Tal’Duan

Blessed to have entry to the Dark Heavens Temple, Tal’Duan moved away from the coveted places of the marble structure. The Full Heaven platform, laced with Quentesite, would resonate with the Dark Sun and always had unworthy wretches loitering around the site. On the far side of the vaulted ceilings, the Empty Heaven portal sunk into the mountain. Again the unfit gathered in their ignorance, climbed ever lower in hopes to reach the sky. Fools all of them.

Only the wise followed the stages of the Dark Heavens. The cluster of seniors tracking its phases and moving to the smaller shrines spaced evenly up and down both sides of the temple.

Tal’Duan was not allowed entry with the seniors. They came from a drop of blood that wept power. A mongrel of birth like her was lucky to simply be allowed into the majesty that was the temple. It was a better place to grasp onto threads of Fate than any other she’d seen. Even when denied the best locations.

Some would prostrate themselves. Others would drop into a prescribed pose. Tal’Duan knew better, though. Simply standing in the middle of the room was all she needed to meditate.

Following the mandate of her master, she reached out through the cycles of the Dark Heavens. As she had done for months now, expending all of her ability to see a distant glimmer. Of what, she and her master did not know for certain. One does not easily dismiss the intuition of a venerable master. So she kept trying. Tonight something was different.

The path of the Dark Heavens traced lines through the sky. Attuning oneself to the long cycles came at the cost of seeing what was right around the corner. However, Tal’Duan had done this attuning over the last six months. So when the ripple in Fate started, she could feel it.

From its source in the Eastern divide. It was a deep echo, a moment of Fate that was like an iceberg, with a visible surface impact far smaller than the potential underneath. Drawn into the whirlpool of force, Fate plucked her mind along for a ride.

Again she knew the true teachings of the Oracles. While one could rapidly empower themselves by wrapping the threads of Fate into themselves during such transcendent moments, it was better to instead allow Fate to flow through you. A conduit aligned to Fate. Being a conduit to its power would leave a sediment of potential that made a more stable foundation. The dark heavens were far away and reaching them would be a marathon of a task. Not all would make it. It was with a lack of faith that not all were worthy that they turned from the true ways. Being found wanting was something you accepted as true as the seasons. Rejecting the truth was a balm for the weak.

Regardless, she entered the flow of Fate as an old friend. Someone had lent Fate a wound. The newcomers that the Eastern Knighthood had declared unclean. The monster born, as they transitioned into the Wild Divide between the Eastern Knighthood and the Western Enlightenment. The tear in the fabric of Fate was small. Only one so attuned in the center of the Dark Heavens Temple on a clear night sky could find it.

But the nature of Fate was that which any small change opened space for ripples to magnify the force. Fate always held people within its gentle grasp. Returning to the path after someone chose wrongly. To break Fate was an application of force and conviction beyond the means of most. In this opening, as Fate ripples, anyone who chose wrongly from Fate could write that decision into the path Fate would settle back into. In this way, all disturbances of Fate had the potential to amplify as they perpetuated.

She saw the offender against Fate. A cultivator, some variant that reminder her of the Tera and Iron Horn sects. The outworld cultivator wielded the purple magic of corruption. Tal’Duan was loath to praise the Eastern Knighthood for their condemnation of the monster born, but this time they were not blind and backward as past would indicate.

Blurrier images crested over her senses. New life on a razor’s edge. A golden spark that could burn away the tapestry of Fate.

Taking in a shuddering breath, she returned to her senses.

“Look at this, an outsider pretending to have a revelation.” An Oracle in the group of seniors sneered. “I just bet you want us to come to you and beg what we can learn from you. Let me tell you how this goes. We don’t. I’ve looked into the future on your behalf. You’ll be pleased to know you're not in it.”

Pompous prick!

Having better things to do, she held her tongue and hurried to her master. Following the swishing of her robes, the Senior Oracle called out. “So embarrassed her ruse didn’t work that she must flee.”

Fate, Tel’Duan thought angrily. You better reward me for my promptness! It was a small blasphemy to tell Fate what to do, but in her thoughts, she felt safe.

Floating down the mountain propelled from stepping off from rocky protrusions and suborn gnarled mountain trees, She made her way to the town sprawled out before the Dark Heaven Mountain. Her target a nearby retreat in the central district, as befit the status of her master.

Landing gracefully in the courtyard, she bowed with her head mere inches from the decorated stonework.

“You’ve returned early.” Her master’s voice was aged, as his was body, into the waning years of life. “Good news, I presume.”

Without rising, she answered. “Yes, Great Oracle. I believe I have seen the disturbance you mentioned. One with the potential to ripple across all of Fate.” Her voice betrayed her and quivered. “Burn across all of Fate.”

“Hahaaaa, yes! You have done well, my disciple, rise.” The Great Oracle acknowledged her gratitude. “This way.”

For the first time in many years, The Great Oracle brought out a tea set. “Come drink with me. Tell me all you can.”

Her heart was full to bursting but duty demanded she comport herself properly.

Gliding along beside him, she found herself a chair across the table.

“No, no. Here.” He gestured at the adjacent chair reserved for friends and equals.

Hardly paying attention to her actions, she moved over.

“Very good, now tell me.” His demand was genial and set her nerves at ease.

So she opened up and explained all she could. Answering pointed questions and even being rewarded with a smile for her enthusiasm.

“… and I regret that is all I have to unveil today, Honored Master.” Tal’Duan finished. “What would you have of me?”

“Your thoughts. What do you think of this occurrence?” The Great Oracle asked.

The time spent thus far had made her brazen. She spoke with conviction. “I think that his outsider is a monster among men and a blight against Fate. Given the order, it would be my pleasure to protect Fate from his continued existence.”

His smile wavered. “Ah, I see why you would see that.”

“Is that not right Master, Honored One?” Tal’Duan asked, her heart in her throat.

“Do you remember why I chose you all those years ago?” He asked looking for the first time in a long time like the old man he was.

Partially closing her eyes, she answered. “My Moon Fox bloodline.” Her eyelids opened and closed like the stages of the moon. Most noticeable when barely open and almost entirely shut. She knew that he’d seen them before choosing her of all the applicants.

“No, that is why you chose me. Of all the places a talented young cultivator could go, you came to me because of your bloodline powers. I chose you because, of all the applicants, you believed my teachings.” The weight of regret settled into his gaze. “Sure, the others could recite it but you, in your eyes, I saw conviction and belief. In the old ways, in me.”

“I never meant for this to happen but you have to choose. Between me and the ways we were taught.” The Grate Oracle met her eyes without flinching. “I have felt Fate attuned beyond your senses. Where you feel years, I sense eons. Where you see Fate as a flat tapestry, I see a fuller picture.”

He took his teaspoon and set the point against his napkin. Slowly he twisted until the cloth bunched up and coiled around the spoon.

“This is what Fate looks like now.” The pain fueling his resolve showed. “Fate is twisted and hurting. This time I ask you to not defend Fate against those who may break it. Rather I want you to help break Fate and set it free.”

She had been ready to do many things for the Great Oracle. Kill without question, spend time digging a hole and filling it in on the trust that it was meaningful, even giving her body over, though he’d never asked. This, though made her feel aghast.

All those things she would do in service to Fate. Breaking Fate even by accident was a supreme violation. Burning all of it by plan and purpose. It was monstrous, a violation of right and wrong determined by Fate itself.

She was tearing apart inside. How could he believe this was the right course of action? How could he ask this of me, his most faithful?

There was no middle ground either fight the Great Master, a feeble old man and carry on in his footsteps before he walked astray or… or align herself with his cause and carry out the most vile of sins.