OMAN: THE LAST TRUE SEER

 PROLOGUE

OMAN: THE LAST TRUE SEER

She wailed as she felt a drop of fire perch on her skin from above the broken ceiling, each drop of fire ignited a glow on her skin, and it increased the volume of her cries. She ought to break loose the shackles around her wrist as she glared at the five tall figures that encircled her She made a loud hissing sound and twisted her body to the rhythm of a distant sound. The five figures began to intensify their chants "Be thou be casted out now! " She smirked as blood dropped from her mouth to her breast. She had no clothes on her, as she manifested aggressively, she continually tore every cloth worn on her so she was left naked and bruised "I will not let go of this body if you kill me, you also kill this body and if you cast me out, she dies so leave in peace" she whispered in an hoarse voice, the tallest among those figures moved closer to her and stood in front of her "We shall make no deal with a demon, I cast you now into the burning pit of hell!" She screamed heavily after a drop of the man sprinkled some thick substance on her bare skin which fueled her anger, she didn't stop screaming in pain as the man continue to chant in mysteries "This Soul is your wife, you cannot let her die, Luke, Please let me go" She suddenly drifted into tears snarling at the Man who stood holding back his tears as he took the bottled substance from the other man and sprayed one last time on the woman, her skin glowed, blinding the view of the men who stood before her as a swirling wind wrapped her and creating a windy atmosphere then she vanished without traces. Luke who had held his tears all along fell to his knees. "She's gone, she took her" his voice broke into tears while the others wrapped him in their embrace.

"No, Lucina is gone and not your wife. You saved the kingdom, Luke, it's over now" the other man said engulfing his face in between his hands with a weak smile.

CHAPTER ONE

"Elric, no! Don't go! Stay with me!" a voice cried out. A thin figure walked into the dark street, disappearing into the thick darkness.

Aryan was just 10 when his world started to crumble. He wished he could erase the hurtful memories. He hated staying behind the doors he walked out from, as it reminded him of the pain he buried inside.

Aryan rose from his hay mattress, not finding sleep throughout the night. He tiptoed, trying not to wake the two younger figures sleeping on a nearby mat. His leg hit a pot, making a screeching sound, but the others didn't stir.

"Where do you think you're going this sun break?" his mother called out, her voice stern. Aryan turned, grinning. "I promised to meet Kenrin Cephus at Flakesfell Hill. I'll be back before dusk."

"You have no friend named Kenrin Cephus," his mother said, her hand on the broomstick behind her mattress. "I know all your childhood friends, like Billy and John of Armantis. Who is Kenrin?"

Aryan's mother threatened him with the broomstick. "You lie again! Forget it and get back inside now!" Aryan's brother suddenly jumped up from the floor, panting softly. Aryan frowned. "Another delusional dream, little brother?"

Their mother intervened. "Don't provoke your brother, Aryan. Be the older brother you should be." Aryan scoffed. "He's not my brother; he's your son. I'm not competing with a bastard."

Their mother rose, angry. "Don't call him a bastard! My son is not a bastard!" Aryan's brother clung to him, saying, "Brother, Mother is vexed. We're all her favorite children."

There was a loud bang on the door. Aryan opened it to reveal Billy Pritchett, a tall, slender man with a wig. "You're here again, Billy. I thought you vowed never to return," Aryan said, smirking.

Billy ignored Aryan and addressed his mother. "I've come for my debt. I won't leave without my money, Manya." Aryan's mother pleaded for more time, promising to pay on the seventh day.

Aryan mocked Billy, pretending to apologize for pulling his wig off. Billy stood, furious, and threatened to take Manya to Bolton Toner if he didn't receive his payment. He stormed out, slamming the door.

The room fell silent. Aryan left without a word. Manya comforted Oman, the younger boy. "Don't worry, I'll pay Billy. He won't take me to Bolton." Oman shared his strange dream about a crown and a sheaf among thorns. Manya reassured him, telling him to forget the dream.

As Esha, the sister, left to collect fabrics from Lady Ariya, Manya instructed Oman to play shadow games with his friend Pete until Esha returns, do you understand?"

