Canvas of Prophecy

he sound of the bustling city outside muffled by the thick stone walls. His mind was still reeling from his encounter with Calen earlier that day

f the woman still lingered at the edge of the destruction, her glowing eyes seeming to follow him no matter where he moved in the room. She was a M

art quickening. Few people visited him at this hour. For a moment, he considered ignoring

lked to the door, pulling it op

ht. His face was obscured by a wide-brimmed hat, and a thin veil hung over his eyes, giving him an air of mystery

his voice smooth and

so confidently at the door, as though he already knew Elias would let him in. He had the feeling t

as said, opening

ilently, as he made his way into the studio, his gaze drifting over the scattered canvases and art suppli

sing the work. Elias's heart skipped a beat, the familiar sense of dread creeping up his spine. He had yet to show the painting to

softly, his voice filled with a

"It wasn't meant to be disturbing," he s

as he glanced at Elias. "Few artists ever intend for their work to

w furrowed.

ngs we try to hide. Sometimes, it shows us more than we expect." He paused, then

is stranger know? How could he possibly understa

w what you mean,"

it. "You do," he said simply. "You've seen something

denly dry. "Who are you?" he asked

gainst the wooden floor. "My name is Jareth," he

mething that made him feel like he was being drawn into something far large

position?" Elias

ne smooth and deliberate. "I represent a very... particular group of individuals who have taken an

tightened. "Wh

mile. "You have the ability to see beyond th

in his throat. "How...

r how we know. What matters is that we do. And we believe

ns, but one rose above the res

we need you to create. One that will show us a very spe

ckening. "You want me to paint the fu

the power to shape the course of events. With the right guidance, your a

the future, to force a certain outcome, made his skin crawl. "I can't do that," he s

te yourself, Elias. You've already begun to tap into your true potential. You may not realize it

e could use his gift to do something meaningful, something good. But another part of him rec

" Elias said, his voice shaky. "

p you. We have knowledge-ancient knowledge-that can teach you to harness your gift, to

t it felt wrong. There was a darkness in Jareth's words, a sens

you want me to paint?"

e removed. Where the balance of power shifts in favor of those who d

didn't like the way Jareth spoke about "obstacles" and "po

said, stepping back further. "I don

glint of something dangerous in his eyes. "This is not a request,

decision pressing down on him. He didn't know what Jareth and his group wanted, but he knew th

aid, his voice firm.

eadable. Then, slowly, he nodded. "I see," he said so

aused and glanced back at Elias. "Think carefully, Elias. The future is not as i

, his mouth dry. "Ar

The future is fluid, but it can be shaped by those who have the power to see

or open, and stepped out into the night, leavin

Elias stood there, his mind racing with everything that had just happened. Jareth'

s trembled at his sides. He didn't want to believe that he had the power Jareth spoke of, didn't wa

already

and his group wanted to control the future, then they wouldn't stop just because El

couldn't fac

power of prophecy, who could guide him, teach him how to control his gift

y's destruction seemed inevitable, the shadows growing longer and darker with each passing day. But

nd a way to

er what