Disturbed by Muet’s intrusion during the call with Mrs. Luana, Queen Fauna arranged a visit with the Oracle for a blessing and consultation at Wat Sajjathaam. Grateful for the new Mehk dress the Queen gave them but wishing she had her favorite hoodie, Sofia pressed her face against the window of the royal palanquin to admire the golden spires along the temple’s roof. Each one stretched so far into the sky that she believed they touched the heavens.
When the palanquin pulled up to the grand steps of the wiharn, Sofia noticed a bald man in his forties wrapped in saffron-colored robes standing in the archway of the temple stairs. His golden wings rose to shade his eyes from the sun as he briskly descended the stairs to meet the group.
“Your Majesty, please come inside. I’ve been expecting you,” the Oracle greeted her warmly as he bowed slightly in the presence of royalty.
Queen Fauna stood at the foot of the stairs next to her royal palanquin, pressing her palms together and raising them to greet the Oracle with a wai. Her guards flanked her on both sides as both girls remained in the transport.
“Is everything alright, Your Majesty?” the Oracle asked curiously.
“But of course, Samran. Why wouldn’t it be?” Fauna replied, moving forward to stand next to him so the transport door could be opened for the remaining passengers.
The princess and her friend leaped out and stood behind the guards. Queen Fauna beckoned for the girls to come forward for a formal introduction. As the Princess stepped towards them, the Oracle paled as he looked upon the princess’s face. He took a step back but stumbled on the bottom step.
“Samran? Sammy?” Fauna shouted when she grabbed the Oracle’s arm to steady him. “Are you alright? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost! Guards! Help the Oracle inside. Quickly!”
The royal guards rushed into action, reaching out to help the Oracle up the stairs and into the temple. Aware of the spectacle he was causing, he waved the guards away and shook off the panic inside him.
“No need, Your Majesty. I’m sorry. I’m not quite sure what came over me, but I feel fine now,” the Oracle unconvincingly said. “Please, please. Let’s just go inside and get settled.” He trotted back up the stairs, refusing to turn around to see if his visitors were following. Queen Fauna matched his pace and gestured for the girls to follow with a wave of her hand.
Cara jumped to obey, but Sofia’s eyes glazed over as she stood at the base of the temple. I know she’s the Queen and all, but why do we have to blindly follow her orders? I don’t even understand why we’re here. I just want to go home. The enormous set of stairs had to include at least a thousand steps. Her gaze lifted to the top and marveled at the grand entrance. Finally walking up the stairs, she ran her fingers along the figures of fantastical garudas, nagas, and yaaks carved into the stone railing. Cara waited for Sofia just beyond the first arch that led to a lush garden inside the atrium.
Together again, the girls rushed after the Queen to step inside an enormous shrine room with a golden statue of a sleeping monk. The quiet calm within the temple walls forced a sense of peace upon all who entered its vicinity.
Cara stepped inside when Sofia stopped her and pointed to the row of shoes lined up by the door. I guess I would know these traditions if I grew up here. We rarely take our shoes off by the door at home. Not wanting to break the rules, they quickly slipped their sandals off and hurried inside to the waiting Queen.
The Oracle entered the Temple and took a quick detour to the kitchen to grab the tray of refreshments he had prepared. He reunited with his visitors in the shrine room and presented them with the treats. When they declined, the Oracle poured himself a cup of tea and sipped it slowly to calm his racing mind. He needed to focus on the visit at hand and would meditate on the recent events once the Queen and the Princess returned to the palace. He gestured for everyone to get comfortable and took a seat with them on the floor cushions.
“Again, Your Majesty, I apologize for my episode outside. I was blessed with a vision before your arrival, and I believe the after-effects of it just caught me by surprise. I did not intend to worry you or frighten Your Grace. Please accept my apologies for the rude behavior,” the Oracle said humbly.
“Nonsense. You had me worried, but I am sure you will share the findings once they’ve settled. I’ve always trusted your visions in the past and understand you need time to make sense of them first. If it’s a bad time, we can always come back later,” Queen Fauna offered.
“No. No need. I’m fine now and have waited for this meeting for quite some time,” the Oracle assured his visitors. “So, how about a formal introduction?”
“Of course,” Queen Fauna obliged. “Allow me to introduce you to my daughter, Jao Ying Saengfaa, and her friend, Cara.”
“It’s just Sofia,” Sofia whispered. She couldn’t accept the Queen and King as her real parents yet. They don’t even know me. She remained seated for a moment longer and then began to stand to greet the Oracle.
“Please, Princess. There’s no need to stand. If anyone should get up, it should be me,” the Oracle exclaimed as he rose to bow to the girls. “I am grateful to see you again finally.”
