08 A Tryst with Destiny~ Felicity

Felicity walked daintily between the two young men. In her dreams, they looked like boys, while they were mature for their ages in person. One of them, in a workman's white tunic, was almost a foot taller than her. The other was about her height, in dark attire. The sun had nearly set, painting the skies with a red haze. An idle breeze blew from the east. Felicity's hood was down, and her blonde hair danced around like streamers. It was a captivating sight to behold. Both men stole constant glances out of the corner of their eyes. However, Felicity did not feel uncomfortable. She had wanted this for a long time now- to be around the two men from her dreams. A needle-like smile rested on her lips. The girl had a quirk for drawing the attention of men. It was not just her enchanting beauty that was alluring. From the day she first bled, men had started noticing her increasingly. It was not the warm-hearted consideration that citizens of Fugi were known for. Men approached Felicity with venereal thoughts. They wanted to possess her. There was something eerie about it. The phenomenon had become staggering as time elapsed, with men confessing love to her on the streets. Hence, Felicity had to wear a cowl at all times. At such a young age, she had a full bosom and comely hips that would draw the envy of the most celebrated women of Pago. Her foster mother, Sheila, suggested she was perhaps blessed by the titan Anaximander, the most alluring among the gods living on Mt. Radomir. 'Men are beasts," she would say. 'They would like nothing other than depriving you of your innocence!" A farm girl once shared with Felicity a folktale of the outlands. It was about the witch Hecate, who accepted a human sacrifice and, in exchange, bestowed the gift of being irresistible to men. It was more of a curse than a boon. Regardless of whether she was gifted or cursed, Felicity had no way to know the cause of her predicament. Her foster family had questions about her past. However, she had nothing to share because she had no memories. Five years back, Felicity had woken up on a haystack in the middle of a farm in Fugi, with no memories. The peasant family to which the land belonged was astounded to find a naked little girl wandering their farm. They had taken her in, bathed, dressed, and fed her. Since the girl could not speak for months, they had assumed she was a mute refugee from the outlands—a barbarian. The peasant couple, being kind people, had let her live as one among their children. Felicity had three sisters- Haiti, Twitch, and Mello. Their mother, Sheila, had not kept the refugee girl wanting for anything. Felicity had grown up in the cradle of nature. She would spend hours in the meadows and forests. Animals were her playmates. The trees bestowed on her grace and wisdom. The wind and rain sang songs for her amusement. Barely anyone noticed her. She lived in peace for several years. Then, on the day Felicity bled, the world changed for her. The unwanted attention. From farm boys and men even thrice her age. The same day, the visions and nightmares began. The girl would drift off in the middle of the day and have a vivid dream, which would come true in the following days. It could be about the mares birthing foals or an infestation of locusts, or the arrival of rains. Felicity could see several weeks into the future. Occasionally, she would have cryptic nightmares—terrible dreams of war and destruction. Countless lives lost. In the middle of all the carnage, she would see them. Tarsus and Damon- the two men flanking her from both sides right then. In her visions, she was intimately involved with them. However, they did not need to know that yet. Felicity had told them several convenient lies. Rather, they were half-truths. To begin with, she had told them what she was. 'Let me revisit your words," Damon began. 'You are a muse? A peculiar who can see the future? Furthermore, you foresaw in a vision that the three of us are meant to become gods and live on Mt. Radomir?" 'Yes," she replied solemnly. Damon laughed out aloud. 'And where are you from, MUSE?" 'I lived on a farm in Fugi." 'A farm girl from Fugi suddenly turns up and tells me I am meant to be a god. Moreover, I have to give up my trade and accompany her on a journey. I am speechless!" 'By the by," Damon interrupted himself. 'Apologies for what I said in the tavern. Something came over me-" 'I understand. That is why I keep my face covered." Felicity said. 'This effect you have on men has something to do with you being a muse?" 'Yes." 'What are your other abilities?" 'I can bend the water element, and I have good fortune." 'Water element is useful. What is this good fortune you speak of? Are you good at gambling?" 'You will find out in due time, Damon."