As darkness gradually takes over the light of the day, the moon chased the sun away, shining brightly above the snow-covered ground; the outskirts of Lune Forest glittered in the cold rays of the moon. A man draped in a black cloak, his chest bulging, was holding something dear.
With an air of caution, the man trudged into the forest passing the bare trees that mark the edge of the forest. Trees alongside him, filled with leaves as he enters the forest, carefully following a route he had once taken four years ago with his team. Fortunately for him, the forest was not as thick as it was during spring or summer, the rays of the moon faintly light his way as he picks himself through the forest heading deeper into the centre. He knows very well that at this time of the year, hunters roamed the forest hoping to catch a stray rabbit or an unfortunate fawn; he knew that if they were unlucky, they would end up as the hunters’ winter food.
He was a sword user, not a magic user but lucky as he was, Esmelralda, a friend of his is a magic user who had kindly taught him a little about Concealment Charms. He muttered an incantation to cover his scent, hoping very much that it has work, he never was a great practioner of magic back in his school days, and he nearly flunked Basic Magic.
* * *
Deep in the centre of Lune Forest, a small cabin was situated in the middle of a fairly large clearing.Around it, rocks lined the side of the clearing, separating the forest and the glade. A man of strong built was outside the cabin, he was a man in his late twenties, he had a well-built stature as he picks up his axe chopped a small piece of log he had placed onto the tree stump in half. He was about to repeat his action when he stop, he looked at the forest, he sensed magic, it was faint but without a doubt, it was magic, he put down his axe and approached the forest,’ Who is it, Orion?’ asked a gentle female voice, it was his wife, Esmelralda who had come out of the house when she sensed magic.’ I don’t know, Es...the one thing I know is - ’’ He’s not the enemy? I know...’ Esmelralda cut into Orion’s sentence causing him to smile at her, the soft rustling of dried leaves brought Orion’s attention back to the black mass in front of him, the rustling grew louder yet soft, ’he’ who was approaching tried to keep his footsteps soft but to the ears of the couple, it was as loud as the clanging of a bell. The both of them waited as a familiar figure emerged from the shadows, he pushed his hood down and gave the couple a small smile, he was tired, a lot has happened and he has tons of things to tell his two best friends. A broad grin appeared on Orion’s face, Esmelralda was smiling as well, Orion walked to his friend,’ Ry!’ he exclaimed excitedly, hugging Rymon who was however hesitant, Orion noticing this, gave Rymon a look of enquiry, Rymon took from under his cloak, a night blue bundle, Esmelralda approaches Rymon and asked anxiously,’ Whose is it?’ Orion looked at her, puzzled, not understanding what she meant. The puzzled face turned into astonishment when Rymon opened the bundle gently to reveal a small chubby face.
"A baby!?" shouted Orion in surprised, the baby has a tuft of dark brown hair, red cheeks and was sound asleep. Rymon put his finger on his lips asking Orion to keep it down,
"I’ll explain when we go inside..." he said pressingly, understanding Rymon’s tone, they went into the warmth and light of the cabin, allowing Rymon to see both of his friends properly for the first time in months. They look exactly the same as they were before they were dispatched here on a mission, Esmelralda with the same almond-shaped face, wavy dark blue hair and, vibrant green eyes and Orion with his hard features and strong built. They look just as they had when they were back at Ryvalla in their official robes. The thought of Ryvalla stung and he braced himself to do what he had come here to do.
Orion stared at his friend as Rymon took a seat, a dark veil hung over his face that was haggard and tired, there was cut on his left eyebrow that was not there before. It looked fresh.
"I...Ryvalla would like to call upon your responsibilities as godparents and take in this child, our only hope," Rymon had expected the change in the couple’s attitude at the mention of Ryvalla and his subsequent words was a blow, "She is Demetrius and Juliana’s,"
Both of them stood up in surprised, Esmelralda gasped and Orion pushed his hair back, "Look here Rymon, are you saying that this child is Ariana?" Rymon nodded, "Her birthday was just yesterday!" exclaimed Esmelralda as though trying to reverse what had been done. "Where is Demetrius? Juliana?" Orion asked urgently, Rymon shook his head sadly and look down onto the floor, holding Ariana as close as ever. Tears rolled down Esmelralda’s eyes while Orion sat down in shock. Rymon was past crying, he had shed his tears enough and there was no need for more of it, Esmelralda lifted Ariana from Rymon’s arms and stroke her face, "Where is Azael?" she asked hoarsely, guessing the answer even before Rymon had answered, "Taken..."
