The Illyrian Series: The Oracle Of Rosedale

I'm up at the crack of dawn. The Oracle's haunting voice resumes playing in my head as soon as I open my eyes.

I wear my freshly laundered clothes from yesterday and rush out of the room. The door shuts behind me and the voice ceases.

I go down the stairs and to the room from yesterday. Violet is sitting at the centre table and eating breakfast. The herbs, bowls, and pots from yesterday have been shifted to one side of the table.

"How do you feel?" She asks.

For the first time since I've met her, Violet's black, straight hair is tied up in a bun.

"Bad." I point at the dark circles under my eyes.

She...smiles. Like actually smiles. "Do you want anything?"

I follow her fingers, I was too tired to notice the contents of the breakfast when I walked in. It's porridge, sausages, cakes, bread and other delicacies. I make myself a pot of tea.

"You look...free." I say. I'm not sure if that's the right word.

She sighs contently. "I had a good night's sleep."

"Did you get a prophecy?" She doesn't respond. I rub my face. "I'm so sorry, I've been so preoccupied with myself, I forgot you might want to know your future as well."

"I did." She stares at her half filled cup of tea. "I don't anymore."

"Why not?" I sit on the stool beside her.

"I don't think we're supposed to know our future." She shakes her head. "Honestly, I don't think anyone even wants to know their future. They just want reassurance that things will get better. So they can have something to look forward to."

"What did the oracle tell you last night?"

"She said my biggest fears won't come true." Violet reveals.

"What's your biggest fear?"

"Being like my mother." She drops her cup.

I drop mine as well. "You never mentioned your mother. When last did you talk to her?"

She gently pats her loose bun.. "A few days ago. Before then, six years ago."

My eyes widen. "She was the one who helped us get to Tatris, wasn't she?"

"And leave. She's the expert. The first magician to ever escape."

"Violet, I'm so sorry." I apologize. "I made you contact her."

She shakes her head. "No, don't blame yourself. It was our only option." We're silent for a full minute. "The guild." She sniffs. "They were skeptical to take me when she first went away." She explains. "They've been closely monitoring me since I was three, they wanted to know if I would turn out like her. When I attacked a classmate, they threw me out."

I turn to her. "That's why you took my quest. You wanted to prove yourself."

She smiles again. "I did." Past tense. "I don't think I care anymore. About my mother, about them. Not caring about people's opinion is very freeing."

"I heard." I joke and she chuckles.

She picks up her cup. "What did you hear last night?"

I remember the Oracle's words and shiver. "Only after you have gained everything, will you lose what matters most."

Her brows furrow in concentration. "What matters to you most?"

"Illyria, my mother." I pause. "Malin."

Her countenance drops. "Did you hear anything else?"

I shake my head. "Just that."

"We'll think about it together. Try and find out what it means."

"Thank you." I pick up my tea and take a big, calming, scalding sip.

Violet clears her throat. "What about this morning?"

I catch her meaning and the tea turns to rocks and settles at the pit of my stomach. "I don't know."

"You'll go where you really want to."

I sigh. I wish I knew where that was. "What about you? Where will you go?"

She forces her smile away and sighs in exasperation. "Honestly, I'm scared to leave you alone. You can't survive without me."

If she said that at the beginning of the quest, I would have stabbed her.

Now, I'm really happy she's by my side. I leave my stool and wrap my arms around her shoulders.

"Thank you, Violet." I whisper in her ear.

She wraps her arms around my waist. "Get off me." She whispers threateningly.

I give her a right squeeze and retract my hands.

We finish our breakfast and Violet helps herself to the Oracle's supply of herbs. After she's down raiding the room, we walk back to the throne room.

We come out of the hall and find the oracle waiting for us by the front door.

Violet's hands cover her satchel. The Oracle just rolls her eyes.

"It's time to leave." She seems glad to be rid of us.

"Thank you, for everything." Violet says as we walk to the door.

The Oracle's face softens. "You're welcome, young mage."

I don't smile at her. "What did my prophecy mean?"

"I have given you all I can, Adria." She responds.

"But I don't know what it means." I argue. "Can't you just tell me whether or not I will be victorious against Caledonia? Is that what I will lose?"

"Is it the most important thing to you?" I don't respond, because I don't know. The Oracle's face becomes disproving. "If you ever see Liliana again, tell her I'd love a word."

The door opens and I squint at the bright light.

I start panicking. I still don't know where I really want to go. Is it to my people in Illyria, or to my mother in Caledonia?

Violet takes my hands. I close my eyes, take a deep breath and let the reassurance from her touch wash over me.

I open my eyes and face the entrance in all it's heightened brightness. I know where I want to go. I also know where I need to go.

I do my best to align the two, and take the next step towards my destiny.