The Earth, after its cleansing had been named, Svarga, or simply, Heaven. And in this heaven was Sumeru, one of the most prestigious kingdoms due to its abundance of Totem-Wielders, or Prophets.
The edifices were modern, colourful and glassy, as if made of precious gems like rubies, emeralds and others. The clouds that day were full and grey in the sky, but after the rain in them pours onto the land, the blue colour of the sky would be revealed in all its glory. Svarga was a beautiful place indeed, one that was favoured by the gods, no less.
Today, the people at the capital were filling the streets with chatters of excitement, festivity and anticipation.
Why?
A new prophecy had been inscribed on the Omen-well, one preaching of the rebirth of a new set of people, into Prophethood. And today was the day those chosen people would be blessed.
***
"... So, a few millennia ago, the Earth was at ruins because of the countless wars and misdeeds of man. And because the gods feared that humanity would eventually come to extinguish itself, they took the matter of Earth's restoration into their own hands!
As if by cleansing, they collected the countless sins and chaos that man had caused and created, and made them into a separate world, the Realm Of Augury. It was amazing, as man now had a clean slate to dirty the world all over again. But hey, the gods aren't stupid... no, they aren't! Haha! So they created a mysterious entity known as, The Omen.
To keep man far away from the thoughts of self-destruction, the gods cursed them with this Omen, so that the gathered sins and deeds in the separate Realm would manifest into hideous monsters. Then those monsters would descend upon the human world, bringing along calamity.
Verily! The gods also gave us the continuous solution to this problem, and that solution are the Prophets, or as we like to call them, Totem-wielders!"
Squatting by the pavement in the busy town square, a pale young man shook his hands in the air, adding dramatic flair to the end of his story. But the little brat he was talking to didn't even seem like he was listening.
With a finger in his nose, the boy pointed at the pale man and laughed. "Cockroach of Sumeru!"
Hearing the brats laugh, the people walking by them threw the white haired man condescending glances as they barely tried to hide their chuckles.
"What did you just call me, punk?" Just as it looked like this man was about to grab the little boy, a woman quickly rushed to his aid, pulling the boy away.
Looking at him with disdain, and disgust flaring in her eyes, the woman carried the boy and began to walk away.
"Hey wait, lady." The pale man called. "I just imparted your son with the knowledge of the very foundations of Svarga. Can't you at least drop me a little tip?"
However, the woman just turned her head around and spat. "Imparted my ass! Go back to the dirty ditch you came from, pest."
The man stared baffled, his mouth wide open as he watched the mother and son push through the crowd.
Even with so many people around, this man had not received a single tip. In fact, things only seemed to be getting worse for him as more and more people began to notice his presence.
"Who is that man anyway?"
"Oh, you're from outside the Capital? Well, that guy is Sumeru's one and only beggar..."
"... A deviant..."
"... A cockroach that's somehow still alive with all the animosity he has to shoulder..."
"... Why hasn't he been kicked out of the Capital yet?..."
"... Some say he's even cursed. I mean, look at that skin. It's so pale and creepy..."
To sum it up,
"He's the Pest of Sumeru... the Cockroach of Sumeru."
Amidst the chatter of the crowd, a strange growling sound suddenly erupted from the white haired man's stomach.
"Damn. Even my stomach's talking crap about me. Quiet you." Standing up with a bright, innocent smile, the man turned around with a grin and yelled,
"F*ck y'all!"
***
With the cold wind blowing fairly fiercly against his long unkempt hair, the white haired man sat on the roof of a nearby shop as he stared down at the ceremony.
Unlike before, his face was now red and swollen, his tattered clothes even dirtier and his shoes not on his feet anymore.
"Ouch." He tapped his stinging cheek. Alas, with the tears welling up in his eyes, this action proved to be a bad one.
But what made the tears in his eyes show up in the first place was because, he couldn't even eat the burger in his hands; his teeth hurt like crazy. This was a slight consequence of his bad hygiene and the punches he tried to take head on.