***
- Seven years later -
Rymon Myster approaches a small cottage which was surrounded by small acres of farm land situated at the edge of Ilu village. As he drew nearer, a little girl ran out of the cottage and slam into him with a big hug, Rymon chuckled and bent down to look at the girl. She was eight years old with dark brown eyes, long auburn hair and a small and fair round face, before Rymon can greet her, she had started to exclaimed happily,
"Uncle Ry! You’re back!"
"Hello Ariana," he chuckled, "How are you?" he asked, he had not seen them for a month now as he was away on some errands, he stopped by his inn before he came here, to see his wife and children. Ariana held Rymon’s hand and practically pulled him into the cottage,
"Welcome back Rymon," greeted Esmelralda with a relief, "Uncle Ry! Uncle Ry! Have you gone to the inn? Did you see the new tables Aunt Kyla had gotten? Did you see the decorations on the walls? Did you -"
"Woah, woah, hold on a second, Ariana, I know how excited you are, but I can’t answer all of your questions all at once, you know?" said Rymon laughing, "It’s yes to all, now I have matters to discuss with your parents," said Rymon as he turn to look as Esmelralda,
"He’s at the farm, should be home any minute now," Not soon after, they heard the back door click and a voice issued from the back, "I’m home, Es!"
"Rymon is back," Esmelralda said as Orion emerges from the kitchen. Orion turned to his friend and grinned, before he could greet his friend, he was hugged by Ariana, "Papa!" she shouted, Orion stroked her hair and answered softly, "Yes, Ariana..." He looked up at Rymon and greeted him, "Welcome back, how was the trip?" Rymon hesitated and looked pointedly at Ariana. Esmelralda and Orion understood at once, "Ana..." Esmelrada called, Ariana released her father and went over to her mother who knelt down to talk to her, "Ana, why don’t you go out and play at the farm?" she suggested, Ariana shook her head and asked, "Can I go to the Creaking Oak instead?" Esmelralda looked at Orion and Rymon who both nodded. "Alright, you can go to Uncle Ry’s inn," said Esmelralda, Ariana squealed in delight, "But! You have to be careful and don’t talk to strangers, do you hear me?" warned Esmelralda. "Yes, mama..." answered Ariana as she opens the cottage door, she waved to her parents and uncle, and then she was off to the streets.
*
Although she was small, Ariana is quite nimble. She was running through the streets of Ilu, she ran past cottages while waving at the occupants, zip through alleys and reached the Village Square, the center of all activities within a span of a few minutes. Ariana slowed down and browse through the stalls one by one when she reached a bustling inn built right beside a large oak tree. The sign read ’Creaking Oak’, Ariana stepped into the hustle-bustle of the inn and headed to the counter and shouted, "Aunt Kyla! Aunt Kyla?" but her aunt was nowhere to be seen. Ariana stood where she was and looked around the inn for the signs of her aunt. Amidst the throngs of humans, Ariana’s eyes rests on a tall figure who sat upright in her seat, her skin white as snow, her hair the colour of a raven’s coat, her features are strikingly beautiful that both men and women could not keep their eyes off her. It took Ariana awhile before she notices the other features, the pointed ears and the silvery eyes that had now turned to gaze at her.
