*AETHERIUS*

I wake up and find myself in a bed in a dark room. I look around, but all I see is darkness. Then, I hear a roar in the distance. Something approaches me, perhaps a shadow, and touches my abdomen where my core is. I feel a slight pain, but it quickly grows and becomes unbearable. The shadow appears again and touches my abdomen, whispering some words.

"You are compatible, but it is not enough yet. Grow, and you will see me when the time comes. Grow, and the remnant I left in you will grow with you until it's time for us to meet face to face. But for now, you must awaken."

I wake up covered in sweat. Apparently, it's already nighttime. Wait, is it already nighttime? I quickly get up and open the door, finding myself in a hallway with several doors. "This is not our inn. Where are we? Am I dreaming again?".

I spot some stairs, so I descend them. Once downstairs, I realize I'm in the guild. Nora is the first to notice me. "Oh, Ther, you're finally awake," she says excitedly. "How do you feel?" she asks me.

"I'm fine, Nora. What happened after I fell asleep?"

"Give me a moment, let me call your parents. They were worried about you," Nora looks at me with curiosity. ¿What could have happened to make her so excited? Shortly after, my parents appear. "Therius, you finally woke up," my father says, worried. "Does your body hurt? Your head? Anything?"

"No, Dad, I'm fine. What happened? I looked at Nora worriedly after I woke up," I ask my mother. "Let's sit down, you can eat a little, and then we'll talk, okay?" I look at them but don't question them. Maybe I fell ill, and we had to postpone the return until tomorrow.

I see Atheria and Elowen sitting together at a table. Elowen is the first to notice me, so she runs over and hugs me while crying. "Brother Ther, you finally woke up. I was scared," I felt a little concerned when Elowen came to me crying. "I'm fine, Wen," I hold her and pat her back gently. "What happened? Why did she cry as soon as she saw me?"

"Darling, you were asleep for almost a month," Atheria finally tells me. I examine her, but I don't pay much attention. At the same time, I turn pale. "What do you mean, a month? I just depleted my mana; that could be replenished in a few hours of sleep," I look at my parents with concern, still holding Elowen in my arms.

"Well, son, at first, that's how it was. After about six hours, you replenished your mana, but three days later, for some reason, your body seemed to be on fire. You had a fever for almost two weeks. Your mother took care of you during that time, easing your fever until it finally subsided," my father said.

My mother held me in her arms after I put Elowen down to eat. She was still checking me for any injuries. Afterward, my father came back with a mirror that my mother had asked for. "Son, look at yourself," my mother says after handing it to me. I look at myself in the mirror, and for some reason, a large lock of pure white hair, almost competing with the gray and pale blond hair, appeared in my hair where there should only be ash-colored and pale blond hair.

"What happened to me?" I ask aloud, hoping someone will answer. "I don't know, son. During that month you were asleep, many people came to observe how you were doing, thanks to the guild members. But they found nothing," my mother replies. "Two days ago, you had some kind of convulsion attack, and then the white lock appeared," my mother seemed pale, and even Elowen didn't leave my side.

"Darling, are you sure you're okay?" Atheria asks me. "Yes, I don't feel any pain, nor am I dizzy or tired. That should be a good thing, right?" I say, expecting some confirmation. "Yes, I suppose so," my mother finally says.

"Well, son, rest a little more. Tomorrow afternoon, we'll leave to return to Shira," my father orders me. "And take Elowen with you to sleep. She was very impatient for you to wake up, so pamper her until her worry passes," I just nod at my father's command.

"By the way, did you inform Trevor and Layra about what happened?" I ask aloud again, hoping someone will answer. "Yes, we notified your siblings in the second week after you fell ill," Atheria confirms. "The guild sent them a notice to arrive faster without having to wait," my mother tells me.

My father speaks next, "the academy barely allowed them permission to leave for a single day, and we kept them informed about your condition through letters. Finally, they were here two days ago while you were asleep. They watched over you until you had your convulsion attack. They were taking care of Elowen while attending to you," my father finishes.

I could see the fear in their eyes after telling me they were here and witnessed my attack. Maybe it'll be hard for them to overcome it since they witnessed it firsthand. "Notify them that I woke up already. They were worried for a month, unable to see me, or at least, that's what I'd like to think, hehe," I tell my father, trying to reassure him.

"By the way, did you inform Viola's family that we postponed our return?" I ask just to confirm. My father nods.

"Brother Ther, let me heal you so you don't get sick again," Elowen said as a golden light emerged from her hand, seemingly the healing magic she inherited from my mother. I was moved to see how she cared about trying to heal me, so I pat her forehead to tell her I'm okay, and we go to my room and fall asleep together.

"Mistress Atheria, thank you for your concern, and as you can see, I'm fine now, so you can rest easy," I give her a grateful smile. "Of course, you're fine and strong; otherwise, you wouldn't be my betrothed, Therius," she ruffles my hair. "Go, I'll take care of sending the letter to your siblings and the other four to tell them you're okay and awake."

"Thanks again," I say. "Once is enough after all; your family is also my family."