Chương 16: Oracle

Her crimson throne sat in front of a stained glass window that bore her insignia. The long red carpet was laid out for her, and 7 of the 9 knelt next to it. The other two followed behind her diligently until she arrived at the throne. The queen took her seat, swinging one leg over the other. Elise's scarlet eyes glowed, and her authority rolled between her fingers, the Shadow of Death wrapping around her hand. From the moment she sat down, it was as if she'd entered her own personal sanctuary.

All of the doubts resting in her mind were vanquished by the powerful commanding passives she retained. Every movement carried refinement. She summoned her staff and tapped it against the ground, a profound vibration echoing throughout the world. Her hand held it wayward like the queen who would strike in a game of chess. She'd already moved along the board and cast herself into the fray.

Though she might have been disguised as a pawn, the true leader would always promote at the end of the board, becoming the queen she always was. That lowly piece within her slept behind the surface of infinite wisdom and power, miasma leaking from her frame. Rela knelt next to her, and Tyralith knelt on the other side of the throne. The vampiric maid presented a chalice full of blood, and Elise took it naturally.

She held it in her hand and swirled the crimson liquid inside, the pungent scent making her fangs pulse in waves of hunger. If she wanted, she could close her eyes for long enough, and the sensation would fade over time. However, there was no need to hide from who she was. The sanguine queen hoisted it to her lips as the others watched intently. Their whispers of worship reached her ears. She closed her eyes and sipped from the sweet nectar.

It was like thick sweet honey on her tongue, and the feeling in her fangs dissipated with each droplet. A sight of contentment left her lips the second she was done. The queen looked around the room and considered how she would address them. They're all going to need detailed tasks. I must be accurate with my instructions, so that they understand what will happen at each stage. She cleared her throat.

"This valley, it will be our first step to domination." Elise briefly remembered Death Valley which was a scorching hot place back on Earth, but here, that place would be the center of her domain.

"My domain will start inside of this little pocket and become something much larger." The others looked up to her with sparkling eyes as she continued, using all of her developed role play skills to make it natural.

"This world will know the name Elise Shadowspill and recognize me as the Ruler of Death. All will tremble at my name and learn the horrors of a progenitor vampire who has ascended above even the gods. Divinity and human alike will fear me, and we will leave our name as a record upon this world." Yes, if there are truly players among the people here, then so be it. They would come out of the shadows in due time anyway, and I would know them.

She looked around the throne room towards her admirers and grinned devilishly. Before I start handing out tasks, I should check out what that little nun is up to. /// Esmeralda stopped at a large gate where two priests stood. They bore the same golden design on their shoulders that she did, and the cathedral behind them stood tall as a testament to the strength of Her design. Golden etched spires spanned the white building. She could see the beautiful visage of her lady behind the gate.

Lady Dawn held a golden basin that poured water into a marbled container below. The fountain was another testament to the endless wealth that funneled into the church.

"Sister," One of the priests said with a raised hand.

"Please present your proof." Esmeralda reached into her robes and pulled out the golden cross.

"This will suffice, I hope." The same priest pulled out a magic scanning device and pressed it near the cross. After a brief moment, the tablet lit up with golden light and showed her rite.

"I have confirmed it. Lady Esmeralda, you may proceed to the Cathedral of Dawn. May Her steps guide your way." She took a breath and nodded slightly.

"May Her light be with you." Esmeralda swallowed and crossed the opened lattice. Her heart pounded in her chest while walking the courtyard. Many servants moved about within the grass nearby and tended to the plants. Perhaps those flowers should have calmed her. Maybe the gentle breeze and Lady Dawn's light should have given her a respite. She had hoped that would be the case when she got here. However, that light was a small glimmer in the distance.

The memory of recent events plagued her mind as she walked with gentle steps towards the entrance. The golden archway served to remind her of her duties, and she entered the glimmering doorway. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The inside was as magnificent as the outside. Stained glass windows poured light into the white cathedral, and gorgeous paintings hung on the wall between them. Many of them depicted natural sunlit scenes.

There was a painting of a waterfall, sunlight glimmering on the water's surface. Another painting depicted a sunlit valley, untainted by the creatures of darkness. The painting was otherworldly, and the only way it could have been made was from someone who'd gazed at the valley from above, serving as a spectator. To think that this is what that place is supposed to look like. They've desecrated it and written over it with their own parchments. She breathed a small sigh. We shouldn't have sent Tiberius.

I should have been the one who went with Bjorn's detachment, especially given my ties to that place. If I could have secured it... A hand found her shoulder and she jumped, whipping around as holy magic infused in her fingertips.

