Selina watched the young priest perform the prayer gesture with piousness.
Only when he returned to straighten himself did she add, "You seemed to have gone better."
The Goddess Ms. White did not induced any wrath from the fact that he had just called Her Ms.
Yesir curtsied once more and said, "I am deeply thankful and grateful to you Ms. White."
Earlier, Selina figured that she did not liked being called the "Great" or anything that accompanies her with "Oh White Maiden" after all. Since she made a mistake with the "Maiden" part, she chose that from her prayer voice to refer to herself as Miss.
It went quite well to her surprise and even her follower seemed pleased by it.
Selina sighed in relief and processed the man's current state.
The transformation he was going through earlier is definitely the first kind of losing control. The changes brought about by the powers of the potions consuming them...
To think I would actually see it happening again... she could not help but recall the same exact situation her body experienced.
Albeit just a memory, the pain was enough that it seared an indescribable mania into her mind that even after her transmigration still lingered.
Not only do I have to maintain their survival, I would also have to monitor their well-being... Selina drew a silent breath.
With her control of the environment, she adjusted her thoughts and let the world begin saying, "You will be tasked, not only to adhere to this one prayer's wish for once but to also gather each and everyone of my believers and spread my will to each of them.
"Once this is done, another task will be waiting which I will grant a reward in order to complete it. These should be done in a matter of a week, after you're finish will I bestow a new beginning and my blessing."
The blessing is a large sum of cash and the new beginning that might as well become a company... Selina gave a self-deprecating comment before realizing.
Yes! Since perhaps they're also Apothecaries, given that I acquired the potion directly from them. The company should become a pharmacy!
It is both a redemption and a source of income!
Upon hearing this, Yesir gulped at the thought and said with resolution, "By your will Great Ms. White."
Drop the "great' please... Selina smiled in spite of being obscured in divine light.
Just as she was about to severe the vines of her connection. The silent Yesir spoke after three seconds, "Ms. White, now that I have regained my foothold I wish to clarify our one past mistake."
Selina halted and assumed her usual poise. It made her wonder what matter it was that this young priest was determined to clarify, stemming from the past.
"Alright", the world said softly.
Yesir pondered his words before saying, "Regarding your descent ritual, the reenactment of your divine oath..."
The Milo Incident? There's more? Selina quickly made a guess.
"We failed to notice... But until recently, I have discovered that the vessel used as the foundation for your descent was rigged by those very same people we thought as allies", said Yesir in a grave tone.
"Your authority lies in the concept of fertility and life which we confirmed to be the Planter pathway. However, the vessel took a different path and thus may have been another factor of our failed operation.
"Those heinous people drove the vessel into unknowingly taking the potion of Sequence 9: Apothecary."
... Selina maintained an enigmatic image before her believer.
Yesir's hands clenched, "They made a fool out of us... They were already attempting to sabotage our operation... If it had not been that way. If the vessel had been in the right pathway... Then..."
"That is alright", a gentle voice spoke—a woman echoing from the surrounding meadow.
Selina had willed the world. Instead of brooding over this revelation, she sighed, putting greater concern to this young priest if ever he lose his mind again.
"You and the rest are forgiven. Take my word and relay it to my believers."
Yesir puffed his chest, strike his abdomen with his forearm and said devoutly, "By your will."
...
After sensing the fatigue brought about by her stay. Selina had quickly dismissed the young priest and returned back to her bed.
Regardless of her reading time being replaced by the matter of her believers. Her discovery still left her accomplished.
Gazing at the ceiling above as her hair littered all over the sheets. Selina brushed her forehead with her forearm as she fell into a thought.
Even the potion was a result of a motive. I'm glad I escaped that place. Now regarding Miss Justice's request... Sigh. Tomorrow...
...
Yesir felt a sudden intuition as he was severed from his dream.
His joints jolted and quickly lounged at the hand gaining distance from his arm. His palm caught it tightly.
"Eeek!" A familiar voice couldn't escape his grasp.
He lifted his head slowly and turned the cloak away from his view. He saw the lady whom he had attempted to turn into a hostage.
"You're courting death?" Yesir said coldly.
"No! No! No!" The girl shook her head vigorously. "Y-Your body...! I was compelled to check because of multiple hairs growing out of you!"
Multiple... hairs... Yesir casted his gaze down—dark thin strands were slowly retracting from the crevices of his skin.
The Goddess... Ms. White had informed me of my state, edging to a loss of control...
"Did your mother ever told you not to get close to any strangers?" said Yesir half-mockingly.
He retracted his hand and revealed the revolver.
Camille had a look, indifferent to a girl who's about to be scolded. However, the scolding is a gun and the person is not her father.
"Why didn't you run?" A sudden doubt seeped into Yesir naturally.
The girl fell into silence as she seemed to be scrambling for an answer even she couldn't figure out.
"Uhm... Because Madam told me to help whoever is in a brink of death."
How stupid... Yesir scoffed at the saying as he turned his head, unable to bear what he had heard.
He rotated his body about a degree to reach for the aid and to minimize the exposure of his wound. Grabbing one of the agent, he uncapped the bottle and smeared the liquid to his abdomen.
Argh!
Yesir's face grimaced as his veins bulged from the irritation.
While watching, Camille subconsciously projected herself to the other person. Perhaps out of curiosity, she thought of how the pain must've felt for the young man.
Her face contorted slightly. To busy her mind, she lifted her gaze toward him and quickly came up a question, "...You're alright now right?"
Yesir stopped his hand and looked at the girl with dullness and apathy. He withdrew it to his right and gave the girl a better impression of the revolver.
