Chapter 27: Operation Scout II
The familiar outskirts of Nythera greeted the trio through their ship’s viewport.
"Mother would be so surprised to see me back so soon!"
"Put me out of my misery."
Kagu , back in her ’adventure outfit’, groaned as she monitored the ship’s system.
"Nythera," Kagu announced, her hologram materializing atop the navigation console. She clasped her hands behind her back with a satisfied smile."Estimated descent vector calculated. Atmospheric entry in ninety seconds."
K remained silent.
The last time he had come here, he had left with more questions than answers.
K loosened his grip on the controls as the inertial dampeners caught up with the sudden deceleration. Before them, suspended against the endless darkness of space, floated a familiar world.
"Thirty seconds to atmospheric entry."
The navigation display shifted as Horizon adjusted its trajectory. Small bursts of maneuvering thrusters fired along the hull, nudging the vessel into its descent angle.
Outside, Nythera rapidly grew larger.
The hull groaned as compressed air ignited around them, turning the entire cockpit windows into a sea of blazing gold.
Iniko gasped.
"It’s burning!"
"It’s supposed to." K glanced at her.
"It doesn’t look supposed to."
K smirked. "It really is."
"You sound very confident about that. I’ve seen fire...it’s not a good thing."
"I’ve done this before. Trust me.
"How many times?"
"Enough to know this is very normal."
The roar outside intensified.
The entire ship vibrated as it plunged deeper into Nythera’s atmosphere. The gravity of the planet pushing down on their ship , plunging it faster.
Clouds exploded apart beneath them.
For several seconds, the world beyond disappeared behind blinding white.
And then...
...
[[QUEST COMPLETED]]
»Retrieve the Sacrilege of the Oracle«
Status:
COMPLETE
Rewards Pending...
...
K jerked in his seat at the familiar chime and the floating screen before him.
"What happened, K?"
Kagu tilted her head giving him a worried once over. But before he could answer—
...
[[NEW QUEST]]
»Retrieve the Sacrilege of the Oracle«
Progress:
0%
...
"Nothing."
Was this a glitch?
He already did the quest.
Even the system marked it as complete, so why give the same quest again?
──── ✦ ────── ✦ ────
Planet Qashka—Vashki Planet—The right hand of Shira—Sanctum of The Oracle
"Are the leaves washed properly? Make sure they do not touch the soil lest they rot"
A U’Kan chided his Miwa apprentice as they ascended the long ivory causeway leading to the Sanctum of The Oracle.
The shrine stood upon a raised plateau overlooking the sprawling capital of Ira’Oka, its smooth white structure seeming less built than grown from the planet itself. Great arches of polished porcelain swept gracefully toward the heavens, converging around a colossal upright ring that floated silently above the sanctuary’s heart. The ring turned with agonizing slowness, casting shifting halos of pale blue light across the pristine courtyard below.
There were no walls enclosing the shrine. Instead, slender ivory pillars curved upward like the ribs of some celestial beast, supporting nothing at all. Curtains of shimmering energy drifted lazily between them, stirring without wind.
The floor beneath their feet gleamed like polished pearl, flawless enough to reflect every passing Vashki. Not a grain of dust dared remain upon its surface. Narrow streams of crystal-clear water wound through carefully carved channels, carrying floating white blossoms toward the inner sanctum where worshippers offered silent prayers.
Beyond the entrance, hundreds of Miwas knelt in perfect rows, their smooth porcelain faces lowered toward the floating ring. No voices disturbed the sanctuary. Only the low, harmonious resonance of the shrine itself filled the air, a vibration so gentle it seemed to pulse with every heartbeat.
The U’Kan adjusted the ceremonial leaves cradled in his arms before casting a disappointed tilt of his head at his apprentice.
"I asked whether the leaves had been washed."
"They have, Elder."
"And the roots?"
"They never touched the ground."
"Good."
Only then did the elder continue toward the shrine’s center, where a large floating ring watched over every soul that entered, eternal and unmoving, as though the Oracle herself still gazed upon her faithful servants.
"Prepare to br—"
A gust of wind swept through the shrine sweeping up dust and light debris. The Miwas rushed up to collect the stray clothes that had moved with the wind.
"The Elder!"
Someone screamed.
All attention drifted to the Miwa and the convulsing U’Kan beside her,
"Help! Get the other elders! Something is wrong!"
The elder shook uncontrollably as he dug into the soil with his nails, dragging it over and over again.
A few other U’Kans rushed to where the convulsing elder lay. They lifted him off the ground and he began to wail,
"It...undoing...the undoing of the Oracle has come forth! Heed me! The undoing of the oracle has come forth!"
