Page 37 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

Zaiper hesitated only a fraction of a second before turning sharply on his heel. The Second Ruler could not walk away fast enough.

What was that about?

When one was uneasy in the presence of the Oracle, it was often for one reason. Secrets laid bare. Sins revealed.

Daemonikai was... curious. What had the Vampire of Greyrock done this time?

Zaiper had been unusually quiet all evening, showing none of his usual sharp tongue or stirring of unnecessary arguments, in court. He hadn’t met the Oracle’s eyes once, which was highly unusual for a man who rarely passed up a chance to assert himself.

“A great deal has happened in the past five hundred years, has it not?” the Oracle broke the silence.

Pushing his intrigue aside, Daemonikai walked with the Oracle through the Citadel. “Yes, it has.”

“May I speak casually?”

“Of course.”

She paused, her steps slowing as she turned to face him. “I wish to offer my sincere condolences for the loss of your family, Great Grand King.”

The old grief rose like a tide. “Thank you. It... wasn’t easy.”

“It never is,” she said gently. “You are strong. Both as a Urekai and as a ruler.”

For a moment, he said nothing, his gaze fixed ahead. At last, he murmured, “Sometimes it does not seem like it.”

“I know how it may feel. But what seems true is not always the whole truth. You are in your darkest moments now, but it will not always be so.”

Daemonikai’s lips twitched into the faintest sardonic smile. “Are you telling me about the light at the end of the tunnel?” He tried not to sound sarcastic, though he wasn’t sure he succeeded.

The Oracle’s lips mirrored his faint smile. “Have some faith, Great Grand King. No one knows what the future holds, but a little faith makes the journey worth enduring.”

“There you go with the cryptic words again,” Daemonikai muttered, though his tone was lighter. “I can’t say I’ve missed this part of talking to you.”

The Oracle’s expression turned serious. “Just as the past road has not been easy, the near future holds its own challenges. But you may already know that, judging from your mood today.”

Daemonikai stiffened.Of course she knew.

“What do you know?” he asked lowly, his throat tight.

“Perhaps all of it,” she said quietly. “You are worried about the upcoming eclipse moon night. Worried you may not be able to protect your people and those you love, just as you could not five hundred years ago. Am I correct?”

Daemonikai swallowed hard, staring at the horizon.

“You have every reason to be worried, Great Grand King.”

His voice was hoarse when he spoke. “What do you have to tell me about it?”

“Contrary to what many believe, I do not have all the details. But even if I did, you know I could not share them.”

“The Oracle is all-knowing but none-speaking. The Oracle cannot share knowledge that disrupts the natural order,” Daemonikai recited the ancient text,The Gods and Their Servants, from memory. “Every youngling by the age of ten knows that.”

The Oracle released a soft breath. “I see many things, Great Grand King. The past, the present, and the possibilities of the future. But the future is not a single, fixed path.” She paused. “I see multiple potential outcomes for every event. Sometimes three, four, or more distinct possibilities. I perceive these paths, but I cannot know which will ultimately come to pass.”

Her grip on her staff tightened. “Intervention is dangerous. Even the most well-intentioned actions can disrupt the delicate balance of these possibilities, potentially leading to consequences unforeseen. Some of which have the power to set in motion events that plunge the world into darkness.”

“I understand this,” Daemonikai said, and he meant it. “I do.”

“About eclipse moon night,” the Oracle began again. “Take comfort in knowing that this time, at least, you will be prepared. You will no longer be taken off guard should anything go wrong.”

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