The radiating light of the sun made the Wooded forest looked more vivid with its natural, rich green color of the leaves and grass. Back when he was younger, Xabe was about to go the same route he took when usually biking to the neighborhood from his home, but he heard whispers from the forest. It were foreign to him- sounded ancient, in fact. He wanted to find the source at first, but he got himself lost from the vast maze of the Wooded forest. Why would a young boy seek the whispers? It was no spell nor hypnotism, but somehow he could just hear it from a distance. In other words, intrigue got the best of him.

The next thing he realized was that he was out from the Wooded forest and recognized the meadows that surrounded the orphanage. As years went by, before he goes to the orphanage, he realized how much he appreciated the calmness of nature.

The Wooded forest stretched all across the grasslands and the tall mountains of Mt. Pike. Xabe hopped on to his mommy bike and started his ride there. He did cross-country riding several times at this point. Despite the thin width of the tires, Xabe found riding across the pebbly road, hopping on logs, and splashing across a small river quite thrilling.

Xabe pedaled so fast, he even managed to climbed up the challenging zigzag road of Mt. Pike. Later, he parked his mommy bike on a tree trunk, where he usually leaned his ride and put down his seven-foot backpack.

Furthermore, Xabe lifted his head to see that one tree on the very top of a rocky mountain. He slightly bent his legs to feel the dirt swirling around his feet, yanked his arms backwards, and took a deep breath.

Xabe leaped high and reached the top of a cliff. The boy grasped the tree’s body with his right hand. There, a pileated woodpecker popped its head out. “Hello again, Red.” Xabe smiled as the bird came out to stand on his forearm.

His turquoise eyes switched gaze to the horizon. On the left area, It was like Yardsvile had never been this big of a town. On the right was the meadow greeting the morning with such rainbow colors of the flowers. With this wonderful of a view, Xabe sucked in the fresh air and let it all out to feel a pleasant sense of relief.

Below the cliff, the weird old lady was having her usual morning walk. She was dressed in a long, short-sleeve, gray robe that came with a hood to shade her wrinkled face from the light. She placed hands beside her hips as her blue eyes spotted the boy on top.

The weird old lady let out a melodic whistle which caused Red to quickly its attention to her before flying down. Xabe followed of which the woodpecker was landing, until it ended up standing off a familiar figure’s hand.

“Good morning, weird old lady.” Xabe waved with a smile. He slid on the rocky slope of the cliff and jumped off to properly land on the ground.

“Same to you, weird young boy,” she said. “You are here again because of my whispers?” Her voice sounded like she’s from the northern lands where the vikings used to live.

“Not this time.” Xabe walked to his parked mommy bike to grab the bread he bought at the Yard’s Marketplace. “I just thought to spend more little time here before I go back to the orphanage. Bread?” He offered the paper bag.

The weird old lady couldn’t decline, though she was happy to accept a nice breakfast. “While I’m in the mood, yes. That would be lovely.”

The two were just taking their moment to feel the ambience of nature while walking down the mountain road. Xabe looked at the weird old lady. “You know, I think it’s time for you to go back to society. Perhaps start at the orphanage?” Red the pileated woodpecker was still in her right index finger while she was indulging her bread.

“It’s society, weird young boy, that is why I prefer isolation. And I dearly despise children. Nasty little beasties.”

“But why didn’t you get rid of me before?”

She fed the last tiny piece of bread to Red. “The whispers, boy.”

Xabe chuckled, “Here we go again.”

“It’s true, I say. Ancient tongue does not let me whisper for no reason.”

Xabe leaned closer in case she whispers. “And what does the whisper say something about me?”

But the weird old lady just shrugged. “Eh, just an ancient tongue that I’m too lazy to know.”

“Could be very important,” he sang.

“Meh, it does not matter,” she said, but in her mind she spoke to herself, Actually, that was a huge lie. There’s a reason why I’m whispering in ancient tongue.

“If you say so.”

“After the defeat of Devastrigon and the Darken clan, the land of Etheron, or the entire world of Enchanteria rather, has never been building up to become better.”

Xabe grabbed a piece of bread from his mommy bike’s basket. “Yeah, And the Dragonslayer is never to be seen again. Or been heard of after many years. The songs say that he went back to his slumber. Total badass, if you ask me. I’m referring to his actions, not his, you know, being a sleep and all.”

The weird old lady gazed at the boy’s radiating face from the sun’s light. The old will sleep, so the new one will awaken. The whispers translated inside her thoughts. She sees nothing special every day, but there was something within that is more than meets the eye. Weird.

