There is a Secret to This World (Priestess) (Solo)

[Kazuko]

Sunlight streamed in through the stained glass window of the abbey, willing the hall in a warm light that centered on the alter. This quiet haven of warmth, once a place people would gather for religious sermons and activities now lie quiet and covered in a dense overgrowth, was about to play host to a new kind of company. After this place took on elements from Elder Tale adventurers who would die in the London area found themselves returned to this area alive and well. Today, however, a young girl wandered in here alone, a pair of fox ears twitching on her head and a tail flicking every so often behind her.



This young girl appeared to be experiencing a mix of fear and confusion at the moment and might have thought to come here seeking safety, or maybe it was just to explore a new area she hadn’t been. Standing up front by the alter the little fox was able to look over her body in more detail. A pair of fox ears twitching on her head whenever she touched them proved that they indeed belonged to her as well the soft bushy tail flicking behind her. She recognized the her current self as being the avatar she used while playing Elder Tale, did this make this current place Elder Tale? If so this place was unknown to her, and it didn’t explain how she was currently in her avatar, it felt like it was her normal body, and yet not at the same time.



There wasn’t much time to get her bearings in this new world though before a young girl appeared standing on the alter before her. This new girl had short silver hair with violet hair. Her clothes consisted of a black dress with a pair of red ribbons tied around each wrist that seemed to flow around her. With this girl’s sudden appearance the young fox took a step back, unsure of how to react to this new person. They didn’t seem to be a Person of the Land, so that left either a player or maybe some kind of spirit, which the last would normally be brushed aside as being ridiculous if the fox girl wasn’t of the Shaman class where communication with spirits was a regular occurrence.



Taking a step toward the girl the fox child reached out a single hand toward this new individual, this action only earned a hard slap to the back of the hand by the mystery girl’s ribbons. With a small squeak she quickly pulled her hand back, clutching it to her chest and now looking more apprehensive. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. My name’s Kazuko, I’m not sure where I am but I’m not going to hurt you or anything." The girl named Kazuko introduced herself as she slowly regained herself but the voice that came out remained that of a timid shy girl.



Once more reaching for the unknown girl to take her hand the ribbons raised once more to strike the back of the small fox’s hand. Deciding that this wasn’t going anywhere she decided that getting to know this person better was a safer approach to direct contact, maybe they were just a very shy person. It didn’t explain how the ribbons could act on their own. “It’s okay I’ll just stay by your side and try to make friends with you, maybe we can help each other out in this place. In time maybe you can trust me enough to tell me who you are and we can share more about each other." Kazuko spoke with a cheerful smile as made a small bow to the girl who has remained silent the whole time since she appeared.

[Kazuko]

Standing there alone with the red ribbon girl, something Kazuko decided to use as nickname for the mysterious girl in front of her, the young kitsune couldn’t help but feel this person was unique in a way. It almost felt supernatural, like talking to a spirit or something similar. With a soft quiet sigh Kazuko crossed the front stage area into the back area of the church, “I’m going to see if there’s anything in here I can do and that might help me get things sorted out." She replied back, leaving the backroom door open in case the ribbon girl wanted to join too. When Elder Tale was a game Kazuko had chosen Priestess as an RP class so she wanted to see if it carried over, if this really was her avatar from Elder Tale made real.



To do this though basically meant she’d have to start preaching to players and spreading her beliefs. It also meant choosing a deity of some form to fill the user with piety to do various skills, and at the moment Kazuko didn’t have either. ‘I’m not sure but maybe this girl is a sign of some sort, especially if it turns out I’m the only one who can see her.' Was the thought that carried through the young girl’s mind as she went to work trying to set the backroom in order. She quickly found that there was little left in terms of supplies in this church and was mostly just a grander empty building from the others that were around it



Turning her head around to look behind her gaze went once more to the quiet girl standing in the corner, she did actually follow Kazuko into the backroom but she was standing quietly in the corner and watching as the younger one was busy cleaning up. “Well, guess there’s not much here anymore. Still I kind of like this place, it seems peaceful and relaxing." She spoke again trying to make conversation even if it was only one-sided Kazuko was sure the ribbon girl could understand her. Nodding to herself before making her way back into the main room Kazuko decided that this church could be a good place to set up a place to stay. She did note, however, that the price on the building was extremely high so it was unlikely that she’d ever be able to personally own it.



