She smiled at Anne. "Oh dear, it was not you that awoke these forces; it has lain dormant for billions of years, waiting... patiently."
She paused and took a long sip from her water glass, smacking her lips together a little before swallowing, and then set it aside carefully.
The three looked at the woman for an answer, waiting and hoping that she would elaborate on this.
"What are these forces you speak of?" Anne finally spoke again, breaking the silence between them, taking another drink from her water while peering over at the others inquiring about it, and they answered her in whispers.
She paused for a moment, seemingly unsure of the answer. "Well..."
"Never mind then." She waved away.
Anne rose abruptly from the stool, pacing quickly towards the door to leave. But suddenly, the woman clapped her hands loudly gaining their attention, holding their focus firmly locked upon her.
"Erojium..."
This caused both Seren's and Anne's mouths to drop slightly before quickly turning away from her direction, covering them with a free hand. Marcus merely blinked while narrowing his eyes at the other villagers; however, no one said anything further until finally the old woman nodded for her to continue.
"That is all I can say, now would you like to spend the night here with us, young travelers?"
Anne opened her mouth slightly but no words were uttered out, instead just a small, defeated sigh escaped through her pursed lips and her shoulders dropped along with her gaze onto the dirt beneath their shoes, Seren stepped closer and placed his hand softly on top of her forearm. "I'm sure this will all make sense eventually; this old woman probably doesn't know what she's talking about."
"Thanks for your hospitality."
Anne and Seren turn around. Marcus stares back at them.
"We will spend the night and leave in the morning," Anne said softly towards the elder before taking a few steps back and away towards the small groups who watch her passively and intently as if curious as to what they were whispering about.
She stopped in mid-step and spoke once again before heading out the door. "Wait."
Her voice had become somber and melancholy as she took a deep breath; glancing downwards while slowly turning her head upwards to reveal her glowing irises which caught her attention immediately.
"Are you not afraid of me? After all, I am an extraterrestrial being." Her eyes looked upwards towards her.
The old woman finally answered, "Well, no... why should we be terrified of a woman who speaks like a dictionary? Besides, how can one judge another being without any understanding of their origin? That doesn't seem fair or just. However, let me assure you that no one in our settlement will harm the three of you."
Her pale blue pupils lingered within his own as a warm smile appeared across her lips, which forced his heart to stop beating while its beats gradually decreased into slow, yet shallow breaths; the young Elyndran blinked back tears.
"We would love to spend the night here... may I ask what your name is?" Anne asked softly towards the old lady.
The crone simply nodded and leaned back in her seat once more.
"My name is Lana. Goodnight." Lana hummed, before she shut her eyes and soon she drifted off into peaceful slumber.
Anne let out a heavy sigh and turned towards her companions as Marcus smiled at her.
"Come, let's sleep over there." He spoke with his teeth still clenched firmly between them while pointing to another corner opposite to the old woman's spot in their hideaway.
Seren nodded as well. Anne walked ahead and sat beside a stack of old worn-out, dirty rags, leaning back upon them and feeling the soft texture against her body causing chills running down her spine followed shortly thereafter by slight tingling sensations coursing through the limbs underneath her clothes, and instantly, a cool breeze brushed over her exposed legs giving the illusion she was lying on fresh snow, resting within the comforting warmth that surrounded her like an invisible barrier against the rest of the world; until finally, the sensation of the chilling winds dissipated slowly as her breathing became shallow, and even though her mind kept wandering.
"Goodnight, guys, get some rest," she mumbled out faintly.
"Sleep well, Annie." Seren replied while lying down flat with his arms to his side.
The only sound that she could discern was the faint trickle of water seeping out from a broken pipe above their heads somewhere out in the open outside the metal building's exterior, as it echoed throughout the damp night. A small, trembling sigh escaped through her slightly parted lips
And with that, a dream engulfs the three of them.
***
Anne woke up with an exasperated gasp as the remnants of a memory or vision remained vivid in her mind, a misty apparition still visible, and the place where their minds connected briefly. She clutched tightly onto the sides of her stomach as the painful sting sent shivers down her spine; while also forcing her mouth to spill saliva that trailed down the edges of her parted lips.
