Chapter 2: Criticality

If I'm not mistaken, I fainted due to the physical, and mental pain I accumulated during my incredible landing. They should've hired me for the Olympics.

Anyway, let's get to the matter at hand. I'm currently in a bamboo bed, along with a rock-hard pillow. It seems I'm in a room of some sort? I can see a window, but I'm too weak to walk there and peak through.

Where am I? The shore couldn't have possibly carried me into this room, so I'm guessing someone found my body and brought me here. I might've looked like a dead corpse while I was unconscious, so I can't imagine why someone would go out of their way to help me.

Help me? Oh, yeah. My legs are currently wrapped with bandages, and a damp cloth is placed on my head. It reminds me of how the parents in movies care for their sick child.

I can more or less move, but it's still quite a struggle due to my injuries. Oh, I could manage to sit down though. Thankfully, the stress I had from when I was conscious is long gone.

I looked at the mirror from the other side of the room, and tried my best to sit up and reach there.

That reminds me, this room I'm staying in screams country-side. The room is quite little, and is made by what seems like, bamboo? Well, beggars can't be choosers. I stayed here while I was out, so it doesn't matter anyway.

Oh right, I have to look at myself...or rather, look at the child figure of Salaphiel. That's right. I was shocked when I saw my reflection back in the shores of the bay.

But then again, what is the meaning of all of this? Why is my consciousness in her body, her childhood body? The memories inserted to me told me all about her childhood until the age of 9.

But...there was nothing in there that told me about this place. So, I may be in some dangerous place without even knowing.

Dangerous place? Oh, yes. You see, I don't know how and why I was brought to this place, but I do know that Salaphiel killed me. And entrusted me with whatever it is I'm currently experiencing. So, I will do everything in my power to not bring myself to harm, until I learn everything.

I don't have a good guess of where this place is at all. In fact, Salaphiel never even came down crashing from the sky. She led a normal life with normal parents and friends, or that's what the memories tell me at least.

You must be thinking why I should go out of my way to help someone I don't even know that well. That's easy, it's because I'm interested in learning more about Salaphiel, and this little transportation to her body is in a way amusing to me.

Anyway, what should I do for now? It's not like I could just escape, or rather I can't. Even if I force my legs, I doubt it'd move as fast as I want it to. And I don't know how to imbue it with magic to strengthen it.

It's hopeless, huh? In the meantime, I would like to see who took care of me while I was out.

As if the world was followed by my thoughts, the door to this room suddenly opened. It revealed an old woman with brown eyes. She was clothed in a purple robe, with her dark grey hair fringed on the right side of her face.

All in all, she looked like an old woman that appeared somewhat young because of her facial features. Oh, she also has this weird atmosphere around her.

"****,****?"

What? I can't understand what she's saying at all. How could this be? In light novels, the characters usually understand the language of the other world! Ahh, thanks for the reality check I guess.

I tilt my head in confusion at her words, and she seemed to make out that I couldn't understand her. Then, she held out her hand and started to chant some words, or at least that's what it looked like to me.

Wait...if she's holding out her hand, and there's magic present in this world, then does that mean...

Wait! Don't attack me! I'm just an innocent little girl!

"Can you understand me now?"

Oh, thank god. I thought for a second there I was done for. I nodded to her, and made some weird signs to tell her I can't talk.

I mean, I can try... Yup, she couldn't understand me. Meaning, I have no choice but to just make weird hand signals.

"I cured your injuries with a bit of healing magic, so you should be fine for now."

Oh! What a kind and reliable adult. But, I don't see why she would help me. I don't think I can give her anything in return either.

"You will be needing at least one more day before you can fully recover. In the meantime, feel free to stay."

What? Is she for real? Yes!...Is what I would've liked to say, but I don't have anything to give her. I made a gesture to tell her that I don't have any money or anything else.

I could pay with my bo- nevermind. As my thoughts wandered off into a weird way, the old woman asked me for my name.

Should I trust her? I don't think there's a reason to hide Salaphiel's name, so I guess I could just tell her. Wait, I can't.

That was anticlimactic. The old woman looked at me in curiosity, and so I was forced to just say it.

"Salaphiel."

Alright, I don't think she can misunderstand that. I made sure to pronounce it briefly, but clearly.

"I still can't properly understand what you said, so I'll simply call you Sael."

After my strong pronunciation, she called me by a nickname?! Well, I guess that still works. It just means Salaphiel's real name will be kept locked away for now.

"You may call me Shirona, with the formalities of course."

What a weird name. It reminds me of that one freak from the Pokemon games, who had a monstrous land shark at her stead.

Anyway, what should I do for now? I tried to stand up, as Lady Shirona helped me. I peered at the window as far as I can, and saw that the bay I landed on before is nowhere in my line of sight.

