The sun was still at an angle, distanced from the horizon.
Upon alighting from the carriage, Selina took the liberty of shopping, accompanied by a concealed intention of patrolling the area.
Her badge was safely kept in her spare compartment and unlike her previous visits, her intention wasn't solely for shopping. Her purchase would compose of a stamp, few more utensils, and additional needs to prepare her prolonged stay.
For a maximum of five years, Selina sighed at the surmountable time for her to remain in this world.
The venue around the Municipal Square was still littered with street hawkers, beckoning the passing pedestrians for their goods.
"Sailor Fish! Fresh and newly arrived...!"
"Try out our famous Rooster Barbecue!"
Amidst the fervent crowd, Selina navigated the venue with deliberate steps as she stopped from one vendor to another.
Sometimes she would gaze at the passing shops, peering through its glass to see different souvenirs ranging from a charm, pendant, pocket watch and vanities. However, she didn't buy anything for herself.
She had yet to pray to Mr. Fool, read the documents sacrificed to her by her believer and diligently etch them into her mind so her visit would only last for a bit.
The feeling, without the trauma and fear of a cult tailing you. It made it seem like she had really stumbled upon the chance of experiencing a completely different world.
As she move at her own pace, Selina suddenly recalled the attire wore by the agencies of her unit. Klein, for example, wore an appropriate black vest along with a coat that immediately puts him in a recognizable light.
Perhaps I should buy a set for myself as well? Just as this thought cross her mind, she realized that at this moment, she's right next to a shop.
Selina leaned closer and inspected the establishment from across its glass wall. The surface was spotless, enabling her to gaze just from standing.
Inside was an array of clothes being worn by numerous wooden mannequins. Each displays a style ranging from a casual Loenian dress with fixed hem and elaborated design to top hats, vest, coats, and canes for the gentlemen, each on varied sizes.
It was a clothing store.
Seeing this, Selina lowered her gaze onto her dress being covered by a half-coat. She muttered to herself, Maybe I should buy a specific attire for the job...
With this in mind, she turned to open the door end entered, a soft chime accompanied her passing.
Towards the counter, a woman with brown hair and blue eyes greeted her politely, "Good afternoon miss, feel free to consult me if anything bothers you."
Selina smiled and nodded in response, "Alright."
Now with a much clearer view unlike from the outside, she was able to carefully consider each attire from one to another. In her concept of this world's trends, a formal wear of the special unit that handles supernatural incidents can consist of a elongated coat followed by a tailored half top-hat and a wooden pipe.
However, upon reviewing this, she quickly brush off the idea and instead opted for a casual yet less revealing clothing, such as what she's wearing today, just without the dress.
A trouser should be enough. Perhaps a long sleeve as well? Yes, let's do that, after all money is not our problem at the moment. Selina expressed her deep appreciation of her body's biological parents. Even in the afterlife, they were still able to provide her with necessities, enough to survive on her own.
Just as she was about to settle for the trousers and fitted long sleeves hanged from the corner of the establishment. She noticed a dress, strangely apart from the rest of the clothes.
It had a transparent shrug draped over its shoulders, followed by a necktie on the collar. Its sleeves were loose yet cuffed by its end and the waist had a sash worn around it, holding the dress tightly close.
Selina was unsure of what style the dress came from. Leading her to ask the lady behind the counter, "Excuse me, what outfit is that?"
She gestured with an open hand toward the dress.
The lady saw it and replied, "Oh, that dress was named after a flower native to the region of Feynapotter Kingdom."
"A flower?", Selina repeated the girl's words softly.
"Yes", The lady firmly confirmed. "The Spring Garden is known for its green-white petals to be transparent by the ends while drooping from the bud. That's where the dress's scowl is inspired.
"The Spring Garden symbolizes purity, the beginning of something new and the anticipation of a bright future. It was also a very beautiful flower that a designer made it an inspiration for a clothing. Miss, you seem to caught interest on the dress, perhaps you would like to purchase it? It suits your beauty very much, along with your demeanor, it can become an attire of the month!", she added, a touch of professionalism and persuasion to her words.
Selina's smiled wearily at the lady, saying in a gentle voice, "Uhm, no it's fine. It just made me raised a question because I haven't seen it before, that's all..."
The lady smirked as she pressed, "Don't be so modest Miss, try it out and I can assure that you compliment the dress more than itself."
Flattery won't get you anywhere with me... Selina declined softly, "I'm sorry but I came here for a pair of trousers and long sleeves meant for a woman."
"Oh." The lady quickly retracted from her, she said, "Well, we have a pair that I know would suit you, please wait here."
She took off from the counter and headed toward the mannequins placed by the corner. When she returned, Selina scrutinized the clothes before nodding briefly in approval.
"Great! The two items is about ten pounds and fifteen soli." The girl counted the value of each items by their tags.
Selina produced the given amount from her wallet and thought to herself, The lower class gets around one pound per week, and that's about the maximum effort they could receive...
With just the pricing of the items she had bought today. She quickly realized the huge gap between the division of societal system. When a middle class was able to help themselves with fashion thanks to their status, an evaluation of their job. The lower class on the other hand gets about one clothing per month and that's considering their current situation before spending for anything else.
The food, shelter and education. All were put into deep importance, regardless of other things that comes after.
This thought drifts yet some stayed mentally into Selina. When she finally received the paper bag containing her purchased clothes, she swiftly left the store and headed back into the market.
She still haven't brought strips of noodle for the Feynapotterian delicacy that Mr. Fool had instructed!
...
The throttling of the horse stopped just across 16 Daffodil Street.
