Casters [Extraordinary Series 1: Ongoing]

5.05 ✡ Found

7:15 AM
Grace's POV

    "These sandwiches smell amazing," Elias commented as he entered the dining room. I placed my cup of tea down, embracing the tranquility of the land. I have never slept as peacefully as I did in the past ten years. The snake on my iron cane came to life, its emerald eyes landed on the smoking bowl of onion soup Annalise placed in front of us.
    "Aren't you supposed to be eating breakfast in town with the girls? Those sandwiches are for us." My sister-in-law joked. Elias must have expressed a pleading look as Annalise rolled her eyes and chuckled. I don't blame him – I may be a good cook but Annalise has always been the better one. After all, the aroma in the air was especially hard to resist.
    "Just one bite," he pleaded. Annalise finally gave in. "Oh, alright. Have two," she said as she picked up a plate and handed it over to him. Elias finally let out a grin and sat beside me.
    "Raven and I will be heading to the woods this morning," I said after their conversation ended. I took a sip of the tea while my snake ate the berries willingly without my knowledge. "This land needs some serious protection." I sighed, circling my finger on the brim of the cup.
    It was true – I could sense that the dome my mother made wasn't as strong as she had always done it. She was gradually growing weaker since we arrived... but it has always been expected. "So, we'll be heading to the pillars."
    "Isn't your snake... well... iron?" Elias asked, eyeing the snake awkwardly. It turned to Elias and hissed, telling him to back off. I patted the snake's iron head and laughed softly. "It deserves such rewards for aiding me in my magic."
    The snake instantaneously turned to iron as soon as it was finished devouring the berries. My gaze landed on Elias, who was still munching on his sandwich.
    "Rumors among the casters in town that there have been Shadow Walkers in the area lately... here in Roussillon and the surrounding towns," I said with a grim expression.
    Elias froze. I knew I triggered an unwanted memory. Shadow Walkers are the casters who are pious in their belief – and that is to bring back Gideon. The Walkers all belong to a nefarious group known as the Elemental Court. The Court themselves are known for being devoted followers of Gideon who wish to live according to his views of the Caster world. They were in Louisiana when the fire took place 10 years ago. Elias put down his sandwich and sighed. "Are there any specifics?" He asked.
    "The head of the councils," I responded. "One is a light-bearer but he only casts lightning."
    "I can do that. What else?"
    "Crimson."
    He held his breath. Even Annalise knew this was dangerous. Crimson casters are the ones who control the blood. They can make their victim do anything they want. Fortunately, there are only three existing casters in the area who were given the gift. What's unfortunate is that one of them is a devoted Shadow Walker. Since we do not know the extent of this man's powers, we need to stand guard.
    I sighed, unsure of how to deliver the rest of the details.
    "He is also a wielder," I continued to say.
    "Wielder? As a Shadow Walker?" He said, expressing his uncertainty. "Wielders are supposed to protect the realm of casters, not cause more havoc than there already is."
    I regretfully nodded. Wielders are extraordinary people who lie between the boundaries of the Human world and the Casters realm. It's just unfortunate on our end that this boy's family are wielders who swore to protect the Elemental Court.
    "Wait," Annalise interrupted, "how is he a Crimson and a Wielder altogether? Isn't that forbidden?" I nodded, understanding where she was coming from. Wielders and Casters have always been told that mixing the worlds will cause unwanted chaos, especially with the power they could possibly hold. "It is, but in this Shadow Walker's case, he was born a caster and was then adopted by Wielders."
    "So, there are only two?" He asked, continuing the subject. I shook my head. "The last one would be a tamer."
    I saw him slump in his seat. "Tamer?" Elias groaned. Annalise shifted from her seat and looked at me. "Aren't tamers the ones who guard the creatures of the caster realm?"
    "Yes. But this girl made sure these creatures do as she says," I responded.
    "Well, what is she? I mean, her element."
    "Dark." I saw Elias nod from the corner of my eyes. "Okay, that's an easy one. Dark elemental tamer, meaning her creatures are of the underworld," he said, whispering to himself.
    I looked at the time and realized I had to take my leave with Raven. As soon as Raven entered the dining room, I grabbed my cane and stood up. Before I left the room, I looked back at my nephew and gave him a reassuring nod.
    "You'll be okay."

