With his hands joined together in a contemplative gesture, Richard took a deep inhale, his face turned towards Diana.
"All the paths I have come across?" Richard whispered to himself; his voice barely audible.
"Anything that could be of help," Diana urged, searching his eye for any hint of revelation.
"There were islands," Richard said aloud, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
"The islands?" Zack interjected, his curiosity piqued as he leaned forward.
Diana moved closer, her voice dropping to a hush. "What about the islands did you see?" she asked urgently,
"It was hard actually to see what's going on there... but it was an extravagant town like Celestia," Richard said, his tone sheepish, as if embarrassed by the vagueness of his vision.
"Hmm... So that's all you could see," Diana said, a hint of disappointment creeping into her voice as she stepped back, her expression thoughtful.
"So we still need to wait for the others to find out what's going on there," Henry said, his voice breaking the brief silence that had fallen over the group.
"I saw something else," Richard said quickly, his eyes widening as if the memory had just surfaced.
They all grew still, every pair of eyes fixed on Richard, waiting for him to reveal the details.
"Two ladies and the moon," Richard said, his eyes shut as he recalled the vision. "The environment was filled with tall, thin, and dark trees, white fog spreading across the landscape. The moon stood above it all."
"What about it makes you think this is important?" Diana questioned, her voice probing yet gentle.
"W... well," Richard stammered, feeling shy and embarrassed under their expectant gazes.
"Don't doubt yourself," Aspens assured him, her voice firm yet comforting. "You weren't given this gift for no reason. If you feel this information is important, then it is."
"Yes, Richard. Tell me why you think this is important, and give us more information on the ladies," Diana said, smiling softly at him, her encouragement easing his apprehension.
Richard took a deep breath, drawing strength from their support. "Something about the moon felt off... It wasn't like the one we see in the night sky. It was pitch black, lacking its white glow," he said, his voice trembling slightly as he recalled the unsettling sight.
Diana hummed in thought at his revelation, her brow furrowing.
"A black moon... I'm not even surprised anymore," Henry said nonchalantly, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.
"I know that whatever is happening is associated with the moon cycles," Diana informed them, her tone measured and thoughtful. "But I have only heard about the full moon, not this."
"One of the ladies lay on the solid ground, her back against the earth, eyes wide in shock as she gazed at the other lady." Richard continued, his voice filled with a sense of wonder and unease. "The latter stood tall and commanding, holding flares in one hand and a dagger in the other, while two large black dogs stood faithfully by her side. Her long black hair was veiled in white... She felt... otherworldly, at least, that's the impression I got." he said.
"Does that draw any ideas for you, Aspens?" Zack asked with a light chuckle.
"Never heard of that," Aspens said, her face filled with awe.
"I'm not done," Richard said. "The lady on the ground called her Goddess Hecate, as she pleaded to her to help the land and its people."
"Goddess Hecate?" Zack said, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
"I think she's the one that may have given us this magic; she did feel like a Goddess, not human," Richard suggested.
"A goddess?" Aspens laughed. "That's absurd! How can one lady be the reason for our magic?" She shrugged dismissively.
"Yes, I'm with Aspens. Maybe she works for the Islands," Diana said, trying to rationalize the situation.
"Hold on!" Henry exclaimed, his voice breaking through the discussion, filled with amusement. "This is Richard's vision. If he thinks that, then maybe she is a Goddess."
"And let me remind everyone again," Henry continued his tone firm.
"Lucas can control darkness, Richard can predict the future, and there was a secret culture hidden from the land for years. But you draw the line at a Goddess?" Henry shook his head incredulously.
"When you put it like that... I guess it doesn't sound off," Zack said, starting to see the bigger picture.
"Okay, let's all assume it's true... Who is the lady pleading to her?" Diana asked, facing Richard.
"The lady seems human; I have no idea who she is," Richard replied, his brow furrowed in thought.
"Emily and Lucas would probably know about this Goddess," Henry said, a smile playing on his lips.
"And Thalia," Aspens added, not wanting the young girl to be left out.
