“It's you!” Olivia shrieked, trying to keep her voice low despite her indignation.

The girl in the mirror shook her head.

“Well, no...”

“You attacked the Lake Tribe!”

“No, that wasn't me,” replied the girl quite confidently.

“How is that? I'm seeing you perfectly... as if you were my own reflection. You're inside my head!”

The stranger rolled her eyes.

“Let's take it one step at a time. First, I didn't destroy anything. Second, I'm not inside your head.”

“Of course you are! You took control of my body! Twice!”

“I didn't do that either. Actually, this is the first time we've talked.”

Olivia was getting more and more confused, but she was afraid to make that mysterious entity angry and take control of her body once again.

“What are you saying?”

“We don't have much time...”

“That's what you said when we were underwater!”

“Again... it wasn't me... “ she sighed. “Listen, someone may come at any moment. Later I... or another person will explain everything to you.”

“Another person? You're saying there are more?”

“That's right. Both the person who destroyed the village, and the person who helped you pull your friend out of the water are two different people. I'm the third one who has come in contact with you.”

“But...” Olivia grabbed her head, dropping the mirror to the floor. “How many of you are in here?”

“Relax, as I told you, we're not inside you...it's a little more complicated...”

Olivia bent down to pick up the mirror.

“And that's supposed to make me feel better? Where the hell are you then? Stop messing with my mind!”

“Don't worry, I don't plan to do anything except talk. Although there are others who might want to take advantage... It's a pity all the time you wasted. You should be able to master your power by now.”

“I was so close to becoming an Acolyte!”

The girl laughed.

“Acolyte... please... I don't mean human magic, that's too basic. They've been fooling you all this time.”

“What do you mean?”

“To be fair. I don't think your mentor knew about it. Daephennya probably didn't tell him...”

“Tell him what?”

“How to unleash your power. Until now it was blocked by a seal she herself created at the time of your birth.”

“I have a seal in my code?”

“You had... The person who attacked the lake is the same person who broke it... She sensed that you were vulnerable and took advantage of the situation. She shouldn't have done it... but I admit it was the only way... otherwise you would never have woken up and we would never have been able to communicate with you.”

“But... was it necessary to attack the lake?”

The girl closed her eyes for a moment.

“It's too long to explain. I don't agree with what she did, but...” she shook her head.

“Why was the seal there in the first place, what did Daephennya want?”

“I don't know the details but... the seal mechanism was to be activated on your wedding day.”

“Why that day?”

“Ah... you're so slow... no wonder... When it comes to royal weddings, all the most important people in the kingdom attend them, including the Archmages of the Conclave.”

“So...?”

“To Daephennya you were nothing more than a weapon to attack the human kingdom. A weapon that took a long time to create... Centuries, I might say, until she found the right formula.”

Olivia's face turned pale.

“What do you mean, a weapon?”

“Relax, you're not a weapon... although you could become one if you don't start controlling your power. Even for someone like Daephennya messing with the Codes can have unexpected consequences.”

Olivia was afraid to ask but did so anyway.

“What am I then?”

“You already know that. You're a witch.”

“What does that mean?” she asked frustrated.

The redhead took a few seconds before deciding to answer.

“That you're like me...”

The young lady's expression changed to one of astonishment.

“You're a witch? But...”

“Ah, yes... Daephennya lied about that too. You are not the first witch. You're not even the second, nor the third... Actually, I have no idea how many of us there are.”

“So... the other two...”

“Are also witches...”

“And where are they?”

The girl was getting tired.

“As I said, it is very long to explain, and I don't have time. I don't know when will be the next time we meet. You'll have to be careful who you talk to... they might take advantage to make use of your body again, and not in a good way.”

“And there's nothing I can do about it?”

“It would take me a long time to teach you... The priority now is your friend. In a couple of days you will reach a town where you will most likely meet some wizard who will not take long to figure out what he is.”

“We'll not leave with them. We'll go alone.”

The girl giggled.

“We're not in the Circle anymore. Do you have any idea how to get to Stormbrace on foot?”

