Malissa's boots splashed in the freshly pooled puddles of rain water that spotted the empty streets. All the lights in the streets have long since been put out as their residence got some sleep. Moon light was the only way she was able to traverse the streets without a lantern.

Light rain still drizzled onto her cloak. Finally stopping when she reached the Castle, at the center of the town. It was an elevated design, originally used for an output, its raised stone foundation made entry difficulty, to attackers. But after being converted to a place of noble negotiations, and grand displays of influence, long flat stairs were added to the front entrance.

Once inside the keep and making her way through the halls, Malissa stood outside the Oracles chamber, its large wooden doors stood high as if in opposition to her. Setting her resolve she tidied her cloak, pulling it flush, and casually sweeping off some of the water onto the well maintain stone floors. Straightening her back she knocked on the door. The sound almost damped out by their sheer size.

When no answer came she knocked again, a little harder this time.

When still no anger came her hair began to flare a bit in anger.

"Blood of the Gods I know you can hear me in there!" Malissa blurted out, abandoning all prior attempt at civility. If that avist spawn was gonna toy with her now of all times then she would not give her the lugary of seeing her being polite.

The guard at the doors side stirred uncomfortably where he stood. Indecision clear on his face. Malissa guessed he'd never seen anyone address the Oracle in that way before.

She's seen how people look at this door, uncomfortable glance, and hurried steps by the servant when they had to cross its path.

And here Malissa was, a middle aged Urashin Woman trenched in water and wearing peasants clothes banging on the Oracles door and an un godly hour.

Malissa raised her fist a third time preparing to really give that door a beating with her fist when her actions were stopped by a small voice, just barely piercing the door.

"Enter Malissa."

The guard seeming to want to get this interaction over with as soon as possible took a key from his belt and slid it into the large key hole. Iron bars retracted from the sides, and with a sturdy pull, the guard slowly opened the Oracles chambers.

"About time, avist spawn." Malissa muttered under her breath before marching in to the dark room like she owned the place.

Stiff backed and a large scowl of her down turned lips was not a pleasant appearance most could withstand. Years of teaching spoiled youngsters in the art of magic have taught her how to deal with those who didn't know the meaning of respect. And she would teach the Oracle that one day. But not today.

She didn't intent to spend a minute longer than she needed to in this defiled place.

Getting straight to the point she walked to the center of the cylindrical room. Not a single light was present, the Oracle didn't need light.

As she stood there she felt her hairs stand on end, at first she heard nothing in the dark room, The faint light that came from the hallway illuminated the room slightly, it took her eyes some time to readjust to the dark again.

The room was almost barren, a stone floor with the oracles seal on it. Two eye facing in opposite directions, encircled by a ring of gold.

Malissa had seen it before a few times when she had come to the Oracle before, and after each and every visit she swore she'd never come back in here. But her needs always seemed to lead her back.

"Close the door." Came the quiet voice again. It came from Mallissas right, and against her own resolved she turned her head quickly, trying to find the Oracle in the dark.

She'd never come this late in the night before, and usually the rooms singular source of light, its fireplace in the corner was lit, but now it stood dark and cold.

As the heavy door slowly started to close behind her and the remaining light in the room faded to a sliver of light before plunging her into complete and utter darkness, Malissa's heart started to race in her chest.

What was the Oracle up to now?

In the darkness she could hear it. Faint footsteps, not of shoethed feet or bare foot, but hooves, clomping on the cold stone ground.

Clack, Clack, Clack

Malissa's heart jumped to her throat.

She's out?! Who let her out of her cage?!

her eyes darted back in forth in the dark, trying to conceal her rising discomfort. She would not show any fear to the Oracle.

Then her eyes saw them, Her white and gold eyes pierced through the dark, and straight into Malissa.

The monsters eyes lingered, locking her in place. It made her skin crawl. In those eyes were the eyes of Hmota itself. Avist gazed through all oracles eyes. Behind those eyes contained unfathomable collection of information, which was the only reason it was tolerated to live in this room.

What was once fear turned to a boiling rage.

