Voidstalker

Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Essence Battle

My mother led Lorelai and I through the cracked stone path that paved the way toward our house. Our home was situated at the outskirt of our town, Willsden, surrounded by green pastures, canopies of trees, and blooming flora of all kinds and colors.

The path to our house connected to the path that led across the outskirts, leading to the forest from one side, and to other settlements on the other side.

Bordering the path, stone rods that looked like torches glowed with faint golden light, but no flames could be seen. I asked my mom about them some time before. Apparently, they served to repel monster. Whether they shielded us from them or if they were repelled them, I did not know.

On our way to town, we passed by lumberjacks, hunters, millhands, and other types of people while on their way to work. They bade us a good morning and continued walking to their destination.

Our community was peaceful from what I've seen. We did what we had to survive and refrained from cursing our lot. We weren't exactly poor, but we weren't rich either. We just kind of... lived.

Our house was only five minutes away from town, so it didn't take long to walk there.

Willsden was a relatively small town, pretty much a cluster of stone and brick buildings that were reinforced with wood. Paths streaked through the different quadrants of the town. People milled about, shops and stands began opening up, and small birds roosted on buildings, unbothered.

A crowd was beginning to converge near the middle of town. They consisted of mostly children—all about my age—followed by their parents. At the front of the center, there was a modest wooden stage. People wearing robes were standing on it, speaking amongst themselves quietly.

Excited conversations were happening when we got there, the people waiting for the ceremonies to start. There were set dates for each Spirit Summoning Ceremony, but this one happened to be on our birthday.

"Nervous?" Mom asked my sister and I.

"A bit," Lorelai admitted. "What if I don't get a good Spirit?"

"A strong Spirit doesn't necessarily mean a strong Mage, Lorelai," our mother said gently.

"Besides, we have powerful Mages as parents, so it's not likely you'll end up weak," I said to my sister, shrugging.

"You don't have to be so matter-of-factly," Lorelai pouted.

"What? I'm just telling the truth."

"Loosen up, dear," my mother hugged me from behind, stroking my hair. "You're a child. You should be excited. Enjoy your life a little more."

"What makes you think I'm not?" I lightly smiled, enjoying Mom's embrace. There's nothing that relaxes you quite like a mother's hug.

"Stop being so gloomy," Mom kissed my head. "There might be cute girls here, you know."

I flushed slightly. "Mom, I'm seven!"

"There's the childishness I'm looking for." She grinned and released me.

I looked at Lorelai, who was trying not to laugh. I glared at her, daring her to.

She stuck her tongue out. "It's fun to mess with you."

"Shut up."

Our mother giggled and rubbed our heads.

We spoke for a few more minutes, before a burst of wind coming from the stage interrupted us.

As the gale subsided, I spotted a glimpse of two figures. It cleared completely a moment later, revealing my father and a man I'd never seen before.

My father was a well-built man with light-brown hair, kind of like caramel, that was tied back into a ponytail. But features were so sharp that you could not confuse him for a woman at all. His eyes, though, were the only features that radiated any sort of warmth. They were gray-silver, like mine. He wore a gray coat that only reached to his hips. His lips were quirked up into a smile.