Prologue

AN: This is shorter than the rest of the book, as it is still in progress.

Her name was Kiäna. Her older sister loved her, despite her how frail and sickly she was. Though her presence wasn't known to many, in fear that she'd be used as a bargaining chip in the war, she was still loved so dearly by those who did. Lively and cheerful, Kiäna had never seen war and often ventured off alone. She was daring and reckless, with a taste for adventure, but often would become ill.

That day, she was showing Kiäna what she'd learned at academy that day.

"Look, Kia!" she shot water out her sister's bedroom window.

Kiäna laughed and clapped her hands, "That's amazing! Can you show me how to do that?"

"Of course! So, you close your eyes and imagine a well of magic, which, for me, is swirling silver-white stuff and reach into it. Take out a little and imagine it turning into a ball of water. Hold it in your hand. Now throw it!" she showed her, content and carefree, so innocent unaware of the danger.

She closed her eyes, doing as she had explained. She didn't see Kiäna's face turn to horror as she saw what her older sister held in her hand. She didn't see what she had done, not until it was too late.

Instead of the dark blue ball of water, it was pure silver magic, untainted, and filled with power, too much power. The entire room glowed with light, but she didn't even open her eyes. And when she threw it, it hit Kiäna and she screamed. Oh, how she screamed. Finally, she opened her eyes and watched helplessly as her sister disappeared, seemingly burning in a pile of grey cinders.

"Kiäna!" she shouted, kneeling beside the ashes, her voice echoing too loudly. "Kiäna," she whispered.

A whirlwind of interrogation, lies to placate the kingdom, and hidden secrets and just like that, esnas passed.

She saw Kiäna everywhere, in her cousin's eyes, in her closest friend's height, in her ally's cheerfulness, and most prominently, in herself. She would never forget her, never forget that she was the one who killed her.

2: Chapter 1
Chapter 1

"FASTER!" hollered Salë mirzè. "YOU MUST SWIM FASTER!" Alira swam as fast as she could and ended up being the first one to dive to the bottom of the sea and back, but to no avail. "An enemy could catch you! You. Must. Swim. Faster!" Salë mirzè shouted. Alira sighed.

All this yelling, she thought.

"Now go! Your next class is transformation! You must not be late! Ten minutes to shower! HURRY!" Salë mirzè bellowed. Alira hurried onto the beach to take a shower and did the quick Water Spirit transformation that allowed her light, silk, silvery blue clothes to morph into a swimsuit or become warm and dry clothes in seconds. She ran to transformation class and entered right as the conch shell blew. She sat down hurriedly next to Sarilan, who grinned and jerked her head at the Yagmûr mirzè, who was already writing down the principles of transformation. An excited murmur ran through the classroom; finally, finally, after what seemed like years of note taking, they got to finally try a transformation.

"Listen up!" said Yagmûr mirzè. "Today, after you copy down these notes, you may try to turn yourself into water. Find a partner, and step outside where you will find large barrels. Stand in the buckets, then try and turn yourself into water. Earth Spirits, you may try and blend into a tree. If you get stuck, well, you will be permanently stuck that way. I will have no way to help you. You have been warned. Also, be sure to pair with a Elemental not in your clan, so that you know how the other clan transforms. Remember, you are allies! Now get started!"

"Mirzè?" called Alira. "Once you can turn into water, how do you control how much water you turn into?"

"Just imagine yourself as a bucket of water, and that's what you will be. Imagine yourself as a rain drop? That's what you will become. Imagine yourself as a sea of water? Try not to flood the beaches," Yagmûr mirzè explained.

"Thank you, mirzè," Alira said, bowing her head respectfully. She grabbed her dark blue and silver quill, dipped it in her octopus ink, and quickly jotted down the notes, fast as she could, though there were very many. Alira glanced at the water clock. She had used up over forty minutes copying down notes (though that usually was what this mentor's classes were like), and there were only ten minutes left. "Come on, Sarilan!" She pulled on Sarilan's dark green tunic. "I'm waiting!" Eager to try transformation, Alira ran out of the classroom.

"Wait for me!" Sarilan scrambled after her friend. She found Alira standing in one of the barrels.

"I'm ready!" Alira closed her eyes and concentrated hard, going into the depths of her mind where she wasn't just a water Elemental; she was water itself. And then she felt as if she were sleeping. The air was cool around her and it felt like taking a cold shower, without being too cold. She never wanted to wake up.

