The Herbalist

Finding Destiny

-Kaelith -

I was still pondering Elowen's cryptic revelations as we made our way back to her cabin when the sound broke through the tranquil forest. Struggles, hurried breaths, the clamor of human voices—trivial mortal affairs, I thought. Such things rarely deserved my attention. Yet, Elowen halted abruptly, her slender hand gripping my arm with surprising force. Her gaze, sharp and unyielding, gestured toward a nearby tree trunk. Without a word, she urged me to conceal myself behind it.

Placing her palms against mine, she sent her thoughts through the dreamwalker’s craft. "Humans, too near the heart of the forest. And this… this energy. It is foreign. Foul. Not their doing alone." Her voice echoed in my mind, a whisper tinged with unease.

We crept toward the commotion, careful to remain hidden. From our cover, I saw them—humans, flailing and frantic. Elowen’s expression soured, a look I knew well; she recognized them, and whatever she knew was far from pleasant. Yet, as her gaze fell upon one particular woman with hair like burnished gold, her focus sharpened.

She murmured, her words lilting and obscure. “The forest hums... whispers of fate… faint, fleeting…” Her voice trailed off, and for a moment, her pupils dilated unnaturally as if staring into something unseen.

Her eyes glazed as she sought a vision, reaching out to the spirit of the forest. But something was amiss—the connection was stifled, twisted. I felt it too, a dark presence tainting the air, like the remnants of cursed magic. It called to mind a grim memory of the Tundra, nearly a century past, when the land itself was wounded, and the wolves who roamed it were wiped out by mortals. The corruption lingered for months then, though its source remained elusive.

Elowen snapped from her trance, her voice trembling. “You must intervene, Kaelith. Save the girl. She is yours—your destined.”

Her words struck me like a thunderclap. “You are mistaken, Elowen,” I countered, my tone curt. “I sense no bond with her—no draw, no connection. This is folly.”

But her pleading eyes held firm. “You would not know. The Elven way of binding is long forgotten, yet it stirs within you still. You must first know love before the bond reveals itself.”

I scoffed. “Love? With her? A human? Look at her—she reeks of city life, artificial and polished. She is no match for me. I would sooner take a fae as my mate.”

Elowen tilted her head, a knowing smile curling her lips. “Precisely why she is perfect. Opposites shape balance. Artemis weaves an intricate web, but I see it clearly now. It is her, Kaelith. Without doubt.”

I began to protest, but her expression turned grave, her words weighty. “This is no longer about you, Kaelith. The prophecy commands it. You must act—not for yourself, but for all who depend on you.”

With a heavy sigh, I relented. She was rarely wrong, as much as it pained me to admit. Drawing upon the magic of the forest, I unleashed a shockwave through the ground, scattering the men like fallen leaves. In the chaos, I portaled behind the woman and caught her as she stumbled.

Her wide eyes met mine, awe shimmering within them. Of course, she would be impressed. Mortals always were. To them, I must seem a god—my form impeccable, my presence commanding. But I was far from impressed with her. She reeked of a cloying, expensive perfume, and her appearance was entirely contrived—makeup heavy, nails manicured, clothing gaudy and impractical. She looked like a creature pulled from a glossy magazine, utterly foreign to the wilds.

“Oh…” she breathed, placing a trembling hand against her chest. “You saved me. You were meant to save me.” Her voice dripped with something between awe and calculated coyness, her gaze fluttering as if she sought to look helpless yet captivating.

I ignored her theatrics and turned to Elowen. “What now, dreamwalker?”

“Kaelith, you frighten her,” Elowen chided softly, stepping between us.

“I ask the questions,” I retorted sharply. “You’ve meddled enough, dreamwalker.”

Before Elowen could respond, the woman interrupted, her voice quavering. “Who… who are you? And why do I feel… drawn to you?” Her wide, doe-like eyes fixated on me, the corners of her mouth curling into a faint, almost playful smile.

Elowen’s face lit with a radiant smile. “You feel it already, child? Oh, wonderful! Tell me more.”

I rolled my eyes. “This is nonsense,” I muttered under my breath.

The woman hesitated, her gaze flicking between Elowen and me. “I… I can’t explain it. But it’s as if…” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “As if you’re something more than human. A god, perhaps?”

I stiffened, unwilling to indulge her delusions. “I am Kaelith,” I said, my tone clipped. “Guardian of this forest, tasked with its protection. You, however, are a disturbance.”

Elowen’s gaze flickered briefly, almost too quickly to catch, as though some shadow danced behind her eyes. She smiled brightly again, but for a fleeting moment, I felt a pang of unease. The forest magic coursing through me pulsed as if warding off some unseen influence.

“Pay him no mind,” Elowen interjected with a soothing tone. “He is weary today. But tell me, child, why were those men after you?”

The woman’s eyes brimmed with tears, much to my dismay. “I… I don’t know,” she stammered. “I live in Basel, in the city. They abducted me after work, put a sack over my head, and brought me here. I think…” She choked on her words. “I think they were going to kill me.”

Elowen pulled her into a comforting embrace, offering soft murmurs of reassurance. Over her shoulder, she glanced at me, her eyes imploring. I remained rooted, my arms crossed, unmoved.

Elowen eventually guided the woman to a nearby boulder, speaking to her quietly before returning to me.

“You overstep, Elowen Valdis,” I growled. “I am no nursemaid to frail mortals.”

She sighed, unperturbed by my irritation. “You will escort her home, Kaelith. Ensure her safety. Spend time with her. The Elven way requires patience, a slow unraveling of the bond. You may not feel it yet, but you will. Her name is Julia, and she is your destiny.”

“Destiny?” I scoffed. “The very word reeks of melodrama.”

“Call it what you will,” she replied with a sly smile. “But it is written, Kaelith. You cannot fight what the fates have ordained.”

I turned back to Julia, who was now gazing at me with an expression that could only be described as calculated vulnerability. Her lips parted slightly, as though she wished to speak but hesitated for dramatic effect.

“Will you… keep me safe?” she asked softly, her voice trembling ever so slightly. “I feel as though… I am meant to stay by your side.” She leaned forward, the movement deliberate, and her wide eyes sought mine with a forced intimacy.

I sighed heavily. “Very well. If this is my duty, I will see it done—for my people, if nothing else.”

Elowen patted my shoulder, her gaze lingering with an intensity that felt almost unnatural. “That’s the spirit. Go, guardian. Follow your path, even if you cannot yet see where it leads—sometimes the forest speaks through whispers only your heart can hear.”

“More like be dragged along it,” I muttered as I turned to leave with Julia.