Pythia smiled at Nikolas, while inwardly wondering what had just occurred. Never before had she seen a vision when making contact with a person. Usually they came to her in dreams, or sometimes randomly. Had it just been coincidence that they were shaking hands at that moment?

Search in the past, for you know it's true.
The secret within shall bring rule anew.

Pythia froze as the words penetrated through her mind. She brought a hand up to her forehead as a dull, aching pain suddenly shot through it. Those words that she had just heard...

There was no doubt about it.

That voice was the same one that first spoke of the prophecy to her. The same one that hadn't come from any of the Olympians.

But it wasn't quite another prophecy...no, it was connected to the other one.

She had a feeling she knew what it was. She had just been gifted the hint needed to solve the prophecy.

And it's timing was deliberate.

This Nikolas was connected.

Maybe he was the key.

"Oracle?" Nikolas tilted his head. "As in a prophecy-bearer?"

"Yes. Have you heard of me?" Pythia looked at Nikolas in curiosity.

"No." Nikolas shook his head.

"Oh..." Pythia deadpanned.

"You saw a...snake?" Nikolas asked for confirmation.

'That's right! The snake!' She gasped in realization. 'It must be connected. And it's singular image I've gotten that has connections to this prophecy. It's important..'

She frowned. 'But what does the a child of sky, water, and death have to do with "the past", a snake, and this Nikolas?'

The obvious connection she could make was that he was a child of one of the three. But even then, the other connections weren't clear. Did this entity want her to search this man's past?

"Yes." Pythia nodded.

"What does a snake look like?" Nikolas asked.

"Have you been blind since birth?" Pythia curiously asked. "Oh! I'm sorry, that was insensitive of me."

"It is fine. Yes. I do not know sight." Nikolas replied. "I like snakes. Can you describe it to me?"

'A connection...' Pythia smiled. "Of course. They're long, thin, and scaly. They have beady eyes and a tiny tongue and they slither around. Does that help?"

"No." Nikolas shook his head.

"Oh..." Pythia deadpanned.

"Thank you." Nikolas stated.

"A-Ah, no problem!" Pythia quickly nodded.

He apologized when she hadn't even helped. It was a stark difference from when people usually asked her for divinations. Whenever she couldn't get an answer or got one they didn't like, they often lashed out at her with harsh words.

It wasn't hard to understand. They were simple people who only listened to the things they wanted to until it came to bite them in the ass. It was only natural behavior, she couldn't fault them for it.

But it was nice to have someone so calm and nice even when she hadn't been able to help.

Wait!

"Divination!" She clapped her hands together with a gasp.

"Divination?" Nikolas questioned.

"Yes! Would you like me to do a divination for you? I can consult higher beings for an answer to something you'd like to know. It could be anything." Pythia attempted to persuade Nikolas.

'Consulting higher beings...as in the gods.' Nikolas frowned, a bitter feeling seeding in his heart. Why would he ever turn to the gods?

But then again, there were two things he couldn't help but desire an answer to.

"Who answers?" Nikolas asked.

"While I am an Oracle of Apollo, answers from anyone are given from me. Though usually an answer is given by the gods." Pythia explained.

Nikolas continued to frown. Why would he rely on the gods? The selfish bastards which had hurt his mother?

But it would be suspicious if he refused, wouldn't it? He wasn't betraying his mother with this. No, this would be better for him. This could help find his mother...and answer something that had been bothering him.

"I see. Then I shall accept." Nikolas replied.

"Great!" Pythia brightly smiled. "Just come with me! We must go to the temple at the center! I know the way, so take my hand."

Without hesitation, Nikolas grabbed her hand.

'Oh my, this is the first time I've held a boy's hand...' Pythia blushed. 'How bold of me. No! It's because he can't see either!'

She shook herself out of the random thoughts that occupied her mind and led Nikolas to her temple of residence.

To the Greeks, this was the very center of the world. Despite her young age, Pythia was still the single most powerful oracle in the lands of Greece, her psychic connection to above being much stronger than anyone else's.

And thus, she was granted one of the most important honors in Greece; sitting at the center of the world.

