The gentle sound of flowing water gave a garden an ounce of peace- the sole source of calm in the chaotic environment of this particular land. A wide assortment of items flew through the air. Tablets, letters, single pages, and crumpled notes all telekinetically pushed by a thin veil of pink fog surrounding each one. Men and women of all ages knelt in the pastures of the garden, wailing as they preached of incoming dangers; beside them, children scribbled furiously onto any surface that could be written on, doing their very best to jot down every word uttered. The screaming people adorned themselves with black robes each stamped with a three-headed owl, while the children dressed in sky blue cardigans bearing a one-headed owl. Here and there, people wearing violet sweaters marked with a two-headed owl whispered to themselves, either in a despondent tone or a well-meaning giggle, before writing down their own words.

Gardens such as this one encircled a tower, rising high above the grounds and overlooking each of the fate hearers. Embedded into the mountain, the white stone of the tower contrasted beautifully with the natural gray of the mountain. Only some sections of the grand tower were visible depending on where you were standing as it seemed to sprout out of the mountain itself, but the topmost floor opened up into a spherical shape visible from any angle. A pink glass made up the walls of this observatory.

Within the peak of this tower stood a lady dressed in white robes, the only signs of her age were the few graying hairs streaming down her blonde hair. Correspondence flew up from the gardens and swarmed the glass like a flock of birds and, magically, phased through the glass into neat stacks all along the stone floor. Even here, children bearing the mark of the one headed owl sprinted between mountains formed of the letters, organizing the ever-growing mess. The lady kept her eyes closed through it all, occasionally whisking a paper out of the air as she nodded and pocketed the find.

Breaking her silence, the lady addressed a blonde woman bowing behind her. “A shining light in the stormy seas coming to turn the tides of war? I grow weary of listening to your fairy tales, Venus. You are the only person in the faction who hears this prophecy. Is it not enough for you to feed false hope to the children of our clan? Do your selfish desires force you to continue this wretched parade of lies!” Turning around fiercely, the lady released a pink fog to sweep over the bowing girl, lifting her into the air by her collar. “You are the current Lady Venus. Act your part and focus on real prophecies.”

Her final words had trembled with a scathing rage that had brought quiet to the room for a brief second. Eyes still shut, the woman’s expression softened as she lowered the girl back to the ground. “There are real soldiers fighting to keep our people and the people of the other clans safe. It is only with our prophecies that we can minimize the lives lost. The wise Lady Tenia appointed you as the inheritor to the fate faction, do your part.”

Lowering back into a kneeling position, the girl spoke once more. “I understand the heavy responsibilities on me, but I promise you this is no lie. I am not sure why no one else hears of this prophecy, but I am certain there is something in Derapen that can turn the tides of the war. If only we could divert some resources into-”

“Enough, Venus. Return to the gardens at once. You have taken enough of my time as it is.” With a flick of her robes, the older lady returned to supervising the ongoings of the room.

Venus remained kneeling for a few more minutes, hoping the Listener would reconsider, but the continued silence showed her this would not be happening. Careful not to show her irritation outwardly, she backed out of the room in a bow before storming down the spiraling staircase leading to the gardens. She wore long white robes identical to those of the Listener and used the oversized sleeves to cover her trembling fists.

A troop of soldiers stood at the top of the stairs, standing guard as they awaited Lady Venus. A green crystallized armor exquisitely wrapped over the soldiers: the helmet shaped like a gryphon’s head, spiked shoulder pads appearing like wings, armor around the waist carved like feathers, and a sleek bow together with a quiver of arrows. The soldier’s feet and abdomen remained bare with linen undergarments keeping them decent. The appropriately named Emerald Warriors quickly marched in formation behind Lady Venus once she exited the observatory.

While she stormed down the steps, a stunning view showed itself along the staircase. A thin wall of glass created a window to the environment around the gardens. Thin creeks watered the greenery before veering over the edge down into the nothingness. The tower and gardens were situated on a floating mountain, a multitude of other floating mountains could be seen in the horizon. Riding on wooden boards, psychic elementalists constantly traveled between the lands. Not that the natural beauty was appreciated by Lady Venus, a black cloth band covered her eyes into blindness.

