[Ace's Point of View]

...

A small, juvenile child. He was kneeling down on the crumbly, almost broken pavement outside. Surrounding him was a gigantic fire, flames bursting to and fro. The heat was inching closer and closer to the boy, as he wailed, screaming and pleading for a saviour to come.

What was I witnessing..?

By now, all the buildings were burnt down into pieces. Corpses were scattered around, most piled under the debris, the remnants of the houses only served as obstacles to the people.

The youngster's black hair was unkempt, his worn-out clothes were tattered and ripped, and his feet were bare. It seemed as if he belonged to a slave trade because of his appearance. Scars, bruises, and open cuts adorned him. His bright blue eyes were completely filled with fear.

Sobbing and crying, he was slowly losing hope in his chances of survival. However, that aspiration returned, when an albino man had rushed to the scene, picking him up, bridal style, and carrying him away, riding on six thin, levitating, diamond-shaped contraptions. The conflagration didn't affect his rescuer, his dark purple and black suit was heat-resistant.

The child felt warm in the man's arms. He mumbled out a rasp, hoarse "Thank you"; it was difficult for him to speak due to his previous weeping. The man didn't reply. Remaining quiet, he conjured up a portal, entering the gateway.

...

They were teleported to a petite hamlet, with trees forever green spouting everywhere and beautiful blue skies. It was a short trip thanks to the man's advanced technology, the boy was finally secure.

Carefully, the adult placed him down on the grass. He asked him whether he could stand properly or not, but the boy simply nodded. He was thankful that he was alive, despite his wounds.

The grown-up knelt down in front of him, and felt his forehead. Sparks of electricity were flying, the man had transferred something to him.

"The fresh abilities that I have conveyed to you... will awaken in due time, when you're older." he said.

He didn't feel much, except a magical sensation. Feeling confused, he wanted to inquire what he had done, but it was for the best that he didn't. He wanted to be polite.

Again, the adult placed his hand on his forehead once more. He altered his memories, so that the child was forced to believe that this man was his father, and that he also had a mother and younger sister. The kid's hair began to turn a lavender-white colour, and his eyes transformed to a pinkish-purple, just like the man's. His injuries began to fade, and his clothes were immediately swapped out for newer ones during the entire transformation.

The gentleman stood, then quickly left, scurrying over to a wooden house nearby, and bringing out a young girl. He had done the same to her, changing her recollections so she knew that an older brother existed in the family, too.

"Amelia and Ace. Your mother and I won't be here for much longer. So, rely on each other, and give it your all. For now, you may have fun. Yeah, that's what kids are supposed to do." the man softly smiled.

...

I snapped and jolted up, awake. There were chains tied around my arms and legs, restraining me from moving around too much. I was in a confinement of some sort, where had the shadows taken me?

It was all a dream. But, these were... my missing memories that I never really paid heed to. The boy in the flashback was none other than me, myself, and I.

Everything else came back to me, everything made perfect sense. I used to reside in a town not too far off from Lanox, in Fluone. One day, a disastrous catastrophe occurred related to the Fire El, and the village was in flames as a result. The inferno obliterated my home.

Add had transported me to Ruben, and I was grateful. According to the vision, he mentioned something about not being around for much longer, so that was most likely why Ame and I were alone.

But why? The Add from the past had no clue, either.

If Amelia was left alone, and if I had never existed... she would've had a hard time, wouldn't she? But, Ame would figure this out sooner or later, too. That I really wasn't her blood-related brother.

I was scared. What if she started to hate me?

...

---[CHAPTER 12 - VISION : END]---