A long time

In the darkness, a simple candle stood alone, like a lighthouse in the fog. The tiny flame on the candle danced and waved hypnotically pulling the girl in.

The candle was not floating, however, for it was placed on a table entirely covered with a white cloth.

As she walked closer and closer to the light, the little girl noticed there was more than just a candle.

Accompanying the candle was two dolls, a small red bow, one book, and one piece of paper. Each stood out from within the light of the table beside the lonesome candle.

The dolls were simply, toys for little girls. Just stuffed, plushie-like dolls. They did not stand out as much for a normal person. They were not an item of interest for most of anyone at all.

The girl delightedly ran up to the dolls.

Grabbing them tightly, the little girl smiled softly as she hugged them, squishing them against her cheeks.

They were really soft too, the girl thought.

As she was spinning with joy, the little girl noticed a convenient bag nearby. A normal bag with straps made out of unknown materials.

Picking it up, she dumped out the remnant dust in the bag, and right after carefully placed the dolls inside.

After she was done, the little girl turned to the next item on the table: the book.

As she reached the book, her little hands reached out to dust the dust off the book. As she did so, the little girl saw the book clearly for the first time.

From her first impression, nothing really stood out. It was rather small and old.

As the little girl took a closer look at the book, her eyes trailed away. They were magically guided to the piece of paper next to it.

Under the dim light of the candle, her eyes looked over the old paper. However, it was entirely blank, and so she placed it back down.

All of a sudden, the little girl saw the strange symbols appearing and rearranging themselves on the paper.

As she was about to read it, the paper suddenly burst into flames. Its fiery, orange and crimson color lit up the entire room, and all hidden in the shadows were bared witness to the girl.

For just a moment, the girl beheld a remarkable sight in front of her

There was a wall just behind the table, and on it, a mural. Although most of the color and markings had been blurred away by age, faded, she was able to discern it for what it is.

Four six-winged beings in the air flying around an empty throne.

The six winged beings were strange. The girl saw no heads nor face, for a pair of wings covered their face, and another pair covered their feet.

Then, she heard the whispers.

In front of the girl's eyes, she saw the winged figure's wings begin to flap, and they slowly circled around the throne. High and exalted, the throne looked to be floating in the air.

"Holy. Holy. Holy," they whispered.

"Holy is the Lord Almighty. The whole earth is full of his glory."

The girl, trembling and shaking, stepped back.

She wanted to hide her head. She wanted to look away with a sudden sense of shame.

She just wanted to disappear. To hide in the earth, to be away from all the pain, the worries, the-

The whispers suddenly stopped, and the figures halted.

The girl, after a moment, slowly looked around.

No more whispers entered her ear.

The girl, still trembling, but she could not help but look back at the mural.

In the midst of the holy throne and the four flying beings, in midst of the light that shined down from heaven, stood what looks to be a lamb as it had just been slain. With seven horns and seven eyes, it looked down on her.

Then, the burnt paper turned to ashes, and the room fell into darkness once more, with the candle's light being dim.

The little girl could only stare at the darkness before looking at the remaining object on the table.

The book.

...

In the dim gigantic, humongous cavern that is 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗹, on one of the islands surrounded by a sea of clouds, a silent village rests.

Today, the village was foggy.

Hushed whispers, footsteps filled with weight, eyes sunken with exhaustion, the villagers lived their lives day after day.

Taking care of the cattle, harvesting their wheat, lifting hay, doing chores...

That was what life is to them.

Even then, the foggy village can be described with a few words...

Dull.

Lusterless.

Muted.

Almost lifeless.

Colorless could also be part of the description; there is barely any light at all but from the spire, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗹, that lays at the center of this gigantic cavern. The walls of the buildings were as gray as stone. The doors are dark and looming.

The entire village was washed out of anything that is meaningful in life.

There is no joy in what the villagers do. They do what they do to live. To survive.

There was no happiness, but in contrast, there is no sadness. If so, there was barely any worth considering.

That was what the gray-haired woman had observed.