"You all are still forgetting about one person... Eric, anyone?" Zack chimed in.
"Emily?" Richard said slowly, his eyes squinted in thought, a realization dawning on him.
"Is something wrong? You seem shocked by the name," Diana said, her face curious, the others also turned their attention to Richard, anticipation building in the air.
"I have heard that name... But I can't remember where... My visions always seem to fade," Richard said, his brows furrowed in concentration. "But I feel like the name is important somehow."
The group stood in silence, the weight of Richard's revelation hanging in the air. Emily, her presence holds significance to the mystery.
Diana broke the silence with a light chuckle, a hint of excitement in her voice. "I knew having a northerner would come in handy... I trust the others to find what they need to find."
"Well, Emily's aura seems really strong as well," Aspens added, her voice thoughtful. "I've never seen a northerner, so I don't know if that's normal."
"Hmm, I hope they are alright," Henry whispered to himself, his expression reflecting his concern. He knew that with Emily potentially being targeted by the Islands,
"Thanks, Richard." Diana thanked him with a warm smile, her eyes reflecting genuine appreciation. Richard returned her smile sheepishly, feeling a mix of pride and embarrassment at her gratitude.
"We still need to get back to the ship," Diana reminded them, her tone becoming more serious as she shifted focus back to their mission. "And you're coming with us, Richard."
"W... what?" Richard stammered, his eyes widening in shock. He hadn't expected to be included in the next phase of their journey.
"Hell yeah!" Aspens exclaimed, her voice ringing with excitement. She threw her arms up in the air, her face breaking into a wide grin. "I'm not the odd one out again!"
Richard, still processing the sudden change in plans, glanced around at the group. "Where are you, or we, going?" he asked curiously, his brow furrowing in thought.
"We are still heading to some villages before we finally head to the North," Diana said, her voice steady and confident.
"You said that Emily is from the North, right?" Richard asked, his face deep in thought as he connected the pieces.
"Yes, we did," Zack answered, nodding affirmatively.
Richard hesitated, a look of inner conflict crossing his features. "I don't think I can follow you all, at least not now," he said apologetically. "My village may still need my help, even if the lord does not appreciate it."
Aspens, though visibly disappointed, gave Richard a supportive nod. "We understand."
Richard's eyes brightened with a sudden resolve. "But, I can try having a new vision, especially one about the North." His face reflected determination. "It could help you in your journey or give more insights about Emily."
"That will be useful," Diana said, her tone appreciative.
"Well, this is actually going to get difficult. I can't really force a vision." Richard chuckled lowly. "I may actually lose some part of my memories."
"What? Part of your memories?" Henry exclaimed in surprise.
"I have limits," Richard admitted, his expression turning serious. "I can't remember some of my memories. I still need to learn how to control it."
Aspens looked concerned but also curious. "Does it happen every time you have a vision?"
Richard nodded. "Sometimes. It's like parts of my past get fuzzy or disappear altogether. It's the price I pay for seeing the future, I guess."
Zack's brow furrowed. "That sounds not safe or good. Are you sure you want to do this, Richard?"
"I don't mind... it's not like my memories are important," Richard said, shrugging it off.
"You should probably stay in the cave and set up camp," Richard suggested, his voice steady.
✨🌙✨
The team swiftly set up camp in the cave's heart, which was dry and empty as the villagers had already retreated deep inside for the night. Despite the darkness outside, the cave remained unlit except for the small campfire they made, casting a warm glow around them.
As they gathered around the crackling campfire, its warm glow flickering against the cave walls, Richard approached them with purpose in his step. The team turned their attention to him.
"We should move deeper into the cave," Richard suggested, his voice echoing softly in the cavernous space. "There's something I need to show you."
They followed Richard through the winding tunnels, torchlight on the hands casting eerie shadows on the wall. The air grew cooler and more humid as they ventured further, with the sound of dripping water echoing around them.
