Acadia Restoration

Chapter 19

 Jade casted a protective bubble, so they wouldn't have to worry about a drenched campsite. Just as Serina had predicted, it had instantly begun to rain. They had set up camp on a rocky hillside. Atop the hill they could see the ocean. Black rocks jutted out from the crashing waves. Serina sat outside the bubble, letting the storm consume her.

"This place it's," Max thought about what word to use. "Comforting,".

"Comforting? Are you on crack? This place gives me major anxiety," Cristina joked.

"I mean yes it stresses me out but in a good way," Max tried to explain.

"Like the chaos cancels itself out," Serina added as she entered the bubble. She was drenched and her hair in knots.

"Yes, exactly," Max breathed.

The group spent the day in the bubble. The storm was too violent for them to venture out. Inside the bubble it was quiet. Everyone took the opportunity to rest. Serina waited for everyone to fall asleep, which did not take long. The entire group was exhausted. Serina took a spare sword and strapped it on her waist. She tied her hair back into a braid before exiting the bubble.

She walked down to the beach and stripped. She pinned her clothes underneath a rock before she waded into the warm water. She felt the sword belted to her side before she shifted.

She sucked in a breath when she went under the water. In hindsight, it was a weird thing to do considering she had gills. Her eyes immediately adjusted to the murky water and she began to swim. Down and down into the trenches. The ocean was too quiet. Other than the sounds of fish and other things.. It was silent. She did not hear any of the other sirens. She eventually reached the grottoes--her grotto.

She swam inside. She barely got a foot into the entrance before a voice echoed, "Hello Serina,".

~~~~~

Leo had been trying for days to manifest his visions. Even though he had confessed they couldn't be controlled, his still wanted to "gear" them into the right direction. His focus was finding who killed Princess Stella Beath of Cira. It was the one thing Norah requested at the conference. Even though she had told him she wasn't serious about anything she had said, he knew she had been serious about that.

In all honesty he had no idea how to control his visions. They'd come and go as they pleased. He laid on his back, closed his eyes and began to meditate. He knew it was merely a coincidence when he entered a vision.

At first all he could see was light. It was blinding. Then as the light faded, an ecosystem emerged around him. Blissful greens shrouded the trees and grass. He was in a forest of sorts. He turned around to survey the area. He stood on a path that led to a village.

He followed the path to the village. The architecture was beautifully medieval, almost like Tierkan, but much older. However in this vision it would have been new. Unlit lanterns hung on posts around roads. They'd be lit once it was nightfall. He stared at the village's inhabitants. Thankfully they didn't see him, they couldn't; he was merely a spectator. They were fairies. They had pointed ears like Luna's and Hope's. Their wings were stunning. All of them butterfly, a few moth. None were identical.

Then he felt it. A magical pull towards a building. He followed the tug into the building. It didn't take him long to realize it was a hospital of sorts. He turned a few corners and into a small room. On a cot in the corner laid a man groaning in pain. He was covered with welts, his face turning blue like he couldn't breathe then he stopped making noise. A common girl ran in pulling an older girl's arm. The young girl had on scruffy clothes and her pale skin matted under a layer of dirt. The older girl had clean bronze skin, her dark hair falling in silky waves. She looked about fifteen, the younger ten.