Prophecy

Nana’s face mirrors my own shock as we sit there, staring at each other in stunned silence. Her eyes roam over the new rune now etched into my skin, finally settling on my face with a mixture of awe and pride. There’s a glint in her eyes that reassures me, even though I can feel the weight of something monumental pressing down on both of us.

“Come, darling,” she says softly, guiding me to the couch. We sink into the plush cushions, and the weight of the day suddenly overwhelms me. I don’t even know where to begin. But as soon as I open my mouth, the words start spilling out. Everything—the dreams that haunt me, the cryptic letters from my parents, the wolf in the forest, the runes that seem to appear without warning, my encounter with Mrs. Maybe—I tell her everything.

It feels like I’m talking for hours. Nana listens silently, never interrupting, just nodding and offering me that comforting presence I’ve always relied on. By the time I finish, I feel lighter, as if I’ve been carrying the burden alone for too long, and finally, I can let go of it.

She pulls me into a warm, loving hug, holding me tightly for a moment before leaning back, her face serious yet full of affection. “Oh, Lenora, you’ve been through so much,” she whispers. “But there’s something I need to tell you as well.”

Her tone shifts, and I sense the importance of what she’s about to say. “While I was away, I wasn’t just visiting old friends. I’ve been searching for answers, for anything that might help explain your birthmark, your abilities, everything that’s been happening to you.”

My heart skips a beat as she pulls out an old, worn parchment from her bag. Its edges are crumbled, and it looks ancient—far older than anything I’ve ever seen. She unfolds it carefully, as if it might fall apart in her hands, and then looks at me with a mix of worry and hope.

“I couldn’t find any direct information about your birthmark,” she begins, her voice tinged with frustration. “But I did find half of an ancient tablet… a prophecy, written in the oldest fairy tongue. It’s incomplete, but I’ve managed to translate as much as I could.” She pauses, then reads aloud in a voice that’s both steady and filled with trepidation:

‘A maiden born both wolf and fae

Possessing the light of night and day

Master of water, earth, fire, and air,

Shall unite all species far and near

When connected with love of her soulmate,

She will have a difficult choice to make

A sacrifice could save all kind

Or destroy life till the end of time.’

The words hang in the air between us, heavy and ominous. I feel a chill run down my spine. Nana folds the parchment and places it on the table, her hands trembling slightly. “I don’t know what it all means,” she admits, her voice shaky. “The translation might not be perfect, and we’re still missing the other half of the tablet. But the similarities between you and this prophecy… they’re too strong to ignore.”

I’m speechless. My mind races as I try to make sense of what she’s saying. A prophecy? About me? My heart pounds as I replay the lines in my head.

Nana… could this really be about me? The thought feels unreal, and yet, something deep inside tells me it’s true.

Nana takes a deep breath, her eyes softening. “I don’t want to burden you with this, Lenora. But I couldn’t keep it from you either. You needed to know.” She clasps my hands in mine, her fingers warm and comforting against my cold skin. “There’s a great power within you, darling. You’ve only just begun to unlock it. But with that power comes responsibility… and hard choices. I fear that the road ahead won’t be easy.”

Her words hang in the air, and for a moment, I feel small under the weight of it all. The prophecy, the runes, the strange powers awakening inside me—it’s too much to process. Yet, deep down, I can’t deny that everything seems to be leading me toward something bigger than myself.

Nana’s voice softens. “But you’re not alone, my dear. You have me, and there are others who will help you along the way. Trust your instincts, follow your heart… and remember, love is the most powerful force in this world.”

I nod, though I’m still overwhelmed. There’s so much I don’t understand. But Nana’s words give me comfort.