"Alira? Are you going to turn back now?" The words came to her, faint, as if they were very far away, put some part of her listened, and remembered that she wasn't just a pool of water, that she was Alira, a water elemental whose closest friend was Sarilan. And just like that, she was sitting on the bottom of the barrel. She rubbed her eyes, looked, up, and saw blackness, which turned out to be Sarilan's face looming over her.

"You did it! You turned into almost half a barrel of water for five whole minutes! Come on, now I want to try melting into a tree!" Sarilan said excitedly. Alira closed her eyes, mentally preparing herself for having to move, opened them, and climbed out of the barrel. Sarilan pulled her over to a small maple tree, "Wish me luck!" and closed her eyes. Alira's friend leaned back against the tree, and slowly, her hair melted into the bark, and her body and her face slowly transformed into a tree.

After her friend was a tree for a few minutes, Alira tapped where her shoulder used to be and asked, "Sarilan? I think class is ending." The tree didn't move or respond. Alira, feeling worried, tapped the tree again. Then all of a sudden, bright, emerald green eyes were staring at her.

"Ah!" Alira yelped. "Don't do that! That's freaky!" Sarilan grinned and became Elemental again.

"What do you have next?" asked Sarilan.

"Battle training..." Alira grumbled. "And half-a-dozen bruises later will be History of Elementals and Present Day Wars. I hope Celiara isn't here." Alira groaned.

"Well, I have my own battle training to go to. I'll see you at History!" Sarilan waved at Alira and left.

"Bye, Sari!" Alira called to Sarilan's retreating back. She sighed and plodded over to the battle training arena. There, Duman mirzè said, "Alright everyone! Do you have your weapons? Yes? Don't forget to blunt the edge!" Alira took out her own sword, Îlînc, and studied it. It was a pale silvery blue color, like ice, that was almost transparent with a hilt the color of the dark sea and wave designs and silver and blue runes engraved on it. It fit her hand perfectly; after all, it was made for her, and it was shaped out of a special coral that allowed it to never chip off or be damaged. There was special Elemental magic built into the sword and it was long and thin, perfect for Alira's fighting style. "Pair up, everyone! Find someone about the same skill level as you are and prepare to spar when I blow the conch shell!" Alira walked over to Havadâ, who was probably the strongest fighter in the class, but Alira knew Havadâ was all strength and powerful blows, but not as agile or as clever as she was. She grinned. "Ready, go!" Duman mirzè blew the conch shell, it's sound vibrating across the arena. Alira held her sword in the defensive position as Havadâ came, swinging her sword in large wide arcs that would probably knock you down if you were hit. As she came closer, Alira ducked under, slashing at Havadâ's legs. She crouched, rolled over and stood back up as Havadâ attempted to cleave down at Alira's head. Quick as lightning, Alira dodged and darted out to reach behind Havadâ. Alira tried to slash Havadâ's back, but Havadâ blocked with a blow that nearly made Alira drop her sword. Thank the magic in the sword that allows me to hold on! thought Alira. Alira ducked as Havadâ swung her sword towards her. She knew that eventually, Havadâ would tire out. All she had to do was avoid her sword. Their battle took them all around the arena, even after all the others had finished sparring. Alira weaved around Havadâ's blows, keeping a safe distance between the two. When Havadâ started tiring, Alira, as quick as a snake striking, stabbed Havadâ's hand. With a quick twist of her wrist, Alira forced Havadâ to drop her sword, leaving Havadâ weaponless and defenseless. Havadâ turned, hoping to flee, but Alira raised her sword and held it by her opponent's neck. She had won without a scratch.

"You may leave for your next class now!" Duman mirzè said. "Alira, stay behind." Alira walked up to Duman.

"Yes, mirzè?" she asked.

"Alira, I think you are ready to start training with the Earth Spirits. Next lesson, you may choose to learn how to fight side-by-side with any Earth Spirit from the advanced class. That is all. You may go."

"Thank you, mirzè," Alira bowed her head and left the arena. She bumped into Sarilan on the way out.

"Alira!" Sarilan called, her voice full of excitement. "I've been moved up to the advanced class!"

