C50

"Kiyomi, on the count of three, pull."

Lorn whispered into my ear.

Alright, pull... just pull.

I was pep-talking myself as I stood on the charred back of the Bulette, with my hands freshly wrapped around the hilt of my sword. Lorn currently loomed just over me as well, shielding any view of me from onlookers as each of the others kept anyone they could distracted. From what Gregor and Cressida described, the sword was immovable to them. No one had enough strength to budge it. Apparently, my strength was also something to be kept a secret; therefore, Lorn shadowed me.

"Okay, three-two-one- hn!"

As I pulled, there was a strange grinding noise. The sword very nearly became lodged once or twice, but the perception was more like a small hook against my own strength; the only hint at how wedged it truly was being the fact that I pushed down on the plates and flesh that Lorn and I stood on.

Come to think of it; I DID split its spinal column... maybe it's caught in a vertebra?

A faint popping noise emitted from within the Bulette's back before the sword began sliding out freely. Pulling the blade out, a small trail of what looked like mana followed the blade's edge before dissipating.

What the fuck?

The sword itself maintained a bare amber glow for just a split second. One would be forgiven for just thinking they saw a reflection of the sun's rays, yet for that small moment, I could swear that the sword itself was lit with heat.

What in God's name-

Looking back down at the others, they were all still looking away and keeping anyone around us distracted. Lorn, however, when I looked over my shoulder, was clenching her teeth as if she'd seen a ghost.

"Miss Lorn?"

Lorn blinked for a moment, whispering something under her breath before looking back to me.

"Kiyomi, did you see anything with that?"

Lorn asked in a fairly calm tone, betraying her expression from a moment before. I averted my eyes, nodding slowly.

"I take it you have quite a story to recount?"

Lorn asked, grabbing behind my knees as she lifted me from the Bulette's back. Now in a princess carry, Lorn simply stepped back and dropped our weight over the edge of the Bulettes side and onto the ground. With a thud signaling our landing, I nodded slowly.

"Do your best to remember everything."

With that, I was placed back on my feet and sent back with Cressida. That left me where I was now, currently sitting in Lorn's office with Maria, who was happily sipping tea whilst looking after me.

What exactly was today?

The gears in my head started to turn whilst I peered at my reflection in the cup I held in my hands.

In short... we were targeted by a supposed God-

Most of the other things that happened today were easy enough to comprehend. The Bulette existing, the magic, the explosion. All of those things I'd experienced in some dosage up until this point. However, interaction with the Gods was not one of them outside of knowing people prayed, that they inspired certain practices, or seeing churches scattered here and there. The entire setup behind today's events was something harder to take in, however.

Orion was the one who sent the Bulette... And Solah helped us?

Looking back at my skills

Cleave Lvl 1 When swinging any equipped weapon, be it natural/man-made, the user exerts a force equal to or greater than the required amount to cleanly cut through the target, provided the target is composed of living cellular tissue. - System overridden, slot granted - Use with care! Solah

Disguise Lvl 5 Lvl-5 Grants the ability to change certain physical aspects, hide or mislabel statuses and information. Ability to conceal information dependant on level, important information prioritized. Warning: Can be countered with analysis, inspection, or Disguise at twice the user's base skill level.

Evasion Lvl 1 +1 to all stats when a user is evading detection by pursuing parties. Note: Skill is ineffective if within direct earshot or sight of pursuers.

Endurance Lvl 1 User not as easily exerted over time.

Mana pool Lvl 1 User's mana pool expands, granting a deeper reserve. Mp increases to 12oo.

Alright, so I have Cleave now... that would have been nice to have... earlier...

In my previous life, I'd never looked to religion past my teens. I had never been one to consider any kind of divine direction. I'd become extremely detached from it both thanks to my parents, my own efforts, and the surprising level of cults that amassed because of the dimensional tears. All that combined, at the end of the day, I would say I died an Athiest more than likely.

Is this where I cross that line? Where I acknowledge they exist... at least in this reality? We were targeted by a God... and aided by another... and of all things, the one that helps us... leaves me a God damned note? And... does she know? About... me?

Unsure of my feelings still, I remembered the small plea I made as I buried my sword into the Bulette's spine.

I asked her for help...

I read over the last line once more before looking to the coffee table ahead of us; atop it sat my sword, its sheath missing, and its handle a charred mess. The coloration of its handle was thrown off, and with a clearer view, bits of charred flesh stuck to the blade. The sight that Lorn and myself both caught was over an hour ago yet still fresh in my mind. A more accurate way to describe it was that it appeared as if the blade was almost red hot for the shortest of moments. Like it was being forced through a forge or something similar. Accompanying that, it was free of any damage at all. While it was filthy and discolored along the grip and crossguard, the blade's edge appeared untouched. As if the sword was freshly sharpened.

