Chapter 2 The seer's path

Lina's heart raced in her chest as she stared into the mirror, the soft light from the single candle flickering at her side. She had been avoiding the truth for years, yet tonight, it seemed to press against her like a storm, inevitable and fierce. The reflection before her was not her own, but something far more ancient and more ominous.

She had seen this vision before. The face of a man, framed by wild dark hair, his eyes cold yet filled with a depth that she could not comprehend. His expression was a mixture of pain and anger, as though he had been condemned to a fate he could not escape.

"Alec."

His name whispered in her mind, a name she hadn't spoken aloud in years. Yet she knew that his presence was drawing near, that their paths were about to collide in ways neither of them could foresee.

The image in the mirror shimmered, and Lina's breath caught as a flicker of light danced across the surface. The vision dissolved, and the reflection returned to normal her own tired, weary face staring back at her.

Lina closed her eyes, letting out a shaky breath. She had spent so much of her life running, hiding from the truth of her gift. The visions that came to her were more than just glimpses of the future they were chains, pulling her toward a destiny she had no desire to fulfill. Yet fate, it seemed, was insistent. And no matter how hard she tried to escape, it always found her.

Her hands trembled as she reached for the worn leather journal beside her, the pages filled with countless records of the visions she had seen over the years. The words had once been her only solace, a way to make sense of the overwhelming chaos in her mind. Now, they were a reminder of the weight she carried of the role she was meant to play in a story she had no part in writing.

Lina opened the journal to the last entry she had made, her eyes scanning the words she had written only a few days ago

The man in the prophecy is coming. The threads of fate are weaving us together. I can feel it.

She had been reluctant to put it down, but the truth had become impossible to ignore. Alec she had known his name long before she had ever seen his face. The visions had come in flashes over the years, brief but undeniable, each one drawing her closer to him. She had tried to run from the connection, but she couldn't outrun the pull of destiny.

Suddenly, a knock at the door startled her. Lina's heart leaped into her throat, and she quickly closed the journal, hiding it under the tablecloth. Her hand reached for the small dagger at her side, her mind instantly on alert.

Who is it? she called out, her voice steadier than she felt.

It's me,a familiar voice answered a voice she had longed to hear, but dreaded all the same.

Lina's grip on the dagger loosened, though she still felt the weight of her anxiety settle in her stomach. She rose from her seat, her eyes darting to the window where the pale moonlight filtered through the drawn curtains. The last thing she wanted was to be found especially by someone like him.

She opened the door cautiously, peering out at the silhouette standing in the doorway. The figure was cloaked in a dark, hooded robe, the edges of his face hidden in shadow.

You're late,she remarked, trying to keep the tremor from her voice. I thought you'd never come.

Alec's gaze locked onto hers, the flicker of recognition flickering behind his eyes. He said nothing at first, merely standing in the doorway, his tall frame imposing and filled with silent tension. It had been years since they had seen each other, and yet, in this moment, Lina felt as though the space between them had not existed at all. It was as though they had always been destined to meet again, no matter how much time had passed.

I had to make sure I wasn't followed,Alec said, his voice low and grim. This is no ordinary mission, Lina. If you're in danger, you need to come with me. Now.

Lina hesitated, her hand still resting on the doorframe as she weighed his words. She had never been one for trust especially not with a man like Alec. Her visions had shown her the truth of his role in her fate, but they hadn't given her any insight into who he truly was. Was he her savior, or was he the harbinger of her doom?

I'm not going anywhere with you, she said firmly, stepping back from the door. I don't want to be a part of whatever fate you're tangled in.

Alec's brow furrowed in frustration, his jaw tightening.You don't get to choose this, Lina. The threads of destiny are already in motion. We're bound, whether you like it or not.

At his words, something inside Lina stirred. The words were familiar, and they carried an uncomfortable weight one that she had carried for so long. Her visions had been clear on this: they were bound by more than just fate. They were bound by a choice neither of them could escape.

Then tell me, she said, her voice cutting through the tension, why should I trust you?

Alec took a step forward, his eyes locking with hers. The intensity in his gaze was almost too much to bear, yet she couldn't look away. Because you've already seen the truth. You know what will happen if we don't stop this.

Lina swallowed hard, her throat dry. The truth. The weight of the truth was almost unbearable. She had seen glimpses of their future glimpses of a world teetering on the edge of destruction, a future where Alec's death was inevitable. She had tried to run from it, but the future was never as easily outrun as a fleeing shadow.

You don't know everything,she whispered, her voice barely audible.You don't know how this ends.

I know enough, Alec said, his voice steady.And that's why we need to work together. "You've seen it. I'm the one who will either save this world or tear it apart."

Lina's pulse quickened at his words. She had seen that moment, the one where everything would shatter, the moment when their paths would diverge, and the world would either rise or fall. She couldn't deny it any longer. The man she had spent so many years running from was standing before her, and their fate was now sealed.

"Fine",she said, her voice low but resolute. "But if we're going to do this, we do it on my terms".

Alec's expression softened, just slightly, as if he had been expecting her resistance but also knew the truth of her words.

Lina stepped aside and motioned for him to enter. As he crossed the threshold into the room, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of finality settle over her. This was no longer a question of choice. It was a matter of fate, a fate that was now pulling them both into its web.

Together, they would either save the world or destroy it.