Chapter 6

• Alyssa's POV

As I walked towards the source of light, I couldn't help but wonder what was causing the tree to glow so beautifully. "Is it Christmas already? Or maybe there's a festival going on?" I mused to myself. I looked closely, but I couldn't see any source of light. It was as if the leaves themselves were glowing.

As I got closer, I noticed a line drawn on the ground. Just as I was about to cross it, an old man appeared out of nowhere, using a stick to support his walking. He was dressed in a white garment, and his tone was deadly, yet calm. "Don't you dare cross that line unless you want to be dead. What are you doing here, child?" he asked.

I was terrified, and I quickly apologized for coming there out of curiosity. As I turned to leave, he called out to me. "Wait." I turned back to face him. He was looking at something, and I realized it was my bracelet. I quickly hid it behind my back.

"I'm sorry, sir, but I cannot give you my bracelet. It's really precious to me. My mum instructed me never to take it off. She said someone special gave it to me. Since birth, I have never taken it off. Please don't take it," I pleaded.

"Oh no, I don't want to take it. The bracelet looks familiar," the old man said, looking at me closely.

"I did not steal it if that's what you're thinking. It was given to me by someone," I said, trying to defend myself.

"I did not say you stole it. I only said it looks familiar," he replied.

Before I could leave, I asked him if there was any festival going on. He said no, and I was surprised because the tree was decorated with lights. He looked at the tree and then at me. "It is not decorated by anything. It glows naturally," he said.

I was amazed. "That's awesome! So what's the name?" I asked eagerly.

"You don't know the name?!" the man exclaimed, as if I was supposed to know it.

"I don't know it. I'm not from this town. I only came to visit my grandparent," I explained.

"The name is Barebola. It was named after the man who found the tree," he said.

"What a weird name. So why does it glow?" I asked, curious.

"The tree glows to join the celebration of any festival done by any creatures. It glows under the full moon, but I don't even know why it's glowing now," he replied.

As we talked, I started to feel tired, and my legs began to ache. I went to sit near the man under the tree, and it started to glow even more vigorously. The old man stood up and went out of the shade, and I followed him. The glowing stopped, and I was confused. "Sir, what happened?" I asked.

"I don't know," he replied, scratching his bald head.

I shifted my body back under the shade, and the tree began to glow again. The old man looked at the tree and then at me. He pushed me out of the shade, and the tree stopped glowing. Then he pushed me back, and it glowed again. His eyes widened in realization, and I wondered what was going on.

“Ah, now I understand why it's glowing! It's celebrating your arrival. No wonder the bracelet looks familiar. Please forgive my ignorance, great one,” the man said, bowing.

Looking around, I realized that no one was here except for the two of us. “Are you referring to me?” I asked.

The man nodded. “Well, I'm no great one. My name is Alyssa, just Alyssa.”

The man shook his head. “I know that is not your name.”

“So why did you call me that?” I asked, puzzled.

The man closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "She is gifted with thunder. The elements of nature are hers with it, she brings chaos or peace; as danger lurks around, feasting on the souls of the innocent, the world awaits her reign."

He opened his eyes and said, “Does that ring a bell?”

“What bell?” I asked, still confused.

“I am figuratively speaking. What I meant is, do you now understand why I call you 'great one'?”

"Nope," I said, shaking my head.

“Didn't your parents tell you about it?” he asked.

“No, is it that popular? My parents did not tell me about it, but it is a nice poem. You really make a great poet,” I said, giving him a thumbs-up.

“It is not a poem. It is a prophecy, and I am not a poet, I'm a seer,” he said, correcting me.

"You are a seer? I thought a seer only foresees the future."

“Yes, that's what a seer does.”

“So, you also compose a prophecy?” I asked, still not quite grasping the concept.

“I did not compose any prophecy. It was the gods who sent it to me.”

“Okay, tell the gods they make a great poet,” I joked.

“How will I tell the gods that? And it is not a poem.”

“Okay, I am going now. I want to get home before my grandparent wakes up because I will be in serious trouble. Bye…” I waved at him.

“Just like that, you're going? You're not even bothered about what the prophecy means?” he asked incredulously.

“Am I supposed to be? Okay, just tell me. I can spare some time to help you practice so that during the festival, you won't flunk,” I said, trying to be helpful.

“What festival? I don't need help with anything, and I am not practicing anything,” he said, clearly irritated.

“Oh yeah, it's true you don't need help to practice. The prophecy is nice already,” I said, not quite catching on.

“IT IS NOT A POEM, IT IS A PROPHECY, PROOOOPHHECY!” the man screamed in frustration, emphasizing on the word 'prophecy.'

“Oh geez, no need to get worked up about it. It's not my fault I can't identify a prophecy when I hear one,” I rolled my eyes at him.

“Oh my god, I can't believe the gods gave you a great title. The world is doomed, I tell you, the world is doooomeed!!!” he exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

“So, the prophecy is about me?” I asked, finally grasping the concept.

“Yes, it is about you,” the man nodded his head.

“Wow, you wrote a poem about me? That's so sweet of you,” I exclaimed.

“Oh my god...” he said frustratedly and sat down. “I DID NOT WRITE IT! IT IS NOT A POEM! IT IS A PROPHECY GIVEN BY THE GODS. PLEEASEE, let it stick to your head...” He pinched the bridge of his nose and continued, “…I wonder how you are going to lead when you are like this.”

“First of all, sir, don't shout too much. You are getting old, and you're likely to get high blood pressure and die. I don't want to be blamed for your death. And secondly, you don't need to wonder how I am going to lead because I am going to be a great leader. Yes, I know I can be frustrating and annoying, but that does not stop one from becoming a leader. One leads with their heart, mind, and brain. Who knows, maybe the person who is annoying is the wisest, not the too serious-minded person. I know you are not happy with the gods for choosing me, but there is nothing you can do. The gods chose me because they saw potential in me which no one else could see. The responsibility given to me will be difficult, but I will try my best to fulfill it,” I chuckled.

Wow, did I really say all of that? When did I become so wise? Nice one, Alyssa.

The man smiled. “The gods never make mistakes. Yes, you are right. You would make a great leader. What you said really hit me in the heart.”

“Yeah, I know. It is a nice speech. So, are you going to say it in the competition? I'm sure you're going to win,” I smiled at him.

“I'm not...you know what, never mind. Thank you.”

“You're welcome. So, I would love to take my leave now.”

“You can go. Just leave already before you add more to the headache you have given me,” the man whined.

“Then go and take medicine. Bye…”

“Wait.”

“What now?”

“I want to sprinkle something on you for protection,” he said as he dipped his hand into his bag and brought out a powdery substance and sprinkled it on me. Immediately after he did that, I began to feel dizzy.

“Is it supposed to make me feel dizzy?”

“No.” He checked the content. “It is the wrong one. I'm sorry.”

"Just get me a bed. I'm feeling sleepy already," I said, yawning.

“Don't sleep,” he said, holding my shoulder and shaking me.

“Alyssa, wake up...Alyssa, Alyssa.”

Soon, his voice was turning into a female voice.

“Alyssa, Alyssa...Wake up. It is morning. Wake up, Alyssa.”

“I think she is waking up,” a voice said.

I opened my eyes and saw my grandma staring intensely at my face.

“You are awake,” she sighed in relief, then continued. “I have been trying to wake you up for the past thirty minutes, you did not wake up. You are a heavy sleeper…” she chuckled. “…go have your bath and come downstairs. Breakfast is ready.” She walked out of the room, and the maid followed her.

Wait, was I not outside? How did I get here? Aargh...it was a dream. It felt so real, so real!