ICILIA WINTERS

Lemme tell you a little something about night duty... it's not freaking fun at all. I had to stay awake, clipping my eyes apart to keep them open while everyone else enjoyed a good night's rest.

Want to know why I was on night duty?

Because Oracle Xyla wasn't up before midnight so we ransacked her fridge, had dinner and everyone voted for me to stay awake because apparently, I was the only one among Zoran and I to be able to narrate the prophecy clearly and get some answers from Oracle Xyla without looking like a fool (which earned a lot of protest from Zoran by the way) and when I questioned why only "out of Zoran and I," they just stared at me as if I'd suddenly grown nine extra heads like Ravan from Ramayana and then, they'd broken it down to me slowly that as the prophecy was most likely about Zoran and I, they shouldn't have to suffer from lack of sleep.

Those slime balls!

Long story short, I ended up on night duty.

And as it turns out, I was awake the entire freaking night for absolutely nothing. Nothing. Oracle Xyla got up around noon the next day and I didn't even get a wink of sleep for my oh-so-beloved friends got up at ten the next morning. Then we had breakfast. Then the Oracle woke up from her deep, deep sleep. Yes, I was grumpy. Yes, I was like the walking dead.

Anyway, as soon as Oracle Xyla woke up, Darin got some water for her to drink. She sipped her water slowly and when she was done, "What happened?" she asked. "Why did I pass out?"

"So you remember passing out but not spouting out the prophecy?" Zoran muttered from next to Vanessa who elbowed him. She got a glare in return.

Yeah, I laughed silently at that scene.

"Oracle Xyla, you spoke a prophecy and then passed out," Regi said and then frowned, "The prophecy didn't sound good at all."

Oracle Xyla nodded. "Does anyone remember the lines of the prophecy?" she asked. So, I see she chose to ignore the part where Regi said that the prophecy didn't sound good at all. Oh well!

Fayth, who was standing behind me, pushed me forward. "She knows it by heart, Oracle Xyla," she said, winking at me.

I glared at her.

"You do Icilia?" Oracle Xyla questioned.

"Yes, Oracle. I remember," I muttered, my voice sounding hazy due to lack of sleep.

"Do recite then please," Oracle Xyla beckoned me forward.

I cleared my throat.

"The day fire meets ice

The forgotten shall raise

And the heroes' choice

Shall unleash his voice

A battle to the end, and war to decide

Who will decline? Who will survive?"

"Was that it Icilia?" Oracle Xyla asked me to which I nodded my head. "Okay then. We must now try and interpret the prophecy."

"Where should we start?" Fayth questioned, raising an eyebrow as though mocking Oracle Xyla. "The prophecy? Or the back story? Or the details you won't tell us? Better yet, how about those details you know but won't tell us which will result in the destruction of Qrison Vlesa and millions of deaths leaving the blood on your hands. Please do pick. Any one will do."

Yup, she was definitely mocking Oracle Xyla.

"Fayth," Oracle Xyla let out a breath most likely annoyed at Fayth's constant tantrums, "I have explained it to you before and it's the same thing I'm going to tell you again... I can tell you the back story and all that I know when it's the right time."

"Right," Fayth laughed, almost mockingly. "And when will this so-called right time come? When we're dead? Or when we're buried six feet under?"

"Fayth," Oracle Xyla started, "The right time will come when it comes. But I know for sure it won't be when you're dead or when you're six feet under. Okay."

"No, Oracle Xyla. What Fayth said was absolutely right. Our time is running short and if you've ever heard of the saying, 'time and tide waits for none,' you'd definitely know what we're talking  about here," Treznor added and he was absolutely right.

"I'm with Fayth and Treznor here Oracle Xyla," Darin said, pointing to Fayth and Treznor. "What they said was absolutely right. Honestly, I don't know if you understand this but we're walking on a tight rope here and not the ones like in circus where you know there'll be someone to catch you if you fall. In this situation, if we fall, we fall right to our deaths, dragging the whole of Qrison Vlesa down with us. I'm very close to losing my patience here Oracle and I'm known to be a very patient fella."

Leave it to Darin to joke and sound serious at the same time. Besides, he's actually damn patient. Seriously.

"Children, please listen to me-" Oracle Xyla started again.

