Chapter 10: The Storm of Time
Years had passed in Dustfall. The small village that once struggled to survive now thrived under the care of the Farmer Warriors. Crops stretched toward the sky, rivers ran clearer, and the people spoke of the four children with respect and awe.
Mia stood in the middle of the largest field, her hands brushing the tall stalks of wheat. Six years had changed her. Her body had grown, strong from years of work and responsibility. Her hair, now longer and wilder from the wind, caught the sunlight, glinting like strands of gold.
She no longer remembered the day she was born, or the storm that had taken her parents, or the stone that had brought rain. But she remembered everything else the friends who had become like family, the hours spent working the soil, and the satisfaction of seeing Dustfall flourish under their care.
Mike, now sixteen as well, walked beside her, carrying a basket of freshly harvested crops. His expression was calm, but inside his heart raced. He had watched Mia grow, protect her, and guide her. And through all these years, the feelings he had never spoken had only deepened.
"Six years already," he said quietly. "Time flies faster than I imagined."
Mia smiled faintly, brushing her hands over the wheat. "It does… but it feels right. Dustfall… it's my home."
Jaro and Lina joined them, carrying smaller baskets. The four of them moved together like one body, synchronized, confident. The villagers whispered in awe as they passed, calling them the Farmer Warriors strong, kind, and unafraid of the harshness of life.
The Sky Changes...
Suddenly, the air grew heavy. The sky, clear just moments before, darkened with an unnatural shade of grey. The wind stilled, carrying a quiet hum that made the hair on Mia's arms stand on end.
Mike stopped, looking up. "Mia… look."
Mia tilted her head, frowning. The clouds twisted and churned above them, forming a vortex of swirling light. Unlike any storm they had seen before, this one was not violent it carried no rain or hail. Instead, it pulsed with energy, almost alive, sending ripples through the fields.
"Power…" Mia whispered, feeling the earth beneath her feet hum in resonance with the sky. Her chest tightened with a strange mixture of fear and anticipation.
From within the storm came a soft, almost musical voice. It was not words, but a feeling a warning, urgent yet calm. Time is near. Your next path awaits. Prepare.
Mia's friends watched in awe and concern. Lina stepped closer. "Mia… what is happening?"
"I… I don't know," Mia admitted, her hands trembling. She could feel something stirring deep within her a pull toward the unknown, a power she had yet to fully understand.
A Warning, Not Destruction....
The storm pulsed brighter for a moment, illuminating the fields in flashes of blue and white. The crops swayed, though the wind did not blow. The villagers gathered at the edges of the fields, shielding their eyes from the strange light.
Mike stepped closer to Mia, his hand on her shoulder. "Whatever this is… we face it together," he whispered.
The storm's energy reached its peak and then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, it dissipated into thin strands of glowing light that drifted toward the horizon. The sky cleared, leaving a calm twilight over Dustfall.
Mia blinked, unsure if she had imagined it. But deep in her chest, she felt the echo of a calling, a whisper that she would soon have to leave the safety of Dustfall.
Jaro broke the silence. "That… was not normal."
Lina nodded, eyes wide. "It felt… like it was speaking to her. Mia, it's you… it's calling you."
Mia swallowed hard. "I… I think… it's time," she whispered softly. "Time for what, I don't know yet… but… I feel it."
Mike looked at her, eyes shadowed with worry and unspoken feelings. Soon, Mia will have to face more than Dustfall. And when that time comes… I'll be there, no matter what.
A Quiet Evening Before the Journey...
As night fell, the four friends sat near the edge of the fields, gazing at the stars. The storm had left a faint glow lingering in the horizon, a reminder that something greater awaited.
Mia touched her hands to the soil, feeling the energy of Dustfall beneath her. She had grown strong here stronger than she had ever imagined but she knew in her heart that the next adventure would demand more than strength.
It would demand courage, wisdom, and the bonds of friendship that had carried them this far.
And somewhere deep inside, a quiet spark reminded her: the world beyond Dustfall awaited, and Mia, the Bringer of Rain, was ready to face it.