The Price Of Salvation

Chapter 4:

I followed Aria through the winding corridors of the Order's headquarters, my mind racing with questions. What did Elijah mean by "powers"? And what kind of help did I need?

Aria seemed to sense my unease, and she smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Nathaniel," she said. "I'm here to help you. We'll take things one step at a time."

We arrived at a small, cozy room deep in the heart of the building. The room was filled with all sorts of strange and fascinating objects, each one more intriguing than the last.

Aria gestured for me to take a seat, and I did, feeling a sense of wonder. "So, what's all this?" I asked, waving my hand at the various objects.

Aria smiled. "These are tools," she said. "Tools to help you control your powers."

I raised an eyebrow. "Powers?" I repeated.

Aria nodded. "Yes, Nathaniel. You have a special gift. A gift that could be very powerful, if used correctly."

I felt a surge of excitement mixed with fear.

A Damm gift !! That's too much !

Aria seemed to sense my questions, and she smiled. "Don't worry, Nathaniel," she said. "We'll take things slow. I'll teach you everything you need to know."

Over the next few hours, Aria taught me all sorts of things. She showed me how to meditate, how to focus my energy, and how to control my emotions.

It was all very fascinating, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this story than meets the eye. What was the true nature of my "gift"? And what did the Order of the White Oak really want from me?

As the sun began to set, Aria smiled and stood up. "I think that's enough for today, Nathaniel," she said. "You're doing great. Just remember to practice what I taught you, and we'll meet again tomorrow."

I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Aria. She was a great teacher, and I was eager to learn more.

As I left the Order's headquarters, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. What would tomorrow bring? And what secrets would Aria reveal to me next?

I walked home, lost in thought, and didn't notice the figure following me until I heard the sound of footsteps behind me.

I turned to see Sophia, her eyes narrowed and her expression intense. "Nathaniel" she said.

I raised an eyebrow, feeling a sense of curiosity , why did she look so serious?

"Sophia, what's going on?" I asked, feeling a sense of trepidation.

Sophia hesitated, her eyes darting around the street. "I don't think you should trust Aria," she said. "Or the Order of the White Oak."

I felt a surge of surprise, why did she think I shouldn't trust Aria?

"Sophia, what are you talking about?" I asked, feeling a sense of confusion.

Sophia leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "I think they're hiding something from you, Nathaniel. Something big."

I felt indifferent . What was Sophia talking about?

As I stood there, frozen in uncertainty, Sophia turned and disappeared into the night, leaving me with more questions than answers.

I stood there for a moment, trying to process what Sophia had just told me. Why did she think I shouldn't trust Aria or the Order of the White Oak? And what could they be hiding from me?

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I needed to talk to Sophia again, to get more information out of her. But for now, I had to get home.

As I walked, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. I glanced over my shoulder, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

When I arrived home, my mom was waiting for me in the living room. "Hey, sweetie," she said, smiling. "How was your day?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much to tell her. But something about Sophia's warning had left me feeling uneasy, and I decided to confide in my mom.

"Mom, I need to tell you something," I said, sitting down next to her.

She looked at me with concern. "What is it, Nathaniel?"

I took a deep breath. "I've been learning some things about the Order of the White Oak," I said. "And I'm not sure if I can trust them."

My mom's expression changed, and she looked at me with a serious gaze. "What do you mean?" she asked.

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about my mom's expression told me that she already knew more than she was letting on.

"Sophia told me that they might be hiding something from me," I said. "And I don't know what to believe."

My mom nodded, her eyes never leaving mine. "I think it's time we had a talk, Nathaniel," she said. "A talk about your father, and about the Order of the White Oak."

I felt a surge of surprise. What did my mom know about my father? And what did it have to do with the Order?

"Mom, what are you talking about?" I asked, feeling a sense of excitement mixed with trepidation.

My mom smiled, a sad smile. "I'm talking about the truth, Nathaniel," she said. "A truth that I've been keeping from you for far too long."

As my mom began to speak, I felt like my whole world was about to be turned upside down. What secrets had she been keeping from me? And what did they have to do with the Order of the White Oak?

As my mom began to speak, her words were like a slow-moving river, each one building upon the last to create a picture of a past I had never known.

"Your father, Nathaniel, was a member of the Order of the White Oak," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "He was a powerful man, with abilities that few others possessed."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I listened to my mom's words. What kind of abilities had my father possessed? And what did it have to do with the Order?

"He was part of a group within the Order, a group that sought to use their powers for good," my mom continued. "But there were others within the Order who had different plans, plans that were darker and more sinister."

I leaned forward, my heart racing with excitement. What kind of plans? And what had happened to my father?

"Your father, Nathaniel, was a key player in the struggle between these two groups," my mom said, her eyes locked on mine. "And in the end, it was his death that tipped the balance in favor of the darker forces."

I felt like I had been punched in the gut. My father's death? What did it have to do with the Order?

My mom's eyes seemed to bore into my soul as she continued to speak. "The Order of the White Oak, Nathaniel, is not what it seems. There are those within its ranks who seek to use their powers for evil, and they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals."

I felt a surge of fear mixed with anger.

My mom's hand reached out and grasped mine, her eyes filled with a deep sadness. "I'm sorry, Nathaniel," she said. "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you the truth sooner. But I was trying to protect you."

I squeezed her hand, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her. "It's okay, Mom," I said. "I understand. But what does this mean for me? What does the Order want from me?"

My mom's eyes seemed to cloud over, and she hesitated before speaking. "I'm not entirely sure, Nathaniel," she said. "But I think it has something to do with your father's legacy. You see, you have a special gift, a gift that could be very powerful in the right hands."

I listened to my mom's words. What kind of gift? And what did it have to do with my father's legacy?

As I looked at my mom, I knew that I had to learn more. I had to uncover the truth about the Order of the White Oak, and about my father's death. And I had to learn how to control my gift, before it fell into the wrong hands.