"No," I interrupted her this time, my veins glowing red with blood. "We're not children Oracle Xyla. I mean this with all due respect but whatever respect I had for you just flew out that freaking window." I pointed to one of the windows in Oracle Xyla's cave. "We're a bunch of teenagers who're meant to be enjoying life, partying, pranking, having fun but instead, we're stuck with the weight of saving Qrison Vlesa on our shoulders. And let me tell you something, it's freaking heavy. We left the morning right after Zoran and I's birthday just to get some advice from you and here you are, telling us you can't reveal the shit that may save Qrison Vlesa from being destroyed. Like really? We trekked all the way here for nothing. All of what you just told, we could have just asked Grandpa Albert, consulted some books and bam, we would've known it. Do you what a horrible birthday present this is?"

"Icilia's completely right. We expected a car, a phone, a bike, something like that as a present for our birthday. Even a vacation with our friends would do. But no, what you wish for, you don't get. Instead what do we get? What we do get is a huge weight on our shoulders and everybody counting on us to save Qrison Vlesa," Zoran said and came to stand next to me, putting his hand on my shoulder to show that he supported me.

"Oracle Xyla, do you know how many babies are born everyday in Qrison Vlesa?" Sanya questioned.

"No-" Oracle Xyla said before she was interrupted by Sanya.

"Do you know how many children are below the age of five in Qrison Vlesa?" Sanya asked.

"No."

"Do you know how many elderly people are there in Qrison Vlesa who count on us?" Sanya raised an eyebrow.

"No Sanya," Oracle Xyla answered.

"Finally Oracle Xyla, do you know how many innocent people would lose their life because of your refusal to tell us the important details just 'cause it wasn't the right time?"

Oracle Xyla shrugged, "How do you want me to answer the question Sanya? Anything I answer, I'll hurt you and you'll have a comeback for it."

"You know me too well Oracle and I wouldn't expect nothing less too. You see, I'm known to be good and helpful but I can turn bad and violent and trust me, you won't like that side of me," Sanya looked at her nails and then looked back at Oracle Xyla. Badass! "Dear Oracle, at least five to ten babies are born everyday, at least thousand kids are there in Qrison Vlesa who are below five years of age, there are at least ten thousand elderly people who are counting on the eight of us and you to save Qrison Vlesa and finally, lakhs and lakhs of innocent people will lose their life just because you were being selfish," Sanya finished and all of us, excluding Darin stared at her wide-eyed while Darin looked proud.

Who knew she had it in her?!

Sanya always seemed like a sweet girl who'd help you out when you were in trouble and would be the shoulder that you could cry on or lean on. She always smiled and laughed and seeing her like this, so devious and confident, was amazing and mind-blowing... at the same time!

"Really Oracle Xyla, I think we just wasted time coming here and as Icilia said, we would've gotten to know the prophecy anyway through Grandpa because you called him or something like that. Wasting a whole day just to visit you and end up with nothing.. it's frustrating,"

Vanessa stepped forward. "I know you're tired of hearing our complains and we're tired of hearing your same old excuse so I guess, it goes both ways."

"Oracle Xyla, if you aren't going to tell us anything, we will leave right now. We've already wasted enough time as it is and we definitely don't want to waste any more. So please, just either tell us what you decision so that we can either stay or leave. We can figure out the prophecy on our own as well," Regi said and what he said couldn't be more true. "Even then, we're begging you Oracle Xyla, please tell us whatever you know otherwise the outcome will be worse than the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre combined with the World Wars casualties. And if that doesn't make you understand how much the casualty will be because of your refusal, I don't know what will."

"Okay you know what, fine. I will tell you all, all that I know. It won't be pleasant though," Oracle  Xyla let out a sigh.

"Yes!" we pumped our fists, glad that our efforts were finally starting to see some ripe fruits and not raw ones.

"There are three parts to the story and then some other information. You'll need to know my back story which makes up one part of the main story or incident, then there is the gods' back story and finally, Qrison Vlesa's back story. They are in no particular order. But before any of that, we first need to interpret the prophecy," Oracle Xyla said.

"Oracle Xyla, you need to swear on Qrison Vlesa that you will tell us all that you know," I said.

"It's just that we need some assurance that you're going to follow through your word."

