Page 45 of Raelia

“Enter in, if you dare,

As one who seeks out Meya;

Be strong of mind and pure of heart,

For your journey begins at Raelia.”

“Cryptic, much?” Alex whispered, more than a little creeped out.

“Cryptic is as cryptic does,” replied the same whimsical voice.

“Are you going to show yourself? Or maybe tell me who you are?” Alex said, squinting into the shadows but seeing no one.

“I would ask the same of you,” the voice said, “but I already know who you are, so there is no need.”

Alex was muddling over that when a figure appeared directly in front of her, startling her so much that she stumbled backwards.

“Lady Mystique!” Alex cried, trying to regain her balance.

“Hello again, child,” the old woman said. “You’ve come a long way since last we met.”

“What are you doing here?” Alex asked, her eyes wide with incredulity. Their last encounter had been at Ye Olde Bookshoppe in Woodhaven—a shop that didn’t actually exist, as Alex had since discovered.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” Lady Mystique indicated to the basket she carried. “I’m picking mushrooms. Raelian mushies are the best you’ll find anywhere.”

Alex gaped at the woman, too surprised for words.

“But I’m more curious about whyyouare here,” the woman said.

“I’m not here intentionally. I just ended up here.”

“Did you not step into the circle?” Lady Mystique asked.

“Well, yes—”

“Then youarehere intentionally.”

Alex didn’t bother arguing the point. “I don’t suppose you’d mind telling me where ‘here’ is, exactly?”

“Look around you, what do you see?”

Humouring her, Alex answered, “A forest clearing inside a mushroom circle.”

“Look closer.”

Alex frowned but did as she was told. As she focused on her surroundings, the moonlight strengthened, illuminating the area. Where the clearing met the trees—just beyond the mushroom ring—Alex could see multiple pathways leading out into the forest. They were all around the edge of the clearing, at least eight different trails, none of which she had noticed before.

“What is this place?” she whispered, feeling a sense of awe.

“This is Raelia,” Lady Mystique answered. “In the common tongue, it translates to mean ‘The Crossroads’. It’s a sacred place. A place of direction, ofdestiny. Look around and seeyour choices; which path do you take? Do you go left or right, forward or back? But don’t be fooled, for it’s much more than a geographical crossroad. Raelia representsopportunity. It yields to the desires of one’s heart. It offers temptation, sacrifice, hope and victory. The choice of direction lies with each individual who sets foot within its boundary.”

After a pause, Alex admitted, “I’m not sure I understand.”

“You will, Alexandra. You will.”

“AndthatI definitely don’t understand.”

Lady Mystique wheezed out a husky-sounding laugh.

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