Chapter 32

The transformation was already taking place and this disturbed the Oracle so much. Maybe she might have miscalculated or misread the time that was written on the portal mirror or something might have triggered the transformation for it was way ahead of time. On their way to the Lord's cottage, she kept rewinding the events that the guards had narrated to them in her head over and over. Could she have overlooked something or missed a detail? She was certain the awakening of Medan was also the awakening of the soldiers and the once upon a time town that was now the forbidden Medan Forest. But the events that just happened made her question her own abilities.

Then she remembered. Malin had fought against Nicadeaus within Dalawa empire and from what Malin told them in the palace, Nicadeaus had retreated and ran from the battle. That would mean that the dark rage within Nicadeaus had weakened for fighting against Nicadeaus amounted to fighting against the dark rage magic itself. It was the same dark-rage magic that was used against Medan by the same person who used the magic and any weakening of the magic meant the awakening of the Medan town. Then it occurred to her that to rescue Medan, Malin had to destroy the dark-rage magic and to destroy the dark-rage magic Malin had to defeat Nicadeaus. To rescue Malia, the magic that engulfed the Medan forest had to be broken, completely. That was the only solution and Nicadeaus had made it easy by entering the Medan forest. "Maybe he had nowhere to run to and thought the forest was the safest place to hide. But his choice of a hiding place just resolved a huge puzzle," the Oracle said to herself.

The Emperor and the empress had chosen to follow them to the Lord's cottage. It was against the tradition for a reigning emperor and empress to visit the Lord's cottage but this was an extra ordinary time and all the traditions could wait. Besides, as the emperor, Micaleaon had the power to make and amend any laws including the traditional ones. The Emperor was above any laws except for a handful ones that he had no power over. He had delegated some of his powers to the royal court but he could still veto their decisions. Makiaus' betrayal also made him regret delegating too much power. He realized, though too late, that absolute delegation meant absolute lost of power and he wasn't willing to gamble anymore.

Malin and Revina remained outside when they arrived at the cottage, looking into the valley and remembering that day when Malin had thought Revina was falling after him into the valley. Revina laughed at his story for she had not been aware of what was happening back then. She had even ran away from the dragon he had turned into, scared too death that the dragon would eat her alive. Up to this time, they hadn't been made aware of what had happened and how limited the time was to rescue Medan. They had been left to enjoy each other's company for what lay ahead of Malin could alter the course of their journey and for the entire empire.

Lord Parafon inspected the portal mirror, looking for answers to the very many questions he had in his head. But when the answers finally came, he wished he hadn't sought for them. The task ahead of Malin had become larger than he had earlier anticipated and he shuddered at the possible outcomes in the very many scenarios that emerged from the mirror. The last curse that stood between the prosperity of Dalawa empire and it's total destruction had to be broken by the complete defeat of Nicadeaus. The defeat had to come fast and hard for if the fight dragged longer, the consequences could not be trusted to work in the favour of the empire for Medan would awaken but with a huge cost to the empire.

The entire empire would travel back in time to the beginning of everything. The beginning of Prince Medan and Princess Malia, the beginning of Prince Medan and Prince Nicadeaus. The empire would travel back in time to rewrite the history or to destroy it. Everything would be as they were as if this future never existed, as if anything that had happened hadn't really happened. Through the years that would follow, it was possible the empire would have a repeat of everything, of every disaster, of every pain, of every agony. It was possible the rivalry would worsen and the battles would be more fierce than before. But there was also a small possibility that things would be different. A feeble and slim possibility.

The dark-rage magic had to be fully destroyed to prevent that from happening, the victory had to be convincing. But the Oracle was wrong or maybe something moved time forward for as it stood then, they only had three hours to accomplish this mission or risk being doomed forever. Everything had to end within the first quarter of the night, everything.

Lord Parafon looked at the Emperor and the empress, undecided whether to tell them what he just found out or not. He didn't want to worry them with something they could do absolutely nothing about. It saddened him that the fate of the entire empire would lie in the hands of just one man, one boy and that no one else could do anything to help in his quest. It was too much a responsibility for him but there was nothing he could do to relieve him of such a task. He had been chosen by the gods and by the gods he had to fulfill his mission. The Oracle, who had noticed his distress went to him and together they planned on telling Malin the truth though saddened by the fact that they had to break their romantic company.

Malin, who was happily enjoying the night in the company of his beloved Revina, objected when Lord Parafon summoned him alone. Whatever it was they wanted to tell him, they could tell her too. Lord Parafon had no option but to let Revina join them for he had seen more than once that when it came to Revina, nobody could advise him otherwise. He then proceeded to explain the situation to them as the Oracle kept the Emperor and the empress company by the fireplace. The royals had been disturbed by the continued silence on what was next for it had taken awhile without any communication from the two people who were believed to be capable of communicating with the gods.

Malin was shocked and annoyed. He just fought against Prince Mamadu over twelve hours ago yet the High Priest was here announcing another duel that he had to fight. In their little confrontation with Nicadeaus, it was clear to Malin that Nicadeaus was one man he could not defeat on his own and even the retreat Nicadeaus had undertaken was as a result of the help that Pell granted them. But now this priest was insisting that he had to fight against him and must win against him. Secondly, he just needed to spend some more time with Revina. They hadn't had a chance to be close to each other for they had jumped from one problem to the next. But such time according to Lord Parafon was not in such great supply. The more the clock's hands ticked, the closer they got to their doom.

