Shadow's Advent

Chapter Three

"W-What is that?" asked Kytheran. 

"It's called Silver mist. It's what left behind after someone casts a spell," said Caraka. "And that's a lot of mist." 

"It's so thick!" Aaralynn cried. "Who could have done something that could have allowed so much?" 

"Tamesis," Cipher said softly. 

They all snapped their heads around, staring at her. "What?" said Kytheran. 

"It's because we are...we are..." she sighed. "We are near Trilibela." 

Caraka's eyes slowly went wide, not with shock, but anger. 

"W-Who meets in Trilibela? Isn't that city dead?" asked Aaralynn. 

Cipher looked at the ground, bowing her head. "The gods do." 

The trio went silent, their mouths agape. Cipher did not look up at them, merely clasping her hands in front of her. No one said anything for a while, the only sound being the wind. 

"T-The gods?" Aaralynn finally squeaked. 

Cipher nodded her head slowly.  

"How do you know the gods?" asked Kytheran.  

A breeze whistled through the trees and even the sound of the sea seemed to quiet. A shiver ran up Aaralynn's back and goosebumps ran across Kytheran's skin. A deep chill hung through the air. 

Finally, Cipher snapped her head up, a silvery sheen appearing in her eyes. "I know them because I am one of them." 

No one spoke a word. Cipher looked around nervously, wiggling her hands together,  

Kytheran's mouth opened and shut like a fish. "Y-You are joking. She's joking. I mean, look at her! You are a mortal!" 

She narrowed her eyes. "I'm not joking. Why would I joke about that?" 

"I beat you with a broom! What kind of god let's a mortal get the upper hand?" 

"My abilities are sealed! I can still contact some of my fellows but for the most part, I am mortal," Cipher explained. "And the broom really hurt." 

"I knew you had strange eyes." Aaralynn muttered. 

He looked over towards Caraka. "Did you know about this?" 

"That Cipher was an oddball?" She shrugged. "Sure, I did." 

"If you're a goddess, then what are you the goddess of?" asked Aaralynn. 

Cipher placed her hand on her chest. "I am the Goddess of the Hidden. I take command over prophecies, secrets, codes, riddles and the like." 

Kytheran looked at her, confused. "So, is this part of a prophecy? Did you prophesize this?" 

She shook her head. "I cannot make prophecies, but, I do know every prophecy in existence. My job is to make sure the right prophecies become realized at the right time." 

"Isn't it fate when someone fulfills a prophecy though? At least, that is how the tarhyn see it," said Kytheran. 

Cipher grinned. "Every race sees me differently, but, my job remains the same." 

"So, your friend, are they a god?" asked Aaralynn. 

She nodded. "A goddess, actually." 

"Who is she?" asked Kytheran. 

Cipher bit down on her finger. "Look, the other part of my job is secrets. If someone tells me a secret, I am bound to keep it at all costs until the person reveals it themselves or releases me from the secret. I am the perfect secret keeper." She rubbed her hands. "I can't tell you who she is because she won't let me."