Lucian smiled back, he kept up with Levi’s pace as they rounded another curve in the beach. “I get it,” Lucian began, taking what Levi had told him. “Magic, other worlds… it’s a lot to take in. Feels like it all got thrown at us without any warning.” He chuckled softly. “But… I think that’s what’s got me so interested. Ever since I was little, I always felt like there was something more out there. I just didn’t know what it was.”
He paused, turning to Levi looking thoughtful. “You’re right about the others, they’re probably dying to see what’s out there, and yeah, they don’t always think things through. But maybe that’s why it’s good we’re here too, you know? If they’re going to go diving headfirst into the unknown, then they’ll need someone to keep them grounded. Someone like you.”
He put his hand on Levi’s shoulder. “I know you’ll look out for them. You always do. And no matter what happens, we’ll always have each other.”
Lucian paused, searching for the right words for what he was going to say next. “As for me?” He chuckled, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. “Honestly? I’m kind of excited.” He hesitated, then added, “Especially after… well, after the dream I had this morning.”
He hesitated for a moment, then continued. “I was standing on this giant mosaic of my mom, like a stained glass floor. It was… surreal. And then these voices started asking me questions. Questions about my fears, about what I wanted most in life. They kept calling me ‘young prince,’ which, I mean… I know how weird that sounds. But it all felt so intense, like it was leading up to something important.”
Lucian’s eyes drifted out to the horizon. “Then I had to face… well, a shadow of myself, I think. It was huge and terrifying, like it was made of all my doubts and fears.” He let out a small laugh, shaking his head. “Sounds ridiculous now, but it felt so real. I was fighting it, Levi. And somehow, I won. I think it was trying to show me something about myself. Then, I woke up back on the beach.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, nervous after having said all of that. “I know it sounds strange. But after that dream… I feel like I have to see what’s out there. Like I’d be missing something important if I didn’t.”