Nine of Swords (3)

She couldn't move, she couldn't do a thing, her body refused to do anything.

Then, in a quiet, broken voice, the child slowly opened her eyes. "S-sister?"

Seeing the child's chest still faintly rise and fall, Seon snapped into action, gathering her up in an embrace. 

The girl's small body was marred with deep slashes across her neck, her dress was stained crimson where blood continued to seep. Seon's frown deepened as she knew the wounds weren't too deep, but for a child, survival might be a challenge.

"Don't talk," Seon replied as she began running. Afraid that the blood continued to overflow, she covered the wounds in her neck with clothes and her hand. 

"Father... where's father?" the child asked.

Seon's heart clenched. "I don't know."

The child's lips trembled in a fragile smile. "I… I wanted to see the festival tomorrow. With Father… and you, Sister…"

"Stop babbling," Seon snapped, swallowing her own nervousness. "You'll lose more blood if you keep talking."

But as Seon pressed on, an ominous silence settled between them. She looked down, expecting the girl to speak again—but the child's eyes had dimmed, her head gently lolling to the side, her small hand slipping free from the hold it had on Seon's dress.

The heartbeat that had pulsed faintly beneath her fingertips was gone.

—Gasp!

Seon jolted awake, her chest rising and falling in ragged breaths as if she'd just surfaced from drowning.

Her heart pounded in her ears, and she could feel sweat dripping down her cheeks despite the cold breeze.

She blinked rapidly, her gaze darting around, struggling to make sense of her surroundings. Slowly, her breathing steadied, though the lingering unease refused to fade.

Her eyes drifted to the window, drawn by the soft glow of the moon awakened in the night sky. 

"A dream?" she whispered between breaths, though she knew better. "No… it was a vision." She brought her hands to her face, fingers pressing into her temples, trying to push away the bitter realization.

'How did I forget about this?' she thought to herself bitterly. 'I should get used to this...'

With a final deep breath, she let her hands fall to her lap, her fingers curled in her hand.

"Tomorrow… I have to leave this place."

***

Morning arrived at the nameless village, greeted by a gentle breeze coming from the trees.

Tables were laid with vendors, farmers, and civilian's laughter.

The villagers enjoyed the peaceful day, unaware of the tension brewing in the far corner of the village.

In that corner, a small group had gathered—Ortos, Yunnie, and seven other priests and bishops stood in a grim circle. 

"Did you just say- that the church of sea personally come here?"

Ortos asked the ginger head priest.

"W-well yeah! Do you think that seal in the letter is fake?"

"..."

"But who is going to wake up the Prophet?"

Everyone turned silent in a grim mood just visited in their place when Yunnie asked the question. It was then, that several coughs echoed as each other avoided his gaze.

"A-hem, I have to attend the ceremony"

"Oh right! I forgot! My wife needs help cooking"

"This old man fears the stairs… Could be dangerous at my age…"

As excuses piled up, the group eventually turned to Yunnie, whose eyes widened in horror.

"N-not me! W-why does it always have to be me?" he stammered, shrinking under the weight of their stares.

"Ugh… I guess we'll have to do it the old-fashioned way."

Without another word, the group took a collective breath.

"ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS!-"

****

Knock! Knock!

Seon remained still, her eyes closed as she sat with her legs crossed, focusing on the strange energy she could sense around her.

The air in the room felt different—cool, yet charged with something she couldn't quite name.

Minutes passed before she slowly opened her eyes, feeling a faint, unfamiliar pulse in her body.

"Hm... no mana, no chi, but there's something else" she muttered, wiping the sweat from her forehead. Her body felt slightly stronger as if her meditation had already started making a difference.

But it wasn't enough for her.

Something still bothering her... perhaps the vision she received last night bothered her too much.

Rising from the floor, Seon dressed quickly. The black knee-length dress—a gift from the village chief—fit snugly. She briefly recalled the look of guilt in his eyes each time he saw her, knowing she now inhabited his dead daughter's body.

"Not my problem," she thought, fastening her sword belt. With a new steel blade at her side, she stepped towards the door.

When she opened it, Yunnie stood trembling in front of her, pale-faced.

"U-um... I knocked thirty minutes ago..."

Seon blinked.

Thirty minutes? She'd only heard the knock a few seconds before. Time must have blurred during her meditation.

"So why are you here?" she asked.

"T-the church of sea wanted to meet you"

"Church of Sea?"

Seon tilted her head, considering. "Okay. I'll come."

"I'll let them know you're not comin—wait, really?!"

Yunnie's eyes widened. He had expected her refusal—well although they only met for 2 days, he had a hunch about Seon's indifference regarding to anything.

But this time, it seems she genuinely agrees to meet them.

Well, that's scary, he rather see Seon disagree, fearing what she will do towards to the Church of the Sea.

"A-are you 'really' sure?"

"Yes. Is there a problem?" Seon raised an eyebrow.

Yunnie stammered, "Uh... no! I just didn't think you'd..."

'No way- does the sun rise to the west?'

"A-are you really really realllyyy sure?"

"Yes? Why are you acting like that?" Seon responded, raising an eyebrow at his odd reaction. "Perhaps you want another beating for you to understand?"

"-... well, uh..."

Seon remembered that Ortos did mention that religion, as they were the ones who offered the ritual.

Originally would decline, however knowing it would be connected one or two how she was reincarnated here- she figured out it would be best to see what's up with those people.

Ignoring Yunnie's weird reaction, Seon stepped outside her cabin, this time she was greeted by the Flour'e; the child who looked similar to her.

"Sister! Sister... here!"

She handed out a certain drawn-made card.

With doodles that Seon barely could discern.