Magic and Destiny: Fate

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Miranda walked into the healer's hut, and walked up to Giovanni, as he was being examined by Maya. It was time she got the answers she was looking for. She recognized this one. He had been through her village months ago, journeying to and from one of the great Libraries.

"You are the one called Giovanni?" She asked.
Giovanni looked over at her, trying to cover himself a bit. "I am. Who may I ask do I have the pleasure of speaking to?"

"My name is Miranda. I am the Oracle of Centauri. Mother to Dominic Centauri, Grandmother to Angel Dominai Centauri. I will be the one asking you questions. There are forces out there, moving about unseen, waiting for something, and if I am right about whom it is. We are all in danger, not just those who are bound as life companions."

"By all means, Oracle. If there is anything that I can possibly tell you in regards to the situation at hand, I will be more than willing to oblige."

"Be careful what you ask for. Some questions should never be answered, at least not out loud." She stated, turning about and walking away. "Finish your examination, and then meet me in the training area. I must observe my grand-daughters training."

It was with a heart of sadness that she continued to walk. Her memories from so many years ago began to pass through her mind. The horrors that were committed in the name of being able to take over the world. Supreme power, in the wrong hands is power wasted. So the council decided long ago that the one in whom they had captured would be sentenced to a fate worse than life imprisonment. She walked through the doors of the healing hut and into the shining rays of daylight.

Miranda walked to the training area, watching the young boys of the village try their hand at the obstacle course, and seeing more than one almost fall to a painful stop. "Looking good, children. Keep up the hard work, and watch the third pole. I've noticed some of you have been having trouble with it."

Dominic walked up beside his mother, looking at the children. "Good observation mother. But the course is designed to make them a bit cautious. It will be changed around in about two weeks' time to throw off their rhythm, and make them more cautious. I want to see how quickly they are able to change to new surroundings. And I want to see who is brave enough to take a Runner's Exam."

Miranda looked at her son, concern etched in her face. Not all of it about the proposal of a Runner's Exam. "So soon? Haven't they only been training on this obstacle course for a month?"

"They have indeed only been training for a short period of time. It is not my intention to let the children take the test anytime soon. I plan on observing, coaching, and nudging to find the right candidate."

Miranda looked back at the children while they ran the obstacle course again and again before answering her son. "What is your time frame for the unlucky candidate?"

"The time frame I am aiming for is two and a half years. Three at the most. I know the time of the culling is drawing near, and I know you have Angel as a candidate for the testing and the trials. Speaking of trials how is Draco?"

"He is fine. He has just two more levels of training to complete... If all goes well, he will be a proctor in the test. One of the youngest proctors in the last 380 years. He has advanced that far. He has started learning ways to bend the natural rules of magic, and has started his training with the more obscure elements of the craft. At this point, he is almost on par right now with me." She said, looking at Dominic with a smile.