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The fox sat atop a large cliff. She looked out towards the horizon, dark with the dull moonlight lighting up the grounds. She took a deep breath and the midnight air, cold and crisp with the sweet scent of the blooming Jacaranda flowers, rustled past the trees down below before rising up against the cliff and flowing past her. She took little jumps on the hard ground, pushing back against her gentle paws. Suddenly, she jumped much higher, and dived off the cliff. She kept on falling, letting gravity take control of her, until her eyes lit up a bright yellow. Still falling mid-air, she slowed down, her dark and slick fur falling to their natural resting positions. She came to a complete stop, halfway down from the cliff. There was a moment of calm, almost like the eye of a storm, quiet, peaceful, a soft breeze. A harsh wind started to pick up all around her. She imagined the Temple of Moncada, built over generations on a mountain top, and in an instance, she disappeared into the wind.

High above the clouds, on top of a hill covered in a thin layer of snow, stuck out the Temple of Moncada. The top was mostly a flat clearing, curving down neatly back into the mountain range. The fox appeared out of thin air at the foot of the temple. Still midnight, she looked around in caution, ready to strike at the single sight of movement. Tonight was the night she dreaded most. Countless days spent preparing for this moment, and now that it’s finally upon her, she feared it. Tonight was when the prophecy was to be revealed by the lion’s Sorcerer, Aspen Fontaine. A great sorcerer once, conquering a vast empire with an unstoppable army, but now a weak, old man, submissive to the lion’s demands. Tonight, all of the 7 gods are to come to this historical moment, a generation in the making.

The fox heard a footstep breaking the perfect layer of snow. She looked back to see a snow leopard walking towards the temple.

“You know I could have struck you down right then and there, Valeria. Never leave yourself open to attack.” He continued, walking towards the fox, cautious about his surroundings.

“We declared this to be a safe haven… at least for tonight. Or did you forget that too, just like your only son during battle?” The snow leopard stopped in his tracks and growled at her. “How is he? I hear he’s doing a great job as fertiliser.”

“I should kill you right now just for mentioning him,” he snarled.

“That would be very inconvenient for the rest of us, Carrillo,” said a civilised voice from inside the temple. The fox turned back around with fiery eyes, only to see a monkey walk out from the darkness. “Now if you don’t mind, we have been waiting for the both of you.”

“Of course, Gaviria,” said Valeria and Carrillo in unison. They walked into the temple, past multiple pillars in darkness, before a bright light in the distance slightly lit the halls. It was the eternal flame in the middle of a garden showing the faces of all the gods. As they walked towards the fire, the others blatantly stared at them. On the right was Andrés, the Panda God of war, covered in armour with the two Dragon swords at his feet. Next to him was Teresa, Tiger Goddess of Fire and water, eager to hear the news. On the left sat Horacio, a golden eagle. Gaviria took his place next to the eagle.

“Where’s Sebastián?’ asked Valeria. Sebastián was the most powerful of the gods, his powers ranging from dark magic, to helping grow a plant. With Aspen, he was the most powerful in the world, but he has grown weaker in the past years, depending more and more on Aspen for his power.

“I’m right here,” said a deep and menacing voice from behind the fire. A lion walked up the slanting hill into view and looked at each of them. “It’s good to see you all,” he started. “I know that for the past decades we haven’t seen eye to eye; the war has torn each of us apart, and I do, truly, wish that this was over sooner.” Valeria could see the fire in the reflection of the lion’s eyes. It looked dark… destructive, the fire reflected anyone’s soul. “We all know why we’re here… I’ve bought Aspen with me. He will read us the prophecy.” A tall, old man emerged from behind the lion, holding a small, tattered book. His black robe swept the ground while he walked towards the fire. He whispered various phrases and sentences solemnly, and added a couple of dry leaves and substances into the fire. He looked into the book and read out a verse.