Pythia led Nikolas into the main chamber, sitting down and having Nikolas sit down in front of her. Both of them were sitting crosslegged, facing each other despite the fact neither could see.

"I will be going into a trance." Pythia stated. "I can hear what you say, but I will not be able to speak back. Whatever comes out of my mouth is from above."

"Understood." Nikolas nodded.

"Then I shall start." Pythia stated. 'Maybe this can give me another hint...'

She sat still, starting to fall into the trance. She could feel her spiritual and physical form's slight disconnection, allowing the presence of a third party to speak through her.

Nikolas took a deep breath. He couldn't believe he was actually asking this.

"Will our love come to fruition?" He spoke.

'O-our love?!' Pythia's spiritual self had the equivalent of a brilliant blush as she was stuck in her thoughts. 'B-b-b-but we've just met, Nikolas! And with such a straight face, too! I told you I can hear you! We can't! Oh, but...'

As Pythia fell deeper into her own fantasies, Nikolas frowned at himself for even asking it. But he couldn't get his mind off of the realization that he felt some semblance of feelings towards those girls.

He couldn't believe he was admitting it. He had closed off his heart, and yet somehow they had started the process of squirming their way in.

He had to know. Because if not...

Then he must cut it off.

And if so?

He wasn't sure.

"Fated..." Pythia's body finally spoke.

'Fated?' Both Pythia and Nikolas thought, with two very varying reactions. Pythia's (theoretical) heart was pounding rapidly, while Nikolas stayed neutral.

"To..." Pythia's body continued. "...fail..."

'Eh?!' Pythia's fantasies abruptly stopped.

Nikolas sat silent, before finally speaking. "I knew it. Thank you for confirming it. I have one final question."

He took one more deep breath. He wouldn't dare ask if it was possible, because not matter what he would make this one possible.

No. He wanted to know how.

"How do I see my mother again?" Nikolas asked. "And how do I bring about her return?"

'His mother...?' Pythia thought. She had been faced with the realization she knew nothing about this Nikolas.

She needed to get to know him better! Not because he was nice, cool, or that his voice was attractive! Not at all! It was for solving the prophecy! That was all!

"Drifting..." Pythia spoke. "...river...falling...rebirth...change...the-"

The voice was suddenly cut off as she immediately spoke something else, clearer than anything else that had been said.

"How are you alive?" Pythia's voice spoke.

'Eh? What's going on?!' Pythia gasped, suddenly having returned to her body. She immediately moved out her position, feeling herself breathing heavily. 'Was that a different speaker? That's never happened...it's taken a toll on me...'

"Are you alright?" Nikolas asked, completely unaffected by the strangeness that had just occurred.

"Y-yes..." Pythia attempted to stand, only to suddenly have her legs buckle underneath her.

She gasped as she prepared to hit the ground, only to not feel any impact. She realized upon feeling his arms against her body that he had gotten up and caught her in an instant.

And then, suddenly, she was thrown off her feet into a princess carry. She felt herself blush for real this time, her face becoming deeply red. If he wasn't blind, she would've been so obvious.

"N-Nikolas?" She stuttered.

"I shall take you to bed." Nikolas stated.

"N-Nikolas?!" She exclaimed. 'W-wait! But we've just met! I'm the people's oracle! And it's been forbidden by the gods! Forbidden...'

She drifted off into another fantasy as Nikolas carried her and explored the temple, searching the rooms through touching things with his feet until finally finding a bed.

He placed her onto the bed, making her come back to her senses. She waited with bated breaths for Nikolas to make his next move.

"You should rest. Thank you for the divinations. I shall see you another time." Nikolas stated, before turning around and starting to walk off.

"T-thank you!" Pythia stuttered as she called out to Nikolas.

"No problem." Nikolas simply replied, leaving her alone.

Pythia laid there in bed, wondering one single thing to herself. Why was she lightly disappointed?

Nikolas walked back to the inn where the rest of the Xeno crew was situated. As he walked back, he simply thought one thing to himself.

'It is time for the Underworld. No more distractions, Nikolas.'