Olivia had no idea. She didn't even know how far they had swum across the gulf.

“What's the solution then?”

“In other circumstances I'd be giving you instructions, but I'm not sure you'd still make it. I'm afraid I'll have to take control of your body.”

“But you said...!”

“I'm sorry," replied the girl awkwardly. “I promise not to destroy anything.”

“What are you going to do?”

The girl let out a groan.

“First I need to find an object that can serve as a talisman. Something similar to what Daephennya gave you. With that I will create a shield that can hide the true essence of your friend. With so little time I won't be able to work miracles, but if he doesn't draw too much attention they won't discover him.”

“But I am not an Architect.”

“That doesn't matter. You saw what happened at the lake. It was enough for the witch to take your body to be able to use her powers. The same happened with the second one who was able to detect your friend in time before he drowned.”

“So... you are an Architect?”

“Architect... please... I am an Oracle.”

“A what?”

“That's enough for today. You shall continue the lesson with the next witch, if you are lucky enough for her to be as patient as I have been. Ah... my name is Dawn. It was nice to meet you, Olivia.”

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“Wait, no!”

Darkness once again wrapped around Olivia as if night had come early. Unlike the other times, however, she seemed to sink into a deep, placid, dreamless sleep, as if she were floating in space cradled by a warm breeze.

She felt like a feather being pushed around aimlessly or like the gentle jellyfish she had seen on her journey with Silas. Voices began to come from somewhere, but they seemed to sing in an unknown language. As they intensified, the dark blanket around her began to be dotted with stars the size of tiny dots that kept expanding until they opened like white roses in spring.

It was a wonderful feeling.

She couldn't say the same about waking up when she was startled by Deema's screams.

“Here she is, here she is!” exclaimed the woman who had crouched down next to her although Olivia couldn't see her clearly until a flame landed near her.

She realized that it was indeed night, and that she was surrounded by a group of shadows that covered the starry sky.

“She's conscious! Gorwan, help me!”

With that said, Gorwan's strong arms lifted Olivia up as if she were nothing more than a feather. She couldn't even protest as if the dream that had seemed so peaceful to her had actually sucked all the energy out of her.

“Olivia, what happened?” that was Silas' worried voice next to her, but, when she tried to answer him, all she managed to do was let out a sigh.

Gorwan carried her back to the tent, and Deema tucked her in.

“We really thought you had run away,” whispered Deema as she placed the tip of a flask on her lips. “But the boy insisted that something must have happened to you, because you wouldn't leave without him...”

“I didn't say that,” protested Silas very close to them. “I said that she was a stubborn girl whom I couldn't get rid of until now, and that she shouldn't be too far away.”

Deema grumbled.

“He sounded very distressed when he said it.”

“Of course I didn't!”

Olivia's eyes couldn't stand the fatigue, and they closed again.

She didn't wake up until the next day. Between the edges and holes of the tent the sunlight was shining in brightly. It must have been very late, for outside she heard a lot of movement. She tilted her head to one side, and bumped into Silas who was sitting on the floor with his legs and arms crossed.

“You're finally awake,” he growled. His face was scrunched up as if he'd had it that way for a while, although Olivia wondered if that wasn't the only expression he could make. “What was that all about?”

She rubbed her eyes. She didn't remember anything about the night before except when they found her lying on the grass, her cold body covered with dew. The only thing that came to her mind was the red-haired girl's face.

Dawn.

Suddenly, Olivia remembered what she had promised her, and began to shake.

Silas approached her with a frightened look on his face.

“What's the matter now?”

“Aha!” Olivia triumphantly found among her clothes a small stone tied to a kind of string that seemed to be made from pieces of clothing. On closer inspection it appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary stone that someone had lifted from the ground and polished in some way. The only thing that caught her eye was a tiny sign carved into it with interlocking lines forming an oval that she didn't know how to interpret.

She stretched out her hand toward Silas to show it to him.

“A stone?” said he.

“It's not just any stone! It's a shield!”

“The fever must have affected you more than I thought.”

“Put it on!”

“What for?” he frowned again.

