CHAPTER 218: THE VOW

"The biggest reason for putting you in that cabin is because of the Seers." Zen said the words on a sigh.

Emira stiffened at his words. They had been sitting together quietly, letting the calm settle around them, when Zen suddenly broke the silence. She’d almost forgotten that he’d promised to talk to her here. Slowly, she turned her head up and stared at his face as she asked, "What do you mean?"

She’d never mentioned Seers in the past, so the sudden mention made something uneasy twist inside her. Why would they put her there because of Seers? Why would that matter?

Zen’s hand tightened around her waist as he dragged her closer and explained. "You’ve seen the three intertwined trees at the forest’s entrance, right? Hiding the cabin?"

Emira nodded. "Hmm. That is how Ryn told me to mark the entrance to the cabin."

Zen nodded and said, "Those trees aren’t just there marking or by coincidence. They represent the past, the present, and the future. They were grown together like that, to form a natural shield. A living barrier."

Emira frowned slightly, trying to follow.

He went on, "Together, the trees protect the secrets tied to all three. Anything spoken, done, or even thought inside that area stays locked within those boundaries."

He paused for a moment, letting the meaning settle before adding, "So no Seer- whether they look into the future, the past, or even the present- can see what happens in that cabin. They can’t reach inside it. Everything that takes place there is hidden from them completely."

Emira’s eyes widened a little. She had known the cabin felt strangely quiet and untouched, but she hadn’t imagined something like this. A place even thoughts stayed trapped in... So, there really was a place in this world where Seers could not look into? Her mother had been right in that?

Meanwhile, Zen continued, "We planned to be with you this time, but there is also a danger of things being revealed others so the best way to protect you was to put you somewhere that no one would be able to look into."

Emira nodded at that and smiled up at him," So, you don’t believe in Seers too? That is actually a good decision. Being able to see the future... and changing it.. As if they are the Moon Goddess herself."

Zen winced at her disdain but still tried to talk to her," Emira..."

"What?"

He looked like he was choosing his words carefully now, almost hesitant as he called her name, "Emira..."

"You do know of the prophecy that claims you as the Dark Master’s bride."

Emira stiffened at the words. She’d known of this when she had been kidnapped and kept in captivity that the Dark master also believed it. It was why they had indeed kidnapped her and wanted to claim her while she was a virgin...

She stiffened and asked," Did you three sleep with me so that I would not be a virgin any longer and thus be useless to the Dark Master?"

Zen scowled at the words and shook his head," What? What are you talking about?"

She sent a searching look at his face and nodded when she saw the genuine confusion in his gaze. They had not done claimed her just to stop the return of the Dark Master

However, knowing that this was the prophecy and that the Dark Lord believed it was different from hearing Zen say it so plainly. It made a slight shiver move down her spine. "You were saying...?"

She said the words and then looked at him to continue, waiting for him to explain further."From your words, it looks as if you don’t believe the prophecy, Emira. Everyone believes that you are meant to be the dark lord’s bride and bring him back to power, because of the prophecy. But earlier, you said that things only happened because people believed they would. So, does that mean that you are not the Bride who would bring him back to power? Is there something you can do—or stop—that others don’t know about?"

Emira paused as she thought of the question. It was a question that she had never pondered before. In her quest to find the truth and get revenge for her mother, she had thought that the ultimate revenge would be to turn Evan Aldren’s biggest fear into reality and bring the Dark Master back to power. After all, her mother had already found out the truth of things that had happened all those years ago...

But if she really did that, then wouldn’t she be proving the Seers right by doing exactly what they said? Wouldn’t she be walking into the same fate she despised?

She shook her head and instead asked, "Why is there fear of bringing back the Dark Master? He is already weakened. Even if he returns to power, do you think there will be mass destruction?"

She watched as Zen frowned at her question. His reaction made her wonder if she was missing something obvious—something he assumed everyone already understood. There had never been any prophecy related to the dark master returning to power or not. What could it mean? Did he not think that?

She turned her head back to look at the water. There was no such prediction because until now, she was still divided about what to do. Her own indecision had become the very reason no Seer could ever predict the outcome. She had already set things in motion to bring him back. But whether she would or not, depended on other factors...

Factors which were still coming into play. If what her mother had found out in the diary was true then the Dark master deserved to come back. After all, her mother had found truths that the others were unaware of. So, most probably, she would indeed bring back the dark master. But whether she would stand as his bride... whether she would let him return to full power... that was still an answer forming slowly, not something fixed or certain yet.