COF 6: The Last Oracle

18 | Stop (II)

Xanthy buried her nose inside her folded hands as she perched on a stool beside June's bed. Her eyes stared at the mess of bandages wrapped around June's gut. When she closed them, the image of him bleeding half to death on her arms flashed against her lids. So, she kept her gaze straight and unblinking.

She wouldn't let this happen to anyone, ever again.

The healers dressed in simple tunics and breeches bustled around her, their pale gray aprons flashing against the domed beige ceiling of the tent made of cloth. Nyxis, even after collapsing yesterday because of extreme fatigue, was now up and running. His scissors made sharp, cutting noises as he snipped pink leaves before depositing them in a boiling cauldron.

Night had fallen upon them. Cold winds blew from the east and shuffled Xanthy's hair off her face and past her shoulders. She tucked her hands beneath her arms and hunkered forward, resting her chin atop June's bedside. The soft mattress sucked at her chin as she heaved off a sigh and closed her eyes.

So many people have gone. So many more were hurting. She needed to stop this but...how?

I can help with that. The Arbotro's voice flashed in her mind just like how Ravalee's used to. That brought another pang in Xanthy's chest. How many more sacrifices must be made for her?

Xanthy looked around and confirmed that she's the only one hearing the voice inside her head. The healers didn't look up from their activities. Nyxis remained with his leaves and cauldron. Xanthy reached inside herself and thought, Yeah?

Why not understand your enemy before you make your move?

Xanthy bit her lip. Didn't you tell me that the Sovereign and the Heiress possess pure magic and they're both stronger than the Virtakios? I can't go head to head with that even if I tried.

That's not the only thing I want you to understand about them. The Arbotro said. I could show you what you're missing from the start.

Which is?

Their pasts. The Arbotro's voice petered off on a pointed edge. Wouldn't you like to know why they're doing this?

Xanthy chewed the inside of her cheeks. Indeed. Why were they doing this? Why go to such lengths to unite the thrones? Were they just noble souls wanting what's best for the island?

A snort resounded at the back of Xanthy's throat. Well, they're certainly doing a good job with that. Not only did they manage to tear the island apart, they were now dooming the fairies by draining the island of its pure magic.

The Arbotro made a nice point, though. It's time Xanthy knew the Sovereign and the Heiress personally. She crossed her arms and leaned back against her stool. Fine, she said. Show me.

Her vision sharpened as the world around her twisted and turned. It melted and got remade again. The tent vanished along with the people around her. June's bed warped into a scenery of trees and the bright blue sky ahead. The moons were nothing but a faint sketch in the horizon. The darkness around the Penleth camp was gone.

Xanthy's consciousness speared down to what's unfolding beneath her. People dressed in armor walked around with their weapons clanking against each other. Still, not one sound reached Xanthy's ears. It's just like the Realm of the Lost all over again.

This is nothing but a memory, the Arbotro said at the back of Xanthy's head. Watch.

So, Xanthy did.

She saw a young Heiress and a young Sovereign from different sides of the world. The Heiress was human. The Sovereign was a storm sprite. Xanthy raised her eyebrows. Oh, that's why the Sovereign could control lightning and rain during the battle in Penleth.