"You better start explaining."

-----

Wren blinked at the arrow pointed at his face, before looking up at the rather irritated looking girl. She looked to be more or less his age, with attire that marked her clearly as Cresselian, but even more so, she looked like she could have been a hunter. What was rather strange though were the white butterflies hovering around her. Nevertheless, he decided not to ask about that since there were more pressing matters at hand. Instead, he pushed the tip of the arrow away from his face, getting up and rubbing the dirt off his clothes. "If anyone needs to do some explaining, I'm fairly sure it's the one who just threatened my life with an arrow."

The female let out a 'tsk' sound, lowering her bow slightly. "Clearly it was out of self defense from you or that no good fox of yours."

"My...what?" 

"The fox, the one who stole my bow and lead me here?" The girl's face fell as she observed his confused expression, trying to decipher whether or not his confusion was fake or genuine. She must have decided on the latter, since she slung her bow back over her shoulder. The girl ran a hand through her hair, before resting her hands on her hips and looking around. "So you have no idea what's going on either? Can't be a coincidence."

Wren furrowed his eyebrows as he looked around the area as well. "Maybe it was the old lady who wanted us here?"

"What old lady?"

"The one who lead me here. I think she was some sort of witch, she called me a chosen one, and then ran off, which makes no sense because she was bl-"

The female frowned as she turned to him, making a time-out motion to stop him. "Wait...a witch told you that you were a chosen one? Who are you exactly?"

"Oh right, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Wren Caster." The male rubbed the back of his neck, sheepish for not having introduced himself earlier, before politely extending a hand toward her.

"Wren Caster...You look kind of familiar, have I met you somewhere before?" 

Wren shook his head fervently. "Doubtfully, I think I would remember someone who pointed an arrow at my face."

"Huh" She shrugged before easing up, shaking his hand. "Celina. Sorry about the arrow." She smiled, before motioning towards the house. "So, shall we go find out who our mystery witch is and what she wants?" 

He nodded, dropping his hand to the side.  It wasn't as if he could leave and go somewhere else, the path he had come from had already faded. "By all means, after you."

The inside of the house was even more spacious than the outside. With the curtains closed and the candles of the chandelier turned off, the light was rather dim, but the décor was easily visible nonetheless. The furniture was rather modest, with a large counter that also served as a dining table that separated the large bar-like kitchen and the living area. Three long divans were set up a few feet away from the counter in a square facing a rather large fireplace, a small table in the middle of them.  The most impressive part was what lied beyond the area. Behind the divans were three steps that lead to a low platform surrounded by a railing from one wall to the other. 

Celina let her fingers slide over the smooth railing as she stepped up towards the platform, looking around in wonder. No house she had ever seen was built this way. There was a tunnel-like entrance on the side with a staircase, no doubt leading to bedrooms. In the middle of the platform was a circular obsidian high table, one meant to stand around, with carefully crafted carvings on the sides. Carved on top of the table itself were 7 symbols, each in a different colour. 

Wren stepped up into the platform as well, moving past Celina towards the wall behind her. The whole wall was a shelf, and not just for books. Many different objects and trinquets adorned the spaces, though some were empty. "Whoa" The boy reached to touch one of the trinquets, a multicoloured orb, when his hand was brutally slapped aside. "Ow!"

"Don't touch anything!" Celina hissed at him, narrowing her eye at the orb. "You don't know what these things could do." She then turned around, nudging him towards the table. "Look at these symbols, what are they?"

Wren mumbled under his breath, checking his hand before deciding to see what she seemed to have taken an interest in. The symbols made him frown as well. "I'm not really sure, but-wait actually I recognize these two," he motioned to two of the symbols carved side-by-side, "that one means earth, and this one means life. they're the national elements of Cresselia" He explained with a smile at the recognition. 

"So then the rest must be the other elements." Celina slid a hand over the symbols, stopping at the symbol of life, frowning as she examined it. She was starting to believe Wren's story about a witch leading them here. No one else she knew had this type of carvings and decorations.

"Correct." A new voice confirmed as the old lady from before made her way inside with a fox trotting between her legs. With a flick of her hand, the candles all lit up, illuminating the whole room. "I'm glad that you both made it, and I'm sure you have many questions to discuss, but I'm afraid we don't have much time for that."

"What do you mean we don't have time? What's going on exactly?" Celina resisted the urge to reach for her bow and quiver, instead focusing on the old woman who made her way to the carved table she was at. 

"It means you both hold powers over an element of nature," the lady started calmly, brushing her hands over the carvings until she felt the right ones, motioning at them. "Earth and Life. Those are but two of seven, which mean there are 5 others like you, each with an ability who has yet to manifest. I must go find them, then all will be revealed." 

Most of this was passing over Wren's head. Not because of her explanation, it was simple enough to understand, but this situation he had gotten himself into was raising more and more questions every time the woman spoke. "How long will it take to find these others?"

The witch pondered over the question. "That depends on many things, but soon, I must go find them and bring them here. If you two were revealed to me, then the rest will soon follow."

Celina sighed. "Then what are we supposed to do until you return? We can't just wait here for some prophecy to reveal something to you, that could take days, more, even."

"Perhaps there is something you can do for me to speed up the process." The blind woman smiled, she knew by the silence that this had caught both of their interest. "This will also be your first test. I do know the location of the third chosen," her hand moved across the table to the carving shaped like a flame, "she lives near the border of Xiopia. Find her and bring her back here."

The brown haired male's eyes widened. "Xiopia ? That's at least a few weeks journey, not including resting, and we would need-"

He was cut off by a wave of the woman's hand. "Rest the night and worry not about the journey. Tomorrow at dawn, you'll have the fastest horses at your disposal, and I'm sure with your powers combined, Cresselia might even be willing to help you."

Celina decided not to focus on why she referred to the kingdom as if it was a living being, nor on what it had to do with their powers. Instead, she turned to Wren. "Well, what do you think? It's better than waiting here and doing nothing, and if it's the only way to get answers.."

Wren frowned. "But do you really trust her? It just doesn't make sense, and it's too sudden. I still have so many questions." 

"I never said I did, but I'm a fairly good judge of character, and I have a feeling she's been telling the truth so far. Besides, I've never seen Xiopia before, so why say no to a little adventure?" Celina argued. She had to agree, a lot of things weren't making sense at the moment, but something about this witch seemed to tell her that it was safe to trust her. And her instincts had never lead her astray so far. With a final nod from Wren, who was a probably a bit more convinced at the thought of exploring, she smiled and turned around. "Alright then, we-" Her smile then faded as the old woman seemed to have vanished while they were talking. 

"I'm starting to hate whenever she does that.." Wren mumbled, looking around before sighing and sending Celina a weak smile of his own. "Guess that settles it. Tomorrow at dawn, we're leaving for Xiopia."

With school in full swing, not sure when the next update is, so I thought I finish this one as fast as possible. Comments of any kind are always appreciated!