[Arc 1]. Chapter 4. Contract

Her beautiful pink eyes glimmered as she stared down at me with a joyous expression, the reflection of a book could be seen crisp clear on her eyes; her hand wiped the dust on the book as I looked at her with surprise.

There were no figures of a human body that was reflected on her eyes but only that of a book, a mere brown dusty book which surprised me as she tilted her head with confusion as she looked straight into me before asking, "What should I call you, book?"

I was stunned by her naming which only confirmed the fact that I had unanimously turned into a book, an undeniable fact that still wouldn't let loose from my head… I felt my entire human soul collapse upon realizing that this was reality… a reality where I have turned into a book.

"Err… is book dead? Am I alone again…?" the girl held me up with her teary eyes, moving me around as dizziness blasted through my head like an earthquake. The entire world was spinning in its entirety for an entire ten seconds before she looked down with a sad smile, "The book is dead… should I bury it?"

"Wait! No… I am alive! Don't bury me!" I screamed unconsciously before her face brightened as she looked at me joyously, hugging me tightly while screaming with excitement.

"The book is alive again!"

The smile on her face was beautiful, a marginal contrast compared to the look on her face a few moments ago. I felt warmth rose inside of me as I looked at her with a smile inside before I spoke in a serious voice, "I am not a book, okay?! I am a genuine human!"

"Okay! Then, book… what's your name?" she asked while looking at me with her serious eyes.

All of a sudden, a wave of pain struck my mind as I tried to remember my name… it was as if something was blocking me from knowing what my name was. All of the memories inside of me were jumbled, some were in pieces while some were completely blacked out… it was as if those memories were erased.

I felt shocked… speechless over the sudden event. All the important memories I had in the past world were either in pieces or were lost in their entirety… I couldn't remember even my name, nor could I even remember my age and birth date.

"Hello, book?" she lowered me down as she poked me with her finger causing an electric shock to spark all around me which brought me back to reality.

"I don't have one…" I answered before she sounded a hmm.

"Then… can I name you?" she inquired.

I felt a bit hesitant over the sudden request, someone I don't know yet is asking whether she can name me… well… it's not like we were named by someone we knew the first day but it's a different situation.

"Okay…" I answered.

In an instant, a smile blossomed on her face as she excitedly looked up while tilting her head as if she was thinking with all her might. All of a sudden, she looked at me and said, "Then! I will call you Althea like the Goddess I always hear about!"

The surprise I received from what she wanted to name me was immeasurable as the name was that of a Goddess even if it was in rumors. To have a name that was the same as a Goddess felt a bit weird, but it was a normal thing in my other world as far as my memories serve me.

Not to mention… I don't really deserve the name of a Goddess considering how many people I failed to save… the number of children whose lives were lost at that time… all of which haunts me. A person who wears the name of a Goddess should be someone who can save lives which is something I am not worthy of.

As if thinking that I didn't like the name, her face turned gloomy causing me to panic a bit.

"Wait! It's not a bad name…" I said before her face glimmered once more as I added, "But… I can't use it, after all, a Goddess's name does not fit me whose hands are stained…"

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I mean… I am not kind nor loving; my hands are stained in a pool of blood; my heart is darker than the darkest color…" I replied before she tilted her head with confusion.

"Book is kind you know…? After all, book saved me…" she said which widened my view as she held me up in the air before hugging me tightly as a stream of warmth rose inside of me. I felt like staying in her embrace for eternity… it felt warm.

"Do…" I said before she sounded another hmm which embarrassed me more as I continued, "Do… whatever you want!"

"Then, you are Althea from now on!" she said while placing me in front of her face as a warm smile blossomed on her face.

"How about you, I haven't heard of your name yet?" I responded before she tilted her head again as if it was her habit before her lips curled up, her face softened as she responded.

"I am Alisha!"

Alisha… what a cute name, one that fits her well. A girl whose liveliness is undeniable…

"What does your name mean?" I inquired before she tilted her head as she looked up at the skies with a tiny bit of sadness leaking off her eyes.

"According to Mama… my name means 'Protected by God' and 'Nobility'" she replied before shaking her head as the sadness on her face vanished as she added, "But I don't think I am protected by God nor am I a noble person inside…"

It was as if she matured in an instant, her face was almost covered by a thick mask that prevented others from looking into her true emotions. A wall that she hides herself inside, burying the darkness inside of her.

"You may think like that but all of us are protected by whom we call our 'God' whether they exist or not depends on your faith but think of them as an object or creature that is our shield and light, leading us and protecting us…" I said.

She looked at me a bit surprised but nodded with a smile as she hugged me tightly while saying, "Alisha is happy to meet you…"

"I am happy to meet you as well, Alisha…" I said before she suddenly screamed as if she was injured, dropping me to the floor as blood dripped from her finger almost as if her finger was sliced by a paper which surprised me as the blood fell straight down towards me.

A second later, the blood fell onto me as a blinding bright golden light blinded both of us before being followed by darkness as a voice echoed inside of me. A joyous voice that of a woman echoed as it said, "You have completed the quest: Contract! Yay, now get movin' for your new quest!" before my entire consciousness vanished.