The Xyz Dimension

Chapter 5: Seeing in Stones

There was a quiet tapping on the wall, just above the small gap that occasionally allowed a nice breeze into the stuffy stone room that offered only one, albeit blocked, door as an exit. The hole was large enough to hand small packages through, small books and writing things, but not much more.

The sole occupant of the room hopped to her feet quickly, rushing over to the gap in the wall from her threadbare bed. "Hello?"

"Oracle?" A male voice spoke from the outside. The female, Oracle, recognised the voice immediately. As she only had a range of seven people to choose from, or more accurately, five in more recent times, it wasn't hard to guess who it might have been.

"Knight! You have returned to speak with me, just as you promised." Her face lit up with glee, but there was no smile, as she had no mouth.

Neither did the Knight, as it was a species trait. It didn't bother either of them however. "How have you been?"

Oracle sighed gently, flicking her hair back into shape. "Lonely, as usual. I've  been resting a lot lately..." A hand appeared in the small gap, light grey in colour. She put her hand gently over the top, feeling better now that she wasn't alone.

"Have you had any luck in your mission?" The Knight asked softly.

Her grip on his hand tightened. "I'm so close... I've got a tight lead. But I can't be sure yet. I don't like the idea of charging too far ahead, in case I find out I'm wrong. Knight... what if we don't find him in time? What if we don't find either of them?"

There was a soft, reassuring squeeze. "I have faith we will find our missing friends and emperors. And please, call me Dumon. We've known each other for long enough."

The Oracle giggled. "And yet, my Lord Knight, you still call me Oracle."

"I have to concede your point." Dumon sighed. "I'm sorry that I can't stick around much longer however Oracle. Vector is already advancing his plan with these humans." His hand gently slipped away, her hand left to rest stop the well-aged stone alone.

"I understand sir. Good luck with the mission, I just... wish I could be of more help." Her hand closed into a soft fist.

"You are helping. And I greatly appreciate all of the help you have ever given us. I'll be back to talk to you again soon."

"Is that a promise...?" She asked softly.

"I promise."

Oracle heard Dumon's footsteps crunch softly on loose rock and dirt as he left, letting out a long sigh through her nose. Walking past her desk whose shelf held ancient texts, she laid on her bed. Her reflection was visible from the standing, full length mirror, but since she was the only one who ever saw herself, she only looked after her appearance half of the time. She more often used it to speak with, when she wasn't talking to her friends in her deck. Oracle had purple skin, unlike Dumon's silvery-grey, and she had a blue scar-like shape over where her right eye should have been.

Thinking back, Oracle remembered when the Empress came to visit her. They used to use special rules on their practice duels, since they didn't have the space to see each other properly through the tiny hole. She hadn't had a better friend since meeting the Knight and the Empress, and never had she been more grateful when the Emperor and the Conqueror had rescued her back in the beginning.

Picking up her deck, she looked to her ladies for some advice...