Chapter 16: The Price of Power
Sarah's breath caught in her throat as the Oracle's words echoed in her mind, a chilling weight settling on her chest. "Become it?" she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief. "What do you mean?"
The Oracle did not immediately respond, her form still cloaked in shadow, her face hidden beneath the deep folds of her hood. She remained silent for a long moment, the only sound in the temple the faint rustling of the wind outside. It was as if she were allowing the gravity of her words to sink in.
Finally, the Oracle spoke, her voice low but steady. "The Void is not simply a force of destruction. It is a part of this world, and all worlds before it. It is both creation and annihilation, light and darkness. To destroy it entirely would require a great sacrifice, a willingness to embrace its nature and bend it to your will. You must become what you wish to eradicate."
Sarah felt a cold shiver run down her spine. "You're telling me that in order to stop the Void... I must join it? Use its power?"
The Oracle's glowing eyes seemed to pierce through the shadows, locking onto Sarah with an intensity that made her skin prickle. "Yes. To wield its power, you must embrace it. But do not mistake me—this is not a path without consequences. The Void will change you. It will reshape you. You will no longer be the person you are now."
Mikel stepped forward, his expression one of disbelief and concern. "And if she doesn't? If she rejects this path? What happens then?"
The Oracle's gaze shifted to Mikel, her voice calm but unyielding. "Then the Void will continue to consume everything in its path. It will grow stronger, spreading across the land, devouring not just the physical world but the very essence of life itself. You will watch as all you know falls into shadow."
Sarah's heart raced. Her mind spun with the enormity of the choice laid before her. She had always fought to keep the Void at bay, to protect herself and others from its dark pull. But now, the Oracle was offering her a way to control it, to turn its power to their advantage.
But at what cost?
"How... how do I even begin to understand something like that?" Sarah asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "How do I know I won't be consumed by it, that I won't become something... unrecognizable?"
The Oracle's expression softened, though the shadows still clung to her like a shroud. "That is the greatest test of all. You must find balance. The Void is a reflection of all that exists within you—the darkness, the light, the pain, and the hope. It will not make you into something you are not; it will reveal who you truly are. The question is whether you can control it. Whether you can wield it without losing yourself in the process."
Mikel stepped closer to Sarah, his eyes filled with concern. "You don't have to do this, Sarah. There must be another way."
But Sarah's mind was already racing, her thoughts whirling with the weight of the decision before her. She had always known that there would be a price to pay, that the road to stopping the Void would never be easy. But this? This was something far greater than anything she had ever imagined.
The Oracle's words echoed in her mind: "The Void will change you. It will reshape you."
"Will it be worth it?" Sarah whispered to herself, more than to anyone else. "Can I truly become the answer to this darkness... without becoming lost in it?"
For a long time, there was only silence. Mikel stood by her side, waiting, unsure of what to say. The weight of the moment pressed on them both, heavy and suffocating.
Finally, Sarah looked up, meeting Mikel's gaze. Her eyes were filled with determination, but also with doubt, as if she were trying to reconcile the parts of herself that had always fought against the very thing the Oracle was suggesting.
"I don't know if I can control it," Sarah said, her voice steady but tinged with uncertainty. "But I know I can't stand by and watch everything fall into darkness. I can't let the Void take everything—take everyone—without fighting back."
Mikel's face softened, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. "I'll be with you, no matter what. You don't have to do this alone."
Tears welled up in Sarah's eyes, the weight of everything crashing down on her. She had always carried the burden of the Void alone, hidden her struggles from others. But now, as she faced the most difficult choice of her life, she felt something shift inside her. She wasn't alone anymore. She had Mikel, and they had come this far together. Maybe... maybe that was enough to guide her through the darkness.
The Oracle observed them quietly, her gaze unreadable. "The path you choose will be one of sacrifice, and the world will be shaped by your decision. Remember, the Void is not simply an enemy to fight; it is an unavoidable truth. You must decide if you are ready to accept its nature and use it to protect the world, or if you will fight against it and risk everything."
Sarah closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. The weight of the decision pressed on her, but it was a weight she could no longer escape. If the Void was inevitable, then perhaps the only way to save the world was to embrace it. To wield it as a weapon, a shield, a force of protection.
"I'm ready," Sarah said, her voice steady, though her heart pounded in her chest. "Show me how."
The Oracle nodded, a flicker of approval in her eyes. "Very well. The first step is not one that can be taken lightly. To wield the Void, you must understand it. You must learn to control its power, to tap into the essence of what it is without succumbing to its hunger. It is a process, one that will take time. But you must be willing to face the darkness within yourself."
Sarah nodded, her determination growing with each passing second. "I will."
With that, the Oracle extended her hand, and the shadows in the temple shifted. The air grew thick with the power of the Void, its presence swelling around Sarah like an oppressive force. She could feel it—its cold, consuming nature—but this time, she did not recoil. Instead, she reached out, letting it fill her senses, embracing the pull of its darkness.
For a moment, she felt herself falling into the abyss, the weight of the Void threatening to swallow her whole. But she held on, her mind focused, her will steady.
And then, slowly, it began to shift. The darkness no longer felt suffocating. It felt... familiar. Like a part of her, something she had always known but had never truly embraced.
She opened her eyes, the light of the temple flickering as the Void wrapped around her like a cloak. The Oracle stepped back, watching with an unreadable expression.
"You have begun," the Oracle said softly. "But the journey has only just begun."
---
To Be Continued...