The Prophecy

The nightmares hadn’t stopped. It felt like months since Ryder had truly slept through the night, and the exhaustion was beginning to seep into everything. He could hardly focus. Even today—what was supposed to be a special holiday Reuben and Calista called Friendsgiving, a time to gather and share a large meal—felt heavy and far away.

He knew about Thanksgiving from the history books he’d studied and had wanted to be excited for his first experience with it. But the weight pressing down on him made joy feel unreachable. He hadn’t seen Alice in months, and more concerningly, his magic was beginning to falter in ways he couldn’t ignore.

It was as though something had blocked him entirely. When he looked back at his time here, his magical growth had once been rapid. Lately, though, it had tapered off, leaving him drained from even the simplest spells. Just that morning, he’d been working on The Tower, his story about the girl locked away in a forgotten spire, when a soft knock came at his door.

It opened before he could respond.

“Hey Ryder,” Reuben said, peeking in with a smile. “Just wanted to let you know Calista’s arriving soon and we’re starting the food. I hope you’re hungry—I made your favorite!”

Ryder perked up—at least as much as he could.

“Moss-covered soggy bark?”

Reuben chuckled. “Of course. Found it this morning on my walk.”

“Sounds great,” Ryder said with a tired smile. “Looking forward to it.”

Reuben gave a nod and gently shut the door.

When the doorbell rang less than ten minutes later, Ryder knew it was time to pull himself together. Calista hadn’t been over in months. The last time he’d seen her was back in July, when she’d gotten him banned from the bookstore. It seemed her and Reuben had made up since then.

Now, all he had to do was act like he was okay.

As Ryder stepped out of his room, he caught the sound of Calista’s voice drifting from the living room.

“I’m sorry you guys haven’t talked,” she said gently.

“It’s alright,” Reuben replied. “Thanks for coming. I’m glad you could make it.”

Ryder figured they were talking about Evan. He’d noticed something was off between Reuben and Evan on the way home from The Silver Fox on Halloween. The car ride there had been full of light chatter and music, but the ride back was quiet—tense, even. Ryder had zoned out, as he often did, daydreaming about his next story, so he hadn’t thought much of it at the time. But now, it was clear. They hadn’t spoken since.

Not that Ryder made a habit of keeping tabs on Reuben’s personal affairs. He usually kept to himself, living more in his imagination than in the world around him.

“Hey Ryder,” Calista called with a small smile as he entered. “I never really apologized for… the bookstore. I’m really sorry. I actually talked to the manager, and you’re allowed back now. I’m the only one still banned.”

Ryder blinked. “D-did you… use magic to make that happen?”

She let out a guilty laugh. “Ha—no. Maybe. Okay, fine. Yes! You caught me. I couldn’t stand the thought of you being banned from a bookstore. You love books too much. It’s basically a crime against your soul. So… I might’ve charmed him a little. He took down our photo. I’m pretty sure you could go in now and no one would say a word.”

Ryder smiled, genuinely. “Thanks, Calista. I appreciate it.”

She returned the smile, ruffling his hair lightly. “You’re welcome, kid.”

It was the first thing all day that had made him feel a little lighter.

“Alright, you two,” Reuben called from the kitchen, “glad to see peace has been restored—but now it’s time to eat!”

The scent of roasted turkey and spiced vegetables filled the house. And, as promised, Ryder was served his favorite: moss-covered soggy bark.

And for the first time in weeks, he almost felt okay.

During their meal, a soft metallic clink echoed from the front door as something slipped through the mail slot.

Ryder noticed. The others didn’t.

Calista was in the middle of an animated story—something about a coworker showing up to work drunk, disheveled and the antics of the previous weeks events—and Reuben was already buzzed, laughing far too hard at every twist and turn. Ryder took the opportunity.

“I’ll be right back,” he said, but neither of them seemed to hear him.

As he floated out of the kitchen, he quietly scooped the envelope off the floor.

To Rothmore Estate

The handwriting was careful, deliberate.

His brows knit. That included him, didn’t it?

He made his way down the hall into the bathroom, shut the door behind him, and turned on the fan just in case.

The envelope held a thick, foiled card—white, pristine, and elegant. A golden tree was etched across the cover, its roots tearing down the face of a cliff, a stylized sun rising in the background. At the bottom, in delicate script:

MAY YOUR HARVEST

BE HEAVY WITH MEANING

Inside, written in cursive handwriting:

To the ones who keep this house warm this season,

I had a dream, and I felt it should be shared.

The cold will spread. The dark will rise. The demons will come.

But in the end, the savior survives.

The Girl of Goldfire, burning bright beside her Titan of Terra,

will bring forth the Golden Blooms,

and with them, deliver the world from the edge of ruin.

— A. Aevee

A prophecy?

Ryder read it twice, then a third time.

The words meant little to him—Golden Blooms? Titan of Terra? He hadn’t heard of the sender either. Maybe a client of Reuben’s, or one of those strange mystics Reuben sometimes exchanged letters with.

Either way, it didn’t feel like his to decipher.

He folded the card carefully and floated back down the hall, placing it on the console table among the harvest decor—tucked behind a small ceramic pumpkin. Then, he returned to the table.

Calista was mimicking someone’s dramatic hair flip as Reuben howled with laughter.

Ryder smiled and picked at his moss-covered soggy bark, letting himself be pulled back into the lightness of the evening.

It was the first time in weeks he’d felt like he was here—present, laughing, even if just a little.

And with a warmth in his chest, he silently hoped tonight would finally bring a dreamless sleep.