Chapter Oro
ORO
You, perhaps, are the only one who can.
Oro kept willing to see the pool once more. He needed to understand why he was the person charged with finding this mysterious weapon that could slay any person or being. Was it because he was the king of Lightlark? Ruler of Sunling? He didn’t know where to start.
It was then that Isla appeared in a rush, warning him that Cronan was invading early. She was gone in an instant.
He was striding into his castle after having alerted his friends and all the volunteer forces when his vision turned silver. The pool and the woman were waiting.
The waters looked different now, dark as ink.
“Future has been poured into this pool. You can now ask questions . . . and see how the consequences of every possibility will unfold.”
Oro went very still, wondering how that was possible. Wondering if it meant things had gone terribly wrong . . . or right.
Isla had told him she regretted not seeing the future. Regretted giving into her fear of seeing what was to come.
The woman had accused Oro of hiding from the truth.
But Oro would be stronger now—for both himself and Isla. For their world. He would not look away from hard truths. He would not let fear guide his life.
He waded into the pool until he was floating on his back. He closed his eyes.
And he asked about every scenario he could think of. Every possibility. Until he knew every future.
He saw death. Life.
There was a clear distinction. A clear moment—a choice—that changed the fate of their world and everyone in it.
He gasped as he crashed through the surface, sputtering, his veins flooded with panic.
The prophecy was right. It was right. Someone had to die. Total and complete destruction could all be avoided, with this one choice.
Part of him wished he hadn’t seen it. But the truth could not be unseen, just as it could not be unsaid.
Oro knew what he had to do.
He just didn’t know if he was strong enough to do it.