“You'll see!” Olivia forced him to hang it around his neck.

“Okay, okay, okay! I'll do it!”

That was the moment Deema chose to enter the tent.

“What's going on here, is she awake yet?” she froze as she witnessed how Olivia had her hands around the neck of Silas who in turn had his hands on Olivia's shoulders as he tried to push her away. “Ah, so sorry!”

Despite the protests of both of them, who insisted that it wasn't what it looked like, and that she didn't have to leave, Deema backed away, and they didn't hear from her again for quite a while.

“See what you have done?” exclaimed Silas.

“I don't care! Now hold still.”

With the collar around his neck, Silas turned his head to look at his own body.

“I don't feel anything. What is it supposed to be?”

Olivia explained. She didn't notice anything different either, until she stared at Silas, and realized that the color of his eyes had changed to an ordinary brown.

“It's working!” Olivia reached for the mirror lying on the side of the blankets and held it out to him.

“Ah...” Silas looked impressed. “How did you get this?”

There was no lie he could believe so Olivia chose to tell him the truth. That wasn't the only reason either. She needed to tell someone, and Silas was one of the few people who knew about her true origin.

“I don't believe you,” he said with a frown after a long time trying to explain everything that happened in a way that made sense. “I've seen your powers, I don't know why you feel so guilty that you even...”

“I don't feel guilty! I am guilty! Why do you think my father allowed me to leave so suddenly? And how do you explain this?” she pointed to the stone around his neck.

Silas stroked the talisman thoughtfully.

“And where are these so-called witches?” he asked.

“I have no idea! But she said more of them will appear, so you'll have to watch out if I lose control again.”

Silas was annoyed at that possibility.

“And what am I supposed to do when that happens?”

“At least stop me from killing someone.”

“I think you're overreacting.”

“You saw what happened at the lake yourself!”

Silas went silent again, and it took him a few minutes to speak:

“You don't remember anything then?”

“Fragments. Nothing more. Sometimes mixed with memories.”

He folded his arms.

“Let's assume that what you say is true,” he said. “It wouldn't be your fault if another magical being took over your body without permission, either. I've never heard of that being possible... but I imagine you'd have no way of preventing it.”

Olivia knew that to be true, but neither the members of the tribe nor the wizards who had seen her would think of it that way. Her own father had been terrified enough to send her away from him.

She could have stopped all that if she had been stronger. If she and Silas had come this far it was due to luck and all the people who had crossed their path, but that could not keep up any longer. The day would come when no one would be able to save her again.

“Thank you,” she said to Silas.

He looked at her confused.

“For what?”

“For not thinking I'm a monster.”

He gave a snort.

“Don't be so arrogant. You can't possibly be a monster. Your level of magic is minimal.”

Olivia didn't feel so grateful anymore.

Deema went back to the tent, but this time she didn't dare go inside, and just let them know that everything was ready for lunch if they wanted to join them.

Olivia didn't feel ready to face the rest of the group. Gorwan and Deema were being very nice to them, even though they had so far only caused trouble. There was a chance that the rest of the group might be unhappy with their presence, but she couldn't avoid them for long either. Dawn was right. They needed to continue their journey together with the actors.

The whole group was already around the campfire sharing what appeared to be a stew of meat and vegetables whose vapors reached her from the tent. Olivia's stomach was rumbling after the last few days of eating nothing but seaweed.

Gorwan stood up when he saw them approaching, and introduced them to the group.

“Guys, this is Silas and Olivia. You must know them very well by now,” he chuckled. “But it was appropriate for us to make the official introductions anyway.”

The man continued pointing out each member and explaining their role within the group. Almost all of them were actors but, due to the lack of more members, they also had to take care of costumes, scenery and make-up, as well as other tasks that were necessary to put on their plays.

The name of the group was The Walking Dreamers. Gorwan was the director, as well as a musician. Deema was an actress and costume designer. They were husband and wife, and had a son and two daughters, all grown up, who were also part of the cast.

