The Prophecy of Ophiuchus

I stared at my mother, my heart pounding in my chest like war drums echoing through the silence of the room. She looked back at me with that same quiet strength she had always shown, but now there was something more—an edge of fear that had never been there before.

"What secret?" I repeated, my voice coming out harsher than I intended. Every muscle in my body was taut, my mind reeling. What was she hiding from me?

She hesitated. Her eyes flicked toward my father, seeking reassurance, before turning back to meet mine. Her face was pale, her hands trembling slightly as they rested in her lap. I'd never seen her like this before. Not my mother. Not the woman who could face down a storm without flinching. My father's hand found hers, steadying her, offering her strength.

And then she spoke. "There is a prophecy," she said, her voice barely a whisper at first, as if speaking the words aloud might give them too much power. "One that has been passed down through the Vaelus line for generations. It speaks of an Ophiuchus Awakener... a chosen one born to bridge the gap between Destruction and Creation. An Awakener who will either restore balance to the Zodiac Universe... or tip it into irreversible chaos."

The blood drained from my face. My mind stuttered, refusing to accept what I had just heard. A prophecy? About me? This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not after everything else.

"Me?" My voice came out strained, barely more than a rasp. "You're saying this prophecy… it's about me?"

My mother's eyes softened with sorrow. "Yes, Avant. You are that Awakener. You were born with a power that no one in our family has wielded in millennia—Ophiuchus' duality of Destruction and Creation."

The words were like stones, each one crashing down onto me with crushing weight. I had never asked for this, never wanted it. All I had ever wanted was to be strong enough to protect those I loved. To fight for my family, to protect my brothers, Aiden and Alden. But this... this was something else entirely.

The universe? Was I really supposed to be some kind of balancing force between creation and destruction? The thought seemed impossible, ridiculous even. But my parents' faces told me otherwise. They believed it. Every word.

My father moved beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder. His grip was firm, grounding me even as my world seemed to spin out of control. "The choice will be yours, Avant," he said, his deep voice steady and reassuring. "Prophecies don't dictate the future. They only show possibilities. What you do with this power, with this knowledge, that's up to you. We just wanted you to know the truth."

I could feel the weight of his words pressing down on me, heavier than anything I had ever carried in my life. It felt like the weight of the entire universe had been placed squarely on my shoulders, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could stand beneath it.

"And know this," my father continued, his gaze holding mine with fierce intensity. "Whatever path you choose, we will stand by you. You are our son, and we believe in you. No matter what."

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that, despite this prophecy hanging over my head, despite the chaos roiling inside me, I could still be in control of my fate. But a small part of me—an insidious voice deep inside—whispered doubts. What if the power was too much? What if I couldn't control it?

I glanced at Aiden, who had been silent throughout the entire conversation. His normally cocky, laid-back demeanor had vanished, replaced by a look of genuine shock. His sharp eyes, so similar to mine, were wide with disbelief.

"Aiden..." I began hesitantly. "Did you know about any of this?"

Aiden shook his head, still in a daze. "No, Avant. I swear... I had no idea. This is all new to me."

My father nodded in agreement. "None of your brothers knew. We kept this secret for your protection. The less you knew, the safer you were from those who would try to manipulate or destroy you because of your power."

I swallowed hard. It made sense now. The mysterious elders who had appeared during my training, the strange dreams, the visions—they weren't just figments of my imagination. They were real. They were connected to this prophecy, to the legacy of Ophiuchus that flowed in my veins.

My mother shifted in her seat, her voice softening as she continued. "The elders you've encountered, Avant... they are from House Vaelus. They are our guardians. They have been watching over me—over us—since the day I was born. Their duty is to protect the Vaelus bloodline and ensure that its power is never misused."

"Guardians?" I repeated, a cold shiver running down my spine. The encounters with those elders had always felt unsettling, like shadows lurking just out of sight. And now to find out they were connected to me... to my mother... it was all too much.

"Yes," she said. "They serve to protect not just me but also you, Aiden, and Alden. Their purpose is to ensure that the power of Ophiuchus remains under control and doesn't fall into the wrong hands."

My mind flashed back to my first encounter with them—how they had approached me in the dead of night, their cloaked figures blending with the darkness as if they were part of it. They hadn't spoken much, just cryptic phrases and warnings about the future. But now... now I understood. They weren't there to harm me. They were there to guide me.

Still, a part of me felt uneasy. "If they're meant to protect us," I said slowly, "then why do I feel like I'm constantly being tested? Like they're pushing me to the edge, waiting to see if I'll fall?"

My mother smiled sadly. "Because they are. You are the one mentioned in the prophecy, Avant. The one born to balance the scales. You have powers that could reshape the universe itself. The elders... they are watching to see if you will rise to the challenge or fall into darkness."

I clenched my fists at my sides, feeling the familiar surge of power stirring deep within me. I could feel the two forces battling inside me—the chaotic pull of destruction and the steady hum of creation. They were like warring storms, each one trying to dominate the other. And I was caught in the middle.

I had always thought my powers were unique, that they made me special. But now I realized they were a burden, one I had never asked for. I wasn't just Avant Dekus anymore. I was something more. Something dangerous.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "So... what now?" I asked, my voice quiet but steady. "What am I supposed to do with all of this?"

My father's eyes softened as he squeezed my shoulder once more. "That is for you to decide, son. But you are not alone. You have your family, your friends, and your own strength. Whatever path you choose, we will be with you."

My mother nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with love and hope. "You are destined for great things, Avant. But greatness doesn't come without sacrifice. The road ahead will be difficult, and you will face challenges that seem impossible to overcome. But remember... you are also a Vaelus. And Vaelus never give up."

I looked at them, feeling a swell of emotion rise in my chest. Despite the weight of the prophecy, despite the fear and uncertainty, I knew one thing for certain: I would not let this power consume me. I would not let the darkness win.

Because I was Avant Vaelus Dekus, born of both House Dekus and Royal House Vaelus. And no matter what the prophecy said, I would forge my own destiny.

The universe could wait. First, I needed to figure out who I truly was. And for that, I needed answers. Answers only the Vaelus elders could give me.

I would find them. And I would unlock the secrets of my lineage. The fate of the universe demanded nothing less.