The voice so reminiscent of his mothers hung over him for a long moment, a mix of joy, sorrow, and anger filled him as the malformation of her voice was close enough to stir his emotions, yet so distant that the false impression coursed a torrent of rage throughout his body.

  Tears ran freely down his face as he slowly regained himself, his hands exploring the space in his chest where he could feel pressure emanating from. The crimson light had disappeared altogether, but it had done something to him. His chest felt the same as it always had—slightly warm to the touch. He guessed that it was his imagination following the absurd vision that had engulfed him.

  “Its time?” he spat, “Time for what?!”

  It was more than alarming that the voice of his dead mother was speaking to him—today of all days. More than that, the crimson light was an ominous sign.

  “Time to go. The herbs can wait…” Elias said as he slowly stepped backwards away from the clearing; after a few meters, he turned and ran.

  The journey back to Haven’s Point was full of his own thoughts—her death; his mothers, had been the driving force for all that he had done since. His training with Jacob, his research into adventurers and his obsession with Awakenings.

  In six months, Elias would be Awakened and his connection to the system would be realised, just as Tess’s had. He was still in awe of her access to her innate ability and wondered what he would receive himself.

  He had dreams of travelling to the Aeas—the Empire of Organon’s capital, to be awakened in the grand chambers of the Order, but, that was unlikely. Jacob would likely insist he go east to Morlan or Travesse, which were much closer.

  It wouldn’t matter; either way, he would finally have his path and be one step closer to becoming an Adventurer, one step closer to ending the curse of the Aberrations.

  “Let’s hope that I don’t get a dud…” he had muttered to himself whilst deep in thought. He had spoken to a merchant passing through Haven’s Point, and in his unending curiosity, he had pushed for details on the man's Awakened ability. Elias had been devastated to learn that the System could hamstring someone so badly. The man could summon feathers from his hands. Small, Pidgeon-sized feathers. It was a channelling skill of an uncommon rarity, and it was entirely useless.

  Elias smiled weakly as the errant train of thought pulled his mind away from the bizarre event he’d just experienced.

  An hour or so more passed and he arrived on the outskirts of Haven’s Point. Looking in from a distance he saw the dozens of buildings spread over a mile or so, a number of farms on the outskirts to the south and the towers of the chapel—easily seen from a distance sat at the northern edge. The church directly aligned to the face outwards from the Aeas. So that all that prayed faced the Capital and the supposed birthplace of the Prophet. Elias didn’t think much of the gods, Arwen and Arvos. Stories conjured to explain the workings of the world and make excuse for the unending evils that occur throughout Eridoria.

  Besides the church, farmlands and buildings, the square was also visible, as well as an array of what he could only assume were people scurrying around in the distance. The festival was tonight.

  “I wonder if the old man will let me go,” Elias said as he raised his hands to his face, “Well lad, now you’re gonna have to work through the evenin’! Go on, off with ya!” he continued, assuming his best ‘Jacob’ voice.

  “Get on with it, Elias.” He thought as he pushed one foot in front of the other, heading towards the village.

  As he entered the village proper, he took in the bustle of the upcoming festival; people moving with purpose as they setup tables, hung decorations and delivered a variety of goods from the outskirts of the village to the central square. Elias took in the smell of freshly baked goods, the sound of joyful banter between the village-folk and the laughter of children doing all they could to disrupt the work.

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  A little of the tension he’d felt in the forest eased—but only a little. What he’d just experienced had shook him to the core. He rubbed his chest once more. “What was that…” he thought again.

  Elias moved along the dirt tracks that led to the village square, as he did, he heard familiar voices calling out to him; “Out gathering ‘erbs, Elias?” an older man chuckled as he adjusted a string of lanterns leading to the square.

  “If only…” Elias replied.

  “Jacob got you doing all the hard work again?!” A younger woman in simple clothes called out,

  “Mm,” he sounded as he glanced up, "I wouldn’t mind some hard work… but I’ll pass on the herb gathering in the future," he thought.

  A few more of the villagers greeted him as he passed through to the square, but he couldn’t find it within himself to engage properly. He had far too much hanging over his mind.

