Visterra #1: Lumeria and the Six Prophetics

Chapter 1: The Origin of the Pact

Josephine Green, heiress to the only local bar and inn, was on the playground in the neighbourhood, playing tag with her friends.

"Got you!" exclaimed Siddharth Michel Hilton – but too soon, because she escaped right from under his grasp! He hissed in annoyance, before chasing after her again.

"I know you prefer Jo here, but there are others around you you can catch, you know!"

Siddharth pulled to a stop and panted. He looked around; it was Jessica Jones who had yelled at him. Sure enough, Josephine was at least five feet away from him – 'What a swift runner!' he remarked to himself – while Jack was only two feet away, sitting down tired.

"No!" called Josphine gleefully. "He finds me to be a great challenge, so he's bent on catching me first!" She winked at the boy in question, whose groan was a giveaway, affirming her hypothesis.

"You're not tired, are you?" he jeered at me, though he looked more exhausted than she was.

She decided to take pity on him: "All right, it looks like I'm better than you at running. I'll let you catch me."

He growled, instantly riled up. "I don't need your pity!"

"Oh, but I do. I'm bored of running around and not being caught!"

It was tempting. After all, this was hardly Olympics – just a child's game. He didn't say it, but he decided to take her pity. He thought she understood that. So, when he was ready to run again, she made no move to indicate that she was ready to dodge him. She just stood there, staring at him.

He took one step towards her.

She did not budge.

Three steps.

No movement.

Four steps.

None still.

Then, encouraged, he covered the rest of the distance and laid a hand on her arm – and she ran away! – yet again!

"No...!" he groaned. "I thought you wanted to take pity on me!"

She cackled. "And I thought you didn't need my pity!"

Thoroughly exhausted, his legs finally gave way and he sat on the ground in a heap. The others giggled while he caught his breath, before making their way towards him. They sat around him in a huddle and hugged him.

"I love this life, this summer," said Jane Jones with a happy sigh. "I wish this would last forever."

"Me too, youngster, me too," said Jessica with a pat on her sister's head.

"I say, let's make a pact," said Ekaant Dutta, the boisterous boy in the group. "Let's never be apart. I mean, I don't think we can always stay that way, but what I'm saying is... that's it—let's be friends forever. Never lose touch with each other!"

The others looked at each other and nodded with big smiles.

"Yes, that sounds very good," remarked Josephine. She held out a hand, palm up. "It's a promise!"

The others joined their hands with hers. "Promise!"

Little did they know that it would be this very pact that would save their lives in the near future.