I can't believe how much evil an auracan expel, she thought as she ran to the building.
Swinging open the door, she headed for his study.
She hadn't seen him in a while—probablygone out for business, she thought, rounding the corners heading to his door.
With a knock, she let herself in.
With an internal sigh, she thanked the heavens he was around.
"Are you alright?" he asked, looking at her flustered face.
"Yes, I am—I mean, no," she stuttered.
Raising his brows, she continued,
"I saw things in the forest."
"The forest? What were you looking for there?"
"I'll explain later. Please, come with me."
On their way, she talked about the carvings on the trees, the dead animal, the eye, and then the writing.
His expression became unreadable.
"I see," was all he said.
Reaching the spot, the place was dead quiet with no stench of decay.
The carvings had disappeared—along with the dead deer.
"But there were here," she said almost to herself, as she looked at him silently pleading with him to believe her, but he didn't say a word.
"You have to believe me," she said as her shoulders slumped in defeat.
"I do, I believe you," he said, turning to her.
"I believe you, but there's nothing I can say for now.
I will definitely look into this," he said with a quick arm brush for assurance.
"Let's head back. You sure look like you need some rest."
— ✦ — ✦ — ✦ —
"You're quick," he said, glancing up at Kaelith.
"Yeah, you sounded really serious," he said, taking a seat.
"The Bloodfang pack has started out," he said between clenched jaws.
"She saw the signs in the forest but it was cleared by the time we got there, but there was no mistaking the dark aura coming from it with whiffs of magic."
Sighing, he raked his fingers through his hair.
"She seems distressed and there was a book that she clutched tightly."
A knock on the door cut him short.
"Hi, Kaelith," Aria said flatly.
"There's something I want to tell you," she said, turning to Ronan.
"There's this book I found in the hidden library on the second floor."
He looked at Kaelith as they shared knowing glances.
"I found it the first time I walked around the house but I got it recently.
It's like I'm being drawn to it and it's trying to tell me things."
"I saw a lady in the West vault in the library. She said she is my family's Oracle."
"She talked about the dangers ahead," she said, shutting her eyes as if gathering energy from it.
"I found myself in the forest after that with no idea how I got there."
He exchanged looks with Kaelith.
"This is so much more than what I bargained for," she said, sitting down to catch her breath.
"You'll be fine," he said, looking at her with softened eyes.
"Relax a bit."
"Alright," she said, getting up to leave.
"She looks worn out," Kaelith said with concern etched all over his features.
"Yeah, you're right," he said with a sigh.
"She must think she's hallucinating at this point."
"She must resume training in a day's time, even if it's not allowed. You'll do that, won't you?" he said, turning to Kaelith.
"Of course," he said, getting up to leave.
"One more thing," he said, turning to Ronan.
"Have you told her everything?"
"Not yet," he said with a loud sigh.
"Hmmm..." was all he could say before closing the door.
— ✦ — ✦ — ✦ —
"First the book, now the pendant," Lady Elira said in distress.
"I can't even remember the last time I saw it."
"Ever since I had that vision, things have gone missing."
"I definitely can't ignore the churning feeling in my gut."
"A lot of things are about to unfold."
— ✦ — ✦ — ✦ —
Nearly two hours had passed and I still haven't slept, Aria said, getting out of bed to look through the window into the forest.
She remembered the burning forest with the white wolf that seemed like her memory... but an inherited one.
Her thoughts drifted to the last forest encounter with those strange markings.
She had felt light, as if power surged through her, but heavy enough to be planted on a spot.
Sighing, she walked back to the bed, thinking of what to do to ease the tension in her.
Seeing the book, she picked it up. It felt different this time... heavier.
And the writings became clearer—readable.
Reading the first page, she figured it was a diary.
Dear diary,
It's another day that seems like déjà vu.
Everyone's been talking about the prophecy since last week it was announced to all.
Flipping to another page:
Dear diary,
Today was quite eventful, I learnt how to ride a horse.
It was both terrifying and exciting.
I thought I would fall during each gallop.
Dear diary,
There's this guy at school, I think he likes me and I like him too.
I can feel my heart beating in my mouth.
It makes me feel so giddy.
The last page was different:
Aria, I know it's you,
And I'm sure you have found out who you truly are.
Thank God you found my diary, there's magic in it.
It contains knowledge for you and things about me I'm sure you might've read.
Place your hand on this page and hold onto it—you'll see my pendant in it.
It'llprotect you so always put it on.
I love you so much and I'm sorry.
Mom
Between tears, she reached out and took hold of the bloodstone.
"It's so beautiful," she muttered.
The dark green gemstone looked like olive with the light reflecting on it with red spots.
She held onto it like a life support, placing it on her palm.
It shone brightly, giving it a teal tint.
Walking to the mirror, she put it on.
The green of the pendant effortlessly blended with her eyes, giving it more edge.
The air shifted, adding a supernatural rhythm to it.
She felt a shadow in her reflection, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
Then, with a soft whisper, a voice wafted to her ear:
The bond is complete.
The seal has now being broken.