Chapter 7: The Chosen: Luci’El Daeth
Upon hearing this absurd request, Blood Moon drove her knee into Daemon’s stomach, then let herself fall out the window without taking the time to look where she would land.
" Hey! Be careful! "
Down below, he heard the sound of branches cracking. The young woman had landed violently in a thorny bush that bordered the wall of the manor.
" Is she really Blood Moon? Did I make a mistake? " Daemon scratched his head while looking at the silhouette below.
Blood Moon got up with difficulty. She was limping on her left leg, before disappearing while flipping him off.
" She has character. " he murmured as he closed the window.
...
Besides the chi users who train hard to become stronger, there are special beings: The Chosen. These individuals are born with a unique heavenly gift, for they are blessed by the Oracle. They are recognized by the particle " El " present in their name.
The Sorcery Clan occupied a singular place in Hundun. It was the only truly neutral clan, as it swore allegiance to no one. The Sorcery Clan had neither declared allies nor enemies.
The clan was made up almost exclusively of women, known as Witches. These practitioners of mystical arts possessed a power and methods that remained largely misunderstood by the outside world. Their neutrality was a choice, and no one had ever had the means to force them otherwise.
Moreover, these women were the protectors of the Doom, a cave where extremely dangerous relics resided. The Oracle herself was one of these mystical relics.
In a tower, at the very top of the Sorcery Clan domain, sat a young woman. The tower was built of black stone and the room where she was located was circular, with ogive windows that let in the icy wind of the mountain.
She had very long, smooth golden hair that fell to the floor. Her face showed no particular expression, as her eyes were hidden by a white blindfold. She was blind, but that took nothing away from her beauty. Her face was delicate and expressionless. She wore long white linen garments adorned with octogram patterns embroidered in silver thread.
She delicately ran her fingers over the necklace she wore around her neck: half of an eight-pointed star, as golden as her hair.
This fragile beauty was none other than the only daughter of the Grand Witch and the heiress of the Sorcery Clan: Luci’El Daeth.
She sighed in the cold breeze entering through the window. The air smelled of spring. She would have loved so much to go down, walk in the meadows, feel the grass under her bare feet. Sometimes she thought about running away. But...
" Darling, what are you doing so close to the balcony? " The voice was gentle.
" I apologize, mother. " Luci’El lowered her head.
The leader of the Sorcery Clan approached silently. She had long golden hair with some graying strands. Her piercing blue eyes observed her daughter with tenderness.
She took a wool blanket resting on a chest and placed it over Luci’El’s shoulders to warm her. Then she fetched a brush and began to caress her daughter’s long golden hair, gently untangling the knots.
" Mother? " Luci’El turned her head slightly.
" What is it, my daughter? "
" You know, I was wondering... From here, I can smell the scent of flowers blooming in spring. I was wondering if... "
" No! " The Grand Witch violently grabbed her daughter’s hair.
" Mother, you’re hurting me. "
" I apologize, darling. " Agath immediately released her grip and placed the brush on the windowsill. Her voice became gentle again. " But you know very well that your future is grand. I must do everything to protect you. I cannot let you wander outside, it would be too dangerous. Given your divine powers... It is enough for you to create your own meadow here, in an eternal spring. "
Luci’El smiled weakly. " You are right, mother. "
" You are precious, my daughter. " Agath placed a kiss on Luci’El’s forehead. " More than anything in the world. "
They remained silent for several minutes. The wind continued to blow through the window, making the golden strands of hair dance.
" It is almost midnight. " Agath said finally while looking at the sky. " We must prepare. "
She took her daughter’s hand and led her inside the tower. They climbed the spiral staircase, passing in front of libraries.
On the top floor of the tower, a vast circular room awaited them. Several witches were already busy, preparing mystical instruments on a white altar table. One could see candles, crystals cut into octogram shapes and silver bowls containing smoking herbs.
In the center of the room, there was a vast expanse of water that reflected the night sky. The glass ceiling let in the light of the stars, which reflected in the water in a myriad of sparkling points.
Upon seeing the Grand Witch arrive with her daughter, all the witches bowed deeply.
" We salute the Matriarch... And the Star of Midnight. " they said in chorus.
Luci’El bowed slightly in return.
" Is everything in place? "
" In a few seconds, everything will be ready, Matriarch. "
" Good. "
Every day, at precisely midnight, the Grand Witch Agath Daeth used the Oracle to analyze the fate of every child to be born. The witches present then transcribed these predictions onto scrolls. As a result, there was an entire room in the tower containing billions of scrolls classified by date, by clan, by region. It was her duty, because knowing the fate of men gave an overview of what the next era would become.
Luci’El hesitated for a moment, then she spoke. " Mother, do you think the Oracle can make mistakes? "
Agath turned around, " You are referring again to that boy who bears the Mark of the Beast? "
Luci’El lowered her head. " I was simply wondering... "
" The Oracle is a mystical relic. " Agath cut her daughter off in a firm voice. " Just as it predicted my fate: the Witch who would give birth to the most powerful of The Chosen. And here we are, my precious daughter is by my side, as foreseen. " She approached Luci’El and took her chin between her fingers. " And to answer your question, that boy is your enemy. You will have to defeat him sooner or later to save our world. That is your destiny, my daughter. "
Luci’El remained silent.
" I understand, mother. " she said finally.
" Now, follow the ceremony. In the future, it will be you who uses the Oracle. " Agath turned and walked toward the center of the room.
She stopped at the edge of the water basin. She raised her hands in front of her and gracefully passed her fingers through the air. Chi emanated from the tips of her fingers, tracing luminous patterns that floated for a moment before disappearing.
Suddenly, the space above the basin tore open. A fissure appeared, releasing a blinding light. From this tear emerged a crown, made of a dark metal that no one could identify. Seven blue gems resembling eyes embedded on its perimeter shone. It was the Oracle.
Agath extended her hands and caught the crown. She lifted it above her head, then placed it delicately on her graying hair. As soon as the crown touched her forehead, her eyes became entirely white.
...
The next morning, at the manor in the Thirteenth District, Daemon was sitting at the large table in the dining room. In front of him, a glass of milk... Mallory stood behind him, arms crossed, making sure he drank every drop.
" Young master, you have not finished. "
" But I’m not hungry anymore. " Daemon pushed the glass away.
Mallory immediately pushed it back in front of him. " It is not a question of hunger. It is a question of health. You must grow. "
Daemon was about to protest when there was a knock at the door. A guard entered and bowed.
" Sorry for the disturbance, young master. " he said in a breathless voice. " But we arrested a woman who was trying to sell supplies bearing the Sword Clan crest. She said she knew you. "
Daemon raised an eyebrow. " Who? Bring her here. "
The guard left and returned a few seconds later with two of his colleagues. Between them, a young woman was struggling, her fists tied behind her back.
" Ah! It’s you! " Daemon burst out laughing upon recognizing Blood Moon.
Mallory narrowed her eyes. " You know this person, young master? "