As though she knew someone was watching her, Haereldes turned around and noticed a little girl, who reminded her strongly of someone long gone, watching her. Haereldes smiled and was rewarded with a big smile, she beckoned Ariana to come to her, "Hello, little one, what are you doing here alone?" she asked. "This is my aunt’s inn," Ariana answered, Haereldes looked closely at Ariana and wondered to herself, "Kyla’s niece? Could she be..." her train of thought was disrupted when Ariana asked as politely as she could, "What are you doing here, miss?" Haereldes smiled, "There is someone I am waiting for, and the stars had told me to be here at this hour to meet her,"
"The stars talked to you?" Ariana asked curiously, Haereldes smiled and nodded, "Yes, little one, there is much to be gained from stars, they have lived longer and further that anyone else,"
"What else do they tell you?" Ariana asked, but before Haereldes could answer, "Haereldes, I don’t think I have the drink you’re fond of, I’ll order them today," said a voice as she emerges from the basement behind the counter, Kyla looked at Haereldes and saw Ariana beside her and said, "Ah, you’ve met our little Ariana," Haereldes smiled, "Yes, a curious and intelligent child she is," Kyla nodded in agreement, "She’s the one."
"Thank you, would it be alright if I brought her to the Well of Truths?" Haereldes inquired, "It should be fine but you have to ask her whether she would go with you, she has a mind of her own on these matters," Kyla answered with a chuckle.
Haereldes turned to Ariana and smiled, "So little Ariana, are you interested to come with me to the Well of Truths?" Ariana thought for a while and beamed, "Yes, please!"
Haereldes smiled and stood up, "Kyla, I’ll be taking her," she said turning to Kyla who nodded.
"Come, little one," said Haereldes as she held out her hand, Ariana took it and followed Haereldes out of the inn.
***
"You seem anxious, the trip did not go well, did it?" Esmelralda asked, Rymon hesitated and sat down before he opened his mouth to tell them the bad news. "The jewels...well...they’re gone..." Orion and Esmelralda froze. "What do you mean gone? Alexei had been guarding them for god knows how long!" Orion exclaimed loudly, "In fact his whole tribe had been guarding them for more than a thousand years, the jewels can’t have just disappeared," Orion added, "Calm down, Orion," Esmelralda said calmly, "There’s more to this...isn’t it Ry?" Esmelralda asked.
Rymon nodded, "Alexei said that the jewels disappeared in the morning, their tribe noticed bright lights from where the jewels were kept but none of them could enter the sanctuary, it was as though an invisible barrier was formed to prevent them from entering," Rymon explained, "Alexei speculate that it was the jewels that created the barrier. When they were able to enter, only one jewel remained..."
"The jewel of the spirit, isn’t it?" Esmelralda asked, Rymon nodded, "It seems that the jewel wanted its owner to be found, Haereldes is already at the inn waiting for the right person," Esmelralda sighed, Orion looked at them both and recalled a distant memory, "It seems...her prediction had begun..." Esmelralda stared at Orion, "It seems to be so..." she sighed.
* * *
- Ten years ago -
Esmelralda ran along a beautiful archway made of marble, she was almost out of breath when the person she was looking for was walking towards her,
"Orion!" she shouted desperately as she reaches him and held his opened arms, "It’s Haerelhar...she needs to speak to Demetrius and Juliana..." she said gasping breath, "It’s urgent...it...it’ll probably be her last..." Esmelralda sobbed, without a word Orion rush back the way he came to fetch Juliana and Demetrius.
Demetrius was at the throne room entertaining his subjects who had came to complain and provide suggestions about their farmlands, towns and occasional attacks from trolls and giants. He finally dismissed the last peasant who came with a gift of chickens for his royal kitchen when his wife, Juliana walked in.
"Something is afoot...something feels wrong..."said Juliana worriedly, "The air, it feels dead; the trees are still...there’s...there’s death in the air..." she ended dejectedly, Demetrius was silent, Juliana had always been able to sense what was to come.
"Sire!" a voice shouted, Demetrius turned towards the voice and found Orion rushing in urgently, "Haerulhar needs to speak to you...it’s seems that she has reach her time..."
Demetrius looked at Juliana, their eyes met, Demetrius stood to join his wife and friend, "Let’s hurry before she leaves us forever..." he said as he swept out of the room and into the courtyard that leads to Rua Temple. They were silent as they went their way, they had expected it but they had always secretly hoped that this day will never come.