Marked Ones: Advent of the Demon Prince

Wally watched as the woman who he once carried around the halls of the castle on his back as she laughed and giggled, now stood in front of an audience of some of the most advanced minds in the kingdom. She was a woman of great renown and importance, a far cry from that snot-nosed crybaby he once knew.

Adellia once again looked at him and smiled. The mark on her hand flashed and her silver eyes went blank. For a moment nothing, then Adellia began to speak.

"Betray not, the last of the House of Kane, lest the curse of death fall on the lands of man, elf, and beast. A threat forgotten by all, save the gods above and devils below, will walk the earth.

Heed this call or Creation will crumble at his touch. Reality will bend to his will. And the gods will fall under his might."

The glow from the Oracle's mark ceased and her eyes returned to normal. Strength left her body and she nearly collapsed on the floor were she not caught by the white-haired maid as well as the maid known as Mylene that Wally had met before. He had not seen her till this moment, likely due to where she stood just outside the doorway.

It was rather odd for a prophecy to be shared in such a way. Normally Adellia would receive dream like visions as if she were present and watching the events of the future from a third-party point-of-view. After which, she would analyze the dream and deliver an explanation of it to the elders… not once had Wally witness a prophecy that was simply words repeated directly from the Oracle's mouth.

He could not hold himself back and think about it at the moment because he too had rushed over to Adellia's side to ensure her well-being.

"Grandfather… did the prophecy help?" Adellia muttered weakly. Normally such visions did not impair her in such a way either.

He smiled at the beautiful woman cradled in the arms of her maids with one of her hands being held by her daughter. He was not Adellia's real grandfather… as far as she was aware, but she did refer to him as that because he was still rather aged when he was in the royal castle while she was growing up.

It always amused him because he truly was her grandfather. The woman Adellia called mother was his daughter, though no one save Adellia's grandmother and the king at the time were aware.

They could not find a suitable match for the Oracle at the time to have a child with a Marked One, but her grandmother had a prophetic vision that siring children with a great mage would continue the line of oracles.

Wally was the greatest mage of his generation, so the decision was made.

"It's is okay my dear. You did wonderful."

"Well, what is house Kane? We must find them and do what we can to not betray them…if this 'house' has someone powerful enough to cause this…I fear who it is we may be working with." The head of the Elemental Magic Department shouted.

The room devolved into chaos again which made Wally rub his temples. He had been acting aloof this entire time, but now he just wanted to spend time with his precious granddaughter and great-granddaughter…who did not know that he actually was the real deal.

"House Kane does not exist." A voice echoed through the room.

A new person had walked in behind everyone, completely unnoticed, a fact that seemed to irritate the esteemed elder who was used to everyone he met almost bowing at his feet.

"House Kane died out many years ago. The last of their descendants died when the Five Kings Union first formed. There can be no 'Last of the House of Kane" because the house of Kane is gone." The elder shouted out.

"Then do you suggest that for the first time, the Oracle is wrong?"

The elder shook his head. "No, I am not. What I am saying though, is that whoever this 'Last of House Kane' is, they are a long separated descendent of a family long dead. There is no way to find who this person is after all these many years. Those who would know are long dead. Oracle, did you see the face of this terrifying person."

Adellia shook her head. "No, I saw no visions, I was only granted words that I was forced to speak against my own volition."

"Quite unfortunate. Anyway, Oracle. You may leave your daughter and her maid here. We must return to the castle so you may attend to your duties."

Wally glared hatefully at the 'esteemed elder' and felt tempted to launch a wind blade at the back of his neck. However, Adellia who saw the look in his eyes, lightly tugged on his sleeve.

"Come now, grandfather, please don't do anything rash. Besides, I need you to look after Lyrah and Natali for me. I know they will be safe in your care." Her eyes pleaded with him to not do anything, which made him relent. He was powerless against the woman.

"I thought they were not to attend for a few more years."

"Things change grandfather. Besides, Lyrah seems incapable of growth under my tutelage, and you are the only other person who knows as much about the Mark of Prophecy as me. You did spend time with three generations of us after all grandfather."

Adellia smiled slyly at him when she stressed the final word, which made him return the grin. "How long have you known you clever little creature?"

"Since I first called you it." She said happily. Adellia gave his hand one final squeeze and stood up with help from Mylene. She bowed to the other people in the room before turning to leave. However, she could not resist and quickly turned around and gave the old man a massive hug.

"Please watch over my baby for me. She is all I have in this world."

"You have more than you know, my dear." Wally said quietly while gently patting her back. His statement earned a dangerous look from Lyrah which surprised him, so he simply winked at her and put one finger over his lips while still holding Adellia against him.

He was slightly surprised, but it seemed to him that Lyrah was already aware of what he had meant. This time, the Oracle really did turn to leave. Lyrah and Natali silently followed behind him as he returned to his seat. The other heads were still arguing, having not noticed that people had left and moved about the room.

Typical of them to be so enthralled in debate with each other that they lose sight of their own surroundings. Wally could not help but sigh and lean his head on one hand with his elbow on the desk.

He turned to the two teen girls. "So… welcome to the Academy… and all it's glorious wonder." His tone was full of sarcasm as he gestured to the old people yelling at each other. "This is what you can expect for the next five or so years, except them and people like them will be yelling at you instead. Have fun, will you?"