Edited by: tommyjl7, Flubbykin

With everything settled we decided to grab our belongings and leave the Bald Mountain. To do so we had to first leave the clearing. Sage thought that it would be a good thing to let everyone know that the new Oracle has been chosen, so right now I was traveling with a procession of three druids and two dryads that protected the grove. For the time of introduction, I was wearing a specially designed robe which was hiding my whole body.

Forest nymphs marched in front of me, bit on sides, I was walking in the middle, and my back was protected by my brothers in faith. Gisele and Lana? Faaar behind. They weren’t part of our gathering for Lanele hadn’t yet legally received the title of priestess and Gis… Well, Gis wasn’t related with any religious fraction at all. Later I would rejoin with them and continue our journey.

As soon as we left the grove we noticed the state of the mountain’s peak. It looked as if a rock concert took place here a night before, still, the witches and magicians were cleaning the place, in the end despite all the activities that took place here, it was still a sacred mountain. Natural altar. Dryads kept singing which drew the attention of few dozen sorcerers, it was rare for those creatures to leave their forests.

- “Rejoice our brothers, sing up, our sisters!...” the druids behind me shouted, and their voice echoed across the mountain like a thunder “… the blessing has fallen upon us all, the Mother, in her love bestowed us with the messenger of her voice! Spread this news, spread it wide, the Oracle of Aira shall be our guide!”

I stepped onward in slow, graceful walk, I gazed over gathered people noticing their confusion. I asked the ancient one when was the last time Oracle was chosen. He responded that not during his lifetime.

- “Sisters and brothers, heed my words!...” I was speaking peacefully, quietly, though my voice could be heard in every part of the mountain “… the mother has spoken to me last night…” she speaks to me quite often to be precise, but that’s not their concern “… She ask me to convey her words of gratitude and pride. That night, you partook in most sacred rite that filled all of you with her love, wisdom, and power. Keep doing your deeds. Keep getting better in your craft, polish your skills, overcome obstacles which lie before you… But on your way to the top, don’t forget about people that share this path with you, if you would ever meet someone weaker who you could help without great effort, please, do so. She considers us as her children, so in time of need, let us act as one family.”

I bowed my head in gratitude, before taking few steps back trying to leave the gathering. And then inferno broke loose. Just as Sage said, Oracles are celebrities for believers. Each of them wanted something from me.

- “Step aside! Step aside, good people!” druids and dryads kept magicians away from me “… the Oracle is exhausted after ritual! He is already pushing himself delivering this message, let him rest!”

I… I am definitely not used to this kind of attention. If I would ever help people around, I would most likely inform them about my position while leaving the village. Yeah, that would be best.

We quickly ran back to the forest where I left ritual-incognito robes before leaving with rest of the druids. Though the crowd was still “hunting for the Oracle” I managed to slip out and rejoin with my team members.

- “How is it to be almost as famous as myself?” Gis grinned to me

- “Awful. As if I didn’t have enough of problems already, all I need is a group of squeaking teenagers that would chase after me….”

On the other hand I could use that to tease Gis… maybe it’s not that bad?

- “Fret not, I will personally ward our dearest oracle from these vicious beasts.” Dragoness squinted her eyes clearly displeased by the mere idea of other women showing interest in my humble persona

- “So… Um…Za.. I mean… Ora…” Lanele struggled with addressing me

No! Not this again!

I rolled my eyes

- “Lana, if you would start addressing me formally, I will do my best to curse your family to the tenth generation!”

- “Oh, sure. I am actually relieved, for a moment there I thought that you may change after being directly touched by goddess.”

That wouldn’t be the first time I touched her. You may say that I already got used to it.

- “A-anyway! I wanted to know what is our next destination…”

- “No idea…” I admitted “… Gis, any plans?”

- “Hmmm, nope! Let’s just go further to the west, I am sure that eventually we would find some decent place to set up our training camp! Somewhere close to the village or city from which we could get supplies, having a branch of adventurer guild and dungeon or two would be nice as well, these would provide both money and stress relief.”

- “Have you heard about such place?” I asked as all of us start moving to the west

- “Nope! But I am sure we will fi… wait. Did you hear it?”

Indeed, someone was yelling from afar

- “o..eeee!!!”

- “What was that!?”

- “WAAAIT FOOOR MEEE!” the shout became louder and louder.

From the mountain path above us we could clearly see something moving with high velocity. Something round, squishy, rolling down.

- “An enemy?” Gis hissed putting her hand on her sword

- “Worse, it’s Marie!”

Indeed, the rolling mass of misery eventually hit the tree next to us, finally stopping her advances.

- “At-ta-ta-ta-ta, my poor butt!” she cried as she raised from the ground massaging her bottom.

- “What a strange turn of events, that we keep bumping into each other.” I said with annoyed tone

- “Ha-ha! Indeed! Must be fate! Just asking, where are heading to?”

- “In completely opposite way than you.”

- “What a coincidence! I am heading there too! Isn’t it just wonderful? It’s much safer to travel as a group.”

- “We were plenty safe on our own.” Lanele said with deathwish in her eyes.

- “F’course! But I wasn’t! It was such a bummer to keep looking behind my back to check for something following me! I was afraid that I would end with some bunch of perverts with endless stamina that would keep using me for hours! Phew! Yet, I am safe now!”

