A warm ray of sunshine hit his face. When he opened his eyes, he found himself laying in a field of tall grass as if the mirror lake was replaced by lush plains. Confused by the scenery, he jumped on his feet and searched himself to discover he had his equipment on him. He reached for his weapon and when he heard the sound of chains, realized he was under attack.

A disc shaped object at the end of rattling chains whipped at him. Blades of tall grass mowed down as it moved towards him. Kihet managed to duck away and pinpoint where his attacker was. Staying low and out of sight, he dashed to his attacker.

Without so much as looking at him, Kihet’s slash was easily parried.

“Hmm… that should be enough, but far from winning against an Acolyte.”

“Wait. You’re…!” Kihet growled. “What was that for?”

“I just wanted to test your reaction. Your performance was adequate at best, but you have room to improve.” The man grabbed the air, materializing a leather strap in his hand. He tugged down and the silver lined coffin from an empty space crashed into the ground. “I meant to ask earlier, but recognize this?”

“Isn’t that coffin from my village.”

Kihet remembered it was the trail coffin that ultimately revoked his right to live in the secluded village.

“Sure is! It was a great find when I was exploring your village that turned into a dungeon!” He gave it a good smack. “There’s this thing you should know. When you stepped into it during your trial, did you know as punishment, the Creator sealed half your soul in it?”

The man kicked the lid open and instead of the starry skies, a copy of Kihet was asleep in it. Kihet didn’t know what to think when he saw another him kept stasis in the coffin.

“This is all fake.” He denied.

“I wouldn’t be so sure, but I can’t prove anything in here. Currently, you’ve passed out from drinking too much. Elenora set up this meeting by acting as mediator to connect our consciousness.”

“You purposely told me to go celebrate because you knew I’d get knocked out?”

“It’s also because what I’m about to say must only reach your ears and no one else’s.” The man’s expression grimaced. “It must not reach the ear of even a certain someone who looks like me. I assume you know who I’m talking about.”

Henrick.

Kihet sheathed his sword and narrowed his glare at the Acolyte. “He gave me the Oracle’s crest. You seemed to know him when even Elenora didn’t.”

“I need to correct one thing you said. The Creator gave you the crest. He damaged it when failing to extract it. If I didn’t intervene, you’d have lost your life.”

“You intervened?”

“Remember this day for when you find yourself unable to act. Only then I will return what I borrowed.” He recited. “Sound familiar?”

“Can’t say I remember it, but I think I heard those words before.” Kihet answered. “So, are you going to answer my questions?”

“Depends. I might know more than everyone else, but I don’t know everything. From everything you encountered, I’d say you earned a few.”

Finally, some answers. Kihet had a whole list of questions and at least a few of the important ones could be answered, right?

“Are you the one an Acolyte referred as its master?”

“So, you’ve already met •••••. Kind of surprising to know you survived against him. I am. And?”

“Where are the Sanctums I was told to destroy?”

“I dunno. Honestly. I’m also trying to track them down, but if my theory is correct, I assume it's within each tower. Sadly, I can’t provide any evidence.”

“The Towers are your enemies, right?”

“They haven’t done anything to me, but they are getting on my nerves.”

“Should I take that as a yes?”

“If that’s how you interpret it, sure.” The Acolyte yawned. Although spirits wouldn’t get tired, it was merely a show of disinterest. “What? I’ll answer to the best of my ability, but there are things I can’t say. You wouldn’t be able to hear them anyways.”

“Fine. Then tell me why there are two Oracles?”

“There isn’t. The other just has a copy of the seal I made.”

“You made a seal?!”

“I did attempt to make a copy and failed. The Creator wasn’t too fond of me plagiarizing, swiped it and planted it onto someone else. Its functionality isn’t close to the original, though its power is on par for eliminating creatures spawning from Towers. Don’t worry. You’re the real one.”

It wasn’t relieving to hear. It only meant the burden of Kihet’s role as the Oracle increased knowing there was no second one in case he failed the next time. The pressure of being the Oracle he recently gotten used to have now returned two folds or more.

