Mathea blinked, and for the first time, the suffocating darkness around her seemed to lift. The vision of King Rhyan faltered, then vanished completely, leaving her standing in the clearing, unburdened. She glanced at Jea, gratitude and something softer in her eyes. "Thank you."
Finally, Jea turned to Athena, whose trial had pushed her to the brink of breaking. Athena stood still, her face pale, as though the forest itself had drained her of her strength. She had battled nightmares in the deepest caves of her mind, but this forest—this place of darkness—had been a trial unlike any other. The threads of her magic—strong, but tangled—had begun to fray. She was more than just a warrior; she was a protector, and the weight of every life she had failed to save now pressed heavily on her shoulders.
Jea's heart ached for Athena, whose strength came from her fierce loyalty to those she loved. And so, Jea reached out. "Athena," she called softly, her voice cutting through the fog of guilt and fear. "You've never failed anyone. You fight to protect. That is who you are."
The shadows around Athena flickered, shifting and twisting, as though they could no longer hold her captive. The weight of her guilt began to lift, unraveling in front of Jea's touch, as if Jea's very presence had given Athena the permission to forgive herself.
Jea's magic wrapped around Athena's heart, soothing the restless threads, weaving them back together with peace. "It's okay to let go," Jea whispered. "You are enough, Athena. You always have been."
Athena closed her eyes, a single tear slipping down her cheek as the tension in her shoulders eased. The voices of guilt faded into the distance, leaving only the steady pulse of her heart. She opened her eyes and met Jea's gaze, her lips curling into a small, thankful smile. "Thank you," she said simply.
With each touch, Jea wove together their broken threads, their minds healing alongside their magic. She felt the weight of their souls—raw, delicate, and real—and she offered them the grace to move forward, to face what lay ahead. The trials had tested them all, but now, united by their shared pain and healing, they were stronger, more resolute.
The Warlock watched from the shadows, his face unreadable. Jea's magic had done what he thought impossible: it had bound them together, not with power, but with something far more dangerous—trust.
"You've passed the test," the Warlock said finally, his voice hollow and strange, as though echoing from a distant, forgotten realm. The words hung in the air like a warning, and the wind whispered through the trees, as if urging them to listen carefully.
"Remember," he continued, his tone darkening, "trust can be your greatest strength, or your greatest weakness. Proceed, if you must, but know this: Lord Anjo is not a foe you can defeat with heart alone. And he is the least of your problems."
Jea's brow furrowed. She crossed her arms, her sharp eyes narrowing. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, her voice edged with uncertainty and concern.
The Warlock's dark gaze seemed to pierce through her, as if assessing her very soul. "Lord Anjo isn't just your enemy."
Athena, ever the skeptic and quick to anger, snapped back with disdain. "Someone's behind Lord Anjo?"
The Warlock's voice grew deeper, heavy with the knowledge of things better left unknown. "Yes. But I couldn't tell you who. And there are even greater forces after the power of the princess phoenix."
Mathea stiffened at the mention of the phoenix, her mind racing as the weight of the prophecy settled further into her chest. The princess phoenix... She looked at the group, her heart thudding painfully in her chest. This was all far worse than she'd imagined.
Jea sighed deeply, clearly exasperated. "Why am I not surprised?" she muttered, rubbing her temples in frustration. "So, um, Sir Warlock, sir... what do you know about Lord Anjo? We didn't come here for your cryptic silly riddles or some dark game."
"Silly?" The Warlock's voice suddenly boomed, shaking the surrounding trees, making the air vibrate with a power that was both terrifying and awe-inspiring. "You think this is a game?"
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," Jea said quickly, her hands raised in surrender, though her annoyance was still palpable. "It's not silly, but really, what's the catch?"
"You still don't understand, do you?" The Warlock groaned, his voice dripping with frustration. "Your trials were meant to test your power, to unlock what you've yet to realize about yourselves. You may not feel it now, but trust me, your powers are growing stronger with every challenge. You have only just begun to tap into what you're capable of."
Juan, who had been silently listening, smirked and crossed his arms, clearly skeptical. "Yeah right," he muttered, his tone laced with disbelief. He had always been the pragmatic one, reluctant to embrace anything he couldn't see or touch.
Mathea, however, understood. She could feel the subtle shift in the air, the tension that hung between them. She closed her eyes for a moment, the words of the Warlock stirring something deep within her. She didn't know if she believed it fully, but she knew one thing for sure: this journey wasn't just about surviving. It was about becoming something more.
When she opened her eyes, her gaze was steady, more confident than before. "We're ready," she said, her voice strong and clear, the weight of leadership settling on her shoulders. "We'll face whatever comes next, together. And we'll do it as the people we were meant to be."
The Warlock's eyes flickered with a strange approval, though his lips remained tight, as though reluctant to admit anything. "You will need that strength," he said, almost to himself. "Each of you has a power within you. Jea, you have the ability to heal, to mend the very essence of life itself. But be careful. The power to heal is not only a gift—it can be a curse if misused."
