LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 7: THE ORACLE'S PRICE
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The Oracle's Price
Just as they had arrived, the earth and mountains flashed beneath Soulis' feet, his movements as swift and unerring as the very forces of nature. In just half a day, he had crossed a third of the continent, his divine speed leaving no trace of exhaustion in its wake. The world itself seemed to bend around him, the wind whispering at his command, the very elements in awe of his ascent.
Soulis came to a stop at the cave where his journey had begun. It was here, in this remote and unassuming place, that the seeds of his destiny had been sown. The same cave where his power had first awakened, where he had stood before Gaia, the Earth Mother, and made the prophecy that had brought him here. Now, standing at its entrance once again, he felt the weight of all that had transpired.
And there, waiting for him, stood Gaia herself — regal in her calm yet full of silent expectation. She extended her hand, offering Soulis the three stone slabs that had become the symbol of their wager.
"This is the agreed upon item," she said softly, her voice carrying both reverence and resignation.
The stone slabs, ancient and etched with symbols of a time long past, glowed faintly. They were not just mere artifacts; they were witnesses to a promise made, a prophecy fulfilled. The very essence of fate was embedded within them. It was these slabs that had bound Soulis and Gaia together in a wager whose outcome was now unavoidable.
Soulis took the slabs from her, his fingers brushing over the cold stone as he acknowledged the significance of what he held. This was no mere token — it was the culmination of his growth, his foresight, and the realization of his destiny. But it also marked a shift, for the divine forces now recognized him as one of their own, a being capable of shaping the very fabric of reality itself.
Gaia's gaze lingered on him, her ancient eyes betraying a flicker of uncertainty. She had once doubted him, her thoughts clouded by the belief that prophecy, with all its intangible power, could not be trusted. Yet now, she was forced to accept that Soulis' foresight had been more than just words. The birth of the Twelve Titans — his prediction — had come to pass, and with it, her understanding of the world had shifted.
"Your prophecy is correct," she said, her tone filled with quiet admiration. "The oracle is yours."
Soulis bowed his head in acknowledgment, though his expression remained composed. "Your honesty is your virtue," he replied. His words were simple but held an immense weight, for it was not just the promise of the slabs that mattered, but the recognition that had been given to him. He was no longer the weak god that had once stood before her; he was something far more potent.
For a moment, the two stood in silence, the air thick with unspoken thoughts and emotions. Gaia, ever the Earth Mother, seemed burdened by something far greater than the prophecy. Her mind was heavy with the conflict that had long simmered within her — a conflict that only now, after so many millennia, had come to the forefront.
Finally, she spoke, her voice soft yet full of sorrow. "Soulis," she began, her words carefully chosen, "as the Earth Mother, I feel I must ask you something that weighs heavily on my heart. Is the war between father and child truly inevitable?"
Her question hung in the air, a cry of uncertainty and pain. It was a question that transcended the boundaries of gods and mortals. Gaia, the eternal force of nature, stood at a crossroads, torn between her allegiance to her child, the embodiment of her very essence, and her bond to her eternal consort, the force that had shaped the world alongside her.
Soulis did not answer immediately. His eyes, once bright with the confidence of prophecy, now clouded with thought. This was not a question that could be answered with mere words, for it was a matter that stretched to the very core of existence itself.
"You must ask yourself this," he said, his voice steady, yet tinged with an unspoken understanding. "But know this, Gaia — if the time comes when you can no longer bear it, when the choice must be made, you may come to me. I will find a way to repay your virtue, should you ever need me."
Gaia's gaze softened, her ancient heart touched by his words. Though she did not fully understand the weight of the promise, she knew it was one that could not be ignored. It was a binding offer, a lifeline that she could cling to when the inevitable conflict finally tore at the fabric of her existence.
"I will keep your words in my heart," Gaia said quietly. "Thank you, Soulis."
With a final lingering glance, Gaia turned to leave, her steps heavy with the burden of the future. She did not know which side she would ultimately choose, but Soulis' promise had given her a measure of comfort. Perhaps, in time, she would find the clarity she so desperately sought. As she disappeared into the distance, her mind turned to her sisters, those ancient goddesses who might provide insight into the path she must walk.
Once Gaia was gone, Soulis returned to the cave, his mind still heavy with the weight of the divine conversation. He sat cross-legged, allowing the silence to envelop him as he turned inward, delving deep into the intricate web of power that now existed within him.
His body was no longer merely flesh and bone; it was a vessel of divine essence, an amalgamation of powers that were as ancient as the cosmos itself. Within him, the forces of time, spirituality, prophecy, and the moon coexisted, each one distinct but inextricably linked. These powers were not simply gifts bestowed upon him; they were a reflection of the path he had walked, the choices he had made, and the future he was destined to shape.
Yet, of all the powers that surged through him, only one was truly his — Spirituality. This was the force that had fully integrated with his being, that had become a part of his very soul. The others, the gifts of Chaos, were not yet fully under his control. They were fragments, distant and untouchable, still tethered to the world of Chaos from which they had originated.
For now, he accepted their presence, knowing that his time would come. One day, when his strength was undeniable, he would reclaim these powers as his own. He would consume them, absorb them into his being, and rise above the limitations of Chaos itself.
His thoughts shifted to the moon, that pale reflection of true celestial power. It was a force he had not yet fully harnessed, but one that would prove essential in his ascent. The moon was both a symbol and a tool — a reminder of his connection to the cosmos, a stepping stone toward greater power.
"I will find a place for you," Soulis murmured, his gaze turning upward to the moon that hung in the sky, faint and ethereal. "A place where you will be mine to control."
But the true power lay in prophecy. He had already surpassed the abilities of most gods in this domain. The only others who could rival him were Apollo and Prometheus, but even they were mere shadows compared to the might he now possessed. Soulis was the master of foresight, the weaver of fate. No god could challenge his ability to see into the future.
"Soon," Soulis thought with a satisfied smile, "soon, the world will be mine to shape."
His destiny was clear. The gods had recognized his power, and now, it was only a matter of time before he would rise to claim his place among them. But for now, he would wait. He would bide his time, watching, waiting, until the moment was ripe for him to seize control.
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