"Arent you gonna ask me where we are headed?", Aaron asked, using Loenese so as to not startle Aria and his mom. They were still too shaken to speak. Aria's eyes constantly glanced up at Aaron, clearly scared to speak up.
"I know we are headed somewhere safe. Thsts good enough", Nolan said simply. It wasn't like he would recognise the location anyways.
'Is that what they call, tone of a charlatan?', Aaron thought in amusement but didn't push it. He needed to talk to Nolan, but not when Aria and Frida around.
For now, he decided to take a look at his system.
Unlike before, few new things became visible. First was thr [Friend's List]. While thr other was a Coin count on the top right corner.
[Coins:990]
Was that high? He didn't know. When he clicked on it, it showed thr option to transfer. But thats about it.
He tried asking the system what it meant by anchor. All it showed was Nolan's name with no further explanation. Leaving Aaron with no choice but sign.
He then looked at one of the Rewards he got.
[Store card (1)]
[Type: consumables]
[Description: access store one time]
Can I only access store one time?
Aaron wondered. He had 1000 coins. But he wasn't sure how other items in the store would cost. And if he couldn't buy good item because he didn't have money, it would be a waste of a store card.
In the end, he was still stuck in a murky situation with more questions than answer. And all of this was happening in just fifteen hours of his arrival.
Damn it, Aaron.
...
Around twenty minutes later, the carriage came to a stop. Aaron glanced out of thr window, welcoming the fantastical sight before him.
The golden cathedral had a more striking steeple and a Sacred Emblem of Life engraved on its facade,. It was a baby surrounded by the symbols of wheat, flowers, and spring water. The emblem made a difference from the surrounding buildings.
It was a simple cathedral for this world, but for Aaron, it was one of the many fantastical buildings brought to life right before his very eyes.
"We are here", the Carriage driver said through the window. "The Harvest Church".
Aaron and the rest made their way inside. Aria clung to her brother's arm while Nolan carried the frail lady in his arms.
In the hall of the cathedral, rows of pews were arranged neatly. Right at the top, at the front, there was a large Sacred Emblem of Life where candles were lit on both sides of its altar. With rows of candles line the left and right walls of the hall, on silver candle stands.
In front of the sacred emblem, a tall man in a brown clergyman's attire and a bishop's bonnet . He was like a small mountain, giving off an extremely oppressive feeling. Aaron himself was not short by any means. In fact, his new body with southern continent leniage was much taller than most people in the slum. But he couldn't help but feel small in front of their bishop.
As if feeling new presence behind him, the bishop turned around, letting Aaron notice more of his features. His eyebrows were light and thin. There were obvious wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, his cheeks, and the corners of his mouth.
"Welcome to our Great Mother's embrace", he said, giving a humble bow. His eyes moved across the visitors, noticing their roughed and shabby appearance. "You seem troubled".
Frida sighting shifted in Nolan's arms, prompting Nolan to adjust himself. Sweat beads began to form on his forehead- he was unsure if it was because he was holding a person or because of the Terrifying man in front of him. Frida shrunk behind her brother.
Aaron was taking his moment to stare at the man. It was a man he could easily recognise, courtesy of his gaint like appearance yet soft and kindred gaze. The Dawn Paladin who made it his mission to turn vampi- sanguines into believers, Father Utravsky.
"Forgive me for interrupting you father", he said stepping forward. Aria next to him tugged at his arm, clearly taken aback by the bishop's appearance. "But my family, they are in danger. So I beg you, please let them stay here while I try to solve this mess".
Aaron went down on his knees. His head was tilted down, completely surrendering himself before the gaint-like bishop. He didn't know if he was pretending at that moment, or if it was the influence of Aaron's past memories. The more he thought about it, the more helpless this feeling got.
...
Later that after noon, Aaron sat at the seating of the cathedral. His mind wandered around everything that just happened.
His mother and sister were given a room at the resting area behind the cathedral. Frida, who was still too weak and exhausted from the morning commotion fell asleep. Aria stayed by her side.
Of course it wasn't big enough, so Aaron and Nolan were asked to take space in the basement- a suggestion Aaron was reluctant to.
"We need to talk", a youthful yet hollow voice came from behind him, prompting Aaron's attention. Of course, with his high enough Perception, he could sense Nolan when he appeared behind him. "You are right", Aaron didn't object, standing up.
The two made their way outside the cathedral, finding a much secluded place to speak. Along the way, Aaron was contemplating what to tell and what not to tell Nolan.
He leaned against a tree, before gazing down at Nolan, who stood before him with a hollowed gaze that altered between clarity and dull. "Before we begin, tell me how you got here", he asked first. He decided to take reign of this conversation to have an upper hand.
Nolan sized up the bronze skinned man before him. He finally spoke, "I got here around a week ago. All I remember was downloading a wierd game and opening it. Next thing I know, I am in this beaten up body, with people carrying me away".
So he also took over the body of someone who died- Aaron summarized. He had the urge to click his tongue when Nolan implied he had memories of his past. He purposely steered the conversation towards his current body. "Did your current body always have this strange power?"
Nolan gave a subtle nod. "This guy lives at an orphanage and used to be a mad man who was nicknamed monster. He used to spill all sort of nonsense and got beat up occasional", he recollected.
"Used to?", Aaron raised an eyebrow.
This made Nolan's eyelid twitch with annoyance. The lost clarity he had returned once again. "Look man, you are the one who knows more about whatever is going on than me. All i know is, there some kind of voice in my head constantly telling me what to do and if I don't keep a level of focus, i might turn into that mad monster once again". He Nolan continued his rambling. "I don't feel like myself. My memories feels mixed with someone else's, and I am telling you, it's as mess. Like whatever I am thinking will get turned into a smoothie. All i know is, i feel sane because of this strange system. That thing was telling me i should come look for you just like this feeling in my head."
Aaron had a hard time keeping up with the rambling. But he was able to understand the gist of things. And the most important aspect of it was, this guy took over the body of Nolan who was born a beyonder of the Monster monster. And the system influenced by his spirituality probably give him the Quest to come towards me.
This further made Aaron think that he was fundamentally different from Nolan. Most likely because Nolan was an [Anchor] of some sort.
Are there other's like me? Or are they gonna be like Nolan?
He had a lot he didn't know but decided to find answers one at a time. "And how do you have powers? They aren't something you could use? Do you have some items?", he inquired.
"Do you really think I would tell you all that?", Nolan asked back. His eyebrows raised.
"Yes", Aaron smirked. "Because you need my information more than I need yours."
His words were logical. After all, Nolan didn't have the understanding of the book like Aaron did. Maybe that was the difference between an [Anchor]and a [Reader].
Contrary to what Aaron expected, Nolan smirked back at him. "Something tells me, thats not true. And I think you know what this "something" is better than I do".
This brat...
Nolan was clearly younger than him. He looked no older than 18. And that cocky smirk he has made Aaron wanna punch him. Of course, he didn't dare to, without knowing Nolan's capabilities.
Worst part was, Nolan wasn't wrong. Having a fate Pathway beyonder was definitely like walking around with luck on his side. Their abilities with fate was effective enough that even Klien wanted to have a Winner as a marionette.
But even then, Aaron didn't falter back. "You are not fully wrong, but that use comes in the future. And I can gaurantee you, finding information about this world through me is safer than finding them yourself".
"Why is that?"
"Best case scenario, you go mad or die", Aaron answered with a shrug.
"And the worst case?", Nolan asked again.
"You get pregnant"