The Elders' Secrets

Five

Aquila's PoV

I was finding it harder and harder to not look back at The Wandering Light. Something about them seemed off.

When I couldn't resist the urge anymore, I snuck a peek over my shoulder and found them staring straight at me. I fell over in surprise.

Eri caught me. "What's wrong?" she asked, and I pointed to The Wandering Light, at a loss for words.

Eri glanced up and nearly dropped me. However, she managed not to, and instead helped me to my feet.

I felt my face heat up under my mask.

"Guys!" Eri yelled.

Vela glanced over her shoulder. "What is it?" she asked.

"We think someone's watching us."

Eri's PoV

At first, I had thought that the trials would be easy. I thought we would go through and come back normally. I didn't know that there were other children outside of Sanctuary. I was taught that we were the only ones.

But then, as The Wandering Light stared at us, my thoughts began to change.

Maybe there are others.

But is The Wandering Light the only one?

How many more are there?

Are there entire other civilizations out there that we just don't know about?

Do the Elders know?

"ERI!!!! Lyra yelled in my ear, and I stumbled, but Aquila caught me. My face heated up under my mask.

"W-what?" I asked, quickly standing from Aquila's arms.

"She asked if we should keep going or see what The Wandering Light is doing," Aqua said. "Personally, I'd really like to leave their stare. It's... freaky."

"I dunno..." I answered. "They might be... important?"

"Hi," someone said, and we all glanced in the direction of the new voice, finding The Wandering Light right there.

I shrieked, covering my eyes with my hands as their glowing body blinded me.

"I'm sorry," they said, moving my hands off my eyes. "I forgot to turn off my glow." In front of me stood a child with very poofy pants-poofier than Aquila's-and hair tied back in a long braid which nearly reached their feet. They wore a cloth on top of a grey mask and a light yellow cape.

"Who are you?" Aquila asked, placing a hand protectively on my shoulder, "What do you want?"

"It's not what I want," The Wandering Light said. "It's what the prophets want."

"The prophets?" Vela asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Spirits," The Wandering Light said. "Almost as old as the Elders. They've been waiting for you."

"That's not creepy at all," Lyra said sarcastically.

"You may think so, but when you're their apprentice, you get used to them telling the future all the time. It's not that uncommon."

"How many of them are there?" Aqua asked.

"Uhh... four."

"Guys, come over here," Vela said, motioning us away from The Wandering Light. I followed my friends towards her.

"Can we trust them?" Aquila asked.

"I'm not sure," Vela said. "But if what they're saying is true, we should probably go see the prophets."