94 She Recieves an Oracle

"How do you know?" Bard asked.

"It's your job to be careful, and it's my job to promote peace. Why would I not cooperate?" Robin asked. "Like I said, I was just here to talk. But, I would prefer if you didn't take all day about it. Raw fish goes bad after a few hours."

"Haha, he's got a point, Bard." Oracle laughed. "Just pick one so I can eat it sooner." As Oracle said that, an invisible pressure was pushing down upon Bard.

'He must want me to hurry up and prove the Hero has hidden intentions!' Bard thought to himself. But,if Oracle could hear his thoughts, he would probably flood the man's brain with 'Hurry up! I want to eat it it regardless of whether it's poisoned or not!'

He pointed to the largest one. 'If the hero really was going to poison him, he would most likely hide it in here!' Robin struggled to keep from rolling her eyes as she tossed the sushi piece in her mouth.

Absolutely no signs of even the slightest of poisonings appeared. Bard's suspicious face soon grew sour as he eyed Robin with a bitter leer.

"See? Nothing." Robin chuckled.

"Hmmph! It could be a slow acting poison!" Bard muttered, still unconvinced.

"Enough of this! Bard. I am done with your willful foolishness. Besides, whether there is poison or not, It won't be effective on me, so quit whining and let the Hero hand the plate over." Oracle said, his smile slowly disappearing as he stared at Bard, daring him to speak back, if he had the nerve.

"Guhh!"

The pressure on Bard then suddenly escalated to the point where he could only watch Robin bring the plate up to Oracle, and place it on the table by his side. Robin then returned to her group, surrounded by guards. But her next actions caused everyone to blink in surprise.

She pulled out a barstool, and sat down in it, leisurely. Then she took out some cookies and began snacking on them. Keith's shoulders began vibrating as he struggled to keep a straight face. Robin was, once again, acting outside the bounds of ettiquette. Yet only one person found it offensive. Bard felt a vein begin to throb on his forehead. This disrespectful little-.

"Bard, might I remind you that you were rude to my guest, first? Since he has no bad intentions let him be." Oracle warned Bard. "Or do you want to be the first of my captains to be dishonorably dismissed from his position?"

He stared sternly at the man, whose face now paled several shades lighter as the blood drained from his face. One more issue, and Oracle would demote Bard, regardless of the man's staunch loyalties. Bard looked down at the ground, getting his temper under control. Oracle's eyes turned back to admire the brightly colored sushi.

Jasmine, Christian, and Keith simply looked at Robin, who laughed.

"Want a cookie?" She asked, offering the plate to them. Jasmine's expression twitched. This was not how diplomacy was supposed to go! Christian and Keith, accepted the offer, and picked one. Gerard was greedy, and took two cookies.

"He said 'a' cookie. Not cookies." Ponzu poked Gerard's cheek in a reprimanding tone.

"You can never just have 'one' of anything Robin makes." Gerard hmmphed. "Don't you think I haven't seen you sneaking bits out of Robin's recipes."

"I taste test all the food I make!" Ponzu protested.

"But you taste test Robin's recipes even more!" Gerard pointed out.

"Oh hush, you two!" Jasmine shushed them.

Oracle did not mind. That protectorate demon was far too distracted by the glorious taste of a proper sushi. Everything was going fine until he put one pinch too much of wasabi on a sushi roll, and accidentally choked when the burn hit the back of his throat.

"Ah! There is the evidence! You truly were trying to poison our Protectorate!" Bard had seen enough, once more thrusting his spear towards Robin. Robin deflected it with the empty scabbard hanging at her waist.

"What a pity." She sighed softly. "You have eyes, yet you cannot see the mountain in front of your face."

"What are you talking about-?" Bard began, but right then, a huge pressure came from Oracle, to the point where Bard collapsed to the floor.

"Guards, remove Captain Bard from the hall, and place him in the jail for a bit. He is too hot-headed currently to act as your commanding officer." Oracle said with difficulty as a glass of water appeared in Oracle's hand.

"But, sir!" Bard exclaimed. "It was poison-"

"It was no such thing. I merely choked from eating too quickly." Oracle reprimanded. "Go and contemplate what you did wrong while I speak with the Hero."

"Wha? No!" Bard objected as he was unceremoniously dragged from the hall by some of the other guardsmen.

"At ease, soldiers." Oracle told the rest of them. Though reluctant, the guards could only do as he said. After all, if they were also sent away, who would be there to protect Protectorate Oracle?

"Come closer, Hero." Oracle waved his arm. Robin and her group were finally allowed to approach the coral chair.

"You are neither afraid of me, nor do you bear malicious intent." Oracle noted. "Why?"

Robin shrugged. "Why should I be afraid of someone who is not an evil-doer? Even though you may very well be stronger than me, currently, I can see that you care deeply about the citizens, regardless of whether they are human or demon. You have my gratitude for that."

Oracle's eyes widened. Then, suddenly, the demon broke out laughing.

"You really are completely different from the previous hero. Say, would you like me to peer forward in time? I am interested in seeing your future." Oracle motioned Robin to come closer.

Robin stepped up to the coral throne. "Okay, what do I do?" She asked.

"Give me your hands, and close your eyes." Oracle instructed. Robin did so. Oracle's hands were not warm, but cool to the touch. The air about him smelled of the sea.

Oracle also closed his eyes. Out of nowhere, a breeze sprang up, circling about the two, tugging on clothes, cloaks, and window curtains around them. In the wind, many whispers that couldn't quite be made out began to murmur under the sound of the breeze.

Upon Oracle's forehead, a silver line shone, opening outward into a shining eye. It was too bright for Christian or Jasmine to make out what it was. Then, the light faded as the eye closed. The breeze died down. The voices faded away, and all was quiet again.

Oracle opened his eyes, and looked closely at Robin's face. What was said between the two, no one could hear.

"Why do you hide, Hero?" He asked quietly. Despite his youthful appearance, he spoke softly, like a grandfather."You know they will accept you as you are."

"I know. But I need to go home. I must." Robin answered, as she opened her eyes, and looked at the deepening twilight out the nearby window. "If I am but a passing dream in this large land, then let me end the dream on a good note. Let them look back upon these days, not with regret or misery. Let them treasure Robin, the Hero." She smiled a bit sadly.

Oracle sighed. "If home is were you wish to go, then home is where you shall find yourself." He replied. "My advice to you, though, is this: some things don't have to be either this or that. Hero of an unfortunate past, have hope. Hope in the day when you will be able to keep both friends and family by your side."

Robin pondered upon his words, and looked Oracle in the eye, trying to understand what he meant. Then she sighed. "I don't understand it, but I shall remember your words, Oracle."

Oracle smiled, and suddenly her companions' words could be heard behind them.

"Why can't I hear anything?" muttered Christian.

"Strange, there isn't any sort of magic barrier here.." Jasmine looked about, intrigued.

Oracle cleared his throat.

"You call me Oracle? Why do you not call me Demon Protectorate Oracle?" He asked.

Robin grinned. "Why the need to mention our races? Human? Demon? It doesn't matter. All that matters is whether we are friends or not."

"Oh? And am I now your friend?" Oracle asked.

"You know what?" Robin's grin gave way to a smile. "I think you are."