"Hm? Ah, they're here."

Maria placed her cup on the table, standing immediately after the sound of someone rapping on the door echoed through the room.

"Coming!"

Maria called out, quickening her pace to a slight jog before reaching the door. Pulling it open, an exhausted Lorn squeezed through just as Maria opened it.

"Welcome back, Mistress."

Maria greeted Lorn as she pulled the door fully open, allowing entrance to two others that followed behind; Gregor and Cressida entered, both appearing slightly worse for wear from stress.

"Thank you, Maria. You can go in just a moment, just to serve us a few drinks."

Lorn unhooked a latch on a cloak that covered her shoulders, a belt unlatching from underneath as Maria lifted the cloak from Lorn's shoulders. With the cloak removed, Lorn handed Maria what looked like an old shortsword along with it before resuming her walk towards her desk.

"Gregor, Cressida, I will be back with your drinks shortly."

Maria nodded to the older human and the Lamia before placing Lorn's items away.

"I will be back shortly~."

Maria stepped out not a moment lateral she chimed a second time, a click emanating from the door as it closed behind her.

Well... time for a repeat of earlier.

It took what felt like an eternity to describe what occurred under the scrutinizing gaze of Lorn, Gregor, and Cressida. Though it felt tedious to go over the events from the entire morning, Lorn insisted I start from the time I woke up. Obliging the request, I went over the events of the entire day as Lorn listened intently. None of them said anything the entire time, instead, holding serious expressions and the occasional shift in position as someone drank their tea. Lorn listened as always, with her head propped by her arms as she nearly peered into my soul. Gregor looked down now and then, possibly thinking over my words from time to time. Cressida sat on her coils as she was before, starring through me, her arms crossed as she picked my words apart to herself silently. Maria stood at the corner of the room, quietly awaiting anyone's request; however, she mostly refilled tea from time to time. My cup remained full, however; I was unable to drink anything in this circumstance for some reason.

I can't stomach anything like this.

Around the time I described our lunch was when they became eerily quiet. Not even the sound of their breathing could be heard within the pauses of my speech, only the faint muffled sound of conversation from downstairs. I recollected everything, random bits of our conversations, my training with Vaughn, Beryl being concerned because I skipped breakfast, and even us teasing each other as we ate. Each minute memory built up to the climax of the day as I poured out whatever information my brain was able to retain. And then it began, the description of the system message. Our reaction, what I could remember of Vaughn and Beryl's argument, and the ensuing fight. I stopped just short of when Cressida, Sophia, and the guards found us. And lastly, the short note supposedly left by Solah.

"Forcibly forming a party- "

Lorn leaned back into the couch, rubbing the temples of her head as she paused for a moment to absorb what she'd heard. Gregor and Cressida were both showing their own independent reactions. Gregor's reaction was relatively emotionless, the only sign that he'd actually absorbed the contents of the conversation was the occasional clenching of his jowls as he rubbed at his jaw. Cressida however, appeared particularly conflicted by the description, considering it was yet to be met with an ounce of questioning.

"I entrust in Sophia's word, she said Kiyomi wasn't lying when she began her recollection with naming the Gods. Her being an imperial interrogator... there's no way... right?"

Cressida looked to Lorn, hoping the Elf would somehow assuage her worries. Lorn responded by talking as she stared at the ceiling, her arms dropping to her sides.

"If Sophia couldn't discern anything... It's all real."

Lorn sighed soon after, leaning forward to prop herself on her knees.

"-And the note from Solah is very much real."

Lorn looked up to the charred sword that was centered on the coffee table.

"The swords condition after such a use-"

Lorn looked at me before looking back to Cressida and Gregor.

"-It's out of our hands."

Lorn clenched her teeth.

"What do you mean 'it's out of our hands?"

Cressida suddenly yelled, raising from her coils; her impatience having boiled to the surface.

"You're telling me there's nothing we can do?! Bullshit, the first thing we can do is shoot this down now! None of them are going to be adventurers! They can stay in the city! Nothing else about it! Get rid of the variables and they'll be safe."

"Cressida, sheltering them won't solve any-"

"Bullshit it won't solve anything! What will letting them out do? They'll simply be at nature's whim!"

Cressida yelled, cutting Lorn off.

"And what will keeping them inside do all the same?"

Gregor spoke, his tone almost indifferent as he continued to stare forward blankly.

"Cressida, the fact that this is very much real, means we cannot afford to make such rash decisions. Knowing what we do, the wisest action is to prepare them as much as possible."

Gregor's head was strangely level considering his son was targeted as well.

"If stepping in is the path to truly take, don't you think Solah would have made a more direct appearance?"

"She's a God for fuck sake, why would she?"