“Sire… it is upon us,” said Aspen in a deep and hoarse voice. The sky right above them turned a dark purple, and flashes of lightning struck all around them. The wind roared and swirled around the fire. In an instant, a flash of lightning struck the fire with a huge explosion. All the animals were thrown back, Aspen stood where he was, not affected by the blast. The animals walked back close to the fire, which still burned. They were calm, they knew what was happening. Eventually, everything stopped. The wind slowed back into the cold breeze as it had been prior, and the sky was the colour of night again. Aspen looked into the eternal flame and spoke.

“Before the dawn of the new year, two will fight to the death; the traitor, and the saviour. The victor will be reborn in 70 years to guide a child to his destiny, a child from the…  Fontaine Dynasty.” Aspen looked up in revelation.

The fox looked at the snow leopard, his right paw clenched. His eyes vaguely concentrated on her. The fire was roaring in his eyes, it sparked and turned a dark green. In an instant, it consumed his soul and before she could react, the snow leopard lashed out at her. His claws scratched her right cheek, thin streams of shining turquoise coloured blood ran down her face. All the other animals stepped back, knowing that they couldn’t interfere in the prophecy.

Valeria retaliated. She threw herself at him, swinging her arm at his face. He tried to

dodge the attack, but she made contact. Blood spewed from his throat and his entire upper chest was coloured a bright green. Her eyes lit up a yellow once again and a strong wind picked up. The snow leopard growled. He jumped up as high as the temple’s roofs, and thrust himself back to the ground. He crashed into the ground with his arms and the earth shook. The pillars holding up the temple collapsed, and with his hands underground, he grabbed an enormous boulder buried beneath the earth. Carrying it above himself, a boulder three times his size, he threw it with all his force towards the fox. Valeria made a gust of wind to divert the boulder off of the hill. She started to levitate, the wind swirling around the temple like a hurricane, still accelerating. Carrillo planted himself into the earth so he wouldn’t be swept off like the boulder.

“Don’t you see Carrillo, you couldn’t defeat me before. What makes you think you can now?” bellowed the fox. “Earth is nothing compared to the destructive force of wind.” Her voice became deeper as she possessed the unknown limits of her power. Clouds from below swirled up and joined the huge gusts of winds. Carrillo was being thrown around from his ankles. He sunk his body into the ground, just enough so he could still see Valeria. She raised an arm, and all the wind stopped instantly, and disappeared into the sky. Carrillo, with a look of confusion, asked, “What’s the matter, Valeria?” He came up from under the ground and smirked. “Don’t have the balls to kill me?”

“No. You let your guard down,” replied Valeria mockingly and with a smile on her face, she jerked her hand in a chopping motion. In an instant, all the power of the wind came back out of the sky and raced towards him. It swept him clear of the mountain, along with half of the hill. Sebastián looked at Valeria in disbelief, and with a sense of pride.

“It’s finally over,” he sobbed. Decades of war, settled in this moment. “It’s over now.”

“No Sebastián, not yet. I still must adhere to my part in the prophecy.” She disappeared into the wind once again, leaving the other five dumbstruck by what had just happened. 

70 years later

Peace. Quiet. Everything was still. Nothing made a sound as the sun rose from the horizon and painted the sky a bright orange. The birds watched eloquently from their nests, and there was a new, undisturbed sheet of snow on the village. All the villagers were asleep.

“No! You can’t do this to me!” A voice screamed from inside the Fontaine palace. There was a rattle, and the large palace doors opened, scraping the floor. “Mother! Father! Tell them to stop, please. They can’t do this to me!” Two armed men dragged a teenager from the palace doors, down two large flights of stairs, and threw him into the thick snow. By this time, the entire village gathered around the steps to witness this strange doing. Whispers emerged from the crowd. Three old men walked out of the palace doors, followed by the boy’s mother, and father. The three men made up the village Elders. They were sorcerers, alchemists, prophets, and much more.

“We have seen your destiny, your highness. Ever since you were but a helpless child, an evil lurked around you. It is today that our fears have come true,” the Elders said. The boy stood up, took off his hood, and the crowd gasped. Long, dark hair, tall and handsome, he wore the Moncada Pendant. Who could he be, but the Prince? A girl stormed out of the crowd and stood next to the Prince.