Camille laughed dryly, "Ahaha, I just... I'm concern if now it's alright to call the officials on you."
...Is this company a historian's club? With the amount of curiosity the girl had displayed, Yesir just had to guess with the acknowledgement of it being wrong.
He didn't replied immediately as he looked for the thrown ring.
When he recovered it, he took out a colored stone and embedded it into the sockets of the item. Confirming that it still functions, he smiled faintly, "I am, now how about you call the officials now? I'm ready to turn myself in."
This brightened the girl until she withdrew in case the man was being sarcastic.
"You're going to shoot me once I turned my body..."
Wha-... Just go away for a second so I can escape! Yesir fought the urge to yell. He maintained a genial look as he assured, "No I won't."
He ejected the bullet from the rear and undid the magazine from the handle, producing a clack from reaching the ground.
"There. Now you can go and report me safely..."
Camille narrowed her eyes. It was clear this act wasn't reassuring enough as she had seen him producing illusory hairs as he slept.
Perhaps it was her imagination or maybe he was one of the beings mentioned in the historical records that tells of people with supernatural abilities.
With this in mind, she contemplated for five seconds before saying, "How about this. You."—She pointed her right index toward the man—"Should come with me as well. So that I'm certain you won't be going anywhere."
This... Yesir sighed gravely. "Alright. Then could you help me?"
I might as well leverage you...
Camille felt relief as she nodded and quickly took the bandage from his hand.
Half an hour had passed. Yesir felt the significant improvement of his body, albeit only enough to move freely.
"I'm fine now. Lead the way", said Yesir as he circled his wrist, holding it by his right hand. The magazine was safely stored in a compartment of his trouser, opposite of where his revolver is to prevent the young lady from fearing him.
After all, their goddess had forbid killing without a proper reason.
Camille nodded as she relaxed her steps, straining to see if the man would do anything against her. But regarding that, their Madam had already given them a basic course on self-defense, implemented into each of their members to learn, so her worry lessened a bit.
He watched as the girl took the lead and began heading up.
From the end of the stairwell. Yesir produced a ring from his pocket, now containing one gem, the only one left he had in case of emergency.
With this, he said inaudibly in Hermes, "Exit."
At that moment, his body dematerialized from the stairwell. Every inch of him gaining more colors blending together illusively.
By the time Camille noticed that the young man had not taken a step and cautiously turned to check. She now only saw an empty floor, cold and rigid.
...
36 Zouteland Street, Tingen City.
A four-wheeled trackless carriage drove near a commissioning company. Alighting from there was a woman who's silver hair was tied into a mildly-loose, braided-bun.
Upon paying the fare, Selina took one foot up from the small stair of the entrance and opened it.
Not long did she saw the receptionist Rozanne, engaged in a little pleasantry with a fellow member—a man who seemed to be in his thirties.
He had an abnormally white skin tone, perhaps due to his rare exposure under the sun or a cause of a deficiency.
"Good morning", greeted Selina at Rozanne, her voice was fair.
Rozanne turned her head and followed up with a smile, "Good morning Ms. Roy, did you rest well? The weather today is quite breezy"
"Mhm... I'm glad I brought my coat", Selina nodded.
"So you're the doctor captain was talking about..." the man spoke hoarsely.
Selina withdrew a bit, tucked her hands just beneath her abdomen and nodded.
The man seemed to have noticed as he fixed his posture by the next second. He tried a gentles tone, "My name is Frye. An official beyonder under the Church of Evernight. A Nighthawk."
"Selina Roy, pleasure to meet you", replied Selina, stopping her hands from habitually caressing each other.
Frye's gaze toward the fair lady didn't lingered as he returned to Rozanne.
"The medical bills have been paid. I'll be excuse myself" he turned for the partition and left.
Watching the listless man disappeared to the hall. Rozanne commented, "Mr. Frye is very conservative. Cold, gloomy and always seemed lifeless when around with. Yes, the potion he took had quite an effect to one's body, but not so much in their personality."
Selina recalled Madam Daly's advice regarding spirit messengers. She replied out of guess, "A Corpse Collector by chance?"
Rozanne nodded, "That's right. It is where Madam Daly started of, once. Ah... I will meet Madam Daly today and ask her of the experience if it's the last thing I'll do!
"I mean... last thing I'll do until morning arrives!"
But won't she have to enter by the entrance and will be greeted by you eventually? Selina squeezed a smile and said, "Your tone seemed to tell that Madam Daly won't be here for long. Is what I said correct?"
The receptionist's face began losing luster as she replied, "Yes... She had to return to Enmat Harbor so her stay won't last until the evening."
"...Well, I hope you get your wish", said Selina with a warm expression before bidding farewell.
...
Achieve room.
Old Neil opened the door with a cup of Fermo coffee in hand and a newspaper by the other. He adjusted his glass and looked at Selina meaningfully.
"You seem pretty absorbed in dissecting the Emperor's notes. Are you sure you don't want a coffee to brighten your mood?" nudged Old Neil with a slight of humor.
Selina failed to reply as her brows creased at the following symbols.
There... she carefully made an image of the whole wordings. Only when she was done did she snapped out.
"Oh! My deep apologies Mr. Old Neil", Selina immediately replied, "I found it very interesting."
Old Neil chuckled and said, "You should slow down a bit. If you continued, I fear that in due time, you might translate them faster than anyone has ever tried."
If ever Mr. Fool allowed me... Selina mused as she gently retort, "Perhaps one day... Mr. Old Neil, I am much more confident if the matter of discovering its contents were given to you."
"Flattery is at a surface level young miss", Old Neil quipped before clasping his hand.
"Alright, enough about that. How about you learn some more healing rituals?"