The oracle Sibyl was a woman with ashen hair, a thin face and a pale complexion, her eyes looked so tired but she still managed to keep a smile on her face despite the immense pain she felt from the loss of her child. If he had to give her a human age, she would be between thirty-five and forty-five if he imagined her without her sadness that aged her face.
The Hero lowered his fists, ashamed of having threatened this little lady.
- Don't be ashamed, reassured the oracle Sibyl, it is normal, given your condition, that you are suspicious in spite of your immortality.
- I'm sorry for your loss, ma'am. It's my fault that your daughter died, if she hadn't crossed my path...
- No, no, no," the fortune teller stopped her, "it has nothing to do with you, she made the choice on her own to help you fight this sect.
He still wanted to refuse his compassion because that would be to accept that his daughter died to serve the designs of the Fate of the hero of the legend and that he could never accept, but Sibyl put her hand on his shoulder to stop him in his turpitude.
- I already know that. You don't need to get upset, that's the way it is and nothing else.
- Know about what?
- Of Fate, she smiled sadly.
Hearing this, the Hero fell to the ground, holding his head in his hands. To bring to light this curse that the hero of the legend was inflicting on him was unbearable for the Hero. Lin had never seen him so distraught, he who could be so cold and devoid of any feeling, why did he seem so desperate in front of the words of the oracle? Malalalivia did not express any feelings about this situation, she only observed the Hero's reaction.
- But she died because of me... how could I forgive myself in your presence?
- You are mistaken. She didn't die because of you, but for you," corrected the mother of the deceased.
- What do you mean?" said the Hero, "why for me?
The oracle rummaged in one of the pockets of her dress, took out a small bulging notebook and handed it to the Hero who took it filled with incomprehension.
- Go to the pages where the folds are, the fortune teller pointed out.
He then flipped through the pages until he reached the place she had indicated and read the inscriptions that were marked:
"Venalon 12 Ianfier
Dear newspaper,
This morning I wanted to go see Tarkus who was still in the hospital to be cured of the potion I had made him drink so he would be able to defeat Selma-Keltna. I knew he wouldn't be able to because of his love for her, but I didn't think he would beat her up that badly. Even if I did act tough, it was a pretty unbearable sight. But if I didn't, I knew I was going to lose to that slut and a half. I'll never be able to figure out how Tarkus could be infatuated with this girl, but hey...I'm not really the right person to judge them.
To be in love with the man who made me lose the race to the throne of Sylvania by playing on Tarkus' arrogance, isn't that even more pitiful?
Nevertheless, thanks to that damn human called the Faceless Demon who prevented Tarkus from being executed in public for disobeying the rules of the tournament, my old Cyclops friend is still alive. I must say that I felt as much relief that Beneltig was not dead as Tarkus was executed...
As I said earlier, I was going to visit Tarkus in the hospital, but I did not find him in his room. One of the therianthrope nurses who hang out in the underground hospital informed me that he had gone to "visit" Beneltig. I ran like hell to stop Tarkus from doing something irreparable to my sweet Beneltig. But when I got there, I met this famous human preventing Tarkus from breaking the crystal containing the champion of the Fairy-Without-Wings with his fists, I never thought I would be so grateful to a man standing in my way. Well, he lectured me a bit, but despite his scary appearance, you could tell he had a good heart and only wanted my good. So I conceded to warn him that the Fairy-Without-Wing, who had belched out his budding friendship with him, was in great danger and that he should beware.
I couldn't tell him any more. Who knows who might listen? Knowing that these men were more dangerous than anything the kingdom had seen since the Great Felons and the coming of the five-headed dragon.
Although I don't hold her in my heart, I hope he can protect her because if she were to rely on that coward Beneltig...
A smooth talker, this rascal! But, I have to move on and move on!
I should also take this opportunity to apologize to Tarkus' opponents for hurting them indirectly because of my machinations, especially to Selma-Ketna! She must be really angry at Tarkus without knowing that it is because of me that he behaved like that with her.
