Between Fear and Fate

After being brought back to the inn, Becky was left alone with her thoughts. The conversation with Alaric had left her more confused and increasingly worried about how she would get home, and why she was here in the first place. (How am I supposed to get home?) she thought, scaring herself with the weight of the question.

A sudden knock on the door jolted her back to reality. Zephyr's voice came through, "Can I come in? We should be heading out soon."

Becky hesitated, her mind racing. Zephyr had found her backpack when he rescued her and had forgotten to give it back until now. Before answering, she quickly threw the stone under the pillow on the bed. She wasn't sure if she could trust him with it. (What if this stone is the only thing that can lead me home?) she wondered, the uncertainty gnawing at her.

After a brief pause, Becky said, "You can come in."

The door creaked open, and Zephyr entered, holding her green backpack. "Here's your bag," he said, offering a small smile. "I forgot I had it."

"Thanks," Becky replied, her mood shifting slightly. "I hope I left a change of clothes in there."

She stood up and took the bag from Zephyr, momentarily forgetting about the stone hidden beneath the pillow. Zephyr mentioned they'd be leaving soon and that he'd be downstairs with Lila, having breakfast. With that, he left the room.

Becky placed the bag on the bed and went through its contents. She was relieved to find her phone, but when she tried to turn it on, it was dead. "I should have charged it," she thought, shaking her head.

Next, she pulled out a notebook, realizing it could be useful to jot down the strange plants and animals she encountered in this world. "Maybe keeping track of everything here will help me figure out how to get home."

Before leaving, Becky grabbed the stone from under the pillow and tucked it carefully into her backpack. She wasn't ready to lose sight of it—it could be her only link to getting back home. Becky headed downstairs While throwing on her cloak to grab a quick bite before setting off with Zephyr and Lila.

Becky sat down next to Zephyr and Lila, she felt as if she could fall asleep at any moment, no thanks to her unrestful sleep. Zephyr slid a plate of pancakes over to beck, "thank you zephyr" becky said in a tired voice. Becky looked over to lila, she was eating like this was her first meal.

"These are really good, you should really eat yours," said Lila with a mouth half full of pancake, smiling at becky.

Becky eats her breakfast, tired but starting to walk up from her weird dream. Becky couldn't forget it, she needs to protect the stone so she can get home.

As they leave the inn they were staying in, Zephyr asked Becky, "Becky, do you want to learn how to use magic? I know you come from a place that can't use magic but we're heading to a town that isn't controlled by this country's government, the town is outside its reach."

Becky hesitated, she didn't know what to think. She thought magic wasn't real before this but now she's being asked if she wanted to learn something that shouldn't exist. Not only could she learn something unreal but it's also something that people fight over to control. "I would love to learn magic, I didn't think it was even possible for a person to do."

'

"The government's control relay has been getting worse, it doesn't help that they keep limiting information during the so called war with Ravus and his followers"

"The government isn't the only problem" zephyr said, "i'll teach the both of you have to control your magic, after we get some supplies form the next town"

"Why do we need to go to the next town to get supplies? Wouldn't this town have the supplies you need?" asked becky

"This town is under strict dictation" zephyr said, "the next town is outside of this nation's reach of power, there we can buy some things to help me teach you two magic."

Becky could tell Zephyr's goal for this trip wasn't really true, there's more to it. She felt like her goal of getting home was long gone. how far is home, is it even on the same plant; with all this madness.

As Becky, Zephyr, and Lila prepared to leave Everglow and head to the next town, the air started to grow colder, dark clouds began to gather overhead. Becky shivered as a chill ran down her spine, accompanied by an unsettling feeling she desperately wanted to forget. The wind picked up, carrying an eerie, oppressive atmosphere that filled the town.

Suddenly, Becky's shadow stretched unnaturally, twisting and deforming, growing larger and more grotesque. To her horror, two large, pure white eyes emerged from the shadow. Out of it rose a creature from Becky's deepest fears—one she had hoped never to encounter again. Standing over thirteen feet tall, the figure was draped in a long, black cloak, its face a void of darkness except for those two glaring eyes.

