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((Wings))

Adi slowly explained herself, only releasing some of her regret, her pain, he sadness... the Oracle felt just some of her entrapment. She said she couldn't get a steady footing in her life and she no longer knew what to do. The Oracle nodded and listened to her - he thought that listening was far better than telling people what to do, it was down to them... not anyone else how they lived their life. He was unsure what she meant by the angels, he knew Lysandiel was present, and that she had some kind of rare power - yet again.. he did not beg to question any of it.

But then he could see her expression becoming tighter, he felt like the feeling of pointlessness and hopelessness was setting in. To her reply, he did calmly respond saying "That's true". What they thought didn't matter he just needed her to realise some of these things. She then asked him, "have you room for one troubled soul?". He stared at her, at her weary, bloody body, and heard the desperation in her voice, but at the same time the echo of emptiness and the ache of a broken heart. "Adi" he began, not stepping closer or talking any louder. He didn't even ask her to look his way, he said said "You don't belong here. You are far to precious to grace these halls, and myself for that matter." he spoke slowly and calmly, and he then said "But will not say no to a soul that needs to find it's wings. All i mean is - eventually you'll have to return, hm? You just need to learn to fly, and not the way you might think either. Anyway - walk with me" he asked, summoning his staff from a silent blue light. It was calm like a trickling river reflecting the twilight of the moon. He placed its bottom tip lightly on the wooden floor and the dragon's mouth on it's top began to breath a spiritual blue light. "Come" he said again, "we'll see to those wounds on the way, there is something you must see"

She came along with him but began to explain why she wan't what he had said she was. She was taking away any gratification that she was rewarded, whether it was just her wanting to be mor enormal, or her being too modest to except anything he did not know. They walked some corridors for some times, some were ruined, others covered in dry blood - but some were so calm, clean, warm and fresh with incense that it made you forget about all the horror. The Oracle walked through un-changed by what had happened, it was like he learned to be calm in the most dire of situations. "Perhaps" the Oracle said, then listening to her speak about being victorious, just having a cost. The Oracle said "Being simple is perhaps one of the most beautiful things in the world - no one likes a complicated mess. You are unique, yes, but not for what you have been bestowed against you will. You'll see eventually. As for success - everything has a cost, sometimes better - sometimes worse".

He then took her to some Soothsayers that could tend to her wound for a brief time, but then after a shrt while he reinvited her to follow, and he lead her to a small circular room witha colum up teh center. He gestured for her to go in, but it lead no where and barely fit the two of them within.

She followed him to the strange tiny room, she didn't voice her confusion but he knew what she was probably thinking. She asked where they were headed and so he was honest and said "to the Spirit Fissure" whilst gesturing above them. He lightly hit his staff against the floor below them, and an echo crawled up the walls above them, seemingly never stopping. Then the floor budged, becoming a stone elevator that would eventually bring them to the back roof of the Temple of Dreams.

On the way up he said "I think it would be important for you to come here with me. It's where I come whenever I am in need of tranquillity." The walls around them continued to brushed past them, down below as they raised up further and further. The only light was that of the Oracle's glowing blue staff. "It is also where the Spirits of our world can communicate with us, reaching out to lend us a guiding hand if we so accept them - if not - " he nodded to himself "its a place of inner thought." The elevator stopped with a small jolt, and an open archway lead out to the shining golden rooftop, and spanning from outside of the parameters at either edge of the very long building ascending the Spirit Fissure. The fissure itself was but shimmering, glass-like space, as if hot air passed through it and sometimes shined various colours. It was surrounded by an arch-like structure, seemingly naturally formed from stone and become overgrown with nature. It had a slight similarity with a serpentine dragon. It was monumental, to look up at its highest tip one would have to arch their head back as far as possible. The air was fresh with a new dawn, but no and again the smell of burnt debris and flesh could be smelled, the Oracle did his best to ignore it. However for the most part, aside from tweeting birds nearby, it was silent.

When they walked out before it, the Oracle but stood there, he did not look at her nor did he speak. He thought if she wanted to speak about anything she would bring it up - he would not pry. There were a single bench behind their feet that still stood, some others were thrown about amongst the mayhem and destroyed. The Oracle smoothly sat down as the wooden beneath him creaked a little, but he put his trust in it that it would not break.

They were sitting in silence together for some time, he was slightly surprised at how she sat on the ground rather than the bench. But the Oracle understood, she had her ways and he couldn't question them. They came from very similar, yet far different cultures. So he somewhat understood, but he was never a man to question.

She had so much to get off her chest, all he could do was sit there and let the air blow over his face as he stared up into the Spirit Fissure. It almost looked like he wasn't listening at all but really he was just good at focusing and letting the rest of the world become a blur to him. She mentioned Zuriel, an Angel he most definitely had read about. She was with him, apparently, and it would explain a lot he thought. But she was tired of responsibility, and wanted selfishness, she so wanted to be selfish. She dropped her gaze and this caught his attention. She wanted to return, yet at the same time she knew that she could not, and now he could feel the entrapment and the fear of nothing ever returning to the way it used to be, to being comfortable. It was like the whole world was against her and she couldn't ever be right.