Everyone welcomed them by shaking hands or nodding their heads as they began to eat. Silas didn't wait long to sit down on the grass and be served a generous portion, which he took two minutes to devour. Olivia was also starving but felt self-conscious in front of everyone. The couple's son, Alder, an older boy with honey-colored hair, looked at them with suspicion.

“My mother says you fell off a boat.”

“Oh, yes...” Olivia tried to sound weak in the hope that he wouldn't keep asking.

“What was the name of the boat?”

“Alder...” her father seemed annoyed by the question.

“What's the matter? That's an easy question,” he replied mockingly. “Or perhaps your temporary memory loss prevents you from remembering?” he turned to Silas. “What about you, do you have amnesia as well?”

Silas was busy devouring his second portion and paid no attention to him.

“Alder, please,” Deema told him in a tired voice as if it was usual for him to behave that way. “You saw the state they were in, they barely survived.”

“Mother is right, Alder,” said Elyssa, one of the daughters.

“Always so tedious,” murmured her sister Celestia.

Just because they almost drowned doesn't mean they are innocent,” protested Alder. “Where did they come from? How did they end up in that situation? We are mere actors, but not stupid. I won't let them take advantage of my parents' generosity,” he pointed at Silas again. “He is already eating all the food!”

“Alder!” exclaimed his family and several other members of the group together as a chorus.

“They could be fugitives!” Alder replied.

Olivia set her plate down.

“He's right,” she said, and everyone turned to look at her with surprised eyes.

“Is that so?” Alder looked surprised that he had been right, which apparently wasn't very common.

“Is that so?” repeated Silas next to her, asking with a silent look. “What are you trying to do?”

Olivia put a hand to her forehead.

“We are fugitives...” she continued in the saddest voice she could fake. “But not from the law... but from our families...”

Then she began to tell a story she had read some time ago. A young upper class girl who fell in love with a soldier of the king, but because her family was against it, the two lovers decided to elope.

Actually, the story did not end there because, as the weeks passed, the soldier understood that he would not be accepted as a husband and, having lost his honor, he took revenge by selling the girl as a slave to a merchant ship which was then freed by a pirate ship. She would then end up being part of the crew and after several sea adventures she would fall in love with the captain.

So she limited herself to the first part of the story in which they both set sail in a rowboat, but due to their lack of experience the boat ended up capsizing when they crossed the Misty Dream Strait.

Technically, she had run away from her father, although for a different reason.

“There is no turning back now. If we return to our families, we will suffer a severe punishment...” she said, ending her version of the story.

“Oh, poor things,” Deema said with a hand over her lips. “No wonder you were so distressed. It must have been very hard.”

Silas had kept quiet during the whole narration, although Olivia noticed that it had been very difficult to control himself, for his lips were so tight that they were already turning white. His unfinished plate had been left on the floor, and he kept his clenched fists resting on his crossed legs in a rigid position.

Olivia shook her head sadly.

“Really, we don't mean to intrude. You've done too much, and we're deeply grateful,” that was true. “But we have delayed you long enough. We will continue our journey to Stormbrace on our own.”

“Stormbrace?” Gorwan was struck by that. “Why that place?”

“I have an aunt who lives there. She supports us, and has agreed to receive us in her home.”

“It's a long journey...” said Deema. “We are not going that far, but you can go with us for a while.”

“It's not really necessary, we are very grateful but...”

Deema interrupted her with a wave of her hand.

“I don't want to discuss it anymore! Gorwan, do you no longer remember my family's disapproval when I told them I was going to marry an actor?”

“Of course I remember!” laughed Gorwan. “I almost had to kidnap you.”

“Father!” exclaimed his children, and both parents burst out laughing.

“But luckily they changed their minds, and it wasn't necessary,” said their father.

“Not everyone is so lucky,” Deema added.

“No, of course not," nodded Gorwan. “It is decided, you are coming with us. Though we will have to pass through three more towns before we get close enough to Stormbrace. It will be our pleasure to have you join us, and I don't want to hear one more complaint about it,” that last statement was directed at Alder who lowered his head in defeat.

And so the next day Olivia and Silas continued their journey together with The Walking Dreamers.