Prayer

[Level 12 -> 16]

[Stats : 

STR : 12 -> 16

CON : 8 -> 12

DEX : 14 -> 18

INT : 6 -> 8

WIS : 6 -> 8

CHA : 13 -> 16]

My prayer with Alessia was both an actual prayer and a way for me to level up and get stronger, with the level ups coming first and making me rather happy as I saw the natural bump in stats with each fight I had partaken in, as well as the bonus stat points I received upon leveling up.

Seeing my strength go up in a numerical fashion was as euphoric as always, though that euphoria was tempered by me remembering that these stats were now what would help me live or die... really live or really die, depending on the situation, and that made my joy diminish somewhat as I remained in prayer, something that made me take a breath and wonder...

'Are... Are Gods and Goddesses really out there then..? Are Bona and Mala really home to beings of such power..? If they are... then...'

Biting my cheek, I took another deep breath and focused, picking out one of the many Goddesses that I had interests in and believed to be good enough to at the very least listen to me, as well as being someone I wasn't worried would smite me down or something for being out of line.

Even though the one that first came to mind was someone who could have done something like that if she felt like it, but... it was in her nature to be mercurial, and that was what I found so intriguing about her... and it was something that made me appreciate the lore even more in the game since she was always at the center of any conflict, causing mischief and having fun.

Lokla, the Goddess of Trickery and rather Chaotic, but not evil or always meaning to be harmful to the world; she was usually a misunderstood Goddess, and I found that to be apart of her charm.

'I... don't even know if you truly exist in this world, this... new, yet very real world for me, but... Lokla, I have to admit I am curious about everything now, yet again. The things I thought I knew, things I believed I knew... how have they changed now that I am really here? Will my previous knowledge of Eden really be enough to keep me alive, keep me safe?

I truly have no idea if you can hear me, if you care to hear me, if you even exist, but... I dunno, I thought my not so traditional style of praying - more of a mental barrage of questions and concerns I have that I can finally give a 'voice' - would be best 'heard' by someone who's not that traditional either, y'know? Just someone who would probably listen and laugh at my stupidity for praying to someone who usually is avoided like the plague, I guess.

Hells, even if you CAN hear me, I'm not even sure this is the best choice, but I really can't bring myself to pray to someone else with genuine reverie and worship... Not because they don't deserve it - or you - because all of you deserve respect, but... I just can't imagine praying to them, thanks to my beliefs, my actions, my mentality... all of it. Things that differ from them for no reason, things that would bring judgement onto me... things that you wouldn't care about, since you're a free spirited, open Goddess. So maybe I am being a selfish, arrogant mortal, thinking a Goddess would care at all, but...

Wow, I am really just... rambling huh? I guess it's just... I dunno, nice to 'talk' to someone, even if I have no idea if they're actually listening, maybe? Or I am just crazy and talking to myself is making me gradually less crazy... less noticeably crazy, perhaps? Damn... Well... I hope everything goes well, Lokla, hope everything up on Mala isn't as bad as it seemed it'd be from what I've read. Though... I doubt you care either way, since you do as you please, when you please...

Anyways, thanks I guess..? Listening to me, even if it was uninteresting or whatever. Uh... yeah, wow, I really am NOT the religious type huh? Goodbye..?'

Pursing my lips, I let out a soft sigh and opened my eyes, still thinking about how weird that must've been and wondering why my brain was the way it was, only for me to jump as I saw someone crouching right in front of me, far too close for comfort and wearing a face I wasn't expecting to ever see again.

"L-Lulu..?"

In front of me was someone who looked far too much like Lulu, my close friend and someone I had known for a long, long time, but the thing that made it clear it wasn't her was the way she was looking at me; it was hungry and primal, something that my usually elegant and reserved friend had never shown me before.

"No, just wearing her face is all. Something from your memories. A good trick, isn't it? Useful. Swapping faces whenever I want..."

Reaching up, the woman stroked Lulu's soft tanned cheek and nodded to herself, before she smirked at me and said "Nice prayer, by the way. Better than some of the others I've eavesdropped on, y'know? Informal and communicative, not ritualistic and boring. Liked it a lot, and it was just~ what I needed to find my way down here. Most of the others are coming down too, so I was gonna hitch a ride with them, but..."

"L-Lokla..?"

"The one and only, dearest mortal~! The prayer was good, but... yeah, that Fae blood was what I needed to get down here. Tricky things, Fae. Love 'em, hate 'em, just know they'll never be straight with you. Ever. Though... half Fae..? Interesting... Good choice, you 'Heroic Soul'... or was it 'Legacy Soul'... Ah, who cares~!"

Grinning, the tanned woman stood up and looked around at the others, who were all frozen in place, unaware that an actual Goddess was standing in their presence.

"Well, since you helped me get down here... let's chat, mortal~! Only person so far to pray to me. Most are worried about me, most don't ever think of praying to me... but you did~! That's something else... I admire that. Truly."