She went silent for a minute, but managed to keep speaking. Apparently the angels would be returning, and she felt like she was but only an object.

"It would seem you've attracted much attention" The Oracle began, staring off into the fissure. He said "Perhaps if this is something you can never avoid... then it is something you must do.But maybe it is for you to decide to do this, for example. This is not them making you do this, this is you deciding to allow them to do this. I sense Zuriel within you, Rur'Adika. But I will not be the person to tell you what to do - all i mean to say is that now i understand your situation. " he took a deep breath before carrying on, "Maybe this is not the beginning of the end, but instead the end of the beginning. The spirits see a bright future for you Adi" his expression then showed that he was impressed, "it would seem which ever choice you choose to make, you'll be well." he then stood up and stepped beside her. He crossed his arms and looked into the Spirit Fissure with her once more. He then narrowed his brows and deep thought as he said "I think you should be selfish. Yes, i think you should. You've already begun by hiding Zuriel away and giving yourself some peace. So why stop here? I know you want to remain with him, but I understand whatever predicament you are in, the end means you must depart. But that is never the end, hm? Stay as long as you wish" the Oracle then turned around before taking his leave, "If you require me, i'll be seeing to the more damaged areas of the Temple."

((What do you think of this? Do you want to do more? We can do a short time skip if you like? ))

The Oracle took his leave silently and with respect as he left Adi to wander her thoughts and decipher the puzzles of her inner-battle. He knew that tonight she would uncover a journey of herself, and there was no better time. The Oracle and his Soothsayers spent the remainder of the evening to look after the wounded in the immediate area, many people coming to the revered Temple of Dreams as their only remaining place of sanctuary. Elementals were mending the broken towns, roads and defences, and many respected their dead at Nokori Valley. Soon, night came, and for the first time in weeks it was possible to sleep in the darkness without fear of demons, shadows, or nightmares.

The next morning, The Oracle stood before the Spirit Fissure, the fresh morning breeze filling his lungs like new life had been given to him. He no longer smelled the charred remnants of the areas burned by mysterious fire, he no longer smelled the dead carcasses scattered around the Temple and most of all, everything was just seeming more... normal. He did not wake Adi and instead stood silently between her and the monolithic fissure. But The Oracle was not here, instead he was exploring the Spirit Realm and seeking guidance. He was here and he was not whilst he saw the world as the spirits do, unscathed by the changes thrust upon and showing the future as it should be. He was traversing the areas around and between World's End, he found the travelling group that were originally with Adi. They were alive - some badly injured but they were alive and here to see the beautiful golden morning. Falling away from his dream, The Oracle found his body and awoke, feeling the warm sun's rays on his skin and greeting the tweeting of morning birds flying over. Turning around, Adi was stirring and awaking from her own pleasant slumber. "Good morning" he said calmly, looking down at her, then saying "You look rejuvenated." with the slightest of smiles. "Your friends will soon be arriving - perhaps an hour or so." he then said, looking out into the distance towards the location of World's End, invisible from here, hidden far over the horizon. He looked back to her and said "They're looking for you"

Adi was a mixture of shock, fear and confidence when The Oracle announced that the others would be arriving in the next few hours. He understood, it was all still quite soon and even now it would seem they could be pressing her to make a decision. Maybe that's not the case but The Oracle wasn't going to force her to do anything.

He looked up into the sun with squinty eyes for a few moments before looking back at Adi, and then around him at the mountains around them as he said "Then it would seem that a gypsy hasn't wandered through my temple" he then turned around as if to have not spoken to her, though he had the slightest smirk appear on his face. He then also added "At least not yet! But I'm sure they'll stay for a while."

With that he made a promise not to tell them that she was here, he would give Adi all the time she needed and he would not take any part of becoming a part of thsi mess, but he would not turn them down if they sought out refuge for a day or two.

LAXIOȠ

They all arrived at the front gates to the temple together, Lucas, Laxion, Alexis, Claudia and Nyru. They were weary and in desperate need of care, travelling from the north has been more than tiresome. The Oracle was there to greet them. "I cannot thank you all enough for what you have done - because of you the world may see another golden era of peace. Please, make yourselves at home in my temple, the Soothsayers and healers will tend to your wounds. "Thank you Oracle, your service is more than humble" Lucas replied, leading them all inside. The main hall was clear and was dotted with injured fighters, healers calmly walking around tending to individuals. Walking ahead of them the Oracle said "If you so need there are rooms for each of you in the upper quarters. You may use them for as long as you require to recover." Laxion and Nyru couldn't be more thankful... but there were still pressing matters dampening their moods. Alexis was still distraught for one, she couldn't stop thinking about Adi and Ruby - so she had to ask "Oracle... Has Rur'Adika passed through here at all?"
"No, unfortunately not" the Oracle replied before stopping and turning around to face them, "I do hope that she is alright." Alexis sighed. The Oracle said no more.

