(Our Realm)
Alethia strolled along the street, her destination being the park where she often sought solace in the pages of her books. As she settled beneath her favorite tree, her gaze drifted upwards towards the branches. It was then that Galen materialized before her, perched on a limb above. "Taking a respite from training with Chris?" he inquired.
Avoiding drawing attention to herself, Alethia averted her eyes from Galen and focused on the book resting in her lap. "Yes, I needed some time alone," she replied softly, opening her book and delving into its contents.
Galen nodded, his eyes scanning the park. "Uh, Alethia, someone is approaching."
Alethia glanced up to see a young girl, roughly her age, making her way towards the tree. The girl's attention was fixated on her own book until she reached Alethia's side. With a warm smile, she greeted, "Hey...my name is Jen. I spotted you reading and thought I'd come say hello."
Returning the smile, Alethia introduced herself. "Nice to meet you, Jen. Care to take a seat?"
Jen accepted the invitation and settled beside Alethia, her gaze shifting towards Galen perched above them. "So, what's your name?" she inquired.
Galen nearly lost his balance, his face reflecting sheer astonishment. "You can see me?" he blurted out. Jen looked back at Alethia, her confusion is evident. Then, she turned her gaze back up at Galen. "Um, yeah, of course I can see you."
Recalling her conversation with Chris, Alethia pondered the existence of those who believed without requiring awakening, like herself. Running her fingers through her hair, she took a deep breath. "Do you happen to believe in magic and other realms?" she asked.
Jen stared at her for a moment, causing Alethia to anticipate her sudden departure. However, to her surprise, Jen leaned against the tree. "How did you know?" she queried.
Relieved, Alethia exhaled the breath she had been holding. "Because that's the only way you could see Galen. No one has been awakened yet, so unless you believe, you wouldn't be able to perceive him."
Jen nodded, her curiosity piqued. "So, what else do you know?"
Alethia glanced up at Galen before returning her gaze to Jen. "Well, I believe you might be one of the chosen Daughters. And I know that you should meet Chris; he can explain things much better than I can."
Surveying her surroundings, Jen inquired, "Who is Chris, and what does he know?"
Taking a moment to contemplate, Alethia continued, "He claims to be my guide. Apparently, I am the Daughter of the Stars, the seer, prophet, and leader of the other Chosen."
A grin spread across Jen's face. "Now, that's fascinating. I had a guide too, but he departed after a while. He said I was the Daughter of the Moon, a scholar. It makes sense since I adore reading and acquiring knowledge."
Alethia smiled, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. "That makes things much easier. Chris informed me that it is my duty to locate the other Chosen and enlighten them about their destinies and all the excitement that comes with it."
Jen chuckled. "Well, it's a good thing I already know, then, isn't it?"
Alethia nodded, glancing up at Galen as a sense of relief washed over her. Jen brushed her hair behind her ear and revealed, "You might also be interested to know that my boyfriend believes in all this too."
Galen leaped down from the tree. "I must find Chris. He needs to be informed of this," he declared before vanishing from sight.
Alethia's smile widened as she turned her attention back to Jen. "Where is your boyfriend now?"
Jen rose to her feet. "He lives just down the street. Come on, he would be thrilled to meet you."
And so, Alethia and Jen embarked on a journey, united by their shared beliefs and destined to fulfill their roles as the chosen Daughters.
Alethia rose to her feet, following Jen along the bustling street. With a sigh, Jen began, "Normally, I wouldn't divulge our beliefs to others, but since you brought it up first, it does make things easier. David will be elated."
Alethia chuckled. "Well, if you hadn't spoken to Galen, I wouldn't have mentioned anything. I was afraid it might freak you out."
Jen led her up a driveway to a charming little house, and she knocked on the door. A young man with short brown hair and deep blue eyes opened it, a smile spreading across his face upon seeing Jen. "Hey, love. I wasn't expecting you so early. Is everything alright?"
Jen smiled, planting a kiss on his cheek. "Yes, everything is fine. I wanted you to meet someone." She gestured towards Alethia. "This is Alethia. She shares our beliefs, if you can call them that."
David extended his hand. "Nice to meet you, Alethia. You can call me Dave."
Slipping her hand into his, Alethia replied, "It's a pleasure to meet you too, Dave."
Jen beamed. "Alethia is one of the Chosen. Perhaps she can shed light on our purpose, and if she can't, her friend Chris surely can."
Alethia glanced back at Jen, trying not to be impolite. "Forgive me, but how long have you two been together?"
