The Followers Of The Prophecy

Prologue

Almost fourteen years ago, I overheard Lord Seungai, the god of the city I lived in, a member of the Council of the Gods, say that completing the prophecy was my destiny, my only duty, and my reason to live and exist. I was but a child; too young to comprehend what destiny meant, and too young to understand what my reason to live was. I only wanted to read books and learn about the stars, the moons, the suns, and why the sky had so much beauty. I spent more time in Youpo’s bookstore than I did in my own home. Youpo had even become like a grandfather to me. He taught me some tricks to improve my witchcraft and my potion making, and often said I’d become a great wizard and witch someday. Little did he know, that night I’d grab the prophecy named Amelia, a book that stained my hands forever.

At first, I was just looking for yet another book on astrology. I just wanted to know what was beyond the horizon of Sarcanza, the world full of wonder, my home. I could only imagine that if Sarcanza had so many beautiful and incredible things, creatures, places, what could there possibly be beyond it? Could I get to know what was even further away? I lost myself in the infinite book titles. 

    “Ches Ceceir?” Snapping back from my daydream, alarmed at the personal title Youpo rarely gave me, I glanced at him. He looked at me with a face of concern, “You have been looking at that corner of books for half an hour. I have to take you home soon.” 

    “I don’t want to go back home. Let me pick a book,” I came there looking for studies on astrology, but like a bat in a cave, its golden title sprang in my face, “Amelia?” I curiously read.

    My arm stretched for it, yearning for it, but I was too short and needed help, “Youpo!” I called.

    “If your father caught you calling me only by my name, he would be furious,” he said, as he struggled to get off his stool behind the cash register. His slim and old body came close to me, and he reached up, “You know how he is about respect for older beings like me.” Grabbing the book in his arms, he blew it clean. 

    “Father is always furious,” I said with a pout. 

    When he saw the title, Youpo’s eyes widened, round and deep like the green moons, as he stared agape at the book. He hugged the book tight in his arms and slowly backed away from me, fear growing in his eyes. His back knocked against the glass door, and his left hand quickly tickled over the door knob. Was he scared of me? Or Amelia? 

“Je Youpo?”  I said, reaching to grab his hand. 

    “No! It can’t be you. Of all the young beings. Not you. I… Ceceir, I’m sorry, but you can’t have this book.” He busted the door open and ran away. 

    I ran behind him, calling his name, trying to catch up. My legs were too short, so I had to think bigger. Stopping my futile race, I looked in my backpack, and took out my spellbook, a book I wrote myself with the help of Youpo. I wrote down all the magic spells and power moves of a wizard, and all the potion recipes and verbal spells of a witch. Youpo believed I could master both magic types. I made a Stealth Mode to follow him without having to hide. Shadowing behind him, I followed him into a chapel, and overheard him speak to the preacher. After Je Youpo explained the situation, the preacher said:

    “I must summon our lord. This is important. Don’t let her get away!” He stood up, and began summoning Lord Seungai, the god of Silverkeep, my homeland. 

Je Youpo, slumped in a seat and frozen in fear, rubbed his forehead in agony, “Father Tuyalu, I don’t know what that book is, but I felt an aura coming from it. Like it had life. I felt like it was coming for my dear Ceceir. I tried throwing it away, breaking it, burning it. I even threw it in a running river. It always came back. I tried to keep her from it, but it seemed to appear in a different place in my store each time. Ever so close to her. I should have been more vigilant.” 
   
“You can’t stop destiny, Je Youpo.” He sighed so heavily, it sounded as if his lungs would collapse, “She was meant to be found by it. That book was written by the ancient sun and moon whisperers after all,” his deep voice resonated through the chapel. He explained to Youpo that this book was written with magic by the ancient creators of existence, millions of years ago. They predicted the future, and made Amelia as a guide to stop some kind of demise. Amelia knew. 

“You don’t understand, Father. Upon her youngest brother being born just a few months ago, Ceceir’s mother fell extremely ill. And ever since, Ceceir’s father has changed. He’s had severe addiction issues and anger issues and takes it out on his oldest children. Ceceir’s two older siblings moved away, and now she’s that bastard’s easiest target. The book must be wrong in hunting her down. Ceceir is too weak to handle a prophecy.” 

“The book is not wrong,” Father Tuyalu simply said. 

A bright light shone from the center of the chapel; a light so bright, that would rouse the citizens of Silverkeep from sleep. The light spun in a tornadic circle. When the particles  disappeared, a being of light and dark, good and evil, fair and unfair, sun and moon, sighed in relief: Lord Seungai. Father Tuyalu did not try to explain the situation, for the god already knew. Seungai glanced at Je Youpo and Amelia, the book. 

“We don’t know what to do, Lord Seungai,” said the preacher. 

“This is the first time the book finds anyone. It will continue to find more young beings, as it is starting to prepare the young generation for what is to come. She was the first one, which makes her the leader, and it is in her destiny to fulfill Amelia’s prophecy. Only her eyes can see certain information in the book,” Lord Seungai said, “Amelia knows who is capable of bringing peace after the reckoning begins. Bring the child to me, I have to make sure she will be capable of dealing with the future Amelia has predicted.”

My heart stopped, anxious in the lack of knowledge. My potion, Stealth Mode, was still in effect, and Je Youpo and Father Tuyalu failed to see me right there. They yelled my name, and ran outside looking for me. I closed my eyes, hoping Lord Seungai and Amelia would go away, too scared to react. My back collided with the wall behind me, and I slid down, seating myself in a corner of the chapel. I thought that when I opened my eyes, I’d wake up under my favorite tree, reading about the sky.

“I know you’re there, Ceceir,” Lord Seungai looked straight at me, even though I was still in Stealth Mode, “Now stop drinking that potion and show yourself.”

“It will wear off in a minute,” I squeaked, starstruck in a way.

“You heard everything?” his divine voice echoed. It didn't suit his youthful image.

I nodded.  

“Come here. I will show you something,” Lord Seungai pulled me up to his shoulders, seating me on the back of his neck. He took me to the roof of the chapel, and turned around, looking over the main city and surroundings of Silverkeep. 

“You see all that?” he pointed at the twinkling lanterns and glowing villages.

“Yes,” I said, voice quaking. 

“Soon, it will no longer look mighty, strong, brilliant, and as content as it looks now. You will have to return it to its current glory. I will grant you strength, and a special ability to help you on your journey. Ceceir, use these blessings, and the sky power the sun and moon whisperers will grant you. You’ll need it.” 

The sun and moon whisperers, descendants of the ancient sun and moon whisperers, creators of our world, give a blessing to teenagers and young adults as they transition into adulthood in the form of a supernatural power. 

Lord Seungai fell silent, as we admired the dim twinkling lights of the scattered villages and center city. I struggled to understand what any of that meant, or why Lord Seungai blessed me with strength that night. Lord Seungai made it seem like it was encrusted in my destiny. The future held something revolutionary, and I was bound to encounter it.