What in the world am I thinking? If I thought the snow yesterday was dense, then today it might as well be considered impenetrable. The little note Madam Zornem slipped me has her address on it, and what is utterly dreadful is that her home is on the completely opposite side of the kingdom. 

There are two sides to the kingdom: the east side and the west side. Mama and I live on the east side where the other peasants and beggars live. The west side is for the wealthy folk and magic users. 

Magic-users are not too common within the kingdom; there are only a select few with the gift to wield the elements. The holy ones select who is deemed fair enough to be selected, and it is safe to say, it is mainly the wealthy and the strong. Of course, no one knows when they have magic until they are born with a little sigil on their body. A sigil is unique to each person; it typically suggests what type of magic someone can wield. 

I am pretty sure that my feet are going to fall off at this point. The snow is up to my shins, and the wind chill is certainly not helping my situation. I am shivering like a leaf tossed through the rugged winds of the Caravana mountains. The market is absolutely deserted as the sane people decided to take shelter and keep warm. I cannot believe I agreed to this --- deal. I should have just left the necklace alone to save my aching feet. 

I drag myself through the snow and continue to peak at the little note she left me. 

"Number three, the blue house with a large ceraus blossom tree out in front."

My eyes look around; I entered the west side of the kingdom about ten minutes ago, but goodness gracious she really is deep within the gates. My teeth chatter as I cannot help but wrap my arms around my body, attempting to conserve as much body heat as possible. It is safe to say that I am failing miserably. 

My feet wander close to the edge, coasting by the small numbers indented on the postal boxes for packages. 

"Six, five, four," I freeze for a moment as I gaze towards where three is, and low and behold, the large ceraus blossom tree stands there in its full glory. It was a large tree with a white trunk bright blue leaves that hold flowers that blossom in the spring part of the year. 

 I cannot help but leave my mouth agape. There are very few of these magnificent trees within the kingdom and most of them reside either inside the castle grounds or on the west side. It is fair to say that I do not get to see a beauty like this too often. 

I walk along the directed path to the home, and I give a thankful sigh of relief when I reach the front door. I knock on the cherrygrove wood and patiently wait for madam Zornem to, hopefully, make her appearance. I let a shaky breath out and it comes in the appearance of a ghost-like cloud. 

After a few moments, I can hear a few ragged steps before the door is swung open. There stands Madam Zornem from yesterday, but instead of being put together and collected, she looks disheveled and panicked. 

"Are you dense, child? You made the trip here through snow this deep? For the love of Gala, come in. You must be freezing," I gratefully take her offer and the instant warmth of the home greets my face. I let out a sigh of relief as my hands unwrap themselves, and I shake them to get some sort of feeling. My feet, at this point, are completely paralyzed, there is absolutely zero response from my nerves. I shake the excess snow off my shoes before touching the wooden floor.

"Would you like me to take my shoes off, madam," her eyes glance from the door to my feet before letting out a gasp. She slams the door shut and rushes to what I presume is a closet and grabs two little socks. 

"Take those off and put these on. They are made with a special root, Elegym, to provide regenerative abilities. Not to mention that they are incredibly warm," I slide my shoes off and start to see the blisters that are covering my ankles. This is bad; it looks like they are starting the early phrases of gang green. I take the socks and slide them on. In an instant, I can feel a soothing calm along my feet, and I cannot help but let out a deep breath. This is exactly what I needed. 

"Thank you, Madam Zornem. How can I repay you," she turns around to look at me with a distressed look spread out along her face. 

"Please, child, there is no need. Follow me, let us have a sip of tea."

"What about the flooded room," my voice is submerged with confusion, but she just lets out a nervous giggle. She motions me to follow her, and we briefly walk through the messy house. There are stacks of books scattered around and multiple projects in every single corner. I am certain she is a librarian of some sort or even a gatekeeper. She leads me to a small kitchen, and I sit down in a chair. 

"Well," she starts before pausing. The little tea kettle that sits upon a burner is whistling in distress before the lady takes it off and places it along a counter. She opens a small cabinet and pulls out two little teacups. The tea is poured into them, and she walks over to me, placing one of the cups in front of me. She takes a quick sip, "I lied."

"I'm sorry, what," I am taken aback as I cautiously look at the tea. She already took a sip so it must be safe to drink, right? I shakily take the cup and sip the tea. Immediately an array of flavors dances in my mouth; it is the perfect mixture of sweet and bitter, not to mention that the temperature is perfect. I let out a satisfied hum and proceed to take another sip.

"It's good, right? But, yes, I needed to discuss something with you. When I first caught a glimpse of you in the market, I got a very odd vision," I gaze at her while placing my cup down on the table. Vision? Only mages have visions, does this mean that she is a magic user? Am I speaking in the presence of a magic speaker as an equal? Panic starts to bubble in my stomach, but I feel a hand placed on mine. 

