The Gamer's POV

The Oracle arched a brow as he stared at Cedric for a moment through his blindfold. Eventually, he smiled and said, "Sure."

He turned and began walking toward one of the eight doors hidden behind the grand altar area. But upon reaching it, he stopped for a moment, then muttered something under his breath that Cedric couldn’t catch, before turning around and signaling for Cedric to wait outside for him.

Then, he turned and pushed open the door, revealing a dark room. No matter how much Cedric squinted, he couldn’t see the interior.

The man disappeared behind the heavy wooden door, letting it click shut behind him. For those few seconds that Cedric was alone, he turned to look at the other doors, then wondered what was in the rooms, or more specifically, what was in the room belonging to the deity that was the previous version of himself.

While he was still deep in thought, the man came out holding what looked like a pendant that had a weathered piece of jade shaped as a monk drinking from a hollowed wine gourd wrapped in fluid, cloud-like carvings.

The Oracle smiled brightly and asked, "Do you know what this is?"

Cedric shook his head after a few seconds. Then, remembering the man was blind, he added, "No."

The Oracle chuckled softly and explained, "We oracles believe that this particular talisman is imbued with the essence of the Serpent of the Barrel. It is meant to be used when all standard plans fail and you need to rely on pure instinct, luck, and erratic, unpredictable maneuvers to survive."

Cedric studied the pendant in the man’s hand. It seemed normal, without any special energy flowing through it.

To be frank, the reason he needed a talisman was not because he believed or needed the protection of the divine.

If he could recall correctly, when he visited the second ring, there was a certain territory that he couldn’t explore because the place itself rejected him from entering, almost as if the land had a mind of its own.

This place was a city called Xinthrea.

For some reason, it was marked as important in the game but whenever he tried to enter it, a sort of barrier would push him back violently. After failing so many times, he used his All-Seeing Eye to figure out what he needed to do to enter this Grade Four territory, and that was when the eye showed that the solution was quite simple.

All he needed was a talisman from any of the oracles in the empire, but not just any talisman. Rather, one related to that weird dragon-looking sculpture.

Back then, since he did not have any talisman with him at the time, he had given up on exploring that city and had just completed the game.

Now, however, he planned to check the place out when he got there.

’I’m guessing that sculpture is probably connected to the god who owns the second ring.’

Cedric gave a nod of satisfaction and reached out to take the jade pendant, but the moment his hand brushed against the Oracle’s fingers, the oracle gasped violently and took a step back.

He began to pant heavily, as if he was hyperventilating.

’What’s wrong with him?’ Cedric thought, before asking aloud, "A-are you alright?"

All of a sudden, the man reached out with both hands and grabbed Cedric’s hand, tightening his grip like a vice. Then he began muttering like a madman.

"A vision? No, revelation... no, no I don’t know what this is."

Cedric arched a brow, looking more confused than scared.

"What the hell are you talking about—"

Before he could finish, the man interrupted him in a trembling voice.

"He says a fight... a fight is coming. A fight between good and evil. Order and chaos. I see... huh? I don’t know what this is but evil, evil wants to break away."

As the man frantically spoke, dark red blood began to stain the thick white blindfold, even leaking down his cheeks like tears.

He gasped and then let go of Cedric’s hand.

’...?’

Okay, now that was alarming.

’A fight between good and evil? Evil wants to break away?’ Cedric frowned.

"I’m sorry," the oracle muttered. "I just..."

Even he didn’t seem to be sure of what had just happened.

"I think I saw a revelation into your future, young man," he finally managed. "Though I can’t say for sure what I saw as the details were foggy."

Cedric’s frown deepened.

’My future? That’s not supposed to be possible. No one can see anything about me. Much less my future.’ His eyes darted to the side. ’Isn’t that so, Gamer Privileges?’

Almost immediately, a screen appeared in response:

[True.]

’So?’ He arched a brow. ’What just happened?’

[...]

Gamer Privileges did not give a reply.

’Are you bugging or something?’

Cedric looked back to the oracle who was now cleaning his bloody face using the very same white blindfold he wore.

Strange...

’Revelation, huh? Is this similar to that time when Argentos also received a revelation to tell me?’

While he was still trying to make sense of it all, the oracle managed to compose himself and forced a weak smile.

"I must have startled you, young man. Ah... my sincere apologies."

Cedric stared at him calmly. "What else can you tell me?"

"I’m afraid that is all," the oracle muttered. "Normally, we oracles receive every vision directly from the gods. Very rarely do we experience something like this. This revelation, however, seemed to come from you. It was like your presence forced the vision into my mind. I see and feel good and evil fighting each other, a fierce battle that’s going to take place not long from now. I see the good failing to contain the evil but I can’t see more than that, and honestly, I have no understanding of what it means."

Cedric looked at the talisman in his hand, then tightened his grip around the jade.

’Good and evil. Aika is my evil. Do I fail to contain her?’

Why? Why is that going to happen?

He grew quiet and pensive.

Would there come a day when he would really have to fight Aika?

That thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.

After a moment, he looked back to the man as he pocketed the pendant. "Thank you for the talisman."

The oracle smiled and nodded. Then he raised a hand in a gentle gesture of blessing. "Please, come again. May the grace of the Gods be with you."

Cedric turned and walked out. Suddenly, this cathedral felt uncomfortable, and he couldn’t wait to leave.

After finally exiting the doors, the sun which was now rising higher in the sky hit his face.

Despite the blinding morning glare, Cedric reached into his pocket and took out a pack of cigarillos.

He pulled one out, then popped it into his mouth. Then he took out a lighter, which was a matchlock wheel mechanism that sparked when rubbed.

After lighting the tip of the cigarillo, he drew a long breath, then exhaled, as he looked up.

High above, there were many birds, including a few ravens which belonged to him. At the moment, over fifty ravens were also stationed at different spots in the empire.

He grew lost in contemplation as he watched the ones above circle the sky. While he was already trapped in this bitter mood, he suddenly heard a very annoying and loud voice echo in his head.

’Give me mana!!!’~~

The voice was so arrogant that it caused Cedric to flinch and nearly drop his cigarillo.

It was from Redd, who was currently fighting at one of the arenas.

Cedric scowled and stomped his foot as veins popped out the side of his head.

’Ask me properly, you dumbass!!!’~