Author's Note: Updates will be very sporadic. This has been a very tough year to me, but nevermind that. Enjoy reading!

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Sevont and Tano noted the changes in the mortal realm, along with the discovery of the new species. This was another information to be included in their archives, as well as ensuring their place in this world.

The two of them were returning to their respective realms, floating up to the sky and travelling through the clouds.

"This is weird."

"Hm~?"

"An abrupt increase in new species, abnormal weather spotted across the mortal realm. Noticeable changes in our realms that are affecting the weather and well-being of our people," Sevont contemplated, glancing at Tano. "All of these issues would have caused the Creator to step out."

"If that old man appeared," Tano shook his head, frowning deeply. "The species we have discovered would have been wiped out mercilessly, and that old man would have cut down whatever was blocking his way of 'balance' in this world."

"Wasn't the Oracle behaving strangely earlier?" Sevont asked. "He may have been controlling her all this time to avoid direct confrontation with us."

"She is his proxy, no doubt that would happen," Tano shrugged, a small smile lining his lips. "Why do you think I said it was important that she learned about emotions?"

"I doubt it was out of dislike for the Creator," Sevont raised his eyebrows, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Though you may come off nonchalant, you have a soft heart."

"..."

Tano was silent for a moment.

"I couldn't stand aside and watch the Oracle live on like that."

Sevont let out a chuckle. "Of course, you wouldn't."

"She was a complete doll for that old man, with no sense of identity of her own," Tano gritted his teeth, a hint of anger flashing past his eyes. "No one should live like that."

"Agreed–"

All of a sudden, a chilling scream pierced through the clouds. The two of them halted abruptly, glancing back in alarm.

"That scream is coming from the village–" Sevont said, only to pause and he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "Wh-what is that unidentifiable energy?"

"No time to waste, Sevont!" Tano exclaimed, darting past him as he turned back. "That old man is moving with the Oracle!"

"...!"

Sevont followed swiftly.

Oracle.

What has she done?

The two picked up their pace, feeling the dense swirling energy up ahead. It covered the area, and the chilling screams grew discordant.

***

The land was scorched, the towns and villages were in flames. The few survivors left huddled together as a white-robed woman with the most enchanting eyes approached them. With every step she took, they could death gripping them by the neck.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Please spare us!"

The wind blew, causing her robes and hair to flutter. There was no emotion in her eyes as she lifted her hand, gesturing towards them.

"Your existence is an error," she stated. "Your existence will place the balance of the world in jeopardy."

"We just want to live! Is that wrong?!"

Her fingers twitched and the Oracle didn't answer for a moment.

"...unnecessary."

An invisible power flowed out from her palm, washing over them. The surprised faces of the survivors soon distorted into one of pain, their screams and yells piercing the air. They lifted their arms and glanced down at their legs.

They were disintegrating into nothing.

There wouldn't be a trace of their existence left in this world.

She watched on with an impassive expression, but her hands were trembling violently.

The balance of the world.

The balance of the world.

The balance of the world.

Thebalanceoftheworld.

Balanceoftheworldbalanceoftheworldbalanceoftheworld.

Balance–

"Is it a sin to exist?"

The Oracle flinched, a sense of recognition flitting past her blank expression. She looked up but the pitiful lives before her were ceasing to exist.

Just then, the two rulers of the realm arrived. The sight of living beings ceasing to exist one by one with distorted expressions...

It was a terrifying scene.

The Oracle sensed their presence, and yet, she did not put a stop to her actions.

"Oracle? Wh-what are you..." Tano questioned in disbelief, stuttering. "Wh-what the hell do you think you are doing?"

"They are...gone, not even their souls remain," Sevont spoke in a grave manner, looking at the Oracle in horror. "Their lives here never existed. Oracle, you...!"

"Yes," the Oracle responded, like she was a lifeless doll. "They cannot live, for the sake of the world."

Those words filled Tano with anger and his shocked face twisted into rage.

"You bastard!"

"Oi, Tano!" Sevont barked. "You idiot, you are aiming the wrong person!"

Tano rushed towards the Oracle, brandishing his sword that was pulsing with light magic. The intent to kill was evident in his eyes.

The Oracle lifted her arm, placing her hand in front of her.

In an instant, a barrier was erected and Tano collided right into it. Tano didn't hesitate from the pain, and he started pummelling against the barrier with his sword.

Crack!

He only managed to leave a crack on it before he slammed his fists against the barrier, baring his teeth.

"I don't care what bullshit reason you have!" he glared at the Oracle, full of murderous intent. "A life is a life! You have no right to seize it as you please!"

"To ensure the survival of this world, I will do what is necessary," the Oracle spoke, her voice calm as she placed her hand on her chest. "That is the purpose of my existence."

