“We’re off! Catch you later Zell!”

Zellyth cringed at the nickname and sighed as she watched the two broken lovers leave the apartment to go on a walk. There was nothing about this routine that she should have found irritating, but it all grated on her nonetheless.

She appreciated Elainia vouching for her all that time ago, but now that Ja’Kal - a once fierce enemy - had recovered from the events that stole his strength, Zellyth felt useless. Being trapped in a city that shunned her clan certainly didn’t help. No matter where she went, eye contact was avoided, conversations fell short if the happened at all, and people were hostile in general.

She missed her family.

Needing air, she left the temporary residence and crossed the walkway to gaze over the wall that overlooked the lower parts of the city on the spire. She once had the notion that the residents there would have more in common with her than the midlowers, but a couple of ventures over the wall had quashed that feeling completely. Even there, she was a Cafra. An outsider.

If there was anything that truly amazed Zellyth about the Orianna spire, it was the speed of gossip. Everyone knew her for the clan she hailed from despite her having never met any of them before. She was infamous!

The fact that she lived amongst oracles did not escape her and, the more that she considered it, the more that it made sense that instead of talking, they shared thoughts… or more accurately, were fed them from the being that oversaw them all.

Zellyth had no idea the manner in which Elainia had ruled this oddity of a city, but her successor, Chalice, was incredibly active - often coming down from the temple at the top of the spire to influence her followers. It was she who pegged Zellyth for who she was and it was totally within her realm of capability to make sure that the nomad be ostracized.

It was not hard to spot the rose-gray woman in a crowd. She lived in a perpetual beam of sunlight, highlighted no matter where she went. Today she was mid-tower, a couple of levels above where Zellyth now stood.

A wonder at the woman’s safety and confidence flickered through Zellyth’s mind, but then she recalled the terrifying power that Ja’Kal had used against her when he wielded the goddesses favor and shuddered. It would be foolish of anyone to attempt to harm the Oracle. Using words would be a better strategy, and it was one that Zellyth planned to use.

Breaking protocol, the nomad opted to climb to the next level instead of passing through the level gates. She didn’t care if her actions were uncouth. It wasn’t like she was able to obtain a lower status in this city than the one she already had.

Scaling the walls didn’t require much effort. They weren’t tall and in the places where they managed to have height, there was usually a structure that could be jumped from. She was upon the Orianna’s entourage within minutes.

Naturally, they were not surprised to see her. Why would they be? They had the most powerful oracle in the world to tell them she was coming. Only one of the guards made an attempt to threaten her with his spear, while the others simply stood at attention and watched her with disinterested and disgusted gazes. The over-eager guard was smacked upon the back of his head by his ward as she passed by him to greet the outsider in annoyance.

“I know that you are aware that we have certains ways we do things here. Why must you insist on breaking the rules?”

“I really don’t care about them,” Zellyth shrugged insincerely, “and I’m already being punished. May as well earn my reputation.”

Chalice shot the taller woman an incredulous gaze and huffed. “You’re a Cafra. Did you expect hospitality here? Are you unaware of your clan history?”

“Oh, I’m aware. One of your predecessors cursed the women to only bear daughters and to die in childbirth, forcing the bloodline into extinction.” The nomad crossed her arms. “They’re gone. There are no true Cafras left. Just us that scavenged their caravans over time and most of that is of Siamera make now.”

As she spoke, Zellyth was certain that the day stars embodiment would become enraged and though the thought terrified her, the words left her mouth unhindered. She was surprised when all that she received was a pensive look in response.

“There’s one.” the Orianna said after some time.

“One?” Zellyth cocked her head, not quite sure what was being referenced.

“A true Cafra. There’s one left and you know of her at least.” Chalice leveled a golden gaze in her direction. “She leveled that wretched library kingdom.

The nomad felt her mouth drop open in shock and she snapped it closed as another thought jumped into her head. “Whoever that was, she was not part of our caravan. You can’t persecute us because of her.”

“Oh really? My dear girl, we can persecute whoever we want -” Chalice interrupted her own cynical goading as her eyes unfocused. She was in direct communion with the goddess and Zellyth felt her heart leap up into her throat at the sight. She was about to run when the oracle surprised her again with civility.

“Perhaps you are right. The tribe that we had a quarrel with is gone save for that demon, and we are seeking her out seeking out her retribution.” The Orianna leveled a gaze that was not her own on the nomad. “We will end the feud if you help us find her.”