"Relax, Esmeralda, it is only me." Esmeralda breathed a sigh of relief as she looked at the blind woman who wore a cloth over her eyes.

"Oracle, please don't scare me like that."

"Please don't call me that," the woman said with a neutral voice.

"I already told you to call me Prisma." Prisma followed Esmeralda's eyes with her head, scanning the painting as if she could see it perfectly.

"Your heart remains uneasy. You're troubled by Tiberius's death, are you not?" Esmeralda's hand formed into a fist around her cross.

"You see everything as usual, don't you? Then you must know it is more than that." Prisma shook her head.

"I cannot see everything. Had I been able to, I would have never let that young man go. This was an oversight that my power couldn't glimpse into. I don't think Our Lady even knew what was going to happen." The blonde-haired nun blinked her sky blue eyes several times.

"Can that even be possible? Surely, if it was Her then she would have known."

"Do you really think that She would send someone to die if she knew for certain?" The oracle turned around and made a small gesture with her hand.

"Walk with me, Esmeralda. It has been a while since we were able to talk." Esmeralda joined her at the hip and spoke in a soft voice.

"You were the one who talked to me about the mission." Prisma didn't respond right away, her thoughts remaining elusive. Esmeralda remembered how Tiberius had called her a foxy woman, yet she often showed a softer side. Esmeralda noted how the girl walked without her guard up. For an Oracle, she didn't seem to value her life that much. Yet, anyone who tried to attack her would surely be mistaken. The nun recalled the first time she'd shown up in this place.

She was still nothing more than a brat at the time, and she tried to prank Prisma with a spell from behind. It was nothing more than a magic dart, and she thought the blind woman would get hit and simply shrug it off. Instead, a small flick of the woman's finger was enough to cancel her spell midair. She could still hear the monotone voice of the Oracle speaking.

"Your form isn't good for sneaking up on people. Master what I taught you before if you intend to harm me, little one." At the time, it had shattered Esmeralda's pride. As the daughter of a duke, she'd not met many adults who could shrug her off. The Oracle was different. She didn't care about status, and she didn't try to baby Esmeralda. All of that culminated in Esmeralda becoming a proper member of the church and visiting the Sepulcher of Dawn for the first time. I had wanted Tiberius to see it... to know Her.

It was only when they reached Prisma's room that the Oracle finally responded.

"Those kinds of conversations are different. Do you know that merchants often separate business dealings from their personal lives? I was talking about that. You must have some desires?" Esmeralda sat down across from the woman on a cushioned seat.

"I only desire to tell you what has transpired and receive my next orders."

"Are you going to close off your heart every time and try to sink into familiarity?" The nun breathed a sigh.

"Trying to think of anything else will hurt more than help. Did you receive the words of the letter I sent ahead of my arrival?"

"Yes, it was about the elf named Emerald. Quite troubling." Esmeralda's eyes widened.

"Then, she really is something bad?" Prisma shrugged her shoulders.

"I cannot say for certain. Though, her taking that moniker is the bad part. Someone who is strong named Emerald? She is using a fake name, no doubt."

"Your sight prevents you from seeing further?" Prisma nodded.

"The only thing I can say with certainty is that Emerald is a name that our goddess knows well. When I spoke it to Her, I received an instant response. She made mention of a game."

"A game?" Esmeralda placed her hand to her chin.

"Perhaps that is why the elf carries chess boards with her. I think this is someone we need to be very cautious of and try to track her movements. After all, she destroyed demons with ease." The Oracle gave no reaction to the words. She summoned a bright golden sphere in her hand and two teacups appeared on the table in front of them.

"I find that tea is often a good way to relieve some stress that builds up in the body. This one is infused with some magical properties." Esmeralda stared down at the steaming tea in front of her with a wry grin. Did she even listen to what I just said? The nun slumped in her seat and hoisted the tea towards her lips. The sweet taste of honey spread within her mouth, forcing a soft sigh from her throat. Prisma managed a rare smile.

"See, we cannot think clearly if we don't relax. You're inhibited by something, and it is affecting your judgment." Esmeralda took a deep breath and took another sip at the same time. After a few moments, she spoke softly.

"You're right. That elf made me feel small."

"She is a strong one, indeed. What did she say to you?"

"She only pointed out the truth. I am weak and pathetic. I could only watch as several people rushed to their deaths. Even if my job was only to protect the baron, my legs felt like they would give out from underneath me when I saw those demons. Yet she..." Esmeralda didn't even realize when the tears started falling from her eyes. The frustration and bitterness welled up inside of her and dripped onto her cloth. She looked down at the enchanted tea and clenched her teeth. Tiberius was right. You are a foxy woman.