Unknown’s Turn

“Lady Palitivh!!! LADY PALITIVH!!!”

The nurses ran all over the place. Where was the Oracle?!? Where was Lady Palitivh?!?

“Find her! The lady has to be around here somewhere!”

A Knight ran up. “Sir! Ma’am’s! The Dark’s birthing pod is empty!”

Silence rang.

The previous Oracle said, “Oh no. She got her excuse.”

The captain of the Knights shouted, “GET A SEARCH PARTY! WE NEED TO GET LADY PALITIVH BACK!!!”

*******************

Wonder’s Turn

It had been a week since the Slave March accidentally grabbed Crisis. Wonder had woken the next morning to find a package had been delivered. It was clearly an apology package, with a little handmade something for each of the family.

Ralton had only stayed one other day, and it was clearly so Majin and Sakura could spend the day together. But then they all left Wavebourne. Wonder had Ralton and Majin on his messaging list, though, just in case.

Oracle City was apparently on the Southern Mountain Range. Wonder did not look forward to being cold again. But if it got his family to safety, he’d bear it.

Today was a beautiful day. Sakura had evolved again by practicing mixing enhancement magic with cooking. She was a natural, and one dinner time appeared as a teenager. Like it was tradition in the Hyde family, that night was an extra special celebration.

First monthly visitor caused issues, of course.

So Sakura was at base with cramps. Rose decided to stay, practicing a few new songs he hoped would go better at Oracle City. Crisis stayed as well, though that may have been to watch the strange party that had been shadowing them for the last few days.

Wonder and Izuku had gone out on a Taming Trip. It was mostly feeding the undead with other creatures, but Wonder now had a few wolf-sized starfish to add to the messaire.

Wonder suddenly got a message from Kat: I see Izuku’s undead bunnies. We should be close!

Wonder blinked. “Kat’s nearby. But he’s got someone with him.”

Wonder stood up and looked around. He spotted a young woman, who waved and ran at a jog. She held a bundle of blankets. “Hello, Mr. Hyde!”

Wonder waved. “Hi! Got a delivery for me?”

The girl finished jogging up. She was a teenager. Her skin was so dark, Wonder almost expected to see stars in it. But her eyes were bright blue… and her hair looked more to be a piece of outer space. But something around looked more like a Lightwraith for some reason.

She put the baby in Wonder’s arms. Kat’s now-chibi face looked up at him, and the little arms clapped. Wonder said, “Heya, Kat~. Welcome to the family.”

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

The baby laughed and clapped.

The teen smiled, and looked at Izuku. “Hiya, Izuku~.”

Izuku suddenly grabbed Wonder’s arm. Wonder said, “Kid…”

“It triggered.”

The lifemate sense?

Wonder looked at shock at the teen. She giggled. “Yes, hi~.”

Wonder looked questioningly at the baby in his arms. Kat shrugged. This was news to him as well.

Ho boy.

***************

“My name is Pal! It’s a pleasure to meet all of you!”

The newest member of their family bowed. She smiled warmly. “I am a Mage… well, training to be one. I will be very useful to you!”

Wonder said, “I’m not buying a slave, Pal. And I trust Izuku not to lie to me about important stuff like soulmates. You’re welcome in our family.”

He sighed. “What I need to find out is who you are, and what danger is gonna come. I doubt any religious organization who even vaguely realizes who Kat is will allow a 15-year-old to bring him by herself.”

Rose nodded. Sakura peeked from the kitchen. Izuku just looked awkwardly at Pal.

Pal said, “Um… hehheheheh…”

Rose said, “I can tell you’re a Darkwraith. Or at least of Darkwraith descent.”

Wonder turned. “Dark-wraith?”

“Lightwraiths that abandoned the Light goddess and go to Lord Dark! Or as you call him, Kat~.” Pal giggled. “Sorry, it’s still so funny and adorable.”

Pal nodded. “Mister Rose is correct. My grandparents were Darkwraiths, so I have darkness in my blood instead of light.”

Wonder said, “That still sounds so wrong, despite being here so long…”

Wonder shook his head and shifted. “OK. At least you being Kat’s… ride… makes partial sense. But why alone?”

Pal bit her lip. “You’re heading to Oracle City, right?”

“That’s right. Kat told you that, I presume?”

Pal shook her head, and Wonder got it. He stood straighter. “You’re an Oracle.”

Sakura said, “Oracle? I’ve never heard of that Class.”

Rose said, “Neither have I.”

Wonder said, “It’s probably rare as shit, but they’re most likely an Advanced Class of Mage. Or even a secondary or higher tier of an Advanced Class. Back on Earth, there were legends of oracles… mages and sages who could see into the future.”

Pal nodded. “Correct. I am able to control my gift much better than even past Oracles, so… everyone at Oracle City is very protective.”

Wonder bit his lip. “On one hand, I want to chastise you for coming without an adult. But you had Kat, so I guess you were protected.”

He groaned. “But now we have a whole city after us.”

He froze. And stood up. “Wait. If you can control your gift, whyyyyyyy are they keeping you locked away? Is there some bad mojo against fortune-telling that I’m not aware of?”

Pal shook her head. “Most Oracles have unstable visions. It has driven many mad… including my mother. But I can actually control how often they happen, and often give an aim.”

She sighed. “Sadly, not always can I get the information I look for. I get a big error that says ACCESS BLOCKED or something.”

Pal looked at Wonder. “Where I come from, Oracle is a holy position. According to legend, it was how the Dark protected the Darkwraiths when we left the uncaring Light Queen for the Caring Dark.”

Kat looked away.

Pal laughed. “No, I doubt that happened.”

She grew somber. “But the point stands. I can… be a weapon. So Oracle City wants to keep me locked away. However, no one wanted to get close to me, either.”

She smiled at Izuku. “So I looked into the future, and saw my handsome mate~.”

Izuku turned red. Pal then looked back at Wonder. “When Kat was reborn, I knew I had my chance. I took him and ran.”

Wonder groaned. “And hence, the city is now after us.”

He got up, ruffling her hair. He said, “Do you have any family left?”

Pal shook her head. “No sir. I always called the last Oracle Gramma, but she’s not blood.”

“All right. I have a few messages to send. But let’s see if we can keep the Oracle City from locking you away for much longer.”

Crisis spun. “Sir! Problem! We got two armies after us!”