Dusk and I headed to the courtyard, and people waited in the stands. Some gave 4758 glares cold enough to scare me, others bit their nails at the sight of him. Me? I watched as he placed his hands in his pockets and smiled. Just seeing him so full of himself made me want to barf.

4758's eyes were clouded in deep thought. What was he thinking about? His eyes met mine and a twisted smile plastered to his face. I was sick of that creature. I wanted him dead— who wouldn't?

Dusk stopped, dry grass crunching beneath his feet. "Sit in the stands. I don't want Mara thinking you're doing it."

I nodded, and Dusk left me alone.

Before heading to the stands, I looked towards the Forest of Unknown Darkness. There, one of The Oracles of Wrathful Vengeance headed toward the castle. Her gray hood shielded her face, and the oracle's small size differed from the white haired oracle I discovered before.

What's she doing here?

She wanted something, but I couldn't tell what. I wanted to give her a piece of my mind too. I needed to know what happened when I was fifteen. I hated not knowing about my own life.

I followed her into the castle, and she went up the stairs. I tripped on a puddle and attempted to get up without the oracle seeing me. She turned around, but I remained out of sight.

We approached an intersection leading to the upper east and west hallways.

Don't go east... That's where Echo was after all, and if she was there for him, it couldn't be good.

I watched the oracle go towards the east hallway.

"Crap," I ran towards her. After passing a corner, she disappeared. Where did she...

Zolona opened the door to the room Ember had been murdered in.

"Bloody hell, Raven! Why aren't you at the execution? I left Integrity for you and everything!" Zolona asked.

"Dusk's doing it," I said.

I looked around, my eyes squinted, peering down the hallway. "I could've sworn I saw..."

"Who?" Zolona asked.

"The..." I sighed. "Never mind."

I entered the room sat next to Echo, Indian style. Zolona cracked the door open behind her.

"What were you talking about?" I asked.

"Fear... again." a frown covered Zolona's face.

"You're scared?" I asked.

Echo sighed. "My sister can't protect me."

"You can protect yourself. You can beat Isla," Zolona argued, "You can't be depressed like this forever."

"Okay, if you guys try to cheer me up," Echo tried to smile.

Zolona sighed. "That's better."

"I've been waiting to meet you," said a person from the doorway, in a gray hood.

I looked at what she held in her hands. A sword with a gold hilt and silver scabbard to keep it in rested in her grasp. Pretty lightweight for a blade, but still, did I care? Well, I loved throwing knives and magic because someone with a sword won't be able to reach you if you shoot them first. The blade had writing on the side, although, the lighting in the room glared it.

"An oracle!" Zolona reached to her pocket. "Blast! What a bloody time to give 'Integrity' away!"

Echo stood. "What do you want?"

The oracle's fingernails were coated with a gold nail polish, a tiny heart painted on each. It looked precise — cute for an Oracle of Wrathful Vengeance. "I'm not trying to hurt y'all. Only bring news."

She lowered her hood to reveal her head of strawberry-blonde hair and doll-like neon blue eyes. The girl was around thirteen, and had a round face and a soft jaw line. Freckles coated her from head to toe. Her smile was childish, white crooked teeth in her mouth. They weren't hideous, but you could tell she didn't mind them.

I raised an eyebrow. "You're not the same one from before."

"Of course not. I actually like Echo," she laughed.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

"I came to tell y'all a couple things," she smiled. "And deliver this blade. It's Echo's!"

Echo jolted back and quivered his lip as he spoke up, "M-Mine?!"

"Its name is Purposeful, meant to bring light and prosperity not only to its wielder but to end the dark era in Sihirpoék." the oracle gave him the blade.

Echo inched forward and claimed the gift, feeling along the grooves and edges of an item he swore he'd never use in his life: a weapon, the exact opposite of the peace he stood for. Yet, his jaw gaped open almost as if to say, "Crap... this thing is so professionally made." Unsheathing the blade from its scabbard, the cling of the metal's release echoed through the hall like a clock bell, and a silver gleam lit up the room in the lights.

Zolona crossed her arms. "You only care about the prophecy. Not my young nephew and apprentice."

"What did you come here to say? What's your name?" Echo asked.