"That's great! Me too! After class, Duman told me I could start training with any Earth Spirit from the advanced class! That means I can train with you, Sari!" Alira said. Chattering, the two walked towards History of Elementals. As they walked in, they knew something was wrong. Everyone was talking and whispering in hushed voices and the Alira's mother, Queen Atlama was speaking rapidly to their History teacher, Irmaq mirzè, and their Present Wars teacher, Balacâ mirzè. Queen Atlama's Bond, a dolphin in its own large floating bubble of water, was there as well. Alira winced. If Delfin, Queen Atlama's Bond dolphin was there, then things must be really bad.

"What do you think is wrong?" asked Sarilan, whispering. "Does it have to do with the war? You are going to be the next queen. Shouldn't she have told you something?"

Alira shrugged, "I don't know any more than you do. Though you think mother would've told me something."

"Settle down, class!" called Irmaq mirzè. The class immediately silenced. "Queen Atlama must inform you of something regarding the war." Alira felt Sarilan stiffen beside her. Her parents were fighting in the war.

"Today, we were attacked on the south border of the Water Kingdom by Qara's allies, the Air Spirits. Some of your parents may have been guarding the bridge on which they attacked. If I read your name, then please come with me. Your parents may not have been killed, they may have only been guarding the bridge," explained Queen Atlama, her voice heavy with sorrow. "We lost many today, both Earth and Water Spirits, though we were outnumbered, yet drove the Air Spirits back. Please honor those who fought on that bridge so that we may be safe today."

Sarilan gasped, "My parents...they were on guard duty on the South border today!" Tears filled her eyes. Alira quickly put a comforting arm around her shoulders.

"That doesn't mean they died, Sari. And I'm sure they fought bravely, like the rest of the Earth Spirits," comforted Alira.

"I will now read out the list of names," said Queen Atlama. "Gölme, Cinqil, Caylaq, Yagis, Derya, Külli, and Saliran. Please follow me. Alira, you should come too." Trembling like a leaf, Saliran stood up and followed Queen Atlama out of the room. Alira walked out of the room with Sarilan, grasping her hand like a lifeline.

They went into a different room, and Queen Atlama said, "You have been called here because your parents, or parent, fought on the bridge. If your parents survived, then they will be arriving here shortly. If your parents died, well, I will now notify you. Gölme, your mother, Ilibiz, perished by saving Saliran's mother, Denesi, when she was overwhelmed by four Air Spirits." Gölme nodded, tears streaming down his cheeks. "But your father survived, and should be coming back any moment now," added Queen Atlama gently. She turned to the others, "Cinqil, Derya and Caylaq, all your parents are alive and well, though a few may have minor injuries. Külli, your mother was killed fighting Queen Ahava herself." Külli didn't acknowledge that Queen Atlama had said anything; she just sat there, looking stunned and staring off into space. "Yagis, your father died at the hands of Qara. He was one of the best warriors charged with the noble duty of fighting Qara herself. While some were killed at the hands of her guards, your father was the only one who reached and injured Qara badly." Yagis was shocked into silence, as tears began spilling out of his eyes. "Sarilan, your father was shot by an arrow, not fatally, as he, along with Yagis's father, began advancing towards Qara. Though he reached Qara as well, he jumped in front of another arrow, saving Yagis's father so that he could reach Qara. He later died from his wounds. All of the other parents are alive." Sarilan wept into her hands, burying her face in Alira's shoulder, as Alira hugged her closest friend, who was more like a sister to her. She felt Sarilan's grief as she held her friend tight. "Thank you, for your parent's sacrifice, and for your duty to your clans. Please, feel free to remain here as long as you need. Alira, come with me," Queen Atlama turned and left. Alira cast a sympathetic glance at Sarilan, who gestured for Alira to follow her mother. Alira followed her mother into a different room, and sitting at the table was Celiara and Queen Torpaq with her Bond, a large stag named Marala. She bowed respectfully to both.

Queen Atlama announced, "Celiara and Queen Torpaq, this is my daughter, Alira, heir to the throne of the Water Spirits. I brought her here so that the Water Spirits will not have an incompetent Queen."

"My pleasure to meet you," said Celiara. Alira was shocked. She couldn't tell whether or not Celiara was sincere or not, though all the books described her as cruel and cunning. Celiara smiled, sensing her thoughts, "You must understand, Alira, that all the scrolls are written by Qara, my rival and sister." Alira nodded.

Queen Torpaq stepped forward, "Greetings, Alira. I hope to work closely with you in the coming years." Alira once again felt surprise; the scrolls described her as cold-hearted and power-hungry. But then again, if it was true that the scrolls were written by her enemy, it would make sense to describe her that way.