It was even more difficult for Malin to fathom how the High Priest could send him to fight against the man he had until recently known as a father. That he had to fight with intentions of harming the man who raised him with so much love and care annoyed him even more. Nicadeaus may had been Medan's number one enemy here in Dalawa but back in Palawa Kingdom, Nicadeaus was his father. Despite his heartlessness, Nicholas as he knew him then, always loved him as any father would love a son, maybe even more. How he was to forget all that and provoke him into a fight was an absurdity to him.

In Palawa Kingdom, provoking someone to a fight was an act of war and more often than not, the provoked always prevailed, victorious, him included. Now he was supposed to go into the forest and provoke his master in a dark forest roamed by human wolves and still expect to come out victorious! Just how valid were the prophesies of the said mythical mirror? Was there never an alternative? Why violence all the time? He refused. He couldn't do it.

Revina noticed the desperation in the Lord's eyes. It was as if Malin's rejection was hitting nails into his heart. He was tearing apart even though he didn't want to reveal it. So she pleaded for him, reasoned for him and convinced Malin for him. So far according to her, everything that Lord Parafon had told them had come to pass. He couldn't fool Malin, he couldn't mislead him. If there was a better alternative she was certain Lord Parafon could have preferred that alternative to this one. If he was right like he always was, then spending time together with Malin was useless for it would last a shorter period than they would appreciate. Something had to be done for she wanted forever with Malin, not some time with him. She offered to accompany Malin to the forest, to fight alongside him. But this time, Malin declined and stood his ground. She felt bad but understood. Nicadeaus was not just a beast, he was the reason all this was happening and he scared the life out of her.

Lord Parafon decided, after careful consideration, to explain the situation to the Royals who were taken aback by what lay ahead of the empire and Malin. The empress hugged Malin and kissed him on the cheek, wishing him all the best. For the first time, the empress saw in him what the Emperor had always seen, Medan. But out of fear, kept what she saw to herself. The Emperor for the first time, embraced his saviour, wishing him the best while blessing him like a father would bless a son before going to battle. Nicadeaus was his son but his success meant the destruction of the empire. If he had to choose, he would more than a million times choose the empire against the wicked son he likened to his traitorous brother, the late Mamadu.

To fully defeat a royal who was as close to power as Nicadeaus was, Malin needed a symbol of power and authority. The Emperor handed him the royal stick that just like the dark magic, carried more magical powers capable of neutralizing a royal. It was this stick that the Emperor could use had the High Priest to be sentenced to death. While handing Malin the stick, the Emperor once again saw Medan in Malin as he received the royal stick. Whoever Malin was, it was beginning to become clear to the Emperor that he wasn't Medan's son. Lord Parafon may have been right in a lot of things and now he believed him fully, but he was wrong about Malin's parentage. To a lot of degree, he began convincing himself that Malin was more Medan than Medan's son.

Before leaving, Revina requested some time alone with her beloved. She wanted to be the one whose voice he would hear during battle. She wanted to be the last person he saw before going to war. She wanted to assure him of her love one last time before Dalawa was healed.

"My prince," she began. "Tonight may be the last day I see you off to war. Remember, I'm on this side of the forest and after tonight, I'll be on one side with you , forever."

"My princess, never lose faith. I'm going to return to you like I've always done. I beat him once, I can beat him again."

"I'm not worried about your victory my love, I'm just sad I have to leave your side. That you have to go into this alone. But don't worry my prince for I'll be fighting by your side. If you need me, just touch your heart and I'll be there by your side. Remember, you still owe me that dance, tonight."

"My princess, the same way I'll touch my heart and see you, touch yours and I'll be there too. And I'll sure grant you the dance tonight my love. Your wish is my command."

He pulled her closer to him until she placed her body onto his. He raised her chin up until their eyes met and then he kissed her on the lower lip, gently and softly. She put her arms around his neck as he wrapped his around her waist and got lost in a deep sensual kiss as they pulled each other closer and closer until it became difficult to tell one from the other, until they became one, their tongues exploring each other's mouths pleausurely. When they finished, Malin carried to the balcony where he put her down on her feet and hugged her one more time. He told her to watch the valley for her knight would swim into her arms through the valley. This time, he gave her one more light kiss on her lips and then cheek and left, riding on his dragon into the forbidden Medan Forest which was to be his new battleground.

The empress who was watching them through a window from the Lord's cottage, felt sad for them, felt sad for Revina. She saw how they kissed and from what she saw, she could tell it was a kiss of their last goodbye. She still couldn't read them but she had loved them all the same. She also knew when a sweet goodbye kiss was the last goodbye kiss and this one was one of them. She couldn't tell whether Malin was going to lose but she was certain Revina would never see him again.

Then she saw something strange. Revina was turning brighter and brighter by time and she could almost see through her for she was turning transparent as she became brighter. But on closer look, she realized she was imagining things for the bright light was radiating from the forest. "Malin must have reached the forest and he must have found Nicadeaus for him to radiate such luster," she said to herself. She went out and joined Revina who stood by the balcony awaiting the return of her love. He would swim through the valley into her arms again. That was a promise. Malin never fails, her love never fails.