Again? Sofia thought as she awkwardly raised her hands to mimic the Queen’s greeting but poked her eye in the process. “Thank you, um, um, mister um, Oracle?” she sputtered. “I’m not quite sure how to address you.”
With a laugh, the Oracle graciously replied, “Oh, my sweet child. My name is Samran. I’ve seen this day in my mind for so long, but I can hardly believe it is happening. Although, I can’t say I’ve ever seen you in any of my visions, Cara. But I believe your arrival may be anticipated, too.”
“Thank you…I think,” Cara answered nervously. “This experience has been pretty overwhelming.”
“Is it true, Samran? Was the arrival of Cara expected?” Queen Fauna commanded, trying to temper her concern.
“Truthfully, Your Majesty? I’m not certain,” the Oracle admitted. “I have a theory but thought it best to keep the suspicions to myself until I met them both. Besides, the Veil would not have let her cross through if she wasn’t meant to be here.” He smiled at the Queen and reached out to reassure her that all would be well. “I expect this visit will help me confirm my hypothesis, one way or the other.”
The girls exchanged glances.
Sofia silently mouthed, “Another secret?” to her best friend, who simply nodded and shrugged her shoulders. The exchange did not go unnoticed by the Oracle, who watched the friends’ silent conversation with great interest.
“Princess Sofia, what do you think of Tropos so far?” he inquired.
“Well, I think it’s only been a day, so we haven’t really done much,” Sofia replied.
“Does driving all night to the palace count?” Cara chimed in. “If so, I’d say nighttime here looks very much like nighttime back home.” She smiled.
Sofia elbowed her friend, catching the sarcasm that could possibly offend the Oracle or the Queen.
“It’s fine, Princess—no need to hold your tongue here. I’d rather you both be honest with me rather than try to give the right answer. It would make sense that you’ve not seen much of our world yet. I’ve lived here my entire life and have yet to see the entire realm.”
“From what I’ve seen so far, everything looks pretty interesting,” Sofia said, turning to the Oracle. “I would like to explore as much as I can someday. What about you, Cara?”
“I’d rather be home and visiting the beaches in California,” Cara answered honestly. “I don’t really know what to think about this place.”
“The beach?” the Oracle echoed. “You enjoy the water? Have you ever been to the oceans?”
“I love the water,” Cara squealed. “My family would head to the lake back home whenever it’s warm enough, but I was really excited to see the ocean in person.”
“Interesting,” the Oracle murmured. “What about you, Princess? Are you also a fan of the ocean?”
Cara laughed out loud. “Sofia? A fan of the ocean?”
“Quiet, Cara,” Sofia smacked her friend’s arm to stop her from oversharing. She cleared her throat. “I’m not a fan of the ocean. It’s a bit frightening, to tell you the truth. I’d rather spend my days in the mountains or hiking through the woods. I’ve always felt a calming presence whenever I was away from the city and enjoyed stargazing the most.”
“Well, it doesn’t surprise me at all to hear that you feel that way. Most of the Royal Family has a particular affinity to some aspect of the world around them, whether it is a connection to the land, the sea, the wildlife, or plant life. It’s your Palang. A bond deeply rooted in the royal bloodline as a sign from Tehwa,” the Oracle explained.
“Oh, I see,” Sofia uttered. Does this connection really make me the jao ying? “Are royals the only ones with the connection, or is it common for everyone?”
“Most people in Tropos feel drawn to different elements, but the ability to either control or interact with them is specific to the Royal Family,” the Oracle explained.
“It’s true,” Queen Fauna added. “We all have different specialties. I have a deep connection to wildlife, just as my name suggests. My husband, the King, is closely tied to the atmosphere and celestials. Others might be linked to water or fire since there are many affinities in our bloodlines. We draw energy from our elements and give back to them as well.”
“What do you mean to draw energy?” Sofia asked, confused.
“It’s simple, really. If you share an affinity with the land and happen to become lost in the woods, you could focus your mind on connecting with the land around you to show you the right path." Queen Fauna continued, “The energy would essentially glow to light your way out of the woods. That connection grants us the ability to see things differently and consider options that we might miss otherwise.”
“Again, it’s your Palang or unique power,” the Oracle repeated. “Leading a kingdom is difficult enough, but the Royal Family has been given a great privilege with their Palang to aid them in times of need. You could also have the Palang, even though you’ve been raised below. It is something you can develop and learn to control.”
Cara scoffed. “So what? Sofia can one day talk to plants and animals? Do you really believe that, Sofe?”
