Breeze fluttered through Kayla’s golden hair. Dunce sat at the opposite of her. His face was pale like chalk, and he looked like as if he was going to faint at any moment’s time. But he continued.

“I have created a tracking device that tells me where you youngsters are. I can help, but I have weak bones now. There is the need of a quest—before she goes to the dark side, and betray us all. You have twenty days before the new empire strengthens well-enough to slay us all.”

“But Dunce, she isn’t ready! Ashwa will never make it. She’s still eleven years of age and you’re handing her a quest when you gave me my first quest three years ago?” Kayla said, her face full of worry.

“She is one of the Reborn. She can do it.”

“But—,”

“I want to hear no more of this, please. You will need her to find out her secrets herself and by herself. She is an immortal. You are not. She will handle this,” Dunce sternly stood up from his chair.

“Are you saying she’s better than me?”

“Of course,” Dunce stiffly started to walk away.

“Fine. I’ll let her be,” Kayla puffed angrily as she strode into the vegetable patch.

~

Ashwa had heard everything. She had sneaked down again intending to get some quick breakfast and skip into the bright sunlight, and apologising to Nadine for burning her like a sausage. But she, unexpecting, she almost interfered with Kayla and Dunce’s angry conversation. So, she stopped before being seen, and stood there to eavesdrops. Not exactly eavesdropping, because it wasn’t literally her fault at all that they two got in her way. But still, those words they had said burnt themselves in her mind firmly. Tracking device? Quest? Twenty days? Immortal?

She tried to concentrate. Everyone was outside enjoying the day while she made breakfast. It didn’t really look much like a breakfast, since it was just milk that amazingly had been stored in an almost-empty fridge and a piece of hot burning toast with butter.

Eating as fast as she could, she quickly washed the dishes and opened the door, greeted by the sun’s warm rays. Everyone gathered at the cabbages, whispering worriedly. Well, she guessed, since worry ceased on their foreheads, which included Nadine, who usually looked cool but now with a tired look in her green cat eyes.

Walking over, she too started to worry. What had happened?