CHAPTER 03:Spirit World and Luci

"...huh?"

[[ ! ALERT !

Observation:

time remaining till the inauguration ceremony

00:15:49]]

Keira was surprised by the message.

'I don't seem to remember anything about this ceremony stuff in the user guide though?'

The system, undeterred by its host's confusion, continues on,

[[ ! ALERT !

Report:

Would you like to transport to the spirit world?

YES NO

Time remaining till the inauguration ceremony

00:14:34]]

Keira took a deep breath and steadied herself.

The spirit world was an unknown territory, and the inauguration ceremony, though unexpected, was perhaps a good thing to clarify her doubts.

'Like why was I chosen? What is the relationship between a teller, the spirit world, greater beings, and the mortal world? So many questions...'

After all, it seems that for all the instructions given on how to utilize the system, the guidebook didn't go in-depth on why and how.

Even basic stuff like there being a ceremony was not written in it.

Mind made up, the new teller selects 'YES'.

[[ ! ALERT !

Notice:

Teleporting to the spirit world]] 

The screen goes white with a light after the notification, obscuring her view.

She felt a slight tugging sensation, as if unseen hands were pulling her away from the physical world.

The light glowed brighter, enveloping her completely.

In an instant, the room vanished, replaced by an ethereal landscape bathed in a soft, otherworldly light.

The spirit world stretched out before her, filled with vibrant, shimmering colors and shapes that defied earthly logic.

Keira stood on an iridescent bridge, floating above an endless expanse of shifting, dreamlike scenery.

She took a moment to steady herself, feeling the pulse of the spirit world's energy thrumming through her, eyes still closed.

A cold, tingling sensation washed over her, prompting her to open her eyes.

The sky was a deep, shimmering indigo, speckled with stars that seemed to pulse with a life of their own.

Each star twinkled in rhythmic harmony, casting a silvery glow over the landscape.

The bridge beneath her feet was composed of luminescent stones, each step causing them to emit a soft, iridescent light.

This place, with its strange beauty and boundless mysteries, always felt both familiar and alien.

[[ ! ALERT !

Report:

Teleportation to the spirit world: successful

Notice:

Time remaining till the inauguration ceremony

00:13:54 ]]

Keira made her way to the end of the iridescent bridge, her steps slow and deliberate.

As she walked, she glanced beneath the bridge and marveled at the river below, which looked like the night sky in liquid form, filled with swirling stars and galaxies. At the foot of the bridge, where it connected to the land, she noticed a shimmery being.

She squinted, trying to make out their appearance, Keira saw their wings first.

They emitted a soft, calming light, illuminating the path around them.

[[ ! ALERT !

Notice:

Time remaining till the inauguration ceremony

00:10:49 ]]

As she approached, the full beauty of the being became apparent. They had an ethereal grace, with features that seemed almost too perfect to belong to any world.

'Definitely not a Human, no human can be that shiny. A teller of other species, then? Wait, am I supposed to talk to them?? NO WAY! But there is no one else here…'

Keira hesitated, unsure of how to approach this radiant figure.

The radiant being that is currently looking at her.

She took a tentative step forward, then another until she was standing before the majestic spirit.

The air around them seemed to hum with energy, and she could feel the weight of their gaze upon her.

Their eyes were like deep pools of knowledge, and their presence was both comforting and intimidating.

'Okay, one awkward eye contact made successfully, what now...?' Keira lampooned.

Before she could decide if she should talk to them, the being smiled warmly and spoke first.

"Welcome, little one," they said in a melodious voice. "Call me Luci, I'll be your escort to the party hall. "

Keira nodded.

She fell into step beside 'Luci', brows furrowed in confusion.

"A party? I thought it was supposed to be a ceremony," she said, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Luci chuckled softly, their wings shimmering with each step.

"It's officially called a ceremony, but in truth, it's more like a party. We use it as an opportunity to get to know each other and to gauge the newcomers for potential invitations to our various branches."

As they walked, they made small talk, and Keira found herself relaxing. Luci's friendly demeanor and the enchanting surroundings helped to ease her initial nervousness.

'Senior Luci is so friendly and nice! How can a person be so beautiful both inside and out??' Keira lampooned internally.

After a while, Keira could make out a huge building in the distance.

It loomed impressively, its architecture unlike anything she had seen before, both grand and otherworldly.

The building was majestic, with towering columns carved from a material that seemed to be a blend of crystal and moonlight.

Intricate patterns adorned the columns, depicting scenes of ancient rituals and celestial beings, their stories etched into the very fabric of the structure.

[[ ! ALERT !

Notice:

Time remaining till the inauguration ceremony

00:05:54 ]]

She turned to Luci, "Are there many other people there?"

Luci smiled, lips lopsided resembling a smirk.

It was a smile with teeth showing, even so...

It was a charming smile.

'Beauty really is amazing!'

Keira couldn't help but lampoon, 'My friend, do you brush your teeth with starlight? Wow, so white.'

"You see, the place where you teleported—the Star Bridge—is a bit farther from the usual teleport gates. That's why it's less populated here. Most other newcomers are teleported directly to the main gate, which is much closer to the building. It's rare for someone to arrive through the Star Bridge."

Keira nodded, taking in this new information as they continued their journey.

"Why was my teleport place different from the others?" she asked.

Luci's smile remained enigmatic. "Some paths are hidden until the time is right," they replied.

"The system guidebook cannot reveal everything, as some experiences must be lived to be understood. You stand at the threshold of great knowledge and power, and it is your journey to discover its full extent."

Keira frowned, confusion clear in her eyes. " What do you mean?"

Luci just shrugs, glancing at the sky," Just be wary of revealing too much before you are strong enough to bear it"

A suspicion began to form in Keira's mind.

"You're not an escort or anything like that, are you? Who are you... or better yet, what are you, 'Luci'?"

Luci stops walking, their figure unmoving.

except the shoulders which were twitching,

'Oh, are they angry? Is this the part I'm killed to be kept silent?'

Keira's face was calm as she thought of being killed for angering the dangerous being in front of her,

Are people supposed to be calm in front of death just because they experienced it before?

'Will the team leader be disappointed that I came by too soon?'

[[ ! ALERT !

Notice:

Time remaining till the inauguration ceremony

00:04:59 ]]

Keira didn't feel scared at all at the silence 'Luci' was giving them.

'Even so, I hope It's a painless death, I hate pain the most.'

"heh."

Luci laughed, a sound that was both musical and unsettling.

"HAHAHAHA!"

Keira got goosebumps seeing 'Luci' who was laughing without restraint,

"pff-Keira,dear-HAHaaaa…You caught on fast, eh? Sorry, but there's no reward ~. If you really want to know what I am..... for now, I'm just your self-proclaimed escort to the spirit world-building. Don't worry, I mean no harm to you, In fact, I'm on your side!"

Keira was speechless, feeling a mix of fear, frustration, and relief.

She couldn't help but lampoon in her mind about her situation.

'So you were trying to hold back laughter?!? What is 'self-proclaimed'?? What do you mean by my side?!??? haaa...Are all supreme being like this?'

Yes, Supreme being.

That was what she thought 'luci' was,

A being who Keira was supposed to serve.

After being teleported to a rare teleporting spot when a newbie usually goes to the 'main gate',

The spirit world has only tellers of various departments, the greater beings called 'Supreme beings' and low-level spirits so,

Luci's aura,

Their Appearance that is unlike a low-level spirit,

'What I don't get is why a supreme being is here, frolicking as a mere escort.'

[[ ! ALERT !

Notice:

Time remaining till the inauguration ceremony

00:03:27 ]]