-take off your boots- priestess reminded Naomi, who was a little absentminded - come, we need some cold water to cool off - took her by the hand and led her to the pond. Then she started taking off her robe.

-what are you doing? - Naomi was confused.

-I told you we need to cool off, and that means we need to enter the water. I know that you can just dry your clothes with magic, and probably even don't get wet in the first place, but i suggest you get naked too. It will be much better without clothes.

-this pond isn’t somehow sacred? - Naomi asked, starting to take off shirt.

-ha, ha - priestes smiled - technically speaking everything is sacred, because it was created by one god or another. But you are probably asking because we are in a temple, and the answer is it’s not the problem, especially for both of us. You are the protege of Goddess, and I am her priestess performing my duties.

When they both get naked, Shewa helps Naomi get to the pond.

-ach that the spot - The priestess was in bliss after submerging herself up to her neck.

-so - Naomi started after some time of soaking in water - can you tell me what's going on?

-oh. That? It was a prophecy - she waved her hand dismissively.

-prophecy? But don’t you need to be some high level priest, saint or something? - Naomi can’t understand.

-ha, ha, ha. Who told you such funny stories? - Shewa starts laughing, amused - true prophecies don’t depend on the person. You were just conduit for gods, or some other cosmic powers.

-but i just said what someone said in the past. And even not accurately.

-doesn't matter - priestess answered - some prophecies can be forgotten, some lost, others never reach any temple or priest.

-but how can you be sure?

-there are one or two signs when that happens. Priests are teached about them. I may be a freshly appointed master priestess, but you can believe me in that matter.

-it’s not that i don't believe you, but if people make something big from this, how can you be so sure?

-there is an easy way for any one to check if some words carry power like for example prophecy. You just need to try to speak to them aloud. Try it - the priestess encourages her. Naomi opens her mount to try but she can’t say any part of what she said back then. She tried single words without context or in other sentences and that wasn't a problem. Repeating prophecy was impossible.

-so. What next? - Naomi asked, a little scared.

-actually not too much. I need to bring it to the first temple I can. Coincidentally, the city we are heading to has the most major temples, so i can give one copy to my church, and church of god of Sun. Local priests will check it one again, and maybe go through copies of some prophecies. When everything will be checked, the local grand priest of the temple of The Sun will send the original note of Jeana, and our testimonies to the Citadel of Rising Sun for final check. and then the archpriest will check everything again. After all of that will be made final decision, and official copies will be send to every temple

-what if someone will interpret it in some bad way?

-no one interprets any prophecy. They can be understood only literally.

-my too?

-yes. Your is probably one of the easiest ones to understand. It's about caring for each other, especially week one. And about being greedy and consequences of greed. In the citadel they obviously will dress in some fancy words and add some examples from history. Maybe they find something similar from the past. Really no biggie.

As to ease the mood one of the frogs decided to jump on Naomi's head and start croaking making her giggle.

-I'm not quite sure if this is a sign from the Lady. She usually sends birds you know - priestess joked - but I think you at least can interpret it as your summoned creatures trying to cheer you.

-yes. They are so cute - Naomi pulls the frog out of her hair and begins to stroke it carefully.

-relax young mistress. Everything is alright - Shewa once again try to sooth her.

-I know, the gods haven't punished me yet.

-No one has ever been punished by the gods for being the bearer of a prophecy. Why should you be?

-because i know some scary things, and If I'm not careful, my best wish can turn into your worst nightmare.

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-ach. Knowledge from the place where you dungeon masters come from. Yes, you are right about that, and I thank you for caring about this world. But i think that you are making one little mistake.

-about what?

-you were told about some of the rules that mortals and gods need to follow. And one of them was that gods cannot personally act in this world.

-yes.

-I assure you that your patron gods will act immediately if you start doing something really bad. You and your dungeon are exceptions for that rule. You and your dungeon are a kind of bridge between the divine realm and mortals realm. Gods can show here any moment. They don’t do that because we stop being ourselves in their presence, and being yourself is our main reason that we are here.

-are you serious? Do we just need to live and do what we like? But what about being good? You know not killing, stilling and all of that.

-oh, that is important too. But usually they don’t exclude each other. Do you like being rich? Become merchant, or bard, or get married with some noble or even prince. Do you like being famous? Similar things. bards, adventurers or crafters there are thousands of names on the list.