Spearheading the entourage, Venus set her jaw and continued down the steps. Short bows met her as everyone struggled to get out of her way. Whether it was a three-headed owl or a one-headed owl, they bowed with the utmost respect. A chorus of “milady” and “your imminence” followed her as she sped down. Finally bursting out of the tower’s entrance, she ran towards a secluded corner of one of the gardens and altogether collapsed on the ground.

Ripping off a tuft of grass, Venus let out a frustrated howl towards the clouds encompassing the mountain.

“Wow… I take it your meeting with the Listener didn’t exactly go so well.” Leaning against a tree, a tall dark-skinned girl with a wild aura about her called out. She wore the same armor as the Emerald Warriors save for additional twin axes slung on her back.

Shifting her head towards the source of the sound, Venus snarled. “One month. One month, Maia! I’ve been patient, completing all the duties expected of Lady Venus perfectly. The only time I’ve diverged from my orders was to report the prophecy haunting me. If I am meant to be her successor, why is my only prophecy shunned?!”

“I hear you. You’ve been working your ass off your entire life just to be ignored when it comes to your first major prophecy.” A soft voice laced with empathy responded.

“And I understand, too. It’s not like I don’t realize how weird it is I am the only fate hearer that has found this message, especially when only a small chunk of my day is devoted to listening to the currents of fate, but shouldn’t this be investigated more thoroughly? Even if it’s unique, a whole month of hearing this prophecy on the daily seems important!” Standing up, Venus began pacing to wear off some of the anxious energy, coming dangerously close to the edge of the mountain.

“For a faction founded on using our ears, no one listens! The three-headed owls laugh behind my back, and the one-headed owls treat my prophecy with the same veracity as the tooth fairy. I can handle mocking. I’ve heard the judgmental mutters of everyone my whole life, but no one cares about my message. Why would I lie about something as grave as the war?!” Plopping down, Venus dangled her legs over the precipice of the mountain. Despite the cloth over her eyes, she seemed to peer deep into the horizon as she let out a tired sigh.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Heavy footsteps neared as Maia sat beside Venus. “I’m not biased here.”

“No one ever says they aren’t biased without actually being biased.”

Maia released an angry side-glance at Venus before continuing. “I am NOT biased in this situation, which is why I know getting your truth out there is worth all the effort I put in. I got a hearing with the leader.”

Venus’ head hung low as she spoke in a deflated tone. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve spoken to the Listener many times. I even brought my prophecy straight to the council, but they defer to the Listener with any decisions. It doesn’t matter who I speak to, it all comes back to square one.”

“You’re forgetting one leader.”

Briskly raising her head, Venus gasped. “You don’t mean..?”

“Talk to her yourself. While you were at the Observatory, I visited the botany glades and brought back Lady Tenia. She’s here now.”

Hearing a rustle in the leaves of a nearby tree, Venus touched her forehead to the ground as she bowed. A pink barrier stopped her head before it could touch the grass. “Just call me Ennie, Maia. I’ve known you girls since you were in diapers; there’s no need for so many formalities.”

Waving her hand slightly, Maia walked away to give them both some space, signaling the nearby Emerald Warriors to expand the perimeter.

A head full of white hair peeked out from under a straw hat, and simple cloth garbs stained with dirt covered Lady Tenia. With a slight hunch, she floated over to Venus, her feet hovering only an inch off the ground. Digging her hand through her basket, Tenia presented Venus with a recently picked Guava. “Have one my dear. I can see you are upset, and the sweet riches of my gardens can turn any frown upside down.” She waited until Venus had bitten into the fruit before continuing. “I understand you’ve been having some trouble as of late. Talk to me.”

“I am ashamed to take up your time, Grand Perceiver. I assure you I am okay. Whatever it is Maia has shared with you, I can handle on my own.”

Clicking her mouth, she gently flicked Venus’ forehead. “I don’t believe I ever taught the future Listener to stave off a helping hand. Now, speak openly, with no concern for the code of conduct. Maia has already filled me in some, but I want to hear it from you.”

Hearing the irrefutable tone from Lady Tenia, Venus gathered her courage before explaining the situation. Summarizing the most important details, she spoke of the recurring prophecy she heard on the winds of fate. Voices rejoicing from the brilliance emerging out of a hurricane. A fire to bring an end to the drought in the desert. She spoke earnestly as she explained no other fate hearer had gathered this prophecy or anything like it. It was entirely new, but she heard it so frequently it had crossed from the realm of hope to a reality.