  Haven’s Point was often like this—everyone knew everyone, and he, being one of the younger in the village, was known more than most. The up and comings were always the talk of the village—what new abilities would they bring? Tess had already started a wave after she announced her own—it was pretty amazing. A healing skill? They were as rare as they come.

  With the market stalls coming into view, Elias found himself pause and a smile flow across his face. “Tessa,” he muttered as he spotted her leaning against one of the markets stalls; watching the festival preparations around her with a lazy smile. The sun cast a warm glow on her face, highlighting the natural warmth and sun-kissed glow from days spent outside. Her dark hair fell loosely around her shoulders, framing her kind green eyes.

  “Eli!” he heard her familiar voice shout as he approached, he saw her eyes light up as he approached, “Well, if it isn’t the great apprentice himself!” she called out as she crossed her arms, a playful grin replacing her smile, “Where’d he send you this time then? Making more wooden friends?”

  Despite the cutting thoughts of the vision he’d witnessed threatening to re-emerge—her voice broke through and he laughed. “Trees, Tess. They are trees! And despite what you think, I don’t go around talking to them,” he paused, as they came within reaching distance, “despite them probably making for better company.”

  “Oh, I don’t doubt that,” she returned without hesitation, her voice warm and familiar, “But—I bet they don’t make you blush as much as I do?”

  The lingering tension fell immediately as it was replaced with a surge of embarrassment, he pulled both hands to his face to cover up, “What do you mea—”

  “Hah! I was only playing. You’re far too easy to wind up nowadays El,” Tess said as she placed a hand on his arm.

  Elias grimaced inwardly as he dropped his arms—‘she got me’—“Careful, Tess. I might think you’ve untoward intentions.”

  He felt a flutter in his chest, he didn’t know when their relationship had turned from childhood friends to… this. He wasn’t quite sure what it was, but recently, she’d been more assertive for his attention. Accompanying the assertion was also a range of bizarre new dimensions to their friendship, including what he would describe as a poor attempt at flirting—she was pretty good at it, but he had work to do.

  Her grin widened as she shrugged, attempting to feign innocence. “So, what if I do? You’d be lost without me.” She stepped closer, nudging his arm lightly, “Unless Jacob’s warned you away from me?” she continued as she raised one hand mockingly to the side of her face, feigning hurt, “Since you’re such a good boy, you’ll do everything he says,” she winked, her eyes sparkling with mischief he still didn’t quite know how to deal with.

  Elias decided to play along, “Oh no, not at all, he’s warned me of plenty. He’s never mentioned anything about avoiding troublemakers like you. I guess he assumed I could work that much out myself,” he said, trying his best to sound nonchalant, despite the emotions her teasing stirred.

  They both laughed again together, and he saw her gaze turn softer, almost sad, “Tess?”

  Elias saw Tess immediately switch her expression to a smile as she responded, “Lucky for you, I’m the good kind of trouble.”

  “Mmhmm,” he sounded as he held her gaze in his own, a comfortable silence falling between them. Elias felt a sense of belonging and closeness to Tessa, one that the memories he’d witnessed only reinforced. They had found their companionship in the shared pain of their past, it was a bond that didn’t need words.

  Tessa broke the silence, “Well,” she said as she stepped back, sighing , “Don’t let me keep you. I know what Jacob’s like, and so do you. He knows exactly how many minutes you’ve been in the village—and how many you’ve spent talking to me,” she reached out towards his hand, he felt her fingers wrap around his and squeeze gently, “Don’t get in trouble for me.”

  He squeezed back and shrugged with a smile, “Hah, as if! Maybe it’s time I reminder him I have a life outside his stupid errands!”

  Her face cracked into laughter, “You’d better,” she teased as she shook her head, a playful glint in her eyes; she’d seen straight through his false bravado, “Don’t forget our dance tonight. You promised me an evening to remember.”

  Elias grinned, “I might’ve promised that, but I don’t remember agreeing to a dance,” he said as he turned, releasing her hand slowly. The weight of his earlier encounter in the forest was momentarily forgotten.

  He looked back as he moved away, catching a wave and her bright, reassuring smile.

  "Time to see the old man." he thought.