"You fucking piece of–"

"Tano, compose yourself!" Sevont stepped behind Tano, giving Tano a comforting pat on the shoulder. "It's not the Oracle doing this. You know this, don't you?"

"There is no trace of that old man's presence within her right now! It's all her own doing! She's completely snapped!"

"Calm down, and take a good look."

"...?"

Tano was still breathing heavily from anger, but the words of his friend made him pause. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinising the Oracle.

He still sensed no presence of the old man within her, but...

The hand on the Oracle's chest was trembling violently like before. Her calm expression appeared stiff, and her face was slightly pale.

She was clearly struggling on the inside.

Tano was struck with realisation as he widened his eyes. He paused before pushing himself against the barrier. It was slowly weakening, and it wasn't from his attacks earlier.

It was all her own accord.

"...right now, who are you supposed to be?" Tano asked.

"Are you the Oracle we saw smiling the other day," Sevont added on, letting out a sigh. "Or the one we saw when we first met?"

"She's both."

Xue interrupted the conversation.

The two of them spun around in surprise.

"Xue?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Something distressing happened to the Oracle before she came here, to the point that she collapsed," Xue explained, a sad gaze in his grey eyes. "It is most probably related to the Creator."

The three of them observed the silent Oracle quietly. She wasn't speaking nor moving anymore, remaining rooted in her spot, and the barrier was still weakening. Just like before, her hands were trembling.

Unbeknownst to them, the Oracle was fighting a battle of her own in her mind.

What the Creator did to her wasn't just a message. With the intent of weakening her, using the emotions as a trap, he showed her the future should she fail to obey him.

***

Inside her mind, the Oracle held the dying soul within her arms. They were disintegrating and they spoke the same question as before.

"Is it a sin to exist?"

The Oracle lowered her head. "...never."

At that moment, the imposing figure of the Creator appeared before her. They were obscured by the clouds.

"You shouldn't listen to the words of my children, Oracle."

"..."

"This is the beginning of your purpose, should you refute once more..."

A thick cloud moved in front of the Oracle. It parted slightly and soon enough, a vision began to play right before her eyes.

A world filled with happiness without suffering and sadness.

...but that was not a world of balance.

An evil force will be born within the demon realm. They will kill their own benevolent lord, taking over his throne.

The good Supreme God will die in battle while protecting his people. Thus, this will give rise to an endless war filled with death, suffering, anger and sadness.

Eventually, the birth of an ultimate evil and an ultimate good will be complete. They will erase each other, and with that, the world will be at peace.

Silence.

The world will be renewed, and so will the lives within it.

The vision ended.

Her face was utterly pale.

This was the same vision that invaded her mind, making her spiral out of control. It was at that moment, the fear overwhelmed her.

The lives of everyone she knew, she met and she treasured, they would all be annihilated. All in the name of achieving balance, if she failed to achieve it earlier.

"To save the future by killing those you know," the Creator said. "Or to save those you know at the expense of the future."

"No..."

"You should know that I'm being merciful, Oracle. Just like them, you are my child."

"..."

Telling them that their existence is a sin and an error.

Erasing not only their bodies, but their souls and memories.

Like they were your dolls.

Like their existence here meant nothing.

Is that...being merciful?

The Oracle let out a grunt, clutching at her head.

"Stop resisting, Oracle. You know the right choice."

She didn't respond, keeping her head lowered and she refused to speak.

An annoyed sigh was heard from the Creator.

"I don't know the right choice, but..." she finally spoke, lifting her head up as her limpid eyes stared straight at the Creator. "I do know they are my children too."

"What?"

"I am a part of you, so they are my children too. I will protect my children on my own, not for the sake of balance but for my own sake. My own way."

...for their sake.

I will not allow you to besmirch their existence.

Their meaning of living.

"..."

She could feel the wrath from the Creator suffocating her, nevertheless, the Oracle continued to face him. There was no hesitation or fear in her eyes.

She wouldn't give in.

They were her children to protect, and her world to protect.

She would protect them all.

The wrath she felt was equal to his.

"Fine."

The Oracle blinked in shock.

"Show me your way, but I have no doubt it will be full of regrets and pain," the Creator mocked. "Let's see how you flounder about, Oracle."

The Oracle felt a piercing pain in her head, making her cry out in pain.

***

She was still battling against her fears in her own mind, along with the Creator, she was still frozen like a statue.

"Hey, Xue!"

"You can't approach her now!"

Xue ignored the words of the two, making his way towards the Oracle with an unfathomable expression. His pace was relaxed and slow.

Soon enough, his path was blocked by the barrier.

"Oracle."

Her body jolted.

Xue did not miss that movement.

"Let me in."

He took a step forward and right on cue, the barrier slowly faded away. He neared her, bringing his hand up and clasping it around hers which was still in the air.

