The Seer of Autika
Once upon a time, in the metropolis city of Autika, where towering glass structures kissed the skyline, there was an old neighbourhood known as The Quarters. It was home to generations of families and inhabitants who knew each other by name and nature. One such resident was a seven-year-old little girl named Lily.
Lily was curiously unique. She could predict the weather. Her forecasting was more precise than the most advanced prime-time meteorologists. Well, none of them had a perfect record, unlike Lily. How she did it, nobody knew, not even Lily. It was a gnawing enigma in the minds of the residents of The Quarters.
One chilly morning, Lily stomped her little foot playfully on the pavement, and with a twinkle in her eyes declared, 'It's going to snow tomorrow.' The scepticism in the air was palpable, as Autika hadn't experienced a snowfall in over 50 years. Lily was firm, and her childlike conviction moved the neighbourhood to prepare for the unlikely.
As Lily predicted, the next morning, Autika woke up to a sublime spectacle of shimmering silver. Snowflakes danced and descended gracefully, casting a resplendent shroud of white over the city. The Quarters cheered in delight, Lily was celebrated, and her mysterious talent travelled across Autika and beyond.
Some dubbed Lily a prophet, while scientists and researchers wanted to decipher her ability. Meanwhile, she continued to live her innocent life, unfazed by the spotlight and whispers. She didn't know how she did it but she understood her forecasting was a tool to be used for the safety and welfare of people around her.
One summer morning, Lily's face blanched as she felt an overpowering dread. She whispered her prediction, ‘There’s going to be a severe earthquake in three days.' If her forecast was to come true, Autika was in grave danger. The flourishing city with its towering glass structures wasn't designed to withstand such a disaster.
Lily's prediction stirred Autika. The authorities initiated a mass evacuation, while seismologists from world over flocked to the city in a desperate scramble to predict the quake's epicentre and intensity, but their instruments stubbornly displayed incongruence with Lily’s forecast.
As the third day dawned, fear cloaked the city. But Lily was wavering; for the first time, doubt crept into her mind. Had she misinterpreted her feelings? But she brushed it aside, assuring herself that it was the safety of thousands at stake.
As the city clock struck 12, a terrifying grumble vibrated through Autika. The ground trembled, buildings swayed, and glass structures shattered, turning into a million reflecting shards. The quake was monstrous, and in its aftermath, Autika lay bruised but not beaten.
However, thanks to Lily’s forecast, the city was a ghost town, deserted of its inhabitants. She had saved countless lives. When the evacuated residents returned, their gratitude for Lily only grew. With a simple capability, Lily was hailed as a hero, and the story of the 'Girl who could predict' was etched in the history of Autika forever.