SERANA'S POV

Kai led me to the ancient tower, its stones worn by time and whispers of the past. We climbed the winding stairs, the air thick with mystique. “You are walking like you just left here yesterday; is there something you want to tell me?” I asked my face in curiosity.

“What are you expecting me to say? Like what exactly?” He asked.

I was silent for some seconds, sensing if he could speak up to me, but still I had to break the silence between us. “Well, not like I'm persuading you to tell me anything about the past, but you should have known me too well by now. I'm a curious type who wants to know everything about anyone beside me, so you should tell me about you connected to this tower,” I said, smiling.

“Well, if you must know, I was raised here. This is my home, actually. You know there is this thing about me you don't know, but you need to know since we have been so close to each other since the couple of months we've been together,” Kai said, making me get more interested in what he has to say.

“And what about you do I need to know that I'm still not aware of?” I asked my curiosity. “Well, I'm connected to an ancient ritual. I'm the key to the life of this tower, and it's only through me that anyone could pass. That is why so many have forgotten to come here, but now that I'm here to complete my mission and help you complete yours, I promise you that all the pains will be on me now,” he said.

“You mean to tell me that you have this magic to control the tower so you are spiritually connected to Argus?” I asked.

“Like I said before, yes, I am, so if you wouldn't want us to waste so much time bantering on one discussion, I think we should make haste and go inside the tower to see if we could find out something,” Kai said as we both went in. He showed me various symbols that were much more significant to him. I already have learned a lot through Kai, and I still believe that there is more that I could still learn through him.

Kai, a ritualist born and bred, prepared the space, his hands moving with precision. As we began the ritual, a woman appeared, her eyes piercing. “Ah, Kai, I see you're delving into the mysteries again,” she said, her voice low and husky.

Kai was so surprised to see her; meanwhile, I was so scared to see her appear that way. “I didn't even expect to see you again. I am genuinely sorry I left you. I didn't even know what I was thinking, but I had to leave due to the situation I was facing. Not only that, but I'm so sorry,” Kai pleaded.

It was obvious that Kai committed a crime, but I didn't know what crime he committed. I watched them closely as they exchanged words with each other.

“You don't have to be sorry; okay, you did nothing wrong. I knew that someday you would have to come back and face what is ahead of you like a man. And you, Serena, you came to know your purpose to serve,” she said.

I was so surprised to hear her call my name and already knew what I was here for; I had to act along to hear what she had to say to me. “Yes, that's why I'm here,” I replied.

Kai nodded, respect in his gaze. “Matera Elara, I seek to unlock Serena's true potential.” Matera Elara's gaze turned to me, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

"This one has more to uncover about herself than she knows,” she said, her words sending a ripple through me. “Her past is shrouded, her destiny tangled in threads of fate.” Kai's eyes met mine, curiosity sparking within.

“Your words are much more confusing right now, we look forward to knowing all the hidden secrets about her. That's why I lured her into coming here and thanking our stars that you are still here to guide us. So please, if you would help me, I would appreciate it so much,” Kai said.

“You act like you weren't here before her. You know how this thing works. You would first have to do some rituals before anything else, and in finding it, you would have to use her blood to do it,” Matera Elara said. “What? I'm certainly not doing what she just said now, okay? Kai, you know why we are here for me to survive and achieve what was taken from me,” I said.

"And you wouldn't get it if you don't first know yourself and control yourself. You actually don't know what you are made of, which is why you need to see it for yourself and not be told, and you should obey any others I give if you are willing to know what is ahead of you,” Matera Elara said.

“Can I have a word with her for a few minutes in private? I would just have to talk to her about it,” Kai said. Kai took me to a corner inside the tower, and it was obvious he was to convince me to use my blood as a ritual.

“I know you might not be able to trust her because this is your first time here. Rasha's training is working perfectly for you, and I must say you are actually a fast learner, but you have to be an exception here, okay? You have to just trust me this once and believe that I wouldn't do anything to hurt you,” Kai said. As I looked at him in remorse, I needed to trust the process and follow his advice.

What secrets lay hidden about me? Matera Elara's words hung in the air, leaving me with more questions than answers. Who was I, really?