It was already seven by the time Klein and Selina chose to end the meeting.
Similar to Klein, Selina felt it was exhilarating. To be able to discuss her true, stripped interests as the secretary from Earth. It felt like she gained a genuine companion, an ally with common goal of returning home.
Now walking side by side in the empty road of Daffodil Street. The two suddenly stopped at a unit, Selina's residence.
"Well, this is goodbye." Selina's curtsied briefly. "Have a safe trip."
Klein's mouth curled up gently. With a delay, he assured, "... Continuing again won't be an issue."
"Mhm, I'll see you tomorrow." Selina sighed and smiled, watched him off while waving a small gesture.
Seeing his silhouette fade after a turn. She finally released her held breath. Klein is a fellow transmigrator. I'm not alone...
Without a pocket watch after reaching the Heath family's porch. Selina hesitated on entering.
Knowing Mrs. Heath, she likely would have been worried why it took her long before going back. She had promised a delightful dinner and made Selina ought to join.
They usually eat at around six. Seeing the stars glimmer onto the night sky made her assume it was way pass that. Considering that Martha and Marl returned home early, the house's lady should have prepared on making dinner.
She was thankful because she didn't have to face the issue of leaving Odelle alone. But also a bit melancholic that she might not attend their dinner in time.
This is what made her reluctant on knocking. Selina quietly took a step back after coming this far.
At that moment, just when she thought her theory is true. Martha suddenly opened the door.
"Oh Selina! Thank the Goddess you're here!" Her voice was ecstatic relief. "What took you so long dear? Don't you know how worried I am?"
"I thought you're all asleep...?" Selina said in surprise.
"Why would we already be asleep dear if we haven't had supper yet? Come, Odelle and Marl is already at the table." Martha took Selina's hand, brought her in and added.
"Oh could you close the door?"
Thud!
Selina complied and was shortly led to the familiar dining hall of the Heath family. There Odelle immediately jumped and greeted her, "Big sis!"
"Ah finally, now we can eat!" Marl finally put down his newspaper and pressed his hands together.
As the hours proceeded. Selina watched as the served meals on the table be devoured. Marl gorged to his heart's content, and Odelle who inherited more of Martha's demeanor, took her time savoring her food reflecting her mother.
The supper soon passed.
At the front-door. Selina curtsied first and smiled amiable to Martha, seeing her off.
"Thank you for the meal again Mrs. Heath. I promise I'll prepare a dish of my own to compliment the next time I'm invited."
"You're always invited dear, but don't even think about cooking, I do the cooking!" Martha crossed her arms and stood highly.
A corner of Selina's mouth twitched.
"I love seeing you eat the dishes I made. If you ever feel lonely, we're always here." as she said this. Martha opened her hands, offering a moment.
Selina gaze deepened and something in her heart was filled.
The Heath family have always been accepting her ever since she entered Tingen. Marl was the first to initiate guidance and Martha provided comfort. Although it's still a foreign world, she somewhat felt eased.
A simple hug... she smiled and approached Martha, hugging her.
"Good night deary."
Selina nodded taking in the warm embrace. Afterwards, she saw Marth in their porch waving at her.
However, once she stood at her own porch, the sensation became clearly apparent. Even then, the thought of getting close would perhaps hinder her return.
So after swallowing a lump in her throat, she opened the door.
A sound of paper rustled after her first step.
Hmm?
Upon casting her gaze down. Selina saw an envelope. It was white except for the wax stamped with an emblem: The Housing Company's.
...
In a room devoid of any furnishings except for a circular mat. A spot glowed under the casts of the crimson moon.
Prostrated under its radiance. A man with deep features and hollow complexion was praying solemnly.
His hands were visibly shaking and he was chanting in Hermes: "The one and only... Crimson Moon;
"The Symbol of Life and Beauty;
"Mother of All Spiritual Forces...
"I pray...
"I pray that you acknowledge me...
"I pray that you spare me of death...
"I pray for the blessing of your will...
...
Shortly after his chanting had ended. The man felt the air became heavy.
A strange distant and terrifying power descended to force him to lift his head.
Beyond the glass panes that perfectly shaped the moon. The round crimson ball was getting larger and larger.
He saw an ocean of blood, drawing currents and waves that looked as though the planet itself was rearranging.
The man heard layered voices coming from "It". "It" was mesmerizing, resplendent, and beautiful.
How could it have the ability to strip off your humanity?
The moon seemed as if it was prying into the lens of the man. It grew larger and larger, getting closer as the man stared at its ocean.
Suddenly, the man's visage was reflected from the bloody waters.
Thud!
He abruptly collapsed under the gazes of the congregation. The metallic scent drifted and the incense surrounding the carpet died out following the aftermath.
The members exchanged looks and bickering their voices amongst each other. Everyone of them had their hearts palpitating at the thought of being blessed.
In the midst of function. Isabelle watched in horror.
She saw his eyes cried a pool of blood. His mouth was extending roots made of his veins and the moon... It hasn't moved for an extended period of time in that angle. It was already 12:00 pm.
The moon... I-It's alive! Isabelle, with her brown curled hairs buckled to the floor. She felt her legs weakening.
No... No no no no no NO!
"Your turn." said a man coldly.
He was clad in a brown pelt robe held together by a bark cincture, dangling on his waist was multiple charms, mostly composed of a mannequin.
