On the third day of Grandpa Aaron and Grandma Olga continued their visit. Thankfully, I still got to go to the tailor shop and Granny Willow's tea shop. I did not have to listen to the endless chatter of Grandma Olga's complaints. Romont and Papa made their way out to go hunting with Grandpa Aaron. Mom busied herself baking and housework with Grandma Olga.  I escaped away to my lessons and my job. Today I had to rush before Grandma Olga came after me with a boom to help out at the house. In the heat of the early spring morning, I quickly picked up my bag with my books and I slipped away at dawn with Inky at my heels.

I walked along the path of the woods. The rustling of the shadows people was my usual company. Inky picked up his head and sniffed the air as he lazy follows next to me. His tail twitched as I hold my bag at my side. The low mummer of the wind revealed several voices of the fair folk, but it fades out as I arrive back to the town. The commotion over the missing holy pole has died down with the fake that Everblossom made. The guards started to watch the gates more often. I sighed as the guards me smiled at me. They chuckled, "Hey it's Han's daughter. Hello miss, how goes the business?"

"Fine, thank you," I grinned. 

The guard waves, "No, brother again today? Wow, you have been going to town by yourself for the past year. What an adult you are becoming!"

"Thanks," I politely nodded as I hurried into town.

I walked slowly passed the guards. I scrolled with Inky passing by my legs as I go along the street. I stopped to watch the local girls skip rope and playing hand games. I watched them as they giggled with their dolls in hand and wide smiles. I paused to speak with them. But I knew from their uniforms they are from the local school. They got the pleasure of being merchants' daughter. All of them were groomed for marriage with men of fortune and status. I shook my head at those other girls because they may have time to be idle children... Something I clearly did not have the choice to do. I had chores and jobs. They had free time to gain education at the school. Not there was anything wrong working as a traitor or finding a trade. But those merchant's and nobleman's daughters...They had something I desire . . . A special type of freedom that I cannot have. I lingered on as the young girls watched me now.

I flushed in my rough wool dress and apron. Although, I knew I am not the poorest in town. In Noble Wolf, my family and I had a unique place. The family of the former witch's daughter was what we were. Many see our family as an example of the purifying presence of the Light God. It had little to make other children to desire the friendship of Romont and I. I supposed I was lucky that the customers of the tea shop were the most likely to offer friendship. The girls snickered at Inky at my heels and my bag. They pointed and muttered about me. The school teacher called for the flock of girls to their lessons. I lowered my eyes and wondered, Would it be so bad, if I joined Everblossom and Hammer in the fairy lands? Would I be able to just play with friends then?

I shook away the thoughts. There was no time for childish games. There was no time to wish for idleness. I had duties and chores to do. I must remember my next birthday would mark my entrance to womanhood. I would have to make the choice of becoming a herbalist, a tea seller, a tailor, or a wife. Of course there was Grandpa Aaron's offer as well. I will have to figure out which of my studies to take on more seriously. I won't have time to just play games. Fairies or not. Magic in my blood or not. The time will not just stop because I have dreams of wanting to play games.

As I walked on, the town-crier stood on the corner and chattered of the latest news about the robbery and return of the holy pole. The town-crier went on about the political changes in lessen taxes by the Emperor as a celebration of the Empire's one hundredth year of reigning. There was a tidbit about the ambassador coming from overseas from another kingdom. It was being said the ambassador came barring news of friendship and new trade. I peered down at Inky as he mewed at a new fair folk walking beside me. The fair ones hid in the form of a golden sparrow. I eyed it as I turned the block towards Granny Willow's tea shop.

 I tried to stretch my view beyond the veil. I saw a small child fairy in a feathery cloak. Their hair was tied up in a golden thread. A crest is on the back of the cloak. It is one I have seen on Everblossom before. The crest of a hands in prayer with wings behind it. The fairy child's rosy cheek glimmered with the morning sun. I stopped in my track to study the fairy. It appeared to be the one from a few days before. They stop to peer back at me. A note rests in their hand as they jump from tree.

They called to me, "Your ladyship?"

I searched for any soul nearby and I quickly nodded.

Their melodious voice chirped, "I have news from the realm. I come carrying it from fairy folk."

I muttered, "Who for?"

The fairy child rubbed their noise, "I come to deliver news to the healer known as Master Elmer. I must find him fast your ladyship. It is news from the Goblin Kingdom to be delivered to him."

"Uh... He is usually on his way to Granny's at this hour," I answered.

"Yes! I must make haste! He is needed!" The tiny fairy jumped up and down.

I wanted to answer as I heard the hustle of people passing me by. I swallowed as I got strange glances from the townsfolk. I flushed at my stupidity of speaking with animals in public. I must seem mad. The people rushed on. In my distraction the fairy child dashed ahead of me to the tea shop. I ran to caught up as Master Elmer came across the fairy child. He knowingly nodded and paused to see me. 

He addressed me, "Serenity, I am afraid you and Lavender must carry on without me. I something I must attend to."

"I understand, Master Elmer."

"And Serenity," Master Elmer grimly studied me.

"Yes, Master?"

