Arika and the Oracle. Who's seducing who?
To start at the beginning of The Egg of Immorality, find chapter 1
here
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Enchanted
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Arika looked at the stone-walled house with clay tiles on its roof. "This is where you live?"
Sildae didn't look back at her. "Yes. All of us live in houses like this. We spend little time in them though. Sleeping and changing, mostly. I spend less time than most, I'm usually at the shrine."
"The Shrine?"
"Yes," she said and let the topic drop. She opened the door and gestured Arika inside.
The blond walked in and looked around. A pair of simple chairs were in the room, as well as a rug on the floor, a chest, and a small table between the chairs. An open doorway led into another room with a bed and a chest visible in it, as well as a small table and a stool beside it.
"I will take you there tomorrow," Sildae said.
"The shrine?"
"Yes. For now, do you need anything?"
Arika tilted her head and then smiled. "My Master told me to learn from you and to respect your wishes. So... yes, I need to know how I can do that?"
"John is your Master?"
"Lord John," Arika corrected her. "He is my Master and My Lord."
Sildae's brow furrowed. "You worship him?"
"No, he is not a Saint, only My Lord. He accepted me into his fold when I had worked against him in the past."
Sildae scowled. "Because of your beauty?"
Arika frowned. "I don't think so. I vowed my service to him, but he did not trust me for some time. I had to prove myself."
"How did you do that?"
"I could have escaped. I could have fought against him. I might have even helped defeat him... but I did not. I remained his prisoner and obeyed his wishes. He knew that it was a choice I made. I chose to be his."
"To be his?" Sildae repeated
"Yes."
"Because he was better than whoever you served before?"
Arika hesitated and then nodded. "I suppose that's true. My old Master was greedy and cruel. My Lord John cares for me. He cares for all of us. We serve him and he, in turn, provides for us."
"That's very interesting, Arika," Sildae said. "So tell me, what would you do if a new leader came along? Someone who could take care of you better. A Mistress that would help you fulfill your potential?"
"Oh, I am very happy with Master," she said.
"I understand that. I would be too, in your position," Sildae said. "I'm simply trying to understand you better. If such a thing were possible, what would you do?"
Arika hesitated. "I... I'm not sure. I would have to learn what I could. I think... my Master would want me to do what's best."
Sildae nodded. "As any good Lord should."
Arika's troubled expression faded into a pleasant smile again. "Did I do good, Oracle? Did I respect your wishes?"
"Oh, very good. But there is more... much more. Tomorrow will be a great day of learning."
Arika's eyes lit up. "I love learning!"
"Then you will love being here," Sildae said. "But now, it is late, we should go to bed."
"I understand. Should I sleep here, on the rug? Or would you prefer me to sleep on the floor at the foot of your bed?"