The Rise of the Divine Oracle

Chapter 4 - La Zaxia

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Wuxian comes back to consciousness slowly. He hears someone crying softly and feels the ground underneath him covered in leaves. He opens his eyes and sees everything covered in green and gold. With determination, he sits up to try and figure out how he got here. 'Where is Lan Zhan?' He thought.

He hears someone crying again and looks around to find its source. A few steps away, a beautiful woman wearing a gold and green dress is sitting on a tree root, covering her face with both hands and crying. She didn't seem to notice Wuxian's presence so he got up slowly and approached her.

Her hair was shoulder length, decorated with golden leaves. Her frame looks delicate and for some reason Wuxian felt like he needed to comfort her. He sits next to her and asks in a low voice: "Young lady, why are you crying?" She looks up and Wuxian is shocked to see her eyes are bright green. She was breathtakingly beautiful even with tears in her eyes and cheeks. She looks at him and says: "I am sad."

He gets closer and touches her shoulder to comfort her: "Why are you sad?"
She says: "They have taken my son."
Wuxian saw fresh tears roll down her cheeks and asked: "Who took your son?"
She took a shuddered breath and whispered: "Those who pray for me."

Wuxian was so confused but kept patting her shoulder to comfort her as she wept. He felt her grief but didn't know how to make it go away. When she stopped crying, he asked: "Can you tell me where I can find him so I can bring him back?"

She shook her head and replied: "What is lost is forever gone and my sadness cannot be tamed."
Wuxian looked around trying to find something to help him comfort the young lady and remembered how he got here: "Where are we?"
"We're where all dreams grow and flourish." She replied.

Realization hit Wuxian: "We're in the Wishing Tree! Young Lady, who are you?"
She reaches her hand and touches Wuxain's cheek tenderly: "Divine one, my name is La Zaxia. I'm the spiritual weapon of a good man who sacrificed his soul to save a village. I've been fulfilling his wish ever since."

Wuxian looked confused so she continued: "My master roamed the earth with wonder in his heart. We saw the east, fought monsters in the west, fell in love in the north and lost our family in the south. Destiny would have it that after losing our beloved, this was the first city we visited. When we entered the town, we noticed that all the women we met were sad or weeping. My master felt their grief and wanted to understand its reason. Turns out all the women in the village lost their sons to a war. They were sent away never to return and so many of them are left with broken hearts. The war was still ongoing, and the boys were sent to fight the moment they could hold a sword. So the women wept because their children were destined to die.

My master, having just lost our beloved, felt their agony. The darkness that filled the village broke his heart so he vowed to end the war. With new found purpose, we headed out instead of the last remaining sons and we faced our new enemy. The war ended and we were victorious. But nothing in this world comes without a price. My master was gravely wounded and as he accompanied the surviving sons back, the village welcomed him and took care of him during his last days.

Before he perished, he planted me, his sword, at the edge of the village to protect it from all evil and to be a symbol of hope. Even though many have died during the war, many were saved and I was worshiped ever since. The love and appreciation they gave me turned me into a sheltering tree and every leaf I created represented a wish I made come true.

As time passed, I became lonely. So I turned part of my spiritual power into a new entity.. a son. I taught him everything and together we protected the village and their dreams. A few full moons back, a man with evil intentions visited us. His dream was so dark that for the first time, my son and I refused to grant it. He was not pleased and demanded retribution. He took my son and fled and my heart has been torn ever since."

Zaxia took Wuxian's hands into hers: "Divine one, have you ever lost someone so dear that the thought of a new day without them seems so bitter and cruel?"
Wuxian looked down and whispered: "Too many, I don't dare think of them if I were to continue to breathe."
Zaxia never felt such strong empathy from another. They looked at each other and shared a sad smile.
Wuxian: "Lady Zaxia, the villagers still need you. They're hoping to find a way to heal you. What can we do to help you while you grieve?"

Zaxia: "My soul is missing a big part. If they're willing to share some of theirs I will surely heal and be well again."
Wuxian got up with excitement in his eyes and declared: "Alright! I will go back and make sure that we find a way to make you feel better!"
He looks around then back at Zaxia with an awkward smile: "Um. How do I go back?"
She chuckles and moves close, she places her hand on his cheek and whispers: "Come back and find me when it's done." He felt the sparking energy and was surrounded by a white light again.

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