At five in the afternoon. Selina walked up the front door of Unit 2 Daffodil Street and fetched Klein's key from her pocket.
When she turned the handle. The scent of the meal wafted through the air. Selina felt a sense of lightness as she took her heeled boots, placed them aside along with her coat to hang on the rack.
Then, she strode toward the kitchen. She saw meat stew, vegetable soup and few sticks of rye bread placed over a cloche. Still producing an appetizing hot aroma.
Selina arched an eyebrow and reckoned to herself. Have they eaten already? Why's the food seemed like it hadn't lose a portion?
A bit confused. She went ahead and decided to check on the siblings to the living room. Asking if they had eaten.
Arriving there, she saw Melissa focused on her work whilst Benson had his head leaning to the armrest and his fist, casually flipping on the mainstream magazines.
"Benson, Melissa." Selina called, still had her braided-bun while standing on the door. "Have you guys eaten yet?"
Melissa lifted her head and Benson retracted his gaze from the magazine. The latter smiled genially, "No, we're waiting for you."
"Klein said he won't be here." Melissa exerted her strength on her waist and stood up. She was wearing a white nightgown with her brown hair cascading to her shoulders.
Selina smiled and added in heart, How considerate... just like Klein. I wonder if that's from the original body's trait or his personality before...
"Mhm, he told me they'll be heading to Lamud Town and will possibly spend the night." she didn't include the Elizabeth situation as that sell their hidden profession off to the siblings.
"By the way." Melissa suddenly approached the envelope on the table, took it and brought it to Selina. "There's an envelope when I arrived. Ms. Selina, is this yours?"
Selina was momentarily stunned as she receive the envelope from Melissa. She answered lightly, "No... perhaps it's for Klein? Likely from his professor from Khoy University..."
Mr. Azik is the only person he told me were delivering letters to him in response to his concerns and inquiries... she recalled their previous visit in Khoy University and how Klein isn't entirely fond of the education system.
"Well, can you keep it?" Melissa asked innocently. "Give to him when he arrives."
Selina blinked twice before agreeing, "Alright."
Then she jokingly mused inwardly, But I fear my forgetfulness will hinder it. Maybe a day from now will Klein receive it?
Several minutes in the dining room. Selina was nipping with the portions she scooped, maintaining a proper posture as if it's a habit. It was unlike Benson who has both arms on the table, one is for leaning and the other using the silver spoon.
Then another additional minutes later. After doing the dishes. Selina changed her clothes in the guest room.
Rubbing her temple, Selina still felt that lingering massive world immersion she had when she expended her time piloting the seed.
Tucking a strand of her hair. She sat at the edge of her bed, placed the mug of milk to the table in front of her and subsequently lied down.
Amid the distant murmurs reverberating in her ear. She ruminated the day with mixed, placid emotion.
Today, Klein, Frye and Dunn are in Lamud Town. The former said his thoughts that perhaps they'd find an inn to stay over the night. He was correct about this, and thus Selina could only rest until it is time to enter the dreamworld again.
Faint steam floats from her mug and she kept glancing at its porcelain white color.
Earlier, Rozanne told her that on behalf of Klein, refrain from accepting additional service in the mean time.
Of course, this wasn't from an unreasonable excuse. Selina is aware of Marvik after Klein had briefed her during their trip to 36 Zouteland Street. However, there's still a bit of reluctance from her.
She had concluded her herbalism studies. Passed Old Neil's standard for concocting and prescribing medicines. Ultimately, after her complete digestion of the Apothecary potion, she no longer had any reasons of upholding the profession.
And yet, she promised herself that while she still can. As much as possible, she would achieve the dreams of the deceased original Selina.
However, that is not the only angst she had. Rozanne was the one who told her about this and Klein did not consult her or elicited her opinion.
Selina wearily pressed her right arm against her forehead and muttered, "Stubborn King Sun... did he forgot my conditions?
"Sigh... but then again, I can't let myself nor anyone get into danger... So for now, I'll stop..."
She lifted her body and rose from the bed. During that she turned to the black cat, who's eating her leftover meat stew. Seeing the feline, she smiled.
"Don't be like Klein, alright Falacy?"
Her mood improved a bit and slowly she drank the mug clean and returned back to the mattress. She slumped and her silver-white hair instantly became disheveled when her back met the soft covers.
Soon, her eyes turned sluggish and heavy. Then her vision black out.
...
In the dreamworld. Where the mural-like vine spirals outward from her lower-half.
Selina immediately sensed the two nodes as if they're a ghost limbs. She recognizes them as the seeds in Leonard and Klein's possession.
But before checking their status. There are believers she had to tend to. Those who have received her seed just them and have been abusing it.
Selina sighed. "I get it alright? Talking to a Goddess feels like talking to a celebrity that can give you a sense of security. But can't you all tone it down for just once in a week!?"
It was during this time that she began considering tracing Mr. Fool's tracks toward conveniency and pursuit of peace.
Moving on from this thought. She extended her palm toward one of the segment. The air became still, and mists started to produce from the cloudy skies.
Yesir appeared in a spot right next to Selina. He was dressed elegantly, with a bowtie, formal suit and dark trousers.
What's in the occasion? Don't tell me the funds were allocated to this!? Selina was skeptical, and even though she's still oblivious. It made her feel displeased.