"That's fine, Icilia. You don't need to explain yourself," Oracle Xyla smiled. "I, Oracle Xyla, speaker of prophecies, solemnly swear on Qrison Vlesa to tell Icilia Winters, Zoran Summers, Fayth Pierre, Treznor Heard, Sanya Patel, Darin Price, Vanessa Sterling and Regi Lennox all that I know which may or may not help them save Qrison Vlesa."

Lightning struck and thunder sounded in the near distance, waves clashed furiously against the rocks signifying the hold of a promise.

"Shall we try and interpret the prophecy now?" Oracle Xyla asked and we all nodded our heads.

"Okay, this is how it's going to work. I'll point to someone or say someone's name and whatever I've asked, they'll do just that. Okay?"

We all nodded our heads again.

"Good. Regi, please recite the first line of the prophecy," Oracle Xyla said, looking at Regi.

"Me?" Regi asked, looking shocked and Oracle Xyla nodded her head. "Okay. The day fire meets ice."

"Okay. Give me synonyms or anything that relates to fire," Oracle Xyla said. Sanya, go."

"Hot. Agni. Orange. Yellow," Sanya started listing words.

"Wait. Hot?" I said, something striking my mind when Sanya said the word hot.

"What is it that you're thinking Icilia?" Oracle Xyla asked.

"Aren't summers hot too? Sometimes they cause forest fires," I started.

"Where are you going with this Icilia?" Regi asked me while Oracle Xyla had a knowing glint in her eyes. She was waiting for me to say it out loud.

"Summer guys, as in Zoran's last name. Fire equals summer and summer equals Zoran's last name," I said and smirked as realization dawned on my friends and their face features changed from that of confusion to realization.

"Like ice equals your last name," Darin said.

"Absolutely Darin. The day fire meets ice most definitely means the day Icilia and Zoran met. To put it another way, the day they became one and ready to face this situation," Oracle Xyla explained and immediately, all of our faces became scrunched.

"Oracle, we haven't become one yet," Zoran said, cringing when he said one.

"Zoran, I didn't mean it in that way," Oracle Xyla said, amusement clear in her eyes.

"It sure sounded like it," Darin muttered and I elbowed him.

"I meant when you and Icilia realised that you were mates that day of your mating ceremony and birthday," Oracle Xyla explained further and all of our mouths formed an 'o' shape. Thank God!

"Now that we've successfully interpreted the first line, Vanessa, can you recite the second line please?" Oracle Xyla asked.

"Sure. The forgotten shall raise," Vanessa said.

"The forgotten? Who are the forgotten?" Regi asked, his eyebrows furrowed and face scrunched.

"The forgotten? The forgotten. The forgotten!" Oracle Xyla said. "This is bad. This is really, really bad."

"Oracle Xyla?" I asked. "What are you talking about?"

"This hasn't happened in over thousands of centuries. The last time was so long ago. This is very bad," Oracle Xyla muttered.

We looked at each other confused as to what was going on.

"Oracle Xyla!" Darin shouted.

Oracle Xyla stopped her muttering and looked up at Darin. "What?"

"What are you muttering about Oracle? Why is this bad?" Darin asked the questions that were floating in all our minds.

"Darin, this is huge. The forgotten shall raise? That is as bad as it can get," Orace Xyla said.

"Then what about the lines about releasing his voice and battle and war?" Vanessa asked. "Isn't that bad too?"

"I stand corrected," Oracle Xyla said. "But Vanessa, the person's whose voice will be released is none other than the leader of the forgotten. If they raise, the destruction they will cause will be immeasurable."

"But who is he? Who are the forgotten?" Zoran asked.

"Time for the story," Oracle Xyla sighed. "This is the right time and as promised, I will tell you all the story. There are three parts to the story as I've already told you. My part of the story, Qrison Vlesa's part of the story and finally, the gods' part. They are all inter-connected."

"Which one will you tell us first Oracle Xyla?" Treznor asked.

"I don't know," Oracle Xyla answered. "Let me ask you all somethings first. Do you know the story of Ramayana?"

We nodded our heads.

"Tell me. What happens in that story?" Oracle Xyla asked.

"Dasharatha is the King of Ayodhya and has three wives and four sons, Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughana. Rama is the ideal and perfect son, and grows up with his brothers. When he comes of age, he marries Sita, the princess of a nearby kingdom. However, Bharata's mother is Kaikeyi, who resents Rama being the crown prince. She calls up a debt that Dasharatha owes her and asks for Rama to be exiled for fourteen years and her son Bharata be made crown prince instead," Sanya started.