“I take it you’re aware of its unique ability to dispel magic?”

“Yeah, but I came across one that cannot be dispelled. Are you able to explain that to me?”

The Acolyte opened both his hands and materialized two objects from thin air. One was a talisman, a catalyst to cast magic that Kihet was much familiar with. The other was a vial of colorful ruby ink.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Let’s start with the basics. Both of these are essential to Spellcasters to make a connection to Elemental Spirits. Depending on what ingredients you use, they will contain essences of an Elemental Spirit. To make that connection, the caster recite Alchemia language to send something like a prayer from the boundaries of one dimension to theirs.”

The Acolyte presented an example by casting [Fireball].

“Meanwhile, the flames of the Oracle attacks the spell directly. It’s a simple process, but what really happens is the flames stealing the magic’s power supply and stores it within the user.”

“What if the spell is on a person? Like Alc’Bruk.”

“You mean the Dragonborn who killed you? His connection wasn’t with the Elemental spirits, but rather with a deity residing in a higher realm which the flames could not touch. Unlike mine.”

“Yours?”

“Mine doesn’t originate from the Creator. It’s something a person wants to steal away. But to do that, he needs the Oracle seal you have for even the slightest chance.”

“What is he going to use it for?”

“Who knows. I’m guessing it’s something petty to his backstory like ‘I want to turn back time’, or ‘I want world domination’, maybe ‘I’ll have my vengeance’. I don’t know. Something generic.” He shrugged.

While the Acolyte mocked Henrick, Kihet recalled his moments when Henrick was around. There wasn’t an instance where his life was threatened. Henrick had many chances to kill him, but told Kihet to flee when he was being influenced by the Tower.

“What if you’re the one controlling the Towers? I can’t trust you more than him.”

“That’s true. For all you know, I might as well be spitting lies in your face and you wouldn’t be able to tell. You might as well don’t trust either of us.”

“That only makes me not to trust you more.”

“Good! I don’t care if you don’t. Even if he does get the Oracle’s seal from you, I’d still win.”

“Aren’t you dead like everyone else in the Hallow?”

“Being here is a minor setback. You can say I’m in a similar situation as you.” He then clapped. “Alright. I’ve said all I could. Whether you believe me or not, it’ll be on you. Enjoy the rest of your dream.”

“Wait! I have more questions!” Kihet shouted, but the Acolyte began to fade away.

He was ignored. The Acolyte’s face was now devoid of all emotions like a child who was tired of a toy they played for a week. Standing before him was the person leaving with all the vital information he wanted but wasn’t able to get.

Then he remembered Elenora’s magic phrase to regain the Acolyte’s interest.

“Everything I do will help you meet her faster! Please, answer my questions-!”

Suddenly, Kihet was assailed by an invisible force sucking his body to the ground. Despite dreaming, he found it difficult to breathe and unable to move. He slowly turned his head up and meeting with the Acolyte’s hostile glare.

“Hey. I don’t care if you’re the Oracle, but are you trying to get on my nerves by threatening me with her?”

A neon red crystal with its appearance contradicting space, time and its existence plunged into an empty spot in front of Kihet’s face.

“What’s the matter? Forgot how to speak? Even a mice can squeak as they’re crushed by a mousetrap. Do you have a death wish?”

“That’s… not it!” Kihet grunted.

“Did he tell you about her?”

“Elenora… did!”

“Elin did? Well, that changes everything.” The Acolyte gave a snap, erasing the pressure holding Kihet down. “No hard feelings. For a second, I thought my ‘twin’ knows about an important person of mine.”

“What’s so important about-.”

Kihet recalled Elenora’s warning as he was about to ask. ‘The second time you bring it up, you might endanger yourself’. The first time he brought it up, he met death hooking its scythe onto his neck. Kihet couldn’t imagine what hell awaits him if he dared speak of the Acolyte’s important person.

“Did you say something?”

“No… I mean, are you going to give me more answers?”

“Of course! You are helping me. It’s only natural I will help you!” The Acolyte flashed a smile Kihet thought wasn’t possible from his situation a moment ago.