In a particular broken-down house, with her staff laid next to her, a gray-haired woman observed her left hand. Well, not exactly her left hand, but on the top of it.

On her pale white skin was a smudge. A strange mark of sorts.

No matter how many times the gray-haired woman examined it, it gave no clues whatsoever. It only repeated what was said days ago, much to her annoyance.

Even with her eyes, she cannot see through its mysteries.

===============================

??? (Black)

Status: Unawakened

0/100

===============================

===============================

Finish the quest, your trial, and make your way towards 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗹.

There, the embrace shall awaken.

===============================

This was the only remark the blue screen gave her, and that is once this 'trial,' or rather quest of hers is finished, she will only be 'embraced,' awakening this mark if she goes to 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗹.

With her eyes, the gray-haired woman looked through the shoddy walls. Passing the depressing village, the dim trees. the fog...a light graced her eyes, however feeble and faint it was.

In the distance, she sees a tall black spire, it's light at the top dim.

The woman could see it as if she was standing at the highest tower in the world, having a clear view of it.

But it was just a passing glance. Her gaze returned to the top of her left hand.

The whole time she was here, she had either merely observed the village or this strange mark on her left hand. No matter how many times she had looked over her memories, the gray-haired woman had never seen such a thing. No matter how many times she analyzed it, her eyes cannot see through its foundation and what makes it up.

The only thing that can block her gift and sight was either power was on par with an above-average entity of rank seven, one of the seven Calamites, or it's the Lor-

The gray-haired woman suddenly pressed her right hand against her forehead. A ringing noise in her ears; the sound of glass creaking even more.

The pulsing pain of a headache; her head throbbed painfully. Begging for her attention.

It ended quickly after, and she was left with her lonesome left.

'...what was I thinking about again?'

Ah, that's right. Why she is still here.

It had been two days since she had arrived at this decrepit village.

Of course, like always, the veiled gray-haired woman had used a simple scanning spell-the spell she used when she arrived-around the village and the surroundings nearby.

From the information given from the spell, nothing out of the ordinary.

If there is, she doesn't know.

Since it was ordinary, then why is she still here? The trial? The quest?

No, that would not stop her curiosity.

It was something else. A chain that bound her to this place. Wrapped around her arms and legs in a cold embrace. It told her, in her heart, that she should stay. I

It was a strange, nonsensical vague feeling, and it somehow speaks to her. It was nostalgic.

She absolutely despised it.

What dares chain her here?

Well, there was something holding her down, ever so slightly. The gray-haired woman looked to the side. Beside her was a simple leather bag she had taken from...someone.

A portion of its contents slid out, showing what seems to be...a book.

The book the girl named Abilene had given to her days ago. It was a strange book, no matter how many times she read it during the two days she was here. Its contents almost resemble the story she had heard in her childhood, but in many ways was it different.

They both had the same beginning and the same ending, yet...just a few words made their contents entirely different.

However, compared to what this mark on her left hand was, it was just a minor curiosity, for her grandfather read it with her when she was young.

"..."

No matter how many times she wishes to discard it, it somehow sticks to her hand.

'Was it the girl who had chained me here? If so, then I must-'

The sounds of footsteps entered the house, halting her thoughts.

Its owner came into view. A brown-haired girl, wearing gray robes that seemed to be clean many times over, walked in merrily.

Holding something in her hand, her jolly mood brightened as she saw the woman.

"Oh! 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺, you're back! It's been two days!" Abilene exclaimed happily. The joy in her eyes couldn't be hidden, for it sparkled like the stars in the night sky. Quickly after that, she bowed with obvious discomfort.

"I mean...𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘮. Good afternoon𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺. Today is the seventh day of the week, meaning today's a special day!"

As she said that, the girl slowly put down what she was holding at the bottom of the gray-haired woman's feet. After doing so, she bowed away with apparent naiveness.

"Also, something special is coming up, so the villagers gave me this. It's rather strange, but...I want you to have it!"

The gray-haired woman glanced at it.

It was a plate of food; the food's essence being a sumptuous meal, for it contains waffles and bacon.

