Chapter 3: The Beginning

Walking and following the guide that the book gave me surely is convenient. I know this forest better than anyone else in the village as I have explores this forest of ours for the past 10 years.

This trail that I am taking is familiar, I looked at the familiar tree next to me. I smiled, memories of me sleeping and hiding from my Grandpapa flashed in my mind. I continued to walk towards the northern part of the forest, which I know will lead me to a beach.

I got tired of walking, and I know that there is no much time left before a strong rain falls down the surface. I picked up my pace and began to run towards the beach. I should be able to take shelter in an abandoned beach house.

I was nearing my way to the beach when I felt droplets of rain on my face. Oh no, the rain! I created a barrier surrounding me to protect me from the rain. I ran faster towards the beach. Greeting me was the huge waves hitting the shore.

I regret not packing an umbrella.

I ran towards the small abandoned beach house. Good thing that even though this house is abandoned, it's still in a good shape. Guess I will stay here for a good amount of hours because of the dark clouds outside.

I hope they are doing fine. It saddens me that I had to leave in this kind of weather, where fire users weaken, but for some reason, I do not weaken. Bored I am, I went inside a room and found a decent bed and lay down. I got nothing to do anyway, so I just decided to sleep, not until the thunder roared and the lightning started to dance on the dark sky.

In the dream I had last night, I was struck by a ball of lightning. I shuddered remembering my dream. It felt so real. I curled up by the corner of the bed, staying away from the window. Great! Now I'm scared of lightning.

I tried my best to sleep but the thunder roared once more. It feels like it's searching for something.

"Seraphina, my child, are you okay?" As soon as I heard grandpapa's voice I immediately raised my head and went to him. "Are you all really okay to send me to save our guardian?" I asked him and he smiled like he was expecting this kind of question.

"Seraphina, ever since the first time you have opened your eyes when we all saw those orbs of yours, we knew that you are a gift to us to save our clan."

After that he disappeared, tch, I hoped that he will stay much longer, but guess not.

I went back to the bed and tried my real best to sleep, and now I really fell asleep.

~~~~

Guess what? I am once again dreaming.

"Sera." A male voice called me. His face is blurred but I can see his eyes clearly, it's like it's taking me to the deepest part of the ocean. "Come here. It's about to rain, we need to find shelter." He said, and 'I' nodded.

Who is he?

"Oh no, the soil, it's starting to mush." I am guessing that this is my brother, Vermont. "Lady Sera, the wind is blowing hard towards us. The heavens are also bothered by the wind." Said Zeph, since I still don't know her name.

"There will be a typhoon, I hope the village is okay, this will be a strong one". I said and looked up to the sky.

We took shelter somewhere near a big oak tree. With thunders roaring, I held the shirt of the guy next to me, Zale.

"Sister, are you okay? You look pale." Vermont asked me while Zeph is clutching onto him.

"I—"

~~~~

I woke up when a loud thunder roared across the sky.

Zale, Zeph, Vermont.

I stared into space, didn't know how many minutes have passed, but the rain had stopped. Oh, thank goodness.

I went out of the house and again the string from the book has shown and act as a guide once more. Since I got 'enough' sleep — I guess — I started heading out west. Just where is this leading me?

Since I am bored and don't like to walk, I used a little of my power to create wings and just soared in the sky. I flew slowly because even though the sword is light, it still adds weight to my baggage.

A little more and I found a village on sight. A village near the ocean.

I landed near a small forest to hide. But as I landed, a man saw me. I looked at him look at me. I was scanning his entire being and when my eyes landed on his, it felt like I was teleported into the deepest part of the ocean. Is this him? Zale?

"You are a fire elemental, must be from the Grymkin's forest." He stated. If I wasn't able to use such as elemental wings, I would get here much later.

"Is this the Oliv Shore?" I asked. This must be it, grandpapa used to tell me about this. That the clan who has the power of water lives near the ocean. He nodded in response. Guess the book has something to tell me about this. I tried calling Grandpapa telepathically, but failed. The man just stood from where he is and just stared at me.

"Can I enter your village? I mean no harm, I am traveling for I am on a mission." I said, and when I said that, he suddenly hugged me. Surprised as I am unable to move an inch, not even a milliliter. I mean, why?

"I am glad that I can see you in person now." He said. In person? He broke the one-sided hug and dragged me inside their village and brought me in a shop, a weapon shop to be exact.

"Ah, Zale, I see that you are home. Oh, who is this young lady I see...hmm?" An old man who is wearing an apron and holding a hammer said.

Zale just ignored his father I guess, and make me sit on the couch, served me tea, and then sat in front of me.

"I am Zale Atlan. I was going to set for a journey tomorrow. And you?"

"Seraphina Agni. A pleasure to finally meet you, Zale." I reached out my hand for a handshake and I am glad that he took it. His father just stood there without saying anything.

I looked at Zale whose head is shaking in disbelief. "I apologies on behalf of my father." He said. I just smiled.

Strangely enough, Zale has offered me to sleep in his house later that day. His father crying because his son wouldn't get to journey off alone.

I just walked around the village, looked, and bought items that can of use along the journey. Luckily I had coins with me.

I went back to Zale's house and when I went in he greeted me at the front door saying that he wants to talk to me.

We went to the beach and sat on the tree trunk.

"I guess you are off on a journey to set free your clan's guardian?" He said looking at the vast ocean. Looking at him, his eyes look lonely.

"Yeah, and I presume that you are too?" He looked at me and nodded and showed a book similar to mine.

"My mother said that I am the chosen one."

"Well, in my case, it was my Grandpapa who told me."

We talked about the things that need to be talked about to know more about each other.

He has said some similar parts as mine, except for the part that it was his deceased mother who told him the origin of their clan.

"I kept dreaming every night about four people on a journey. Their faces might be blurred but their eyes are as clear as crystal." I said while looking at the carefree ocean.

"We have the same dream." He said.

He has told me the side of his story and it was similar to mine. Saying that he recognized my eyes and voice when we first met.

After that getting-to-know session of ours, we went back to his house and I have helped him pack his things, I mean some of them. We are barely called friends. How dare I touch his personal things.

Finished packing, we ate dinner then we went straight to bed. We have a long way to go since our books are letting out a string to guide us.

Early morning we have prepared to depart on a boat as we need to cross the ocean.

"It is quite embarrassing to ask this of you Seraphina, but please take care of my son." His father said and held my hand. I smiled and nodded, "thank you, Sir Delrine for everything, even if it was a short stay."

I have let the father-son interaction happen, exchanging both of their goodbyes.

I called Zale as it was time to depart.

I guess this is officially the beginning of my, no, of our journey.