"That's how the circle keeps going round and round," she said softly, her voice blending with the rustling of leaves outside. I shifted my gaze from her to the woods directly opposite the window, the dense trees swaying in rhythm with her words.
"But the Almighty created the universe," I said, curiosity flickering to life as the conversation pulled me in.
"Yes, He did," she replied, her voice steady, her eyes distant. "And when He wanted to rest, He entrusted someone with the task of maintaining balance. That's what gave rise to this whole Diviner thing," she added, still gazing outside, as if the answers lay somewhere beyond the trees.
I leaned forward, sensing the weight of her words. "Who decided to split the world into clans?" I asked, intrigued. I wanted to know the root of this world's divisions.
She turned towards me, her face calm but her eyes deep with centuries of knowledge. "The first Diviner did. When the world was new, everyone had powers. Ordinary people didn't exist back then."
Outside, the view transformed. The woods were gone, replaced by a vast landscape that seemed to stretch to the very beginning of time itself. As she spoke, the world outside mirrored her words, showing me the origins of it all, in vivid detail.
"The Almighty wanted those who were evil in their past lives to suffer," she continued, her voice low but intense. "They would be reborn without any powers, as a punishment for their wrongdoings." I watched in awe as the scene outside shifted, showing people being born without powers, their faces twisted with confusion and fear.
"After the Almighty went to rest, He left His powers in the hands of someone He trusted— the first Diviner." The window showed a grand ceremony. A man, regal and commanding, crowned another man. The power passed from one to another, and I knew the crowned one was the first Diviner.
"But the Diviner saw a flaw," she said, her voice darkening. "The people were being punished for sins they didn't remember. Their past selves were forgotten, but the suffering was real. So, he made a decision." The scene shifted, showing people without abilities, isolated, bullied, and tormented by those with powers.
"He decided to divide them—those with powers from those without. But even that didn't bring peace." The image outside blurred, then reformed into a battlefield. Flames lit the sky as people with abilities fought each other in a desperate struggle for dominance.
"The wars were brutal," she said, shaking her head. "So, the Diviner split them further, forming the clans. But too many clans caused chaos, and so, he merged them, forming five clans. Four for those with powers, and one for those without."
I could see it now, the Diviner standing tall, overseeing the separation of the people, drawing lines that would shape the future.
"And that is why," she concluded, her voice soft but filled with reverence, "the first Diviner is seen as the true creator of this world. He brought order, gave every human a place, and ensured peace between the powerful and the powerless."
I stared at her, my mind buzzing with questions. But before I could speak, she raised a hand, silencing me. "I've told you enough. You'll need to discover the rest for yourself."
She waved a hand, and in an instant, the world outside the window shifted again, returning to the quiet, familiar woods. My surroundings blurred, and I felt myself being pulled back, back to the place where I had first been summoned.
Suddenly, I was back. The classroom looked the same. Nothing had changed, yet I felt different. I ran my hand over my desk, almost to make sure it was real, and hurried to my seat.
"Where've you been?" Aaron asked as I sat down beside him, pulling out my books.
"What do you mean?" I replied, my heart still pounding from what I'd just witnessed.
He raised an eyebrow, glancing at me with curiosity. "You've been gone for a while. And something's different."
I blinked at him, surprised. How did he know? Before I could reply, the bell rang, ending our conversation—for now.
---
The day passed quickly, the ordinary flow of school life doing little to calm the storm of thoughts raging in my mind. After classes, I finally pulled Aaron aside and explained everything—my strange journey, the encounter with Elder Elowen, the time manipulation, all of it.
He listened with wide eyes, his excitement barely contained. "So, wait," he said, leaning in, "we've been lied to? Heaven and hell aren't what we thought?"
I nodded, my voice tired. "That's what she said. It's different from what we've been taught."
Aaron shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. "This is wild, man. Why isn't this written in any history book?"
I shrugged. "I didn't get the chance to ask her."
Just then, my mother knocked on the door, stepping into the room. "Rowan, have you heard the news?"
Aaron and I both looked up. "What news?" Aaron asked before I could speak.
My mother sighed, her expression serious. "The Diviner is dead."
Aaron's eyes widened in shock, while my heart sank. I had sensed it when I spoke with her—the way she talked about her time ending. But hearing it confirmed made it all too real.
"I knew it," I muttered, lowering my head. I wasn't ready. How could I possibly take on the responsibility of being the next Diviner?
"It'll be alright, Rowan," my mother said, stepping closer and placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Everything will work out."
Aaron, ever blunt, chimed in. "Bro, are you even ready for this?"
I shook my head, my thoughts swirling. Doubts filled my mind, each question louder than the last. How could I lead? How could I protect the clans? The weight of it all felt crushing.
My mother cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "We're moving to the new house tomorrow," she announced, almost casually. "Mr. Darien and I made the final arrangements."
Aaron glanced at me, his eyebrows raised. "So, you're leaving the neighborhood?"
I barely heard him. My thoughts were on the Diviner's death, the responsibility looming over me like a dark cloud. The idea of moving to a new house felt insignificant in the face of what lay ahead.
Aaron, sensing my distraction, stood up. "I think you need some space, man. I'll head home."
I nodded, grateful. "Yeah, I need some time to think."
As Aaron left, I collapsed onto my bed, running my hands over my face. The room felt heavy, like the weight of the world had suddenly settled upon me.
Was I ready? Could I handle this?
I closed my eyes, the questions echoing in my mind.