The Oracle

Chapter 65: Nearing Ends

SORA

I watch as Akari collapses into Valentine's arms and Kaito worries over her, and I frown in concern, my eyes flickering between Akari, Clea, and Shae.

"She's becoming the next Oracle," Gia breathes out, her eyes locked on Akari.

"She's...what?" Shae breathes out, his eyes wide.

"Is that even safe?" Kaito asks worriedly, his gaze flickering between Akari and Gia.

"Typically, no," Valentine says, "but because her blood runs with that of the Oracle, there may be a chance she doesn't reject it."

"What happens if she rejects it?" Kaito asks.

"Because she's one of the Sins and Virtues, she has a higher chance of rejecting it, but because of her blood, there's a chance she may not," Valentine continues. "And if she rejects it...it could kill her."

"You mean..." Shae's eyes flicker between Akari and Clea, his feet slowly carrying him over to Akari.

"Oh, hell no," Kaito snaps and steps in front of Akari, summoning his staff. "Over my dead body."

"You heard him," I say and step into the center of the aisle, summoning my longsword and watching as it bursts into flames. "Back off."

"I didn't...do you think I'd..." Shae trails off.

"You did it to Clea," Gambit snaps angrily. "Or did she not matter to you?"

"That's not— I never...I didn't mean to...I just wanted to stop her," Shae's eyes start to tear up before he turns on his heel and attempts to race out of the temple, but Isabella holds out her hand and a white rune with glowing chains and angel wings forms on the temple doors, effectively locking them.

"You're not going anywhere," Isabella says, disappointment and betrayal written on her face as she continues to hold out her hand from where she sits beside Clea and Evory, Shae slowly turning back around to look at her.

Kit and Sander move to stand beside me, the three of us facing Shae down. Shae's eyes flicker between us before he summons his shield and throws it directly at us, Sander easily knocking it aside as Kit races forwards and leaps into the air while I run on her left to cage Shae in. Shae summons his shield back to him to block my sweep, but just as he does so, Kit lands with the edge of her blade pointed against the edge of his neck, making him freeze in place.

"Shae Sinclair," Kit's expression turns cold, "you're under arrest for the murder of Clea Olympia. Surrender or face further consequences."

"Sander...brother, please," Shae pleads, his eyes meeting Sander's.

"You're no brother of mine," Sander says lowly, his head hanging low and his hair covering his eyes, before he turns sharply on his heel and walks away.

"Hey!" Gambit snaps, drawing my attention over to her as Shae sinks to his knees and Kit keeps him subdued. "What do you think you're doing?!"

I furrow my eyebrows in confusion as I watch Aster approaching Gambit and Carmin with a white dagger with a silver handle, his blue eyes emotionless.

"The world is doomed to burn in ashes," Aster says numbly as he slowly approaches.

"Aster!" Gia shouts and runs up behind him, and he turns around sharply on his heel to attempt to drive his blade forwards into Gia, but Gambit leaps forwards in time to wrap her arms around him from behind and he drops his blade, it clattering to the ground with a thud, leaving Gia staring ahead with wide eyes.

"Gambit!" I shout, watching as Carmin climbs to his feet and jumps onto the top of the pew in front of him, Gambit looking back with wide eyes as she continues to try to keep Aster subdued as he struggles in her hold.

"No!" Merrick shouts and goes to fly after Carmin just as Carmin leaps into the air, Sander going after him as well.

"Halt!" Cordelia shouts, pointing at Carmin.

Time slows as Carmin inches closer and closer to the merged runestone as he slowly moves through the air, but it's too late as Carmin's fingertips grasp the stone and an explosion of energy flies throughout the room, sending all of us flying backwards and breaking Cordelia's time lock, also shattering Carmin's handcuffs.

"I hadn't exactly planned for things to go this way, but I suppose it works," Carmin grins as he climbs back to his feet, holding the stone in his right hand.

"Carmin, don't," Miroslava says as she rises to her feet as well, staring fiercely at him. "You don't know what you're messing with."

"Neither do you," Carmin says lowly before a pair of electric wings form on his back and he flies out through the stained glass window of the temple, taking the stone with him.

"We have to go after him," Merrick winces as he sits on his knees and I rush over to him and attempt to help him to his feet.

"He's going to a field just beyond the temple," Valentine says, "he's going to attempt to use the stone to eradicate Wrath."

"Come on, Akari," Kaito calls out gently, sitting on the ground with Akari cradled in his arms, having taken her from Valentine just before the blast, "you have to wake up. Please, wake up."

"Go," Gia frowns as she moves to run to Clea, "I'll...take care of her while you're gone."

"What about you?" Isabella asks, her eyes flickering over to where Aster lies knocked unconscious from the explosion.

"I can handle him," Gia purses her lips, holding up the dagger from earlier that had fallen to the floor. "He's not the only one who knows how to fight."

"Alright..." Isabella nods uncertainly, her gaze then moving over to Shae and Kit, "but what about..."

Merrick holds out a hand and chain by chain begins to form around Shae, making sure he won't escape, before he does the same to Aster.

"I know you said you could handle yourself, but I really don't want to have to risk what could happen," Merrick says, glancing over to Gia, who nods gratefully in reply. "It's what I should've done to Carmin..."

"Hey," I frown, placing a hand on Merrick's shoulder, "that wasn't your fault."

"Yeah..." Merrick says quietly, glancing off to the side. "I know."

"We should go before he succeeds," Gambit says, and I nod in agreement.

"Kaito, can you take a horse with Akari?" Kit asks.

"Y—yeah," Kaito nods, taken aback. "Of course."

"Let's go, then," Kit says, swinging her katana over her shoulder. "We have a war to end."