The Oracle (2)

The trip was smooth as Link only stopped to either eat, sleep or whenever he detected a Dungeon.

On the way, he could not stop thinking about that Boulder. He did not understand what it did to him and how it knew where he wished to go. Even Kith did not say anything about Gilda City.

<I did not know something like that existed, it looked like some type of living being>

"A Living being? How did you get to that conclusion?" Link asked, confused.

<Well, according to what I've seen, it can communicate. Kith had some form of conversation with it. Although I am unsure if it was all in his head or a being actually spoke to him.

And let's not forget about the suction force that took some Mana from you. It somehow, only with that, knew where you wished to go and sent a guide to show you the right track>

"Is it a Soul Imprint perhaps? Like you but imprinted on a Boulder instead of the Seed that I got?" From Zero's explanation, Link found some similarities between them.

<Don't talk nonsense. I am one of a kind, that thing can't be compared to me>

"Alright, alright. I was just curious"

With that, they kept going, changing the subject of their conversation. Ignorant to the faint and invisible ball that followed from behind.

***

"Oh great Oracle, we lack Goblin Ore and Purple Roses in our inventory. Please bless your faithful followers with the right way" Kith kneeled on the ground, uncaring for his image. He understood that if he does not show the Boulder at least this much respect, then he will be ignored.

As he lifted his head and looked at it, a weird expression appeared on his face.

"GUARDS!!!" Kith yelled, catching the attention of the guards stationed outside of the garden. They ran towards him and bowed, awaiting his command.

"Did anyone come here? Did any of you ignorant baboons do anything to the Oracle?" He asked with fury.

"No one stepped inside the garden after that day with the Master Mage" A well built guard spoke. His armor looked a bit different than the rest.

After hearing what he said, Kith frowned. He had no reason to return to the garden after Link's visit. That was months ago, which made him frown even more.

"Did the guide not return?" He mumbled to himself, lost in thought.

The Boulder sat behind him with its runes faint, nearly gone. It had a couple spiderwebs of cracks here and there.

"Did that Kid do something?" Kith said with anger. "FIND OUT WHO HE IS... NOW!!"

The guards bowed and ran out, each heading in a direction. Only the guard that spoke remained there.

"Master" He spoke. "If that kid did do something, we won't be able to find him"

Kith glared for a while before speaking. "I. Do. Not. Care... FIND HIM!"

***

From that day, unbeknownst to Link, he became Wanted by Ferio City. His image with descriptions were being shared. A hefty reward was offered to whomever manages to catch him.

Due to Link's unrelenting travel. He was faster than the speed of which his Wanted poster traveled. Making each City he visited ignorant to the alluring number on his head.

He flew in the air with a wide smile. The map window was open as he looked at a certain location.

"There it is... Gilda City" He laughed. "Found it!!"

Suddenly, after Link spoke those words, a foreign voice rang out in the air.

[Contract Successfully Fulfilled...]

A ray of light shone in the sky like the sun. It was so bright that nothing was visible but white.

Wosh!

The source flew and merged with Link's chest, vanishing.

"What the f*ck was that?" Link asked.

<Synchronization Successful...>

A System message appeared, shocking Link.

<Updating...>

Link's heart dropped after reading the last message, reminding him of the time when he had to restart and level up again.

"I swear to God, if the same thing happens again, I'm killing every living being I see to Level up... be it innocent people or beasts"

Link hovered in the air as he kept attempting to open his Inventory and Status screens, but to no avail.

After a couple of hours, another message appeared.

<Update Successful>

Link quickly opened his Status, checking for any changes.

****

-- Status :

<User: Link>

<Race: Divinity>

<Level 8> <5th Tier> -- New --

<300 000 / 4 700 000 Exp> -- New --

<HP: 270 / 270> -- New --

<MP: 58 500 000/ 58 500 000> -- New --

<Strength: 20>

<Agility: 36> -- New --

<Stamina: 20>

****

"Nothing changed... Good!" Link sighed in relief. He feared the worst and luckily, nothing happened. He leveled up once in a Dungeon and increased his Agility stat, but that was it.