The dragged his writhing body into the temple uttering incantations to calm him down.
Two elders stayed behind, watching the whole thing unravel.
"Isha’Ka hasn’t had an episode like that in years..."
The other elder nodded in agreement. "The last time he did, he spoke of the coming of the beast, and that was when he was a child."
"Lower your voice! The emperor will have your head on a stake if the walls hear you utter such blasphemous words!"
"I told no lies."
"I will take no part in this conversation if you choose to keep uttering treacherous words!"
"Fine, fine. Anyways did you hear hin muttering and wailing?"
"Something about the undoing of the oracle coming forth."
"...surely he has gone mad. Undoing of the Oracle? What could that possibly mean?"
"You can ask the boy himself. Surely, the prophet can interpret his prophecy."
"Hush! We must prepare relieving herbs for the boy! Come you!"
He pointed at a Miwa scrambling by. "Relay the news to the Emperor’s preceptor."
"B-but sire."
"Tell him Isha’Ka has had a vision from the ring. Tell him that he said ’The undoing of the Oracle has come forth’. At once!"
The Miwa whimpered as it scampered out of their sights.
"Hm? What is this?" The first elder pointed to the scribbles on the floor.
"How would I know?"
On the floor was a stick image of a figure with a peculiar ring seated behind its head.
──── ✦ ────── ✦ ────
Planet Qashka—Vashki Planet—The right hand of Shira.
Gigi held onto his garment as he rushed to deliver the message he was sent.
"He’ll have my head for sure! Why can’t they deliver the prophecy themselves? Aren’t they the elders? Why send me! Saving their own heads and offering mine up! I have a life to live too!"
His ring flickered with fear coursing through him.
The Emperor’s palace soon came to view. Each step, a heavy thud of impending doom. Gigi approached the guards.
"I come with news from Sanctum."
A guard sauntered towards him, multiple rings lining his fing and neck.
"It’s not everyday we see a Miwa messenger from Sanctum."
"The elders sent me, I have news for the empe—"
A large hand wrapped around his neck before he could finish his sentence.
"Tell me, Miwa, what is your name?"
"There is no...time for this! I...must see the emperor!"
The Miwa gasped through the hold on him.
"Are you courted?"
"What does that have to do with the message I was sent?" He spat. The ring on his neck glowing a tint of orange.
"Feisty, aren’t ya?"
The other guards chuckled.
This was the life of Miwas on Qashka. Subjected to degradation and treated as trophies by the other Vashki variants.
Gigi hated it. He hated Vashkis. He hated himself.
"What is the meaning of this?"
A loud voice boomed. Startling the guard who held him into dropping him so hard his plating cracked.
"Grand Preceptor."
They all bowed.
Gigi rushed to his feet and bowed as well.
"You have message for the emperor."
"Y-yes."
"Follow me."
The Grand Preceptor, a U’Kan with rings lining his body from his neck all the way to his feet, trudged slowly in the large and empty hallway.
Once in a while, an Oroth guard would pass by and bow to the preceptor.
Finally, they reached the Emperor’s throne room.
"Go on."
Gigi hesitated.
Miwas weren’t allowed into the emperor’s throne room. The last one that did mysteriously disappeared.
"My presence will irk the Emperor...please don’t make me go in there."
He dropped to his knees begging profusely at the feet of the preceptor.
"I will be behind you. My Lord will not harm you."
Gigi stifled a whimper and rose to his feet to face the doors of the room.
The doors groaned open and the mighty room greeted him.
Menacing yet charming. Deadly yet all together beautiful.
Describing the throne room with such words were an understatement. Words were simply not enough.
"Hm."
A deep rumble filled the room. Gigi’s head snapped to the occupant of the large throne and immediately fell on his face.
"Y-your majesty! Gigi asks that you s-see him!"
Silence filled the room. And then—
Something tugged at him.
Gentle at first.
Then roughly. Large ringed fingers bruised his neck as their grip tightened.
"I thought I made it clear that I don’t want these breeders in my vicinity." Tuk’Aon growled. His face plating slowly splitting as he glanced at his preceptor.
"Lower the boy, My Lord, he is courted and brings news to you."
Tuk’s gaze trailed back to the Miwa whose ring was starting to lose its light and tossed him into a pillar.
"Tch, you’re low quality compared to him."
Gigi gasped for air. Pain seared his back from the collision.
"Speak before I tear your limbs from your body."
He scrambled to his feet ignoring the pain and his burning lungs.
"Elder Isha’Ka had a vision. He said...cough...the undoing of the oracle has come forth...cough..."