I grasped the Shadowbane from the table and turned around, searching for the old woman.
"I'm back!" I exclaimed.
"Where are you? I have the
Shadowbane!"
My voice echoed through the cottage, breathing heavily with anticipation. I paced restlessly, wanting to step outside but the thought of the dark figure that had chased me to the cottage came through.
"I thought she would help me," I muttered to myself, feeling frustrated and abandoned.
As time passed, I received no response from the woman and became desperate for answers, I began searching the cottage for any alternative, which lead me to the shelf.
While rummaging through the shelves, I stumbled upon a sparkling vial hidden between books. I picked it up, wondering what it was.
And a thought crossed my mind.
"What if i take this potion together with the shadowbane, will I gain magical powers? Then I can save my parents without her help."
I pondered the idea, but my confusion grew. "How does it even work? What are the consequences?"
In frustration, I exclaimed, "Whatever!" and opened the vial. With the cap removed, I hesitated for a moment before tilting the vial to pour its contents into my mouth...
"Don't!" a voice exclaimed, distracting me from taking the potion. It was the old woman's voice.
Fortunately, I didn't get to taste the portion. Immediately, I closed my mouth and tightened the vial's lid.
"So, you have been here all along," I said in a relaxed tone.
"I have kept my word, I brought you the Shadowbane. Now it's time for you to keep your promise.
You told me to be rest assured that my parents would be saved. You are capable of doing so, right?"
Without a word, the woman extended her hand, and I placed the vial containing the potion on her hand.
"Here." I said.
"Child, your parents are safe," the woman finally spoke.
I asked curiously,
"How can I believe you? I can't even leave this place, and what about those dark figures, What happened to them? They had my father surrounded."
The woman replied,
"You have no choice but to trust me."
"And do not trust anyone, child, never! Not even your parents." She added.
I questioned,
"Who are you to tell me not to trust my parents?"
"So, does that mean that I shouldn't trust your words as well?"
The woman warned,
"To you, I might be a nobody, but those two might be after something else.
So, be-care-ful."
I feigned ignorance regarding the woman's warning and rather sought clarification
"You said it's clear outside right? So, I can leave without any harm now?"
The woman nodded,
"Go, child, you're safe. Hand over my knife too."
I returned the knife, then asked. "What's your name? I'm truly... grateful."
The woman replied, "I'm Zhangil, the witch. Stay safe, don't linger down there for too long. You have got a long journey ahead of you."
I barely registered Zhangil's' words, my mind fixated on reuniting with my parents. I grasped the door handle and opened the door, then stepped outside and proceeded home.
Shortly, I got home peacefully.
As I flung open the door, a warm, comforting glow surrounded me.
"Father! Mother!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with excitement. The door creaked shut behind me, and I was held into a tight embrace by my parents.
But as they held me close, I noticed something was off.
The atmosphere inside felt tense and oppressive, like something was about to erupt.
My parents' smiles also seemed forced, their eyes were darting nervously around the room.
"Darling, we're so glad you're home,"
my mother spoke very calmly. though, her voice was a little filled with a sense of urgency and worry.
My father cleared his throat, his eyes seeming to avoid mine.
"Yes, everything's okay now, as long as you're safe sweetie." He said, trying to hide the truth.
But despite the reassurance, My instincts sensed something was wrong. I felt like my parents were definitely hiding something from me.
As they stepped back, I saw weird symbols carved into the walls, glowing with a faint light. A symbol I had never seen before.
The air felt strange and supernatural, giving me goosebumps.
"Mother, father, what's going on?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
My parents looked at each other anxiously, they noticed my recent mood after realizing the symbols. and for a brief moment, I thought I saw a hint of fear in their eyes.
"Nothing, dear,"mother said hastily. "Just a... just a little protection. to keep us safe." She stuttered.
But, I knew I was being lied to. And as I looked around the room, I realized that I might not be as safe as I thought.
My mother who had been down with a mysterious illness before I left, now seemed perfectly fine. No signs of weakness or fatigue, just a bright, almost forced smile.
And my father, who had been so worried about my mother's health and me did not even ask about what had happened to me afterward, just an uncomfortable silence.
"Mother, you're... are you okay?" I asked, trying to hide my confusion.
My mother nodded, her smile faltering for a moment. "Yes, dear. I'm fine. Just a little... rest did me good."
My eyes narrowed. Something wasn't right. Her mother's illness had been severe, and now she seemed completely recovered.
"Father, what's going on?" I asked, turning to her father. "You're not even asking.. about what happened to me."
My father cleared his throat, avoiding eye contact.
"We'll talk about it later, sweetie. Let's just focus on being together now."
This alone, the change of subject made me wanting to know what it was they were hiding.
I studied my parents' faces, looking for any sign of lies. But they showed no emotions. So, I asked more questions, with a slightly suspicious tone.
"You're not telling me something. What's going on? Why are you both acting so strange?"