-so, are you saying that i forgot about all of that and keep doing what i was doing?

-doing yes, but not forgetting. Prophecies apply to everyone, you included, and this probably was for you in the same way as for mister Thuldir. But you only need to remember all of that when you are doing something. To my knowledge there is no prophecy about soaking in a pond, so for now close your eyes, feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, become a favorite leaf for your frogs and forget about everything.

And Naomi did just that.

The next day was much more peaceful. Shewa made three copies of prophecy on scrolls that were donated by merchants. They will be given to the temple of The Lady, The Smith, and for the temple of The Sun. Adventurers were checking and preparing packs with food and water for the rest of their journey. Dungeon Mistress shows up around noon, just right in time for dinner. She was much more relaxed than yesterday. Shewa spent the afternoon wandering through orchards to make sure the young dungeon mistress is alright.

-I see you're in a good mood again - priestess observed in one moment.

-I have good sleep, and I think a little about yesterday and I think i agree with you. It doesn't change anything for me. It’s just an official reminder. Something like a sign to watch for steep stairs. For someone who is paying attention to his surroundings it’s useless, but sometimes it could help. You can be distracted, or you are here for the first time and don’t know about those stairs, or something.

-that is a good paralel. I will use it next time when I need to explain what prophecy is.

-and I need to thank you for explaining a lot of things about this world. Reading is good, but having someone to show you how something should be done or even trying oneself is always better.

-nothing beats experience. That's why dungeons exist. And talking about explaining things, I almost forget about one thing.

-what is it?

-be very careful about your yellow dress. Use it on some official occasion, or something. Definitely you shouldn't tell anyone that it is a gift from a Goddess.

-right. It's obvious isn’t it - Naomi realizes it quickly - anything that comes from any god, even something mundane, will be treated as sacred.

-it won't be just treated as sacred. Your dress is a holy artifact.

-great, one more complicated thing to the pile - Naomi sigh.

-to ease your mood I remind you that you are a dungeon core. That means you are an envoy of gods. And that means you are equal to kings and high priests. And everyone expects you to show off at least a little

-i can’t pretend to be some queen of the desert - Naomi shakes her head.

-oh really? You built these walls and towers that will leave many if not most people stunned. You have your citizens and you do your best to make them happy. Sorry my queen, but you are queen.

-just great - Naomi surrendered, but she also smiled a little. Realizing how bad the reaction would be from some of the people who had bullied her in her previous life. She doesn't think about herself as queen, but she was aware how important she or rather her oasis will be. She wasn't naive.

Early the next morning, after a quick breakfast, the caravan began preparing to leave the oasis. Packages of goods and supplies were attached to the backs of camels. Adventurers were checking their gear and personal belongings.

-thank you for staying in the oasis - Naomi said to the leaders of caravan and Shewa, when the commander ordered a march.

-and we thank you for your hospitality - said priestess smiling.

-we will spread word about your oasis - nod commander - but be careful. You can trust the desert people and adventurers who protect the caravans, but you can't predict how they will react to your presence.

-You see Mistress. Dungeon masters, even female ones are exactly your opposite. They act more like kings or emperors and rarely interact with people - said Venancijs.

-try to look first if group have priest or at least shaman. That kind of people are following gods teaching, and even you scared them at first, there is chance they will listen.

-question is who will be scarred more. I or them - naomi jokes, but only the priestess smiled.

-you're doing great. Start will by hard, but with time people will know about you and everything should be much easier - reassured her Shewa.

-adventurer guild envoy and exploration team should be here not earlier than three months - said commander - because of everything that happened except the presence of priests from the churches of The Lady, The Smith and The Sun. Anyone who says he represents an adventurers guild and is not accompanied by priests of these three gods will be lying. In that situation, get back to your last floor and wait. Because of law of hospitality, they will be forced to retreat.

-and if they do enter your dungeon promise me that you want be not looking on them - Shewa asked Naomi.

-i can’t promis anything - Naomi sighted, but suddenly smiled - however it is good advise, and you should listen good advises. Right?

-exactly! - laugh priestess - but i'm afraid time for us - Shewa sighted - it was pleasure to know you.

-thank you for everything - Naomi said sincerely.

After that rest of leaders said they goodbyes. Then Naomi escorted them to the gate and nodded or waved to everyone who greeted her as they passed her. She returned to her private quarters only when the last of them had disappeared on the horizon.