Avon fought off the urge to scowl as a man dressed in robes of sheer white pranced around him like a madman, inspecting every part of him while muttering incoherently. He bit his lips hard enough to draw beads of blood, desperately trying to hold back the fit of hysterical giggles that were blooming in his chest.
"Hmm...interesting." the man muttered, making Avon's eyebrows twitch in irritation.
'What's interesting? This is the fifth time you've said that! Silver Oracle, my ass! He's nothing more than a senile old man!'
As Avon ignored the flood of curses that were currently filling his mind, he turned his attention to the priest in front of him, his lips subconsciously twisting into a grimace. "Your holiness, pardon me for asking, but what did you mean by that?"
"Speak concisely, boy." the man said, not bothering to meet his eyes. "I've said many things since I've entered this room."
"What did you mean by 'child of destiny', and why do you want to take me in as a disciple?" Avon clarified.
The old man paused in his actions, the edges of his mouth curling up at the question- as though he were greatly amused by what Avon just asked- before turning to look at High Priest Joshua. Realising what the cardinal required, Joshua promptly excused himself from the room- not before giving Avon one last, pondering look.
When the door clicked shut, both the people left in the room simultaneously turned to look at each other; one's gaze was playful, while the other's was weary.
"Why don't we talk over some tea?" he suggested, not giving Avon time to reply.
He strode over to the High Priest's desk, picking up an exquisite teapot made of floral porcelain, before pouring the tea into two cups. He grabbed one of them by the handle, turning to lean his back against the desk before motioning to Avon to take the other.
Avon complied, picking up the teacup and sighing in contentment as warmth seeped through his frosty fingers. He maintained a respectful distance from the cardinal, savoring the sweet scent that wafted into his nose. Avon idly wondered if the tea tasted better than usual because of its quality, or because it was an oddly subservient gesture from the man before him.
"Boy, you've awakened your mana, haven't you?" The Silver Oracle asked, mirth evident in his expression.
"I have." Avon nodded, knowing that lying to someone of his power was useless.
"As expected," he smiled into his cup. "I didn't see wrong."
Avon fought the urge to scowl at the man's oddly cryptic remarks, choosing to focus on drinking his tea instead.
"Why don't you show me some of the best spells in your repertoire?" he asked, more of a demand than a request.
Looking at Avon's reluctant expression, he added, "And in return, I'll answer two of your questions, boy."
"Avon." he stated, placing his cup aside before standing up, a challenge hidden in his pupils. "That's my name. Not 'boy'."
"Oh?" the older man grinned, canines showing. "Very well, Avon. Prove yourself to me."
Instantly, glowing orbs of fire surrounded Avon, circling and spinning around him rapidly. A gust of wind coiled around his legs, making him float a few inches off the ground. A snap of his fingers, and the flowerpots placed in one corner of the office burst apart, the soil flying towards Avon before being compressed to form a crude spear. A swirl of water coated its surface, hardening to give the weapon an icy exterior. Finally, the stone bench that Avon was previously seated upon splintered into a million pieces before rearranging themselves around Avon, their sharp ends quivering in the air, ready to fall upon their master's enemy.
Avon impassively stared at the Silver Oracle, holding his spells in place for a few long seconds before cancelling them all at once. He daintily landed on his feet, wiping the dust off his shirt before looking at the cardinal in the eye, silently goading him.
"Not bad at all." the man muttered in an appreciative tone, a thoughtful glint appearing in his eyes. "All of your spells require a degree of control that isn't achievable by novices. Truly, you have great aptitude for magic."
"Will you answer my questions now?"
The cardinal chuckled, amused by his straightforwardness and undaunted attitude, before nodding his head in agreement. "Yes, I will."
"Why do you want to take me in as a disciple?" Avon asked, eyes narrowed in distrust.
"That's easy. You have the capacity to become a great warrior, and I don't believe that others will be able to train you to your limits." he replied, a genial smile appearing on his face.
"Why do you think that I can become a great warrior?"
"Is that your second question?"
Avon paused, sighing lightly before shaking his head. "What did you mean by 'child of destiny', and why did you call me that?" he corrected.
"The child of destiny is someone who bears the burden of a great fate, Avon. For the sake of humanity, he will be forced to tread a path of darkness and blood." his tone turned honey like, sounding as though he was filled with boundless pity. "And that child is you, my boy. Gaia told me so."
