Children of Prophecy

Basil: Chapter 12

The place was filled with crystals both big and small reflecting light through the cove. We walked around the cove trying to find the place where the next riddle might be. A breeze passed us which everyone thought was mysterious considering we were in a cove.

Basil. I heard my name being called. "Did you hear that?" I asked "Hear what?" Spot asked as he the rest of the group turned to me. "Someone called my name" "Your name? I heard someone call my name" Raphael said. Basil. "There it was again!" I said out loud. "Basil, maybe it's only in your head because I certainly hear my name being called instead of yours" Tabitha said. Basil. It was getting a bit more scarier with the voice, yet it feels like I should follow it. I snapped out of my daze and looked around me only to notice that Astra and the others went their own way splitting up. They seemed dazed about something. Basil. That voice, why can't it stop? I followed the voice completely aware of what I was doing unlike the others who just walked entranced following something. The other can manage on their own, I mean the twins went the same way and Astra, Lynx and Tabitha are strong. I just hope for the best of luck. Following the voice I was led in front of a huge mirror like crystal. Basil. The voice said again coming from the crystal. I laid my hands on the crystal and leaning in to try and listen if it was the one calling me. Leaning closer I fell right into the crystal to a place, a place that I knew by heart.

It was Alastar and I was standing on a balcony with people on the plaza shouting "All hail king Basil!" I looked at the clothes I wore which were formal with a red royal cape. Looking slightly up I felt something on my head, the royal crown. I did become the prince of Alastar! Is this a dream? I waved at my people smiling at them and then turned around to leave the balcony. Everyone in the castle was congratulating me. Night fell and the coronation party came which ended with joy. I slept a nice night thinking about the differences I could make for a better future for Alastar. Waking up the next day I got ready and went to do my duties such as counselling and be the judge in the royal court. Villagers of Alastar came to the castle asking for advice about their problems. As soon as I was done with the counselling, I headed towards the courtroom.

I wonder where the others are. Maybe I'll ask about them later. I opened the door to the court room and saw everyone inside stand up and bow before they sat down again. A man with shackles on his hands was dragged inside the court room by guards. He was put inside the offenders box. "What crime may I ask have you committed?" I asked the man. The man looked down on his shackled hands and said something I never quite expected from him "I am a Eurylanian and that was the crime I was charged with. I have done nothing wrong! Please let me go back to my family!" I stood in shock of every single word he was saying "My wife and my children, they need me!". He finally stopped shouting and tears fell down his face. "Seeing as you are innocent, you are free to go back to your family" I decided earning protests from the nobles in the court room. "My king! Why would you let him...a Eurylanian go?!" a person from the court room shouted. "As I said, he is not guilty of any crimes therefore punishing him would be injustice" I said and silenced everyone in the court. The guards released the shackled man as the man himself thanked me for my judgement. "Case solved" I said before walking out. I walked towards the dining room thinking about the man from the court. Why would I have to punish a man with no crimes, but only because he was Eurylanian? There was no such law before.

Arriving at the dining hall I ate my dinner and as my assistant passed by, I stopped him and asked "Lyall, what new laws have been made?" "My king, you should remember them. After all, you made the rules". Lyall walked away as I sat in shock on my place. I made those rules? What, how? I stood up from my seat and began walking around the castle asking about what had happened a bit before my coronation. "The guardian of Blancnoir you ask? She died attempting to evacuate Eurylanians from the outskirts of Euryele and to safety inside the Eurylanian castle" a maid I asked said. That was even more shocking than the rules 'I' created. No! This can't be how I would rule my kingdom one day. I refuse to believe it! "Accept it. It's your future, there is no turning back” the same voice which called me said. I looked around and there was no one there. This must be an illusion or something; I did fall through that mirror. I knew there was something wrong with this place. Echoes of words telling me I can't change my future ringed in the room. I drew my sword from my sheath and it glowed red. Turning to see a big mirror which never stood in the castle before, I looked at my reflection before shattering the mirror with my sword.

Light faded and darkness had spread out. There were mirrors around me and each of them reflected the others "Astra! Tabitha! Spot! Raphael! Lynx!" I shouted trying to call them. "You can't wake them up" a voice said. I turned around and there stood a crystal like creature looking happy. Pointing my sword at her I asked her to free the others "They are currently in their own desires, memories or future" the creature said. The mirrors disappeared and the creature vanished, but her voice echoed saying the same words about my future. "I refuse to have a future where there are grudges held against the other kingdom!" I said trying to convince her only earning a laugh as a respond. I clutched my sword tighter as it began to glow again "I choose my future! I will go the path I want to go! It is never too late to change it" I told the creature before the glow from my sword became stronger and lit the room. Astra and the others reappeared looking confused and the creature stood there at first shocked, but smiled in the end and said "Very well". A crystal behind the creature began to glow as letters came and formed the next riddle:

A soul as lonely and lost as others,

Yet different from them,

Wandering around his place as he blends in with them,

He who holds the secret shall be free from wandering,

Gentle eyes with life unlike the others,

He will be the guide to the secret.

We thanked the creature as she made the crystals glow to guide us out again. A new riddle and I sure hope this will be the last one. A soul....I wonder....