The salt found in the stones of the western beaches is the same salt that was swept away a few days ago from the eastern beaches, carried by the waves of the Great Ocean.

The sun that sets in the west is the same one that rises in the east after crossing the Great Sky.

The Destiny that guides the creatures of the West is the same Destiny that guides the boats that will leave the East, carried away by the Great War that is yet to fall over all of us.

Unknown Author

*

Arthur is taken to the main banquet table. A small, round table, where four individuals are allocated: The Oracle, a dryad, a faun and an elf. Several similar tables are distributed in a circle around the main one.

This arrangement follows one single rule: Nobody is sitting with their backs to the Oracle. All seats that would have their backs to her are empty and all other tables are positioned in ways that allow a clear view of the hostess’s face.

And Arthur, posted besides the table, is the one who has the best view of the mother nymph right now.

And, as it would be with any other creature, he feels the words and thoughts flee from his mind after facing the image of delicate features, with intense blue and round eyes.

She, on the other hand, addresses him with familiarity. Her low voice would not be heard by anyone in the room, since the ambiance was filled with the sounds of other people’s conversations.

-So… Arthur, how are you? Enjoying our dinner? I always have fun thinking about how this must be a peculiar view for foreigners.

-Indeed. Your... Uhm... Majesty?

-Call me Nida. Titles doesn’t hold much value among us, considering that you are the one who carries the heaviest one, right?

-I don’t understand what you-

-Don’t do this. Give me some respect and I will do the same for you. Don’t worry, I have no intention of troubling your journey. Quite the opposite, actually, since what I want is for your route to continue exactly as you planned it. After all, the prophecy that was made must be fulfilled.

-That means that you know about… It.

-I’m called the Oracle by many people. Few things are beyond my knowledge. – She leans over the chair, resting her face on her arm and sighing. – However, I must admit that your future is still unknown to me. Although I have seen some things, a lot of it is still a mystery. – She smiles. – In a way, it’s exciting. I haven’t seen myself in a situation like this for the longest time.

With no idea about what to say, Arthur remains silent, struggling to hold the nymph’s gaze. Her appearance, one of extreme beauty, also has a mysterious depth that scares and, at the same time, attracts the young traveler.

-I called you for a very specific reason. – She resumes. – I wanted to know what kind of human you are.

The Oracle stands up and, slowly, approaches him. The gesture makes it clear that she is shorter than he. Her entire body appears to be made out of porcelain. Her body is delicate and carefully molded under the white dress that covers her body.

“How is this possible?” He thinks, paralyzed. “How is it possible for such an angelic creature to look so powerful and… Also, dangerous?”

None of the guards or guests makes any gesture to prevent the Oracle’s movement, however, everyone’s tension is obvious. Such proximity to a foreigner is dangerous. Ann, the leader of the dryads, seems especially troubled, since she knows exactly who Arthur is and the danger he represents.

Nida does not care about the danger or apprehension of her peers. She only moves, calmly, towards him.

-I wanted to know what kind of individual was chosen by Destiny.

-Destiny? – Arthur asks.

-Yes. The fate of the whole world will be affected by your existence. I still don’t know how, or when. But I know what is the will of Destiny.

-What is happening to me seem a little too chaotic to be called “Destiny”. – His voice is nervous. Despite fearing the Oracle, his own pride prevents him from simply accepting her words.

Nida, now, is close enough to reach him. And that is why her thin fingers reach his face. It is like she had known him for years when she caresses the side of his face, running her hand over his cheek, touching his lips and, then, caressing his neck.

-You can’t see it yet. – She smiles wistfully. – Nobody ever sees, at least not while they are so young. – She tilts her head diagonally. – When they are so innocent. I see it in your eyes. You believe in good and bad. Is that why you saved that wolf’s live? Yes, they told me about it. Such a genuine act of heroism, with imbued principles that can be applied to everything, isn’t?

-I…

-You did what you thought was right. At the time, it seemed the obvious thing to do, right? – She comes closer, pulling his neck and touching his forehead with her own. The Oracle closes her eyes and says in a whisper: - In the future, things won’t be so obvious. There will be choices in shades of gray. And, yet, you will have to decide. I want you to have the power to decide, because that is your responsibility, as the one chosen by Destiny.

As he is, with his nose touching the tip of Nida’s nose, Arthur is paralyzed, waiting for her next movement. He feels her free hand touching his fingertips and, then, something hiding in his hand. The weight of a jewel is felt in his palm.

-I could not ask for a better choice. I will be right here, watching Destiny working through your actions.

She turns her face and kisses the cheek of the young man, who, confused, stays paralyzed.

Nida walks away.

-Arthur has my blessing to cross the Great Forest. – She addresses the individuals on the other tables, leaders of different races and groups in the forest. – Whoever dares to lay a finger on his body will suffer the heaviest possible punishment. This is valid until I revoke the order myself. Is that clear?

All those present bowed their heads in respect, placing one knee on the floor and waiting until the Oracle go back to her seat, where she smiles and announces:

-May Fate smile to us all.

*

Shocked by what just happened, Arthur wanders aimlessly through the party. He passes by the same tables he had visited before, but, now, those who heard the words of the Oracle revere the boy and whisper when he goes away.

He realizes that the jewel that the Oracle had just given him is a silver ring, in which an emerald stone is encrusted, carved in an octagonal shape. The stone seems to have a hypnotic effect on his mind. It is evident that there is more than just monetary value to the jewel. He hides it in his pocket, determined to investigate further when he had the time.

Feeling distracted, he walks aimlessly, looking for a place where he could recover from the shock.

