«Prologue»
November 24, 2025 at 8:49 AM
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- …And when the truth hides behind the clouds, when the light of hope fades from human hearts, when faith in wonder turns to ash on the graves of ancestors… the scales of balance will whirl in a mad dance, and the wheel of fortune will flare with greed and vengeance. Then we shall return to the world, reveal our faces once more, and… kh-kh… — The gentle, honeyed voice faltered, and the bubbling liquid inside the black cauldron dimmed. The woman coughed, bent over the brew, and hissed in annoyance. — Great darkness preserve me… I lost the thread again! - Praise the Dragons, it finally happened! — A second voice cut through the gloom—sharper, louder, dripping irritation. Its owner peeled herself away from the murky mass that served as a wall and marched toward the “poetess.” — Lilit, what nonsense are you spouting this time?! Hope? A wheel of fate? Where is the meaning in this month-long waterfall of delusions I’ve had to listen to?! - If you’re so smart, then gaze into the future yourself, Tharma! — Lilit flared up and tossed a pouch of potion ingredients into her sister’s chest. — Go on! Craft a logical prophecy out of the chaos you’ll see. Think it’s that easy?! - I don’t think anything! I just want you to stop babbling and tell us plainly what awaits us, sister! — Tharma squeezed the pouch, her eyes flashing beneath a phoenix-wing mask. The air around her thickened. — We’ve been hiding here who-knows-how-long because of that cursed hunt! You think I want to spend my life scurrying like a rat? I need to know what’s coming, not listen to your attempts at poetry! - As if I enjoy it?! I’ve barely learned a thing all this time! — Lilit shoved her sister, their shadows shuddering with her anger. — At least I am trying! All you do is comment on every step I take! What have you done, huh?!” - I…! - Enough. — The icy voice cut cleanly through the tension. Both witches turned toward its owner. — Lilit… unpleasant as it is to admit, I agree with Tharma. You’ve spent a month trying to read our future and still haven’t given us anything useful. And I am tired of staying still. — Beladonna rose from her ethereal chair, her presence quiet but undeniable. — I believe our story has reached its natural end, sisters. - What do you mean? — They echoed, fear creeping into their voices. - It is time to stop hiding and meet our fate head-on. We have avoided it for far too long. — She approached the cauldron and continued: Valtor told me they refuse to end their search because the death of the heiress has been confirmed. The boy insists he’ll guard our refuge until his last breath, but… I doubt he has enough strength left. Smirking faintly, the witch extended her hands toward her sisters. They hesitated only a moment before taking them, forming a triangle around the cauldron. - But I have no intention of leaving quietly. We will look into the future together. Our combined power should grant us a clearer vision. It will reveal us to Their Majesties, of course… but the sacrifice is worth it. Agreed, sisters? - Yes… — Their voices merged into one. Lowering their eyes to the simmering brew, all three began to chant in an ancient tongue:- Aperi nobis portas, tempus.
Videbimus fatum nostrum et mortem nostram.
Non timebimus eam videre et amicissimam accipere.
O tempus, da nobis clavem portae…
The liquid blazed with orange light, roared upward, and pierced the veil of darkness that had concealed the witches for months. All three trembled as visions flooded them. Their faces lifted, their expressions blooming into knowing smiles. At last, they understood what Lilit had been trying to say. Their lives would not end as pitifully as their hunters believed. They would survive.***
