Paper Crown

Special Chapter:

"Every persona has a tale to tell.."
-Oracle

Special Chapter: The Oracle's Tale

=3rd POV=

Nang tuluyan nang mawala ang portal sa harap nilang dalawa ay agad na nilamon ng katahimikan ang buong paligid. Kapansin-pansin ang lungkot sa mga mata ni Charlotte habang nakatingin sa pwesto ng kaibigang si Avery kanina lang. The Oracle settled herself in her favorite rocking chair while observing the lady. She fondly smile looking at her figure remembering herself when she was at the same age of Charlotte.

"Don't worry about Avery, Charlotte. She will succeed." nakangiting napaupo na lamang si Charlotte sa tabi ng Oracle. Hindi pa man niya alam kung paano siya sasanayin nito ay gusto niya na munang magpahinga at mag-isip. She knew she choose the right thing to do but she can't help but worry about herself. Nakita niya kung papaanong parang gumagapang na sa sakit ng katawan si Avery pagkatapos ng pagsasanay nito kasama si Lord Haye. Napaisip tuloy siya kung ganoon din ba ang mangyayari sa kanya. Lalo na't isang kamay na lamang ang meron siya ngayon. Sa ilang segundong napatingin siya sa sariling braso ay agad na nanumbalik sa kanya ang mga alaalang gusto na lamang niya kalimutan.

"Charlotte."

"What is it, Oracle?" Charlotte notice how the Oracle tightly held the teacup she's holding before she finally put it back on top of the small table beside her.

"Call me Naia, Charlotte. That's my real name." the Oracle or Naia felt at ease after finally telling someone her real name. She's been alone for years and she's been keeping that name deep in her heart. It was engraved in her soul. She always knew that she had to forget her life to fully accept the responsibility she has now. Alam niyang ang kapalit ng pagiging disipulo niya ng Diyos ng Araw at pagiging Orakulo ay ang pagkalimot nito sa buhay na kinagisnan niya. "Let me tell you a story, Charlotte. One that can inspire you or hurt you." the moment Charlotte had heard the Oracle's real name, she already caught her attention but when she heard the Oracle's last words, she got curious and curious as the time passes by.

She remained silent waiting for Naia to start the story she wanted to tell. She saw how Naia close her eyes, took a deep breath three times before she finally open it with a small smile in her lips.

"Once upon a time, there was a lady. One with a dream to be the strongest sorceress in the whole world." along with the words she said are the memories that started to play inside of her mind. She started to see her young self. Full of dreams and hope. Free-spirited and courageous. But among those good qualities she had.. she always knew how naivé she was during those times. "She traveled from land to land. She didn't mind how tired she was or how her feel got heavy. All she knew was her dedication to learn. And that's when a God took a liking of her." kinakabahang napalunok ng laway si Charlotte dahil sa sinabi ni Naia. Ang akala niyang normal na kuwento ay buhay pala ng Oracle. Hindi niya inakala o inisip man lang na malalaman niya ang kuwento nito. Ang kuwento ng taong kinakatakutan sa buong Imperyo. "Suno, the God of Sun made the lady his apprentice. He taught her a lot of things... to prepare her for the power that the God will bestow upon her. The Power of Truth. The power that will lead her to the future and the past. The power that lies beyond what people see or think." the Oracle tightly closed her eyes remembering how she treat the power bestowed to her as a curse. There are times she had difficulty sleeping because of what she keeps on seeing in her dreams. How afraid she was that she will fail on stopping all the chaos and deaths she saw. How afraid she was to make a mistake that will cost a life of someone. "..... but she met someone." with a sudden pause from the Oracle, Charlotte already knew that something wrong had happened with the person she's talking about. "And she know that, that was the best thing that happened to her. Like the magic she possess, she felt the lightness after all those years of suffering. She fell in love." napansin ni Charlotte ang pagsibol ng isang malungkot na ngiti sa labi ni Naia. Nakita niya kung paanong napuno ng hilam na mga luha ang parehong mga mata nito. Bumalik sa alaala ni Naia ang mga pinagsamahan nila ng taong pinakamamahal niya. Bumalik sa kanya kung paano ito ngumiti sa kanya at kung paano ito mag-alala sa tuwing binabangungot siya. Bumalik sa kanya kung paano ito makikinig sa bawat kuwento niya at yayakapin siya sa tuwing umiiyak siya. He was the best partner she could have. He was her best friend. Her partner. Her home.

"She felt the genuine happiness she was wishing for. Too much happiness that she started to forget her responsibility. One day, she saw the most terrifying thing in her whole life... the destruction of the world. The God of Sun didn't want her to involve herself in the problem. He didn't want her to save the beings that continue to live in this world." mahinang napasinghap ang dalaga dahil sa narinig mula kay Naia. She couldn't believe what she just heard. Destruction of the world? "But she didn't listen. She followed what she wanted to do and did everything shebcan to stop the destruction. She defy the law of nature. And when Suno knew of this, he cursed them. Both the lady and his lover. Her imprisoned the lady in a forest, she couldn't lay a finger outside because she was tied to the forest. He cursed her. He cursed his first disciple." napakuyom na lamang ng kamao si Naia dahil sa galit na nararamdaman niya. Nagsimula siyang makaramdam ng pagkamuhi sa Diyos na una niyang pinagsilbihan. Alam niyang may kasalanan din siya sa nangyari sa sarili pero kailangan ba talaga siyang parusahan at ikulong dahil sa kagustuhan niyang makatulong?

"The man she love... what happened to him?" Charlotte asked in a small voice. Malinaw kasi niyang narinig na isinumpa din ito.

Dahan-dahang napatayo si Naia mula sa kinauupuang rocking chair saka naglakad papunta sa bintanang babasagin na nasa likuran niya. She continue to stare at the trees around them. Mistulang hindi na niya matanaw pa ang dulo ng kagubatan. Napatingin ito sa repleksyon hanggang sa unti-unti itong napalitan ng mukha ng lalaking minahal niya. "He was cursed to forget me." she said while holding her own reflection. "... but the heart never forgets, Charlotte. Well there are times that he forgets my existence but later on, he will try to remember me." and that's when a sincere smile appeared on Naia's lips. Despite of everything they went through, love really made a way for them to reconnect with each other.

"Pero nasan siya? If you're stuck here then where is he?" napahalakhak na lang ang babae sa naging tanong ni Charlotte. She can see the curiosity in her eyes that she failed to hide.

"After knowing that the curse didn't totally work on him, Suno also imprisoned him inside a forest. That's when I realize that love is not made for all beings. I started to accept what happened and I started to focus on my responsibility. Lalo na't may bago na naman akong misyon."

"Misyon?"

"Yes. And that is to guide someone who will going to replace my position." she smiled at Charlotte with a hint of mischief and wickedness hiding behind her eyes. After hundreds of years being here, she will finally be freed from the curse she didn't deserve at all.

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archangel_dina