A large crowd had gathered in front of the Alkmanis house. The spacious yard, enclosed by a simple fence of horizontally nailed planks, did little to keep anyone out—it marked the boundary, nothing more. At the center stood a woman clad entirely in black, flanked by several young girls dressed identically. Whether they were aides, guards, or mere attendants was unclear. All eyes were fixed on them.
The black-robed figures shared the same style: long garments concealing their bodies, hoods shadowing most of their hair, leaving only faint strands visible. Their attire starkly contrasted with the traditional Greek garments of the crowd. The only distinction for the leader was a heart-shaped necklace, etched with pale golden script, ancient and divine in appearance.
A humid breeze swept through the yard, clinging to skin. The black-robed women remained silent, statuesque, as the crowd continued to swell. Daniil stood beside his father; the rest of the family had stepped out, too, curious and cautious. His little sisters stared wide-eyed at the strangers.
Sweat trickled down Daniil's forehead. He wiped it with the back of his hand, thinking:
Why are they dressed in black in this heat? Stylish… but not very smart.
Then the leader removed her hood. Gasps rippled through the crowd. She was stunning beyond reason: flowing black hair shimmering in the sun, pale luminous skin, piercing dark eyes that held everyone's gaze. Even Daniil found himself unable to look away.
Good Lord, he thought.
The silence shattered.
"Dear people of Arcadia!" Her voice rang out, melodic yet commanding, impossible to ignore. Every head turned.
"Please evacuate this area as soon as possible. Destruction awaits if you do not heed this warning."
Confusion swept through the crowd. Faces twisted in disbelief. A man spoke loudly, his voice carrying over the murmurs.
"What do you mean? Who are you? Why should we believe you? Is this some kind of performance?"
Many nodded; the questions echoed their own doubts. The woman stepped forward, poised, her calm presence silencing the noise.
"My name is Demeter Orestes. I am the leader of the Manteis, astrologers who foresee fate and fortune. Who we are matters little compared to what is about to unfold in Arcadia."
She spread her arms, addressing everyone.
"Arcadia is beloved by the gods. It is sacred. I have received a divine revelation: your city, your homes, will burn."
Disbelief hung heavy in the air. Thoughts ran wild:
She's insane.
Another cult leader wasting everyone's time.
Beautiful… but nonsense.
If it's true… where would we go?
Is she even human?
Demeter expected it. Smiling inwardly, she knew doubt was the first step toward faith.
"I understand your skepticism," she said calmly. "So, I will give proof—a fortune that will come true. Remember this moment."
She scanned the crowd.
"Tomorrow night, a meteor shower will grace the skies. Fear not; no harm will come to anyone. Four hours after sunset, watch the heavens. Mark the time."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Some scoffed; others pondered. Daniil felt a spark of excitement. Never before had he seen female mystics predicting the stars.
Timidly, he raised his hand. One of the black-robed girls noticed and approached.
"You raised your hand," she said gently. "Do you have a question?"
Up close, she was even more breathtaking, regal yet warm. Daniil's cheeks flushed pink.
Demeter smirked, nudging him playfully.
"Come now, boy. We have little time. The city must be warned."
Snapping out of his daze, Daniil asked, voice honest and quiet:
"If the gods love this place… why don't they stop the demons permanently? Why not let us live in peace?"
Her smile softened.
"That is why we are here—to warn you. Soon, the gods will descend and fight the demons themselves."
She paused, then pointed directly at him.
"You… will see it happen."
Her words carried weight, prophecy hidden beneath calm delivery. Daniil nodded, overwhelmed.
Demeter muttered softly, almost to herself: "Interesting…"
Daniil caught it.
"What is?" he asked.
She tilted her head, hands behind her back.
"Daniil, what do you love most about this city?"
Caught off guard, he hesitated, then chose caution over candor.
"Everything," he said. "I love everything about this city. I don't want to leave."
Demeter's grin widened.
"Good. You may become an important part of Arcadia."
Abruptly, she turned. Her words muffled in motion. Daniil called after her, but she had already pulled her hood back on and walked toward the carriage.
Addressing the crowd once more, her voice rang out:
"Arcadians! Evacuate if you can. Defend if you choose—but it would not be wise."
She gave Daniil one last glance before boarding the carriage. The coachman snapped the reins; the horses surged forward, and soon they vanished down the road.
The heat lingered, shimmering in the afternoon air. Some wondered if it had all been a fever dream. Perhaps the wheels of fate had begun turning.
Once the yard emptied, the Alkmanis family retreated inside.
"Sigh… we didn't get a single thing done," Andreas muttered.
"There's always tomorrow," Meri replied with a soft smile. "Let's rest and process everything."
Turning to her children, she called clearly:
"Alright, kids. Back inside. Show's over."
The little sisters glanced at Daniil before obeying. He remained in the yard, eyes fixed on the pale orange sky. A quiet sigh escaped him.
Gods coming to fight for us? Love Arcadia? Sounds too good to be true…