Selina alighted with her paper bags in hand while anchoring her hat from any sudden fall. She deduced a penny from her wallet immediately afterwards.
On her porch, upon rummaging the compartments of her dress, a silver key rested on to her hand as she inserted it into the key hole, producing a sound.
Click!
She widened the opening of the door with her shoulder and continued onto the short hallway, arriving inside her kitchen.
After setting the papers bag onto the table, Selina slumped onto a cushion chair and mumbled to herself, "Finally... I'm back..."
It was very tiresome to constantly maneuver the street and always staying vigilant. Although she maintains a balanced meal by cooking. Even in her secretary days, she'd much rather order her food than visiting the local market during her work days. So whenever she had time to do so, she would maximize it before returning, buying all the necessities that would last for a week.
If there's ever such a service in this world, it would definitely become a lifesaver... Selina ruminated over how convenient the days were before her transmigration.
Nesting her head over the wooden surface of the table after her lunch, she instinctively recall certain things in mind. Such as her illiteracy when it comes to mysticism languages, Rosell's diaries that Mr. Fool had requested and the prayer ritual.
All involves her to visit the dreamworld once more and continue reading the documents, her devout believer had sacrifice in exchange for attention.
What a way to describe a courtship... Selina silently mused.
After sensing the time, she decided to might as well visit. Closing her eyes and simulating the sensation of longingness.
While her forearms acts as her pillow, her consciousness drifts along with her breathing stabilizing. Sunlight still permeates through the thin covers of the veil, indicating that dusk had yet to arrive.
...
The grotesque organs formed Selina's slender body, crafting a marvelous, life-like sculpture of her amidst the nauseating and fear-inducing environment.
The statue's eyes opened slowly. Following its awakening was the reformation of the land around it.
Soon, a greenery pasture that rolls infinitely into the horizons came into picture as the lady finally gained consciousness on its own.
Selina returned into the mysterious dreamworld once again and she quickly noticed that this time, unlike all her previous visits, the never-ending spiraling vines only had one path that extends into the horizon.
This revelation made her confirm that her believers needs to be asleep in order for her to pull into a dream and converse. However, the presence of one single vein puzzled her.
If this is true, why's there only one here? Does he or she sleeps so early? Selina wanted to investigate upon seeing this, but halted after a moment.
She came here to read the document and learn as quickly as possible in order to conduct the prayer ritual today. By peering into what's behind this single vine causes her time to lessen, it may even hinder her reading session.
As such, upon consideration, she raised her pale-white hand over to the level of her chest. Her flesh split from each other to reveal thorned tendrils resembling roots that makes up her whole arms.
The tendrils grew to form one page to another, binding them with a vine and settling onto the last page Selina had stopped.
She had only recently discovered this method from her last visit, to where she was diligently learning the basics of the Hermes language.
It still felt eerie for Selina, seeing her body deformed only to produce a stack of documents onto her palm. However, this was the only method she could think of instead of haphazardly laying the documents onto the ground.
This isn't her place to own after all. So proper procedure of visiting and leaving is still required.
Moments turns to hours as Selina finally reached the conclusion of the Hermes Language part of the documents. When she returned the remaining ones, it quickly stacked into almost half the height of her head.
Sigh... There's still more... Selina felt exhausted even though she's currently resting.
Upon turning the page to conclude the language part, she saw a note attached onto the upper corner of the current page.
It had words written in what seems to be the language of the Southern Continent, Highlander.
Due to the teachings of her tutor and mother with the different languages of the world, she translated them into a simple Loenese: "Mysticism."
Mysticism... Does it also have details about conducting rituals? Selina's heart palpitates in delight as she quickly skimmed the contents for the following topic.
After a few pages, settling on one, there's a prominent line on it that indicates the topic, it reads: "Ritualistic Magic of Nature."
She didn't waste her time as she immediately dived into the following guides and basics.
"The Ritual of the Land.
"Three detailed description of the following honorifics of the god is required. The honorific should be directed toward the desired deity. The first description is the title, tied intimately toward the deity as it encompasses their entire existence, the second and foremost were their following authority, personal description and symbolism directed toward them.
"...
"Requirements for the Ritual of the Land: A sacrifice of a kindred spirits, about as many as a region. To achieve this, all would have to chant the following name and incantation, then each would provide a supper as the dawn arrives.
"Then..."
As Selina reads the following entry, she suddenly creased her brow while reading.
What is this? she asked to herself. Why does it involve a whole region and many people?
From the name, she would expect a simple introduction to the topic. However, it instead focused on a certain ritual that requires a very complex procedure in comparison to Mr. Fool's instructions.
Although perplexed, a certain part of the entry did caught her attention, Three-lined honorific name... The first is the title then the remaining are the authorities of said god and their personal description...
While committing this information into mind, she lifted the page to turn to another. Just like before it also details a very elaborate rituals ranging from bloods of hundreds of people to a massive reenactment to obtain bestowments.
She had thought that if these doesn't require the lives of others, she would practice a few just to see the scope of her existence in the mysterious dreamworld. However, none did not meet her criteria.
I can see why the Child of God's faction leans toward massacring a whole town. However, this does not justify their actions, Selina emphasized the word 'not' as she continues with a displeased expression.
Upon turning a few more pages, she finally stumbled upon a short ritual that only involves receiving revelation from a deity.
It had a short, detailed description of using a candle stand as the ritual's altar. Silver dagger for building a barrier of spirituality that Mr. Fool mentioned before. The succession of lighting a candle starting at the top symbolizing the deity and slowly onto the practitioner.
Her attention was quickly absorbed onto the following entry, diligently memorizing the procedure.