“He who wields a pen is a God in his own work.”

“Guards, Guards! Arrest them, they’ve murdered the Oracle! The Oracle is dead!”

The sound of splashing water fills the air of the dark alley. The panting of a little girl, struggling to get away from the sounds of gun fires and fighting. Each shot echoes in violent rhythm, filling her with panic and fear. She runs, running is the only thing she could think of. Rain falls through the darkened, night sky, but she pays no mind, no, she would run until she couldn’t run no more. There at the end was the garden, a place of refuge, hopefully still true this night.

January 21, 3018

Eyes wide open and gasping in freight, she slowly wakes up, light peering in from the cracks of the boarded windows. She slowly gets up from her rugged sleeping bag and is met with the unwelcomed embrace of the cold morning air. She curses under her breath, “Just let me forget already.”

She gets dressed in her rags and cloak then sets out to the pond to wash up. As she opens the door and enters in the bitter cold of the morning. Breathing in the cool morning dew she looks and sees that not many people are out yet. She makes her way to the pond and splashes water on her face, shivering from the icy feel. Looking into the pond she sees her reflection looking back. She has her mother’s eyes, slim and stone grey. Her hair short and dark red. Slim yet also lightly built, many would say that she is beautiful, however, she does not care. No, such things such as love and beauty is petty and trivial in the world she lives in, for she lives in a cruel world and a sad life as of far. Novus “Nova” Anno, daughter of the late Oracle, within five days would mark her twentieth birthday. Although she is no stranger to this life, no, this life of running and surviving has begun since she was merely eleven years of age. “Gift of memory you say,” She says to herself, “What a cruel gift.”

She finishes washing up and goes into town. She walks into the market and heads to the fruit stand, buying three apples for breakfast with left over jackrabbit pelts she had from last night’s hunt. Nova walks to her shed to get ready for another hunt or maybe even see if there are any bounties at the pub. It has been quite some time since she has stayed in one town for so long, two months really. The town fitted most of her needs, quiet, small, plenty of game to catch nearby, and it is remote. Far away from the capital or major cities with strong Legionnaire presence. Other towns she had less trouble with encountering the Legion and more trouble with the people, mainly the rich local politicians spitting on those below them. During her time travelling around the country she could never find a place to settle down in, however, when finding the town of Briedon she was enchanted with the quiet and simplicity of the town, she decided to stay as long as she could.

Pondering on what to do for the day she hears on a TV in one of the stores window and its news brought her cause to stop in her tracks.

“Today we see that the Haelion Legion sets out to the Middle Plains in honor of the Legion’s near eighteen year anniversary marking the end of the War on Dispute and the world unification of government under the Legion. For those of you tuning in from the Middle Plain region expect to see the parades of the Legionnaire at noon going along through Briedon, Illestria, and Kykry. The Parade will end in the city of Herous-Cain, the once rebellious kingdom in the War on Dispute, in the city square. A speech will be given to mark the end of the bloody war and the unification of the Legion.”

Some of the townspeople talked about the matters, “The Legion is coming here? I never thought they would begin the parade so early? It’s really not until five days!”

“Right? Usually they wouldn’t send the parade to the lands of the last kingdom either, because of all the riots from the old citizens. Guess a lot really can change in just eighteen years, seems like just yesterday I heard of the last kingdom’s fall.”

Another townsperson pitched in, “It may be true that this be odd to start the parades early, but it’s also odd to be waging war against the gods themselves.”

“What? Don’t be ridiculous those were just rumors!”

The man raised his hand, calling for patience, “It’s true! Why else would these be the strange weathers and storms around the world? The chaos of it all and the bolstering of military and weapons even when there are no nations to conquer? It all points to the gods.”

“Yeah, and why would the Imperator want to go up against them?”

“Have you learned nothing from history? Although populations throughout Gaia Novus is rising back to what it was in the Age of Ill, remember that before we even had Oracles, the gods stuck down on the makings of man. Cutting down of forests, polluting the air, even nuclear waste. Imerator Sidona even spoke out years after the last Oracle’s death that he would expand the lands to benefit the people, but of course the Gods wouldn’t so easily agree with the methods used.”