"The bay isn't in your south either. So, you must be wondering what happened to that place where I found you. You see, that place shouldn't be accessed by anyone, or rather it's kept away so that no one can access it."

"What?"

"Once again, I can't understand you. But, I'll explain a little."

"The bay you have landed on, is a space created by me. No one else should've been able to access it other than me, which is where you come in. For some reason, you were there when I visited that space. I don't know how you were able to access it, but do know..."

She trails off a little.

"If I see you in that space again, I shall not hesitate to put an end to you."

She glared at me, and spoke in a threatening manner. She's telling me that if I ever enter her space again, I would be dead in an instant.

However, I didn't really mean to enter her space. And it's not like I can just tell her that Oh, I died and I'm now in this child body, hope we get along. Yeah, no.

"In any case, do rest for now Sael."

Trying to get her threatening look off my mind, I headed back to my bamboo bed, and laid down like there was no tomorrow.

3 days have passed since I woke up. Over that short time, I was taught how to talk and write. I'm no superhuman, but I managed to learn simple conversations.

My injuries are also completely healed, so there's no reason for me to linger here any longer. However, there is certainly one part of me that wants to stay. Lady Shirona treated me like I was her own grandkid.

Maybe I was quite neglected in my past life, resulting in my soft heart whenever someone treats me well.

Anyway, despite intruding on her house, she gave me 2 choices. The first was to give me money, and send me off into my merry way. The other was to let me stay for as long as I want, and learn all about the necessary knowledge before travelling into the world.

I was extremely bewildered by the fact that she would give me money if I leave, let along stay here for as long as I would like. Lady Shirona is a bit too kind for her own good, I don't know about other people though.

Yes, she mentioned that the place we are staying in is secluded from society. She didn't elaborate anything further, and just said this to me if I ever decide to leave...

"Don't let your mind be corrupted."

I was already afraid of leaving, but hearing what she said made me cower in fear even more. I didn't ask her for why she said it, as it seemed like a sensitive topic.

Going back, I'm leaning towards the choice to stay here for as long as I want. But, I can't really understand why Lady Shirona would help- no, save a powerless girl she just met 3 days ago. I'll ask her about it later.

Over the 3 days, I learned the basic knowledge about this world. The origin, currency, and their love for religion. Keyword: Religion.

Religion is observed in every continent, other than the Risu Continent. It's gotten to the point that non-believers would be considered as anomalies. Though 9 years ago, it was still a flourishing bud.

That was all Lady Shirona told me. It felt like she was leaving out some important details, but I didn't really care.

Oh, speak of the devil. She entered the room with her usual clothes, and brought me a lamp, as it's quite dark already.

"So, have you decided?"

She spoke to me in human tongue, the one I hadn't understood from the beginning. I still can't actually understand it that well, but that doesn't matter.

Oh yeah, she didn't cast her magic to communicate with me anymore. She must've thought that doing so would hinder my learning.

"Yes."

I've resolved myself to do this.

"I want...stay here."

Not only am I still too oblivious to this world, I am also weak. There were much more benefits in staying than leaving, so I've made up my mind. There's also this faint sign of longing in my soul. It's like I feel some sort of attachment towards Lady Shirona. Not romantic, it felt like she was family.

"I understand. Stay here as long as you want."

I'm glad that she allowed me to stay. As much as Lady Shirona explained to me about this world, the more I felt anxious. I firmly believe that going out there as I am now, would be tantamount to suicide.

Oh right, I forgot to ask her about something.

"Why...you treat me good?"

I probably sound like some kind of dumb kid, but what can I say? To learn a new language at 9 years old is a feat in itself.

I stared at Lady Shirona, and found her deep in thought. Oops, was that a landmine?

She casted her magic once again, allowing me to understand her a lot better. I still don't understand the casting she did, though.

Her usual serious expression suddenly turned sulky, and a dark atmosphere loomed around her. Just what is she going to tell me?

"9 years ago, I had a child."

Her voice sounded so miserable, and made it appear like what she was about to tell me is a traumatic experience on her part.

"She died at the young age of 6 years old. I loved her from the bottom of my heart, and naturally, I felt great grief when she died. Worse, her body was nowhere to be found. It was just a normal day, and she hadn't have any illness to note of."

She had tears running down her face as she recalled these horrifying events. Her calm aura around her was nowhere to be found. She looked like any old woman you see down the street.

"It was just my hopeful self that I took you in. You see, you were the spitting image of my daughter. I thought that if she was a bit older, she would exactly look like you."

That's not part of the memories. Is this all just a coincidence? Or is it...not?

"What...her name?"

"I gave her a splendid name, it befitted her cheerful personality, and adorable features. Her name was..."

"Akari Saph"

No...this can't be.

For the first time, in a long time, I felt tears running down my face. This is no mere coincidence. My very being is telling me to let it out. But, why? No, I clearly know. After all, Akari was Salaphiel's given name...

"...Sael?"