The Consequence

The days following her encounter with the merchant were filled with a sense of unease. Lyra couldn’t shake the weight of the decision she had made, nor the terrifying realization that her future might already be sealed. Though she told herself that she would never light another candle, that she would resist the temptation to peer into the unknown, the pull of what she had glimpsed lingered in her mind.

It was on the fifth day after her visit to the merchant’s stall that a shadow from her past arrived in Dunwick.

Julia, Lyra’s childhood friend, had come to the village looking for a fresh start. They hadn’t seen each other in years, not since Lyra had left her old life behind. Julia was always full of energy, a free spirit who lived in the moment, while Lyra was more reserved, careful, afraid of what the future might hold. But now, as Lyra looked at her old friend, she could see something had changed. There was a wariness in Julia’s eyes, a nervous energy that hadn’t been there before.

“Lyra!” Julia cried as she spotted her on the edge of the market square. Her smile was wide, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It’s been ages! I didn’t know you were here!”

Lyra forced a smile, stepping toward her. “It’s good to see you. What brings you to Dunwick?”

Julia hesitated for a moment, glancing around as if checking to make sure no one was listening. “I’m not sure yet. I needed to get away from... well, everything. Thought I’d see if this place might bring some peace.”

Lyra nodded, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to the story. Julia was hiding something, just as she always had. She had always been the type to act like everything was fine, even when it wasn’t.

As they walked through the village, Julia’s eyes darted around, as if scanning for something. It wasn’t until they passed the marketplace again that she stopped in front of the stall Lyra had visited days earlier.

“The Candlemaker’s stall,” Julia murmured, her voice almost a whisper. “I’ve heard whispers about it. People say the candles can show you things—things about your future.”

Lyra’s heart skipped a beat. She had hoped Julia wouldn’t notice, but there was no avoiding it now. “I wouldn’t buy one if I were you,” Lyra said quickly, her voice firm. “There’s a cost to knowing your future.”

Julia turned to her, her face curious but skeptical. “What do you mean, ‘a cost’? I’ve heard they just show you what’s coming. Why wouldn’t you want to know?”

Lyra felt a cold chill run down her spine. She had seen the vision, she had felt the weight of her father’s words. She knew how dangerous it could be. But she also knew Julia too well. If there was one thing her friend couldn’t resist, it was the allure of the unknown.

“I just don’t think it’s worth it,” Lyra said softly. “The future... It’s not something you can control once you know it. Trust me.”

Julia smiled knowingly, as if she understood exactly what Lyra meant, but then her gaze turned to the crimson candle resting in the stall, gleaming in the afternoon light. It called to her, just as it had called to Lyra. She could see it in Julia’s eyes.

“I’m not afraid to face my future,” Julia said with a grin, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Maybe I need to know what’s waiting for me.”

Lyra’s stomach tightened. She knew it was pointless to argue—once the curiosity had taken hold, there was no stopping it. Still, she tried one last time.

“Julia, please,” Lyra said, her voice soft but pleading. “I’m telling you, it changes you. You won’t be the same after you’ve seen it. You’ll spend your whole life trying to avoid what the candle shows you. It doesn’t give you power—it takes it away.”

Julia stared at her for a long moment, then shook her head. “I don’t believe in that kind of thing. I just want to see what’s ahead. I’m not afraid of my future, Lyra.”

With that, she turned and walked toward the merchant’s stall. Lyra watched helplessly, her heart pounding in her chest. She wanted to stop her, to drag her away from the stall, but she knew it was no use. Julia had made her decision, and now it was too late.

Later that evening...

Lyra could barely sleep. Her mind kept racing, thinking of Julia and the crimson candle. She had seen the vision, the terrible glimpse of her own future. What if the same thing happened to Julia? What if the vision she saw was only a precursor to something far worse?

The next morning, as Lyra made her way into the village square, she found Julia sitting on a bench, her face pale, her hands trembling. The once-vibrant woman now looked fragile, haunted.

“You were right,” Julia said, barely able to meet Lyra’s eyes. Her voice was cracked, as if she had been crying. “I saw it. I saw what’s coming.”

Lyra sat down beside her, feeling a deep sense of dread settle in her chest. “Tell me what you saw.”

Julia took a deep breath, her eyes vacant as she stared at the ground. “It was so clear... I saw myself—alone, in a room full of strangers. And then, I... I saw myself falling. Off a cliff. I tried to stop it. I tried to run, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t move. It was like something was pulling me toward it, like I couldn’t escape.”

Lyra felt her stomach drop. “And... is that it? Did you see anything else?”

Julia shook her head slowly. “No. Just that. It’s like I’m already walking toward it. Like it’s inevitable.”

Lyra’s heart sank as the reality of the situation hit her. Julia had seen the future—her future—but it hadn’t set her free. It had shackled her. Just as Lyra had feared, the candles didn’t give people control over their fate. They made them slaves to it.

“I’m sorry, Julia,” Lyra whispered. “I tried to warn you.”

Julia didn’t respond. She sat there, motionless, her eyes unfocused, staring at nothing in particular. Lyra could see the deep fear in her friend’s eyes now—the fear that came with knowing the future but being powerless to change it.

Lyra stood up, her mind racing. She had to do something. She couldn’t let her friend—couldn’t let herself—fall victim to the curse of the candles. There had to be a way to stop this. There had to be a way to break the cycle before it was too late.

But deep down, she knew that the candle was only the beginning. The path ahead would lead to something far darker, and the real test of her will was yet to come.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***