✨🌙✨
Finally, they arrived at a large chamber deep within the caves. Torches and flares illuminated the walls. In one corner, a makeshift bed made of blankets and furs lay on the ground, while a small barrel stood nearby, likely used for storing supplies water dripped down from the ceiling, splashing onto the ground and the bed, leaving wet puddles everywhere.
"Huh," Aspens said aloud, her voice echoing slightly in the chamber. "Is this where you sleep?" she asked, her tone tinged with sadness.
Richard turned to face Aspens, noticing the sadness in her expression. "Yes," he replied softly. "Everyone in the village is sleeping in a cave... There's no need for the sad face," he assured her.
"The other ones seem fancier," Zack commented sharply, his hands folded as he looked at Richard.
"Seems they do not like you," Henry added. "And they don't even know about your powers yet."
"Anyway," Richard said, trying to change the topic. "This is where I have my visions."
"I always light up candles before I go to the crossroads, so take some from the barrels and light them up, and put them in a circle," Richard instructed, the group nodding as they gathered the candles.
Richard went to the barrel and picked up bread, placing it in the middle of the circle of candles.
"What's that for?" Aspens asked as she lit up the last candle.
"Crows are usually at the crossroads. I need their guidance, and bread helps," explained Richard as he sat in the centre of the circle, holding the bread in his hands.
The others stepped out of the circle, watching him curiously.
"As I said, these may be difficult, as I wasn't given any new signs to seek out a vision, so it may not work," Richard reminded them.
"We could be a sign, can't we?" Diana said.
"I guess I never thought of that," Richard replied, intrigued by the idea.
Richard let out a deep inhale as he closed his eyes, holding the bread in his hand. The cave grew silent, the air thick with anticipation. Minutes passed, and nothing happened, making the atmosphere awkward.
"How long does this take?" Henry broke the silence bluntly.
"It doesn't take long," Richard said, his voice calm. He took another deep breath and entered a meditative state, his body relaxing as he signalled that he had entered the crossroads.
The group watched in awe as Richard's breathing steadied and a faint glow surrounded him. The flickering candlelight seemed to dance in sync with his breaths. In the dim light, shadows shifted, and the air grew cold. A gentle breeze, impossible in the still cave, rustled the edges of their clothing.
"Seems that he has entered," Zack said quietly, his voice filled with a mix of respect and wonder.
"We stay and wait... in case he may need our help," Diana informed them as they all sat down on the ground, keeping their eyes on Richard.
"I'm getting blankets," Aspens said, rushing out of the room as the temperature dropped, the chill seeping into their bones.
✨🌙✨
I opened my eyes, finding myself in a familiar yet unsettling environment. The air was thick with an eerie stillness, and a cold shiver ran down my spine. The moon above cast a dim light, illuminating the scene with a ghostly glow.
I stood before three paths, each one surrounded by tall, thin black trees surrounded me, their skeletal branches reaching out towards the moon, devoid of leaves and life. The fog that enveloped the area was dense and impenetrable, making it hard to see more than a few feet ahead. The silence was eerie, broken only by the sounds of the breeze and trees.
I held the bread in my hand, my eyes searching for any upcoming crows.
As I stood there, the silence was suddenly shattered by the cawing of a crows in the distance.
The bird descended, its black forms cutting through the thick fog that enveloped the environment. As they landed, the fog dissipated, revealing the clearing before me in all its eerie glory. I watched as the crow gathered in front of me, its eyes locking onto mine with an unsettling intensity.
I gently laid the bread in front of the crow, stepping back to give it space. The crow approached the bread, its beak delicately picking it up, smelling and inspecting it. Satisfied, it pecked at the bread once before lowering its head and raising one of its wings.
The crow covered the bread with its wing for a moment, and when it removed its wing, the bread was gone, as if it had vanished into thin air.
The crow then turned its back on me and shifted its head to the middle path.
'I guess that's the path,' I wondered in my mind, watching the crow intently.
Suddenly, the crow spread its wings dramatically and took flight, heading down the middle path. I ran after the bird, afraid of losing it in the darkness of the forest and the fog appeared again becoming thicker by the second.
