Chapter 2004: A Troubling Affliction

The portal square continued with its activity for the next two hours, with the openings so constantly that it looked like they had a half dozen permanent portals, and not just the one to New Home.

Karl was lounging on the front porch of the Guild House when he was approached by a group of scantily clad obsession Demons at the Peak Immortal Rank.

"Branch Leader, do you have a moment to discuss a business proposition?" The leader of the women asked.

Dana stuck her head out the door, sensing Karl’s intrigue, and glared at the women.

"If you’re looking to set up a brothel, we’re not interested."

The Elder laughed. "Nothing quite so bawdy, I’m afraid. We’re not Succubi. What we’re looking to discuss is private in nature, but not sexual. If you would like to accompany us, I don’t see an issue.

I assume that you’re likely the Branch Leader’s wife?"

Dana nodded, and the women giggled at her reaction to their appearance.

Karl led them all into the back sitting room, and had the bunnies bring them in refreshments.

"So, might as well start with an explanation for the outfits," Dana insisted.

Her reaction seemed a bit over the top to Karl. She wasn’t usually sensitive to clothing. She had seen much less clothing literally every single day within the Tiny World. Most of the population was either nudist or bunnies, who viewed clothing as situational when nobody was watching them.

Though, the bunnies were fond of the dresses that Rae made them, so they usually wore short black and white uniform dresses that made them look like a cross between a diner waitress and a maid.

If she wasn’t bothered by Karl having lunch with a bunch of naked Elves, she shouldn’t be upset about a bunch of Obsession Demons in translucent dresses that still managed to cover the essentials as well as a bikini.

"Oh, these are both part of our Clan tradition, and a test for guests. You see, we operate a safe house for Oracles."

Dana frowned, not understanding.

"Oracles are all blind. It’s a condition of their class. If they gain their sight, they lose access to their visions. So, while some of them have enhanced senses, none of them can see us. So, if someone comes into the compound and reacts to our appearance, they’re obviously a fake."

Dana gave a relieved laugh. "That’s actually brilliant. I’m sure that the carriage drivers, or whoever brings them will react, but if someone is supposed to be an Oracle, they wouldn’t know. Even when walking, you would still sound fully clothed."

"Exactly. You would be surprised how many people try to sneak a fake seer into the compound to either listen in on visions, or to attempt to assassinate one of our wards.

Contrary to popular belief, the Oracles can be both male and female, so it’s not all girls. But Oracles are often hunted to be held by Clans. Having an Oracle on staff can give you great advantages when attacking other Clans, or planning for a trade deal or other situation.

And that’s why we have come to you.

Your Guild is anathema to the Oracles. You’ve got an Ancient and a Chaos Badger here, who disrupt fate simply by existing. So, if we could move some of our more troubled Oracles to your town, they might be able to live a more normal life.

With fate disrupted around them, the visions should fade. If the visions fade, they’ll have fewer nightmares, and fewer mental health issues.

Naturally, we are willing to pay for the space, and offer public healing services to the city, in the form of a temple clinic. Our ladies follow the World Dragon, not the Demon Gods, whose Clerics don’t traditionally get healing skills."

Dana and Karl both nodded. They were well aware of that issue from their time in Drodh.

The Demons were always short on healers because their Gods didn’t see the need for them. They thought that you should live or die on the specialty that you had, instead of relying on a Cleric to heal you.

"So, you want to set up an Oracle Sanctuary in town? I don’t see an issue with that. Especially given that it’s a World Dragon Temple clinic. How familiar are you with the Darklight Host?"

The Demoness shrugged. "Not at all, really. But our God informed us that you are his people, and that this was a safe spot. We take that as good enough evidence that we should relocate here."

Karl smiled. "I can’t argue against that. The World Dragon is the patron of the Darklight Host on every world that they’re active, and I’m his Avatar.

If you want to set up your business here, I don’t object.

However, I would recommend that you test the theory first so that you know if it’s actually going to help your most troubled people, or if you’re just going to be putting a bunch of blind people in a new environment.

Normally, I would offer to help with the blindness, as we have developed a technique to restore sight to the blind. However, if it’s a Class-related issue, it’s probably best not to."

The Demoness nodded, and her group escorted one of their members forward.

"Greta, please try to activate your visions."

The young woman pinched her leg, and leaned forward, focusing. But just as she did it, Cara appeared behind her in badger form, brought by Dana’s outrage at scantily clad Demons.

If it got that much of a reaction from Dana, it was definitely worth observing.

Just the presence of the badger seemed to collapse whatever the Oracle was seeing, and pale white eyes shot open with clear confusion.

"I got half a second worth of naked Elves and a young green dragon on the beach, then nothing."

Karl laughed. "I don’t even know if that’s the past or the future. The Elves lounge at the beach every afternoon once their shifts are done. The small green dragon suggests that it’s our territory, though.

There aren’t many other places near here that you’re going to find that combination."

"It’s better than usual. Please let me try again. Normally, all my visions are horrific to the point that I can’t sleep afterward."

Cara smiled. There was no way she was getting a productive vision around a badger. But that didn’t mean that what she saw was going to be anything good.

That wasn’t how Chaos worked.