Isabelle slowly turned her head. "Huh?"
Go... go there? No... NO!
Her heart ramming her throat. She tried to lift herself up, but her body denies her will entirely.
Come on... move! tears began streaming from her eyes, her lips was bleeding from the pressure of her biting.
Suddenly, she rose up from the ground. Which was strange because her legs had lost strength due to fear and anxiety.
Then she looked sideways and saw hands that could wrapped her head grope her shoulders. She was being brought onto the center without her consent!
No please...!
She wanted to shout, but her throat felt burned every time her voice leaked out.
Thud!
...! Isabelle was in the presence of the beautiful, lofty and distant moon.
She looked around. They were all staring at her. Suddenly, her voice wasn't so painful anymore.
Isabelle quickly took three deep breath and steadied herself. However, the apprehension forced her heart to palpitate excessively and continuously.
"Pray." that same voice echoed once more.
As her body trembles. Isabelle slowly lifted her chin up and looked at the endless sky. Peering all the way into the cosmos.
She gulped secretly and slid her head gradually down.
In her mind, there two things that might occur if she took too long or if she complied. The latter will subject her into the mercy of the living crimson "Moon" and the former will forced her into praying, resulting in the mercy of "Moon" and her cognitive facilities being retained.
Both cases lead to one conclusion. And the thought of it projects intense fear to Isabelle.
For the period of time she remained there, the host was beginning to lose patience.
He turned and as he was about to call for his aide, he suddenly saw Isabelle clasped her hands zealously.
She lowered her voice, enough that only she can hear and began murmuring:
"The Noble Queen of Desolation and Harvest."
"Benign Mother of the land and its dwellers;
"Goddess consort of the Twilight King;
"Subsidiary ruler of the City in Silver."
...
"I pray that you accept me and bestow upon your blessing..."
After finishing the incantation of the honorary title. Isabelle remained at her place and the incense continued to burn.
The process of selection was simple; if the practitioner lose consciousness in the middle of the ritual, where each members were being siphoned of their spirituality with traces of the Primordial Moon's will, then the Moon had rejected them and are to be sacrificed for the blessing bestow ritual. Otherwise, the practitioner will remain lucid, resulting in a mark showing on their back-palms.
As of now, this blessed group has only been a handful of individuals out of the twenty participants in the area.
It was highly unlikely that she will be added among the lists. However, even then she refuse to be apart of it.
Seeing that there was no response. Isabelle heaved a sigh of relief and turned to the oracle hosting the gathering.
Only to hear a skin-crawling question: "Present the symbol to us."
The deity she prayed to was long been a wraith roaming the depths of the Spirit World. Even then, it's uncertain whether the deity would respond positively at all!
Isabelle's hands trembled and the relief she was instantaneous. I-I don't have the mark!
No... No! her eyes quivered as her mind stirred desperately.
Then at the spur of the moment, she caught sight of her long, thin nails while prostrating down.
Her heart skipped a beat and suddenly she bit her lower lip.
"O-Okay."
As she stood up, she covered her left hand, the part where the mark usually emerge upon the prayer's acceptance.
Using her right hand, she secretly slid her index finger onto her left hand's back while subsequently concealing it.
She could still recall that crimson symbol emitting heinous glow. Even if she couldn't imitate the glowing part, the pattern is manageable.
Because carving has once been her hobby, scribing that pattern to her skin won't be a problem.
Rip!
A jolt of pain quickly traveled to her head, increasing her bite over her lower lip.
It's okay Isabelle... We'll escape very soon...
Suddenly, as the prickle forms a stream of blood and her fingers preparing to move as she walks. The dark corners of her eyes grew.
What? What's happening?
Her vision turned blurry and the flickers of light slowly fades.
She didn't felt her body, however the sight of herself collapsing in front of the guests speak volume about the situation.
Everything turned dark.
...
In a landscape dominated by overgrown grass that extends into the horizon.
Selina stood at the end of the mural-like vines clad in a laced white gown that hugged tightly around her waist.
As part of her daily visit, she read and studied the contents from the documents Yesir gave. After this, she would return back before her spirituality reach a critical point and use the time to write about her day.
"Today was quite a surprise..." she muttered while scanning the topic. A smile crept across her face only to suddenly fade after recalling the letter.
"Eviction notice... After the second week, at the end of the month, the housing company will evict me..."
Earlier this evening. After returning home from the Heath family's dinner feast. She found an envelope loitering on her doormat.
The contents details of how she haven't paid for the week's rent. It wasn't an issue for her if not for the second paragraph of letter:
"Renewing your stay of the house won't be taken into consideration. A partner of ours had taken a liking of the property and had bid to become its next applicant with a much favorable amount. Seeing as the situation of the current tenant doesn't necessarily fall into our category of consolation. We have taken careful analysis and we deeply apologize for the inconvenience but in cases of tenant numbers, we added this to our considerations."
Recalling this in her mind made Selina pout while reading. "Just because I'm alone doesn't mean they have to evict me! If they want money, I can offer them larger than those clients!"
While she complains, a series of overlapping voices suddenly echoed across the infinite horizon.
In one of the vine segment. Selina naturally took it as a prayer. However, it was clear to her that's it's different.
Someone else is praying to me?