Cressida and Gregor proceeded to enter a spat, minor points being brought up or cut down by either party over the next few minutes. With Gregor and Cressida arguing, Lorn was surprisingly patient. She watched the two calmly, waiting for the Lamia and the older Human to burn off their energy.

"Can we really let them roam around as they have been? For Goddesses sake Gregor, your own son is still out-cold as well!"

Gregor showed the first hint of emotion in his voice, his face shifting in anger as he brought himself to his feet.

"Don't you say a Gods damned thing of my concern for my boy! I've known a time and place to worry and grieve, you know well enough his place in my mind!-"

Gregors face was turning red with the anger he was holding down. The outburst putting me on edge as I felt sweat roll down the back of my neck.

"-What you NEED to ask, is what your daughter wants! My boy was keen as ever to go on this adventuring charade instead of following in my immediate steps! Since he gained direction, he's been as zealous as ever! your daughter was surprisingly spry and gay when not under your, nor your wife's shade!"

A vein could be seen bulging on Gregor's head before he dropped his weight back down on the couch. Cressida in comparison was still standing silently where she was with her fists clenched. Seeing that the argument was deadened by Gregor's outburst, Lorn took her opportunity to voice her own opinion.

"Cressida, why not wait for Beryl to awaken- for her condition to recover before making a decision. Let her come to her own conclusion, and support her in her choice. No?"

Lorn's tone gave a familiar feeling; it was reminiscent of when she proposed Hatsumi look after me.

This snake tongued-

Cressida's stance loosened and she slowly backed down onto her coils, the silent anger that appeared to be held in evaporated as her expression shifted to one of concern.

"The wall is by no means a method to keep any of them safe. Kiyomi-"

"Ah, yes?"

I sat up straight in my seat, a small audible gulp escaping my throat as the eyes of everyone in the room fell back onto me alone.

"You should feel special, you've been given a direct blessing... How do you intend to use it?"

Lorn nodded to me as she asked her question, as If I was to know an answer straight away.

"I don't quite follow..."

I nervously eeked the words out. My reaction prompted Lorn to stand, grabbing my sword from the table as she did so. With my sword in hand, Lorn motioned the blade from one side to the other as she looked it over; her eyes tracing up and down its edges.

"Kiyomi, of all the adventurers in this city, only around fifty have a blessing from their worshipped deity. Each of you was given a gift. Your skills. Your path- your path is paved only by yourself. The tools you've all been given, especially at such an age, means you've been trusted to follow your heart. To waste the gift by simply cowering, by shying away from its purpose... How will you use it?"

Lorn shifted the hilt in her grasp, the hilt now presented to me fully as Lorn held it towards me.

I want Beryl and Vaughn to be safe... I want to figure out how to help Kiyomi...

I bit down on my tongue as I wracked my mind for my true feelings on the subject. Thinking through the full context of Lorn's word's as I searched for an answer myself.

"I-"

Hesistation was very evident in my voice as I slowly got up from the couch, loosely wrapping my hands around the hilt of the sword. Noticing I have yet to fully take hold of this sword, Lorn began pulling away, as If to give me an idea that my time for a response was shortening.

"-I want to protect them!"

My hands clamped down on the hilt; one hand on its pommel and the other just behind the crossguard where Lorn held on. As I did so, the sword lit up faintly and a very weak flow of mana appeared to pass through it as Lorn released the charred leather.

"There you have it, the one who should be scared the most has given her thoughts, now we have only to wait for the other two to choose."

Lorn spoke as she looked to Cressida, locking her eyes on her.

"Solah turned the sword into a mana conduit, that's the other reason your daughter cooked the Bulette so thoroughly. If she decides to continue her path, she'll be in safer hands than any of us could ever hope to provide-"

Looking to the sword as Lorn released it, the faint glow faded quickly.

"-that said, Kiyomi- Thank you for your assistance, without you, Beryl, or Vaughn; that Bulette would have likely claimed another dozen lives before being culled. You've done something almost no beginning adventurer has ever managed. Granted divine intervention was a factor, consider yourself proud. You are not to speak a word of this event to anyone but your mother and your friends. Do you understand?"

Lorn asked me in a rather flat voice; crossing her arms as she stood, an imposing figure considering my size as a preteen.

"Yes, Ma'am."

I looked to the ground, somehow feeling forced down by her stare.

"Maria, take Kiyomi to the stay-in quarters, tend to her until Hatsumi returns.-"

Lorn ordered as she nodded towards Maria, uncrossing her arms as she turned back to the other two whilst taking her seat.

"As for you all, preparations will be made to provide quarters in, or around the Guildhall as soon as possible."

Lorn began the next phase of a conversation I was never meant to be a part of as Maria ushered me along, back to my home.

"We can't have our leading individuals for 'Stalwart' being that far out of the walls anymore-"

The sound of Lorns conversation cutting off as Maria led me away, the door clicking shut behind us.