He tore a small piece of the food and tossed it into his mouth. This way of eating was not enjoyable in the least. But hey, at least he has something to eat now... even though he had stolen it from one of his assaulters.
Continuing to eat at a snail's pace, he watched curiously as the main event began — the Grand-oracle had arrived to recite the prophecy.
At the center of the town square, there was a raised ground. It was as cylindrical as a well, but without an opening. It was made out of a rocky material that seemed to glow with a warm lambent light beneath its alabaster surface.
Under that well-like elevation was a lower but wider elevation made of green jade. This place was a podium that only the Grand-oracle was allowed to step foot on, especially on such an occasion.
Following a cleared straight path, a very tall figure walked towards the well, the many shining charms on their red traditional outfit jingling and shimmering under the hiding sun's white light.
This figure beamed with an aura of authority and grace befitting their title. The taps of their high shoes spread throughout the now quiet square, amplifying the effect of their presence.
Looking through the translucent red veil covering their form, the Grand-oracle looked towards a particular building, or more exactly, the yawning figure sitting on it.
Feeling her gaze linger on his frame for just a second, the white haired man shivered. 'Creepy old lady.'
But she wasn't a creepy old lady... by looks that is.
The Grand-oracle's veil was covering a stoic and sharp chinned beautiful face underneath. Her calculative and calm eyes were amber coloured, and she had red mascara around them. Her lips were strangely dry and pale, not directing one's attention away from her straight, stern eyes. But there was no attention anyway, her face was covered after all.
Continuing with indifference, she finally reached the podium, leaving her two escorts behind.
"Good noon, people from here and beyond." The Grand-oracle started, her audible and obviously strict voice calling full attention from the audience.
"I trust that the Capital has offered amusement befitting of today's occasion. And that you are all having the time of your blessed lives.
We have gathered here today to welcome, and give our well wishes to our upcoming Prophets. But more importantly, to hear the voice of your Grand-oracle, as she recites the prophecy that was sent along with the Wielders' blessings."
Treading gracefully closer to the well, she swung her arms out, making the golden charms on her sleeves chime before placing both of her palms on the top of the raised platform.
"... Now, without further ado."
The silhouette of the Grand-oracle was suddenly engrossed with a white light that was flowing into her from the stone well.
A couple of seconds later, the light faded into nothing, but the Grand-oracle did not move.
Not able to deal with the suspense any longer, one of the people from the crowd asked,
"Your Excellency... What does it say?"
———
[Too long hast your world dwelled under the embrace of the noon sky, with your gemini stars to clutch it in place.
Too long hast your world revelled in the light, with few need for more guidance.
But the truth oft not show itself in the light for others to know.
Oh creatures of Svarga, be aware that the night comes eventually.
The blue sky will be awash with darkness.
Your suns will disappear.
Your domain shall revert to black, and you will require torches to take a step at all.
But fear not!
For we shall send you more glimmering gems in the place of those suns, to fix your sky in place.
And a gleaming moon to cast the shadows of the truth that attempts to pass you by, so that ye may see,
Alas,
Just like the night shall come even in the world you call heaven, there are still things which you do not understand... Things that touch the tips of your nose, yet that which you have still failed to see.
Should man continue to fail to see this truth before the twilight of dawn, the night shall not go away when the sun wakes up.
Should you fail to conquer the Omens of the night, woe to ye,
For your sky shall fall down on your ignorant heads.]
———
It sounded bad. Even without the scripture being translated, everyone with the capacity to reason realised that what was read was not good news.
The gods sounded angry in that message. But why? Humanity had tried so hard to keep the purity that was bestowed on them by doing whatever they could to produce more and more Prophet-candidates each year.
If there was something they were doing wrong... it'd be letting the Sin on Svarga exist.
Noticing the anxious wandering eyes of the crowd, every bone in the pale amber-eyed man's body shook ominously.
Today was the last playful trip he would have going to the town. Because for some illogical reason, he was being haunted by the masses.