Never Look Back (Ch.16)

The High Oracle stepped out in his usual gray regalia, his attendant oracles at his side as he stopped at the very top of the over a hundred steps leading up to the Oracle's Hall.

The Oracle's Hall was a vast, ancient structure of it's own, occupying a part of the Imperial Palace which was the abode of the oracle as well as Priests and Priestesses.

Apart from the blessings the Creator bestowed to warriors and mages, there were still other gifted which included the seers who became the priests and priestesses of the Oracle.

There were also healers who studied under the Oracle as well.

"Noble warriors! Take your sword to be presented before the Creator!" The High Oracle announced,

Weylyn stretched her two hands out, palms faced upwards as all the other knights did.

Their respective attendants brought out their sheathed swords and laid them in their outstretched arms.

"Now, you may enter!" The High Oracle permitted.

"I will take my leave now, Sir Kalver. I will see your attendant back to your quarters." Viktor whispered to Weylyn in a low tone.

"Many thanks." Weylyn murmured with a nod before she took her first step forward.

Weylyn stared down at the first step biting her lip as her mind conjured up a mirage of a nineteen year old Ronan Kalver taking this very step she was about to take.

Weylyn watched the spectral mirage of her brother Ronan, his stance regal as it always did, striding up the many steps leading up to the Oracle's Hall.

Her eyes trailed the mirage, everything all around her had faded to the background and it felt to Weylyn as though Ronan was right there,

She could feel him, she could smell him, his familiar presence, that aura she could recognize anywhere and that scent of wood and fresh rain with a tinge of flavored sugar from all the pastries his sweet tooth compelled him to gobble down at every opportunity.

Weylyn felt tears brimming in her eyes and she blinked them back, watching every step of the spectral Ronan.

Once he had ascended to the very top, the spectral Ronan turned his gaze to Weylyn and Weylyn's heart trembled as she watched his lips stretch into that familiar boyish grin.

He then winked playfully and beckoned on Weylyn before he strode into the Oracle's Hall.

"Knight Kalver?" A voice called out to Weylyn, drawing her out of her daze.

Weylyn passed a glance over to the Knight in waiting behind her whom she recognized was a young warrior of Kalver who had left the Kalver Dukedom two years back to become a squire and begin his path to knighthood.

Weylyn glanced back up to see all eyes were fixed on her as she was yet to take a step forward, meanwhile Knight Mivore and Knight Galvadore were already at the tenth step, staring back at her.

The Silver and bronze ranked knights could not move forward till Weylyn had gone ahead and so in that short moment of being frozen in a mirage, she had successfully held up everyone back.

Weylyn sighed, although it warmed her heart to know Ronan's presence would always be within her and all around her, guiding her as he always had,

Her heart still ached knowing it had all been in her head, yet she understood the message her brother had just conveyed to her.

'Press forward, never look back.'

And so Weylyn did, taking the first step gracefully and every other step after that without ever glancing back again.