"How dare you look at me with your accursed eyes! Cover your eyes this instant!" She mustered her response to contain all her accumulated renown as a teacher to give that command.

For a few moments the Oracle was silent. Her eyes still pierced the dark before disappearing.

"My Apologizes healer, its seems I've forgotten my covering, I was not expecting company tonight." Oracle replied, a hint of mocking amusement in her voice.

Her hooved footsteps echoed in the dark. Malissa jumped at the sound of a cage door slamming shut, and the locks engaging.

"Now what is it you want Healer?"

Malissa wondering if this was just another trick from the oracle, using some of her mana, she produce a magic ball of light in her hand and held it up.

In the back fourth of the room a wall of iron bars divided the circle room. On the other side she saw the oracle standing behind the shut door.

It wore long robes of purple and gold that trailed back 2 spans. Its hands were unkeept with long nails. From her head sprouted Faded blue hair, and two long spiked horns, longer than a spear head. On her face a white and gold band wrapped around her head, covering her eyes.

"Does seeing me in here put you at ease healer? Now please tell me what you seek so that I might return to my meditation."

The oracles voice no longer held any mischief in it. Rather it talked in a similar way a lady of the court might talk. matter of factly and clear.

"Nothing would make being in a room with one of you put me at ease oracle. I'm only here because of one of my patients."

The oracle unperturbed by her remark simply nodded for her to continue.

"One of my pupils brought him. A noble with a wound from a Lant leg piercing his chest. I've tried everything I can think of to heal that wound, but it will simply not heal. From the most basic of healings for scraps and bruising, to using Earthborn miracle thread. Yet his body resists it like it has no affect. I fear the man will die soon unless something is done." Malissa didn't want to beat around the bush she wanted out, and hoped that her desperation didn't show in her voice.

"I see." The oracle said. Moving away from the bars she sat on the floor and took a meditative stance. Her eyes even through the thick fabric on her face began to glow through. Two white circles pierced through the cloth and up at the sealing. She began to float off the ground and hovered in the air.

The eyes darted back and fourth as if reading an invisible manuscript.

This was no normal form of magic. No magic crystals were used from what Malissa could see. It only proved just how unnatural oracles were.

The process went on for awhile, Malissa paced back and forth as time went on. She knew they didn't have much time left, and as much as she wanted to tell the Oracle to hurry up, she didn't want to make any more mistakes tonight.

Whatever it was the Oracle was doing her eyes slowly faded, and she lowered back to the ground. Rising from the ground she she spoke to Malissa.

"There are no known cases of any living entity being unable to be healed by Miracle threat. I fear I will not be able to help unless you bring him here for me to see him first hand."

"As if I'd let you lay your eyes on my patient, check again, you must have missed something."

"I've checked as thoroughly as I can. All that I can recommend is that you bring him here. If you are insisting that I not gaze upon him, then allow me to connect to his mind. I should be able to gain access to his mind in ways you and your husband can not."

"But moving him now might worse his condition, he could die just moving him."

"All the more reason to bring him faster, I can not go to him so you must bring him to me. I can not know for certain unless I can see him for myself. My guards will fetch him from your residence... Along with your pupil. I have questions for her."

"You Leave my pupils out of this."

"She was there was she not? Tell me Malissa, have you considered the possibility that your Pupil is lying?"

"Why you..." She bit her tongue before continuing her sentence.

"Very well, we'll do it your way."

Malissa wanted to turn down the idea, but what else could she do? She was out of options.

"I'll make preparations for your return, have a few of my guards accompany you back to your clinic to help bring him here. Do be quick about it Mallissa. As you said time is of the essence." With that the oracle turned back to face the inside of her cage.

Malissa knocked on the large door, it took a few seconds for the guard to unlock it and pull it open.

She didn't dispel her magic light until she was completely out of the Oracles chambers.

She made her way out of the castle, and by the time she made it to the bottom of the stairs she saw two guards standing at the bottom of the stairs. With a torch and cart in hand.

