Silver Rain

Chapter 25

Olivia stared, her mind barely comprehending the reality before her. Sarah's familiar face, framed by the soft glow of the fire, was a stark contrast to the mystical atmosphere surrounding them. This couldn't be happening. The one person she thought she could trust, the one person who was supposed to be separate from all this madness, was now standing in front of her as a prophetess.

"Sarah," Olivia whispered, her voice breaking. "How...?"

Sarah's expression was pained, but she remained silent, her hands still weaving intricate patterns in the air. The room seemed to hold its breath, the crackling fire the only sound breaking the heavy silence.

They were friends and had been for a greater part of Olivia's life. Sarah had been there through thick and thin, a constant presence of support and understanding. Seeing her now, shrouded in mystery and ancient power, felt like a betrayal Olivia couldn't quite process.

All those times they had been picked on or made fun of for their humanity, their shared experiences, the laughter, and the tears-they all seemed distant now, overshadowed by the revelation before her. Olivia's mind raced, memories flashing like disjointed scenes from a dream. She couldn't fathom how Sarah could have kept such a monumental secret from her.

Olivia wanted to throw up. Her stomach churned as she struggled to reconcile the person she knew with the figure standing before her.

Sarah waved her hand through the air, ribbons of color seeming to thread and knit themselves together, forming intricate patterns that shimmered in the dim light. Her expression was solemn, her eyes reflecting a depth of emotion that Olivia had never seen before.

The colors coalesced into a vivid image, a swirling vortex of light and shadow. Sarah's voice rang out, clear and resonant, as if carried by an otherworldly force. "The path you walk is fraught with peril. Darkness and light intertwine, and the choices you make will ripple through the very fabric of existence."

"Sarah, how are you here?" Olivia's voice was quiet.

Her words echoed in the chamber, each sentence a thread in the tapestry she wove. Sarah continued, ignoring her friend. "Three trials await you, each more daunting than the last."

Olivia slowly rose out of her chair, her movements deliberate and almost mechanical. Calvin dropped his hand from her shoulder, his gaze shifting between the two women with concern. The back of Felix's hand brushed against hers, his presence comforting.

"The first trial lies in the heart of the dark forest, where shadows whisper secrets and the trees guard ancient knowledge. Knowledge of the past and what might be the future," Sarah continued, her voice gaining a rhythmic cadence. "You must seek the old that lives the current."

Olivia's eyes widened, the vivid imagery of the prophecy pulling her into its depths. "Sarah, stop. Please,"

But Sarah didn't stop. "The second trial is where friend meets foe," Sarah intoned, her voice growing softer but more intense. "A place where loyalty is tested and true intentions are revealed. A transformation of self and others,"

Her heart was hammering in her chest, mind racing. Could Sarah not tell her this all before? When she emphasized to Olivia to not see the witches? When she was threatened against Ethan?

"The last trial," Sarah breathed, her eyes narrowing as if in deep concentration. The colors that threaded the air seemed to brighten. "A great battle looms on the horizon and goodbyes are shared."

Olivia's breath caught in her throat as Sarah's prophecy seemed to penetrate her very being. The weight of each word settled heavily upon her shoulders, mingling with the disbelief and confusion swirling in her mind.