"Please stay near your farm and the town for now. Do not go beyond its keep. Stay out of the woods for now, I have a bad feeling about them. Do not go off the roads until we meet again tomorrow," Master Elmer swift waved good bye and followed the fairy child.

"I will!" I shouted in confusion. I turned to Granny's door and pushed it.

 Granny arranged the books on the table with a hot pot of tea on the counter. She pulled off her apron and looked at the door, "Master Elmer not coming today?"

"No Granny, he said he has business to do," I answered.

"Very well, sunshine," Granny poured me a cup of tea. She walked along the cabinets paused to study the shop. She suddenly asked me, "Serenity, my dear child, have you achieved all you ever wanted in our lessons? I mean do you want to do as I do?"

I put down my belongings. Inky jumped up on the stools and curled up next to my usual spot. I gave it some thought. I frowned, "Have you been speaking to Grandpa Aaron and Papa?"

"Sunshine... No red cloak, huh?" Granny frowned at me.

I searched myself. I forgot my favorite cloak! It was the presence of Grandma Olga's nagging that made me forget. I sighed, "I left it at home..."

"Sunshine, I was hoping you would not fall into the same conflicts as your mother," Granny picked up her own cup.

"Ugh! What is everyone worry about my choices lately? I mean my birthday is like two seasons away!"

Granny said as she poured herself tea, "My sunshine, you have been a joy this whole time you have been around me. I have watched you grow into a wonderful young lady. I nearly have taught you all you know. But there is coming a time where I will run out of things to teach you. Why, even Elmer is nearly out of lessons for you."

"Granny? What are you getting at?"

"You are born of Noble Wolf. But your bloodline is mixed, sunshine. You are bound to either want to roam away from Noble Wolf or stay here with the woods and the sea. Sunshine, I cannot keep you where you do not want to be," Granny sipped her tea, "I have been speaking your Papa and Grandpa Aaron. I have even spoken with Master Elmer. I have even talked with Cindy. My sunshine... It is becoming clearer and clearer. There are hard choices you must make soon."

I reached down and petted Inky, "Granny, I am here. I am home here in Noble Wolf. Why would I want to go anywhere else? Surly, we are going to work the tea shop like we arranged. I mean I can keep working with Cindy. I thought we agreed I would be like a doctor."

Granny drank her tea, "You are ... Serenity, do you remember when you were four and you slipped in the woods?"

"Yes, kinda," I thought back.

Granny warily leaned on the counter, "You are not like the rest of the family. Serenity, I have a feeling that something important is coming. Something that will be key to your future. I just want you to be ready."

"I am sure I will be fine, Granny. Can we move onto today's lesson?"

Granny paced and pointed to the books, "We are going to try something different today. I wanted to have Master Elmer to teach you how to divine. I felt it would help with your drifting... I could teach you some basics. Maybe it will help you with future choices."

"But Granny!!" I dropped my jaw.

"Now, now, sunshine... The sight of the future is not much more different then having the sight beyond the veil," Granny quietly peered at her tea, "I know that prospect of seeing the future might seem wild, but my own granny had the talent. Heheh, it tends to skip a few generations. I have a faith that you have the talent."

"Granny, I am sure it is forbidden!" I moved away from the book and bit my lip.

"To see into the future is no more forbidden then all the other practices we have done. I know that the old healer would grumble at it," Granny opened up a book, "You must know that Master Elmer and I do things differently at points. I know you have more skills you haven't told people about."

"I-"

"There is no point in lying. I have helped you grow up in the last twelve years. I know when you are not telling the truth. Remember you are not the only magic user here," Granny smirked as she pointed to a graphic. It had a picture of tea and tea leaves. It went on about doing fortune telling by tea leaves.

I swallowed, "Do you think it will really help me make a choice?"

"It could guide you the way you need to go."

"Whatever I predict is it for real? Or is it more of a guideline?"

"It is more of a guideline to what may might. I would ask you not to take it too seriously. I have mentioned that only one family member has this skill. You may just see it like I do. I just see wet leaves from my tea," Granny chuckled.

I peered into my tea cup, then over to the book, and I said, "Is there any trick to it?"

"It is very simple. You just need to focus on your question. Then drink the tea. Once it is low enough, we will flip it over onto the plate. The tea leaves will reveal an answer as you finish," Granny handed me a blank piece of paper; "We will record it together."

"Sure," I sipped my tea. The tea was smooth and calming. I tasted the mint blend from the tender care of Granny's process. As I close my eyes to enjoy the flavor, the purring from Inky grew softer. The sound of Granny's breathing faded. The firmness of the wooden floor became like muddy dirt. A light breeze flew on my cheek. The warmth of the morning sun shined on me. As I put my hand down onto the counter, I found the touch of grass. The muttering of people talked. One woman. One man. One child. My other hand still gingerly holds the tea cup. With my eyes shut I flipped the cup over onto the plate. I felt the counter and the grass at the same time.

The men got louder with their footsteps. Their cloaks and armor hustle in the undergrowth. They called out, "Romont, son of Hans, come forth. We three the heralds of the Light God summon you."