On their chests were the same symbol that marked the Oracles chamber. Marking them as Guards of The Order of Oracles.

Not wasting anymore time, she barked an order for them to follow, and they did so without protest.

When she finally reached the clinic she opened the door and showed the two guards to the table where the nobleman laid. His face had gotten paler and his breathing became labored.

Rushing over to him she placed her hand on his head and her crystal began to glow bright as she checked over his body. The mental block that she guess was the reason for him being unable to heal was still there, but it didn't stop her from checking on his body.

His left lung was filling with liquid and struggling to breath.

Venes she called out, her yelling brought not only her husband, but also both her Pupils. Anisha and Kaneko stood at the top of the stairs.

Anisha looked like she didn't get much rest, and Malissa felt guilty that she would be prolonging the girls weierlyness without a proper rest.

Both her and Venus quickly moved around the table trying to keep him alive just a bit longer.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Put him on his side, and Pupils, you might want to look away for this one."

Malissa pulled out a a thin syringe usually used for alchemy, but today she needed to use it for something else. Felling for the gap in-between her patients ribs she stabbed the metal tube into his chest and pierced his lung.

The noble gave sputtering breath, and his body tensed from the pain but quickly slumped back down.

Anisha gasped and looked as as if she wanted to throw up. meanwhile Kanko looked as curious as ever at this new technique she just witnessed.

Blood pooled out of the straw, and his breathing slowly returned to a more normal rhythm.

"Venus, help the guards put him in into the cart, we're taking him to the Oracle."

"The?!... Are you sure Malissa?... Perhaps there's simply nothing we can do for him." Her husband had similar reluctances she had, but there was no going back now. She swore to her pupil he would live, and she wasn't going to break her promise. If she did, then what kinda teacher would she be.

"If he's gonna make it through the night, we will need the Oracles skill in mind magic to break through what's ever stopping us from healing him. I know you concerns my dear, but I must do what I can for him"

"And Anisha."

Her helfman pupil looked up to her, with dreary eyes and a slumped posture. A farcry of her once tall stature and determination.

The Oracles mocking words echoed in her memory

Have you considered the possibility that your Pupil is lying?

Why would here pupil lie to her. What could she have done to lead this outcome?

"Grab your cloak, you're coming too."

Anisha, though feeling like her boots were made of pure stone, followed her teachers request as fast as she could. Heading upstairs she draped her cloak over her shoulders, a plain grey green fabric. Looking to the corner of the room her staff stood leaned against the two walls. New crystals seeming to have been replaced by someone, reaching for it she held it in her hand.

She knew what was gonna happen now, she wasn't sure if her teacher already knew was simply putting on a chiraide to lead her to be imprisoned, and to have her summon executed. But she knew that that would be tonights outcome, one way or another. Turning to head back down the stairs, Kameko stood In Front of the door blocking her way out.

Her brows furrowed and a serious gaze was on her face.

"You can't go with them Anisha. Sneak out the window, I'll stall for time, you should be able to get to the woods if you reach the gate house before the guards start searching for you."

Kameko expected her to protest, to tell her she Had to do what's right But who gets to decided what's right? She knew who Anisha was and she wasn't going to let her just throw her life away for a mistake that she encouraged her to do for the sake of her own research. She was the one that gave her the crystal, if she hadn't Anisha wouldn't have used it.

"I-its my fault.... I shouldn't have given it to you. You don't deserve this. I... I thought we could keep it a secret."

Anishas arms wrapped around her feline friend, and both held tightly to each other to what seemed like too short of a time before Malissa yelled for her to hurry up.

"I don't blame you, it was my choice, and now my punishment. I will not disgrace Malissa anymore by being a runaway, nor Murdera. I've caused enough problems for everyone over the years. It seems now I've finally reached my limit."

Kameko couldn't bring herself to stop Anisha as she put her hood on and walked down the stairs and to Malissa's side.

Their teacher gave her a nod before placing her hand on Anishas shoulder and leading her out the front door. When the door shut behind them. The house felt quitter than a crypt.