Hoping that she will forgive me...
Anyway, if she doesn't forgive me I don't care! All the means are good to win!
I should stop thinking like that, it doesn't work for me anymore.
Revisit my precepts so that they are more in line with the new me I want to become!
At the end of the day, I wonder what this Faceless Demon might look like without the curse he carries around on his body."
The rest was just the rest of his day, he moved on to another day where there was a fold and ended up on the date of the celebration of the champions and their protégés.
"Moons 23 Kapril:
Dear newspaper,
In a week, I will be put to death if I go to the reception that the queen has invited us to. I wasn't really going to go anyway, I'm not a participant in the tournament anymore and Tarkus doesn't even leave his house anymore. What's the point of going if you're going to die in the end? However, for once I saw an alternate reality where I was talking to the new champion of the Fairy-Without-Wings. My mother always told me that in very rare cases, you can see different timelines that can be taken to another future. Usually, oracles can see the future and can avoid it resulting in another future, so nothing is inevitable... BUT THEN! To see two possibilities of future, it is a first for me! I am so very proud of myself!
Well, after thinking about it, I think I'll go.
I really want to see the Faceless Demon again, who really doesn't look like a demon. I have met him many times, but we only met in passing. But for some time, he seemed to want to talk to me and I also had some words to say to him! Already thanking him for his compliment, for having prevented Tarkus from doing something too stupid in spite of his wide shoulders, but especially for his wise advice... I stopped to see that coward Beneltig, he is really not worth it and he still continues to work for those malicious people. I prefer to stay away from him.
I hear the pariah makes human cakes for the human, maybe I could get him to try some fairy pastries or elven bread (I'm going to avoid anything dwarf related because you really need a strong stomach to support their cooking! ), I really think he will appreciate it. At least, I hope so from the bottom of my heart!
When I think back to my premonition and the serious look on that human's face, I think to myself that this must have been really important. Maybe I'll go to this reception after all. The queen always does things with great pomp so there should be some gargantuan good food, and there I will see why the Faceless Demon had such an expression in my vision.
Maybe this will be a chance to thank him properly, and maybe we can become... friends! He will be my first friend since Tarkus, isn't that great?
The truth is, I don't know how people make friends.
Diary, you and I know that I never managed to make friends, at the same time, with that third eye that sometimes appears when I have a premonition... I learned the hard way that people were not really good, even when I was younger, which made me who I am now...
But I feel like with him it will be different! I think I'm going to be incredibly nice to him and give him a nickname, or just call him the Faceless Human. It'll be better than having that misleading and derogatory name! And to show my good faith, I'll give him information about the men who have a grudge against his fairy and who worship that traitor Marrynelia. I don't care about the welfare of the kingdom, but if preventing the other wingless trash from losing his life allows me to become his friend...
And if, I learn more about the legend of the hero and the fairy, it will bring us closer! Even if apparently, he doesn't like to talk about it too much... And let's imagine, if I really am, we could become companions! Ah but no, only the one who will win the tournament will be according to mother's prediction... It's distressing... But hey, no big deal, I'll settle for that for now."
The Hero closed the newspaper, filled with an immeasurable rage, the sclera of his left eye turned red and his iris turned yellow.
- Why did she die? Why is she dead? He's fucking with me! If his destiny was to meet me, why didn't it come true? I thought the hero's destiny was absolute!
At these words, the iris of his right eye lit up with an extremely pure golden color. It was as if the nature of his powers was confronting him to take control of his body.
- But didn't she meet you?" asked Malalalivia.
- Yes, but...
The Hero remembered that he had indeed met Thoosa, since she had treated him when he had been kicked in a corridor of the castle.
- So that's the serious look she saw? he exploded, damn it! What was the point of that stupid premonition? And if I caused it...
- Nothing says that it is obligatorily you, said Sibyl to him, if my daughter had spoken to me about it, I would have been able to refute his assumption.
