Life at the castle is tedious, but I'm starting to get the hang of it. I keep the Vial on a chain around my neck, hidden beneath my tunic. I can feel the power thrumming through it, beating to the rhythm of my heart, but I have no idea how to control it.

     I know the energy of the stars can help with many things, including immortality and illusion, both of which would be very useful to me, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to wield it. It's been a month since I fled Selsey, the town I'd lived in all my life. Settling in at the castle hasn't been as difficult as I thought it would be, since servants are barely paid attention to and barely pay attention to each other. It's the perfect way to stay beneath the notice of the nobles.

     The Master of Books is a tall, hunched man with a beaked nose and an air of indifference when it comes to the servants he commands. I honestly think he can't tell the difference between any of us, which is supremely useful when I want to sneak away. One such opportunity presents itself when he retires to his rooms at night. We all share one large room, and after his initial check, where he makes sure all the beds are full, he doesn't bother with us again.

     I keep my after-dark activities to a minimum, since if I get caught my whole plan falls apart, but today I'm on a mission. The rumors floating around were that a seer was visiting the palace. Surely it has to be a good seer to have been brought before the King, so I am sneaking out to go find them. And hey, if they're a legitimate seer, they'll see me coming.

*****

     I knock on the ornate double doors leading into the seer's chambers (having acquaintances on the cleaning staff comes in handy sometimes). The doors swing open without a sound, making me jump as I take in the old woman before me. She's around a foot shorter than me, but doesn't seem frail in the slightest. Her small frame is swathed in colorful cloth, and she holds a crystal ball in her hand.

     "Come in," she says, her voice surprisingly strong and unwavering. "I was expecting you, young Hunter."

     I stare at her. Of course I knew that seers can see all, but it's still extremely concerning that she has this information. What if she decides she wants to turn me in?

     "I won't tell anyone about you, if that's what you're worried about," she calls over her shoulder, moving farther into the room and gesturing at a plush sofa pushed up against the wall. "Come sit, and I can answer your burning questions, Rheid Lopez-Callahan."

     Speechless, I move into the room, closing the door behind me, and sit on the couch. "H-how do you know no one heard you just now? How do I know you haven't already alerted the guards?"

     She taps the ball, and answers, "I see all, you know. I can tell if people are nearby, and I assure you there are none. As for your second question...trust, young Rheid. You must trust me."

     "All right," I reply, surprised to find that I actually do trust her. "So, how does this work? Do I have to do anything in particular?"

     "First, we must summon a demon," the seer says, completely straight faced. "Then, we take the blood of orphans, smear it on my crystal ball, and see the future."

     "Great," I deadpan. "Let's get started then."

     She barks out a laugh. "I like you, young Rheid. You appreciate a good joke. No, the process is quite simple. You ask me a question, and I shall answer."

     I nod, and consider my words carefully. "Does anyone - besides Brian, and I guess you - know that I have the Vial?"

     She shakes her head, not even bothering to look into the ball. "No, your secret is quite safe. A very loyal friend you have there, young man. I foresee he might tell his future child, but other than that, he'll take your secret to the grave."

     "Future child?" I ask, then mentally smack myself. "Right. You know it all."

     The seer looks into the glass orb, making little 'hmm' noises to herself. "You might want to keep that information safe, dear. That child of his could be very important in the future. And...yes, I see another. Not his this time, someone else's."

     I listen patiently as she rambles about Brian's future child and another random kid who are "inexplicably intertwined, not just with each other but with you as well, young Rheid."

     "How is that possible?" I wonder. "If Brian has a child, how will they ever meet me?"

     "I only see," she snaps at me. "I don't write your story, nor theirs."

     "Okay," I say, backing down. "Next question: will I ever learn to use the power of the Vial?"

     "Yes," she replies simply, "you will. But I foresee two paths that you could take."

     "What are they?"

     She leans forward, "The destruction of a witch and the light of the stars, the shine of the moon and sun will light your way. Two Hunters, a wish, from near and from far, the kingdom of Kyrilla lives another day. That's option one."

     "What does that even mean?"

     "I only see, I don't-"

     "Write my story, I know, I know. I'd like to hear option two now."

     She huffs, but holds up the ball again. "Darkness reigns and shadows fall, illusions whisper in the wind. Faeries hunt and witches roam, and so Kyrilla meets its end."

     I grimace, "So I definitely want option two then? And also, it didn't even rhyme. You rhymed 'wind' with 'end'."

     "You want option one, you sarcastic little Hunter. And until you can see the future and make up rhyming prophecies, I don't want to hear you talk about my predictions."

     I hold up my hands and apologize, before asking my final question: "So how do I go about making option one come true? And please don't give me the 'I don't write your story' thing, because you can obviously see something."

     "Yes, I do see something," she says, "I see you finding inner peace, and finding the strength and courage to wield the power of the stars. Magic comes at a price, but I can't yet see your consequence."

     "Helpful, thanks."

     "I'm not done yet, impatient boy. I told you that Brian's child will be important, as will the other one. But what I see is that if you use the magic properly, if you stay undetected at the castle, and if they forge their own paths to you, it will be your duty to guide them to the witch and break the curse. Which option the kingdom faces is up to you."

     "Oh, great," I groan. "But hang on - I'm supposed to let the kingdom suffer for however long it takes for these two kids to find me? When they're not even born yet?"

     "Some sacrifices must be made," the seer intones. "And it needs to happen this way to follow the path I foresaw. Other paths might lead to the same place, but it is truly up to you to choose which road you will take. Now, that's enough free wisdom for you, young Rheid. You'd best be off to bed so you don't get caught and ruin the entire plan I just laid out for you."

     "All right," I say. "And hey, thank you. This was...very helpful."

     "Stop being sarcastic, little Hunter. I just dispensed hundreds of golds worth of information to you for free. And it is helpful, you just need to see it in the right way. Now go, I see a guard stirring."

     I slip out of the room and back into the hallway, and give her one last look over my shoulder. She waves her hand to shoo me away, but before I turn around, I give her a quick bow. "Thank you..."

     "Sahera," she says. "I am Seer Sahera."

     "Thank you, Sahera," I whisper. "Your information was truly valuable."

     "You're welcome, Rheid," she says back. "Stay true to yourself and save the kingdom, okay?"

     I nod and steal out of the corridor into the night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Written January 4, 2024

Word count: 1396

{shoot i missed a week T-T so so sorry}