Becky couldn't believe what she was seeing, and fear overtook her. Instinctively, she backed away, trying to escape, but the creature's shadow coiled around her leg, tripping her. As she fell, the Eclipsing Stone tumbled out of her backpack and landed on the ground. Her panic flared as she reached for it, but before she could grab it, Zephyr picked it up.

Faint whispers filled the air as the townspeople slowly backed away, their conversations fading into the wind.

"You need to be more careful with this," Zephyr said calmly. "It's not something you can just replace." He helped Becky to her feet and handed the stone back to her.

"Just stay calm," Zephyr reassured her. "They won't hurt you, as long as you don't provoke them."

"O-Okay," Becky stammered, trying to steady her breathing. "I have to trust him... They aren't doing anything to me." Becky said to herself.

"It's okay, Becky," Lila added gently. "They're here to look for Ravus and his followers. After they became a terrorist group, things got more intense. It's one thing to protest, but Ravus's group went way too far. Although it's strange that one of them went after you."

Still shaken, Becky asked, "What are these tall, dark, hooded creatures?"

"They're called Ethereal Keepers," Lila explained. "They come from the government to help protect the town."

Just then, two more Ethereal Keepers appeared from the distance. They were moving down the street as if they were floating. In the middle of them stood an older man with greying hair, he walked with confidence and power. On his shirt a badge shined from the little light that pierced the clouds.

"Zephyr, what did you do this time?" Sheriff Finn called out.

"Good to see you, Sheriff Finn," Zephyr replied.

"What's going on here, and who are your friends?" Finn asked, his smirk carrying a hint of suspicion. "They look a bit young—are you getting back into teaching?"

"You could say that," Zephyr replied smoothly. "More like a favor I owe."

Finn sighed, shaking his head. "You have to stop accumulating debts, Zephyr." Then his tone turned more serious. "I don't know what you've gotten yourself into, but if those things were after her, you'd better keep her far from trouble. I won't cover for you if she brings chaos to my town."

Zephyr remained unfazed, as if he had expected those exact words.

"I need to see the hands of your companions," Finn continued.

"For what?" Zephyr asked, his composure finally breaking. "Finn, they're with me. Isn't that enough?"

"That might be the only reason I'm giving you a chance," Finn replied evenly.

Zephyr exhaled, his resistance fading. Whether he realized it didn't matter or there was simply nothing left to hide, he relented.

Becky and Lila stepped forward hesitantly. Lila, without a word, extended her arm for Sheriff Finn to inspect. A faintly glowing mark traced across her skin, a clear sign of her magic. When the sheriff placed his fingers over it, the marking pulsed and darkened, shifting to an eerie black glow.

Becky hesitated. Something inside her resisted—an unshakable fear she couldn't explain. She didn't have a mark, so why was she so afraid?

Sheriff Finn turned to her. His sharp eyes studied her hesitation before he took her hands, his grip firm but not forceful. He examined them carefully, his expression unreadable, as if he already suspected something.

The silence hung heavy in the air until Finn finally exhaled and said, "Alright, Zephyr, you're free to go. Just stay out of trouble."

The sheriff tipped his hat before turning away, disappearing into the thinning crowd. The Ethereal Keepers hesitated for a moment before reluctantly following, their soulless eyes lingering on Becky, sending a chill down her spine. Even as they faded into the distance, the piercing sensation of their gaze remained.

As they departed, the heavy clouds slowly began to break apart, allowing slivers of sunlight to pierce through. The oppressive dread that had loomed over the town began to lift—but not for Becky. Her legs felt weak, her body heavy with the weight of fear and lingering unease. The bright, hopeful morning had been swallowed by something far darker.

Sensing her distress, Zephyr cleared his throat, trying to shift the mood. "Alright," he said with forced lightness, "let's grab the wagon and get out of here."