The two weird individuals stopped at the old lady’s cabin. Built with oak wood, squared windows, and a small patio. Also, an unused chimney. Xabe stood still while the weird old lady continued to march on to her home.

Xabe furrowed his eyebrows. “I’m going to ask this one more time: are you really a witch?”

She stopped and turned to him. “Why your curiosity always come out of the blue?”

Xabe tossed his arms. “The whispers- mmm, that one. Disliking society- which makes sense. Despising Children- can’t blame you, though. And me- I mean… something really tells that you… are a witch, know what I’m saying?”

“No.” She continued walking to her house.

“Oh…” He dropped his eyes. “Then I can’t stop thinking that you might really just a weird old lady.” Without letting Xabe see, she cracked a smile.

Before she turned the doorknob, she asked, “As for you, are you really just a normal boy?”

“What do you mean?”

“The first time we met, you kept staring at me and ran away with such speed that I had never seen before. You offered me free breakfast since then. And somehow you manage to bike your way here with a seven-foot backpack and a mommy bike that is not meant to be ridden in a place like this.”

Xabe couldn’t help but grin. “You can tell that I have magical powers?”

The wooden door opened with a creaking sound. “I can tell that you're just weird.” Despite the small size of her home, a cold snowstorm had exploded before the boy. Despite caught by surprise, Xabe stood his ground and covered his face with his arms. He put his arms down to see the absence of the snowstorm as if it didn’t happen.

The weird old lady peered inside and turned to him. “Oops, forgot to turn off my air conditioner. Come, you can lean your bicycle on that tree. I want to show you something.”

The cabin had somewhat of an eerie atmosphere to it. There were no lights except the sun from outside. Skulls of horned creatures- probably demons or monsters, were hanging on top of the wall. On the shelf on the right side of the interior were dark-colored books on top, jars of animal parts on the second and third shelf, and an empty last shelf.

The only thing that made Xabe at ease was a red chair, a small stool, a white daisy on a blue vase on top of a round table, a teddy bear beside the base which Red cuddled as it flew from the weird old lady’s hand, and his senses didn’t feel any sign of danger.

Xabe watched as the weird old lady went into a room, then came back to hold a small box. “Come, let us both sit.” The weird old lady gestured to the sitting area. She sat on her favorite red chair while Xabe dropped his seven-foot backpack down and sat on the small stool. They faced each other while the round table was displayed between them.

Then, the weird old lady let out a bunch of cards inside an opened box as she put it on the table. The back of the cards had a crimson background designed with glittering, white line art of the stars.

“Tarot cards?” Xabe leaned closer. “You want to double-check how ‘weird’ I am?”

She chuckled. This is the only way you’ll understand, she wanted to say first. “I got these tarot cards from a shaman friend a long time ago. Thoughtfully, he said I should have this as a will to not isolate myself from the world. But of course the outcome is the exact opposite.” Apparently, that’s not entirely true, she thought.

“But, aren’t the tarot cards’ job is to tell a person’s goals, career, money, love, and general life path?” Xabe turned to her. “Oh wait, I get it, you want to know how ‘weird’ my life will get- not just me.”

“Despite the fact that we live in an enchanted world, our perception is limited by what we see with our own eyes. Everything will become strange when we see something… weird. But in this reality, everything is limitless. So look deep within your mind, your heart, and soul to ask the questions you really want to ask. Are you ready?”

Xabe nodded slowly. “Yes.” He closed his eyes as he began to ponder. The question had finally brought up to his mind as he opened them. “Okay, uh, let’s see… what comes something in store for me?”

“A basic question, but it will do.” The weird old lady. She flipped the first card to see the image of the Dragonslayer, figured because of the horned bronze helmet, leather armor, and steel shoulder pads. The hero was burning in red flames while holding the sword pointing down. At the bottom of the picture, the card was labeled Reborn. “A new beginning.”

Xabe leaned closer to admire the art of the card. The style was similar to the church’s stained-glass artwork. “Oh, it’s like I have to become a warrior to continue my battles in life, because life is hell, right?”

“Mmm, something like that?” The weird old lady nodded. His perception is indeed quite small. But let’s continue. “I’ll let you ask six other questions. So ask another, weird young boy.”

“Alright, mmm… what are the obstacles must I need to face?”

She slipped another card and placed it next to the first one. “A darker path.” The card displayed what appeared to be an abyss with a label Darkness.

“Oh…” Xabe was a bit shocked. “I mean, it happens to any of us, so it’s common, I suppose. Am I really that weird?”

“There are different ways people see darkness in their lives. It’s either you’ll stay blind or feel to see. Now, the third question,” said the weird lady.