The girl smiled. "Promise. I'm The Oracle of Wrathful Vengeance that avenges light."

"Alright, Promise, what did you want to say?" Echo asked.

"While my two companions, Winter and Nightfall, were arguing, they mentioned your sister's death was unexpected," Promise said, "Her death wasn't written on her scroll until years later. It wasn't her time."

Echo lowered his head. "What does that mean?"

"Don't look for the answer right away. It's harder to find magical objects when you search for them. Learned that from experience so y'all better not try it... things work in mysterious ways," Promise said.

"Alright, I won't look then," Echo said.

Promise's smile widened. "You keep your promises. That's valuable."

"Thanks," Echo said.

I interrupted. "One of your companions visited me the other night."

"Green eyes or yellow eyes?" Promise asked.

"Green," I answered.

"That's Winter. She tries to be neutral on everything. Cold to touch, white hair, beautiful tanned skin. The green eyes are supernatural, but they ain't nothin' like Nightfall's. She doesn't like the ridicule she gets for her looks," Promise said.

"Why are you still here?" Zolona asked.

"I was gettin' to that," Promise paused, annoyed, "Fate's on your side. Winter and I want you to regain balance, but Nightfall's more powerful."

I crossed my arms. "So it's an equal chance."

"I have more news for all of you. You never found the prophecy scroll, did you?" Promise asked.

Zolona nodded. "Damn clutter."

"4758 stole it and gave it to Echo's mother," Promise said.

"He what?" I asked.

Promise sighed. "It was something of a precaution."

"How much power do you really have?" I asked.

Promise giggled, snorting in her laugh. "Not a lot. We're more of observers and inspirers than destiny changers. We just... see things. The Fates control destiny's strings, and Isla will use them and the scroll to attempt to locate... or at least try to locate, The Rose of Twilight."

"And she'll come after Echo again," I said.

"She will. Remember the promise you made to your sister, Echo? You said you weren't gonna be on the sidelines anymore." Promise reminded him.

Echo looked at me. "I did, didn't I?"

"You're the only one who can stop her. Regardless of prophecy, only one of Isla's children can stop the darkness," Promise said.

"What's my next move?" Echo asked.

"I can't decide what you pick. Only your heart can do that. People are counting on you to protect them," Promise said.

Echo looked at his new sword, and Promise turned to leave.

"Wait, what did you tell me two years ago?" I asked.

"I wasn't an Oracle of Wrathful Vengeance then. I wouldn't know. Maybe Nightfall or Winter would," Promise said.

"There have always been three Oracles of Wrathful Vengeance," Zolona argued.

"Two years ago, one of the three sisters died. Apparently I was chosen before I was born as next in line. My power over light makes me weaker here. It's always night. That's why Nightfall's so powerful." Promise brushed her tongue over her teeth. "... Now all of us are loyal to her ya know?"

She scurried out of the room. A moment of silence ensued.

"Any ideas?" I asked.

"Remember when I said if I didn't have a good reason, I shouldn't fight..." Echo said.

My eyes widened.

Zolona choked on her saliva. "You're not doing this for revenge are you? Think about this first."

"It's not like that. Ember died saving me. So many die from Gate Ceremonies and Ancient One magic. I can't let my mother hurt anyone else. Everyone doesn't deserve to live in fear and tyranny like my own mother wants! That's something I'll fight for. I'm willing to go the whole way if you would help me." Echo gave the sword to Zolona.

Zolona's lips curved to form a wide grin. "I was waiting for you to ask that."

I smiled. It made me feel good to hear that. He always compared himself to a butterfly before, and he said they sent a message. He'd send a message to Isla-- a message saying if she didn't want him to beat her before, he certainly would do it now.

Screams echoed from the courtyard. I looked out the open window, finding a sight that took away my breath. Rather than the hanging corpse of 4758, the drop revealed to have no body. Guards frantically searched the area, scanning for their prisoner, a killer, a monster. Just like any gods-forsaken monster in our midst, he'd vanished into nothing... nothing but a black smoke. Gone into the air.

And 4758 wouldn't just be out for revenge and honor. He'd be out for every last drop of blood in his enemy's veins, an enemy who now didn't know how to fight or defend himself from the terrors outside his mind.

Damn, was there a better time for Echo to decide to fight back?