The Oracle

Chapter 54: The Only One

AKARI

Letting Azuma lead the way, Miroslava, Sander, and I eventually get led to Valentine.

"You know, just keep in mind that even if you reach the butterfly garden, you may not even get to speak to Valentine," Azuma hums as she flies over our heads.

"What do you mean?" I narrow my eyes up at the flying princess.

"Didn't Miroslava tell you?" Azuma swirls around so that she's facing us, one of her eyebrows raised and an amused look on her face as Miroslava scowls.

"Tell us what?" Sander frowns, glancing warily between Azuma and Miroslava.

"I told you my brother was hard to reach," Miroslava starts.

"But did you mention that he's eternally asleep?" Azuma interjects.

"An eternal sleep?" I furrow my eyebrows. "I thought you said he talked to Merrick? I know you said he was locked away but he's in an eternal slumber?"

"He did," Miroslava sighs. "My brother put himself into a sleep, his body resting within a sanctuary in the garden. If you are deemed worthy, he awakens from his sleep-like state. Merrick was able to coax him out of his state for a short while, but not for long."

"And what exactly does Valentine deem worthy?" I ask.

"I..." Miroslava trails off, a look of uncertainty passing over her face for the first time in a long time. "I don't know."

"Well, all we can do is try, right?" I sigh, catching a surprised look from Miroslava and a knowing smile from Sander. "Let's keep going."

Above me, Azuma's expression morphs into one of recognition before it quickly fades away and she continues to lead the way to Valentine.

We come across a set of thin golden gates that have intricate spirals and patterns that make up the top portion of the metal. Azuma waves a hand and the gates open for us just before we pass through. All around, the sky above is tinged a soft pink color with orange and gold hues, and there's a grey stone pathway surrounded by grass and hedges, butterflies swarming all throughout the air, that leads to a white stone altar with three steps leading up to the altar and white columns with vines wrapping around them supporting the altar roof. In the altar itself, a giant Roman clock rests above a shallow pool of water, the center of the Roman clock being made out of red crystal.

"Valentine lies within the altar. If you wish to speak with him, approach the altar. You will then be judged by your aura," Azuma says with a wave of a hand towards the altar. "If deemed unworthy, however, you will share the same fate as your companions."

"I see..." I nod, glancing between Miroslava and Sander. "I'll do it."

"What?" Sander's eyes widen. "Akari—"

"Please, let me do this," I say. "I can't explain why, but...it just feels like it's something I have to do."

"You're the only one who is capable of holding us all together," Sander says, frowning in concern. "We can't lose you, Akari."

"You won't," I say, my eyes meeting his and my expression firm. "I promise."

Sander nods warily, and I glance briefly to Miroslava for confirmation before I turn and slowly approach the altar. As I approach the altar, a warm feeling spreads throughout me and the rest of the world fades away in a flash, burning away like embers. I jump with a start, surprised when I look back to see that everything once behind us is gone, the scenery changed to a broken down stone courtyard, the sky now deep blue as dusk surrounds me. I glance back in the direction of the altar to see that the altar itself is the same and I slowly approach the altar. My eyes flicker to the blue butterfly that slowly flutters through the air and crosses my path from the left. As I get closer, more butterflies appear and seem to swarm to me, almost as if I'm a glowing light in their darkness.

Suddenly, when I reach the first stair to the altar, the crystal in the center of the clock glows and emits a red light, making me pause.

"Akari Hana," a voice I presume to be Valentine's rings through the air like wind rustling through trees. "I know why you've come here."

"If you know why I've come here, then why don't you tell me what I want?" I ask.

"In a simpler term, peace," Valentine says, wind whipping around me and swaying the trees in the distance, chilling my bones.

"You also want peace, do you not?" I ask. "How can that peace possibly be obtained through cowardice? Locking yourself away because you've given up on humanity won't help you. Maybe it's easier to sit back and wait and watch someone else do all the work for you. Maybe you're able to somehow live with knowing many more innocent people are dying that wouldn't have died had you have helped sooner. Maybe you're jaded by past experiences, and maybe you've given up because you can see the future, because you know what's to come, and maybe that's hell. But you know what? That future isn't certain. People are dynamic, life is dynamic. Nothing is for certain. If you don't like the way the future looks, make it so that you do! Don't just let it happen! Have you ever thought that maybe all the potential futures you've thought up aren't the only possibilities? I refuse to sit by like you. I may not have powers like my companions, but I have heart. I have determination. I have loyalty, honesty, love, and ambition, and I would rather die for what I love than watch it burn to ashes without even trying to save it."

Silence fills the air for a few moments before a blinding red flash of light goes off and when I move my arm from shielding my eyes and I can finally see again, I'm left gawking at a six foot tall shirtless blond with red eyes, red and gold elegant rune tattoos littering his biceps, his eyes boring into mine. Slowly, he raises his left hand, elegant gold jewelry flashing into my line of sight before his hand disappears to cup the side of my face. My breath hitches and my eyes widen like a doe as I stay frozen, unsure of what's happening.

"It really is you," Valentine breathes out.

"Wh—"

My voice dies off and gets replaced by a gasp of surprise as Valentine leans down and kisses me, my eyes somehow going impossibly wider and the world around us shifting back to what it used to be. By the time everything is back to normal, though, Valentine has pulled away, his hand still cupping the side of my face.

"Valentine..." Miroslava breathes out.

"Well, would you look at that," Azuma hums. "It really is her."

"What...just happened?" Sander asks in confusion.

Still stunned, I somehow manage to answer.

"I'm not sure," I breathe out, still looking into Valentine's unreadable eyes.