Braum nodded and then turned around.
"Yes—it's a village tradition," Braum said.
"If you want to stay here, even just for a while, you have to go through it."
The three of them followed Braum and his two men. They walked through the small village; Maya looked bewildered at all the people and the different environments she doesn't get to see there in Spring.
They walked for some time near a cave.
Maya leaned in and whispered to Jack.
"Doesn't this seem suspicious?"
Jack replied, keeping his voice low aswell.
"Let's see. For now, he doesn't seem like a threat."
There, at the entrance of the cave waiting, was the young man from yesterday—with his black patch covering one eye and his white hair. Leaning against the stone of the cave. Behind his back, the same bag as yesterday, filled with herbs.
Braum lifted his hand.
"Hey Beira!"
"Look, I found another lineage like you here."
Braum lifted his thumb up, signaling at Jack.
Beira's eyes slightly widened, still seemingly indifferent.
"Oh, that kid from yesterday…"
Jack's mind resounded.
Lineage?
"They are the newcomers you talked about?"
"I asked myself why they looked so lost."
Beira sighed and walked inside the cave. Turning his head towards the three of them, he spoke, lifting an eyebrow.
"Are you waiting for an invitation?"
The three of them walked slowly behind Beira, leaving Braum behind.
Jack turned around and asked,
"Aren't you coming with us?"
Braum shook his head.
"Only those called by the elder may enter."
Jack felt a chill run down his spine, then he continued.
Elder…
Jack spoke to Beira, who was giving them his back.
"Excuse me, why isn't Braum coming with us?"
Beira didn't answer. His hands resting in his pockets, he just kept walking slowly and calmly.
The atmosphere grew heavier.
They were going all alone, meeting the elders of the village—a person renowned by Braum.
He looked at Maya and Aos. They both seemed just as nervous as him.
The cave was all gray, with only rocks in their way and a path in front of them. The cold... it seemed to be fading for some reason. Jack felt it. Not causing him pain, just gradually decreasing.
There, at the end of the cave, a warm orange hue appeared, leaves covering an entrance. Beira walked forward, entering the cave further.
Aos looked at both.
"Are we really going in there?"
Maya looked at him and shrugged.
"Do we really have much choice?"
Aos gulped. Jack kept walking.
He pushed the leaves with his hands as if entering the orange hue that illuminated his face.
The cave transformed from plain rocks. To moss covering the rocks, almost as if entering another world completely.
The cave ended in a dome filled with green, almost as if Winter never reached there. The temperature felt neutral, as if everything were balanced.
In the middle of the dome lay a tent.
Surrounded by branches and trees. The whole place was scattered with flowers and butterflies; the flowers gave the whole place a floral smell. Shining insects hummed, illuminating the place and casting the orange hue.
Jack's eyes widened at the sight. He had never seen such a lively atmosphere. Most of his life was spent in Winter, only leaving to Autumn a couple of times. But this was different than anything he had seen. His cheeks were slightly red at the sight.
Maya and Aos showed similar reactions of amazement.
Aos whispered in a low voice,
"Beautiful…"
Beira's voice resounded in the dome of the cave.
"Old hag! They are here…"
"I'm leaving your bag right here!"
Beira crouched, leaving the bag in front of the tent.
Then he began walking towards them, indifferently.
Jack stared at him with a curious gaze.
"What are we supposed to do?"
Beira ignored Jack and the rest and walked past them, unfazed. His voice resounded behind them as he moved the leaves to get out.
"Good luck."
"See you in five days."
Jack froze.
Good luck?
He shook.
Five days!
He must be joking…
Jack gained composure shaking off his thoughts and looked at the middle of the dome.
The tent rattled slightly. A groan could be heard from inside. Jack and the rest, eyes piercingly staring at the tent. A wrinkly hand revealed itself, pulling the tent open.
Jack instinctively stepped back.
On Maya's face, a sweat began dropping.
Aos' eyes shook as he stared at the hand coming from the tent. A pressing aura could be felt from inside. Finally, taking a step out of the tent—a caped old woman appeared. Wrinkly, her back curved, she was being held up by a cane in her right hand. Only the humming of the insects could be heard.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in the dome as the rest stood quiet.
"Oh! Guests."
"Finally, I've been waiting for you."
Jack's eyes grew wide. The old woman's mouth did not move, only slightly opened as words came out of her mouth. The old lady was with her eyes wide open and her jaw hung from her mouth.
