"Vat muttered some arcane words and grasped my hand, and a few moments later, I saw my shadow leave my body and slip into hers. She continued to mutter incantations until my shadow left her body and returned to me.
And then, Vat's body began to radiate a dark, foreboding aura, which my body slowly started to absorb. As she released her grasp on my hand, she raised her own hand, and in an instant, a box materialized within her palm.
Given her imposing presence, I initially assumed she was a skilled warrior endowed with special abilities to harness a limited amount of magic. However, I was grossly mistaken. The sheer magnitude of magic she had displayed before me left no doubt in my mind that she was, in fact, a witch – an extremely powerful one, at that.
Vat turned to face me with an icy stare that made my entrails crawl. 'The power contained within this box must never be unleashed,' she warned. 'It was once a benevolent force, designed to protect and safeguard, but it has since been altered, now harboring a vengeful soul within. If this power were to be wielded, both our worlds – and countless others – would be plunged into chaos and desolation.'
I couldn't help but wonder why she had brought such a destructive force to my planet, given the catastrophic consequences it would entail. I posed the question to her, and her response was both intriguing and unsettling.
'This power would inevitably be unleashed, no matter how secure it was if it remained on my planet,' she explained. 'However, since your star is our arch-nemesis, none of my kind would ever suspect that the box would be hidden here.'
As I grasped the full implications of the situation, a sense of trepidation began to creep over me. I was now beholding a box that contained a weapon of mass destruction, a power that could bring about catastrophic consequences if mishandled. With utmost care, I took the box from Vat's hand, cradling it as if it were a fragile egg.
As I held it in my hand, many thoughts assaulted my mind. I couldn't ask them all at once, but I chose the one that seemed like it would eat my soul forever if I didn't find an answer to it.
Why has Vat chosen me of all people, to entrust with this immense responsibility?
'Because your surname will continue for a long time,' she replied, 'and your son will continue the guardian's legacy.'
I took a moment to process her words, but they only seemed to deepen my confusion. 'You mean... my generation would have a male heir to continue my name?' I inquired, seeking elaboration.
'Not only your generation, but the children of the children of your children,' she replied, her voice, once firm, was now beginning to falter.
As she finished speaking, her body began to weaken, her strength waning visibly. She fell to the ground, gasping in exhaustion. I knew instinctively that her power was draining, and when I glanced down at my torso, I was amazed to see that all my wounds had healed. The bullets that had once been lodged in my body now lay harmlessly on the ground.
I knelt beside Vat, my concern for her well-being momentarily eclipsed by my curiosity about her motives.
'Why do you trust that I'll protect the box?' I asked, and her response was unexpected, her laughter weak but unmistakable, filling me completely with dread.
She gazed at me with an unyielding intensity, her eyes burning with what seemed like rage. 'I don't care if you keep your promise or not,' she rasped. 'Your world would crumble before your eyes, and everyone you love would perish. And then, my words would echo in your mind, drive you mad, and gnaw at your soul.'
A shiver ran down my spine as Vat's words hung somewhere below my throat, refusing to go down. 'I didn't take your shadow earlier for no reason,' she continued. 'I placed a curse on it. If you fail to perform your duty and unleash the beast, your family, and your bloodline will be the first to be wiped out from the surface of your world.'
Not long after Vat spoke, her body began to undergo a transformation, her skin wrinkling and her hair turning a brilliant white. I knew that this was the last moment we would share together, and I felt an overwhelming urge to ask her one final question. 'You mentioned only males,' I said, almost in a whisper. "Can't my female children become guardians of the power?"
Vat's gasps had become louder, her eyes sunken but still burning with an inner intensity. Her voice was weak, but she managed to reply. 'Your female children would never believe in the genuity of the power,' she said. 'They would neglect their duty and focus more on their family. They can't be allowed to guard the krara.'
As she finished speaking, I felt a surge of energy flow into my body, her power transferring to me in a final, desperate bid to ensure the box's safety. With a final, labored breath, Vat's body went limp, her eyes glazing over as she whispered her final words: 'Burn my body.'
So if you're reading this journal, you must be my descendant. Everything is real, protect the box till your last breath."
Jake and Tina finally concluded their reading, closing the journal with a sense of solemnity. The room was subsequently plunged into a profound silence, with each person absorbed in their own thoughts, weighing the implications of the extraordinary tale they had just heard.
The stillness was eventually broken by Stefan, who could no longer contain his curiosity. "She mentioned that you would have a male heir to continue the guardian's legacy," he said. "But Tina is your only child, which makes this scenario implausible."
Jake's gaze fell to the floor, his eyes clouding over with a deep sadness. "We had a son, but...," he began; however, he was unable to complete his sentence, overcome with grief as he buried his face in his hands.
It was at this poignant moment that Stefan grasped the underlying meaning behind Jake's response earlier when he had inquired about Jake's feelings regarding Mike's theft of the box.
"I've always known I'd be the last guardian anyway."
Stefan felt a pang of remorse for inadvertently reopening an old wound. "I made a terrible mistake, and I'm truly sorry," he said.
Jake raised his head and he forced a smile, attempting to alleviate Stefan's guilt. "It's alright, Stefan. It's only natural to be curious," he replied.
However, Tina was visibly upset, her anger and frustration boiling over. She let out a loud and long hiss before stomping upstairs, leaving the others in an uncomfortable silence.
"Mike didn't attack Jake when he transformed, doesn't that imply that the curse was a lie?" Christina asked.
"She said if a beast is unleashed. But thankfully, your friend didn't become one, so I was able to keep my head and my family alive." Jake clarified. He paused, stood up, and addressed the room. "I apologize I wouldn't be able to see you off."
"It's okay sir, we'll see ourselves out," Rachael said. "Thank you for everything, we honestly appreciate it."
Her smile was sincere, and her words were heartfelt.
Jake nodded, forcing a smile onto his face once more. He turned around and ascended the stairs, disappearing from view as he retreated into the privacy of his home.
Stefan's eyes darted between Rachael and Christina. He shrugged his shoulders. "Why was Tina like that to me? Did I say something wrong?" he asked.
The girls shook their heads simultaneously. But Christina's grin left a trace of sarcasm.
"Of course I didn't! Knowledge never kills," Stefan continued, his eyes widening in mock ignorance.
Christina nodded her head affirmatively, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "Of course, knowledge doesn't kill, but your process is gonna draw you to your grave," she replied. She stood up. "Guys, we need to leave now, we shouldn't overstay our visit."
However, Rachael had already advanced toward the door, a wry smile on her face. "I bet we already did," she responded and stepped out, with Stefan and Christina following behind and closing the door behind them.