“Well then why not just get a new Oracle?”

Crossing his arms and slinking back in his chair, “It’s not that simple. The becoming of the first Oracle she had to prove herself worthy and get the blessing of the Kings and Gods, since there are no more kings no one really knows how to even prove worthy anymore, no one even knows how to now.”

“Too damn confusing if you ask me. But besides the fact, I heard another rumor as to why the Legion is coming here. I hear from my buddies in the capital that the Legion is coming for Pyrium, the Goddess of Fire!”

One of the men shoved him playfully, “Don’t pull my leg!”

“No really! They say that she has been called and spotted here in the Middle Plaines! Going around lighting the hearth of poor they say.”

In the midst of all this Nova realizes how long she has been standing in the same spot and looked around to see if nobody noticed. She hurried back to the shed to plan of what to do next. Should she run, hide, or stay hoping she won’t be found anyways? She was filled with fear, anxiety, and even sadness, not only from hearing such news but also in hearing of the Oracle’s title being spoken of after all these years. Her late mother, much mystery shrouded around her sudden death, but Nova can think not of it, but only of the pain in losing her.

She makes it to her shed and made sure she wasn’t followed or was being watched. Quickly she gathered all of her things and stuffed them in her rucksack. She grabs her dagger, and short blade then arms herself where needed. She places the knife in her makeshift side holster and hides it under her cloak; she does the same with the short sword but in the opposite side. She grabs all of her belongings and alters the shed to show no traces of her presence there. Once she finishes, Nova then stands idly by the door. She thinks of her options then thinks of the situation. The Legion is coming into town for their supposed “parade,” however, that wouldn’t mean that they’ve tracked her down or even come for her in the first place. Even if that were the case, she wouldn’t want to risk being exposed on the off chance that they somehow found her. Then what was all that talk of the Legion coming for Pyrium earlier? “No matter”, she thought, “It doesn’t concern me nor do I care.”

Nova opens the door, but stops before leaving. She looks around the room one last time to remember this brief time of peace in her life of running. She looks away and leaves with haste.

She walked briskly to the end of town and could hear cheers and marching. As she had feared, it was too late to leave town. She looked at all possible exits and detours she could make, but all were being guarded. “Why guard exits in a parade?” She thought. Nova hid amongst the crowd, looking at the street to see soldiers marching and convoys coming through. At the end of the convoy she could make out a few tanks and looking up there were airships hovering above the town. Suddenly the parade came to a halt in the middle of the town and confusion swept through the masses. The cheers went on for a little while until dying down after moments of nothing went on. All stared in question trying to figure out why they had stopped. Nova scanned the soldiers to see what they were planning. Before she could even think about it, immense heat surrounded her and hot air blew through the crowd. She looked and saw that walls of fire had erupted around the whole town, denying any entry or exit. The soldiers broke from formation and raised their weapons. Nova thought that this must all be the doing of Pyrium, given the fire. She got her weapons ready and tensed up at the fact of being caged in with walls of fire with the Legion at her front. She continued to scan for the cause of the fire or even the Goddess herself, but then she realized that the guns were not readied for a fight, instead the guns were pointed at the crowd of people. Before anyone could respond, shots filled the air and then screams followed.

Chaos broke out as people ran for cover, but many were quickly murdered. Nova quickly dove for cover near the alley behind barrels, but some soldiers must have seen her as bullets were shot in her direction. She bolted farther down the alley and made a sharp right. She continued to run as fast as she can, but as she approached an intersecting path, hails of bullets flew through almost blocking the way past. It wasn’t until the firing stopped and saw as she passed on her right were piles of bodies who tried to get away. Forward she could see children running for shelter and behind them followed a skinny middle aged woman with brown hair, but bullets flew their way and the woman was hit. She fell to the ground and tried to get up, but only to crawl a few feet before rolling on her back begging for mercy. Three soldiers came up ready to finish her off. Nova began sprinting, readying her sword. As the first lined his shot, Nova dashed into his rifle, missing his mark, and her blade met his throat. She pushed his body aside and grabbed the second rifle by the barrel, pointing it towards the air, and kicked the third out of the way. Quickly, Nova sliced the third gunmen’s knee before stabbing the second and finishing the third off. Nova picked up the woman and saw the bullet wound went straight through her right side. “It’ll be alright,” She said to the woman, “let’s get you to safety.”

