The chief astrologer and emperor stood together, gazing at the black-pitch night that seemed to be devoid of any stars. The absence of stars left an eerie feeling hanging in the air. Was it an omen?
The guards who were accompanying Emperor Zurin and the Astrologer hurriedly lit the torches that they had retrieved from the entryway.
"What prophecy are you referring to?" The emperor inquired, his voice steady and composed. He felt a sense of relief that the flickering torches hid the fear in his eyes.
"There are two prophecies, Your Majesty. The first one was spoken by the prophet Odden a millennia ago when Astralis fell into the hands of the Barawins.
"What did Odden prohesied?" The emperor asked as he started walking back to his chamber. Despite his skepticism about prophecies, the events of the evening had made him ponder. What if the prophecy held some truth? It was prudent to proceed with caution.
"A woman with eyes of gold and hair of fire that is born from the star but not of the star will come from the high seas of Meridian and break the chain of bondage."
The chief astrologer's haunting voice echoed through the room as he recited the ominous prophecy, sending a shiver down everyone's spine. The chilling atmosphere added an extra layer of dread to his already foreboding words.
"I remember hearing about that prophecy. Didn't the sorceress of the scorpion kingdom say that the prophecy foretold the curse on the Scorpion King being broken? For the last hundred years, every first-born male descendant who ascended to the throne would transform into a half-human, half-scorpion creature on the seventh night when the four moons appear, after his coronation?"
The chief astrologer wasn't surprised that the emperor knew about the curse, and King Akdan, the current king, was afflicted with it.
"It's also interesting to note that the prophecy didn't mention anything about the blood moon, so it might not be the correct prophesy." Emperor Zurin said feeling a little better.
The chief astrologer pondered the emperor's words.
"The emperor is correct in that aspect. Some magi, however, interpreted the star in the prophecy as the Moon Mayari and the hair of fire as the blood moon. It seemed far-fetched, but prophecies are themselves mysteries that sometimes are beyond the human mind to comprehend."
Emperor Zurin's intense stare bore into the chief astrologer, his expression growing even more menacing in the flickering light of the torches. "What mystery are you referring to? The prophecy is clear; even my four-year-old son could comprehend it."
"There is a second prophecy, your Majesty, or rather, it is an oracle uttered by the Oracle of Delpan on her deathbed. The oracle was written on the stone that covered her tomb." The chief astrologer hastily added.
He halted his footsteps and he froze. Then, the voices of several people came out of the chief astrologer's mouth.
"Woe unto you, mighty Sun of the East. Your pride swells with the brilliance of your light. Yet, a time approaches when a daughter of the moon shall emerge to humble your haughty countenance. This is the omen that heralds her arrival: when the moon is cloaked in crimson, the daughter shall be brought into the world."
After the chief astrologer uttered the few enigmatic words, he suddenly collapsed. The soldiers who were standing nearby, accompanying the emperor and the chief astrologer, were stunned into stillness. The torchbearers' hands trembled, causing the flames to flicker and dance wildly.
"What are you standing there like fools? Carry the chief astrologer to his chamber. Remember to keep this to yourself. If a word gets out, not only your head will roll but that of your entire family as well."
Two soldiers hurriedly lifted the chief astrologer and carefully transported him to his quarters, while the remaining soldiers accompanied the emperor back to his chamber.
The following morning, Emperor Zurin summoned all the magi of Adhara. Everyone arrived when the sun was three-quarters of each way across the sky.
Emperor Zurin exuded an air of regal authority as he sat upon his elevated golden throne, surveying the magi and his subjects below. His position, a full meter above the ground, served as a physical representation of his power and status. Directly below him, the chief astrologer occupied the first row together with the emperor's three children from the empress and twelve firstborns from different concubines. He has a total of 28 sons. He was in a daze as he tried to replay the events from the previous night in his mind repeatedly.
"I am sure that everyone knows why I called you here." The emperor started without a preamble.
"Yes, we do, Your Majesty." The fifty-plus magi answered in unison.
"Then, can someone tell me the meaning of last night's phenomenon?" the emperor asked, his voice resonating like a clap of thunder instilling fear even amongst his sons and his ministers.
The leader of the magi rose to his feet, bowing his head humbly. "Your Majesty, the prophecy of Delpan has come to pass. We, the magi of Adhara, unanimously affirm that the daughter of the moon, the war Goddess Mayari, was born either last night or in the early hours of today." His words were delivered with deep respect and unwavering conviction.
King Zurin's hands trembled as he tightly gripped the armrests of his ornate throne, while his stoic expression revealed no hint of the turmoil within.
"Do you know the location where the baby is born?" The emperor further inquired.
"The original oracle of Delpan is supported by other prophecies and oracles, Your Majesty. Those deciphered text only say one thing. The baby will be born in the North," a young magus said, breaking the silence when neither the chief magi nor the senior magi spoke. Despite his youth, he bravely spoke up.
The emperor considered the places in the North. The first that came to his mind was the extreme Norden at the northern tip of Astralis, the torrid Barasan Desert, the Nagula plains, and the Terra Costa seaport. Those are insignificant places. As an afterthought, he smiled because it would be easier to eliminate the baby, who would threaten his empire.
He looked at the scribe, who was positioned on the second row. "Write my decree. All female babies born from the day before yesterday until the day after tomorrow will be killed to appease the wrath of the Moon Goddess."