Xabe looked into the card, and he could tell something is serious hiding beneath the abyss. “Okay… Why do I need to take that darker path?”

She flipped the third card, which revealed to be a crown shooting out from the night sky with twinkling stars and simply labeled as Stellar. “To see a lighter way.”

“What does the crown have to do with anything?” asked Xabe.

“Who knows,” she shrugged. “Perhaps the crown determines that you have the power to decide your fate. Anyway, on to the forth.”

“That’s cool, alright, alright. Hmm… How will I decide my destiny?”

“Such a question, weird young boy.” She flipped the fourth card to reveal the entire world of Enchanteria. The label was the name of the earth itself. “When you see the world as it is.”

“Huh…” Xabe was completely puzzled. He repeated quietly, “When I see the world as it is. Like… how I do something in my life depending on where I am?”

“Like a typical life, yes. Now, the fifth question.”

Now the boy became more engaged, but he could not rush. He pondered again until he asked, “Hmm, what hidden opportunity is there for me?”

She flipped the fifth card to reveal the sea horizon, accepting the warmth of the sunrise with the suitable label Tomorrow. “You’ll never know unless you explore.”

“Okay…”

“The future comes with multiple threads- meaning multiple possibilities. Can be good, or bad, depends on the way you choose each threads in this universe. The only way to find it out is if you find the right thread.”

“A new beginning. A darker path. To see a lighter way. When you see the world as it is… you’ll never know unless you explore,” he said slowly as pondered about. “Are you sure you’re not some kind of witch, or a seer, or some shit? ”

“I read and collect a lot of literature, especially about specific pictures or art that comes with certain interpretations. Two questions left.”

Xabe nodded, “Alright, let’s see… hmm, what trials await for my new beginning?”

She flipped the sixth card to reveal the war between the angels and the demons. But there was something odd, the way the weird old lady showed it to him was that as if the demons were coming out from the sky and the angels were readying their weapons on earth. What was more odd was the label itself, Apocalypse.

What is this?

“When Hell rises as Heaven falls.”

“So like what… like, um, the end of the world?”

The weird old lady laughed, “You can think and expect that as a metaphor. That perhaps your life will be much tougher than you could have ever imagine.” Also, yes. Yes it is. “I see you’re into what comes for your future, like any other young folks similar to you, although, you’re the first that I have met for a long time. Now, are you ready with your last question.”

Xabe closed his hands. This is it, my last question, I know this isn’t something to take serious of, but this feels personal- really personal. “Yes. What will I be a part of all this? I-it's sure sounds cheesy and dumb-”

“Are you starting to have an existential crisis?”

“What? No. What makes you say that?”

The weird old lady stretched her lips downward and shrugged. “Just a feeling.” Before she even flipped the card, she placed first right beside the sixth one. Xabe widened his eyes. As the card was flipped, an image of what appeared to be a white figure holding a sword pointing up.

The figure’s shape was only shining white, but it wore a winged golden helmet with red hair swooshed behind it. The background came with dancing orange-yellowish flames. A complete parallel from the first card, come to think about it. Additionally, the fact that the card was labeled Bestowed. Xabe was waiting for her words as he turned to her.

The weird old lady paused. One day, and in time, he’ll understand. She took a deep breath and smiled to look like she was just being enthusiastic of the cards the weird old lady flipped. “Something that you are meant to be.”

“Like what? When I am in my fullest potential?”

“If you believe in yourself, yes,” she nodded.

Xabe moved his chin, danced his fingers on his knees, he said, “That’s nice. I’ll look into these cards as my affirmations.”

“Very well.” You’re going to need it. “I hope these will help in the future.” By future, I meant today.

MaXabiere glanced at the clock to see the arrows indicated that it was ten-fifteen. “Oh, look at the time.” He stood up and hoisted his seven-foot backpack.

“Yes, indeed, I must prepare my lunch, hehehe.” She stacked the seven cards back into the deck. He watched her as she put the tarot deck on the window’s stool. “This will boost up the positive energy from the sunlight.”

Xabe stretched his arms up as they both went outside. “Ah, I miss you already, outside world!” The boy turned to the weird old lady with Red on her hand again. “The next time we meet, we may finally share each other’s names. So, I see you whenever.”

“It actually depends on the whenever part,” she said. Xabe grabbed his mommy bike.

While he was not looking at her, she muttered, “Who knows, you may as well be a part of the Flash guardians… MaXabiere.”

There it goes again, The ancient whispers had invaded his hearing. “I’m sorry, weird old lady, do you want to say-” But, as he looked around, the entire cabin was gone. Not even a sound. As if there was no such thing. Xabe faced nothing but the mountain wall. “-something…?”