"When a stranger appears, the wind changes direction. And sometimes, so does the course of a life."
"Adeline! Adeline, wake up!"
A thin voice, trembling with a trace of worry, echoed through the haze of my mind. Someone was gently shaking my body, pulling back the veil between dream and reality. The morning sun hit my face, its first gentle beam slipping through the crack in the curtain, and I slowly opened my eyes. The light stretched into the dim room like an orange dagger—like the very moment the gods pierced the mountains with the sun and started the day.
I slowly sat up. A soft breeze drifted in, matching the creak of the bed as if nature itself was awakening. I turned to the window; the clouds had scattered with the rush of morning, leaving the sky bare and exposed. Shades of navy retreated shyly, replaced by hues of pink, yellow, and that indescribable orange. The sky looked as though it was being gently dyed with peach juice.
I turned to the girl standing beside me. It was Elora. Her golden hair was braided, and a tension I couldn't quite name sat between her furrowed brows. Her eyes scanned me, softening slightly as she saw I was awake.
"What's wrong?" I asked, my voice still wrapped in the soft fog of sleep.
She slapped her forehead like she was trying to smack a thought out of her brain.
"Gods, girl, are you okay? We're late! We were supposed to go gather blue mushrooms with Johann!"
It hit me in an instant. The memory crashed into my mind like a cloud of guilt settling over my sleepy head. With a groan of protest, I flopped back into bed. As the mattress absorbed my tired body, I stared blankly at Elora. My eyes said "What now?", my expression read "What do you want me to do about it?" She just watched me patiently.
I dragged myself out of bed. The wooden doors of the wardrobe creaked as I opened them. I picked a pair of brown trousers and a cream-toned shirt. I grabbed my boots from the shelf and placed them by the bed. I quietly slipped off the thin white nightgown I wore, folded it, and placed it on the bed. A strange ache bloomed inside me—a soft longing for the simplicity of the past. Everything used to feel slower. Easier.
I looked up at Elora.
"Elora… You're not planning to leave the room?"
She stared at me, confused at first, and then suddenly blushed furiously and darted out of the room. I chuckled quietly.
Once I was dressed, I stood before the mirror. I brushed my hair, my fingers instinctively starting to braid. As I looked into the glass, a flicker of awareness replaced the sleep in my eyes. Somewhere in the depths of those eyes, the future of Arcadia rested. Maybe even fate itself.
Elora was waiting for me at the door, holding two baskets—one empty, the other filled with supplies for the trip. I grabbed the third basket from the table, and we set off.
As we walked through the cobbled streets of the town, the sun climbed steadily over the rooftops. Birds sang the first lines of the morning, and the scent of fresh bread floated in the air. Familiar faces greeted us, and little children played in the streets.
The smell of bread pulled us toward the bakery.
"Good morning, Mr. Till!" we both said in perfect unison.
The old man turned from behind the counter, placing down his paddle.
"Good morning, young ladies. Off to somewhere special?"
I held up our baskets.
"We're going blue mushroom hunting with Johann. Thought we'd have a picnic while we're at it."
Mr. Till glanced at our picnic basket, his eyes filled with gentle wisdom and warmth.
"That's the perfect thing to do on a day like this. Lovely idea. I take it you haven't met up with Johann yet?"
We shook our heads. He stepped inside and soon returned with two fresh loaves.
"What's a picnic without some bread?" he said, placing them into our basket. I smiled, a small yet warm gratitude blooming in my chest.
I reached for some coins, but Mr. Till gently pushed my hand away.
"You're my guests."
I was about to insist when a voice burst out behind us, flooding the morning with joy.
"My favorite girls paying for bread? Not on my watch!"
Ms. Griselda walked over, apron still tied around her waist.
"Good morning, my sweethearts!"
She pulled us into a hug, pinching our cheeks.
"A perfect day for mushroom hunting. Don't keep Johann waiting too long, or he might cast a bug spell out of spite!"
We all laughed. After saying our goodbyes, we continued on our way.
As we neared the edge of town, we saw Johann talking to a guard. Elora immediately waved and called out:
"JOHANN!"
Johann flinched, turned around, and let out a relieved breath when he saw us.
"Do you have to yell like that, Freckled Tornado? You nearly stopped my heart."
Laughing, we joined him. He said goodbye to the guard, and together, we headed into the forest.
Elora and Johann walked ahead, their chatter blending with the chirping of the birds. I trailed behind, quietly observing them.
Then, suddenly, my foot caught on a root hidden beneath the fallen leaves. I lost my balance. Time seemed to slow. The inevitability of the fall struck me like fear piercing the heart. But just then, Johann's voice rang out:
"NULLA CONTACTUS!"
My body froze in mid-air, inches from the ground. Suspended by magic, I felt like I was drifting away from time itself. As I was gently lowered to the ground, I realized how fast my heart was pounding. In that moment, I was defenseless—like a child.