Tano and Sevont were flabbergasted, looking at one another.

Why does she listen so quickly to him?

I guess it's the power of love.

The two communicated with their minds.

"Oracle, it's fine now," Xue spoke with a gentle tone, pulling her hand down to her side with their hands entwined. "You don't have to do this alone."

"..."

The nonchalant mask started to break, and she stepped back, extricating her hand from his. Xue didn't pull her hand back, letting her have the space she needed.

She glanced around in a daze, her expression becoming more grim with each passing second. The fire had died down, but the land around had been completely ruined. There was no possible way to return to the lush greenery it was before.

It was an utterly wasteland.

Is this really the balance the world needed?

This wasn't for balance or for the sake of the future.

It was just...cruelty.

"...I was careless," she broke the silence, staring at Tano and Sevont. "I allowed the Creator to gain some control over my movements."

The two of them stared at her, silent. They were unable to formulate a reply since there was nothing they could do. Whether she was under control or not, she had killed many with her own hands.

Comforting her with empty words wouldn't do the Oracle any good.

Blaming her wasn't an option either.

"What about now? Are you still being controlled?" Tano regarded her with askance.

She shook her head. "The Creator's presence is no longer within me."

"That's a relief to hear." Sevont nodded his head. "Why couldn't we sense the Creator?"

"He hid his own presence, since..." the Oracle frowned, a bitter look on her face. "He already suspected all of us, including me."

"...!"

"..."

"The lands here are beyond recovery. It will forever remain barren due to my actions," the Oracle added on. "No mortals would want to live here. I..."

Even if I was being controlled...

I shouldn't have done this.

I shouldn't have.

The Oracle inhaled deeply, looking at the sky covered in dark clouds.

"..."

"..."

Tano and Sevont were quiet once more.

"What do you plan to do, Oracle?" Xue asked quietly.

She lowered her eyes, pausing for a moment before she lifted her head up. Bringing her two hands up, she revealed her palms. A ball of energy gathered within her palms, hovering above it and a moment later, it transmogrified into the shape of a snowflake.

Her pellucid eyes glowed brilliantly as she leaned in, blowing on the snowflake on her palm. It floated away up into the sky.

"For an eternity, these lands would be covered in white," the Oracle murmured. "The truth behind this abhorrent event must be out of sight, out of mind."

The dark clouds began to change its colour.

Something began to drift down from the skies, small and shimmering, and it wasn't just one. It started falling down across the lands, covering up the ghastly sight of the burned ground.

"Snow." Tano whispered, stretching his hand out.

"May they rest peacefully," Sevont closed his eyes, offering a silent prayer. "Even if they can't exist in the world any longer, we won't forget."

"That shitty old man!" Tano barked out. "What kind of Creator is he supposed to be? He should just rot in–"

A ball of dark magic smacked Tano right in his forehead.

"--agh!"

Tano blinked rapidly, looking at Sevont in surprise.

Just then, a hand pressed down on his shoulder. That hand belonged to Xue, and Xue only shook his head at Tano.

On the other hand, Sevont gestured his head towards the Oracle, a warning look in his eyes.

Tano turned his head, taking a good look at her.

A tiny mound of snow piled within her palms and she gazed at them, tears streaming down her face. She let out soft sobs, her eyes squeezing close as her body trembled involuntarily.

"..."

"..."

"..."

It just felt like yesterday when they first met. In fact, more than a thousand years have passed and for the first time, the Oracle shed tears from her heart.

She had killed many innocents.

She had killed those that were born from the Creator.

Born from her.

...and those many innocents were her children.

The same children whose memories she viewed, and memories she shared with.

That was the truth she had to face.

"...wh-what have I..." she choked out, her eyes blinking rapidly as tears flowed out profusely. "What have I done...? What have I done?!"

The Oracle clutched her chest, the wound was unseen but the pain was unbearable. She spun around and walked away, her body dissipating with each step as she became a trail of mist of various colours.

Tano wanted to chase after her but Sevont held him back.

"Not you, Tano."

"Huh?" Tano frowned, a hint of panic in his voice. "She recently learned to embrace her emotions! We can't leave her alone! How will she deal with that grief?"

"You tried to kill her earlier."

"Well, I..." Tano scratched his head, clearing his throat awkwardly. "I was too hasty."

"The one who taught her to smile should be with her." Sevont sighed, giving him a look. "Isn't it obvious?"

"Oracle!" Xue exclaimed as he ran past the two of them, going after the Oracle who disappeared. His body dissipated just like the Oracle, turning into a black mist.

"Right, the lover boy." Tano blinked in realisation.

"Leave them be," Sevont stated, a wry smile on his face. "I believe in my capable general."

"And love, right~?"

"I don't want to hear that word from your mouth."