After what felt like an eternity of running, I stumbled into a small clearing, surrounded by dense, towering trees. The fog swirled around me, thick and impenetrable, obscuring my vision.
I waited as I watched the crows anticipating the visions. The crows descended, its dark forms cutting through the fog like shadows in the night. With a flap of its wings, it began to dissipate the fog, revealing the scene before me.
As the fog dissipated, a scene unfolded before me. The forest was a lush tapestry of dark, bulky trees with vibrant green leaves, surrounded by an array of grasses, bushes, and flowers. Small cottages dotted the landscape, simple but charming.
The forest teemed with life. Men, women, and children went about their daily routines, tending to crops, gathering water from a nearby stream, and engaging in lively conversations.
The guards, dressed in sturdy armour, patrolled the forest with a strong sense of purpose. Some stood at the edge of the clearing, keeping a vigilant watch over the surroundings, while others walked along the paths, their swords at the ready.
I furrowed my brows, puzzled by the normalcy of the scene before me. This was not what I had expected to find.
Soon, I noticed a particular guard in the group a teenager like me, clad in the same armor as the others. By his side, a loyal black dog followed his every step, both of them patrolling the area with vigilance.
"Midnight!" A group of children yelled excitedly as they spotted the dog.
"Hey, hey! We're busy here. Midnight is on duty," The teenage boy said firmly, blocking the dog with his leg.
"Please, Mason," a young girl pouted, looking up at the teenage boy.
"It's not like anything is happening. You're safe in the North," a young boy mocked, but Mason remained resolute.
"A guard always keeps up his watch," Mason declared, his determination clear as he stood guard with Midnight by his side.
'So this is the North' I noted that in my head.
Midnight nuzzled Mason's head, a familiar gesture that instantly drew a smile from the young guard.
"You don't mind, do you?" Mason chuckled softly, his hand instinctively finding its way to Midnight's fur. "Alright, you can play with Midnight for a while," he said to the kids, his tone gentle and indulgent.
The children erupted in excitement, their laughter filling the clearing as they surrounded Midnight, who wagged its tail in delight. Mason watched the scene with a warm expression.
"Interesting," I mused, intrigued by the vision unfolding before me.
I noticed the crows sitting on a tree branch, its wings spread wide. I shook my head, understanding its signal to end the vision.
The crow stared at me, its gaze oddly human-like, before dropping its wings, as if in acknowledgment of my decision.
As I continued to observe the children playing with the dog, a sudden sharp pain shot through my head, causing me to instinctively grasp at it in agony.
As I tried to ease the pain, the flap of wings caught my attention, and the scene around me vanished, immediately replaced by the once dark and eerie environment. Despite the pain, I tried to look up, knowing the crow stood in front of me, still grasping my head in agony.
"You know the consequences of staying here for too long," the crow said, its voice strangely strong and masculine, leaving me in shock as I stared at it wide-eyed.
"Yes, I can speak," the crow continued. "You've already started losing your memories."
I groaned in agony. 'It's not like they are important,' I thought in my head.
"Why won't you think they are important when you can't remember them?" the crow asked sharply, its gaze intense.
'You can hear my thoughts,' I realized, preparing for it to answer.
"Yes," the crow confirmed. "Losing your memories is losing a part of yourself. You've seen what you need to see. Leave at once before you lose another one."
With a nod of understanding, I closed my eyes, preparing to depart from this strange realm of visions.
✨🌙✨
The scene around Richard faded as he closed his eyes, the pain in his head slowly subsiding. Before he knew it, he was back in the cave, surrounded by familiar faces.
"Are you okay?" Diana's voice broke through his thoughts.
"Y-yes," Richard stammered, his gaze shifting to the unlit candles and the scattered candle wax on the cave floor.
Aspens handed Richard a blanket, and he wrapped it around himself, feeling a chill despite the warmth of the cave.
"What did you see?" Henry asked, his expression curious.
"I was in the North... The only thing I noticed that I think is important was a black dog and a teenage guard named Midnight and Mason," Richard informed them.
"Mason?" Zack said, his eyes widening in recognition.
