Aiden and Elara stood frozen in place, staring at the young girl who had appeared out of nowhere, her curious eyes fixed on them. The glimmer of their magic—a faint hint of fire and ice—still lingered on their hands, and they both instinctively hid them behind their backs.
The girl tilted her head, her gaze unflinching. "You're not from here, are you?" she repeated, her voice soft but insistent.
Aiden forced a small, awkward smile. "Uh, you could say that. We're…visitors."
Elara cleared her throat, hoping to sound more convincing. "We were just… out here for some fresh air."
The girl gave them a knowing look, clearly unimpressed. "No one comes to the Shrine of Novia just for fresh air," she replied. "This is a place for magic, for those who need guidance."
Both Aiden and Elara felt the weight of her words. Here was a child, no more than twelve, speaking of the shrine with the kind of reverence only someone well-versed in its mysteries would have. She watched them both carefully, her expression somewhere between innocent curiosity and something far more knowing.
"Who are you?" Elara asked finally, her voice gentle but cautious.
The girl hesitated, her expression shifting as if she were considering whether or not to trust them. "My name is Seraphine," she said after a pause, her tone steady. "I come here sometimes to talk to the spirits…they guide me."
Elara and Aiden exchanged a glance, each caught between disbelief and intrigue.
"Spirits?" Aiden echoed. "You mean, like… ghost spirits?"
Seraphine shook her head. "Not ghosts. More like… echoes. Memories that are tied to this place. They don't talk in words, exactly, but they help people understand their own magic. That's what the Shrine of Novia is for."
The solemnity in her voice surprised both Aiden and Elara. They had thought of the shrine as nothing more than a quiet, secluded place to practice, but Seraphine made it sound like it held much deeper secrets.
"So, the spirits… they help people figure out their magic?" Elara asked, curiosity overtaking her caution.
Seraphine nodded. "Yes. But it's only the kind of magic that's… different. That's why I was surprised to see you here."
Aiden tried to play it cool, though his mind was racing. "Different how?"
She eyed them both carefully. "Magic here is usually simple—people use it to heal, to grow crops, to craft things. But the powers I saw in you," she said, glancing at Aiden's hand, "fire and ice—they're rare. And rare magic can be… dangerous. It draws attention, from both humans and demons alike."
Hearing this from someone so young only heightened the impact of her words. They had heard warnings about their powers from both Loran and the mayor, but Seraphine's description felt more real, more immediate.
"Why are you telling us all this?" Aiden asked, his tone softening as he looked at her. "You don't even know us."
Seraphine looked away for a moment, her gaze distant. "I know what it's like to be different," she whispered, almost to herself. She turned back to them, her eyes bright with something like understanding. "And I know that you need to be careful."
Elara, moved by the sincerity in Seraphine's voice, crouched down to her level. "Seraphine, do you come here often?"
"Whenever I can," she replied, giving Elara a small, shy smile. "The spirits are like friends to me. They understand things that no one else can."
Aiden was about to ask her more about these "spirits" when the distant sound of voices reached them. Seraphine immediately tensed, glancing back toward the trees. "I have to go," she said quickly, her voice a hurried whisper. "But… if you ever need help, come to the edge of the village, by the old well. I'll be there."
Before they could say another word, she turned and darted back into the forest, her small figure disappearing into the shadows.
Elara and Aiden stood in silence for a moment, processing the strange encounter. Aiden finally broke the silence. "Well, that was… something."
"She knew more about us in five minutes than most people do after weeks," Elara said, a mixture of amazement and wariness in her voice. "And she's only a kid."
Aiden nodded. "But she's right. We have to be careful."
They spent the next few hours at the shrine, focusing on their powers with a new sense of determination and caution. Each attempt felt slightly smoother, the elemental forces coming to life in their hands as they grew accustomed to the rhythm of their magic. By the time the sun had started to dip below the horizon, they both felt a strange combination of exhaustion and exhilaration.
On the walk back to the inn, their conversation was subdued, each of them reflecting on Seraphine's warnings. They had barely stepped inside the inn when Loran, who had been waiting for them, gave them a grave nod.
"Good," he said, studying them. "Tomorrow, we're heading out beyond the village for a patrol. There have been sightings, and it's time you two see more of this world than just these village borders."
Aiden's brows shot up. "We're going out… to fight?"
Loran gave a short, humorless chuckle. "More like observe," he replied. "Don't go getting any ideas about heroics. I want you both to watch and learn. Whatever you think you've seen so far is just the surface."
The words hung in the air as both Aiden and Elara nodded, excitement tempered by the reality that they were still novices in this world.
The following morning was damp and overcast as Aiden and Elara joined Loran on the road out of town. Their packs were filled with provisions and a few basic supplies, and their weapons strapped tightly to their backs.
As they walked through the countryside, Loran kept them close, giving them quick instructions on what to look out for. "The demons around here have their own patterns and habits. They're clever enough to avoid large groups, but if they catch someone alone or unprepared… well, that's when they strike."
He pointed to a set of claw marks scratched deep into a tree. "Fresh. This one was likely here last night, prowling close to the village. They're getting bolder."
Aiden swallowed, the weight of his blade suddenly feeling heavier against his back. "So what do we do if we see one?"
"Stay back," Loran replied. "Only engage if I say so. The goal is survival, not heroics."
They traveled deeper into the forest, the dense trees pressing in around them, casting long shadows across the path. Every rustle and movement seemed amplified, their senses heightened by the knowledge of what could be lurking nearby.
Hours passed, and they encountered nothing more threatening than a few startled birds. But as they ventured farther, Elara suddenly stopped, her gaze fixed on a strange shimmer in the distance.
"Do you see that?" she whispered.
Aiden squinted, following her gaze. Through the trees, he could just make out a faint, glowing aura in the distance, hovering low to the ground. Loran's expression darkened.
"That's a demon trap," he said, his tone low and wary. "It's a lure—a way to attract prey. They emit a faint magical pulse that draws people in. If you're not careful, you'll find yourself in the middle of an ambush."
Aiden and Elara exchanged a nervous glance, both silently relieved they hadn't wandered closer.
They backed away carefully, moving through the dense undergrowth as they continued their patrol. They didn't see any more signs of traps, but the tension hung over them, a reminder of just how dangerous this world truly was.
As dusk began to fall, they finally turned back toward the village, exhaustion setting in. The journey had been both uneventful and nerve-wracking, a silent lesson in vigilance and restraint.
When they reached the village, Loran looked at them, his expression unreadable. "Remember what you saw today. Demons are cunning, and they're patient. They'll wait for you to make a mistake. Don't give them that chance."
Both Aiden and Elara nodded, the gravity of his words settling heavily on them. But as they headed back to the inn, they couldn't shake the memory of the demon trap, its faint, alluring glow still burned in their minds.
Aiden paused just outside the inn, glancing at Elara. "Tomorrow, let's go to the well," he said softly. "We need answers about this place—and about Seraphine."
Elara nodded, a determined look in her eyes. "Agreed. Whatever's going on here, we can't keep walking in the dark."
They entered the inn, the decision made. Tomorrow, they would meet Seraphine and try to uncover the truths hidden in this world, even if it led them deeper into danger.