Some mystics know about us...

"So you have calmed down already, eh." A voice said in my left. I turned towards it trying to locate the source but it shifted to my right. "You really had to follow me all the way here? I thought you were smarter than that."

"Show Yourself if that's really what you believe. You certainly have no reason to fear such a feeble-minded person like me then, do you?" I shouted. It was darker in here than the open streets of the town, these tall woods obstruct most of the light, it was hard to see my own self let alone another.

"Come to me, you know where to find me." It whispered in my ears and vanished, and suddenly I was on my own. I could not sense it anymore.

'Where to find me', how do I know where to find it? It led me here and now it is gone, I stood there thinking what is it all supposed to mean. Did I know where to find it? I wondered as I walked through the woods, trying to sense it but nowhere was any trace left.

Then like a spark hit my brain- there is only one place I've been to every year; I ran to the one birch I've been marking for all those years. It took me a while to find it since I lost my direction due to reckless running, but I finally reached it. I traced the marks I created on its column, suddenly something materialized in front of me. The shadow slowly took a form of a lady, cloaked all over in dark colors, her face only partially visible. She had a pale complexion, her skin shined in the dark of the night.

Her presence was intimidating, I could tell from a distance that she was powerful and her disposition was proof enough- she was one of the Mystics.

"Who are you? I suppose you were the one following me these few days, may I know the reason? I am sure I have not associated myself with any of your kind." I said. I doubt she would tell me but I still tried. "What has someone like you got to do here?"

I wasn't answered. There was a long pause between us. She stood still for a while before suddenly she came close to my face. "So it is true, you are the heir of Crepuscule. Why would Lillith send her own daughter in a battlefield where there is no assurance of victory let alone life?"

"What do you mean?"

"You don't even know who is your enemy yet. How do you plan to win a war you know nothing about?"

"I plan to fight without leading any of this into war. There's no need of one- there are other methods besides battle." I said with a tint of pretentiousness.

"You're naive." She now moved back and gripped my shoulders tightly. "Some things you can only acquire in a battlefield."

"Scars and trauma. Eternal suffering. I don't see what else war ever gives." I pulled myself free from her. She seemed to be aware of everything and pretending at this point was of no use. I'd rather make her tell me all that she knows which I don't and it sounded like she had a lot to tell.

She was not the one who's been following me, her semblance is very different from it. I looked her into the eyes when I asked, "Who are you? Why do you talk of my mother as if you know her?"

"Perceptive enough, you are, dear Nyx," said she as if she could read my thoughts, "but that alone is not enough to save you and the impending doom on your kingdom." She extended her arms towards me, "Join me, Nyx, to fight this evil and in return I'll tell you whatever you need to know."

"How do you know what I need to know?"

"Too many questions, you're always asking while what's important is getting out of your hands. Answer me right away and I'll answer any of your question. Will you join me in this war?"

I did not intent to join any war let alone join arms with someone I know nothing about. My upright refusal offended her more than I expected. She came all the way to ask me to join her in a war? That sounded unusual in every sense. If she is not intended to disclose more facts about the purpose then I do not intend to believe her.

"You're risking far more than you could ever think by refusing me right here. I'll give you some time. I hope you learn to make right choices."

"You'll be wasting your time trying to make me repudiate on my words." I declared.

"You're foolish, and.....you make weak choices- just like your mother. You're-"

"That is enough! What do you know of her?" I shouted. My blood was boiling inside my veins, all that I had been taming inside myself now let loose. "Who do you think you are to point out the flaws of a woman who leads a kingdom all on her own? That woman is anything but weak." I had enough of her. There was nothing else to listen for me.

I still had many unanswered questions and the shadow that I followed was nowhere to be seen. This woman who I met in the middle of the woods did not give a name or purpose, everything she told me was vague and only complicated things. With these thoughts I walked out of the woods and started walking home.

The sky started to brighten up gradually so I had hurried trying not to be seen. At home I found Orion waiting on me. He was sitting on his bed reading the potions book I brought with myself from home.

"I know a potion that can unveil true face of anyone. So if you are not Nyx, this is the time to disclose your true identity. I don't go easy on liars." He said as he was walking towards me, I gave him a death stare and he winked.

"Shut up. Let me rest for some time. If you're staying, wake me up by ten." I said and walked to my room. I had no energy left in me to argue with him.

"I wasn't going to but looks like I have to."

"Right."