Chapter 10: The Path Chosen
As the words left Elara's lips, she glanced at Ariella and saw a fire in her friend's eyes.
"Don't tell me you're giving up. Seriously? Just a few words from him and you're already backing down?" Ariella said firmly.
"Come on, Ela. Don't be a coward. Do you think the Queens would've chosen us if they didn't believe we could handle him?"
Elara blinked, then slowly nodded. "You're right. Maybe I let his words get to me. But… the glow back then. What do you think it means?"
"I think our powers are starting to awaken," Ariella replied. "Remember? The Queens said the stones would guide us when we were ready. But we didn't have the stones with us today—yet we still glowed."
They exchanged a look as they approached the point where they would part ways.
"Tomorrow," Elara said, "let's bring our parents to the forest. To the place it all began—with the stones."
The next day, they returned—this time with their parents. It took persuasion, disbelief, and earnest pleading, but eventually both families agreed to come. Ariella's words had planted seeds of curiosity and worry.
As they neared the familiar clearing, Mrs. Johnson noticed her mother-in-law had been quiet.
"Mother, you've been silent since Ari told us. What's on your mind?"
The old woman smiled. "I believe her. I always believed God wouldn't forsake us. When Ari was young and I told her the prophecy, her eyes used to glow faintly white. I thought it was imagination… but now, I know."
She touched Ariella's cheek gently. "My granddaughter is chosen."
Overcome with emotion, Ariella embraced her. "Thank you, Granny. That means so much to me. Mummy, Daddy—you should believe too."
Elara looked on, her mother gently holding her hand. Though skeptical, Mrs. Bristow had never doubted her daughter's spirit. Mr. Bristow, in turn, trusted his wife.
They soon reached the place where they had first found the glowing stones.
One question hovered in both girls' minds:
"How do we get back into the crevice? Last time… it pulled us in. And then, it pushed us out."
They locked eyes.
And waited.