𝔏𝔢𝔤𝔢𝔫𝔡 𝔬𝔣 𝔗𝔢𝔯𝔯𝔞𝔡𝔢𝔩 ✓

Chapter 3: The Mystic

"Well what do we do now?" Lilith groaned with frustration.

"We have no shelter, no food. We don't even know where we are," Holden added.

"And saying Terradel doesn't help us," Lilith shot quickly before Elliot had the chance to open his mouth again.

"Well, if you want shelter while you try to figure out what in the world happened to you, then I know a place," the blonde-haired boy grinned. "It's just by the woods at the edge of town. My friend lives there and she can also help you with getting home."

Kylian looked at the other for confirmation before agreeing to follow the healer. What other choice did they have? It was either this or wander around lost forever.

They crossed a rickety wooden bridge that connected from the cave to the woods. A huge lake ran under it that was filled with all different kinds of fish.

Lilith noticed the uncomfortable silence that followed them as they walked through the forest, so she asked Elliot a few questions.

"So you take after your father then?" she asked politely.

"Yep! I would love to be a healer just like him someday. He helps me practice with different medicines. It's more like I'm his apprentice than son, but we have a strong bond. My mother died years ago from poisoning when she received the wrong medicine, which is why my father took up that career. How about you?"

"Oh. Well my dad and older brothers are in the military so I don't see them alot. Besides Kylian, it's just me and my mother. We're not very close though. She's always away on business," Lilith informed.

"The military? We don't have an army here," Elliot sighed. "There are no other villages, so everything is peaceful."

"What about your form of government?" Kylian put in. "There's no democracy?"

"Democracy? I've never even heard of that word," Elliot answered, moving a branch out of the way that flung and hit Holden square on the nose.

He cursed under his breath before ducking and continuing on his way.

"We have a ruler if that's what you mean," he added. "Lord Demetrios is a fairly laid back ruler, but there aren't many troublemakers around anymore. He's an older man and usually has his nephew taking orders. They are well-liked and live in the middle of town. It's the most lavish house, but not what you would call a kingdom that you might read about in books. How about Holden?"

"I'm the governor's son," Holden shouted, scaring away a bird nearby.

Lilith knew how Holden felt about mentioning his family affairs. Holden felt alot of pressure to follow the rules and do everything for his best interest. Believe it or not, his father was a selfish man who would manipulate any information to make him look like the best governor.

Elliot didn't seem to notice the tension that was held in Holden's tone, but it didn't matter anymore because a small hut could be spotted not too far away.

It was a small building made out of what appeared to be some sort of grass or straw. Knocking on the wooden door, Elliot called out "Adri!" a couple of times.

"I'm coming!" a gentle and feminine voice called out. Opening the door, Lilith saw a beautiful girl around their age with ginger red hair tied in multiple ponytails and sparkling green eyes. Her front hair was braided in a crown.

She wore a green dress with a brown cloak that hung down to her knees. Adri had a small smile planted on her rose-colored lips.

"Ooh new friends. Hello," she introduced. "My name's Adrianna."

The others stuttered out their names while she invited them inside. It was a small and cozy place. Lilith noticed almost immediately that every wall contained a shelf filled with either books or potions.

"I'm the village's mystic," Adri explained. "People come to me if they find themselves in strange events, which must be why you all are here."

Elliot explained their situation to his friend before she nodded like it was no big deal.

"I've never had this happen before, so we'll have to take a daily trip in the village," she told them, putting the hood over her head and ushering them out the door.

"Where are we going miss?" Lilith asked.

"Why to the place where we can find all the answers," she answered, giving them a tinkling laugh. "The library!"