“Merendel, thanks for telling me a story of the lost groof,” Myuriel, the child Oracle of Van Garrin said. She grinned and clapped her hands. “It's a very nice story.”

“I’m glad you liked it.” Merendel brushed the hair of Myuriel with her fingers. “Now, you should go to sleep. You need rest since we have been playing all day.”

Myuriel nodded and jumped to her bed. Merendel pulled up the white linen sheets and covered her ward, tucking her in bed. This wasn’t part of her duties, but she doesn’t mind doing it. The smile on Myuriel’s face when she told her stories or played with her made her forget that this sweet girl could never play with other children.

“Sleep tight. I will be with you tomorrow.”

“I want to always play with you."

“We will always play.” Merendel planted a kiss on the child’s forehead. “Now, go to sleep.”

Myuriel nuzzled against her pillow and closed her eyes with a smile on her face. “Maybe, I could go out to see the whole of Van Garrin someday,” she said wistfully.

Merendel felt her throat tighten as she held back her tears. She stood up and walked towards the exit of the transparent bubble housing their precious Oracle. She wiped her eyes although she wasn’t crying. If another guard saw her tear up, they would question her capability in guarding the child Oracle.

All of them thought she acted nicely toward the child to make her happy even though she was alone. Myuriel wouldn't eat nor drink before Merendel came. They had to drug her to feed her. Merendel's position was, unofficially, the nanny of Myuriel since the child loved her.  But she shouldn’t forget she was part of the Elite Silverclaw Beastmaster Division guarding the most powerful weapon of Van Garrin.

A child who received visions of the future.

A hole opened on the thick wall of the bubble, letting her pass through.

“How’s the kid?” Vanjorhen, another guard and her batchmate in BeastMaster Academy, asked her.

“She’s fine,” Merendel said.

“The last prophecy took quite a toll on her body.”

“Yes. Some broken bones, torn muscles. We have healers for that, but she’s still a kid. Children shouldn’t suffer through this." 

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A questioning look momentarily flashed on Vanjorhen’s face.

Merendel backtracked. “Too many prophecies in a short amount of time could kill her.”

Vanjorhen nodded. “That would be bad. The biomagi still don’t have enough time to breed the next Oracle from the Bloodline. We should take care of her until then. Van Garrin needs guidance.”

“And I’m doing just that.”

“I’m not good with kids,” Vanjorhen said. “I’m much better dealing with those guys.” He jabbed his thumb towards the giant head of a sleeping lizard. One of the dozens of colossal beasts surrounding the bubble. 

“What do you think the last prophecy was about?”

“I have no idea. Wrong person to ask here. I’m not good with deciphering the prophecy since you need to have tons of knowledge to put it in context.”

Merendel said, “But I heard it had something to do with Krysperia?”

“Maybe. The snotty ministers did send a large delegation to attend the ceremony of the Krysperian princess. Checking things out?”

She shrugged. “My shift’s over. The kid is asleep. Take ca—”

The bubble glowed bright blue. Both of them rushed inside the bubble through the hole that opened. Other guards entered the bubble. All the beasts roused from their sleep, ready to rip apart anyone who wasn’t supposed to be there.

The Elite Silverclaws surrounded the Oracle and faced outward with their weapons drawn.

“The hell is this? Another prophecy so soon?” Merendel whispered, more to herself than to Vanjorhen. Myuriel would suffer again. The child had a prophecy only last month. Usually, prophecies came once a year.  

Vanjorhen said, “Must be something serious.”

Merendel steeled herself as Myuriel cried out in pain. She willed herself not to look at the child. Her duty was to guard Myuriel during prophesying. If an Oracle was interrupted, she will die. The location of the Oracle was a national secret, yet, they couldn’t relax their guard. 

The beasts were restless as they sensed the power of the Oracle bending the elemental structures of the crystal cavern. Space warped around them. It was as if their surroundings stretched and contracted at the same time. But the trained soldiers didn’t even flinch. They expected this.

Green crystals burst out the ground. They were recording the entire prophecy.

Myuriel began to speak. Merendel felt time slowed down.

Beware! Beware! 

For he who is man and dragon has slumbered,

For he who has slumbered has awakened,

For he who has awakened will destroy us all.