Chapter 4 04: Learning The Lessons
“Pay attention. Think of your chains as an extension of your body and work it to your advantage” Maria felt her arm muscles complain as she tried to hold them still.
She had been in training for a few hours now, doing the same thing as she did every day since the royal family had left.
According to her mother, since she was eleven now, it was time she learned what being a real holy Oracle was all about. And it came with training and responsibilities.
[Warning: Current body limit reached. Getting ready to release the holy chains in 3…2…1…]
And Maria felt the chains disappear in front of her. She could feel the frown Silvya gave at
her performance and the disappointed look that existed in her eyes as she looked at Maria.
“You did better than a week ago. How is your body feeling? Should we call a doctor for you?”
te instructor hurried to Maria’s side to check over her.
Those chains never failed to make Maria tired and that was when she was controlling them
in their sealed form.
[Life force dropped to below 80%. The user is advised to not use magic for the next two days
to replenish the magic and life force]
Maria ignored the warning. It was the same every time and the same thing would happen -
she would be given some external magic through the holy crystal and this training would
begin all over again.
Her instructor had told her that there was only one person in this world who could use the
holy chains - the oracle and they exchanged their life force for it. Only the oracle line was
able to use these chains since they had a special magic that allowed them to replenish their
life force.
It was either through whatever they forced Maria to eat or through sex.
And the second option would not be possible for a few years to come. It was easy to see
where the harem aspect of this world came from.
Hopefully, whatever they were feeding Maria would be enough to last her a whole lifetime
and she would not have to get sexual with the MC.
Not that Nick would ever get sexual with her. He seemed to hate her guts. His sister Neah
seemed to like Maria though.
A little too much in Maria’s opinion but she was not complaining. Neah was gorgeous even
at thirteen.
“You, take Mistress Maria to her rooms now and make sure she recovered” Maria felt herself
being picked up by strong hands and opened her eyes.
She was in Nao’s arms, held carefully.
Nao was another sore point for Maria and she could not help but pity this poor demon. Nao
had been the practice dummy for Maria and her chains ever since they had started and the elder female was also responsible for the clean-up.
Maria had done some research once the royal family had left their home and she had not
liked what she had found.
Apparently, Nao was a slave demon created for their master’s needs. They could only be
freed by sharing life force with and only by those with who they were bound.
Nao was bounded with Maria but Maria had no idea how to share her life force with the
other. The act was not all sex after all and Maria’s new body was too young for all that.
Not to mention, Maria had no idea how sex worked at all.
So Nao was a case Maria had to keep an eye on. She had been trying to get the other to
talk to her in the meantime but that task was on a stand-still as well.
“Nao, you can put me down now. I can walk on my own” Maria purposed but was ignored. It
was the same thing every time and the chain marks on the demon’s body made Maria feel
guilty.
She had caused them but Nao didn’t even seem to blame her. She seemed to have no
emotions at all.
“The mistress asked me to inform you about the royal visit tomorrow. Princess Neah will be
here so you will have a free day to spend with her” Maria felt a sigh of relief escape her lips.
Neah being here meant that there would be no magic practice and Nao will not be hurt
tomorrow. It made Maria feel lighter.
But still, she worried about her servant. Nao, from what maria had seen, was not well-liked because of her demonic status. As such, she was not treated like a human at all and Maria could not understand why.
Every time she asked, all Maria got in return was the same reply - demons were dangerous and evil.
But from what Maria had seen, Nao was sweet and harmless. And Maria wanted Nao to feel
alive as well. Maria had to try at least for the same.
“You want to join us tomorrow? I can assure you that it will be fun” princess Neah had visited
twice before in the month that had passed. It felt about time that Maria invited her servant in
on the fun as well.
“Mistress would be displeased. It is better that I stay away from humans” and it was the
same reply every time.
But this time, Maria was not going to back away. She was far too determined to not let her
servant live a lonely life.
“No, you will be coming. I am the one you are bounded to so you have to listen to me,
alright?” Maria could feel the incoming ‘no’ from the other and she had no intention of
allowing it to pass her servant’s lips.
Before Nao knew it, she had a pair of hands on her face that forced her to look directly at
Maria. The demon looked taken aback, just as Maria had wanted her to.
It was the right time to act and persuade the other.
“Please. This is just one outing and if something does happen, then I will not force you
again” Maria could see the resolve crumble on that face.
Noah might appear cold and unfeeling but Maria could not forget that she was a child as well. A child that had not been allowed to be a child in this world.
And this was an injustice Maria could not watch happen. She had to do something to help her servant, now friend, out.
As for the issue of her mother? The chances were high that she would not even notice. Silvya seemed not to care about what her daughter did as long as she fulfilled her training and duties.
Maria was sure she would not have any problem on that front at least.
“If this is what young master wants, then Nao shall comply. However, I can assure you that princess Neah would be disappointed should I show up” Nao seemed convinced of her words.
But Maria felt as if she was worrying for nothing. Princess Neah had decided to imprint on Maria because she was a lonely soul as well. There were not a lot of royal children their age after all.
Maria was doing a service to the princess here as well. Having a new friend would be good for her as well and Nao was a good person, er, demon.
“Master, it is time for your magical training now. Your teacher will be here in fifteen minutes so you should take the replenishing potion now” Maria felt herself gag as the green potion was brought in front of her.
She hated the bitter taste of it but she had gotten used to it. It did work wonderfully as well.
She felt her magic return as she drank more and more of that potion. And once she was done, it was time to face the music again.
Her new life was far from perfect but it was hers and it allowed Maria to live a semi-normal life. She could walk, perform tasks as she pleased, and even had a few friends.
This world was as perfect as it could be for her. Maria was so glad she had taken that deal when she had been dying.
“Let’s go now” her new life was just beginning after all.