“Leroy, what’s going on,” she whispered. “What’s going on!?” she demanded the elders.

“This has nothing to do with you, child. Run along.” A tear ran down Leroy’s face.

“Mother,” he said. “Look at me. Do you see me as a killer?” His mother faced him, trying not to burst into tears, but she could not hold back. She grabbed her husband and cried into his arms. His father showed slight guilt and remorse.

“From this moment, your exile begins,” continued the elders. “Never return, and we will all be safe.”

Leroy turned around and started walking. The girl followed him, confused. “Hey, what’s going on, why are you leaving?” He didn’t answer. “Hey!” She punched his shoulder. “Stop ignoring me.”

“It would be best if you just leave, Oni. That way it wouldn’t hurt as much. Please. Don’t make it harder than it already is.”

Oni stopped in her tracks. She watched in disbelief as Leroy descended the mountain, never to return.

*

“Hit me.” The bartender looked at Leroy. He poured him his sixth shot, and watched him devour it like it was his first. Leroy turned around and watched as people entered and exited the bar. He needed to forget about what happened and he figured drinking was the best way. A man approached Leroy.

“I know what you’re going through, Leroy,” said the man. “I’ve seen this day coming for the past three years.”

“Hey, how do you know who I am?”

“Listen, I know something that would help. Come with me to the bathroom,” he suggested.

“Oh. I know what this is. Sorry, not interested.”

The man cut Leroy’s knee with a knife laced with poison. Leroy felt dizzy and submissive. He didn’t have the energy to fight anyone off. The man took him to the bathroom, and when he opened the door, instead of toilets and sinks inside, a dark room, filled with cushions and smoke appeared. Leroy fell unconscious on the floor and the man closed the door.

.

“Oh. What happened?” Leroy groaned. He started gaining consciousness, his sight returning. He saw the man sitting cross legged on the cushions. Staring at him. Leroy jerked himself up and staggered back into the wall. “What is this? Where am I? Who the hell are you!?”

“Listen to me, all will be answered if you just relax, and have a seat.”

“What do you mean relax? Weren’t we just in the tavern? And isn’t this supposed to be the bathroom?”

“Relax. Just inhale and exhale. Inhale and exhale. Yes, that’s it.” Leroy sat down opposite him. “My name is Vale 7.21, I’m from the Order of the Fox. We worship her highness, Valeria. I am here to protect you, Leroy Fontaine. Things are happening right now, things out of your wildest imaginations. Things that revolve around you, and if you want to drink yourself to death, and watch an unthinkable evil conquer the planet, then go ahead, but I’m here to prevent that from happening whether you like it or not.”

“How do you know my name?”

“I have been keeping a close watch on you since you were born, Leroy. I know everything about you, your favourite toy as a child, your preferred sleeping position, and how much shampoo you use on your hair everyday.” He looked at Leroy, as if all of what he’d just said was normal. Leroy noticed that all the cushions had a symbol on them; a fox’s head.

“You said you’re from the Order of the Fox? As in Valeria?”

“Yes, that’s quite right.”

“What do I have anything to do with her?”

“You see, Leroy, 70 years ago there was a prophecy. It stated that a child from the Fontaine Dynasty will serve either the gods, or the devil. It was made clear that your destiny will be with the gods as soon as Valeria defeated the traitor working for the devil, and saved the lives of millions. She would be reborn to guide you to your destiny, but something changed. 15 years ago, your destiny changed to serving the devil. Because of this, the Order was formed to guide you away from this horrid fate and save you.”

“Wow. That’s a lot.” Leroy stood up, and walked towards the door.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m leaving,” he replied. “I can’t take this bombshell after being drugged and kidnapped, I need to clear my head. How do I leave?” The man stood up, too, and walked towards the door.

