After the instilling one of the segments of her spirituality. The world turned lusterless.
Beyond the thin discernible gray fog, capable of allowing Selina to pry into the vibrant environment. She saw a woman with a curly chestnut hair, disheveled down to the clavicle of her shoulders.
Selina immediately thought. She's the woman who prayed to me instead of the Primordial Moon... What are they doing anyway? Why is she trying to skin herself?
Seeing the lady regained her mental facilities. Her body instinctively took the posture and the role of being a goddess.
Isabelle pressed her temple gently and noticed the grass bed silking on her palm. Almost instantly, she snapped back and realized she's not in the manor.
What? Where am... her head vigorously darted around. Suddenly, she saw a figure clad in white gown.
I... !!!
Isabelle hissed after seeing Selina. A look of horror, fear clawed at her delicate contours with eyes glints desperation. She tried to kick herself away from the figure.
She needs to escape!
"Why did you pray to me?" Suddenly, a layered majestic voice of a lady echoed in the meadow.
Isabelle's night gown that consists only with an elaborated shoulder design swayed under the gentle zephyr.
The Child of God...
After this epiphany. The grounded soil bearing life filled with grasses suddenly trembled. Isabelle's body shook and she curled herself.
W-What's happening?
Trees started to sprout, skipping multiple stages to reach maturity. Multiple bushes and rivers emerged and gushed from mountains of the distant.
Suddenly, it wasn't so pressuring anymore. The breeze brough a tranquilizing and fragrant scent from the flowers that bloomed. She recognized them as Night Vanilla flowers.
"You can go ahead and rest." the world's voice was distant yet gentle.
Isabelle felt her mind eased, whirring about the impending disaster she would face. And for some inexplicable reason, it coerced her muscles to relax.
It was unknown when was the last time she slept peacefully. But when she woke up, she saw that her body laid on a thin sheet.
I... I slept? Isabelle forced her body to sit up. She found herself atop a hill, with flower beds forming a sea beneath it.
"It seems you're stressed."
Isabelle's body jolted and she looked to the side. She saw the woman clad in a laced white gown, whose face obscured by divine light.
The world softly advised, "Try not to overexert yourself. You can rest here as much as you want."
Until I woke up of course... Selina mused internally without any intent of saying that.
Isabelle slowly looked down, she saw the grass danced in sync as her hair flailed with the wind. Her thought process however, was in disarray.
Is She... really the Child of God?
Isabelle clawed at the cloth beneath her and turned to Selina, asking with a hint of fear, "Are you... Child of God?"
Selina prepared for this question and just like how she responded with such accusations, she simply let the world interact.
A solemn voice of a young lady, unlike what the world had produced earlier echoed, "Mrs. White."
Following that, a myriad of voices was produced. They began overlapping with each other. These were the prayers of her six remaining believers, who have began to adapt the name into their incantations.
"Mrs. White."
"Mrs. White."
"Mrs. White."
...
Isabelle heard the name and it was immediately etched to her heart. So it's not the Child of God...
Suddenly, as she felt a sense of relief, an epiphany quickly muddied her easing tension. She quickly thought to herself.
I-I'm... in the presence of a Goddess!
"Stand up." the melodious, enchanting voice returned.
This supercilious yet gentle tone embraced her to comply. Isabelle stood up and straightened her poise.
She was clad in a simple night gown. It covered her entire body, ending only at the shoulders and discreetly reveals her neck.
While Isabelle regained her mental fortitude. A foreboding suddenly nudged the back of her mind.
At that moment, she heard the world say majestically, "What is causing the heaviness in your heart?"
Isabelle paused. She was dumbstruck by the question. The Goddess Mrs. White is concerned of me?
Selina maintained a static front but within, she secretly mused. That probably shocked you right sweetie? A Goddess, that might be in the level of the other gods who stood aloof, would relay such trivial question?
But wait, shouldn't I already know the answer to that?