She props her up on her shoulder and helps carry her to the direction of the children. Shortly after moving down the alley, they find the kids surrounded by two soldiers pointing their guns at them looking ready to fire. Before the lady could make a sound, Nova leaves her by the wall and motions her to wait. She runs down the alley and grabs her dagger in a throwing position. She screams, “Get away from them!”

This directs the soldier’s attention on her, exactly what she needed. Nova throws the dagger at one, landing in the side of the neck. Immediately rounds get fired her way, but she runs to the right of the alley jumps onto the wall and launches off towards the shooter. Nova hits the gun down with the sword and slices upward, then she finishes off the other soldier with her dagger in his neck. The woman came limping towards them and Nova goes to help her. They quickly find a cellar door and the woman knocks on it in a particular code. It flings open and on the other side is a large, brown bearded man motioning everyone to hurry inside. As quickly as they can everyone files in, the door shuts closed and locked.

It is dark in the cellar, but it is lit with two lanterns. They lay the woman down on the floor then man sees the wound and is shocked, “My gods, Margarete!” he exclaims, “No, no, no, no why…”

“Please now Robert,” the woman says, “don’t scare the children.”

Nova looks over and sees that there are a dozen children, each visibly shaken, some shocked, most crying. Nova then looks at Margarete’s wounds, grabbing a lantern to get a better look at the damage. Blood seeping out slowly in large amounts. “I can fix this.” Nova says. She grabs her dagger and brings it closer to Margarete, but then Robert grabs her wrist. “What do you think you’re doing?” He asks.

Margarete strained to speak, “Robert stop! She saved me and the children from the soldiers outside. If she say she can help then trust she can!”

There was a moment of hesitation, “Are you sure?”

“I wouldn’t be alive if not for her.”

Silence between them. Robert hesitates and looks at Nova then the dagger. He lets out a deep sigh and then after a moment Robert released Nova’s wrist. Nova looked at Robert for a second and then got back to the matter at hand. “Now I just need to cut open your shirt to get a better area.” She takes the dagger and carefully slices the white linen of Margarete’s blouse. She then lifts the patch up to reveal the whole area of the wound. “Get me clean water, quickly.” As Nova gave the order, Robert ran to another set of stair and went up cautiously. After a few minutes waiting, he returns with a bowl of cold water. Nova takes the bowl and looks at Margarete, “This is going to sting, and feel really cold. Are you ready?”

Margarete looks off into the distance hesitant then to the children. “Robert take the children away from us.” Robert stands by her side and holds her hand for a few seconds, then takes the children to the far end of the cellar. “Do it now.” Margarete urges. Nova nods and goes on to pouring the water around and at the wound site. Margarete clenches her fists tightly and some tears can be seen in her eyes. She grunts loudly, trying not to make a noise that the kids can hear. Once it is over she relaxes a bit and Nova looks at the wound site now more clean and visible. A clear hole can be seen and more blood begins to seep. Nova nervously brings her hands together, “Please still be there.” She says to herself. She then brings her hand together in a triangle shape over the wound. Green light then glows from her hands and the bleeding slowly comes to a stop. Margarete feeling uneasy from this arches slightly up off the table. Nova then curls her fingers in and clasps them together on the side. She brings them closer to the wound and tells Margarete, “Get ready.” Nova pushes down on the wound, Margarete yelps in pain then clench her fists once again. The wound begins to heal and close in on itself. This went on for a dozen seconds, but to Margarete it felt like an eternity, until finally the wound heals as if nothing had happened.

Margarete gets up from the floor and looks at her side. Green lights lingered briefly, and she touches her side carefully to feel good as new. She looked at amazement towards Nova, “Magic?”