"Greetings, Queen Torpaq and Celiara mirzè," Alira said formally. "I look forward to working under your and my mother's guidance. I hope only to strengthen an already strong bond between our clans." Celiara and Queen Torpaq exchanged glances, as if to say Interesting...

"Today, both the Earth Spirits and the Water Spirits have suffered heavy losses. But it is nothing compared to what the Air Spirits' casualties. We forced them back and succeeded to heavily wounding Qara," reported Alira's mother. Alira watched with interest; she was finally going to find something out. But the conversation turned out to be quite boring. Queen Torpaq told them about how Fire Spirits attacked their border, winning over a small section of land.

"Not a heavy loss," Queen Torpaq said. "But still a crucial defense area. We had an excellent defense set up. It unsettles me to see them win." Celiara seemed to be there merely to listen in on how her allies were doing, though Celiara did say that many Shadow Spirits were on her side, and asked the Queens if they would mind providing shelter as well as the fact that she still hadn't found a Bond.

"Allies will be very useful, however, we do not enough rooms to provide housing for more troops," Queen Atlama said.

"We can build houses very quickly and can shelter troops," volunteered Queen Torpaq. "How many?"

"About a four hundred and fifty or so," replied Celiara. "But out of the six hundred total in our tribe, one hundred or more are children or the elderly. Though most still want to live in the Shadow Kingdom, so they are forced to obey Kolga. Many are spies for us." Alira raised her eyebrows. Celiara had the support of almost three quarters of the tribe!

Maybe she should be queen, thought Alira. Nearly all of her tribe supports her. 

After that, Alira didn't really pay too much attention until Queen Atlama stood up and said, "Thank you, Alira for joining us today. You may be excused."

"Thank you for allowing me to be here. Arzu artikl avaranlaq oriyentir senîn yazî. May the moon guide your destiny," Alira said the formal farewell, turned, and left. She walked quickly back down the hall to where Sarilan was waiting. Everyone else had already left, but Sarilan was still sitting, waiting, and drying her eyes. She looked up. Alira saw a fire burning in her friend's eyes that she had never seen before.

"I hate this war," she said, softly, but firmly and fiercely, her voice full of grief, pain, and passion. "I want this war to end, so that Elementals stop dying. There has been too much death and despair."

"I know, Sari. I know. I want this war to end too for you, for your parents, and for the rest of the clans," Alira said heavily. The two walked back to Alira's home, also known as the Water Palace. "You should stay with us until your mother gets better," suggested Alira. Sarilan nodded as they entered Alira's bedroom. It was sea blue with coral and pearl walls. There were anemone plants that decorated the room, as well as exotic flowers that Saliran had given to her. A section of the room was sand and sloped down into water, which provided an entrance to the underwater portion of the Water Palace. The moonlight shone through the large window, illuminating some glowing sea plants and turning the water a sparkling silver. Alira's water bed stood in the far end of the room, with a glass ceiling to see the stars and planets.

"I suppose that you would like your own bed?" questioned Alira.

"I can make my own," Sarilan said numbly. She muttered something and raised her hand. A bed made of leaves and tree branches grew straight out of the floor. Sarilan fainted, falling backwards and Alira caught her.

"I didn't know you could do that!" breathed Alira, astounded by her friend's abilities. She carried Sarilan to the bed.

Sarilan smiled weakly, opening her eyes, "I guess we should get some rest."

"Right. Let's get some sleep. Good night, Sari," whispered Alira, climbing into her water bed.

However much Alira wished for rest, her sleep was plagued with nightmares. She woke up, shivering and her heart pounding, her body covered in cold sweat. Shakily, she looked over at Sarilan, who slept without disturbance. She lay back down, forgetting the nightmare, and fell back asleep.