"I am being put into trial... to determine if I should live..." Isabelle's voice was brittle and scathed. "The Primordial Moon is deepening, that is what they say, and they're now allowed to be 'blessed' with powers achieved by sacrifice and ritual."
The Primordial Moon is deepening? Blessed powers by sacrifice and rituals? Selina inwardly repeated what the young girl had said with slight undertone.
Instinctively, she recalled the description of the faction's members. They're crazy and would chanced on every attempt of sacrificing a life they get.
However, examining this girl denies that characteristic that would normally be present in this clandestine group's rankings. Selina reevaluated her hypothesis over the girl's nature.
"What is your name?" the world heeded her will and produced a distinct voice.
Isabelle perked up and sought her throat to clear before replying, "Isabelle... Isabelle Laetitia."
Isabelle? Have I heard that name before? a precarious familiarity surfaced as the name reverberated in Selina's mind.
Subsequently, she willed the world to say gently, "Do not be afraid. Rest and express your thoughts, I will be here to listen."
Isabelle suddenly felt emotional. While gazing at the figure, regardless of the divinity She exudes, a particular maternity reeled her in.
It was unknown when her eye began to blur, and droplets began to dampen the cloth right beneath her feet at a spot shadowed by her chin.
She was tearing up and finally, the dam wrestling with the containing tides finally rushed down.
Her heart cried her voice out, "M-My grandfather...! He... They killed him! I-I was only involved only for him! Sob... Grandpa!"
Isabelle's body curled and tears cascades to her chin. Selina watched with a tightened heart, she remained there standing.
"I don't want to stay... I don't want to. I don't want to. I don't want to!" Isabelle covered her face. "They're monsters, I don't want to die, I don't have anyone... I'm alone... Grandpa please help me.
"Please make it stop!"
In the world of distant, never-ending horizon. Mountain peeks at the clouds blanketing the plains that reveals no inhabitants. A whimpering voice echoed loud and wrenching.
The dense forest flailed gently, carrying an invisible but comforting breeze that swept Isabelle's hair and dress. After a few hours, she regained clarity.
Dusting and wiping her tears, her eyes rosy and nose running. She heard the plains say in a gentle tone, "Seems you've gone better..."
Isabelle's body stiffened and she completely forgot the presence of a divine being with her. She jolted up and briskly doll her dress. "T-Thank you... your grace."
So you're from Southern Continent. That explains your accent of Highlander and your grandfather is a Primordial Moon believer? He was casted by their Goddess, resulting in him being sacrificed... Selina committed the details, this chestnut haired girl bellowed while she expressed.
As someone with a perceived God status, albeit being a survival deception. In her moral pin, she could at least leverage this to obtain information, of course this also acts to help the individual be heard.
In silent, Selina recounted with concealed horror. There's three selections that were tributed prior to her group. The second had her grandfather which resulted negatively. Due to the selectiveness of the Goddess Primordial Moon, within those past attempts, it only had a finger counted blessed that lived. Isabelle's group was the last...
Both cases result horribly, becoming a blessed which brings one closer to the god, otherwise they would meet death, instantly sacrificed to the Moon... The Crimson Moon does not move during that event.
Selina felt a haunting force coiling her heart. Crimson Moon does not move for the believers of the Primordial Moon. It's alive and it follows them...
But suddenly, seeing as it doesn't add up, she retreated her mind and quickly concluded based on the girl's situation.
It's apart of the ritual... she sighed.
Subsequently, Selina began lamenting the girl. Not only was she teetering to madness evident by the fact that she perceived the moon is alive, her emotions had also been leaking out.
"The moon isn't alive." she settled, using the dreamworld to relay her majestic voice. "What you're experiencing is an edge of madness. That is the byproduct of the ritual."
The wind blows east and it held Isabelle's chaotic thoughts, granting them a way to tether. She chose to trust Mrs. White's words as it is physically impossible for the orbiting, shifting moon to be sentient and capable of staying at one place. Perhaps it's a projection.
However, behind the divine light. Selina didn't actually compiled the thought away, she layered it as a potential truth but her own reasoning cannot be ruled out.