“What are each of the Acolytes’ weakness?”

“Straight to the point. Very well.” He nodded. “They have none when compared to the people in your world. However, when pitted against others of the same level, they may lack speed, or defense at most. You’d need someone with specific set of skills to have a chance to defeat them.”

“And that’s where Heroes I recruit come in?”

“Exactly. Though your heroes aren’t up there yet. You’re doing pretty well having to recruit three heroes.”

“Hang on. Three?” Kihet looked dumbstruck. “I only recruited one and I didn’t know how I manage to give a Hero’s crest to Lily.”

Kihet had an idea two of the three Heroes being Salith, who was with Irvan’s group and Lily. He wasn’t sure who the third one could be. However, he did notice the Heroes chosen were so far people he was familiar with, but there was a lot of people to suspect.

“You didn’t choose? Well…. This is awkward.” The Acolyte scratched his head.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know?”

“Sorry, can’t help you. I thought you knew. Don’t mull over it. In return, I’ll grant you an important piece of info and a favor against the Acolyte in Stusis.”

“And that is?”

“The one guarding the Tower there is [][][][], Acolyte of Fury. She’s a Shaman, but she acts like a Berserker who loves to charge headstrong into every conflict. She’ll have an axe with her. The most important thing about the axe is you have to make sure it doesn’t break while fighting her.”

“I can’t break her weapon?”

“You can if you want a really difficult fight. There is a silver lining. She can’t break it herself.”

“Don’t break the axe. Got it.”

“One more thing. If the weapon breaks, a Bear Spirit can appear any time. If it shows itself, she’s cornered, and she has no more tricks up her sleeve. It’s her trump card.”

“What does the bear do?”

“What a bear normally does. Maul. It’s slightly weaker than the four Elder Dragons ruling over Stusis. Don’t get caught or else it’s your execution. The only thing you can do is stall until time is up.”

Kihet gulped.

“As for the favor, I’ll keep it a secret. Just don’t expect me to take her down in your stead since I’m forbidden from interacting with other Acolytes in your world while the Tower’s active.”

“Can you move to the material plane?”

“Who knows?” He laughed it off. “Oops. We’re spending more time than I thought. Let’s wrap this up since I have other things I need to tell you and others in person. I should also add when you lifted the seal, he rampaged in your little forest.”

“Are you saying he was that creature? Where’s your proof?”

“Someone else will prove it for me. You’ll see what I mean when you’re on your way returning to the material world.” The Acolyte pulled a stool from an empty space. “With our remaining time, let’s debate on only three paths you can choose to go forward and why the world you’re seeing is one conjured big fat lie. The book you have on your real body will eventually tell you everything of the Towers and your world.”

----------------------------------------

Kihet’s eyes fluttered opened. He could feel a hand lift from his forehead belonging to Elenora. Beside her was the Acolyte of Defiance who saved everyone in this realm by driving away his comrades who laid siege to the city.

“Good to hear you understand.” The Acolyte smirked. “That time won’t come for a while, but when it does, you better have steeled your resolve by then.”

“What did you two talk about?” Elenora asked.

“The destruction of the world and how he’s going to save it! Well…, try to anyways.” The man shrugged. “As promised, I’ll lift the restrictions off the Oracle’s crest. When I’m done, we’ll begin the ritual to send you back.”

“Sure.” Kihet slid off the bed and walked away.

The moment the door closed with a soft clack, the Acolyte threw himself on the floor and threw a tantrum.

“I want to go back already! I miss her! Why does it have to be like this?!”

“It can’t be helped. This is the only way if you’re going to save our friends.”

“I don’t care about them. I want to get pampered and tease her. It’s that stupid look alike putting wrenches in my plans! I swear I’m going make him shit himself for separating me and her!”

“You know, sometimes you do really make me angry. You should be considerate of another girl’s feelings.” Elenora pouted. “Is this going to be one your rants I’d have to listen for hours?”

“Listen to this, there was a time when she and I-.”

“Don’t you dare step on my heart more than you need to. There will be harsh consequences even if I am the Saint.”

“Y-yes mam…”