Lana, hearing last part of witch’s statement, looked in our direction and raised a single brow.

- “Why do you think we will let you travel with us?”

- “Oh, come on, you have been there! You heard Oracle! We are one big family! It’s only natural to help each other! You won’t oppose his words, would ya!? Hmm!?”

Does she know that it was me? No, I don’t think so. It means that she is using my own words against me without noticing. Still, you are not prepared for one thing, young witch, I am a hopeless hypocrite!

- “He said to help each other when it wouldn’t cost us a lot, you, on the other hand, eat like a little elephant, distract us all the time not to speak about driving us mad!”

- “Oh, come oooon! You could use some conversation! What’s the fun in walking in silence for hours!?”

- “Nothing, but it’s much better than being ambushed.”

- “I heard that recently bandits have been wiped out from the mountains, so no ambush should take place anytime soon.”

First, my own words, now, even my own actions are being used against me. Everybody, listen - if you would ever feel as if doing something nice or heroic, don’t. Just don’t. It’s not worth it, trust me.

- “Why are you following us in the first place?” I groaned annoyed

- “Because you are extremely nice bunch! Everyone I met until now was simply a horrible person! They were drugging me and leaving me in the inns, so I could not follow them, or they would tie me down and leave on the side of the road as treat for wild animal or bandits! And you? You fed me, put a gag on my face so I wouldn’t lose my strength on talking before reaching the mountain, you even told me to wait in front of the sacred grove so nothing bad would happen to me!”

That’s not the cause.

- “Also, aren’t you interested in knowing why I studied polymorph spell!?”

- “No!” the three of us answered in unison

- “Hm-hm-hm! Very well, if you want to know so badly I will let you know, though it’s a great secret and personal matter…”

- “MARIE!”

- “Y-y-yes?!”

- “SHUT! THE FUCK! UP!”

- “I will be quiet now! You will see! Not a single word will leave my mouth! You will beg me to talk, you will forget how my voice sounds, yet I shall remain as silent as dead man grave!”

- “Why just pretend to be a dead man’s grave?” Lana said with smile as fake as possible

- “A-ha-ha! So funny! You must be a true party-animal!” it was Marie’s turn to tease an elf back

We started walking, and indeed, for next two minutes Marie was indeed quiet.

- “Say… You are strong, aren’t you?”

Gisele was already opening her mouth to boast, yet I sensed hidden threat behind this question and replied instead of her

- “There are plenty of stronger people in every possible aspect.”

- “Ha! Only someone really strong could answer like that!”

She never intended to hear us out, she just wanted to praise us a little so we wouldn’t refuse her next favor.

- “I… I want to… Do you think you could help me with something?”

- “No!” I answered

- “Nope!” Gis followed

- “Forgive us, but we are awfully busy.”

- “What if I would pay?”

- “Can’t you just go to the adventurer guild and make a legal request?”

Something's fishy

- “I am afraid I am lacking time… also… also none in guild treats me seriously. If I would make a quest they would most likely assume that I am crazy… and as this path leads to the West, so… I thought that you could...”

- “Marie. You have just admitted that guild wouldn’t take your request. It’s far more serious than you may think. Guild almost never prohibits anyone from making quest requests. You had to either set up a dozen of fake quests, or hide some vital information that would cause adventeures to get hurt. In other words, it means that you absolutely cannot be trusted.”

Lanele looked back at young witch that walked behind us

- “Please! If you would let me explain… I…”

She stopped moving. A few quiet sobs could be heard before the girl collapsed on her knees crying aloud

- “It’s all my fault! I-I… there is… in the village… It’s all my fault! I have ruined his life… and now… though I was thinking I could reverse it… I am begging you! If you entered the sacred grove one of you must be a druid! It can’t be a coincidence! I beg you… I AM BEGGING YOU!”

She wasn’t pretending. Appraisal show the [Hysteria], [Fear], [Depression] and [Rage] effects.

But no. I am not damned charity!... Ok, I am, but only because it allows me to hide the flow of money from the black market. We have already helped plenty. We have wiped out Mountain Bandits for promise of dinner, we got rid of Renegades terrorizing local villages. And now this?! No, sorry, but I have to focus on other, more urgent businesses.

- “I have cursed him! The only person that I ever loved… and now… because of me … he…” still crying she grabbed the corner of my robe “… only druid can help now! The spell I wanted to finish… it does not work! I beg you! I will give you everything! All the money I have, my home, all my books, I will teach you everything I know… I… I…”

She hesitated, but then she started unbuttoning her clothes

- “…I can give you my first time too… just please… Please…”

Lanele looked away, just like people do when they see someone is in despair and they do not wish to get involved. If it was up to me, I would most likely leave, but there was one person that simply can’t stand seeing a weaker suffer, someone that always dreamed about becoming a hero. My foolish lover.

- “… we can at least hear her out, right?”

Of course we can, she has specified that she required help of druid in lifting some curse, that would mean that YOU will not have to work too much.

… But then again. Her desire to help everyone, her need to leave no man in trouble behind is one of the reason why I fell in love with her. Fuck me. Fuck me.

Fuck me from behind and sideways too.

- “Indeed, we can hear her out and later decide what to do.”

Though I already know that I has been decided.