Prism Of Lovers

29

No one's pov:
"Looks like you made it...didn't think you were capable of reaching the place."
Everyone looked around to see where the voice came from.
Under a tree, there sat an old, frail man. He had traditional tattoos inked over his body, his beard was unbrushed and he was glancing at a crow that sat calmly on his finger. He had a wooden staff in his hands.

He got up and glanced at the seven friends smirking. He turned around and said. "You know why you entered the forest. But I know why you entered the other side of it. So...follow me." He took a step when Skyler asked. "How do we know that you don't have any wrong intentions?" The old man looked back and said. "Because only I know how to get you all back safely to the other side."

He wasn't wrong. If it wasn't for this man's reassurance, they'd be stuck in this place. They had no other choice but to follow the man. Everyone looked at each other hesitantly. "I guess...we should go." Violet said. "Yeah...we have to try our best to get things out. We've reached here...let's face it." Morris said. "I agree. Let's follow him." Nathan nodded and began to take steps, holding Skyler's hand.

Morris linked his arm with Urban. Violet and Veronica held hands while David wrapped an arm around Veronica's waist. They followed the old man. He kept looking at them from time to time to see if they followed him or not.

David felt himself slipping and fell on the ground full of dried leaves and branches. He didn't realize but he fell with Veronica on top of him. "What the hell Davie?!" Veronica whispered feeling suddenly shy at being on top of the boy in front of her friends and especially that strange old man. David winked at her making her punch his chest lightly. "You need to be careful children." The old man looked back at them. He smiled a little and chuckled under his breath muttering a sentence no one would hear- "young love...so fragile and beautiful."

They kept walking until they came across an old yet beautiful cottage.

The crow that was on the man's staff, flew to Nathan and sat on his shoulder. The old man glanced at the back and smiled a little. "Looks like she likes you." He chuckled in his frail and grumbling voice. "She?" Violet asked. "Yeah...that's Sora." The old man opened the door gesturing the seven friends to follow him. "Sora...that's a nice name. What does it mean?" Morris couldn't help but ask. "Sora means sky in Japanese." Everyone nodded at the cute name of the crow even though the man couldn't see them.

"First of all...my name is Kaage. And I know all of your names. So it is completely acceptable if you don't reintroduce yourselves." The old man, Kaage said laying out some extra chairs for the seven. "How do you know our names?" Urban asked. "You kids these days really forget that magic does exist. Don't you?" Kaage chuckled at the pale faces. "Magic...?" Veronica whispered. He didn't answer and gestured at the seats.

"Take a seat. I'll bring something for you all." The friends took a seat on the couch and a few chairs spread in the small cottage. They glanced at the shelves and tables of the man's possession.

They knew he wasn't an ordinary man. He looked mysterious and really suspicious. Yet they had no choice. "Guys...are we making a mistake by coming here?" Urban whispered. "No...I mean...could be. But we have no choice Urban." David whispered back. The old man returned in the room with a tray of glasses in his hands. For such an old man, he was quite strong and steady. He kept the tray on the table, making everyone glance at the drink that was offered to them.

Everyone looked at each other finding it very hard to believe that the drink wasn't spiked or something. Kaage chuckled lowly under his breath. "It's butterfly pea tea. Don't overthink. Why would I want to jinx the only opportunity of getting myself out of this gruesome curse?" He sat on a chair and gestured them to drink the tea. Everyone hesitantly nodded yet sipped on the beverage.

It indeed was tea. The seven friends sighed and began to drink the tea. "Curse..? What curse?" Nathan asked. "It's a long story.." the old man trailed off. "That's what we're here for. We want answers." Veronica said. "Yeah. We need to know." Violet agreed. Kaage coughed and leaned a little forward. "Well then...I'll tell you from the very beginning. But first, I want you all to trust me. You seven are the ones who would embark on a journey that will give me freedom, and the two...justice. I want you to know that you aren't alone. I'm here to guide you."

"The two?" Nathan asked tilting his head to a side. He was confused.
"Yes....the two."

~who were those two the old man was referring to?