The Path to the Oracle

Volume I: Children of the Earth

Chapter 6: The Path to the Oracle

The sun was sinking below the horizon when Alozie and Olaedo left the village. Shadows stretched long across the path, and the trees that lined the road seemed to close in around them, their branches swaying in the evening breeze. The journey to the Oracle's temple would take them through the forest, past the old shrines and into the sacred hills where few dared to tread. It was said that only those called by the spirits could approach the Oracle's sanctum safely.

As they walked, the weight of Alozie's decision pressed heavily on his chest. For the first time since the vision, he felt as though he was truly stepping into the unknown.

Olaedo's voice broke the silence. "You're sure about this? Once we reach the Oracle, there's no turning back."

Alozie glanced at her, his expression grim but determined. "I don't have a choice. If the prophecy is about me, I need to understand what it means. I can't keep running from it."

Olaedo nodded, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of concern. "The Oracle will give you answers, but they might not be the ones you want to hear."

"I'll deal with that when the time comes," Alozie replied. His voice was steady, but inside, his heart pounded with a mixture of fear and anticipation.

The path through the forest was narrow, winding its way up into the hills, where ancient trees loomed overhead, their roots twisting across the ground like the fingers of spirits long forgotten. As the last of the daylight faded, the forest grew darker, and the sounds of the night creatures echoed through the air.

Olaedo pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders. "It's been years since anyone sought the Oracle's counsel. They say she's not human anymore, that she's become something else."

Alozie said nothing. He had heard the stories too—the tales of the Oracle's transformation, how she had become more spirit than woman. The elders whispered that she had given up her humanity to commune with the gods, trading her mortal life for the power to see the future. Some said she was ancient, older than the kingdom itself, and that the spirits spoke through her as though she were their vessel.

But none of that mattered now. Alozie was desperate for answers. And the Oracle was his only hope of making sense of the prophecy that had turned his life upside down.

As they continued their journey, the forest became eerily quiet. Even the rustling of leaves seemed to stop, as though the very air around them was holding its breath. A strange feeling settled over Alozie, a sensation of being watched by unseen eyes.

"We're getting close," Olaedo murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can feel it."

Alozie could feel it too—a heavy presence that seemed to hang in the air, pressing down on them as they climbed higher into the hills. The trees grew sparser, and the path widened, leading to an ancient stone archway covered in moss and vines. Beyond the arch lay the Oracle's temple.

Alozie stopped, his gaze fixed on the entrance. The temple was old, far older than any building in Umudike, its stone walls worn by time and weather. It was a place out of legend, a remnant of a world long forgotten by the people of the kingdom.

"This is it," Olaedo said softly. "The Oracle awaits."

Alozie took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. Then, without another word, he stepped through the archway and into the temple.

Eze Nnobi's Doubts

Back at the palace, Eze Nnobi sat alone in his chamber, his mind troubled. The search for the child of the earth had yielded nothing so far, and the kingdom was growing restless. Fear was taking root in the hearts of his people, and he knew that if he didn't act soon, it would consume them all.

But it wasn't just the prophecy that weighed on his mind. It was Adanna.

The king's daughter had always been strong-willed, but in recent days, her defiance had grown bolder. First, there was the matter of the boy she had protected in the village. Nnobi had heard the reports—the guards had been ready to arrest the child, but Adanna had intervened, forcing them to back down. It was a direct challenge to his authority, one that couldn't be ignored.

And yet, despite his anger, Nnobi couldn't shake the feeling that his daughter knew something he didn't. She had always had a deep connection to the spirits, a gift inherited from her mother. Perhaps she understood the prophecy better than he did. Perhaps she had seen something that he had not.

A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts.

"Enter," Nnobi called, his voice heavy with weariness.

The door opened, and Udochukwu stepped into the room, his expression unreadable. "Your Majesty," he said, bowing slightly. "I've come to give you an update on the search."

Nnobi gestured for him to sit, though his expression remained tense. "What have you found?"

Udochukwu took his seat, folding his hands in his lap. "The guards have scoured the village and questioned many of the people. So far, we have no clear leads on the identity of the child of the earth."

Nnobi's jaw tightened. "No leads? After all this time, you have nothing to show for it?"

Udochukwu's eyes gleamed with calculated calm. "Patience, Your Majesty. The prophecy is not something to be rushed. The child will reveal themselves in due time. I'm certain of it."

Nnobi clenched his fists, frustration boiling just beneath the surface. "Time is not on our side. The people are frightened, Udochukwu. They need reassurance. If we don't find this child soon, there will be chaos."

Udochukwu leaned forward slightly, his voice low and measured. "There is another way, Your Majesty."

The king raised an eyebrow, his gaze narrowing. "What are you suggesting?"

"The Oracle," Udochukwu said, his tone almost reverent. "She holds the answers we seek. If we cannot find the child on our own, perhaps it is time we seek her guidance."

Nnobi hesitated. The Oracle. He had not consulted her in many years, not since his wife's death. Her power was undeniable, but it came at a cost. The Oracle's counsel was not given freely, and there was always a price to be paid for her knowledge.

"I do not trust the Oracle," Nnobi said, his voice tight. "She sees too much and speaks in riddles. Her words are dangerous."

Udochukwu smiled faintly. "Dangerous, perhaps. But necessary. If the prophecy is as important as we believe, then we cannot afford to ignore her."

The king remained silent for a long moment, his mind torn between the desire for answers and the fear of what the Oracle might reveal. Finally, he nodded, though his expression remained grim.

"Very well," he said quietly. "Send word to the Oracle. We will seek her guidance."

The Oracle's Vision

Alozie stood at the entrance to the inner sanctum, his heart pounding as he took in the sight before him. The chamber was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of incense and old stone. At the far end of the room sat the Oracle, her figure cloaked in shadow.

Her eyes—sharp and otherworldly—seemed to pierce through him as she gestured for him to approach. He swallowed hard, his steps slow and hesitant as he crossed the threshold.

"You have come seeking answers," the Oracle said, her voice soft but commanding. It was not a question.

Alozie nodded, his throat dry. "I've… I've seen things. Visions. The spirits—they showed me something."

The Oracle's gaze remained fixed on him, unblinking. "And now you believe you are the one from the prophecy. The child born of the earth."

Alozie hesitated, his fear bubbling to the surface. "I don't know. But I need to understand what it means. Why me? Why now?"

The Oracle smiled—a small, knowing smile that sent a chill down Alozie's spine. "The spirits have chosen you, child of the earth. But their reasons are not for you to understand. Not yet."

Alozie felt a surge of frustration. "Then how am I supposed to fulfill the prophecy? How am I supposed to know what to do?"

The Oracle's eyes gleamed with a strange light. "The path has already been laid before you. But know this, child—your fate is intertwined with the fate of the kingdom. The choices you make will shape the future of Umudike."

Alozie's heart raced. "What choices?"

The Oracle rose from her seat, her movements slow and deliberate. She stepped toward him, her presence towering and otherworldly.

"There are forces at work that you do not yet comprehend," she said, her voice echoing in the chamber. "The prophecy is not a single path, but many. You must walk it carefully, for the wrong choice will bring ruin—not just to you, but to all those you love."

Alozie swallowed hard, his mind spinning with the weight of her words. "And what if I fail?"

The Oracle's gaze softened, though her voice remained firm. "You cannot fail, child of the earth. You can only choose."