Children of Prophecy

Astra: Chapter 10

I woke up with the sun shining on my face and the sounds of chatting people. The others were already awake. "Good morning sleepy head" Raphael greeted with a grin. I looked to see that everyone was packing their stuff . "Why didn't any of you wake me up?" I asked and was answered by Lynx "We didn't want to disturb you and it seemed as if you had a lot on your mind last night. Don't worry we packed your stuff". I nodded and from there on, our journey continued.

We walked and walked until we reached a dark forest with a haunting aura around it. It was cold and sounds of animals in the dark could be heard. We finally reached a place where there were to trees bended towards each other like an arch that began to entwine as it reached to the top. "Here it is" Tabitha said. "But there is just a tree there, nothing else" Basil and Raphael exclaimed. Tabitha ignored them and held her hands in front of her towards the arch and muttered a few words. A purple light shined and a weird vortex appeared in the middle of the arch. Tabitha then turned to us and said "Well, what are you waiting for? The harvest festival?".

One by one we all jumped through the vortex starting with Tabitha and followed by me, Lynx and the boys. We came upon a place where the sky was as dark as night and thunder roared through the black clouds. A few old looking lanterns lit along a path that we followed to our destination: The Storm Cloud cave.

It looked as haunting as it sounded from stories that were told. The shadow it casted when the lightning struck, withered plants hanging loose on the walls of the cave and the chills which it gave. We went inside and walked through it as if it seemed forever. The cave was dark and Tabitha, Lynx and I had to conjure a small orb of light to see what was in front of us. We came upon an opening to a place in the cave which held a bit of light, but bright enough to see what was inside. A small pond with a stone in the middle that had something scripted on.

We were about to get near the stone when the Shadow Weavers came and shielded the stone with shadows. They laughed while they flew around surrounding us and gathering us into a small circle. The Shadow Weavers finally stopped and asked "Who dares to trespass our cave?". Basil stepped forward and answered, "We mean no harm, we only need a clue for our next journey". Does he think that we can negotiate with them? They are Shadow Weavers! They only do something if there is something that gives them benefit. The Shadow Weavers barked a laugh again and said "If you pass our trial, we shall let you read the stone and we would also translate the scripture for you if needed". Here it comes. The trial I have been very anxious to know. "The trial will be answering a question: Who are you?".

Who are you? Is that the question for the trial? There must be a mistake, after all that is too easy to answer. There must be a trick to this, I thought as Raphael stepped forward to try and answered "I am Raphael, a Storm Raider of the Windy desert". We waited for the confirmation of the answer, but what they said next surprised us all "Wrong answer boy, now who are you?". How could it be a wrong answer. He told them who he was "Last chance or else you will suffer in the deep abyss of darkness" the Shadow Weavers warned. I thought quickly about the right answer and something came into my head. It might seem odd, but I'll take the chance.

"I am Astra of the Mythical Forest, Guardian of the Lake of Blancnoir and twin sister of the Prince of Alastar. Most importantly I am who I am, just Astra, nothing more nothing less for I do not need to be someone else I am not" I said with a determined face. The Shadow Weavers turned to each other and nodded accepting my answer. They removed the shield around the stone and let us pass, translating the scriptures on the stone in the process.

"How did you know the answer?" Spot asked me as I answered "I didn't. It just came to my head as if I was asking what I really was, if I was a guardian or a normal girl who lives in the woods". "It was a wise answer which you gave to the Shadow Weavers for it is not a question that sounds as simple as it is when it comes from Guardian creatures" Lynx said explaining my answer.

We then all took a look at the stone which said:

Look deep into me for I show what you desire,

Reflections of your most precious memories,

Your past and your future.

Look into me and I shall show you who you really are.

A new riddle. Where could it be? Basil turned to the Shadow Weavers and asked "Do you possibly know where this place is or what it is?". The Shadow Weavers shook their head as one of them answered the question "We apologize for we do not know what or where it is. A new trial awaits you, that is all we know". Spot was about to ask about the trial, but the Shadow Weavers suddenly flew around disappearing as we were back from where we started. We stepped back into the vortex to get back down on the ground. What happened next was too sudden as there were people with helmets or masks to disguise themselves pointed their weapons at us or had a magic orb ready to fire at us.