He notices an exit on one of the many balconies in the hall. There, he finds Rinlia’s lonely presence, away from the conversations and buzz that permeates the main lobby. Her pale figure stands out under the moonlight. Alone, her eyelashes join and separate with the movement of the eyelids, slowly, following the flow of their feelings that, after so many battles and moments of tension, feel calm after the storm and, as a boat that lift the sails to face the waves of a rough sea, her mind swings in the direction of what she desires the most: The solid and familiar homeland.

-I can finally go back to Fiandel. – The elf says, aware that Arthur is nearby.

He, who had approached slowly, as if not to startle her, is the one who ends up surprised when she starts talking. He quickly pulls himself together.

-Thinking about your home? – The opportunity to stop thinking about the conversation with the Oracle is a life raft to which he desperately clings to.

-More than ever.

He wants to ask about her past and the reason behind the look in her eyes, but, rather than asking for the days that have passed, he decides to lean on the counter, next to her. His eyes follow the same direction and end up in the sky, facing the stars that shine in the black veil.

-I can understand the feeling.

At first, the phrase confuses her, but, then, she remembers who is her interlocutor. That is when a friendly smile takes the place of the confused expression.

-You are doing very well for someone… In your situation.

-I suppose you’re right. – He does not feel like talking about his own situation. He is tired of thinking about his bad luck and all the efforts he will have to make in the days to come. – What do you miss most about your home? What is so important about Fiandel?

The smile grows on the pearly haired elf’s face.

-My daughter. – She notices the change in his eyes. – Don’t be so surprised. I have a daughter waiting for me and I miss her a lot.

-A daughter? I thought-

-I know what you thought. – She does not bother with his incredulity. Instead, she seems to have fun with it. – The life of a commander like me doesn’t have much space for family, right? But we found our way. Anyway, soon I’ll be with her, hugging her tightly, listening to her voice when she asks me about every detail of my trip. She is curious, you know? Want to travel around the world someday. She wants to see everything, to know everything. She… - The smile acquires depth. The eyes that got excited a second ago, now get calm, like a boat, slowly sailing towards the coast. – She is the most important thing in my life.

Rinlia’s look at the stars has a great impact on Arthur’s mood. Being so close to a maternal love is like a bomb over the boy’s mind.

After all, even if unconsciously, he struggled to forget what life was like before this world. Although he sometimes remembered simple things, like a bed or a movie, he had avoided thinking about things that matters. He had suppressed every memory, every ounce of resentment at the loss of what he used to have.

He did not want to remember. He could not, otherwise the burden of this new life would be too much. It would become unbearable.

-You shouldn’t cry. – Rinlia uses her fingertips to wipe the tear that runs down his face. – I’m sorry for talking about such matters. Of course, you are home sick. Such a young human should be close to the parents and the rest of the family, right?

-I was going to leave my home. – He tries to stop the tears, wiping his eyes and turning his face. The elf gives him a moment to compose himself. – I wanted to see the world before coming here. Can you believe it?

-I don’t know if I understand.

-I thought my life was monotonous. – He confesses, smiling at his own decision. – I wanted to see the world, to get life experiences of what it was like to live away from home. Before coming here, I made the conscious decision to leave my parents and my home to travel. I can’t believe how big of a fool I was! If I had known, I would have stayed at home, hugged them and enjoyed every minute. If I had known that I would be alone and lost as I am now, I would never had thought about leaving!

Rinlia waits for a second, giving him enough time to catch his breath. Right now, they are opposites: One is the calm sea, with calm waves, while the other is the rough sea, with agitated movements.

-There is nothing I can do about your past, Arthur. – She touches his shoulder, bringing his gaze over her face. – But I can tell you this: You are wrong about the present.

-Really? How am I wrong?

-You are not alone. You maybe were alone when we found you on the beach. But not now.

-What are you talking about?

-Arthur, you risked your life for us. More than once. And we risked our lives for you too. We fought side by side and we are traveling to a place you can call “home”. Haven’t you noticed yet? We will be your company from now on. We can never replace your father or your mother, nor do we intend to do that. But you cannot deny that we are accomplices. – She winks at him. – And even if you don’t think so, you can be sure that I think of you as my friend.

He lowers his head, staring at his feet. The elf approaches. He sees her hunting boots. His eyes lift up to her shoulders, as he sees the arms that extend between them, resting on Arthur’s shoulders. Finally, her face: The red apples on her face; The long lashes that are a cave guiding to the emerald eyes; The upturned nose; The blonde hair, tied in a ponytail.

And the thin lips, caught in a half smile.

-Arthur, you can think whatever you want, because this world requires people like us to learn many things on their own. It is a cruel place, with people playing political and commercial games. Where anyone can wake up and face a monster that will end their lives. It is a planet that gives little and it demands a lot in return. Even so, it doesn’t mean that you have to go through this world alone. None of this means that you are alone. Look at me. – Their eyes meet. She has a hard time saying the next words, moved by emotion. – You are not alone. Understand it? You are not alone. I will not let you be alone.

-How… How can you be so sure of that?

-Because I can. Because I feel it. Don’t you feel it too? This feeling, like something is about to happen? Something big? A future greater than any of us can imagine?

She smiles, and he can’t help but smile back.

Her arms wrap around his body, and they share a tight hug. Full of feeling.

The end of a journey.

The beginning of many others.

-A great future. – She whispers to him. – If the future is great, it means that we will have to be great too, don’t you think? And that is not a problem. You know why?

He puts his face into her shoulders before giving an answer. He fells the warmth of the embrace and the scent of country flowers and plums.

-Because we don’t have to be great alone.

-I knew you would understand.

A human and an elf embraced under the night sky.

*

End of Tome I

**