"You know them, Zack?" Diana asked, turning to him with a puzzled look.
"Mason is from Tauris, he just recently became a guard... You said they were in the north?" Zack shifted his attention to Richard.
"Yes, they were... The surroundings were peaceful," Richard said.
"Which means the villagers in the north are probably safe... That's good to know," Henry reasoned.
"Before the village moved to the North, Mason and Emily rescued an injured black dog from the forest," Zack informed.
"And I'm sure that's Midnight," Diana said.
"Okay, but what's so important in the visions?" Aspens exclaimed. "No offence, Richard," she added sheepishly.
"The black dog is important... But I don't know why and how," Richard concluded.
"Seems luck is on our side," Diana said.
"We should quickly head to the North and try to understand the dog," Henry suggested.
"And I'm coming too," Richard said.
"You're coming now?" Aspens questioned him.
"I have a lot to learn about my powers, and I don't think I can learn it here," Richard said, his eyes shining with determination.
✨🌙✨
The next day arrived, and the team stood in the centre of the cave, discussing their plans while the villagers of Mistol went about their daily lives around them.
"Everyone has carried all their necessities?" Diana asked, her tone brisk and efficient.
"Yes," Aspens responded for the group, her voice steady.
"Good, we still need to make a few—"
"Diana!" a voice called out, interrupting Diana mid-sentence.
The team turned toward the voice, spotting Talmai walking purposefully towards them. As Talmai approached, his eyes locked onto Richard, examining him with a hard, scrutinizing gaze. Richard flinched, the intensity of Talmai's stare making him feel exposed and vulnerable.
Diana quickly stepped in front of Richard, her presence a protective shield. "What do you need, Talmai?" she asked, her voice firm as she blocked Richard from Talmai's view.
Talmai's gaze shifted to Diana, his expression unreadable. "I need to speak with you," he said, his tone carrying an edge of urgency.
Diana's eyes narrowed slightly, but she stood her ground. "Then speak," she replied, her voice unwavering, making it clear she would not allow Talmai to intimidate Richard.
Talmai sighed in frustration before taking a deep inhale. "Where are you all heading to?" he asked, curiosity tinged with irritation.
"Huh? None of your concern," Aspens snarled.
"Aspens," Diana scolded her gently before turning back to Talmai. "To the north. Why?"
Talmai's expression hardened. "How am I going to get information on another attack... since you're taking the young boy with you?" he asked his tone a mix of frustration and concern.
Diana glanced at Richard, then back at Talmai, a hint of a smirk forming. "I thought you said that magic users are evil? Now you need him?" she responded, her tone laced with snark.
Talmai's jaw clenched, and he hesitated before replying. "It would be unwise for me to let go of the one thing that has kept the village safe this far," he reasoned, more to himself than to Diana. "I may not like it, but we need him."
Diana's gaze softened slightly as she realized the weight of his words. "Richard hasn't seen any visions about your village's demise. Just keep the village safe and protected in the meantime. Keep it low," she said, her tone more understanding.
Talmai gave a curt nod, his expression still conflicted, before turning away.
"If something bad is going to happen, I will inform you," Richard said, gaining Talmai's attention.
Talmai glanced at him momentarily at his comment before walking away from the team.
"That was nice to see," Henry commented with a soft smile.
"Let's start moving," Diana said, refocusing the team.
✨🌙✨
They arrived at the dry, empty desert and quickly began boarding the ship. Henry and Zack worked swiftly, and soon the vessels started to move, the desert shrinking into the distance. Richard stood at the bow, the wind tousling his hair, as he gazed at the open sea with contentment and anticipation.
"This is going to be fun, isn't it?" Aspens appeared beside him, startling him slightly.
Richard turned to her, his initial surprise giving way to a smile. "It's nice to have another magic user in the group," Aspens continued, her tone cheerful.
Richard's face lit up with a bright smile. "You're right, it is nice."
As the ship sailed forward, leaving the desert behind, Richard couldn't wait to see what kind of challenges would come their way.