"Yes mother" he got down from the bench and hurried outside. Manya quickly took a scarf hanging on the bedside and hurried outside too.

 * * * 

A tall, womanly figure with long blonde hair stood at an old-looking house entrance and banged on the door looking sideways. A small hole on the front door was opened and an eye peeped from the opening and suddenly, the lock twitched and was opened from behind. She rushed in and then pulled off her scarf "Oh! Manya, you have come again, what bring you again since you disappeared like a smoke?" An old looking hag on a scanty rough hair asked smiling broadly revealing his brownish scattered teeth leaving the down upper teeth scanty "do you care if I sit?" She asked with a firm look "of course, what a pleasant surprise that you visit me" she rolled her eyes as she sat "we saw this past new moon, have you forgotten?, this is a sign that you are getting old Zedescus. I have not come to refresh your memory, I have come for my son"

"Would you love a taste of pottage to soothe your appetite?" He asked serving it in a wooden plate ignoring her restlessness.

"Did you not hear what I said?"

"Yes I did. You speak of a certain person with a name I do not know, the bastard, am I right?"

"Do not call him a bastard, he had a father and he is dead so he is not a bastard!"

"Oh! Poor fellow died and rendered the little lad fatherless. You must feel terrible to live with such misfortune but what do you call him?" he took a quick glance at her noticing the pain hidden behind her expressionless face, it seem she was trying to hide her tears but he kept quiet, "it's... It's... No, i will not tell you yet, you will surely forget again. He has been having strange dreams and I am afraid it is not just ordinary" she replied not giving any response to Zedescus comment. She knew it will warrant another session of grief she doesn't want to face

"Prophecy certainly has started to play out. Leave the boy, you have nothing to worry about"

"There must be something that can be done (she stood to her feet and paced the room while Zedescus continued sipping his soup not paying attention to her) something certainly has to be done, what must I do to stop the prophecy, I mean he is damned to marry his sister, it cannot happen?"

"But you cannot stop it. This is what you must do, get the little lad together with his sister, they should get married it makes it easier and faster"

"That will never happen Zedescus!"

"It is not me Manya, it is the prophecy. The young lad is the chosen one and his gift will surely save men and defeat kingdoms, he has a responsibility on his shoulders. It is just his wretched fate to marry his sister, you might decide his fate but you cannot stop prophesy, you should prepare him for the responsibilities ahead."

"Prophecy be damned!, I stopped that prophecy the moment I denied him access to anything close to him being a warrior and defeating kingdoms, If he does not learn the way of wars, he sure cannot be a warrior and not marry his sister like the prophecy says. You have no right to determine a man's fate"

"I do not decide, I am just the mouthpiece only the gods decide and I gave you a solution long time ago but you still hoped in fantasies. The boy is the last true seer of the great Flakesfell, you cannot stop it Manya, he needs to be prepared. You deceive yourself if you think prophecy turns out the way you have planned. If you still wish to avoid his fate, I already told you to kill the girl, you still have a choice so stop your panic and you haven't had a taste of your food"

"Oh! You want me to eat?, is this not important to you?

" it is but without a taste, we cannot talk" he looked blankly at her expecting her to take in the food, she looked at him and hesitantly and took a spoonful of the pottage as Zedescus gestured with his hand to take another spoonful which she did grudgingly

"So tell me, what must I do to get rid of that wretched prophesy?"

"Why the haste, come, let me show you something" he said and gave a dry humors smile. She followed gently behind him as he began to watch her steps slowly with the corner of his eyes when suddenly, he grabbed a sharp thin metal on the wooden table and struck it hard into her stomach and she gasped with a puzzled look on her face mixed with horror, she fell slowly to the floor holding tightly to Zedescus's gown as it slipped smoothly from her hand then held unto the metal loosely getting her hands stained with blood, she tried to utter a word but a stream of blood dropped from her mouth instead, Zedescus stood at a close distance watching as life slowly drifted from her before she collapsed with her face downwards.