Pick Your Path: Book 1

63

You spend the next few days mostly in your room, reading the book. It turns out that it's a book on all know elemental abilities in the kingdoms and surrounding forests. Some had more information written about them that others like earth, nature, or even fire. Some had less information and little was know about them. These were mostly based on folklore or myths. Darkness, storm, wind, and telepathy were all in this category. Telepathy was said to originate from a single line of half-breeds who always kept themselves distant from the kingdoms and rogues. You flip to the telepathy chapter in the book. There was a slightly detailed explanation for this ability. 

' Unlike most special abilities, mind reading and telepathy is hereditary, passed on by the parents. Originating from a long line of mysterious half-breeds, not much is know about these mind readers. They lived in the mountains, in caves, and have a series of tunnels that connect and form a network of roads inside and mountains. Over time the half-breeds mingled with humans and other half-breeds outside their clan. The ability was passed on, but it was much weaker in the offspring in comparison to the children of two clan born members. Some only have telepathy or mind reading abilities, while others only inherit reading emotions. No one is certain why this happens.. There are many theories but none have been proven since this ability abruptly vanished several years ago due to a massive hunt for them. Many humans, as well as half-breeds, feared these mind readers. They believed they would revolt against the kingdoms, overthrow the royalty, or worse.. Convince the half-breeds to side with them and lead the charge to destroy the kingdoms.'

" Destroy the kingdoms? How is that possible?" you thought. According to the reading, they are a minor group of half-breeds that live in a secluded area in the mountains. No one will bother them there, so why would they have a reason to revolt? You continue to read the passage, slightly confused.

' There are many reasons this massive hunt occurred. Most joined out of fear, while some wanted to capture the mind readers for their own purposes. No matter the reason, many based their reason to join around a myth about the mind readers. It is said that long ago, before the war happened, a young hunter was hunting in the woods when he spotted a blackbuck grazing in an open field ahead. Blackbucks are a highly prized and rare animal that all hunters want in their collection. Naturally, the hunter raises his crossbow and aims for the animal. The arrow flies towards the blackbuck, who looks up. The arrow sinks into the blackbuck's shoulder.

" Young hunter don't you know better to harm a fellow half-breed?" a voice spoke, but according to the legend, no one else heard it.. Other than the hunter who shot the arrow. There has been debate on the subject.. The hunter, of course, reacted in surprise and left the woods immediately. A couple of days later the injured blackbuck was spotted in the village of the hunter. The village was destroyed that day, by unknown reasons. Many believe, up to this day, that the blackbuck had the mind reading and telepathy ability. Of course, this was just a myth.. No one really know why it was the cause of the mass hunt for this specific type of ability.'

" That's pretty interesting.. Who knew a simple myth could spark such an event?" you mutter as you turn the page.

' Ever since the mass hunt, all half-breeds and humans of this ability have retreated back into their hidden clan areas and haven't been seen since. It's been well over a millennial since the last one of this kind was spotted. Expeditions were made to try and find the small remainder of the mind readers but haven't had any luck. Almost everyone considers this to be a dead ability today. However those who claim they've met a mind reader say they are powerful and vicious being who don't like intruder. Many of those  people also say that is one avoids eye contact, then the mind reader won't be able to read the mind. Crossing paths with a-'

" (Y/n)?" the door opens as Ellie steps in. You close the book abruptly, losing the page you were on. " What are you reading?" she trots over to the bedside, her silver eyes shimmered as you made eye contact with her.

" N-nothing.." you quickly say.

" What's the book for then?"

" I was just looking through it. Ellie, give it back!" you protest as she snatches the book next to you. You reach out to take the book back, but she backs out of reach.

" History of Elemental Abilities?" she reads off the cover of the book before flipping through the pages, " (Y/n)?"

" Yeah..?" you nervously shrink back as she pins you with an intense gaze.

" Why are you reading this book?" her gazelle ear flicks as she asks.

" Look away.." you mentally yell at yourself and lower your gaze to the ground. You back away as she approached.

" (Y/n)?" Ellie asked, you hear her stop and flip through the pages of the book. " What's the mat-?" she abruptly stops, pausing for several heartbeats as she skimmed over the page. " You don't believe any of this.. Do you?"

" What?" you try to put on a face of confusion, but you knew what she was about to ask. You cast a brief glance at her before quickly lowering your eyes back to the floor.

" About this." she gives the book to you and points to a particular set of sentence.

' However those who claim they've met a mind reader say they are powerful and vicious being who don't like intruder. Many of those people also say that is one avoids eye contact, then the mind reader won't be able to read the mind. Crossing paths with a mind reader would mean certain death, or a very close encounter with death, if one is lucky.'

" Do you believe any of what this is saying?" she asked again.

" I.."

Believe what the book is saying? Go to page 90

Don't believe what the book is saying? Continue to 91

Looks like (Y/n), some how, got her hands on the book. She's probably shaken from what she's seem about mind readers. I wonder if she'll accept a mind reader as her friend or will she completely reject a mind reader because of what she's read? ~E