The rain had picked up again and small streams of water ran through the center of the street. The two guards pulling the cart grumbled occasionally as their heavy steel boots got stuck in the mud. Everytime they slowed down Malissa would tell them to hurry up with her whip like tounge.

The cart was taken to a side entrance where Anisha guessed supplies were delivered to the keep, Large barred doors with four guards with pikes stood by at all times. Upon there approach they pulled on the large chains connected to the top of the gates, two men per chain, and pulled it open.

Once inside the cart was left with the other wagons and carts the keep used. She saw the royal treasury carriage, and next to it the horse stall. Where the once asleep horse naeyd in annoyance at being woken up by the loud noise.

The guards carefully lifted the stretcher that carried Anishas summon. Up the winding stair cases, and down some long hallways, Lavishly decorated in fine silk curtains, and long red carpets covered the floors. Each door was as tall as two elf. And the handles were what Murdera had told her once "Made of the third best Dwarf smiths in Krozneath. Anisha never asked him how he could tell the difference. She just figured it must have been a Dwarf thing to be able to tell. But now she wish she had taken the time to ask him. Give her something to distract her. from what was just ahead.

The Oracles chamber was wide open, and the flicking light of a fireplace shone off the opposing wall. A group of guards about 6 men, all wearing the same purple and gold garments as the two that carried her summon.

They stood stock still grizzled faces with a sword and shield at there sides, ready to be used at any moment. In front of them stood a disheveled woman who looked like she was pulled out of bed and dressed no more than a few moments ago, her hair still in a knot around her head and her eyes drooping, as she rubbed them under her large round glasses as if trying to wipe away her weariness.

Sirme Rakho was the keeps book keeper, it was her job to record all important events going on in the keep, and to compile any relevant events and news from the kingdom, and reports directly to Lord Sog. Who was nowhere to be seen this night.

"Greeting Healer Malissa, its nice to see you again. I was told there was a noble in need of healing. I'm here to get his name and family name. So that I might inform Lord Sog." She said this while flipping through a small leather bound book and a quill in her hand, ready to right down the information.

"Its a pleasure to see you too Sirme. But we don't have time now to figure that out, he must be treated too this moment." Malissa lead the two guards inside the lit chamber, Anisha and Sirme followed close behind. She tried to insist that she need the information but the book keeper let out a quick yelp and clenched her log book close to her chest.

The Oracle was walking around outside of her cage again, going in a circle around the center of the room, placing five blue crystals around the circle in a even pattern.

The sound made the Oracle stop for a moment, but she turned back to placing the final crystal, which pulsed with the other four crystal.

"Just Malissa and her student, the rest of you leave." Sirme turned and nearly ran out of the door, looking back only once she was out of the room. Still clutching her log book, as if protecting it from the Oracle.

The two guards placed the summon in the middle of the circle before leaving and closing the thick door behind them, which sealed with a loud and heavy Cli-Clunk. Sealing Anisha and Malissa in with the Oracle.

In the large room, the only sound was the crackling of the logs in the fire, but Anisha could feel her heart pounding away in her chest like a drum.

Both Anisha and Malissa stood side by side just a few steps back from the oracles circle.

The oracle walked over to where her summons head laid on the cold floor, his breath weak and barely noticeable now. If the oracle didn't hurry up, he would die.

Which was an outcome that still conflicted within Anisha. If he died then maybe no one would know what he was, no one would know she's used black magic. But... After saving them, and getting hurt, she couldn't just let him die not without trying to save him, and send him home.

"Let us begin." Said the oracle, she sat at his head and placed her hands on his head.

"Both of you take a side and place your hand on his chest."

Malissa gave Anisha a comforting knod, when she didn't move at first. Both of them moved to either side, and did what the Oracle instructed of them.

Sitting this close to the Oracle made Anishas skin crawl, and judging by Malissa's stiff posture and her looking anywhere else but the Oracle made Anisha guess that her teacher felt the same.

The blue ring of crystals began to pulse, faster and faster, and with it the Oracles eyes began to shine through the mask she wore to conceal her corrupted eyes.