☽◯☾
8:38 AM

    "Did you cast a charm on that bracelet, Raven?" I asked him as we were walking into the woods, walking on the land our ancestors died to protect. I hold onto my veil, making sure that it doesn't come off in the breeze. Veils are what protects us casters who are involved with the mind and spiritual realm – protecting our energy, soul, and self from anything we face and connect with. I turned to Raven, who was wearing a button-up beige shirt with umber slacks covered by his mahogany-colored leather robe coat, gripping his wooden staff as we continued walking up. Despite living on the hill, my brother never ceases to amaze me with his lavish outfit choices.
    "Yes. I would like to tell you something as well..." He said with a serious tone. "I saw Vivienne wearing the Golden Sun necklace the night I gave her the bracelet." I stopped in my tracks and stared at him.
    The Golden Sun necklace is the gift of the Oracle herself to her vessels. The one who holds the necklace is the next oracle in line. But because I had to protect Vivienne, I kept away the necklace, sealed in a box along with the Liber Coelestium, or the Book of Celestials. It is the most powerful book in the realm as it holds all the magic in the world.
    "Are you sure?" I asked. He nodded in confirmation. "The pendant glowed underneath her shirt." My fingers instinctively intertwined, stopping myself from fidgeting. "Perhaps it was my fault," I said to him. "Vivienne and her best friend came across the box and found the book and the necklace. I did not bother looking for the necklace."
    "But do you have the book?"
    I nodded. "I brought it with me here." We continued to walk deeper into woods, towards the pillars in silence. That was until he broke it.
    "Shouldn't you be happy that our niece is protected by the Oracle, itself?" Raven asked me as he noticed the worried expression I had on my face. I sighed and shook my head. "She may be protected, but she is unaware of her powers. She might... Lose control of it again." I said, my voice trailing off.
    "If she will, she has us to guide her, help her understand..." Raven said reassuringly. I nodded, although disapprovingly, and then silence took over.
    We finally arrived in the deepest parts of the woods: the flowing river colliding with the rocks that formed a pathway to cross over to the other side of the land, trees dancing with the speed of the breeze; and to my right – the six man-made pillars of elements built by my ancestors to protect our land. I climbed on top of the boulder in the center of the altar and sat down, feeling its sharp and tough texture brushing against my skin. As I was about to start the ritual, Raven sat outside the pillars, chanting a spell. Raven was an Obscurious – specifically, the power of the underworld. But he does not cast his powers to their extent like he used to.
    Suddenly, the pillars lit up one by one, with each red flame connecting the pillars to each other.
    I now closed my eyes and took a deep breath as the last pillar lit up. The breeze around me carried me in the air. The noise of the rustling leaves began to grow louder.
        Spirit guides, hear me,
        Ancestors, come near...
    My eyes lit up and I began my spell.

☽◯☾
8:54 AM

    The fallen leaves rustled louder as the wind blew them, encapsulating me. The dome began to light up, its holes slowly mending. The flames of the pillars grew taller as Raven's eyes continued to glow red.
        In this world, we are healed.
        On these grounds, we are protected.
    I continued to chant.
        As we walk, the eyes see what we do not.
        We send back the energy we do not want.
    In an instant, the specs of grey dust in the wind turned gold, emitting an explosion invisible to the naked eye. The trees bent as the wind blew in directions opposite from where I floated. I gasped as I felt the energy of the land clear and felt the presence of those who walk on our land.
    Raven... We're not alone. I immediately said through the channel. Raven's eyes stopped glowing and the breeze immediately dropped me to the ground. I landed on my feet, the reunion with the ground being the last noise ever made before silence reigned.
    "Make your presence known!" Raven called out to the wind, his voice echoing.
    Hands were exposed from behind the trees, "Sir. It is I." He walked out of his hiding spot, showing his daggers with the symbol of the Rogues. My eyes widened.
    "How does a Wielder end up in this place?" I asked as I stood, guarded. He tucks his weapon back and makes sure to keep his distance. Raven squinted his eyes in recognition. "Dimitri?" He asked. The man grinned. "Raven."
    Raven grinned as he confirmed the presence of his long-time friend. "What brings you to our lands?" Raven asked as we walked towards Dimitri. I heard him sigh and his expression once again turned grim. "My son and I heard from Provence that there were Shadow Walkers nearby..." He whispered, his voice trailing off. I held my breath from the realization.
    They found us.
    They know.