"Then what happened exactly?" He thought.

<Let me check...>

Zero spoke, but in the next second, another voice resounded, interrupting Zero.

[My name is Oracle, I will be your assistant from today onward]

A voice suddenly spoke, this time Link was sure it all happened inside his head.

"What the hell?" He yelled.

[I apologize for the intrusion, but I required a stable home, and that Boulder would have broke and failed to sustain me, causing my death]

"Home? Do I look like a hotel?" Link sighed.

<The position of assistant is already taken, your services are not needed>

Zero spoke with a metaphorical frown.

[Since Master came to me for help, I think that your performance in lacking]

<What did you say? You lump of rock!>

[You heard me.. I've lived in this world for far longer than you, from what I can see.. I know this place like the back of my hand, while you can barely even offer accurate information]

<Do I look like a Wikipedia page? How could I know everything in this place? That is not my job>

"How did Zero know about Wikipedia?" Link thought to himself.

[That is why I'll be taking that job, while you can sit in a corner and watch my brilliance]

Link was stunned as the voices in his head argued. He did not know how this happened, but he was slowly starting to feel like a crazy person with all the voices.

"Hey, hey. Everyone shut up for a second" Link spoke, silencing the two. "What job goes to who does not matter, I want to know how you got inside my head and how did you come to be"

[Like I said, my name is Oracle, you may call me Ora. I was created by a God Mage a long time ago, but one thing led to another and I got lost. I've been using all the power I had to transfer my consciousness into things to survive. I luckily found you, or you found me I guess, and I had no choice but to do something. My power is gone and you were my last hope]

"What was that about a contract?" Link asked.

[To successfully transfer, I needed to form a contract with you. A piece of advice, don't go around touching things with runic inscriptions on them]

Link took a deep breath as he now realized how stupid he was. He knew well how dangerous this world is and touching that suspicious Boulder wasn't very smart. Especially after seeing how Kith was acting.

"Zero, how do I get rid of this Oracle?" Link asked.

<Let me see>

[A contract is unbreakable. If you wish for me to go, then death is your only option. I will not harm you and will even offer my help.. as long as you help me!]

"There it is, I knew something like that was coming.. What kind of help do you need?" Link asked, rubbing his eyes.

[Help me collect all the fragments of my consciousness, and seeing this system you posses, I believe I have the perfect reward for you]

"What is it?" Link asked.

[Hold on]

<New Quest Received: Collect All The Oracle's Fragments of Consciousness 1 / 10>

<Reward: Attunement>

Link was surprised. He couldn't believe that Ora could manipulate the system as well. He was even more surprised with the reward.

Back at the Academy. A professor told a story about a Level 8 Mage. He spoke about something so grand that they acquire upon reaching that level, which widens the gap between Level 7 and Level 8 immensely. And that was Attunement.

Attunement is what draws the line between mortals and gods. It offers a connection between the world and the person, making them ascend.

"How can you offer me that exactly?" Link asked.

[I might not have any of my powers left, but I can simulate the procedure easily, since my original master already went through it]

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

Don't stop the comments and votes, it helps. <3

--- twitter.com/Moncef_Zm ---

--- instagram.com/monopia.wn ---

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

Currently :

****

-- Status :

<User: Link>

<Race: Divinity>

<Level 8> <5th Tier> -- New --

<300 000 / 4 700 000 Exp> -- New --

<HP: 270 / 270> -- New --

<MP: 58 500 000/ 58 500 000> -- New --

<Strength: 20>

<Agility: 36> -- New --

<Stamina: 20>

****

-- Quests :

<Main Quests :>

<Reach Level 10> <Sixth Tier>

<Collect all Fragments of Consciousness (1 / 10)> <Attunement>

****