Chapter 11 11: The Origins

“Excuse me. Can you include me in this conversation as well? I am a little lost here” the two females turned toward Maria at once but their expressions were quite different.

However, both their eyes held understanding in them.

“Of course, you did not tell the oracle anything. She should know now since she’s in the middle of things. We really cannot do anything without her” Maria felt awkward as she was stared down by that unknown person.

Maria mainly looked at Nao, her gaze moving away from the disappointed female in the room. It also did not help that her body was starting to feel the effects of the chains.

“Howl, give us a moment together. I will explain things to her and then meet you all at the gates tomorrow. We will need to reach the first root soon” Maria finally had a name for the other female in the room.

Howl frowned at Nao’s words and looked prepared to fight Nao as well. But a small tug on her clothes dragged her attention away to her small charge and her eyes softened.

She looked so much younger and better with those soft green eyes and light blond curly hair. They even made her small horns look adorable…

…which Maria had missed this whole time. Howl was a demon as well?

“Fine. But do make sure she’s ready. Oracle or not, she will need to carry her weight” and just like that, Howl and her small charge were gone from the room. It was only Nao and Maria left there.

“Nao, what happened back at the ceremony? I think I died there so how am I still here? And my head hurt as well. Not from a headache but by something physical. I feel as if I’ve grown a pair of horns” the atmosphere finally turned comfortable.

Being alone with Nao was something Maria had done often enough. Nao was a good listener as well and her small smile felt good to see.

“It’s nice to see that you are the same as ever. No, don’t move much. You did die so your body needs time to repair itself. You should not exert yourself any more than you already have” Nao had her hand on Maria’s arm.

It was a gentle hold, one that did not hurt Maria. It just moved her hand down from her hair.

“But it hurtsssss” Maria whined. It was a playful sound, a familiar banter between them. It was comfort and Maria did not mean anything harmful by it.

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Nao knew it as well. It was an attempt to establish normality in their sudden chaotic life. Normality was good and welcomed even.

“I’m sure it hurts and I want to tell you why as well. But we have other things to discuss before that. You want to know how you got here, right?” Nao was gentle with Maria but her words held something in them.

It was time to pay attention to Nao and to say goodbye to their playtime.

“Maria, your heart did stop and you did die. But that was a calculated risk we took to get you out of the situation. We swapped your body with another dead one and smuggled you out here. Our trick would be discovered soon enough so we will have to leave before then” Maria nodded her head along with the explanation.

It did explain why she was in a coffin when she woke up but not everything else.

“I died? Then how am I alive? And what about Princess Neah? Was she in this plan as well? I’m surprised that you managed to make her agree to this” Maria tried to joke but it came out rather flat.

How had they managed to make Princess Neah agree to this?

“Princess Neah does not know about you and we would like to keep it like that as well since she’s a big part of this problem. As for how you are alive right now? You have your father’s bloodline to be thankful for. His demonic blood is the only reason you’re alive right now” Maria felt herself choke on air.

The what, why, how? Maria had not been made aware of all this when she had signed the contract with the system.

Not that it would have changed her decision. Life was life but still. It would have been good had she been made aware of all this.

“My father was a demon? Then, why didn’t I hear anything about it till now? I thought humans saw demons as dangerous and only the servants were allowed entry. No way SIlvya would have agreed to that marriage. She would have killed herself first” Maria knew Silvya.

She had the pride of a mountain. No way was someone going to make her marry beneath her status.

“I do not have much information about your father except that he was the highest-ranked demon - the supreme of his time. There could only exist one supreme at a time and the title is won in a demonic war held after the previous supreme dies. Your father is most certainly dead and now a new war approaches us” Maria was sure there was a point where she was supposed to catch the real meaning of this conversation.

But Maria lacked too much knowledge. How did Nao know this much but not know his father personally?

“And what am I supposed to do about it? I am the oracle, not a warrior. I can’t fight” Maria could fight but she did not want to if she could avoid it. She did not want an early death after all.

Nao knew that much as well. Maria thought she had made herself clear to her friend.

“You might want to run away from this war but the war will still find you. It would not be long before this place is infested by demons. Demons are like a disease. They find a human host and fight for the body’s possession. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule - half-demons.” Half-demons like Maria?

Still, there should be other candidates out there who were much better than Maria in this.

“I can’t. And why me? I’m sure there are better people out there to fight this war. I can’t even beat you. And I’m not even a full demon. It would be futile even if I did win this war” Her teacher had breached this topic only once before Silvya had found out.

Maria had not seen that teacher since then.

But her teacher did tell her a lot. Only a demon could claim the title of ‘supreme.’ People like Maria would not matter even if they won this war. The demonic power would not obey them.

“Of course not. This is not what we want from you. You are the oracle, the only oracle who has the blood of both light and dark. Can’t you see that the prophecy was about you? We need your help to put an end to this war” Nao looked serious but Maria could not face her.

Stop a war? Her? She could not. Maria did not have what it took.

All she wanted was a peaceful life filled with joy and health. She was even content to be a trophy wife for that and live in a loveless marriage. This was not what she signed up for.

[The system would like to inform the user that they agreed to the ‘terms and conditions’ part of the contract. This situation is their responsibility and any deviation will be punishment]

Punishment? Agreement? Maria did not know about that. She had signed that agreement in desperation so she had not had time to read it all.

“But why me? I know, we should get Princess Neah to help us out. I’m sure she would be able to stop this war. She’s also a much better warrior than me and would be a big help” Besides, Maria would feel better with her nearby.

Nao’s expression seemed to tell her something else though. Her expression told Maria that it was not a good idea to include Princess Neah.

“We can’t depend on Princess Neah. She’s already taken over by the demonic energy and is an enemy now. Besides, only the oracle’s light can guide us to the core of the ley lines and purify this world. You are the only one who can do this” Maria felt her head swim with all the information being provided to her.

So much to consider. It was all overwhelming.

And her body was betraying her to the heat as well. She needed those pills and she needed them urgently.

“I will think over it. But you won’t happen to have my pills with you? I don’t feel that good” Maria wanted to think but the heat was becoming unbearable now.

“Lady Maria you! Did you use your chains?” Maria nodded and heard Nao curse under her breath, “I don’t have any more of those pills but I can’t leave you like this as well”

This was bad news. Maria would burn from inside and it was just bad.

“Just do something, anything. Do you know any solutions for this? I’ll take anything” Maria was too far gone to notice the shift in Nao’s expression and the heat of her eyes.

“Anything? I might know something that would help but you need to consent to it” Maria nodded along. Something, anything would do as long as this heat went away.

“Please forgive me” Maria heard those words and then there were lips on her own. A tongue into her mouth that seemed to be asking for entrance.

And despite all odds, it did help as energy was poured into Maria by that mouth.

(I guess the next chapter will be R-18. Minors are advised to skip it but I already know you all were waiting for this)