When a light streamed down from the ceiling Kazuko immediately spun around to face the alter. What greeted was another person, this one was lying on their back on the alter instead of standing on it as the ribbon girl had. This person sat up and began patting over their body like they expected to be injured, “I-I’m alive? But how did that happen?" the male, probably an adventurer after apparently reviving, spoke up before slowly standing up. ‘So this cathedral was apparently the respawn location for adventurers who died in the London region' Kazuko thought as she approached man she would approach a patron who visited her church in the game. “Welcome to Westminster Abbey adventurer. Please feel free to rest up in the back if you’re not feeling well." She said trying to sound hospitable; it was hard since outside the game she never talked to people much, it was always her sister that did well around people. Speaking of people though Kazuko almost forgot about the quiet girl still watching them both from the corner; although the male didn’t seem to notice or care even though she was almost standing next to but just off to the side against a wall. Either the male didn’t notice or Kazuko was the only one who could see her, regardless though the male barely even gave notice to the young fox before starting to walk out the door. “Just shut up, I don’t have time to deal with a Person of the Land right now." He stated shoving past against her shoulder as he left the building in a hurry. What was his problem anyway, and how did he confuse her for a Person of the Land? Was this guy already that familiar with what was going on here?

[Kazuko]

The large cathedral grew silent once more as the large wooden doors slammed shut after the adventurer took his leave. All Kazuko could do was stand there and look confused at the door, she had a lot of questions about the man, the girl, and this strange world they found themselves in that was so similar to the game she played just the other day without an incident. The last words the man had spoken still rang through the girl’s ears as she collapsed to her knees. She wasn’t just a Person of the Land, she was her own person, and she was an adventurer too just like him. Although she tended to be a bit more passive and liked taking a support role in the back the young girl was still always a player with her own actions, was it because she something so generic that the man had just been confused?



Meanwhile the ribbon girl moved from where she had been standing in the back of the room and began walking toward the doors as well. “Wait don’t go, at least tell me something about you." Kazuko stuttered while trying to stand back up on her feet. “If it’ll make you satisfied you may feel free to call this one Kagari." The ribbon girl named Kagari spoke over her shoulder for the first time in a calm and quiet voice. “Nice to meet you Kagari, I feel like you’re something special to me. Would it be alright if I became your follower?" the young fox girl said with a smile



Nodding to herself anyway Kazuko found herself falling in behind the young ribbon girl as the two of them left the abbey. A brief status message appeared in front of her saying ‘You have successfully chosen a patron and have been granted Favor.' Did this mean Kagari was now the patron for her priestess class, and was she supposed to spread this to others or just learn from this girl and pass those down? Tilting her head to the side Kazuko once more had more questions than answers and they were starting to cause problems with how little was known about anything. For now, at least, since only this small fox child could see this girl Kazuko decided that it would be best to follow this girl’s lead and then share what she learns from others. This decision would hopefully lead to more answers and perhaps give hope to others who found themselves in a similar situation.



Kagari on the other hand didn’t seem too interested in anything involving herself. After leaving the abbey she hadn’t even so much as turned around to notice Kazuko behind her, much less acknowledge anything about becoming her patron. In fact it seemed the only thing in this girl’s vision was everything and nothing at the same time. At times she’d stopped randomly and watch one of the People of the Land go about their work at one of the shops. While other times she’d venture outside the walls and watch players kill monsters to fulfill quests, and yet other times she’d be content with just sitting on one of the rooftops which forced Kazuko to wait leaning on a wall or otherwise look preoccupied.



It wasn’t till after a full day walking around town that Kagari took notice of the other girl when they went back to the abbey. “You may stay here with Kagari, but you must help in her research as well." She spoke once more in that calm and quiet voice of her. Why did she refer to herself in the third person though? In a way it would sort of make sense if this girl was a diety of some sort, they wouldn’t have much need to use first person on themselves, and use more of whatever would fit the situation best when dealing with people. With a smile and a nod Kazuko clasped her hands together and bowed low respectfully “Thank you kagari, I can help with whatever you need." Giving her answer the little fox hurried into the back room once and began setting up places to sleep for the two of them. This was going to be the beginning of a very long road of discovery and hopefully she could stay with this ribbon girl named Kagari.