"...tsk."

The snow continued to fall upon the ground, concealing the horrid sight of the burnt lands. Meanwhile, the two of them sighed, keeping heavy thoughts to themselves.

***

"Where did she go?" Xue mumbled to himself, glancing around.

He was at the edge of the mortal realm, a thick cloud stretching across the horizon. This place was created by Tano and Sevont for the leaders of the mortal realm to visit them in times of need. Alas, this place was later used by other mortals for their advantage, especially stealing and in some extreme cases, kidnapping young angels and demons.

Thus, this place was sealed off and only those approved would be able to traverse past the clouds to the heavenly or demon realm.

"...?!"

At that moment, Xue realised something had gone wrong.

There was a large space below the clouds.

...like a pitfall.

Xue immediately parted the clouds with a wave of his hand, floating down elegantly with his wings.

The pitfall below the clouds turned out to be a dense forest.

He could sense a powerful presence in the centre of the dense forest, and a presence he knew only belonged to one person.

The Oracle.

What is she doing here?

He flew towards that direction, finding her standing in place and not moving an inch with her back facing him.

"Oracle?"

"..."

She isn't responding.

"Oracle? There are many ways the living deal with grief," Xue spoke, tilting his head in confusion. "However, I have to ask your purpose in creating this forest below the edge of–"

The Oracle spun around.

Xue stumbled back in shock, his eyes wide.

That...that isn't her.

In that short span of time, the Creator regained his control over her again?

Is it due to her unstable mind?

Xue furrowed his eyebrows.

"Oracle. It's me. Don't you recognise me?"

"..."

There was no answer.

He knew his words wouldn't be able to get through.

"Is it the Creator?"

"Ah, I see now." the Oracle suddenly spoke.

"...!"

Xue raised his eyebrows in surprise as she spun around, looking him in the eyes. Despite speaking in the voice he was familiar with, Xue couldn't recognise the woman before him.

"You were the child that taught her how to feel."

"Is that wrong?"

"Nothing is without consequences."

"Did you use the Oracle's body to create this forest? Why?"

"The mortals have trespassed the realms they should not have, and the consequences are not equal to that of their mistakes. Should they trespass once more without approval, death awaits them."

Xue stiffened, the anger he held back surging out.

"Are you insane?! What do our lives mean to you?" Xue exclaimed. "How many lives do you want to claim with her hands? Haven't you hurt her enough?!"

"This world lacks balance."

"What does that have to do with anything?!"

"A world without balance is no world of mine. For each action and each life, there should be an equal tradeoff."

Xue marched towards the Oracle and grasped her by her shoulders, a desperate expression on his face. "You can't disappear just like that, Oracle! You have to wake up!"

"Futile."

The lack of sunlight in the dense forest cast a shadow over her face, making the Oracle appear sinister with her indifferent expression.

She was back to her previous self.

The day she first came into this world without emotions.

Without an identity of her own.

"This..."

The words were caught in his throat as Xue gritted his teeth, feeling suffocated. He inhaled deeply, his voice hoarse.

"This isn't you. You aren't the Oracle I know. The Oracle I know is immensely bright, full of curiosity and full of life."

...and full of warmth.

Xue looked into her empty and lifeless eyes. Though they were just as mesmerising, it wasn't her.

It was the Oracle he knew.

"She was never here to begin with," she spoke with no emotion. "The Oracle is a part of me, the Creator. There was never an Oracle you know."

Xue widened his eyes in disbelief.

It couldn't be.

The memories he shared with her across the years replayed in his mind. He could still see the lovely smile she revealed for the first time.

It can't be.

"What about those memories we shared?" Xue gazed deep into her eyes, his hands around her shoulders tightening. "The memories only you know of."

Just then, there was a subtle change in the Oracle's expression. She glanced down, scrutinising her trembling hands.

"...what is this? Her weakened mind is...resisting?"

"There is only one Oracle I know," Xue loosened his hold on her shoulders, his expression softening. "One who isn't part of the Creator, one who isn't the all-powerful and all-knowing Oracle. Just someone ordinary finding out about life."

"Nonsense. She is merely a mirage–"

"Definitely not. The Oracle is herself. She isn't you, the Creator. She was never you, not at all."

"You are uttering nonsense. What difference is there?"

Despite those words, the trembling from her hands started to spread throughout her body. Xue could even see it.

"Difference? It's easy."

Xue moved one of his hands from her shoulder towards her cheek, cupping it gently.

"She is..."

A heart-warming smile spread across his lips.

"...the one I fell in love with."

***

《 start 》

The Oracle was a mirage all along?

Someone who didn't exist?

Just merely...a part of the Creator?

How ridiculous.

Then who was it I fell in love with?

Who was it that made my heart flutter like no other?

《 stop 》