- We can't see two futures then, can we?
- Yes, but there is a way to know, it just wasn't like that for Thoosa... She had just had two visions for the same day. It had never happened to her...
- It doesn't change the fact that it could still be my fault!
- Even if it is the case..., shouted the oracle while taking him the shoulders.
Her face was wet with tears, she could no longer hide her unhappiness from those children. It was said that this woman was imperturbable, no matter how violent someone could be, she remained impassive, showing only a simple smile of politeness to all the people she met. She had just reached her ultimate limit, the most important person she had was taken away from her, it was too hard for her to hold on.
- Even if it is," she continued, "it must be for a good reason, for the four of you to be together.
- We "four"? asked Malalalivia, we are only three.
- Come out of your hiding place, Tarkus," ordered the oracle.
It was then that a large and massive shadowy figure emerged from the thicket, it was indeed the cyclops that the Hero had stopped during his confrontation with Beneltig. He no longer had the same ardor as in the arena, nor even the same rage as when he wanted to kill Beneltig. He shared the same sadness as the mother of his dead friend. The eyelid was lowered, the eye swollen and red from fatigue and the tears that must have flowed. Although the days had passed, they had not moved on.
- He will help you in your quest to fight this cult, the fairy fortune teller explained, you just have to push him a little to get him to work these days.
The Hero became furious, gritting his teeth until his gums bled. The rage in his eyes showed that his mind was about to be engulfed by an unstoppable killing spree.
- What do you want from us? Or rather, what do you want from me? Revenge? Well, I'll give you that, I'll decimate all those sons of bitches who took your daughter's life! I owe you that much after I caused her death...
Without hearing anything more, Lady Sibyl slapped him, instantly calming the young hero's ardor, he touched his cheek, stunned by what had just happened.
- Stop being so arrogant, young man. You may be the hero of the legend, but you are still a mortal like the rest of us, subject to the laws of the gods who govern us all. If my daughter is dead, as much as it pains me to say it, it is her own fault, she cried, you have no right to attribute her death to yourself and make it the reason for a massacre. I just want you to rid us of this insidious evil that has been lying dormant in this land for far too long and save your comrades.
- Are we also threatened?" asked Malalalivia.
- Yes, all of you, princesses of Sylvania, have the embrace of Salace est around your necks. The question is not who will survive, but when will your turn come, because the only thing that these enlightened people recognize is the legitimacy of the Great Feline on the throne.
- Even after everything she's done?" asked Lin.
- For them, what she wanted to do was right and to her credit. That's why they want to wipe out all the other descendants of the Fighting Kings. I don't know if you, Malalalivia Talemilia Grave, are one of the other princesses, but it's better to attack them than to hope that they will spare you.
- I don't need to wait to find out to stop these madmen from attacking the citizens of the Nether as if they were nothing. You seem to be well informed, maybe you can tell us why they want to wipe out the "illegitimate" offspring of the War Kings, why they never went after the other princesses until a few weeks ago and why they only kill the poor people of the Nether.
- I have no idea, admitted Lady Sibyl, that's the little information I could gather from my daughter's diary, she apologized, I just know that she wasn't supposed to be killed by them anytime soon, they must have learned that she was going to interfere with their shenanigans and shut her up because even though they are enemies of the queen, it's not good to be open about it.
- Thank you Lady Sibyl for your help, your advice and the support you give us with Tarkus, Malalalivia gratified her, we will take care of the rest, I promise you to stop these degenerates so that the death of Princess Thoosa is not in vain.
- Thank you Princess Talemilia for your concern, I hope you and your coterie will succeed in stopping them.
- Don't worry, Lin interjected, especially since we have the hero of the legend with us," he said, wrapping his arm around the hero's neck.
This one had not flinched since the oracle had slapped him. His eyes had become normal again, regaining their usual crimson red, but his look was vague, his face serious. It was more or less difficult to know if he had calmed down and repressed his anger inside or if he was simply preventing himself from exploding.
