Now, my dear reader, you have already learnt a lot, about the Fourth Kingdom and their customs, and I am sure you can imagine that when the Fourth Queen received the message of an army invading her lands, and Lavinias powers showing, she did not hesitate to overthrow her plans of return, and declare war on the First Kingdoms border to retaliate.

And while that is very important, I do feel that in order to follow the events unfolding from here, you will also need another point of view, a source of information that Lavinia can not provide you with. So, let‘s take a trip together over the mountains and the great lake and travel to the marble city situated right behind it, were floors are always shining and buildings feel so soft, visitors would be surprised they don‘t give in when you lean against them. But of course, this city has no visitors, for it is only open to the Oracle and her closest followers.

We will look into it‘s streets later on, explore it‘s temples and halls, but for now, let‘s move to the cliffs that loom over the lake ominously, connecting it to the city‘s outskirts.

It was a stormy day and the wind howled around the sitting figure on the rocks, whirling her long black hair around, though her posture stayed straight and undisturbed. And yet, even while she was still climbing, the priestess could sense that oracles attempt at meditation had been fruitless. Her hands were stiffer than usual, curled almost defensively and every now and then her head twitched a bit, betraying unruly thoughts.

She knew, that her presence had been sensed long ago, yet she still made a point of stomping her feet on the last few meters to announce herself. The oracle opened her eyes.

„What is it you‘re bothering me for, Priestess. “

She inclined her head, already all too used to the pressure of those silvery orbs staring her down, drawing out her every thought.

„Just a report on today‘s testing“

She took the following silence as a sign to begin reporting.

„The new teaching methods have been working very well on the second years, more than 80% of them have proven to be ideologically stable in their recent examinations. The first years are more or less processing as expected. The older students on the other hand...we had two troublemakers in the last month.“

„You solved them, I suppose?“

„Of course, Oracle.“

She hesitated before continuing.

„There is one more thing.“

One delicate eyebrow, raised only a few centimeters.

„Speak.“

„Our recruiting team has completed the usual tests at First Schools this year. One student has stood out in particular. So...“

The oracle interrupted her train of thought „Stood our through what?“

„Good physical shape, paired with exceptionally low empathy levels, Oracle“

She was sure that she didn‘t just imagine the amused expression that crossed the oracle‘s face.

„Ah, low empathy levels. Of course you‘d like that.“

„Very much so, as it helps our cause.“ She tried her best to ignore the defensive tone that had crept into her voice. „I would like to request early entrance for her.“

„You want to start training her now? How old is she even?“

„Eleven years old. A good age.“

„For playing with dolls, maybe“, the oracle snorted. Upon seeing the priestesses glare she chuckled, waving her hand delicately. „You know that I trust you with the recruiting process, High Priestess. If you deem her ready, you may teach her.“

„Thank you“ She bowed, expecting to be dismissed. Instead the oracle turned her full body towards her and smiled.

„I‘m bored, Priestess. Tell me a story.“

Meetings with her Queen always exhausted the Priestess. Although she had been serving her for many years now, she still had trouble predicting her moods. She could be charismatic and clingy, almost like a very young child and then grow cold and distant immediately after, and while the Priestess was never a direct target of her anger she had returned from trips to other cities, finding that huge parts of the Garde had been executed for one reason or the other, often enough to be prepared for it.

But that was a traitorous thought and she scolded herself as soon as she finished it. Who was she to judge the criteria on which their goddess operated? And when had she started doing that? She vowed to bring a sacrifice and pray for more gratitude, if she could find the time. She had neglected that part of her duty recently, due to the increased direness of the war and it clearly showed on her mind. She made her way back into the city, taking a moment to bow to the statues of former oracles that protected the holy walls. The last of them, Oracle Aru, the current oracles mother seemed to look at her mildly, as had been characteristic for her. The sculptor had captured her essence well, considering that he had never actually seen her. When her health had begun deteriorating only a few chosen ones had been allowed inside her quarters. The High Priestess, a mere novice back then, had been fortunate enough to be one of them, and she was quite sure that that was the original reason she had received higher honors later on.

She wished she could visit the temple right now, see if the fire was burning properly, kneel in peace or even talk to the other priestesses about the new maintenance routine. She could not. There was more important work, just waiting for her. She turned right, steering towards the huge white rectangle that housed their elite subjects, their Garde. The most coldblooded pack of killers to ever walk the cities streets, as she liked to call them in her pride. Of course, the Garde had existed for centuries, but it had been her who had revolutionized it, changing techniques, abolishing the obsolete code and adding the religious element their education had been missing before. They truly were her product.

Today, she had been asked to deliver a small motivational speech to the first years, an easy task, and she had decided to use this chance to introduce her pet project, if you wanted to call it that, into the squad. The Oracle had permitted it, after all, so there was no obstacle other than people‘s prejudices. She hated prejudiced people. Only someone blind to the truths of this world would think that age, or class or any other factor that could be seen would impact a true fighters skill, when clearly, it was all about the spirit inside. And this girl, this creature of their country, was possessed by it. She had seen it in her eyes, the calculation and the yearning for purpose that she used to recognize in herself as well, every time she looked into mirror as a child. She, however had found her purpose in the Oracle, and she was convinced that little Kora would too.

She slipped into the room quietly, through a back door, greeting the instructor with nod without drawing attention to herself yet. She wanted to watch the students first. Most of them made a good impression, standing solemnly in line, waiting for the class to start in silence. Some were slouching and she made a note in her mind to address that, before turning her attention to the only serious problem: A group of girls, whispering and giggling immaturely even though they looked like they had long passed 140 moons. Her mouth shaped itself into a scowl and she squared her shoulders. Time to bring some professionalism into play. Just when she finished that resolution, a hand tapped her shoulder from behind and she jumped, watching out for the assailant.