Johann smiled at me under his breath. Elora, on the other hand, was staring at me in amazement.
Then Johann gently touched my waist, guiding me between them.
"If you fall again, I might not notice this time," he said teasingly.
I shot him a sharp look.
"Anyone hearing this would think I trip with every step."
When he turned to Elora and said, "Isn't that true though?", the two of us burst into laughter.
The sun was rising above our heads, and the morning was gently pulling us into the mystery of a new day.
When we arrived at the clearing covered in mushrooms, we quietly drifted away from each other. Each of us was busy gathering the pale blue-toned mushrooms hidden in the grass. My basket was nearly halfway full when I looked up to glance at Johann and Elora. Johann had picked a thin blade of grass from the ground and gently rubbed it between his palms. When he opened his hands, the grass had vanished—a small display of magic. Elora was watching him with her usual shy expression—curious, yet cautious, unable to put it into words.
Johann was still the same Johann. A man constantly trying to prove his skill in magic, someone who even saw his own shadow as a rival. I smiled faintly and continued collecting the mushrooms in front of me. Just then, I heard a rustle; I immediately straightened and turned toward the source of the sound. I had seemingly forgotten the basket on my arm. Carefully and silently, I moved toward the noise. A large hand appeared through the branches. Pushing the foliage aside, the man emerged a few seconds later, towering in front of me.
His long black hair cascaded down to his shoulders. His amber eyes didn't just look into mine—they seemed to gaze straight into my mind. With his well-built frame and serious expression, it felt like even the space he stood on followed rules of his own making. His eyes first landed on my basket, then locked onto mine. I reflexively tucked my hair behind my ear—trying to mask my nerves, hiding myself in a way. His voice was as commanding as it was mesmerizing.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"Adeline," I said, simply.
Like a prisoner stating her name—quiet but defiant.
"Adeline, huh? You don't look like a slave."
What an arrogant remark.
"Because I'm not," I said, frowning as my voice grew firmer.
"What are you doing here?"
The answer was obvious from my basket. But the question carried a mocking boldness. I wanted to match his tone.
"Judging by your clothes, I'd say you're a noble yourself," I replied.
His expression didn't budge.
"I still haven't received an answer."
I took a deep breath, reached for my basket, and showed him.
"As you can see, I'm collecting blue mushrooms with my friends."
"Blue mushrooms… Since when are they used in kitchens?"
Unbelievable. Every answer just leads to a new question.
"They're not for eating," I said. "My friend Johann is trying to master magic. The mushrooms are for him."
His gaze shifted to Johann, then back to me.
"I see. My advice—be careful. Lately, creatures of darkness have been wandering through this forest."
Couldn't he have said that first?
"Thank you for the warning, sir," I said, trying to remain composed. "Wishing you well."
I turned back to my friends while he still stood watching. Footsteps faded behind me—he was gone too.
Johann eyed my basket suspiciously.
"That's all you picked? Even she gathered more than you," he said, pointing at Elora.
Elora suddenly hurled the pebbles in her hand at Johann. I couldn't help but laugh. Even though Johann bullied us from time to time, he'd protected us on many occasions in the past. He was like an older brother in a way.
"I just ran into someone," I said. "Long black hair, amber eyes… His clothes were rather luxurious. Must've been a noble. But he was unbelievably arrogant."
Johann chuckled.
"That arrogant guy you're talking about is Erhard von Hohenberg. He's someone whose mere presence could buy us all."
I raised an eyebrow.
"So he thinks money can buy everything?"
Johann shrugged.
I rolled my eyes and went back to picking mushrooms, but my mind stayed on that man. There was a strange feeling inside me. Like he was still there, watching us. I turned my head—nothing. He was gone. I bent down again with a deep breath.
Our baskets were full. Johann took the loaves and warmed them with a small spell. Elora and I were placing the food on a cloth. Johann tore two pieces off and offered one to Elora and the other to me. Then he took his own bite, talking through a mouthful of crumbs:
"The Revelation Night is approaching. Anyone thinking of joining?"
Elora raised her hand immediately.
"Me! I want to take part already. I've waited for this moment for years."
Johann smiled and turned to me.
"What about you? Not planning to join?"
I set my fork down and took a deep breath.
"I don't know… I don't think I'm ready."
Johann sighed as he poured his drink.
"I'm out of patience. I want to know who my spirit companion is. The being that's protected me all this time… I have to know who they are."
Elora nodded in agreement.
"I feel the same. For the first time, I'm this…"
Smiling, I picked up my fork again. I stabbed a tomato and popped it in my mouth. While they talked, I watched silently, wrestling with the anxiety inside me.
Revelation Night…
What if I don't have a spirit companion at all?
Then my life would be doomed forever. In Arcadia, those without spirit companions are executed. This ceremony… it could be both a chance and a death sentence.