Chapter 009 - The Church's Prophecy

Carriages in Lyrica's time have defensive magic, making them tougher than bulletproof vehicles. The inside of the carriage primarily uses velvet though. Tough on the outside, but soft on the inside. There is also a lamp in the middle and small food storage under our seats. It is convenient—something that is required if a noble is traveling.

I peek outside, putting the curtains to the side. The city's landscape is circular. The main church is in the center of the city. Around it are buildings that serve as government offices. And around these offices are various types of stalls and businesses that make the Dukedom the wealthiest in the whole Cairns Kingdom.

The city is bustling with activity and it becomes even more pronounced the closer we get to the center. General Calais is sitting in front of me. His sword is on his side, while his attention is shifting between me and the road. He might be sensing the difference between me and Lyrica's disposition. If it's Lyrica from the novel, she won't do the things I've done since I woke up here.

"Your father says it's been a while since you visited the main church. He says you evade it like a plague since you have become a teenager," General Calais starts. "What changed?"

From the road, I shift my attention to him. I bite my lips. Even in this situation, it's hard not to admire his beauty. But maybe, it's exactly because of the situation I'm in that makes me appreciate an eye-candy like him.

"I was almost raped," I emphasize, even if it's not the reason I asked to come to the church.

"You've been with multiple men, including Marcus, who is the same person who almost raped you."

I hate how he knows so much about Lyrica, so I answer, "He's forcing himself on me. There is no consent."

He frowns. "I thought you like aggressive men?"

I look away. He is right. Lyrica from the novel, likes aggressive and dominant men. Someone who can overpower her. Someone who she can respect. She didn't find one though, and the closest is already Prince Cornelius. Although, she's still more powerful than him in terms of magic.

Liking aggressive men is also the reason she didn't like Calais. Despite being strong, he's still too soft, gentle and kind to almost everyone.

"After actually experiencing it, I realized that it's not as good as I thought it would be."

I look away from him and watch the people outside. In my world, I will be one of these people, free and with no fear for my life. As long as we don't go beyond our limitations, we'll live a long life. But in this world, I haven't even done anything and my life is already at risk.

After a while, the commotion in the road lessens. Now, there are only very few people around. The trees and plants have also become more frequent until all manners of flowers decide to decorate the long road. From the looks of it, we are coming closer to the church.

When the carriage stops, General Calais gets out first and offers his arm, which I've accepted. I look at the main church. It is colossal, with multiple columns on the front. On its top, I can see a hemispherical dome that has the same pristine, white color as the entire building.

On its open main double door, where few people come and go, I can't even see the other end. Based on the sheer size of the church, does this mean that religion has an immense influence in Cairns? I wasn't able to glean that while reading because I was too fixated on the love triangle of the three characters.

"Shall we go?" General Calais asks, pulling me towards the church.

I withdraw my hand from him. "No, I'd like to do it alone."

"Why? Aren't you surveying for our wedding in case I fall in love with you?"

I smile. "You said it yourself. 'In case'. If it didn't happen, you will just leave me with a sad memory here."

Thankfully, I practiced and memorized every retort to anything that he might say, just so he can come inside with me. My knowledge of his character and the story had allowed me to do just that.

When he steps back, I grab the hem of my skirt and climb the stairs towards the main door. Inside is even more enormous. The arches inside are fifteen meters tall. The curved ceiling is even taller than that. From my left and right are the same design and structure. This place is nothing short of a maze.

"Lyrica Dunnett. Just as I thought, you will return."

I whirl towards the voice and see a man wearing a priest uniform—long, plain, ankle-length robes in dull colors. His hair is so long that it's tied on his back. The novel mentions that priests don't cut their hair as long as they can. Now, I understand why, with this, they give off an aura that they care more for the good of the world, rather than themselves.

"I need you to read my prophecy again," I say. I've also practiced this, deciding that I will be as honest as possible to the priests.

"No matter how much you look into it and have it read, your fate will never change," the priest answers.

"Even so, I want to hear it again."

"If that is the case, follow me."

The priest walks towards the front and makes a right turn. I follow him, making sure that I won't lose sight of him. This place is a maze. I'm certain I will get lost in here alone. After a few more right and left turns, we finally arrive at our destination—a small room with an oak door, which differs from all the other doors.

The inside of the room is smaller by perspective, with shelves of crystal balls against the walls. I pause. Some of the crystal balls are pulsing. Some are in rainbows, while some are just cloudy and murky.

"As you can see, we haven't done much prophecies lately."

I nod and look at the crystal ball he is holding. Inside the crystal ball, it looks chaotic, as if there is a storm inside itself. I turn my attention back to the priest and he ushers me towards a table. We both sit down opposite each other, then he gestures for me to touch the ball.

I did as instructed, but the instant my fingers touch it, everything around me changes. Everything becomes white, pristine, and clean. I am sitting in a hovering chair and on my feet is nothing but smoke. And then something or someone speaks,

"You are chosen to live this life.

A life hated by all.

In exchange,

Luck and gifts, you will have it all.

Everything you desire and put your mind on.

But that one craving you will never own.

As fate and the gods will collude to derail your goal."

It's singsong and soft, but the message is the opposite. Everything spirals around me. I look around, confused and dizzy at the play of everything around me. I let go of the ball and get up from the chair, but the raging smoke and cloud continue around me. The crystal ball disappears, as well as the chair, and I feel like I will be trapped in this illusion forever. Suddenly, a searing pain hits my head. I grasp to lighten it, but the pain just heightens by the second.

Smoke and clouds transform into Lyrica's memories of being despised and feared for her gift as a little girl. Then the scene when she heard the same prophecy when she was a teenager.

From then on, her world changed. From being an innocent teenager to someone rotten who was punished in the end. After the prophecy, she did everything she could to make trouble for her family. She buys slaves, strengthens her magic and bullies other people with it. Then she found out about sex and the need to be with someone. She got addicted to it, followed by drugs. Then her addiction to manipulating people comes. It is a very fast decline into hell.

At nineteen she'd done more than other adults, and people started to fear and hate her.

Then Lyrica's knowledge of magic comes next into my brain. I kneel in pain. This is too much knowledge! I groan and groan until I start hitting my head on the floor. But it's not stopping. All this knowledge, these memories, comes crashing into my head. I can't… Then I blank out.

"Miss Lyrica? Miss Lyrica? Miss? Wake up!"

I get up as a start. And sees that I am crouching on the same table. The priest is looking at me curiously.

"Are you fine now?" he asks.

I nod. My head is throbbing, and I feel exhausted. I badly need sleep.

"I need to return home."

The priest looks at me and he says, "I will advise you the same thing as when you were a child. Enjoy your life as much as you can."

I shift my attention to him. Based on Lyrica's memory, that's exactly what Lyrica did. But she enjoyed it too much that she starts to hurt people! Does this priest know all the things that she had done? Getting slaves and all. Until now, I still can't believe her father allowed her to do all those things.

I inhale. The prophecy gives information, but it's not enough for me to know why I am here, taking the life of Lyrica. And hated by all? How will that work?

I stand up slowly, making sure that my knees can already handle my weight. As a teenager, did Lyrica go through the same experience as this? Somehow, I understand her more now.