The Prophecy

The Council | The Quest

Leaving no one to recover from the unexplained and sudden desertion of the Lince, Lowann resumed his speech by reaching the Tribune of the Word.

_ Narcínn is right: I am not here without reason. I'm here because I have in my possession something that is indispensable to our understanding of the enigma that are the Runes. You have all waited in vain for a sign when the reading of the sacred texts was completed and the Runes were reunited. But nothing happened, did it? You must have wondered why, right?

In the room, his speech was stirring with vague and unpleasant sensations, just like when you hit the target.

_ Well, I know the answer to your questions, he continued. I know why. Nothing happened, because... the Runes are not complete!

There was deafening silence in the room. Everyone looking at each other and wondering who had dared such a sacrilege as not giving the Council the real Runes fragment. But Lowann didn't let them continue in this way. He did not want the members of the council to once again fall into a sterile polemic.

_ And if I may say so, I have proof of that, he said in a quick voice. The Runes are not united and they could not be because you are missing... the ones of Demi people!

And saying this, he brandished under the amazed gaze of the audience, a piece of black stone in every way similar to those revealed by the Kings of the Four. He lifted it high above him for all to admire, and he continued, his breath slightly jerky:

_ I have come here to offer it to you. Not in compensation for what my people may have made you endure, they are paying for it as I speak to you, and dearly enough, in my opinion. No, I offer it to you all in a spirit of exchange. Before the Runes are physically reunited, let me read you this piece that was dear to the heart of my late Mother, may she be at peace.

And with a delicately undulating voice, he began to decipher this fragment, the only one really unknown to the Four communities. As he read, little by little, the text was becoming complete, almost intelligible, and its delicate magic unfolded in the air of the room as the syllables where spoken.

It was then that they would invade the Walks of Innàa

To bring together what Fate had disunited

In order to perform the secret ritual

Which shall designate the Chosen ones, by the Eternals, consecrated.

All the people present in the room were in utter shock. Nobody had heard about the existence of that last fragment, which ended the text, despite the best work of the intelligence people that worked in the secrecy of the shadows!

The shock was absolute and visible on the many faces of the members of the Council. Finally, the text was becoming comprehensible. A quest was about to reveal the Chosen Ones! And it was the Eternals themselves who would preside over their distinction!

Half Moon was properly shocked by what she had just heard, and she followed Lowann's gaze without really seeing him. He was coming down the steps of the Tribune to put his fragment into the hands of the Great Repartitor, as it had already done with the other four tablets.

And, at last, the final fragment of the Runes was returned to its original location.

The raw magic of the Origin unfolded immediately.

A mist spread throughout the vast Council Chamber, enveloping each of its members. A soft music was heard and the lights of distant stars began to shine delicately.

In the strange atmosphere, silhouettes appeared, provoking sudden screams among the audience. They were twelve, ethereal, almost transparent and floating in the air.

The Eternals were there.

And they looked at their children, moving in their midst. After a moment, they rose to stand above them in a circle whose center was a thirteenth silhouette that had just appeared. It was this figure who spoke for all. For it was Fliàe, the Alpha and Omega. Their voice sang but their words were of steel:

O Wonderful Children of Us Fliëgen,

Filled with immense sorrow and terrible hatred,

In this Sacred Place gathered by our will,

As Time for you it is, to the Hindrance, to bend.

Listen now to our powerful voice

And embrace our so painful choice

Communities here before our eyes,

Who will win the Heavenly Skies?

Because, surely Innàa at its end is led

If your disagreements, you continue to pursue,

For only a Union and an unfailing Confidence,

Will make you victors of the most fatal of battles.

Heroes, it is your duty to designate

To accomplish the task by We imagined,

From each community they will have to come from

But of eight pure souls would not be denied.

Throughout the vast world together they will wander

Searching tirelessly for the Keys of Orion

And before he annihilates himself,

From the Keys, they will make the charm operate.

Abandoned they will not be

In this difficult path:

Nine scattered clues on Innàa

Will lead them to the different Keys

Let me again, as a saddened Parent,

One last piece of advice, provide:

Don't close yourself to the rustles of Innàa

And the murmur of Ounà

For slowly will they guide you

On the right track...

In an ascending movement the twelve left as they had come, without adding a single word to Fliàe's speech. Fliàe remained in the center of the room for a moment, carefully observing those he had called his "children," and then he rushed to the ceiling and disappeared through it.