A leopard was watching her. How curious, thought Alira. A very small silver-white leopard with dark gray spots and golden eyes. But what isn't odd about this? After all, I'm standing next to a moonlit forest and a sapphire lake that reflects silver stars. The leopard regarded her, and nudged her towards the forest. The forest was dark, but it was night, after all. The moonlight shone in a beam towards a point in the forest. The stars winked over head, and she could see more planets than ever before. The forest was filled with spruces, pines, and all kinds of evergreens. Snow fell lightly on the treetops, and ice shards sparkled on the ground, but she was not cold. She followed the leopard and found a girl sitting in a clearing where the moonlight illuminated the whole area. She looked to be very young, younger than Alira, but had such old eyes. Eyes that showed just how much she had been through. She had dark raven-black hair, like a Shadow Spirit, but wise blue eyes like a water elemental. She wore a shimmering silver and black dress and a circlet with an obsidian stone set in it that glittered in the moonlight. Surrounding the girl were five animals, a lion that shook it's long fire-red mane, a restless white polar bear pacing, a pale silvery-white wolf with piercing gray eyes that studied her, a red panda watching her from its spot on a tree, it's long, bushy, furry tail curled around a branch, and a golden eagle that circled above the girl's head. The leopard padded over to join the animals, touched noses with the wolf, and purred, making a warm, rumbling sound. Then the clearing was silent. The girl rose and walked forward, a larger silver snow leopard at her side.

"I am Silvrê," she spoke, as she stroked the large silver leopard. "I foretold the prophecy of six that now binds you to your fate. I am messenger of The Lord of the Heaven. I have been exiled to this island out of fear that holds the three battling sisters as much as the prophecy holds you. After I was exiled, I came to this island to survive, and found my snow leopard, Rengi. As you know, every Queen has an animal to confer with so that the animals living in their element would be satisfied, known as their Bond. I was not actually exiled. I was to be killed after Kolga took control of the Shadow Spirits. I escaped the night before my set execution date. As I broke out of my prison, I rescued Rengi, who was Queen Lunageca's Bond. She was Queen Lunageca's ally and companion; her animal counterpart," Silvrê gestured towards the large snow leopard. "Kolga wished to destroy any remains of Queen Lunageca's regime, so Rengi was captured and was supposed to be killed. Rengi became loyal to me after I rescued him from his prison, and we established a mental form of communication when we reached this island. We became Bonded, even though I was not Queen. It happens very rarely, but occasionally, an animal will Bond with a sorceress or an Elemental, though that happens even less, to help Aslandiya in times of great need. The animal has to completely trust the Elemental or sorceress which is why the last Bonding before Rengi and I was...I believe it was four-thousand seven-hundred and ninety-two esna ago during the Clan Wars with Cilalan and Satîk, who was her Bond, a river otter. But I'm sure you already knew that." The girl, called Silvrê, smiled at Alira's shocked expression. "Anyway, after I came to this island, Kolga pretended I was exiled, instead of admitting I broke out of her top defenses. Elahna, who was also captured and is now my only friend, aided me in my escape, and she is here with me. She has not abandoned me, like everyone else, and gave up her powers to help me," her voice was sad, like she was lamenting lost days and gestured to a girl similar to Silvrê, but seemingly more emotional and caring, without the circlet, and looked like an actual Shadow Spirit, not a half-clan. "I am not Elemental anymore. I used to be a Shadow Spirit, but now I am a sorceress. That is why my eyes changed colors from brown to blue. Do not fear, I have been given those powers by The Lord of the Heaven to protect us when the prophecy is being fulfilled. But outside the island, my powers will fail. Beware. As soon as you leave my protection, you will be hunted as never before. Fulfilling the prophecy is the only way to break my curse, and release the trapped powers of the Shadow Spirit within me that will allow me to be one of you again. I am to be your guide and your mentor. However, I am not part of the prophecy. I may only give you my advice. The destiny of Aslandiya is in your hands, and the other five." Silvrê's voice was a clear as tinkling bells and rang throughout the clearing. It spoke of wisdom well beyond her age. Her voice reminded Alira of snow falling and coming to a rest on deep green pine trees, of ice cracking as she skated across it with Sarilan, of larks and nightingales singing in harmony only at dawn, of watching painted sunsets with Sarilan, of dolphins leaping out of the water and peering curiously into the palace, the spinning nebulas and vividly colored planets, and of the wild beauty of nature. Nature that used to be in harmony. Nature that was now at war with itself.

"What must I do to fulfill my destiny?" she asked. 

"I will explain when all are gathered. Come to this island. Your instincts will show you the way. I have created certain barriers to prevent others from finding this island. You must work together, for only one element alone will not be able to pass the obstacles. You have only exactly one day to pass the obstacles, or you will be killed. Rely on your wits and your intelligence and you will be able to pass. Now, wake." Silvrê walked forward and pressed her hand to Alira's forehead. 

Sarilan slept peacefully, her dreams merging into one another.

