Only Skeletons Remain

Chapter 35: Change In Plans

The four siblings arrived at the training grounds, excitement and nervousness buzzing between them. The day had felt different from the moment they woke up, an air of anticipation hanging over everything. Harper, Liam, Micah, and Andrew had grown used to their new surroundings, but today felt like it was going to be a turning point.

Sacarver waited for them, patiently sitting as her muscles twitched beneath her skin. Her ears twitched as Lisden and Listo softly talked among themselves, Lisden's small ears twitching every so often. The wolf-bishop got up, stepping towards the four siblings. "There's been a change in plans." She said, her tongue licking her lips a bit.

Andrew felt grateful he didn't have to translate, but he felt something weird that the bishops already knew their native language. He wasn't entirely sure how to feel, and he knew his siblings felt the same way. "What's going on?" He asked in Spanish.

"The High Council has decided what to do with you." Sacarver said, her tail flicking to point to the four figures staring back at the four siblings. "You will each be assigned a mentor, so you can learn to harness your skills and powers."

Harper shifted a bit, glancing at her brothers with narrowed eyes. This was weird. Why were they getting bishops? Were they scared they were going to leave? Where would they even go? She stayed quiet though, just watching what was going to happen next.

"Harper, you and Liam will be assigned as mentors to Lisden and Listo." Sacarver motioned towards the vulture and fox bishops, who dipped their heads in respect towards them.

"Micah," Sacarver continued, "you will be assigned to Impostor." She turned her head to a wolf-like bishop, whose image seemed to flicker in and out of reality, as if he were constantly shifting.

"And Andrew," Sacarver said, his gaze settling on the youngest Rodrigúez sibling. "You will be assigned to Seraphim."

Andrew blinked, surprise flickering across his face. Seraphim was known to be one of the most mysterious and reclusive leaders in DEMA. He furrowed his brow. Why wasn't he getting one of the Niners? Or even a less-powerful bishop.

Sacarver grunted a bit. "You will watch your mentor closely, studying what they do. They will help you shape your powers and gifts. You are dismissed."

Harper glanced at her siblings, whispering a 'goodbye' to her before following Lisden. He used one of his wings to gently guide her away. Her pulse quickened as she tried to maintain her composure. His feathers were sleek and dark, each one gleaming with an unnatural sheen, and his long, hooked beak gave him an air of silent authority.

"You understand why you've been chosen, don't you, Harper?" Lisden's voice was a harsh rasp, yet there was a wisdom there that made her shiver. He moved gracefully despite his large frame, the claws at the end of his wings tapping lightly against the ground as he walked next to her, leading her to a large room that served as his study.

Harper swallowed hard, unsure of how to answer. "I... I have the Foreseeing gift," she said quietly, her voice steady, though her heart raced. She had always been cautious with her visions, unsure of what they meant, unsure of how to control them. But being assigned to a bishop, especially one as revered as Lisden, made everything feel heavier.

Lisden nodded, his red eyes narrowing slightly. "Indeed. The Foreseeing gift is rare, but not entirely unique. You are not the first, nor will you be the last. It is a gift that allows you to glimpse threads of the future—to see paths that have yet to be taken. But your visions are chaotic, aren't they? Unfocused, fragmented. What you see may happen... or it may not." His voice carried a deep weight, as if he were speaking not just from knowledge, but from experience.

Harper nodded, feeling the truth in his words. "Yes... sometimes, it's hard to make sense of what I see. It's like looking at shattered glass."

Lisden's eyes gleamed, a predatory glint flashing in their depths. "That's where we differ, you and I. You see fragments, Harper, glimpses of a possible future. But I... I see every outcome. Every possibility."

Harper blinked, taken aback. "Every outcome?"

He moved closer, his feathers rustling softly as he drew near, his beak just inches from her face now. "I see all the paths laid before me, Harper. Every twist and turn, every choice and its consequence. I can peer into the web of fate and unravel it, see where every decision leads. It's not mere foresight... it's the power to know, to anticipate, to choose."

His words sank in slowly, the weight of them pulling Harper deeper into realization. "So... you always know what's going to happen?"

Lisden tilted his head, his red eyes reflecting the setting sun. "In a way. But knowing the outcome is not the same as controlling it. I see every possibility, but I cannot change them all. Sometimes, the only choice is to watch events unfold, no matter how much you wish to alter them."

Harper's brow furrowed as she processed this. "But how does that help? If you can't change the outcome, what's the point of knowing?"

Lisden's beak clicked softly, his expression unreadable. "Because knowledge is power, Harper. Understanding the stakes, the risks, and the paths ahead allows you to make the best decision. It allows you to prepare. And in DEMA, preparation is survival."

The way he said the word "DEMA" sent a chill down her spine. She had sensed that this place was more than it appeared—a city of illusions, built on something darker. And Lisden, this bishop who could see every outcome, knew more than anyone.

"Your gift, Harper," he continued, "will grow. In time, you will see more clearly. You will understand the pieces you're missing. But it will not be easy. The future is a dangerous thing to meddle with. One wrong step, one wrong vision... and everything can unravel."

Harper felt a knot tighten in her chest, but she nodded. She had always wanted control over her visions, a way to make sense of them, and now she was being offered something even greater. But the weight of what Lisden described—it was heavy. Overwhelming.

Lisden stepped back, spreading his great wings wide as if to gesture to the world beyond. "You will see things that will terrify you. Things that will make you question everything you know. But you must endure. That is your role as an apprentice of the Foreseeing."

Harper exhaled slowly, trying to steady herself. "And you can help me... control it? Make sense of it?"

Lisden's sharp beak curved in what she could only guess was a smile. "I can help you see, Harper. But control? That is something you must learn on your own. You cannot control fate. But you can navigate it. I will help you harness and master your gift, and in time, you may even dip into being able to see possible outcomes, like I do.""

She stood there, the weight of his words heavy on her shoulders. Somewhere deep down, she knew he was right.