Jea looked up, her eyes flashing with a quiet intensity. She had always known her powers were rare, but hearing it from the Warlock gave it weight. "I know the consequences," she said softly, a quiet strength in her voice. "I won't let it control me. I use my abilities to protect, not to destroy."
The Warlock turned his gaze to Athena, his eyes narrowing with a knowing look. "And you, Athena. Your strength is unparalleled. You possess more power than you realize. But your strength isn't just physical. Your resolve, your heart—it's what will carry you through the darkest of times. Never forget that."
Athena stood tall, her posture unyielding as ever. "I don't need to be told twice. I'm ready for whatever this world throws at me," she said, her voice filled with fierce determination.
Finally, the Warlock turned to Mathea, his eyes softening, though there was an unmistakable weight in his gaze. "And you, Mathea. You are the leader here. But it is your connection to the four elements that will be the key. You are the bridge between the realms—the fire, the earth, the water, and the air. Each element is a part of you, and you will wield them like a true ruler. But remember this: with great power comes even greater responsibility. Do not let them consume you."
Mathea felt the power of his words sink deep into her soul. She had always known she was different, but hearing it spoken aloud made her realize the full magnitude of her destiny. She nodded, her expression steady. "I'll bear that burden. For the world, for my friends. We won't fail."
The Warlock gave them one last long look, his expression unreadable. "Remember," he said, his voice quieter now, almost like a whisper. "Lord Anjo is only the beginning. There are darker forces at play. Forces that will stop at nothing to see the realms fall. Be vigilant. Trust one another. That is the only way you will survive."
With that, he stepped back into the shadows, disappearing as silently as he had come, leaving the group standing in a heavy silence.
Jea, Athena, Juan, and Mathea exchanged glances, each of them absorbing the enormity of the Warlock's words. They had always known the stakes were high, but now they understood just how much was on the line.
Mathea looked at her companions, her voice steady. "We've been tested. We've learned what we're capable of. And now, we will face whatever darkness is coming. Together."
Jea nodded, her healing abilities now more vital than ever. Athena clenched her fists, her strength and resilience sharper than before.
And Andrie, though still doubtful, knew he could not turn back now. The time for hesitation was over. They were bound to something far greater than themselves.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the air heavy with both the weight of their journey and the silent promise of the unknown, Mathea felt the urge to speak. It had been brewing inside her for a while now, the burden of truth that she had yet to share with her companions. It was time. She had kept it secret for far too long.
The silence among the group was thick, each person lost in their own thoughts, but when Mathea finally spoke, her voice was quiet but firm. "There's something I haven't told you," she said, her tone shifting, taking on a gravity that made them all stop in their tracks.
The others turned to her, sensing the change in her voice. Athena's gaze narrowed in curiosity, Andrei's usual confidence faltering, and Jea's quiet attentiveness grew even more intense.
"Something important. Something that ties us all together," Mathea continued, pausing for a moment, as if the weight of the revelation pressed heavily on her chest. She glanced at the dark, looming trees around them before speaking again. "The prophecy. The one I was raised with… the one I was meant to fulfill."
Athena raised an eyebrow. "A prophecy?" she asked, her tone skeptical but intrigued. "What do you mean?"
With a deep breath, Mathea reached into her pouch and pulled out the delicate scroll that had been given to her by the elder from the cavern. The scroll was old, the parchment worn and faded, but the intricate symbols etched upon it were still clear. She unrolled it carefully, the ancient script glimmering faintly in the moonlight.
"I need to tell you both something important," Mathea began, her voice steady but heavy with the knowledge she was about to reveal. "This prophecy... it's tied to everything we're doing.
"Wow and you are telling us now!" Jea said with irritation, "Just now?"
"I'm sorry but I know it's the right time to tell you about it." Then Mathea let the words spill out, each one more momentous than the last.
"Under the blood moon's glow, three shall rise: blade, crown, and cure. One shall fall, one shall give, and one shall become."
"The prophecy speaks of a time when the kingdom will be on the brink of destruction, and only the princess of Phoenix, born of fire and light, will rise to restore balance. But not alone. The princess must be guided by three chosen ones—warriors bound by fate, by magic, and by love. Together, they will face an ancient evil that threatens to tear the realm apart."
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle over the group. Andrei's expression softened, his understanding deepening, while Athena's interest was piqued despite herself. Jea stood quietly, feeling the subtle magic in Mathea's words, the threads of destiny intertwining.
"I am the crown, Jea, the cure, Athena the blade," Mathea continued, her voice steady now, though the weight of the admission still hung heavily on her. "But there's more. The prophecy also speaks of the Princess Phoenix—the one who will rise in a time of great need, whose power is intertwined with the fates of the three warriors. The Phoenix is said to hold the key to the kingdom's salvation, but it is not just any phoenix—it is tied to a nest, hidden in the farthest reaches of the world. And that nest... it holds the missing eggs. The eggs of the Phoenix."
Jea blinked in surprise. "Phoenix eggs? But... why are they missing?"