The Oracle Paths

[Grade 10+ Halcyon Legion Cat: In ancient tales, the Halcyon Legion Cat is a creature of legend, shrouded in a veil of enigma and majesty. It is said that its fur, dark as a moonless night, sparkles with stellar flecks when it moves in the darkness, reflecting the calm and serenity of the starry night. Its deep and penetrating eyes are like glimmering gems, bearing witness to ancient wisdom and sharp intelligence.

The Halcyon Legion Cat is renowned for its unique ability to fragment its spirit and body into various iterations of itself, each entity sharing the same consciousness and agility as the original. Its elastic and adaptable nature grants it extraordinary agility and grace, allowing it to slip through the narrowest spaces or to rise into the air as if carried by the wind.

According to legend, the Halcyon Legion Cat is a guardian of ancient mysteries and a protector of forgotten lands. Its presence is often associated with mysterious events and inexplicable phenomena. The Halcyon Legion Cat embodies the spirit of liberty and independence, roaming freely across dimensions and eras, always elusive, always enigmatic.]

When Jake first read the description of Crunch's bloodline, the Halcyon Legion Cat, he was left speechless. The dumb black cat with the smushed face was much from fitting this glorious description.

Moreover, unlike his own Cosmic D Starfeyrves Bloodline, this one had very few listed abilities. One of its skills was simply named Freedom, supposed to allow all sorts of things, but without specifying what exactly. Too bad for Crunch, he was either too stupid or not inspired and diligent enough to push this ability to its full potential.

Despite that, combined with his Grade 8 Soul Class: Elastic Enigma, which overlapped with some traits of his own bloodline, Crunch was still a very tricky feline to deal with, a calamity to behold.

The real disappointment regarding his cat was that, given its incredible bloodline, it was a bit too weak. His Oracle Major Rank might seem excellent from where he started, but after all, it was his own pet, not just any alley cat.

The countless Evolvers and Digestors who had suffered against his cat would probably argue that it was strong enough as it is, but they would have to meet the master of this calamitous companion to understand where this demonic spawn came from. As they say, like owner, like cat…

Back to the topic, the two envoys led them to a luxuriously furnished and decorated lounge, where drinks and snacks were served. Jake noted that there was no wood-based material here either, reinforcing his initial impression of austerity. The owner of the place must really value his privacy to fear being spied on by Anthace to this extent.

Whether he had something to be guilty or secretive about, the owner had returned to the state of fertilizer anyway, although Jake was unaware of this fact. Whether he really had mysteries to hide from the Radiant Conclave was now irrelevant to everyone.

Lady Lyria let Lady Faye handle the serving, as she herself was barely capable of making tea for herself, let alone taking care of other guests. It was usually her own disciples and servants who took care of her food, the Keeper of the Archives spending most of her time buried in dusty old grimoires and scrolls.

Faye performed a flawless service, demonstrating etiquette and sobriety that strongly contrasted with her earlier seductive demeanor. Jake still noticed that when serving him a hot cup of an unknown beverage, she paused innocently, bending more than necessary to let him admire her plunging neckline.

Jake didn't look away embarrassed like a virgin, but inwardly clicked his tongue at this. This vixen knew what she was doing.

"Laplaplaplap!"

Soon after, the awkward silence was broken by Crunch's enthusiastic lapping in his bowl, his big pink and rough tongue making an impressive noise by splashing liquid everywhere without the slightest ounce of shame. Lord Phenix behaved more dignified, but not much more.

"Cough, you have two interesting companions..." Lady Lyria praised with a somewhat stiff smile, trying to ignore the beverage splatters rapidly accumulating on her dress.

Lady Faye, who had dealt with all sorts of people and thought she had an ironclad composure, found out today that she wasn't as good-tempered as she thought. The impassive reaction of the human and the unbearable behavior of his two pets were already starting to get on her nerves. Maniacally smoothing the folds of her short dress to contain her growing irritation was quickly reaching its limits.

The quicker they finished this negotiation, the quicker she could go to sleep... and take a bath incidentally. Growing impatient, she shot a pointed side glance at her useless colleague, who then remembering why they were there in the first place, coughed awkwardly to speak up.

"Sir Jake, I'm not going to waste your time by beating around the bush," Lady Lyria, not being a diplomat by trade, decided to speak frankly. "Tell us what you want to leave Lustris without violence tonight, but especially the guarantee that you will not attack our capital or another of our cities outside the legitimate framework of the war that opposes us."

The Keeper of the Archives exhaled in relief after stating their demands, glad that the ball was no longer in her court. Lady Faye's eyebrows twitched, almost facepalming at her lack of formalism, but it was too late, the cat was out of the bag. They just had to pray that the monster sitting across didn't take offense.

It wasn't an absurd reasoning; most of the powerful Lifemancers and Light Warriors of their world were typically that kind of individual. The powerful of the Lustra Plains loved to remind others of it, demanding proper treatment befitting their noble rank.

Hating to beat around the bush and waste time, Jake was actually pleased not to have to pretend to socialize. Which was why, the eyes of the narcissistic vixen widened in astonishment when Jake demanded just as informally, but in a more assertive tone,

"I want the original Goblet of Ethershine."

"Why don't you just ask for the position of Celestial while you're at it!" Lady Faye ridiculed him with a venomous laugh of sarcasm.

Far from getting angry, Jake sized up the beauty seriously for the first time and let out a rogue smile, "You know, I thought about it, but becoming the Soulmancer King is a sufficient goal for now. If my side wins this war, it won't be too late to put that offer back on the table."

"Are you serious?" Lady Faye's eyes narrowed sinisterly, sensing from his calm that he was totally serious. This wasn't bragging, he really believed what he was saying!

She began to doubt that charming this man was a good idea. This foreigner was way too dangerous.

No, it's precisely because he's so dangerous that he absolutely must be eating out of my hand. The femme fatale immediately regained her determination to seduce him. After all, she wasn't afraid to flirt with the real Celestial either.

Nonetheless, there was a difference between them. There were things she was willing to try to achieve her ends with this foreigner that she would never have dared to try with Valandar. The latter was just too familiar with her abilities.

Resolved, Faye began to use her Life Lumyst to manipulate and amplify her pheromones. It was supposed to drive men completely crazy about her, even in heat to the point of being unable to think properly before having discharged the gun...

The target of these pheromones was none other than Jake and in no time, the air around him was saturated with these odorless molecules. The effect on the psyche of healthy men easily rivaled that of a race specialized in the Charm attribute.

Meanwhile, Lady Lyria, suspecting nothing, had 'politely' objected to his first demand.

"I'm afraid that's not possible." She apologized with a sorry smile. "Firstly, I don't have the authority, it belongs to the Celestial, but it's also the most precious artifact of the Lustra Plains. To give it up would mean that we have lost the war and are desperate enough to make this kind of compromise. We haven't fallen that low yet."

Jake nodded coolly, expecting this refusal from the start. He would have been the first to be floored if his demand had been accepted without question.

"In that case, I want your best replica." He asked instead. Before either woman could try to fool him, he warned them, "I have no way of knowing if the relic you offer me is really the second best replica or not, but I have high standards. If you don't want me snooping around, it's better for you that this goblet satisfies me enough not to make me doubt your sincerity."

"That goes without saying." Lady Lyria accepted the deal without hesitation. "But even I don't know what our second best replica really is. I only know our public relics. Most are in the hands of the Celestial only, and he doesn't share his mysteries with us. Does the deal still stand?"

"As long as I'm satisfied." Jake grinned innocently.