Yesir flinched after turning. Then, he quickly lowered his head, his hair dark hair streaked back as he said, "G-Great Mrs. White! I have come to report!"
The world responded. "Yesir, you are in no obligation to report on a daily basis. Keep at your own pace."
Yesir's eye shimmered looking down. He said with reverence, "A-Alright, as you wish."
Without any additional remarks from the Goddess. He quickly reigned in his thoughts and spoke about their situation.
"Piolo had recently invited us to a ball in North Borough. The Saint Sias Street."
Hmm? Seems you're all using the funds quite well... Selina added in her heart with sarcasm and disappointed tone.
"He told us to associate ourselves with the high society. That way we can extend our reach to the Capitalist members and allow for an easy launde—I mean money processing." Yesir faked slipping his tongue to avoid such a word.
No, no, no. You're right about the laundering... Selina commended in her heart. No matter what angle she views it. What she and her members are doing is an act that would cause the IRS to pay attention to them, if there ever any in this world.
But really, you could have asked for a better finance instructor, like me! Don't go learning from those pigs! This Piolo guy is leading them astray and is truly worthy of nickname Pig's King... I'll give him a piece of my mind someday!
"You expect guidance from these Capitalist members of the high society?" the world asked.
"Preferably yes." Yesir nodded slightly. "I don't have any knowledge about such things. Preaching and mysticism is my expertise. But for other members, it's likely not a problem."
But learning from the corrupts isn't the only way... Selina sighed inwardly and started considering whoever members she can entrust Yesir to.
At this moment, her eyes was suddenly caught by a glint from Yesir's chest.
It was a silver-gold brooch.
Selina's expression turned slowly turned grim until she realized that there was something embedded within it: a seed.
Yesir made the seed as an accessory!
"Also. This isn't entirely about my situation Your Grace. This is to culminate our foundation and succeed with the pharmacy and theater that Catherine, Greg, Piolo and I had planned." Yesir added.
I guess I did suggest that they should make the seed as part of an accessory. Wait, theater? I didn't said anything about a theater! Selina's mood gouge had significantly dropped as she stayed silent.
At this moment. Her believers are under scrutiny. If those funds she benevolently bestowed them vanished without a result. She'd be more than glad to punish them, abandon them and as well as leave them with the seed withering.
Selina had a portion of her wealth transferred to another account form the tin card. It wouldn't faze about finance loss due to her believers.
"What is the purpose of the theater?" the world echoed languidly.
Yesir was prepared for this question. This additional project was the whole's idea for utilizing the rest of the funds the Goddess and their mysterious member bestowed to them.
He deliberated his words first before saying reverently, "Theater shows allows for a smooth process of the funds by lodging ghost reservations and patrons in-between performances. It's also a great way to exert our influence in the North Continent."
You sound like talking to a cartel boss... Selina sighed as she mused self-deprecatingly.
Then, she willed the world to echo in zephyr, "Remain with establishing pharmacies."
"By your will." Yesir performed a gesture, striking his abdomen with his forearm before vanishing as per Selina's severed connection.
Subsequently, the discernible mist dispersed. Leaving Selina with a strange tick. Suddenly, she raised her arm and mimicked the gesture Yesir just did.
"Is this meant to be the White Maiden's prayer gesture?" she wondered with increasing curiosity. "How about the sacred symbol?"
Selina released the stance and rotated her body through her lower half, facing the willow-like tree she had been keeping for a while.
As expected, there was a symbol etched to the trunk. It's a vertically upward crescent, overlapping with itself as it presents an orb right at the center. Symbolizing the beauty of life with the orb at the center and the crescent moon overlapping outward.
Selina quickly discerned the symbolism behind the sacred emblem. Perhaps this is actually the safe symbol to draw and pray to ask myself for bestowments?
Bestowment rituals also allows for a drawn symbol or emblem corresponding to the Deity for establishing connection and bestowals.
Apparently, Yesir had once used something completely different. A symbol that appeared out of Selina's will. Not only that, it's the similar symbol that coalesced behind her palm during her first time visiting the dreamworld.
Right now, considering the nodes of events that led her to discovering this emblem and the symbol that appeared during her contemplation. Selina has two speculations that may debunk this mystery.
First is that the dreamworld is leveraging her lack of knowledge, which may have almost harm if it was used as a Bestowment. However, this is unlikely since Yesir had used this symbolism to reach Selina before her honorific name was established.
Secondly, is that at the time, she was reluctant to really exert influence in the dreamworld. Thus, missing the sacred emblem that appears whatever trees are near her.
Simply put, Selina had been seeing patterns of this emblem in any trees she manifested near her. She only chose not to pay attention.
Everything must be taken with a grain of salt... Wait, if Klein said it's very dangerous to pray for one more seed. How come none of my members mutated after the six seeds I sent them? Selina creased her eyebrows in this clear defect.
There's exactly six seeds meant for her only six believers left, present during and within the altar site.
My forces is very anti-climactic... Selina remarked first before she began analyzing.
During that time, all of them experienced the backlash from the materialization of her vines into the wreathe portal. As the one bestowing to them, she's allowed to pry behind the emerald light and she can confirm that they all suffered it.
It seems like the collective presence of my believers allowed for the corruption to be distributed. Thus, saving them from mutation...
Hmm, if I could have another person with me when praying to myself. Someone who had not received a seed... Selina's emotions stirred into excitement.
I can have another seed!