Upon asking that, my mother's smile immediately dropped, and my father looked away nervously. The atmosphere felt tense.
Soon, my mother changed the subject to avoid answering my question.
"Aria, sweetie, let's just enjoy this moment," my mother said, sounding anxious.
But my instincts refused to let go. I knew something was off. they were hiding some secrets from me.
I recalled Zhangil's words. "Trust no one, child. Not even your own parents."
Those words now began to create suspicion and distrust regarding my parents since they were refusing to say anything.
I felt scared and my heart continued to race.
I definitely hoped it wasn't the case.
I wondered what my parents were hiding. While doing so, thoughts about what happened before I left hit through. My mother was sick with unknown illness. my dad acted strangely enough too, now that I thought about it. And even the recent weird symbols on the walls too.
Just then another memory surfaced, a conversation I had overheard between my parents talking about a hidden legacy. My heart skipped a beat as the pieces began to fall into place.
"Tell me the truth," I demanded, my voice was firm. "What's going on? Is it about a legacy?
I overheard you both talking about it, didn't mean to eavesdrop though."
For a second, I noticed my parents exchanged a worried look, and also saw fear in their eyes.
"Aria, dear, it's complicated," her mom began, but Aria cut her off.
"I do not care if it's complicated. I just want the truth."
My father sighed, rubbing his head. "Fine. But you have to promise to listen with an open mind."
I nodded eagerly, my heart pounding with anticipation.
And then, my father began to speak. he revealed a shocking family history, Magics, and a destiny that I could hardly understand.
"You see, Aria, our family has been in possession of this powers for centuries,"
her father continued, in a calm tone. "It's a secret that could change everything once you are in full control."
Now seeming engrossed, fidgeting, and my heart racing with eagerness to hear to the end of it.
"We're not who you think we are, we are like... a guardian." my mom added, her eyes locked on mine.
"Though I gave birth to you, we are your parents but our duty comes first. we have been waiting for a day to reveal this to you.
We were told our child will be destined for a great destiny to save people. And we were tasked by our people to bear a child soon. That our child would be the one to hold the key to unimaginable power."
My mind reeled as I listened to their story.
They discussed about an ancient culture, one that mastered and skillfully controlled natural forces like air, water, and fire.
"And you, Aria, are the last living heir of this bloodline."
father said, his voice was filled with a mix of emotions.
I felt a sudden intense shock, my mind went blank and couldn't process my thoughts.
Like my whole world had been turned upside down.
"What does it mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
My parents exchanged a nervous glance.
"It means you have a destiny to fulfill," mom said.
"A destiny that could change the course of history."
My mind was reeled, Everything felt unreal to me, as if detached from reality. Like a dream that was quickly turning into a nightmare.
My eyes widened as I tried to process the weight of what my parents were telling me.
"What do you mean by 'destiny'?" I asked, with a slightly shaking voice.
My father took a deep breath before answering.
"You have the power to control the elements, Aria. air, water, fire. you can wield them all."
My mind was consumed, as I thought back to the strange occurrences that had been happening around me. The unexplained gusts of wind, the sudden changes in temperature... it all made sense now.
"But why me?" I asked, feeling a mix of fear and wonder.
My mom's expression turned serious.
"Because, Aria, you're the last true living heir. The one destined to wield the powers. You are the key to unlocking the secrets of the magic."
I felt a weight settle on my shoulders. So I was no longer just a normal girl, but a guardian of ancient power.
"What do I need to do?" I asked, trying to sound braver than I felt.
My parents exchanged a glance. "You need to learn to control your powers," dad said. "And then... you need to face what's coming." he added.
My heart skipped a beat. "What's coming?"
Mother's voice was barely above a whisper. "The Shadow Order. They've been searching for you, Aria. And they'll stop at nothing to claim your power for themselves."
My eyes widened as I processed the danger that was coming my way. "What's the Shadow Order?" I asked, my voice firm.
My father's expression turned serious. "They're a secret society that's been hunting down our family for centuries. They want to exploit our powers for their own gain."
I felt a surge of strength, seeming determined. "I won't let them," I said, in a firm voice.
My mother smiled, with a hint of pride in her eyes. "We know you won't, Aria. That's why we've been preparing you for this moment."
My mind raced as I thought about everything I had learned. I now knew I had a long journey ahead of me. but I was ready anyways.
"What's the first step?" I asked, my eyes locked on my parents.
Father nodded. "We need to get you to the ancient temple. It's the only place where you can learn to control your powers and unlock your true potential."
I nodded, my heart pounding with excitement and fear. I knew that this was just the beginning of my journey.
And with that, I thought within me, fixing Zhangil's words to make a meaning out of everything so far.
"I see, so this was what Zhangil meant... when she told me not to linger down for too long.
A long journey ahead.." I pondered.
And also, doubted herself.
"I hope everything turns out well." I muttered.
Again, I told herself.
"No, I know that I can do it, I have got this! FIGHTING!" I added, replacing my doubts with confidence.
****