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Avera’s eyes widened. Had the woman read her mind? “So you claim,” Avera replied.

The stranger chuckled. “While there are many who would like to see you dead, I am not one of them. On the contrary, you need to be alive, for you have a great role to play.”

The claim led to Avera bubbling with even more questions. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“That you have an important destiny, Avera Voxspira.” The woman pulled out a pair of cups despite Avera declining the tea.

“You know who I am, but who are you?”

“You may call me Opal.”

No title or surname. Avera pursed her lips. “If we’ve never met, how did you recognize me?”

“As I said earlier, I’ve been expecting you.”

“How can you expect me when I didn’t even know I was coming until a short time ago?”

The woman turned from the hearth. “Because I see the future.”

Unexpected answer, and not one given as a joke. Opal appeared quite serious.

“That’s not possible.”

“Why?”

“Because no one can see what hasn’t happened yet,” Avera huffed.

“Are you sure about that?” Opal asked with amusement. “Surely, by now, you’ve encountered enough on your journey to the Spire to realize there is more to this world than you ever imagined.”

“What would you know of my journey?”

“That it happened abruptly because of betrayal, and that your version of reality has been tested. Or are you going to tell me you’ve encountered something like the mist before?”

“It is strange.”

Opal snorted. “That is downplaying its nature.”

“Is the mist magic?”

“Yes and no. It is not a spell, not the usual kind, but magic did create it as a vessel to send out a message, one that clings to those who hear it and forces those caught by it to obey its command.”

“A command that brings them here.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“We’ll get to that in a moment.”

Opal’s refusal to reply brought a tautness to Avera’s lips. “When you claim you see the future, I assume it’s also some sort of magic.” Stated more than asked.

“While I do know magic, foresight isn’t considered such as there is no spell needed. It is more like an innate ability. I close my eyes and I see glimpses of what is to come.”

“You’ll have to excuse my skepticism, but how can you see something that hasn’t yet happened?”

“Because people are predictable to a certain extent and when it comes to the future, there are parts that are set and unchanging.”

“And what of the parts that aren’t?” Avera countered.