Having obtained more than they had wanted, the little group left to accomplish their primary objective, not forgetting to say goodbye to the oracle.
As he was about to follow them the Hero was stopped by the oracle Sibyl, she held him back by grabbing his arm and brought him closer to her.
- I beg your pardon for getting carried away. I understand your hatred for the Fate of the Hero of the Legend, it's just that...
- It's no big deal. You don't have to worry about it, I understood.
He withdrew from her embrace, but she caught him again.
- However, I have something to ask you.
- What?
- The curse that you carry on you, it is the witch of the Empty Mountain who put it on you.
Delicately, gently, the Hero turned back to Lady Sibyl and gave her a look far more threatening than anything he had done before. One of his secrets had just been discovered, he had told neither the Queen nor the Fairy who had cast this spell on him. They only knew the why but not the how. And if the how was known, but especially "at what price", inevitably they would prevent him from carrying out his revenge towards the hero of the legend and the Nemesis. He brought his mouth closer to her face and asked her:
- How did you learn this? Did your crystal ball tell you or maybe you are affiliated with Nemesis, huh?
- For someone who has mastered magic, it's easy to recognize the source of it, especially when you have knowledge of its caster and are a scholar like me. If you must know, I know her from our multi-year magic meetings. She's a pest in our magical gatherings, but it's hard to know if she's a good or bad person. The only thing we really know about her is that she might be one of the most powerful people in this country, maybe even above the fairy of legend.
- You are well informed, you tell me. Whether it's about the legend of the hero and the fairy or about this inhabitant of the Torn Mountain. But I imagine that you don't just want to know about one of your sister's new wonders.
- What did you ask her and what did she take from you?
- Infinite strength in exchange for something I was not particularly attached to...
- It's not true! This woman takes what is most precious to people and takes it away from them by making them believe that it had no value to them.
- Ah well, because you think I cared about my appearance as a bloody human?" the hero said, his skin covered with wounds that could not heal no matter how many hours or days passed? I was already a monster before, do you think anything has changed since the day I made a pact with that witch? She gave me the strength to take revenge on the Nemesis and to put an end, once and for all, to the hero of the legend that took my mother, and that's the only thing that matters to me!
His words, filled with rage, suffering but also sadness, pained the oracle. She had already heard from the queen how much this boy was suffering, but she would never have believed that a living being could harbor such hatred, to the point of hating himself. She let go of him and they both remained silent until Malalalivia called the Hero.
- I'm sorry I got carried away. I have nothing against you, and besides, you must still be grieving today...
- It's not that bad. However, before you leave, I want you to be aware of one thing: this curse that you think is the way to defeat the herald of the Evil One and what you consider to be the source of all your ills will not only be a source of misfortune for you but also for your loved ones. Getting strength from an evil power like the curse she cast on you never brings anything good, especially since it's not the only one you have...
The Hero wanted to contradict her again, but kept silent. He understood that her antagonism towards him was not to play the sanctimonious, but because she knew the consequences of this sorcery unlike him who was unable to practice it, nor to really feel it.
- We'll say that it didn't fall on deaf ears, replied the Hero, come on, duty calls. If you need comfort, I will come to see you or else go to see my mother, Queen Audiselia. She knows how to show kindness when she is... well... when... you understand me, when she wants to.
- I'll try to remember that.
With these words the Hero ran to catch up with the group that had formed. They asked him - except Tarkus who remained silent - what they had been talking about. He didn't say a word about their conversation, telling them that it was between him and the oracle. Lin told him that it was the first time he had heard him use the formal form of address in Oli'Ane and congratulated him.
Sibyl watched them walk away wondering if these young people would be able to stop this heinous sect. Hoping that the bruised hearts of three of them would not cause any harm to their little band. They couldn't have been a more disparate group.
Too bad the hero's Fate interfered with her powers, otherwise she could see if they would succeed in their mission...
And as expected, they kidnapped Beneltig.