While listening to Venus recount her past month, Tenia dipped her hand into her basket and retrieved a raw mushroom, giving nods of affirmation between mouthfuls. Soon, Venus’ story drew to a close as she gave her final words. “I thank you for gracing our fate mountain with your presence all to listen to my small complaints. As I have said everything out loud, I realize the error in my ways. Do not fret, Grand Perceiver, I will drop this and refocus on my duties as Lady Venus.”

Tenia continued chewing her mushroom only speaking after she finished one final gulp. “You are silly, child. There’s no need to minimize the problems you have been facing. As far as I’m concerned, you ARE doing your due diligence as Lady Venus by pursuing this matter.” Dusting herself off, Tenia stepped over the edge as she began to pace on thin air. “I can read you like a book, little one. I know of the pressures you place on yourself. Heavy burdens all to satisfy the image you have created of the ideal Venus. You must know I care not about things like that. I do not trouble myself with things like that and neither should you. I chose you as the inheritor to my position all those years ago based on the prophecies I myself heard, and I have supplemented you with the education necessary to succeed. There is no more to do now but to enjoy the fruit of your hard work. You are already an accomplished leader and fate hearer.” Approaching Venus, Tenia placed a hand over her left cheek. “I trust you so if you say this prophecy could change the war for the better, then that’s that. The council may defer to the Listener, but do not forget she defers to me. Let us go make this right.”

Pink fog rapidly covered the entire garden as it wrapped over Venus, Maia, and the rest of the Emerald Warriors. As if weightless, everyone glided to the tower, phasing through the glass and into the observatory. Gracefully placing the group down, Tenia floated over to the Listener, handing each of the scribe one-headed owls fruit on her way.

“Your highness, the Grand Perceiver. Forgive my negligence, I was not expecting your visit today.” The Listener hurriedly took out a black cloth from her robe and covered her eyes with it as she bowed deeply.

“If you don’t wear your cloth, how are you supposed to surrender yourself fully to the voice of fate! No wonder only little Venus here has heard the prophecy, and you even had the nerve to discount her prophecy without so much as sending a scouting party. Our faction provides the clan with direction. How can we do that without even checking the routes?”

The Listener remained quiet under the scolding. “I do apologize, but the fate owl’s laws dicate-”

“The laws of our faction are guidelines, but they are not the end all be all. As the standing leader, it is your job to pick and choose when to go beyond the laws. A prophecy directly from not just the current Lady Venus but my inheritor is one such situation. Explain yourself, Vada.”

The full gravity of Lady Tenia's authority weighed down on the Listener. In her old age, she had retired from the front lines years ago, but today she seemed to have come in full force. “We do not have the manpower to investigate every single prophecy. Most of our soldiers are either providing aid to Mesto or Pacifico. We can’t even research all of the most heard prophecies, let alone one heard only by a single individual. Even if it were a prophecy heard only by me, I would still not be able to allocate the resources.”

A stony gaze met the Listener as she scampered through her words. “I get the weekly reports, Vada. I understand the current manpower situation. However, you forget the purpose of our faction. We are not only meant to serve as the map for the Anima clan. We must also be the vehicle by which the clan reaches prosperity. If Lady Venus’ prophecy is correct, no matter the accuracy of the map we provide our warriors, Anima will never succeed in the journey without this beacon.”

“That does not change the fact we do not have people to send to verify the prophecy at this time, master.”

“Oh, but we do. Lady Venus herself will go.”

Simultaneous shock erupted from Venus and Vada. “WHAT!”

The Listener quickly followed up. “How can we send Lady Venus out of the planet. She belongs in our mountains where it is safe. By my side, she can learn the ropes of leading our people while continuing to practice her fate hearing.”

Shaking her head, Lady Tenia shot back. “My inheritor will not be made in the safety of a cage. It is out in the jungles that one becomes a leader. She already has a troop of Emerald Warriors assigned to her and a life knight in Maia. There is nothing else needed. I will go inform the council myself of my decision. In the meantime, help them with their preparations. Venus will be sent on a mission to… where did you say you need to go, child?”

Still in stupor, Venus muttered slowly. “In the pirate island of Kedra on planet Derapen, I must travel to the shores of the Tecon Desert.”