For as long as the pact is sealed,

The oracle will oversee both worlds,

Distortion and reality.

Maiden blessed with the eyes of the gods,

Seek out the truth.

As man is doomed to fade to dust,

So the oracle is cursed to watch forevermore.

(records compiled from Navi's Edict found in the Great Corridor in the year of xx78)

With every generation, a new oracle is born. For every oracle, a protector is honed. He is sworn to dedicate his sword to her, to keep her from harm, and to bear her burden. Only the oracle's champion can bear witness to whatever visions she receives. Regardless of their origins whether they be scribe or warrior, these guards took the oath to oversee her task. Each warrior stayed by the oracle's side till they breathed their last and passed into nothingness.

The desert stretched on farther than Yusuke could see with the naked eye. Miles of sand stared back at him, unchanging and quiet as the sun scorched on. It was a dull, colorless world tucked away from the bustling life of the city, but he preferred the dunes over the capital. Everyday had been a distasteful spectacle, marked by simpering courtesans and foolish lords drunk from their power. And Madarame… The thought of his old mentor forced Yusuke to grip the hilt of his sheathed katana and recite every pigment he could think of until his mind was nearly empty.

The quiet clink of bracelets stayed any leftover thoughts. Yusuke bowed at the sight of the trailing white skirt and the elaborate jeweled headdress. "My lady," he murmured immediately. Brown eyes dusted with hues of purple looked up at him curiously.

"You are angry about something."

"I am not."

"Being agitated isn't good for you in this weather, Inari."

"I'm well aware."

"Mhmm.."

Futaba looked off into the desert. She didn't say anything, but Yusuke knew that Futaba was letting the issue go. The oracle knew everything, after all.

In olden times, the oracle's temple was typically situated in the hub of the capital where the palace stood. With the oracle by his side, the king was able to wield considerable power and prosperity over the land. During those times, the common folk had addressed the omniscient oracle as "The Blessed Maiden" out of respect for the peace she helped wrought. But after the failed attempt on the oracle's life and the spreading corruption in the line of kings, external forces and members of the oracle's personal circle had taken it upon themselves to quietly smuggle the next oracle away where no one could use her for their own exploitations. Quietly, slowly, the oracle became a thing of the past.

And so, Futaba had grown up in the confines of the olden pyramids, where the past kings were laid to rest. Their burial tombs were untouched, but it was common knowledge that the vaults containing their personal treasures had been ransacked by bandits a long time ago. The young maiden spent her time counting the sand grains from the nearby dunes. Other times, she convened with the gods when they came to her in visions. But with no one seeking the oracle's counsel, Futaba couldn't help but sometimes wonder at times what her purpose was. Most days, her attendants would catch her glimpsing at the nearby town with a longing eye.

The local residents never wandered near the pyramids; they regarded them as sacred places of power and had reinforced a town rule to forbid anyone from entering the perimeters. Because of the scorching weather, the townspeople spent the day in their boarded-up homes to prevent unnecessary exposure to the sun and sand grains in their food storage. But when the moon rose in the sky and the desert cooled, the quiet town came to life. Young and old flocked together in a clamor of conversation, singing, and mirth, not knowing that their every action was watched hungrily by the young oracle.

Like her predecessors, she too craved a life of simplicity. But Yusuke knew all this. He couldn't remember the last time he took eyes off his liege. It was a good thing; it means he was doing his job properly. He remembered the first time he met the petite girl, and his initial surprise upon seeing her. Ancient, all-knowing eyes tinted with purple, the mark of the oracle line. Long, flowing hair in shades of the setting sun. Even before Futaba had chosen him, Yusuke knew.

a/n: hello p5 fandom! I'm uploading this work on FFN as well as AO3! I've been desperate to push this out for a while, so please forgive the word length! This was mostly meant to be a prologue, so the next chapter will be more fleshed out. I have most of the chapters planned, but there is still a lot of world-building and roadmapping to do. Plese be patient, and do kindly send any ideas you have!

and please feel free to leave comments or any type of constructive feedback! that would greatly motivate me (◕ᴗ◕✿) curryandcoffee