Did she not open her mouth?
The voice echoed once again, now slightly agitated.
"Oh!"
"Sorry, this form usually does scare guests!"
"Wait a second!"
The old lady lifted her head, looking at the ceiling, her eyes still wide. Her mouth opened even more, almost unnaturally. From within her mouth, a hand appeared—young and without flaws.
Making them all shiver.
Then another hand appeared, opening her mouth even wider. The two hands slowly opened it even wider.
A small groan could be heard from inside. The hands pulling the granny's mouth down slowly revealed a woman seemingly in her thirties. A bit of saliva rested on her skin.
She had red, now moisturized hair. And dark eyes. She was wearing a loose, sleeveless white cloak, with gold detailing. Her eyes grew wide at the sight of the three of them. She clapped excitedly.
"Wow, three of you!"
"Good thing I asked Beira for many herbs."
Jack and the rest stood still at the sight.
"Oh right, Braum did tell me to stop doing that in front of people…"
She placed her hand over her mouth.
"Ahem…"
She suddenly changed demeanor and gave a polite bow.
"Welcome…"
"My name is Banshee."
The three of them froze. Maya spoke.
She chuckled nervously.
"I must've imagined that, right?"
"Guys?"
Maya threw a glance at the two of them, both frozen from what they saw.
Banshee spoke once again, signaling for them to come closer.
"Come here, I don't bite."
"You have my word."
Then she turned around and crouched to grab the bag of herbs Beira left for her.
She sighed.
"That damn kid. I should teach him some manners."
Jack, Aos, and Maya approached warily.
Banshee sat on a log that lay in front of the tent, and she began taking out herbs from the bag.
The three of them sat on a log that was in front of her with slow caution.
The red-haired woman placed the herbs in an organized fashion.
Jack stared at her blankly.
From up close, the woman was beautiful. Her red hair, luscious, falling almost to her waist. Her eyes, although dark, felt deep. Her carefree demeanor made her even more eye-catching—making Jack almost forget she got out of an old lady like if it was a simple suit.
Jack shivered remembering the creaking of the old woman's jaw.
He spoke nervously.
"Uhm, excuse me!"
"What is this about a trial?"
"Us three don't really know much about it."
She began humming as she ignited a pot in front of her.
Jack spoke once again.
"Excuse me?"
She stared up quickly, only now noticing his voice.
"Hmm?"
"Oh, yeah yeah. Just a few seconds more and I will be right with you."
She placed all of the herbs into the pot. Some slowly came out, filling their noses with a beautifully rich aroma. Jack was sitting in the middle of Maya and Aos, sweat running down all of their faces.
Banshee spoke once again.
"Phew…"
"There."
She moved the pot to the side and then pulled out a paper from the bag as well.
She placed the paper slowly in front of her and then traced a symbol with her finger. The point of her finger let out a shiny gold trace that slightly glowed up. She carved out a Rune.
Jack's mind puzzled.
What is she…
Banshee spoke once again.
"This is the symbol of this trial. I am an elder spirit meant to guide."
"Each of you will face a challenge."
She raised her index finger.
"Soo…"
"I recommend you brace yourselves."
Maya spoke nervously.
"What do you mean?"
"Brace ourselves for wha—"
Interrupting her, Banshee placed the palm of her other hand strongly on the symbol recently carved.
The symbol shined, illuminating the whole dome in white.
Jack placed his arm in front of him, bracing for what was about to come.
He took his arm off his face, recuperating from the sudden flash, blinking multiple times for the white to die off. But he realized it never did—he was in a white place, devoid of anything.
He looked down.
His left arm shined white.
"What?!"
He looked around, searching for any signs of his friends.
"Guys?!"
This… it's similar to that time I saw Miche's memories…
Suddenly, a voice echoed in the white space.
"That arm of yours…"
"It seems that you were already tied to a spirit beast."
"It was a lot easier than I thought, I guess that's why."
It was the voice of the woman.
Jack shouted, raising his head up, making both of his hands into fists.
"You!"
"What did you do!?"
"Where are they!?"
Banshee's voice echoed once again.
"Trial stage one commences."
"Name, Jack Frost, Heir of Winter."
Jack gritted his teeth.
That…
"How do you know my name?!"
Her voice now seemed distant, almost as if fading away.
"Good luck, Frost."
The surroundings suddenly fell dark Jack's consciousness slowly fading away.
Damn it.