She thought for a few seconds and suddenly she recalled another believer whom did not appeared at her believer's assembly, the man that once disguised as Marquis.
He's not around during that time, was he captured as well? I didn't seem like he's with Orola and Jean heading to the Admiral of Blood Senor... Where is he?
Selina speculated that the man had other motives for joining the Child of God's believers. Not only was he displayed detachment for the Goddess, he also deliberately severed his connection with her. Implying he has autonomy to leave the faction.
Perhaps due to this reason, he stayed and because the Child of God's believers is a minor threat in place of the ancient Rose School of Thought. It's likely that he blended and integrated to the other faction, maybe even helped in damaging the Child of God's faction.
Considering this, and his capability. Selina would naturally expect higher of him and that he's currently present to where Isabelle is held.
This doesn't mean there's no fallibility in her conclusion. But just like them, she's just a human disguised as their Goddess. She can only hoped for the best.
"My child." the world echoed in zephyr. "I want you to seek a gentleman 'who's intent doesn't reflect him.'
"Your search wouldn't be far."
If that man who severed his connection with her, and Selina acting upon her promise. Then, contacting him through the mysterious dreamworld would breach it, potentially drifting him further.
There's humanity in him and this isn't baseless. Selina is willing to gamble if it meant providing hope for this lost girl. Once Isabelle is sheltered, only then will she begin to employ guidance based on circumstances given.
A glint of luster appeared onto Isabelle's brown irises. Mrs. White is asking me?
"Can you do this small favor for me?" the dreamscape pressed.
After a deep thought, Isabelle hesitated with her lips before finally replying, "Yes your grace."
...
Isabelle woke up and found herself in the manor's sleeping quarters. Bunk beds greeted her and the sheets were covered with her sweat.
She casted her gaze down and saw glowing symbol radiating heinous red light: an downward crescent embracing an orb and streaks of light falling. It faded.
It's real...
Suddenly, he heard a man's voice conversing with a peer. Through the gap unlocked by the ajar door, she saw a man with black hair, aquiline nose, and an outlined face. He was composed, ensuring a fixed marble gaze.
For an inexplicable reason, she felt he was different. His visage fleeted on the door's view along with the others.
A gentleman who's intent doesn't reflect him... Isabelle murmured.
He was the one of the few selected individuals that remained lucid after the trial. It meant he was selected, but his expression betrayed the ardor prior to his turn. It was clear that being here didn't reflect him.
Her heart tightened and she left the bed.
...
In the next morning.
Selina sat gazing at the passing buildings, beckoning vendors and street paupers. Her eyes were distant and thoughts increasing in depth.
She recalled that Old Neil talked about the activation of Spirit Visions. Focusing on your intent and converging your spirituality in concentration through Cogitation. This is the initial step, and next would be the gesture.
Pinching or tapping your glabella twice would be too conspicuous, leading to bouts of questions to raise from onlookers. Too inconvenient.
While thinking this, she considered.
Maybe using the back of thumb for activation? ...No, it would be an issue if the confrontation required my hands full... Eyelids? Too conspicuous either...
The scene outside of the moving carriage strode pass a sign indicating that they're at Howes Street. Of course there's already passengers prior to her boarding so it would take relatively long to reach Zouteland Street.
I see... finally, Selina settled. Let's use our teeth!
She intends to incorporate her molar region as the activation point. Flicking it. It is both concealed and doesn't rely on external movement.
With this in mind. As the trip became a bumpy ride, she leaned to her seat and drew a silent breath.
During this, she had thought of different things that had happened, resulting in her introspectiveness of her life up to this point.
Her eyes reflects the passing pedestrians and other carriages. She felt her mind, body, and soul suddenly entered a familiar magical state.
Selina closed her eyes and smiled.
Apart from making drugs and medicines; See beauty and value in the thorns of life...
Behind the reason why she's considering to redesignate her Spirit Vision activation and only now her principle is because:
Selina is now getting closer to digesting her potion.