Pratum's Last Whisper

The frigid night air stung my lungs, a biting reminder that I was somewhere I shouldn't be. They told me to avoid spirits, yet never explained why. Maybe that's how I ended up with this tiny floating soul before me. My lungs ached, and I had already broken over ten Pratum rulings, but I couldn't hide my fascination. Ever since I was young, voices have called to me wherever I went, and even in my dreams. They whispered of answers to find a new world. A future for Pratum beyond what the people could imagine. They led me here to start our destiny. I’d finally learned to shift through the barrier, which wasn’t possible for anyone else in Pratum, and found the creature that had called to me.

“You’re from back then, aren’t you?” Doubt turning the words sour against my tongue. It had no head to nod, just a sort of blob shape hovering in the air. Its tiny dark eyes and mouth shifted into a smile. My heart slowed, and my breathing softened, its smile, awakening my hope.

"If you mean the war, then yes." The creature’s voice faded as if scattered on the wind. Pratum survived the ancient war that erased every secret from our past. It was said the sky ran red and rivers drained of all life. Entire villages vanishing, leaving nothing but the cold earth behind. I'm not the first born without those details. It's been almost seven years since the last survivors vanished. I knew the secrets from then might help bring down the barrier.

"Young Star, you’re the Mayfeild protector, Mina." The ground squishy yet firm, caught my foot as I stepped back, awe clear on my face; this was the spirits' true power.

“You know my name?” The words dry against my tongue at the realization that it knew more about me than the people of Pratum. “That means you know I’m not one of them.” It smiled again.

"I know you’re an anomaly born of the stars, and protector of the barrier." My heart sank. This secret had weighed on me too long. It felt wrong for it to know I was so different, unlike other Pratum witches, even my mother. Nature flowed through their roots; stars flowed through mine, creating an energy not even I understood. Their powers fuel the barrier with the softness of life itself, and mine swirled with constellations of darkness, only to take from it. Just like it took the only friend I had in this world.

“You know I’m the protector, but do you also know I’m trying to destroy it?” It moved closer now, giving off a soft hum, as if it were the only thing linking it to this world.

“Yes, but I can’t help but wonder why. How are you sure it will bring good?" My body went still. If it asked this, was my theory wrong? The barrier, said to protect us from the Moonlyte forest, wasn’t meant to be broken? Maybe Sprig’s curiosity wasn’t a sign; the small leafling had a habit of getting herself into trouble. My eyes found the green being, her head sprouting one violet flower, unlike the rest of her kind. When her soft green eyes locked onto me, a pulse of hope sparked through me. A memory ripping through my eyes, one from the depths of sleep. The colors whipped around me as the blue light bubble shattered above Pratum. The city erupted in cheers, lifting everyone into the sky, surrounding them in light. We couldn’t be trapped here; there had to be an explanation.

“Yes, I am sure it will bring good.” My hands released. The heat left my strained muscles, and my lungs filled with the stale air. The spirit's eyes softened.

“Your hope will help you through this journey, but still know that some secrets are meant to stay lost.” The spirit paused, searching for something in my eyes; it must’ve found it. A distant memory stirred within me, a melody from a lullaby my mother used to sing: "Secrets told in whispers, tales in shadows cast, some truths in night to linger, some mysteries meant to last."

“Going forward, stay close and do not make a sound.” The creature turned and flew farther from the way we had come. My focus shifted to Sprig and Zinnia. Zinnia's cat-shaped body had emerged from the brush, her fern-like fur hiding her from sight. My finger lifted to my mouth, signalling to them to lead with silence. My feet moved in subtle waves, making sure to miss the fallen pale twigs. My lungs gripped at the air, screaming for more, but breathing could disturb the silence wrapping around us. I tried counting the seconds as we crept along, but the voices called to me. Just soft enough to hide their meaning. A break in the thick forest came suddenly. The forest that shielded all light vanished into moonlight, the sky stretching past the world itself. Hills stretched for miles, curving and flowing like the ocean. I could now feel the wind, alive, dancing through my hair, cold and curious. Where were we? Pratum spoke of the MoonLyte forest covering everywhere, but this was beyond. My eyes danced through the scene; there was nothing to see and so much all at once.

“We are safe to speak here. Please continue to follow me.” The shallow breathing that made my lungs riot turned soft. This spirit led me somewhere I never could’ve dreamed of. A place so lost that not even the elders of Pratum would know of its existence. The grass smelled sweet, like it should be a flower, but wasn’t. Under the rustling of the leaves, a distant howl poured out. A shiver ran down my spine as the grass shivered along with me. Like, even nature itself knew there was danger watching our every move. It reminded me of the old tales, of the MoonLyte's guardians whose howls echoed through the night before the war.

“So, not that you’ll answer me, but where exactly are we going?” I picked up my pace to reach the spirit. A part of me yearned for answers. But I knew that deep down, the spirit wouldn’t answer me the way I wanted. I trusted it enough to lead me where I needed to go, but every step felt like a walk across fire. A balance between my curiosity and trust in the evasive spirit.

“It’s a place with no name, but holds everything you need for your next travels.” My breath released in a louder sigh than I meant. But my vision started to expand, as if I were looking through my old pet fish's bowl. Travels? What did it mean? And why did I need something for my travels? A shape began to fade into view: two trees, their branches winding together in an arc. It glowed softly like a lightning bug. As we drew closer, the space between them dissolved into nothing but complete darkness.

“This is where I will leave you.” My body turned in surprise.

“Are you saying I have to go into that-” I pointed to the door-shaped darkness. “alone?” The creature didn’t speak; it had no answer for me. Which left me at a crossroads. Do I walk through? The creature said this would help me, but that some secrets were meant to stay lost. My heart raced as I thought of The Emergence. My seventeenth birthday had already passed, and people were beginning to grow suspicious. The Emergence would spell it out for Pratum on a stage with bright blue lights, that I didn’t manifest as an Earth witch. It’s never happened before. What would they think? Everyone manifested earth magic. Would they banish me? My heart sank, my mother. Even though I barely spoke with her now, she is a descendant of the main Mayfeild Protectors. Would that mean she might be banished, too? She had a life there, friends, family, a purpose. She was even proud of me, but she didn’t know I wasn’t like her. Maybe that’s why I avoided her so much, because I couldn’t face her disappointment in her only child being the destruction of her legacy. Maybe it would be better to leave for good and help from the sidelines until I have more answers. I felt my mind make its decision before I could put it into words. My feet betrayed me, locking themselves in place. I had to do this, even if that meant stepping into the abyss.

“You’ve made your decision; that was the hardest part. I will leave you now, good luck, young star.” The spirit faded into the wind.

“You don’t have to come with me.” I faced Zinnia and Sprig. “This journey is mine, and I wouldn’t ever ask you to come with me.” They stepped forward, as if to say ‘we’re with you’. My head bobbed. I guess they really are with me. With my back to the MoonLyte forest and the only home I knew, and my lungs filling with cold. My body buzzed with anticipation. I’ve waited my whole life for answers, yet the quiet pain in my heart from leaving Mom wasn’t soft anymore. My fur boots stepped forward as I willed them to. This was my chance, and I would take it no matter what happened. Even if I couldn’t come back.