The waffles, cooked to a golden brown, looked appetizing. The crispy bacon looked absolutely delectable, and there seemed to be no oil dripping off from it. It looked to be freshly made, evidence of the steam that wafted off it.

A simple dish for breakfast, yet a fine delicacy for anyone to eat, and they couldn't help but feel hungry.

The gray-haired woman looked at it differently.

With her eyes, she determined its properties in almost an instant.

'No substances that indicate it has poison. or anything harmful. Check. No substances indicated that there are nondangerous substances that can create a reaction that'll be a threat to this body. Check. In conclusion, it is an otherwise simple, yet unhealthy, meal for breakfast.'

Then, she turned away and focused on examining the strange mark that is on her hand.

"Um...𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺? If you're hungry, then-"

As if a gust of wind blew through the holes of the house, something cold washed over Abilene, and the girl began to be squeamish. Her legs began trembling, and her hands, shaking.

"Uh, um...I'll be going then! I mean, I'll take my-my leave! Goodbye!"

The poor girl quickly bowed and dashed away.

Staring at where the girl had disappeared, the gray-haired woman turned back to look at her hand. Soon enough, she will save her-

'...hmm?'

...why was she going to kill her again?

She doesn't remember.

So, the gray-haired woman simply ignored it and continued observing the mark.

...

The girl quickly ran out of the house. After running far enough away where the cold had finally died out, she sighed.

'𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 really is scary,' Abilene thought, and she smiled. 'The Lord was right! It must be what they call tough love-'

"Hey, what are you smiling for!"

The girl instinctively ducked, and something sailed over her head with a 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘩𝘩𝘩.

As she did so, the laughter of multiple girls rang out across the clearing where she was at. Turning her head, she saw the same group of girl's who tossed mud at her from before. The lead girl from before, the snobby one, smirked at her.

"Who do you think you're looking at, you witch?"

"I pity you."

"...huh?" the snobby girl blinked, taken aback.

The group of friends around her looked at the Abilene again, and they saw her looking at them with...sadness?

"I pity you. All of you. I hope one day every one of you finds happiness," Abilene said sadly.

"...you...you...!" the lead girl stuttered. She was terribly flabbergasted, as well as her group of friends behind her. "Are you insulting me?!"

Abi only shook her head silently and walked away.

The group of girls only watched her walk away before chattering to each other.

"She's weird..."

"Yeah, let's go find something better to do. It's better to stay away from her..."

...

Walking out of the village and into the forest, Abilene's drooped shoulders rose, and she quickly shook her head and smiled the brightest she can smile.

She can't feel sad now! She has a friend now! What would she do if she saw herself sad?

Then, a couple of leaves dropped at her, accompanied by the sound of flapping wings. As she brushed off a leaf, something squawked above her. She looked up, but she didn't see anything amidst the dark treetops. While she peered through the branches, she heard another squawk.

'There!' the girl thought.

Up above, within the branches of the dark treetops, was a bird.

A crow.

Ruffling its black feathers, the bird's beady, small black eyes stared down at her from one of the many branches, Nevertheless, the bird continued to caw out.

𝘊𝘢𝘸!

𝘊𝘢𝘸!

Its calls filled the silent forest with its sounds.

After a few more squawks, the black crow opened its wings. With a flap, it jumped off and flew deeper into the forest.

Abilene only watched it as it disappeared into the darkness. As she stared at where it disappeared, her smile turned sad.

Something bad is going to happen, she can feel it.

'But...that's okay,' the girl thought, closing her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she kneeled on the floor littered with dead leaves. As she did so, she put both of her open hands together and bowed her head.

'When I first saw that goat; when I first entered the house; when I first picked up the dolls, the red bow, and the book; when I first saw the page... I knew what I had to do.'

"The waves of death rose about me; the pains of the netherworld surrounded me. In my anguish, I called to you..." Abilene muttered, her eyes still closed.

A gust of wind from nowhere blew around her, and the leaves that kept her company flew away from her.

Abilene had been waiting for this for a very long time.

A very long time.

Her only regret was that she wished it was before she met her friend.