Blooming Rose (Book 1): Memories

Chapter 10: Henry

After Beauty had told us about Amosi, we were told to rest,"You'll need your strength for tomorrow, it's going to be a long journey, but if we have no distractions, we'll get there." I asked her,"If Justice has teleportation powers, why can't she just teleport us there?" Her answer was,"She can only teleport short distances and it can't be too many people." I made myself comfortable under and tree and fell into a dreamless sleep.

When I woke the next morning, Justice and Agility were stretching, Wisdom and Honor were packing, Beauty was playing with the dragons, and Obsidian was talking to a refreshed Rose. I really wanted to be sure that she was okay, so I walked over to them and asked,"Rose, are you okay?" She stretched her arms,"I'm fine, it's a bit sore though." Obsidian stepped in front of Rose defensively,"I was just telling her Amosi and Oracle powers. Why don't you go help Honor and Wisdom?" I could tell that he was just trying to get rid of me, but I really didn't feel like arguing.

Instead of helping pack, however, I walked over to Beauty. "Can you tell me more about Oracles?" She stopped playing with Ocean and asked me,"What do you want to know?" I thought about it for a moment until saying,"Tell me about becoming an Oracle."

She started,"Well, the youngest age to become an Oracle was eighteen. Ever since I was young, I wanted to become an Oracle. I dreamed of becoming the greatest Oracle there ever was. When I was old enough, I immediately went to join them. There I received my Oracle name and power. I had a brother, but as soon as the dark evil of this Prophecy arose, he joined them. Sadly, he wasn't the only one." I never knew that there were other Oracles, besides Amosi, that betrayed them. Honor finished packing and announced, "We're ready to get going. Henry, you're still with Rose and Obsidian." We all climbed onto the dragons and took flight.

It was a long and boring flight. Sure, there was a great view, but after you got tired of it, there was nothing to do. After a few hours, Rose reached into one of the packs and brought out a cooked fish. I was surprised when she held it out to me and asked,"Are you hungry?" I nodded and she cut off a piece with her dagger and handed it to me. I thanked her and ate as I watched down below. We were passing by villages, meadows, and other landscapes. With nothing else to do, I tried to make conversation with Rose,"So, how's your shoulder healing?" She didn't answer. When I looked at her, I saw that she was staring off into the afternoon sky. I waved my hand in front of her face and she snapped out of her trance,"Huh? Oh, fine." I asked,"What were you thinking about?" She breathed deeply,"Mark."

After what seemed like hours, I asked Wisdom, "How will we know when we get there?" Wisdom smiled, "Oh, you'll know when you see it." Which only made me more curious.

We arrives at the Oracles' home. How did I know that? I just knew. Five mountains placed in the formation of a flower. In between each one was a small valley where the Oracles could get to the center, which I was pretty sure was the meeting place. Caves lined the outside of the mountains. Near the tip of the mountains, were smaller caves. I watched in astonishment as a phoenix and some fairies flying out of one if them. An owl flew out of another. A large stone wall that reached halfway up the mountains circled around the outside of them, blocking it from the outside.

Wisdom, seeing my shocked expression, tried to hold back her laugh and failed. Rose was watching other dragons with a look of wonder. Agility told us,"Our home was first originally called Oracle Base, but eventually that name was forgotten and now this place is more commonly known as Mystic Village, or for short, Mystic." I asked,"Why do you call it that?" Justice pointed,"That's why."

Five pegasus were soaring in the sky, one had a rider in golden robes, probably another Oracle. Nearby phoenixes and fairies were flying past with small satchels with bits of parchment sticking out. "Our home is also home to others. Here we have phoenixes, fairies, dragons, unicorns, pegasus, and so many other mystical creatures. We also have ordinary animals such as owls, they're good company. The fairies, phoenixes, and owls deliver the letters to Oracles from other parts of the world. Some creatures, such as those pegasus, are here because they choose to serve alongside the Oracles. Some are here because they have been wounded or hurt and we nurse them back to health. When they recover, they leave. We have creatures of all sorts. Some are bred here. It's mostly dragons, but we sometimes take the unicorns and pegasus with us too. Isn't really quite amazing." There was a twinkle in Wisdom's eyes as she spoke of them.

We landed outside of the stone barrier. "Why did we land outside, if we could just directly land inside?" I asked. "Because the Airbenders put up an aerial barrier as well," Honor said. We got off the dragons and walked to the wall. There was no opening whatsoever to let us in. Justice walked up and placed her hand onto the wall. At first, it did nothing. Then I heard a loud crunching sound as two large doors that were half the size of the mountains opened. Seeing the shocked expression on Rose's face, Beauty said,"We place our hands upon the wall and the ancient magic that the builders out on it identifies us as Oracles and the doors open. I know what your thinking, what would happen if a traitor Oracle tried it? Well, then it wouldn't open."

As we walked passed the wall, I saw that Mystic village was even more spectacular on the inside. It really looked like a village. Expect that instead of huts and houses, there were caves. Instead of the kitchens in the village with indoor fires and kettles, they were kept outside the caves. Instead of Oracles and dragons sleeping separately, they slept in the same cave. The owls, phoenixes, and fairies got the caves up the top of the five mountains.

Rose asked,"This place is amazing. How did you find this place?" Justice replied with a tone of amusement,"The EarthBenders altogether built this structure long ago. It took maybe about 500 of them." A question popped into my mind,"Long ago? What happens when Oracles decide to get married and have kids? Do the kids have to become Oracles?" She shook her head,"We do not believe in forcing others to a fate that is not meant for them. We raise the children here. When they are of age, they decide if they want to be tested to become an Oracle or to live a normal life. If they choose to leave, a dragon takes them to the village of there choice and leaves them with supplies and money. But there are children who dream of becoming Oracles even at a young age. They are sometimes mentored by other Oracles." I looked to Rose. If they didn't believe in forcing others to a fate they did not desire, why had Rose received one?

An Oracle walked up to us,"Hello. I am Kindness." She lifted her cloak and revealed a face identical to Justice,"I'm Justice's sister. I will see you to your caves where you will rest." She glanced at Rose tattered black clothes,"And maybe we should get you new clothes as well. Don't worry, the caves are larger than they appear. You will share a cave with your dragon."

Rose and Obsidian were in one cave. Wisdom, Moon, and Honor were in another. Justice, Dawn, and Agility were together. Beauty and Ocean were in one cave and I was in one alone, which was smaller than the others. I didn't realize how exhausted I was until I curled up onto the floor with a pillow and blanket Kindness gave me. I fell into another dreamless sleep.