Two golden orbs shone blindingly through the fabric, and shone down on the summons face.

He stirred a little. Much weaker than before. The once kind faced and tired man she met in Hmota. Was now a pale ghostly mockery of what he was.

What was he really though?

Him being a noble was only a guess from the crest he had, but for all she and Murdera knew that could have been anything. He could have even stolen it from a actual Noble.

The thousands of questions that Anisha had had been put to a halt as the Oracles magic increased in flow. The Oracle grimaced from the effort, even through the blindfold they could see the strain on her eyes, that glowed brighter but started to flicker slightly.

As the Oracle pushed, the more the crystals pulsed, faster and faster they went. Until nothing.

The golden light faded from the Oracles eyes and the magic circle that had started to form around them dissipated.

Both Anisha and her teacher looked around in worried confusion.

"What happened?! What went wrong?" Asked her teacher as she got up onto her knees to check his pulse.

"He's still alive, but barely" Holding her own blue crystal in her hand it glowed, her focused face turned to frustration, and then sorrow.

"The barriers still there, and as strong as ever." She looked over to the Oracle, expecting her to say something similar. But instead the Oracle, The Oracle!

Had taken off her blindfold. her Golden swirling eyes starred at her own hands as if seeing them for the first time.

Then her head snapped back and her eyes darted side to side, mouth moving but no words coming out, the eyes glowed brighter and brighter until they were the dominant light source in the room.

"Pupil get back!" Mallissa yelled as she too stepped back from the Oracle.

The Oracle began to float again, a few feet above the air. The eyes moved casting beams of light through the air. Her head slowly lowered back down and gazed at Anishas summons body, studying every part of him.

"Don't look at him!!" Anisha couldn't help but yell it out. What was the Oracle doing?! She was forbidden to look at anyone with her Avisty Eyes,

The yelling made the Oracles gaze fall on her now. The golden beams absorb everything about Anisha. They saw every part of her, she could feel it. Piecing straight through her gate and into her soul.

"S-stop.. P-please..." It felt wrong, like a dark dendril was borrowing its way through her whole being. Pulling at everything she had done, searching for information, information she didn't want to give.

"P-please... Don't look at me...."

But the Oracles gaze didn't break for moment, each second she continued to look at her felt like hours.

"THATS ENOUGH!!" Yelled a voice, but Anisha couldn't see who it was there was a sudden burst of energy that pushed Anisha to the side and out of the Oracles view.

Once she was out of the light, Anisha was brought back to reality. She was sprawled out on the ground, her arms shook as she tried to push herself up.

Across the room the Oracle laid on her back, her eyes no longer glowing,

Malissa stood inbetween Anisha and the Oracle. She held in her hand a gray crystal. Which pulsed with energy, showing she was still ready to use it at any moment.

"Don't you Ever... Try that again you Avist Spawn or so help me I will not hesitate to send you back to whatever pit you crawled out of."

Anisha had never heard her teacher sound so threatening. Her pedal hair stuck out, and she barred her sharp teeth in her wide mouth.

The Oracle on the other hand, after pushing herself up on to her side, looked as if Malissa's words were of no concern of hers.

"Just what in the Gods names did you think you were doing?! What were you trying to do to my pupil!!"

The Oracle continued to look uninterested in Malissa's demands for an explanation, instead she turned her attention back to Anishas summon. Standing she held her hand to her head, which Anisha could see was bleeding now.

"I was just confirming a suspicion Malissa." Said the Oracle matter of factly, she sat back down near his head and placed her hands back on her summons head, not caring that her own head was still bleeding from the gash across her brow.

"What suspicion?! Enough with your games Avisty!" Malissa's anger grew the more the Oracle wasted time.

They should be healing the man, ot fighting each other, what was the Oracle doing.

"The suspicion... That his mind doesn't recognize this body as his own."

"That's absurd! How could his body..." Her teacher trailed off. Her pedals fell back down around her face as she considered what was just said, as if realizing something for the first time.

