The night was pitch dark, with stars easily visible. The chirping of birds and crickets could be heard.
There were trees everywhere surrounding a large mansion, one that looked to be meant for nobility.
Inside the mansion was a confused owl, an owl that didn't know what was happening but knew one thing. Stay hidden.
The owl had a damaged wing and couldn't fly so it tried to run down what seemed like an endless hall.
The owl had difficulty running through the hall because the floor was covered with nothing but gold coins.
It didn't know exactly why it had to hide but it knew it had to. It tripped over and over while trying to get over the gold until it froze.
Footsteps were heard, footsteps not from a single person but two. As soon as the owl heard it, it immediately tried everything to reach the end of the hallway.
The guards didn't struggle to get over the gold they also didn't seem to notice the owl. They walked as if everything was normal.
After some time the owl could see the end of the hallway but also paintings on both sides. It was paintings of many different things such as, a palace of 7 large pillars, a sloth, a black star, and smoke.
The owl didn't know what any of this meant but it didn't have the luxury to think about it. It reached a door at the end of the hallway.
It used all its might to get up to the door handle and open it but when opening the door it made a noise that reached the guards.
Footsteps with the movement of something loud shuffling on the floor were heard. Each second the steps got louder and the heartbeat of the owl.
It immediately ran into the room and closed the door. Inside the room was a large bed of wood and silver, a closed balcony, curtains covering the windows, a large carpet of yellow and purple, a large blurry map with different marked points, and a small brown closet with carvings unknown to the owl.
It didn't have time to think so it hurriedly opened the closet and hid itself inside. The footsteps outside stopped and the noise of a twisting nobe was heard.
The owl could only see through the faint line between the closet door. It saw the two guards entering without a sound from their mouths a single time.
With a closer look, the owl could see what the guards looked like. The one currently looking at the curtains is a pale figure with white hair, dressed in layered black and antique gold, a gold trimmed vest, buckles and chains surrounding the figures cloathing of unfamilier sigiles, long boots the same color as the vest, a baggy shirt underneath all the layered clothing, the eyes are distant as if seeing another world and it moves like a machine built for elegance. The figure went to move the curtains with its black gold trimmed gloves with its long rapier swinging by its waist but found nothing.
The other figure the owl could clearly see is a male, he's taller with a darker presence, he wears a long rune-embroidered black coat that trails like a shadow, an earring of a mark the owl doesn't know of, a long sword with its handle black and the guard decorated as a dragon flying around it.
The one in the black coat stopped in the middle of the room as if he had heard something. The owl almost passed out from fear. It didn't know why but it hesitated to even breathe.
The coated man gestured with his hand to come over. The vested figure came over. The coated man then took a step forward then another until he reached the front of a closet.
It was too late the man heard the beating heart of the owl. He opened the closet door and saw the owl. The owl in fear stepped back but it fell it didn't land on the expected wooden floor but instead on a dark never-ending pit.
——
In a small house surrounded by flying creatures and never-ending trees, there was a room with a large bed surrounded by endless shelves of books and a single large desk.
On the bed was a woman with long ash-brown hair who got up suddenly as if she sensed something.
Elantra wore a simple brown night gown but when she got up she used magic to change her clothes into a witch's attire of black and brown with an oversized hat. She grabbed her staff and headed out of her room.
She immediately went into Arius's room. It was 4 in the morning at the time. When she went in she saw Arius sleeping but not peacefully it was as if she was afraid.
Elantra took a step forward then suddenly Arius got up sweating and frightened.
"What's wrong Ari?" Elantra got down on her knees in front of Arius. "I had a bad dream" Arius replied bringing the blanket up to her face.
What Elantra sensed was now gone. She realized something was wrong and asked "Tell me about this dream".
Arius explained "I was an owl running from scary monsters, they were chasing me. I could barely get around. I was in a really big house with the ground shining. I tried to hide in a closet but they found me."
The young girl began crying.
Are children at 10 supposed to cry like this over a dream?
Elantra thought to herself not knowing what to say.
She got onto the bed and hugged Arius "It's alright Ari I'm here no monsters are coming let's go back to sleep"
Elantra lay down next to Arius and tucked her in. She sang a lullaby until Arius fell asleep.
What does that dream mean?
Elantra thought to herself over and over without coming up with an answer.
Footsteps were heard pacing fast up the stairs until the door was opened. What popped through was a man with clear blue eyes and long black hair, it was Jega.
He was wearing a simple knight's training outfit with a white shirt, brown pants, long brown-silver boots, and 2 swords on each side of his waist.
"I searched through the entire forest did you find anything?" He hurriedly asked.
Elantra smiled and explained the dream Arius had. "It could mean something bad is going to happen and it's slowly approaching" Jega reasoned.
Elantra responded "It could, but I don't really know I never really felt with dreams much before."
"Whatever it could be we'll deal with it, it wasn't too serious also her rest day is over her training with me will continue later" Jega bowed and left the room.
It's 4, how is he not tired?
Elantra thought to herself until her mind drifted off to sleep.
——
In a large open field of training dummies, archer targets, a stable, a hut, a running track, a table full of weapons, rocks of varying sizes, and a table with 2 chairs and a chessboard.
It was the simple practical training ground of the forest's resident knight.
In the open field was a man and a young boy no older than 10. The man was in the same training attire as before and the young apprentice was in one to but one of a white shirt, grey pants, a brown belt, and buckles around it all to keep everything together.
Jega stood with his arms crossed, a stern face, and a straightened back "Follow me to the track"