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Red eyes widened in surprise, pupils shaking and trembling. A disbelieving scoff escaped from Avon's lips as he stared at the holy man before him, his entire self seething with boiling indignation. His fingers curled into tight fists, sharp nails leaving bloody crescents onto the pale skin. The slight sting of pain managed to clear some of the fog that had covered his mind, and he regained his senses before he did something that he could come to regret.
"You're lying." Avon snarled, eyes snapping up to gaze at the cardinal. "Everything that you just said is a lie. I am no savior, nor am I blessed. I do not doubt your capabilities, but it's only normal that even the great Silver Oracle makes mistakes once in a while."
The cardinal's expression softened as he took in the boy's trembling voice, knowing that the information he just divulged was enough to make a grown man go mad with fright, let alone a mere child. "I didn't make a mistake, child. The one I saw in my vision was you."
Something seemed to crumble inside Avon. His knees buckled, and he gracelessly fell onto the cold ground, ignoring the bolt of pain that flashed through his quivering kneecaps.
"No..." Avon whispered, voice muffled as he pressed a knuckled fist against his mouth. "I cannot be..."
"If I am not mistaken, you came to the temple since you had forgotten your memories, correct?" the cardinal sank onto his knees, gently clasping Avon's hands. "Perhaps you hold a secret, something explosive enough to make someone want to harm you, something that would make you worthy of holding such a title."
"I am an orphan, your holiness. I hold nothing of worth."
"You'd be surprised by the things one doesn't know about themselves, Avon. An orphan can turn into a hero, just as how an unassuming commoner can turn out to be a royal prince."
Avon let out a laugh, a shaky, broken thing, as he pushed back the hair that had plastered itself to his temples. "That sort of stuff happens only in fantasy stories, your holiness. Reality is much more cruel."
"Perhaps so. If this wasn't reality, perhaps you wouldn't have to face such great danger once you grow older. If this were imaginary, the fate of the world wouldn't rest on the shoulders of a single being."
"You've said so much, but you've yet to tell me what exactly it means. You say that I'm meant to fight against Chaos, that I'm the only one who truly can, but you've yet to tell me how! All you've talked about are the things that I am expected to do- if I'm truly the one you saw in the first place- and not what I am!" Avon gritted out, gnashing his teeth.
"Even I do not know what you are, child, maybe only the gods do so. A warrior perhaps, or maybe something much more stupendous. They told me that in your soul lies great power, but only the future will reveal whether that power will turn into your salvation, or your destruction. Even the gods cannot predict the actions of some, Avon."
The corner's of Avon's lips twitched at the statement, a self-deprecating expression momentarily making its way onto his delicate features. He clicked his tongue softly, expressing all of his emotions through the simple gesture before donning an impassive countenance once more, discreetly locking away all the tumultuous emotions coursing through his body, not allowing himself to feel vulnerable and overwhelmed anymore.
"Ha..." Avon groaned, supporting his weight on the bones of his palms as he stood up. "I suppose what you said just now has a small chance of being true. But that doesn't mean that I have to like it."
"I would be quite frightened by your mental resilience if you were actually okay with it, young one." the cardinal laughed.
"I take it that this is the real reason behind why you chose me?" Avon questioned.
"Of course. I wouldn't let my first disciple be just some random talent."
"I'll agree to this on one condition." Avon stated, eyebrow raised as though he were daring the cardinal to disagree.
"Oh?"
"I'll stay here. I have no reason to return to the imperial capital with you. I've become attached to quite a lot despite my... ailment. If you wish to be my master, you'll have to stay in Fanfir as well."
The cardinal gave Avon a long and hard look, as though wanting to peer into the depths of his mind. "Very well." he agreed, nodding his head.
Avon simply blinked at the man, surprised at the easy concession.
"I already knew that you were going to say that, Avon, long before I even left the imperial capital. After all, knowing the future does have its advantages." the cardinal smirked, enjoying the stupid expression on his newly instated disciple's face.
"I suppose I have to call you master, then?" Avon asked, snapping out of his stupor.
"That's right. You have the privilege of calling me Master Adrienne from now on." the cardinal said proudly.
"Isn't Adrienne a girl's name?"
"... you're hurting your poor master's heart, my dear disciple."
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