“You can leave anytime you want if you have no more questions,” he said as he opened the door to the tavern again. “But do you want to go back there? Pain, humiliation, worthlessness. Or do you want to come with me, and be a part of something bigger than yourself, and prove the Elders wrong?” That was very convincing for Leroy, he wasn’t lying at all; all that awaited him was more pain.

“I’ll take my chances.” He walked into the tavern, which had few customers now, and past the bartender.

“Sir, are you okay? You were in there for a long time.” But he ignored him, tossed a coin onto the bar top and left.

It’s been five days since you left, child, get your act together.

“It’s been five days since I was exiled. I’m allowed to be a mess.”

Come on, you know that you can be better than this. You’re Prince Fontaine, Heir to a vast fortune and empire. Is this how you’ll spend every last penny you inherit?

“Exiled Prince. You seem to be forgetting that, Leroy. The banished don’t have the luxury of inheritance.”

Listen, just stop being such a –  

.

“Sir, can I help you?” asked the shepherd.

Leroy, distracted by his own thoughts, hadn’t even realised that he was standing still for the past five minutes in the middle of a steep passage. “Umm, where’s the closest shop? I need to buy some animal skins for myself.”

“Not far, keep walking and you’ll be at the centre of a small village.”

“Thank you. I’ll be on my way.” He continued walking.

– slob and stop making excuses that allow yourself to be a slob.

“Alright, alright.”

.

15 years ago

Leroy sat on his bed, legs dangling in the air. Oni was there with him. The both of them just got their first full destiny read, and were very anxious.

“So what do you think the long wait is all about?” asked Oni.

“Probably just the old men trying to remember what they read.” They giggled, but Leroy knew exactly what. He knew something was wrong. The Elders weren’t incompetent, they were unsure of how to deliver the news. They heard muffled shouts coming from the hall outside. Leroy walked to his bedroom door to listen.

“What do you mean ‘the devil’ you fool?” his father asked.

“I told you, your highness, we read his destiny, and… and…” stuttered one Elder.

“And what!?” screamed his father.

“And he has ties with the devil,” continued another. “Or at least he will.”

“There’s only one thing that we can do, sire. We need to send him off. Away from all this, away from all of us,” suggested the third.

“Are you crazy? I’m not banishing my child!”

*

Leroy reached a village where a large, deserted fountain occupied its centre as a landmark. Surrounding the fountain were houses and various other buildings. He walked into a shop, and began examining its animal skins. A perfect skin would be thick enough to keep him warm during the coming winter, and easily portable. He inspected the sleeve of a particular skin and saw a symbol with three swirling lines. He had seen this symbol at the tavern. It was the symbol of air. Valeria had control over the element.

Leroy shook the thought. He was still troubled by what he was told at the tavern and couldn’t comprehend it all.

Looking around for anything out of the ordinary, he spotted, across the shop, a set of drapes with the same symbol painted on the wall. Unkempt and chipped throughout, the painting suited well to the shop’s inner surroundings. Leroy made his way towards the drapes, hesitantly, but it must have been a sign. The shopkeeper took notice of this, and, as though by instruction, made her way past Leroy towards the exit. There was no one else in the shop. He pulled back one drape and peeked inside. A rather cramped room, it stored supplies and various broken or otherwise unsold merchandise. A coin in a rubble of miscellaneous items caught his eye. He picked it up. It was oddly shaped; triangular, rather than the commonly used circles. He did not recognise it, however the name Fontaine was inscribed in small letters on the edge. Confused, Leroy sought answers, and walked back past the drapes with it.

Behind the drapes was no longer the cosy shop he wished to buy animal skins from, but a long fall into a forested land mass. Leroy’s body rocketed through the air. He felt the air to be cold, but warmer than that of the village’s. In utter shock and fright, he squirmed and twisted in the air. Feeling helpless against nature, he braced for impact, and was mildly relieved to see an opening into which he would fall, avoiding the tall and sturdy trees. Nevertheless, he hoped for survival.

