped walking and turned to face me. Her bright blue eyes seemingly pierced my soul. "The Kai I know would have noticed me come."

I sighed. "I haven't been sleeping well," I mumbled. "I've… been seeing things." 

Her eyes widened. "What kind of things?" She asked with a serious tone of voice. 

"A figure." I shrugged. "A person wreathed in shadows. Purple eyes." I hesitated. "A familiar voice."

She furrowed her brows. Her lips formed a thin line as she folded her arms. "Whose voice?"

"Kai, whose voice?" She repeated when I hesitated. Glancing at her, I could see the worry in her eyes.

"The Keeper's."