Kora, who she had invited to join class today was somehow standing right behind her, having pressed herself into the tight space between the Priestesses back and the wall without her noticing, and was staring up at her with wide eyes. Someone had cut her hair, it ended around her chin now and made her look a little less childlike. „Why are you just standing her?“, she asked in her light, monotone children’s voice. „You‘re supposed to give a speech.“ Still shaken the Priestess forced her voice to stay calm. „I am inspecting my surroundings, to find out more about people around me before they see me. You should do that too. It helps to be prepared.“ The girl nodded respectfully. „I understand.“

„Good. You are very talented already. You saw me before everyone else.“ And she had not been seen by the Priestess, a remarkable skill, though she could not bring herself to say that out loud.

„Thank you, High Priestess.“ She shook her head. „Do not thank me. Never thank people that praise you. If their praise is genuine that means you have earned it. It is not given to you. And if it is not genuine, they are trying to deceive you.“

She left her to ponder this piece of wisdom, and announced herself finally by clearing her throat audibly. The giggling stopped, which was only a small comfort, since it had bot been supposed to exist in the first place. She marched through the rows of students to the front, touching her forehead to the instructors in a brief formality, before commencing.

„You have grown, since I last saw you.“, she remarked casually, letting her voice fill the room. „The last time you were still scrawny, and frankly indisciplined.“ Some faces were sheepish, not a good expression on elites-to-be. „And now you have bulked up.“, she amended. „And most of you seem reasonably well-behaved. Although there is still a lot to improve, regarding your postures.“

Backs straightened all of a sudden, heads lifting pathetically in an attempt to appease her.

„No use correcting it now, while I‘m here. It‘s what you do when no one is watching, that will decide your future. Trust me, I have experience with it. Surely, my role contains a lot of public speaking and no one would claim it‘s a position that‘s underrepresented in the public opinion. But have you ever thought about how many nights studying scripts alone, mixing herbs until my hands bled and kneeling until my legs were numb passed, until I got there? And how many nights of brooding over maps, analyzing results and developing new strategies it takes to maintain this office? To make sure each one of you is as prepared as you could be, to fulfill your part for our Oracle‘s glory?“

She paused for effect.

„Not even I can answer these questions. I stopped counting long ago. And that is what you will have to do as well: Stop focusing on how much you are working, and how hard it is and start focusing on your work! You do work a lot, and I hope you work hard. And if you cannot keep that up, if you only put in effort if you are being tested, if you only work in yourself when someone is looking, you will never make it. If you can not discipline yourself, we cannot discipline you either, and then all the work you did so far will be lost. And that is something you can count on: If you do not fill your position correctly, we will have someone else fill it.“ Devastated silence followed her statement. The giggling girls had paled, one looking close to tears. That was a weakness they would need to get rid of as soon as possible. But not now. Now she infused her voice with honey, telling them what they needed to hear.

„But I don‘t believe that will happen. Because all of you- all of us- are here for a reason. Not for our heritage, or our status. Those will never be enough to secure a spot here. We are here for our wit, our character, our strength and our talent. We are here, because when every child in this whole glorious country was tested, we were the best of the best. And that is why we have no choice but to pursue the offers that are made to us- and we owe it to our generous Oracle, who gave all of us our place, to use our gifts to their full potential. That is why I know, that you will not fail. You are not able to, because you were born to stand here.“

She ended her speech, earning roaring applause from the students that looked at her with gleaming eyes and open, naive, little souls, so easily satisfied. She let their clapping fade out, before adding the last point on her agenda.

„And because it is potential that determines the attendants of this course, there is a new member here today. She will seem a little unconventional, but I assure you she is more than capable to keep up. Come here, Kora!“

The students turned, stretching their necks to see her as she came to the front, blushing furiously but keeping her head high and her chest out proud. Good. There was no use in shying away from being honored.

„Kora“, she continued as soon as the girl reached her, „has been tested recently and has been found to be almost ideally suited for a position on this squad. Now, as you all can see, she is very young. And what I ask of you now, is to not let that be an obstacle for her. She will need support at first- support her. Don‘t tear her down. Remember, this is not about your personal ambition. It‘s about what is best for our glorious country. And in that fight, she is meant to fight alongside you. I have foreseen it.“

She gave them an encouraging nod, and moved on. The older students were training in the great hall, and she had to make sure the unfortunate decimation of their squad they had experienced yesterday had not made them stray from their destined path.

Hour after hour ran through er hands like molten candle wax and by the time she left the building the sun had abandoned them and the stars now kept the Oracle company. She was sure that most other Priestesses were reading them tonight, as they were beautifully clear. She had given up any plans of further worship, feeling the urgent need to return to her room and shed the heavy robe she was wearing. Recently, she had often had daydreams about getting a full night of sleep, a sign by the stars, maybe. She should get to bed.

She made it to the main square, before she saw a group of priestesses, hurrying after her. „High Priestess! We have been searching for you. A messenger has arrived for you. He is waiting in the great temple. “

Her first instinct was to tell then off, face the messenger tomorrow, but something struck her as odd. The great temple was not open to many people. In fact, it was open only to priestesses and people, who had received the highest military honor: Being the Oracle‘s eyes and ears in foreign regions that her clairvoyance did not reach to. If one of them had returned unplanned, it had to be important.

So, she took her tiredness, folded it up, until it barely took more space than a ceremonial candle and swallowed it down. „Very well. I will go to see him. “

The priestesses shattered in a grateful choir of voices, leaving her alone with her task. She could not blame them. Who liked to be present when bad news were received? At least she would get to visit the temple today, as she had wished earlier.