With blurred vision, she wiped her forehead free of sweat. Her muscles tightened suddenly.
The cold sensation lingered, and although the vision was completely forgotten after a moment, her curiosity piqued, wondering what had just transpired, and knowing it had happened simultaneously within Seren, and the boy whose name escaped her.
When reality returns, they awake under a crimson red sky filled with a canopy of green and silver leaves hanging low overhead, swaying ever so gently with the breeze.
Anne groaned painfully.
A pleasant fragrance of mint filled her nostrils. She rolled her tongue against the roof of her parched mouth, feeling dry, sticky, and thirsty.
Where was she, and what were they doing there? It felt nice enough, so she closed her eyes again, focusing solely on getting her bearings. "Anne, it's time to get up." Someone called out quietly beside her. Anne flinched momentarily before opening her lashes and rolling her tired orbs sideways, catching a glimpse at a familiar face.
"W-What is happening?" she questioned, surprised and groaning a tad too loud.
"The settlement, you remember I'm sure." Seren smiled weakly.
Then she remembered those thoughts flowing inside her own head.
But all recollections left her altogether the second she thought deeply about that image, the scenery fading from view, leaving nothing behind except her consciousness drifting aimlessly among an endless sea.
"Ser."
"What?"
"Where is Lana... I have a few questions for her."
"Umm... ahhh, that way, I think.." he replied, scratching his nape, and waving his hand towards another part of the settlement.
"Thanks."
Anne picked herself off the ground and stretched, looking around for anyone else nearby, noticing several members asleep beside her, lying against various pillars, boxes or anywhere they found comfortable enough, their bodies were slumped lifeless.
Someone coughed abruptly near her feet, startling her badly.
"Sorry about that," a male voice apologized softly, peeking out shyly from behind a large crate directly opposite to hers.
Anne tilted her chin upwards revealing her clear complexion and a pair of beautiful sky-blue eyes glaring straight into his.
"May I offer you a beverage? Something refreshing after having spent an eternity fast asleep. Seems like we haven't had an opportunity to talk before," he laughed timidly while offering her a full jug, pouring out a golden substance into an empty mug handed to him by a smiling child.
He must have known she would accept the offering.
"Thank you." Anne thanked him for his generosity.
"Anytime," he beamed happily, satisfied by her response, and proceeded to pour himself one as well.
After finishing half, she stared curiously, amazed and intrigued at how quickly the thirst returned instantly, and she yearned for another glass, contemplating asking another favor, when Seren interrupted her train of thought.
"Oh I see Lana, she's over there!" He exclaimed excitedly, grinning widely whilst pointing in the exact opposite direction from where Anne was looking moments ago.
Lana stood leaning heavily over an aging wooden desk situated directly in front of a brick wall riddled with cracks and covered almost entirely with graffiti, reading a rather thick, bulky looking book.
"Shall we pay her a visit?"
"Yeah, of course! Come, let's go!"
They made their way hurriedly through crowds towards where their destination lay.
"Hey there," Seren greeted enthusiastically, "Were you sleeping last night too?"
"Unfortunately no." Lana scoffed while flipping through her dusty old manuscript, scribbling things frantically without acknowledging either's presence.
"Can we continue the conversation from yesterday, what is Erojium...?" Seren whispered low enough, so the words didn't reach their ears.
"Don't bother yourselves, I don't know all the details myself anyways, all I can tell you is its an extremely ancient concept, much older than humans even..."
"Why?" Seren was determined to learn more, the hairs on his neck had risen instantly, bristling visibly against his skin.
She sighed deeply, shutting the worn-out pages together.
"Fine. "Whatever," she resigned, running fingers roughly over her wrinkles and age spots. "There is a laboratory around 6 or 7 miles west from our location... Argonne National Laboratory. That is all the information I can share. No more."
"But—" Seren retorted furiously.
Lana's aged, stern glance silenced him immediately. "Now off with you two."