Treznor continued, "Dasharatha, devastated, has no choice and Rama prepares to leave for exile. Sita and Lakshmana will not leave his side however and follow him into the forest. While in the forest, Surphanaka, a female rakshasi (demoness) becomes enamored of Rama and is wounded by Lakshmana (who cuts off her nose) while trying to kill Sita. She flees to her brother Khara and asks him to avenge her. However, Khara and his army are defeated by Rama and Lakshmana, and only one member of their entire army survives. This lone soldier flees to the island kingdom of Lanka and begs Surphanaka's brother, the mighty king Ravana to avenge them. Ravana, who has heard of Sita's beauty, decides to abduct her. Using trickery and magic, he manages to lure Rama and Lakshmana away from Sita and kidnaps her, taking her away to Lanka."

"In what form is that trickery and magic?" Oracle Xyla asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Sita sees a golden deer and so, Rama goes to capture it," Zoran answered.

"Correct. Then what happens? Zoran, can you continue the story?" Oracle Xyla asks.

"Rama and Lakshmana come back to find Sita gone travel far and they travel far and wide searching for Sita but to no avail. Finally, they come upon a band of vanaras or monkey-men who pledge to help him. One of the might warriors of the vanaras, Hanuman, becomes Rama's staunch devotee. The vanaras seek out traces of Sita and find that she has been taken to Lanka. Hanuman flies to Lanka and confirms she is imprisoned there. He contacts Sita and informs her of Rama's whereabouts, promising that they will be back to rescue her. Before returning to the mainland, Hanuman sets fire to the whole city of Lanka," Zoran said.

"Then what happens? Vanessa?" Oracle Xyla said.

"Rama, Lakshmana and the army of vanaras built a causeway from the tip of India to Lanka. They travel to Lanka, where an epic battle follows between the armies. Ravana is finally killed by Rama, and Sita is freed. Vibhishan becomes the new king of Lanka. Sita undergoes Agni Pareeksha (stepping into the flames of the fire) where she proves she is pure to Rama and they return to Ayodhya, where Bharata returns the crown to Rama," Vanessa finished.

"Yes, but that's not the end of the story is it?" Oracle Xyla said. "Something else happens after that. Icilia, can you tell me what happens?"

"Sure," I shrugged. "Rama overhears some of his subjects talk about Sita and asks her to undergo Agni Pareeksha again. When she refuses, he banishes her. Sita was pregnant then. Lakshmana, who was deputed to escort her out of Ayodhya, leaves her near Valmiki's ashram who takes Sita in. She gave birth to twins there, sons named Lava and Kush whom Valmiki brought up with great love and affection, teaching them princely skills such as archery as well as scholarly skills such as the and other scriptures. Valmiki also taught them to sing the Ramayana, which he had finished composing by this time."

"Then what happens? Darin, please continue."

"The twins were unaware of their parentage and, hence, they were unaware that they were singing about their own family and would recite the poem at gatherings. They became so well-loved for their sweet recitation that their fame reached Rama's ears who summoned them for a performance. It was here at Rama's court that the true story was revealed to the twins," Darin said.

"Good. Regi, would you like to finish the story?" Oracle Xyla asked.

"Okay," Regi shrugged. "Rama, in remorse, asked Sita to return to the palace if she could prove her chastity again before an assembly. Sita, in anguish, cried out, "O mother earth, just take me away from this place forever!" Whereupon the ground parted, the goddess Prithivi arose on a golden throne, took Sita in her lap, descended, and the rift closed. Sita was forever lost. Grief stricken, Rama decided to live no longer. He abdicated the throne in favour of his sons and, along with his brothers, entered the waters of the river Sarayu that skirted Ayodhya; their spirits left their bodies and ascended to the heavens."

"Yes," Oracle Xyla nodded her head. "You must all be wondering why I'm asking you the story of Ramayana aren't you?"

We nodded our heads.

"You see, dear children, the back story is almost like Ramayana. There is love, betrayal, war and many secrets. Are you ready for it?" Oracle Xyla asked.

"Yes, Oracle Xyla. Please do start," Fayth said.

"Okay then. Several centuries ago..." Oracle Xyla started.