Each of them sat on temporary cloth beds whilst their wounds were tended to, healers brought them fresh water and bread, each of them surprisingly flavourful. "I must ask you all a question..." the Oracle began, standing in the centre of them all. Alexis heart sank, she thought that maybe he was going to bring up Ruby, but instead he asked "Do you know what has caused the fire to scorch our land?". Much to her surprise, it was about the fire, not Ruby. Lucas stared down i thought - there had to be a reason, meanwhile Laxion and Nyru looked at each other - each as lost as the other. The Oracle thought they would not know, so he revealed to them it was "Dragon fire." Much to their shock. Alexis gasped, and instantly she asked "What?! The dragons of The Crossing would never do such a thing?!"
"No, no... no. It was not the Dragons of the Crossing, Alexis." he replied, staring out the window. "Then what dragons? They haven't been seen for centuries, since before the Great Voyage even, there are barely any remains at Dragonend either" Lucas asked. But the Oracle replied with "Exactly" quite triumphantly, knowing he got something right yet again. "If the bodies are not at Dragonend, then where are they, hm?" Nyru became worried, he didn't like the thought of rampaging dragons flying around the world. "What is just one?" Lucas asked, and the Oracle nodded, "I only saw one. However the fire was only used on concentrations of demons and undead, as well as decimating any areas cursed or ruined already. In some ways this dragon did us a favour".

LAXIOȠ

The food and drink went down well, they had all been starved and were thirstier than Laxion can ever remember being before. However the turn of events, talking about dragons, was become something that worried them all. Though some of them were still more affected by the events of the last day or two than others, more so Claudia, still mourning the loss of her sister, and Lucas felt guilty whenever he saw her face that he couldn't do anything else to prevent Ruby's death.

Some time passed and it was turning to evening, the sunset was beginning far off in the distance and long shadows was crawling across the mountains, glowing by the orange light from the west. They had all been recovering together in the main halls, sometimes venturing to other corridors for a walk to get their minds off of some matters. The Oracle would even speak to them alone if they ever needed. They were all together again however in the main hall, there were hardly anyone here now as most o the injured had been healed or the homeless had been made temporary shelter by the elementals and their hard, swift work. Alexis was staring out the window, the golden glow spread across her skin like she was an angel of the dusk. She was sat on the ledge, leaning against the wall thick glass with one fist up to her mouth. She couldn't stop thinking about where Adi could be... and every other minute she would be reminded that Ruby was no longer here for her to look after or two speak to. It took the best of her will to stop herself from hanging her head and letting the tears flow. Laxion tried to comfort her earlier, but she asked him to leave her be, she just wanted to be alone to think to herself - it was just the way she had become after maturing for so many years. It was but one more difference between herself and the others that had been made when she jumped out of her time stream.

Laxion sat with Lucas on a make-shift bed they had been treated on earlier, they were discussing what should be done after this. "... And so it will be down to the Guildeam to decide what to do... as far as the border to the Land of Crows..." Lucas said, looking down at the ground. Laxion looked up and stared at Nyru and Claudia who sat not far from them, he said to Lucas "Do you think it's another war..."
"no."
"How can you be so sure?" the elemental asked, and Lucas pulled out his scroll and unravelled it. For Laxion it was just scribbles and markings made of white light, but Lucas explained it to him. "Apparently the dragon has been sighted circling Shard. Valorious gets the impression that the Circle could be involved. They have more secrets than anyone else"
"... not to mention the power to decimate cities - remember Kuj'anast?" Laxion commented, and Lucas nodded, remembering the tomes he had read about the destruction of Kuj'anast by the Circle because of the power the city was gaining - it was out of control. Lucas finally added "We'll find out in the coming days, please excuse me" Luca then stood up.

Meanwhile Nyru was speaking with Claudia, he had been asking if Claudia needed anything or wanted to talk, but if she didn't he kept quiet for the most part, he just gave her company. "hey..." he then said "..." but couldn't think of anything to say. He didn't want to remind Claudia or make any of her emotions worse. But that was when Lucas arrived, he asked "May I have a moment with you, Claudia?" to which Nyru looked at her, and then nodded before leaving to sit with Laxion. "I uh..." Lucas began, trying to find the will to say what he wanted. He swallowed and said "want to apologise..." with every ounce of regret in his tone. "I - I didn't know what to do... I couldn't - She just..." and very quickly Lucas watched his memories show her break, die, and vanish, he wanted to just let a tear run down his cheek but managed to stop the gathering tears from falling.