In an attempt to break his fall, he landed on his feet and immediately onto his left arm in the middle of the clearing. He could not feel his left shoulder, and heard several cracks coming from his torso. As he gasped for air, the sweet scent of freshly cut grass filled his lungs. He groaned and struggled to move for a while; the pain of the fall was coming into full effect and his ankles along with his arm throbbed. At the same time, the sun dipped into the horizon on his right, and the rays hit him, warming his cold and crushed body. A soft breeze picked up, and coupled with the warm sun and unrelenting pain, he felt peace for the first time in an eternity. The events of the past week tried and failed to enter his mind. He felt truly vulnerable, though it did not matter as there was nothing that could harm him here. With a deep breath, a calming sense of relief washed over him and aided in subduing the pain. The sole sound of the wind quietly filled the atmosphere as it rustled the leaves of the surrounding trees.

He was able to back into a tree stump and lay with its support. He clutched his left arm with his right. Laying there, unable to move, he was astonished at what had just happened.  

“Leroy!” cried a voice from afar, making the rustle of the leaves cower, and breaking the natural silence.

He groaned. His body felt better now than it did several minutes ago. Leroy noticed this, and figured that wherever he was, was not normal. He tried looking around but his body wouldn’t move. Dazed and still catching his breath, he whispered as loud as he could, “Who’s there?”

“Leroy, you must listen.” The voice came from behind him and the tree stump. Leroy mustered up the strength to twist and propel himself to his side so he faced the voice. He studied the landscape unsure of what to expect. A single tree stood out from the rest. Its bark was rough and cracked. What once was a dark green and luxuriant foliage, now left bare branches poking at the sky. Its leaves fell one by one, its demise only accelerating. Thick roads engraved in its hazel trunk slowly formed from its roots, consuming its life.

Leroy could not keep his eyes off the tree. The pain faded faster and faster. His ankles gained strength and he sensed their movement.

“A battle of good and evil has already taken place, Leroy.” The voice travelled to him, coming from the tree. 

Leroy, now up on his knees, was dumbstruck. “Are… are you talking…?”

“History always repeats, but the outcomes may not always follow!” He finally picked himself up to his feet. Leroy began walking towards the tree but before he had time to process anything, he was sucked into the air. He fell back into the cramped room behind the plain drapes. The bruises on his shoulder had not vanished, and his body still throbbed. He struggled getting back up to his feet. The ancient coin, too small for significance, felt large at his feet. Leroy took it in his hands and brushed past the drapes in noticeable pain with confidence. The shopkeeper had not returned. Her presence remained missing from her station at the stool behind an enclosed counter. Leroy exited without acquiring his animal skin. As he walked through the town retracing his steps to the descending route, the shopkeeper, deliberately situated from across the fountain, witnessed him. Her eyes frantically focused on Leroy. She caught sight of the coin in between his knuckles, and a stoic sigh of relief followed. 

Back on the route, Leroy continued on his journey, with only one phrase replaying inside his head: History always repeats, but the outcomes may not always follow. His belief in Vale 7.21 increased, as did his trust.

The mountain was steep, and the snow only made it worse.

Leroy set down for a quick nap on the side of the passage, regretting his inactivity at the shop. He had next to nothing; he figured no one would steal from him and he would stay safe. It had been a day since he slept, so he was out like a light.

.

Jungle. No, forest. The green earth is freckled with snow. Where am I? A monkey, several monkeys. A gust of wind. I’m dreaming. An earthquake. I have to be. Several foxes. No, just one fox; blurred vision. Far away. Oh my god… Valeria? Hold on! I’m coming. Oh no, where’d she go. Valeria! Valeria!

Leroy jerked awake with a gasp, panting. “I need to find Valeria. The forest didn’t have much snow, so it must be close by.” Leroy packed up what little he had and headed down the mountain. He passed several other travellers and villages, until he heard the sound of monkeys. Several monkeys. “Yes! I’m close.” A gust of wind nudged him to his right. “It must’ve been here then.” He walked off the route and into a densely covered forest. Everything looked so familiar. He felt dizzy. It was like déjà vu; the group of monkeys swung by him, a gust of wind hit him, and to his left sat a fox.

