Canya, a young woman in her twenties, was the firstborn child of Thomas Kent and Alicia Whimper. Her birth, as Alicia's first daughter, made her exceptionally special. Her mother belonged to a unique bloodline, endowed with a special gift passed only from a mother to firstborn daughter.
Canya's fair skin, silky hair and elegant demeanor spoke volumes of how she was treated: a princess. Indeed, she was so special, that even after her siblings were born, she received more food, lay on the largest bed, had the most spacious room, got everything she asked for, was taken to see the world more often than them. She was extraordinary, and her parents made sure everyone who knew her was aware of it.
At eighteen, she fell deeply in love. But her parents dismissed the man, deeming him unworthy of their precious daughter. Heartbroken, Canya struggled with their decree, that she was disheartened for days. Yet, she had always obeyed their counsel no matter how much she hated them. She was meant for greatness, they insisted, and entanglements with men of "low value" would only hinder her destiny. So, she let him go and waited for someone truly worthy.
Now twenty-one, Canya vividly remembered a day one year ago. She and her mother were picking berries in the fields, so engrossed in conversation that they didn't see it. Until there was a small eerie pause before the wailing of her mother had showed them what it had done, it had bitten her, leaving behind two glaring bloody marks on her left calf. As she fell into unconsciousness, she had mumbled words Canya had paid enough attention to get. She had lifted her head to see what it could have been, nothing apart from the movements of leaves ahead could be seen.
Canya cried for help, but no one was close enough to hear her. She was forced to carry her unconscious mother home to her father, a notable sorcerer who surely could help. Upon seeing his beloved wife, her father yelled countless incantations, but the serpent's venom had already seeped into her vital organs. She was beyond saving.
"Prophecy and her sister," Canya cried, as her father's efforts proved futile. "Those are the two things Mama mentioned before she lost awareness."
"The marks are from fangs. But their depth and size show that something bigger than any snake I know. Did you see it? Did you see what bit her?" Her father, sweating in panic had asked.
Canya had tried remembering, but what it was that had done it couldn't just come to her. The hairs of her arms stood on end, a sign that danger had been lurking around. "No, I just heard her scream, and before I knew it, the thing had vanished."
"Whimper, come to me. You are stronger than this. Fight." The man had cried, holding his poor wife in his arms. "You even mentioned the prophecy, then the time is near, fight, dear, fight, so that we see the time together. Do not let me see this without you."
Canya did not understand what he meant, but she was determined to find out. She was good at getting what she wanted, after all. She had asked later on, she had not received an answer though.
Three days later, her mother died, leaving her father and three younger siblings to navigate life's challenges. Just before her mother passed, her father had sworn to avenge his beloved wife.
Canya couldn't understand why her father believed her mother's death was anything but accidental; as far as she knew, she had been bitten by something, supposedly venomous. But, as her father suggested, whatever had bitten her mother could have bitten anyone. The fact that it went for her mother, and disappeared without trace after suggested that it had been sent, by a powerful someone.
A year had passed, and the perpetrator was still at large. There had been suspects, but no substantial proof held any of them accountable. The strongest suspect was Canya's maternal aunt, her mother's only sister, a witch in her own right. The fact that she was one of the two things her sister had mentioned last couldn't be insignificant. Nevertheless, like all other suspects, there was nothing strong enough to link her to the crime.
Canya's father remained determined to find the killer. Even after a year, he hadn't given up. The more he investigated, the higher the number of suspects grew. Two weeks ago, however, he had paused his mission to find his wife's killer and instead focused on what he termed 'the time.'
"What do you mean by 'the time'?" she had asked.
"The time for the prophecy your mother mumbled to be fulfilled." He had smiled, the first genuine smile she'd seen on his face since her mother died.
"You've never told me what it says." Canya countered. She had asked her father about it countless times, but he'd always been elusive. She had failed to understand why.
"You were never meant to know about it, not until it is fulfilled."
Canya knew there was nothing she could say to persuade her father to reveal what he was unwilling to share. The more he refused to share with her, the more frustrated she felt about the mystery shrouding the prophecy. She had therefore cajoled him adamantly, but like a rock lodged in the ground, his will wouldn't budge.
She had, therefore, for a period sneakily followed her father in most places he went. She listened to every conversation he had with people, friends and strangers. She had even walked, more than thrice in that horrible hut of his, just to find an answer. The more she failed to find an answer, the more her determination dwindled until she gave up. She had decided to wait for the time her father had spoken of, when the prophecy would be fulfilled.
For two weeks, he had been spending more time away from home. When he returned, it was late. The rest of his time at home was spent under a tree where he had built a small hut. The hut was meant for his sorcery matters. The loud incantations that rumbled from within all the time showed much.