The aftermath of the ball hadn’t calmed down when Mabel disappeared. She went into the village disguised as a commoner and took a carriage from there to a particular address.

The road thinned the further the carriage went.

What began as a proper path carved through the outskirts of the kingdom slowly gave way to rough earth, then scattered stones, and finally... nothing at all, but just forest.

The forest was thick and quiet.

Mabel sat inside the carriage without moving. Her hands rested calmly on her lap, even as the wheels dragged over uneven ground.

The driver didn’t speak.

He hadn’t spoken since she gave him the location.

Most wouldn’t attend to her to go through this path, especially when they knew where the road led to. Most people knew what lived beyond these trees.

The forest ahead swallowed light.

The afternoon sun struggled to press through the heavy canopy of twisted branches and ancient trees. Shadows layered over each other, thick and suffocating.

Mabel’s eyes remained forward and unblinking. The letters had said two days so she pushed forward earlier.

Embacking on the journey immediately after aa toast to the Luna means she would be early two days before Adele and her father would come here.

Two days before they would attempt something forbidden enough to get them both executed if the wrong ears heard of it.

A seer.

Not one bound to the crown, nor blessed by the Moon Goddess.

Mabel’s fingers curled slightly against her gown in anticipation.

The carriage came to a slow, dragging stop.

The driver cleared his throat quietly, still not looking back at her. "We don’t go further."

Mabel nodded once. She already knew.

She reached into the fold of her gown and brought out a small pouch. The coins inside clinked softly as she dropped them into his waiting hand.

The coins were more than necessary, yet enough to ensure silence and enough to ensure he would forget her face.

"Wait here," she said calmly.

The man hesitated for half a second... then nodded quickly.

Mabel stepped out of the carriage.

The moment her feet touched the ground, the air changed.

It felt... heavier and colder. The place felt like stepping into a place that did not welcome breathing things. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

She adjusted her cloak slightly.

Everything about her appearance had been altered. Her gown was simple and worn out. The fabric remained dull and unremarkable.

Her hair was partially hidden beneath a hood.

Even her sandals were plain, common, and easily overlooked. She had stripped herself of status, identity, or recognition.

Only her eyes remained the same on sight, ever sharp and calculating.

Mabel turned without hesitation and stepped into the forest.

The deeper she went, the quieter it became. There was no sign of life around, not even that of birds.

The wind seemed to die before reaching this place.

Her steps were steady.

The branches around clawed lightly at her sleeves as she passed on them to clear the paths.

She walked on even when her heart drummed in her chest. Turning back now would mean losing the greatest advantage she had ever stumbled upon.

And Mabel did not waste opportunity, especially not when it comes this easily.

Her mind replayed Aire’s words.

"They’re not dreams... I see wars..."

Her lips pressed slightly. Aire was not just a cursed girl and a fae. Aire was something else and perhaps, something far more dangerous and if Adele and her father were seeking a seer who could rewrite fate, then this was bigger than anything happening in the castle.

Mabel’s steps slowed. Then stopped when she realized she had arrived.

The place did not look like power.

That was the first thing Mabel noticed as her sweet mask fell off, and was replaced with disgust.

The seer housing was just a small, worn hut that was tucked between crooked trees, and was almost swallowed by the forest itself.

If you didn’t know it was there, you would walk past it. And never realize.

Mabel’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The hut looked old.

The wood was darkened with age, and the edges wete uneven, as though it had been built long before precision mattered.

Strange symbols were carved faintly into the surface.

Mabel stepped closer.

Her pulse remained steady.

She lifted her hand, and knocked once. Then twice. Both times, she was treated with silence.

"Come in." an old calm expectant voice finally replied from inside.

Mabel didn’t pause for a second. She pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The scent of herbs and smokes hit her first.

The inside of the hut was dimly lit, illuminated only by flickering candles placed at uneven intervals.

The walls were lined with objects, bones, and vials. Also with strange artifacts she didn’t immediately recognize or has never read about.

The seer at in the center.

He did not look powerful.

That was the second thing she noticed.

He looked... ordinary and pitifully old. His hair was grey, falling loosely around his shoulders. His clothing were simple, and almost worn.

Then she noticed his eyes. His eyes were not old. They were too sharp. Too sharp like they saw more than they should.

She felt his eyes seeing through her, yet Mabel did not flinch. Rather, she stepped forward.

The seer watched her approach without moving.

Slowly, he extended his hand, wuth his palm up and waiting.

Mabel’s gaze dropped briefly to it.

She knew what this was. She read about this once. Not asking questions, she took his hand in hers, and gave the inside of his palm a deep lick.

A quiet echo filled the space immediately after.

The seer’s fingers curled slightly after the impact. He smiled knowingly, then looked around his house.

"Good," he murmured.

His eyes lifted fully to her face, and now, his eyes stayed there.

"Now..." he said slowly, tilting his head just slightly. "Who are you?"

The question hung in the air.

Mabel did not think twice, or soften her ambitions. She met his gaze fully, and parted her lips.

"I am Adele Blackfen."