“Hello, Leroy,” said a calming yet assertive voice.

“Are you Valeria?”

“Yes, Leroy. Listen to me. We are going to the temple of Moncada. Take a deep breath.” He did what she asked, and they disappeared into thin air.

Leroy and Valeria appeared at the top of the infamous hill. This time, they landed on the snow, breaking the perfect layer like Carrillo did 70 years ago. The temple, instead of standing tall, was now a ruin. The roofs collapsed, and the lucky pillars that survived were choked with vines.

“I haven’t come here since that dreadful day. It seems there’s no path to the fire because of the ruin. Hold your breath again.”

They appeared beside the eternal flame. It was morning and the place looked like a deserted house after a party. It was quiet, the only sound filling the atmosphere was the crackling fire. Leroy looked at the edge of the cliff where Valeria and Carrillo fought. Only a crater was the remnant of a devastating battle.

“I brought you here to learn what you are fighting.” Just then, a shrivelled old man appeared from the temple ruins. Bald, and wearing a tattered old robe, just sweeping the ground.

“It’s good to see you, Valeria,” said the sorcerer. “Leroy, it is pleasurable to be in your presence. I am your great grandfather, Aspen Fontaine.”

“You mean the great sorcerer?” asked Leroy.

“That’s the one,” he laughed.

“How did you survive all this time?”

“It’s something I regret, but I used Sebastián’s life force. He agreed to allow me to survive.”

“Oh.” A look of despair washed over Valeria’s face.

Aspen was jittery. His hands shivered in Leroy’s as he held them, while his weak frame did little to support him. His eyes, a glassy tint, darted everywhere as he studied the two characters before him. Eventually his eyes settled on the boy’s right pocket.

Leroy was demanded to empty his pocket, and obeyed. Aspen’s eyes glowed as the coin from the shop was revealed to him. He took it in his long and thin fingers.

“Thank you, Leroy,” uttered Aspen. “This coin was one of many that I inscribed with our name. If known how, it can be used by anyone who bears the Fontaine name for generations to come to prolong their life.” The sorcerer stepped back and fell down to his knees. Placing the coin in the snow in front of him, he recited an enchantment in a language his descendant failed to recognise.

Once he finished his recitations, he tossed the coin into the ground. His appearance had not changed because the coin only improved the strength of a Fontaine’s soul.

“I am sorry, but we don’t have time. I must tell you both something important.”

“Go on,” said Valeria.

“It’s Carrillo. He’s back.”

“No!” exclaimed Valeria. “It can’t be. How is that possible? I killed him 70 years ago!”

“It’s true. When you killed him, he went to the underworld, where he made a pact with the devil. He would bring him back to lead his army to conquer the world. He did not have a choice. All he desired was revenge on you and the child.”

There was a long silence. Leroy looked at Valeria, who after pondering for a while, asked when they would arrive.

“Anytime now, they might already be here…” said Aspen.

“We must go. I know where they will be. I offer you my blessings, Aspen. Goodbye.”

 Aspen nodded at Valeria, and embraced Leroy. “I hope to see you again, Leroy.”

“I hope to see you too.”

Valeria and Leroy backed away. “Hold your—”

The earth shook, and Aspen was thrown off his balance. “Go! You must go now! They’ve arrived!” screamed Aspen. Valeria and Leroy disappeared.

They arrived at the foot of Leroy’s home. Behind his village, Carrillo stood and watched as his army sought to reach every corner of the earth, burning down forests and destroying civilisation.

“It’s too late, Leroy. He’s already here.” Valeria sounded defeated.

He looked at her. “What should we do, Valeria? What should I do? We can’t just surrender.”

 But Valeria sat there, knowing that she had failed the gods, and her duty. She watched Carillo triumph in revenge. A tear ran down her cheek.