"Yes, I know what you're thinking. Alice, you are important, but you are in danger," isn't that what the tailor said as well? What do these people know about me? What in the world do they know about me that I do not even know about myself? 

"What is going on? Please, I am so confused," I look at her, my voice pleading for answers. How can I trust her? I shake my head as my hand reaches for another sip of tea. I let the liquid slide down my throat as the calming sensation that I once had is now starting to be overran by dread. 

"Alice, don't go to Gala," I give her a sideways look. It is known that if you are invited to the Gala that you do not have an option to accept or decline. It would be a hell sentence for Mama and me if I did not go to Gala; it would make the life we already live even more difficult. I have heard horror stories of folks not going to Gala; they have had houses burnt down, jobs are taken away, and crops ruined. I could not afford to do that to Mama and me. 

"We both know I can't do that, Madam Zornem. I can't risk that for Mama," I place my tea back down and cast a glance behind me, looking towards one of the many stacks of books. The feeling of warmth is trickling through my feet and small bits of relief flood through me. I am still beyond worried that my feet might develop an infection if I continue to make these long trips in the snow, but for the moment, they feel alright, at least. 

"We have to come up with a plan, Alice."

"Why should I trust you? I don't even know what to think," I can feel myself start to stand up. This was a horrible idea; why did I even come here in the first place? I should have known that this is a trick. I lift myself fully up and push the chair inwards. I cast a glance at Madam Zornem as she looks blankly at the table, seemingly deep within her own head. My eyes go back to where my shoes are, and I start to take the socks off, dreading the feeling of pins and needles that are surly within my near future. 

"Wait, Alice," I can feel my arm grabbed as the madam rushes over to me in a huff. I turn around, my heart is pounding against my ribcage at the speed of lighting slamming down from sky to ground. I recoil my arm and take a step back. I slowly start to back away as the woman continues to keep her pace along with mine. I feel cornered, and the pit in my stomach is starting to grow. 

"Alice, you are going to be murdered at Gala."

"What?"

"I said that you are going to be murdered. Not just murdered, assassinated," I attempt to form words, but nothing comes out of my mouth besides discombobulated mumbles. My sight goes to my hands as they start to shake in fear; my eyes are starting to water as my legs slowly start to lose all feeling. 

The lady rushes over to catch me as my body seems to completely lack any sort of stabilization. I cannot do anything besides let my eyes stare at the ceiling. My mind that was once buzzing is now filled with nothing. I cannot focus on a single thought besides the image of Mama having to bury me in the ground, tears flowing out of her eyes as she screams into the air. 

"Alice, please, listen to me. Your story won't end there, and that is the reason why I am concerned."

"Wait a minute," I whisper as my upper body spurts upwards. My mind floods back to the repeated nightmares that have been plaguing me for the past few months. The forest, the blood, the wall, wait a minute. The wall --- on the west side. I take in a straggled breath, "I've been having these nightmares, and I don't know how to express them. But they are scary and odd, and it is like I am on a mission somewhere. They appear every night, and it is not the same exact dream, but it is always with me kill --- kill --- killing something." 

"So, you're having premature visions," Madam Zornem mummers to herself, and I give a twisted look. 

"Visions? Are you telling me those might happen? Please, for the love of Gala, no. You have no idea what I do in those dreams; they are not me. They can't be me," I can't help but feel any other words die before they can be released. I close my eyes and try to figure out what the hell is going on. 

"It's fate, Alice. You can't elude fate."

"So why are we even suggesting I try to evade this whole getting murdered thing if fate is going to force me into a bloody death anyway?"

"I don't know Alice, I just don't. We need to prepare the best we can to minimalize what happens to you --- after," I open my eyes and give an exasperated sigh.

"Does it matter? Why not just stab me after and get this shit done with? I'm not going to spend my life running around like a bloody, fucking monster sucking blood or what they do," I hiss at her, anger flooding throughout my body. I do not want to kill people, that is what monsters do. Why can't I just live a life with Mama, gathering crops and tending to animals? Is it that difficult? 

"It's not that simple, Alice---"

"And why not, "I cross my arms over and narrow my eyes at the woman. I grind my teeth together and let out a disgusted snicker. What the hell am I doing here when I know I am going to die? What is the point of fighting? 

"You don't understand," she pushes her hand to her face, messaging her temples. I roll my eyes and throw my hands up in the air,

"Obviously, I don't! This is ridiculous! When not just kill me when this happens? Hell, even if this happens!"

"Because, Alice, your mom is in the path of death, and it is my duty as an elder to save her."