Jen smiled as David took her hand. "About two years now. Why do you ask?"
"Because you both are Chosen, which suggests that one of the four unions has already been formed."
They both looked bewildered. "Are you saying we're meant to be together?" Jen asked.
Alethia nodded. "That's what I believe it means, although I can't be certain. I have a prophecy that discusses the four unions among the eight Chosen." She glanced between them. "If you'd like to hear it, I'd have to fetch it from home. I should also inform Chris about what's happening. Perhaps I should bring him here to meet you. He would have more answers than I do."
Jen nodded. "I'll accompany you. It'll give us a chance to get better acquainted."
"That would be wonderful. Come on, let's see if we can find Chris. My house isn't far from here, so we won't be gone for too long."
David smiled, giving Jen a quick kiss before releasing her hand. "Hurry back." Turning to Alethia, he added, "You're always welcome here."
"Thank you, David. We'll be back soon."
Jen and Alethia strolled down the street towards Alethia's house, engaging in conversation along the way. Suddenly, Galen appeared behind them. "Alethia, Chris is waiting for you at your house."
Nodding, they approached her driveway, where Chris stood. With a smile, Alethia embraced him. "Hey, where have you been? I haven't seen you all day."
Chris chuckled. "I had to visit a friend, or rather, my girlfriend Clara."
"I didn't know you had a girlfriend."
Chris laughed. "I don't have to disclose everything. She's a lovely girl, and she's also marked. You and her are close friends in the other realms."
Alethia nodded. "I'd love to meet her someday. But for now, I want you to meet Jen. She and her boyfriend are both Chosen."
Jen reached out her hand to Chris, a smile on her face. He shook it firmly. "Nice to meet you, Jen. I can sense from your aura that you are undoubtedly one of the Daughters."
Alethia smiled. "I'll be right back. I need to fetch the prophecy." She entered the house, noticing her grandmother was absent yet again, and made her way to her room. Retrieving the box of poems from under her bed, she sifted through her work until she found the one she sought. Then, she returned outside.
Jen grinned upon seeing her. "Ready to go?"
Chris and Alethia nodded, and they followed Jen back down the street to David's house. Jen knocked on the door once more, and David greeted them with a warm smile. "Welcome back. You must be Chris." He extended his hand.
Chris shook it firmly. "Indeed, I am. And you must be David?"
David nodded, stepping aside to let them in. "Come on in. Let's find a seat." They all entered, with Alethia and Chris settling on the couch while Jen sat on the floor before David. "My mom's away for the weekend, so we needn't worry about anyone eavesdropping."
Alethia produced the prophecy from her pocket. "I wrote this in fourth grade, and lately, I've been penning what Chris claims are additional prophecies. These new ones speak of the veil falling, darkness engulfing the world, and Chaos's tyrannical reign."
Chris watched Alethia expectantly. "You are the prophet, Alethia. You must read it aloud, or else Jen and David won't comprehend it—they'll see mere gibberish."
David and Jen gazed up at Alethia, anticipation in their eyes. She lowered her gaze to the paper in her hand and began to read aloud.
"Four unions shall come to be, and eight will rise to boldly fight.
To hold the darkness at bay,
True, Pure, Holy, and Blessed.
The four are called to keep evil in flight.
A true alliance between two noble leaders,
The Daughter of Stars, a born seer indeed.
Leader of wolves, ready to battle sin,
This union made to end all wars with a win.
The Pure union between two who were held back,
The Daughter of the Sun, scholarly as can be.
With one that walks amongst the shadows,
This union was forged so man could see tomorrow.
The Holy union between two pure souls,
The Daughter of Clouds, a dream decipherer untold.
Together with a natural-born healer
This union made to keep the darkness from being a revealer.
The Blessed union between two fighters by birth,
The Daughter of the Moon, wise and book-smart on Earth.
With one that makes evil cower in fear,
This union formed before the veil would tear.
These four unions combine in eight,
Destined by fate itself that none can break.
Fight together or all is lost,
For when the veil breaks we must pay the cost.”
David and Jen exchanged astonished glances. "So, does that mean I am the fighter?" David inquired.
Jen chuckled softly. "Indeed, it appears so, given that I am the Daughter of the Moon."
Chris nodded in agreement. "Correct, but we still require five more chosen ones and three complete unions."
Alethia took a deep breath, her voice trembling. "And it falls upon me to find them," she murmured, her sigh filled with both trepidation and determination.