"BLOOD OF THE GODS!! AND KNOWLEGE OF KUNNSKAP! How could I have been so blind!!"

"W-what's going what does she mean, his mind doesn't recognize his body?" Anisha really was confused, how could someone not recognize their own body.

Malissa took over the explaining. Switching to her lecture tone she began. "its rare, but its been reported that sometimes, when someone is healed, they are healed. 'Too much' and instead of healing the body to look like it did before the injury, a mage can go too far back in the persons memories, even as far back as a past life. And start healing them based on that old body. But since the mind has spent its current life in one body, waking up in a different body causes the mind to rejected it, as it does not know it, therefore can't tell what's wrong when injured. People who have experienced this would never heal again, even a small cut on their body wouldn't close up."

After her explanation Malissa face dropped a little and her eyes furrowed.

"There's no known way to reverse it." Malissa looked pettingly at Anishas summon, coming to the conclusion that there was truly nothing they could do.

"B-but, if that was your suspicion." Anisha asked cautiously.

"Then why did you look at me?"

The Oracle turned to her, her eyes were covered again with her blind fold, but it now had a deep red stain above her eyebrow. A knowing smile creeped across her face. An unsettlingly and clearly unpracticed action. As she bore her teeth awkwardly.

"I was curious to see if you could heal him yourself."

"M-me?! How could I heal him?! I couldn't heal him when he first got injured, I tried and failed. Malissa and Venus are far better healers, if they couldn't do it how could I?"

"Anisha." The Oracle said her name, Neither Malissa or her used her name, how did the Oracle know her name?! Did she learn it from just looking at her? What else did she see?!

"Please, come here and try." The Oracle took a step back gesturing for Anisha to take her place.

Anisha hesitated for a bit, but determination forced her up off the ground, finally lifted herself off the stone floor, she slowly headed to where the Oracle sat.

But before she made it a few steps Malissa grabbed her shoulder, stopping her before leaning in close to her.

"You don't have to do this Anisha. I fear at this point there truly is nothing we can for him, and the Oracle.... I'm not sure what she's planning but I do not trust it. If he dies it is not your fault Pupil. We can leave right now, and do what he can for him so that he passes peacefully." Malissa's grip on her shoulder softened when Anisha took hold of her wrist and gently lifted it off.

"I-it is my fault...."

"Pupil, we don't know how his mind got confused-"

"Its My fault, I'm the reason he's hurt, I'm the reason he's here! I have to try to make this right!"

Her words had a double meaning, it was her fault he was here at all, not just here in the keep, but in this world at all, and alive again.

Malissa gave her a slow nod, but didn't hide the fact she didn't like the choice as her mouth curved down.

Anisha approached her summon who was on the brink of death. She could, feel it like a quite drum beat slowing down. Sitting down she focused on their link, even with her eyes closed she could see the chains that linked them together.

"Use your connection." The Oracle whispered in her ear so Malissa couldn't hear. Anisha hadn't noticed the Oracle had moved to be right beside her. Her long nailed hands grabbed Anishas and placed them on her summons head.

Why was she helping her save him? She knew without a doubt that the Oracle knew now or how else would she know about their connection. She knows hes a summon, she knows she used a dark crystal, so why was she helping her save her summon.

"Now.. Enter his mind"

The Oracle poured her own mana through Anisha hands, it was strange, she'd never done magic with another person before, she could feel the Oracle doing most of the work, guiding the mana into the circle that began to expand around them again.

However this time the blue crystals that were stationary before lifted up and started floating around the circle, similar to how Anisha controlled the black crystal during the summoning ritual.

"I'll supply the mana and help you control it. You guide me on where to put the runes"

The crystals began to disintegrate as they flew through the air. The cursive design of the magic circle was much easier than the original summoning circle. This one didn't need to make an entire human or transport her to another realm, no all this one had to do was let her connect to her summons mind.

Once the final rune was complete the world around Anisha disappeared, the Oracles body against hers vanished, along with the heat from the fire place and the feel of the stone floor beneath her. She was now in a void of nothing.