At one moment, she was laughing with Alira, the next, she was joking around while skating on top of the Water Kingdom. She remembered the time when Alira thought she was dead, and as she was buried and Alira was sobbing with despair, she woke, and using her powers, she created a tunnel through the dirt, and reached her hand out through the tunnel, and waved, seemingly cheerful, as Alira gasped in shock. She dreamed of the times of happiness, when she lived with her family, and trained with Alira. Then came the nightmares, as she watched her father die and her mother pleading for her to come and rescue her. But mid-dream, she was interrupted by a dream where she was walking through a forest, dark and mysterious, but Sarilan was not afraid. She was in her element of earth, and strode confidently through the forest, without knowing where she was going. Snow fell lightly, the glittering white flakes coming to a rest slowly above the deep green pine trees. She strode through the trees, coming at a stop next to a large oak tree. For some unknown reason, she felt that that tree in particular was special. She soon saw why; a large pale-gray wolf bounded out from behind the tree. The wolf nuzzled her and rumbled in greeting. It pushed her towards the center of the forest. Sarilan looked at it questioningly, so it bounced in front of her, impatient to lead the way. She followed the wolf until it stopped in front of a moonlit clearing. A silver cat like animal was pacing around, a golden eagle rested upon a branch, a red panda lazily hung onto the silver cat's back, sleeping, a huge male lion shook it's fiery red mane, a polar bear that flopped down near the silver cat, and a large silver leopard that lay next to two young maidens, one that looked half-clan and wore a silver circlet with a black stone set in it, and the other looked like a shadow spirit. The wolf joined the animals, and the girl with the circlet stood up. 

"Welcome, Sarilan. I am Silvrê, The Lord of the Heaven's messenger, a sorceress, the speaker of the Prophecy of Six, and the Exiled One that was cast onto this island out of fear by the three rival sisters. Which is stupid, I know," said the girl with the circlet with a mischievous smile. 

"I am Elahna," the other girl spoke gently, the sound of her voice soft and melodious. "I was, and still am, Silvrê's friend who got exiled for being Silvrê's companion."

"Elahna is my closet, most loyal friend," explained Silvrê. "When I was exiled, she came with me." Silvrê stroked the large silver leopard thoughtfully as she spoke. "Sarilan, you are one of the foretold six."

"From the Prophecy of Six?" gasped Sarilan.

"Yes. You, along with five others, must come to this island. Your instincts will guide you here. To overcome the obstacles I have placed to protect myself and Elahna, you must work together with an Elemental from a different clan, and you will only have one day. You already know whom you must work with. I will be your guide and mentor, but I cannot leave this island until the prophecy is fulfilled. I am not part of the prophecy, and will not be able to assist you in your quests. The multiple tasks you must undertake will be without my help. You will experience danger greater than you have ever known. Are you willing to take on this risk? If you don't, all of Aslandiya will be torn apart," Silvrê asked. Sarilan didn't want to take on that risk. She just wanted to live her life in peace. Images of pouring waterfalls and sunlight dappling green leaves rushed through Sarilan's mind. She saw herself walking through a forest with Alira, the leaves turning reds, oranges, and yellows, the trees then turning to flames and the whole forest burning down. Sarilan cried out with fear, as she heard screaming and saw Elementals killing everyone from a little village. Little ones cried out with terror and parents begged for the merciless murders to not kill their children. She saw her mother and father being killed once more.

"Make it stop," pleaded Alira. "Please. Make it stop." Tears streaming down her cheeks, Sarilan saw her own element be razed, trees burned and the soil mixed with blood. Her family, whom she loved so dearly, were destroyed in horrible ways in front of her, while she was bound in place and could do nothing to help. 

"No," whispered Sarilan softly, hanging her head down. The visions abruptly ended.

"That is what will happen if you do not accept. I cannot force you to, but in order to avoid this bloodshed, you must be willing to face these risks and come to the island, where I will explain your task to you," Silvrê intoned sadly.

"I am willing," Sarilan replied shakily, her head still bowed down. "But how did you do that? I have never heard of a clan who could do that. No one that I have heard of can create visions."

"I was made a sorceress by The Lord of the Heavens. That is why my eye color changed from the normal brown to blue. I was once a Shadow Spirit. Now, you must come to this island."

"I will come," Sarilan said, lifting her head higher, "I will do what it takes to stop this war."

"Then wake," Silvrê walked forward and gently touched Sarilan's forehead.