Sofia was silent. It did sound ridiculous to think that she was “connected” to some element of the world and had the ability to draw energy, as the Queen put it. But, in her heart, she knew it was true. Sofia always felt better after a hike, her anger or sadness draining away with every step she took. She never understood it but never felt truly alone whenever she was surrounded by trees. Those imaginary hugs from the old red maple in her backyard didn’t seem so crazy now.
“Hey, Sofe? Are you okay?” Cara asked softly as she gently nudged her friend. “You kinda spaced out there.”
“Sorry. I was just thinking about something.” Sofia turned to the Oracle. “About this Palang. Does it make you feel like you’re being watched or possibly protected?”
The Oracle shared a look with the Queen. “Well, Your Grace, the Palang may manifest itself in numerous ways, making the possibilities quite endless. The energy one would experience during any interaction typically presents itself in a way that is most needed at the time.”
“So, if I had an affinity for the land and I was alone in the woods, would it be possible to feel like a hug from an invisible person?” Sofia asked, then quickly added, “Just an example, I’m saying.”
“Of course, Sofia,” Queen Fauna stated. “If you felt distressed or angry, you would most likely reach out for a calming or comforting force. The energy the land would send back to you could feel like a hug or perhaps...a motherly touch.”
It was clear to Queen Fauna that Sofia had experienced the interactions before but never understood them. Her Palang had to be very strong for her to be able to draw energy subconsciously when she needed it most, especially since her powers were bound in Lok Klang. She could be a formidable Royal.
“I see. That’s what I was wondering,” Sofia whispered. She had a million questions about this but assumed there would be plenty of time to develop her Palang. I guess I could really be from here, even if I don’t have horns or wings. The idea of Tropos being home was still settling into Sofia’s mind, but it was exciting. She looked forward to learning more about it.
“Your Grace, the Palang is a blessing and is not to be feared,” The Oracle said to her. “You can learn to control it and, with the proper training, use it whenever you need it. You may have some catching up to do since most Royals begin training as soon as their affinity is determined, but you must be a natural. I would be most honored to be your mentor and help you develop your skills. But only when you are ready to do so, of course.” The Oracle bowed to Sofia and left the offer at that.
Sofia smiled at the Oracle and nodded. “Thank you very much. I would love to learn more about this Palang and train with you. As long as it’s okay?”
The Queen nodded her approval.
“How wonderful!” the Oracle expressed. “I will develop a plan to begin soon. Perhaps Miss Cara could join us in the training, too?” He turned towards Cara to gauge her interest, but noticed her aura was guarded and cloudy as she shook her head while remaining silent. The Oracle believed it would only be a matter of time before her true role was revealed, so he decided not to press the issue. “No worries, Miss Cara. There is plenty of time to decide whether or not you’d like to participate.”
The Oracle poured himself another cup of tea and grabbed a luuk chuup. He once again offered the plate to the group. Sofia and Cara were overjoyed to see the familiar cookie apples they’d eaten before and were still amazed at how much luuk chuups tasted like candy bars. They listened to the Oracle and the Queen talk about the good old times of Tropos.
Knowing that she was born in this magical land and that her parents weren’t actually her parents was a lot for Sofia to absorb. She still couldn’t picture the Queen as her real mom, and wondered what it would have been like to grow up in Tropos. Would I have fit in better? Would this world accept me for who I am? Or would they be just as mean as the kids in Lok Klang?
“Alright, girls, it’s getting late, and you’ve had an exciting day. Why don’t we head back to the palace? There’s much to prepare for tomorrow and not much time to do so!” Queen Fauna announced. “Samran, thank you for taking the time to see us. We shall speak again very soon to discuss Sofia’s training, and perhaps you will share your findings with me.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. I will set some time aside whenever it is best for you. Next time, I will come to the palace. Too much time cooped up in the wat isn’t good for anyone,” the Oracle jested.
The Queen nodded in reply and gathered the girls to leave.
“Thank you, Oracle.” Sofia smiled. “I look forward to learning more about my Palang and training with you to use it right. Until next time.” She nailed her wai before she trotted down the Temple steps with the Queen not far behind.
Cara lingered, debating how to approach the Oracle.
“It was nice meeting you. Sofia seems to approve of you, so I guess you’re fine with me, too. I might sit in on her training,” Cara blurted. “I think it sounds interesting…if the offer still stands?”
“Miss Cara, I look forward to the training sessions.” the Oracle reached out for Cara’s hand and received an alarming surprise—Cara gave him a giant hug and dropped her defenses.
Immediately, the Oracle was struck by her aura, revealing her innermost secrets and confirming his suspicions.
But she threw up her guard just as quickly as she’d jumped at the Oracle. Cara smirked, haphazardly raised her hands to wai, and rushed down the steps to catch up with the others.