The Humor Tale: “Ancient Artifacts”

Diana's eyes fluttered open, her mind still shrouded in the remnants of her dream. She gazed up at her sister, her expression clouded with confusion.

"Diana, you awake?" Eba asked, her voice soft and gentle.

Diana's response was a mere murmur, her voice still heavy with sleep.

As her gaze swept the room, "Where is Momoko?" she asked, her eyes scanning the room as if hoping to find Momoko lurking in the shadows.

"I don't know either, she wasn't here when I woke up," Eba replied, her brow furrowed with concern, her eyes mirroring Diana's worry.

Toot... toot... TOOOT! Just then, a loud blast of a horn pierced the air, shattering the tranquility of the Apothecary. The sound echoed through the city. 

"Huh, what's that noise?" Eba asked, her head cocked to one side, her eyes questioning. She winced, her hand drifting to her ribs. "Ahh, te... te... te... my ribs still hurt," she added, her face contorting in pain.

Diana's expression turned concerned, her eyes filled with sympathy. "Sis, don't move around, just rest there," Diana cautioned, her voice soft with care.

Just then, the Apothecary door burst open with a loud crash, slamming into the corner of the room. Momoko stood in the doorway, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. She seemed desperate to convey some urgent message, but paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts.

"Bad news!" Momoko exclaimed, her voice trembling.

"Huh?" Diana asked, her curiosity piqued.

"What bad news?" Eba echoed, her eyes wide with concern.

Momoko took a deep breath before delivering the devastating blow: "Two of the five ancient artifacts on display at the Church have vanished!"

Eba and Diana's faces remained blank, oblivious to the gravity of the situation. The room fell silent, and Momoko's words hung in the air like a challenge. She sensed the silence and decided to elaborate, her voice laced with urgency.

"The artifacts on display at the Church are mysterious relics that have yet to be fully understood. No one knows how they work or the extent of their power," Momoko explained, her eyes grave with concern.

Eba's face scrunched up in confusion. "Um... ah, Momoko, I'm afraid I have no idea about those things. I'm from the grasslands, and this is my first time in the city."

"Yeah, me too." Diana nodded in agreement. 

Momoko's expression turned thoughtful, and she nodded sympathetically. "Ahh... I see. Not literally, I mean... well, let me explain..."

"Artifacts retrieved from the unknown lands are categorized into three tiers: Legend, Sacred, and Hatred. Legend artifacts are freely used by navigators without any issues, as they are relatively benign…"

"Sacred artifacts, on the other hand, are extremely powerful relics that are generally used for the greater good. However, they can also be exploited for evil purposes, as evidenced by the trumpets at the Church. When blown, they produce a captivating sound that can motivate, but also sends shivers down the spine. If used by malicious individuals, they could unleash a catastrophic disaster. As a result, few people have access to sacred artifacts, and those who do are carefully selected by the Church. To own one, you'd need an impeccable record…"

"The third tier, Hatred, is the most ominous. Navigators are obligated to surrender these artifacts to the Church, and concealing them is punishable by death. If discovered, the artifacts will be confiscated, and the navigator who kept them will face the ultimate penalty..."

"Death?!" Diana repeated, her voice trembling with shock.

Momoko's expression turned grave. "Yes, Hatred artifacts are just as powerful as Sacred ones, but their functions are tailored for evil purposes. Some even call them apocalyptic weapons, capable of wiping out anyone who stands in their way. In the worst-case scenario, they could potentially eradicate humanity itself."

Eba's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with the implications. "Well, I'm sure there are people who have them, despite it being illegal," she said, her voice laced with a hint of cynicism.

Momoko's eyes widened in surprise, impressed by Eba's quick grasp of the situation. Momoko realized that this wasn't the first one Eba pick up on the subtleties of the conversation. She flashed back to when how Eba had responded to Diana's subtle wink, and how she'd swiftly pushed Diana out of harm's way when she sensed Momoko's presence in the air.

"Yeah, you're correct to be exact. Aside from the Expedition Festival, there's another event happening on the last day of July, this event called "The Last Supper". "Momoko revealed, her voice laced with a hint of intrigue, as if she was sharing a long-guarded secret.

Diana's eyes widened with curiosity. "Eh? Is it similar to the Expedition Festival?"

Momoko nodded. "Oum, it is. The only difference is that it's overall, it's also known as the 'Record of All'.... Meanwhile in the Expedition Festival, the Church only records all the good deeds, and the navigators presented are the groups who didn't violate any rules..."

"Ahh, that's what you mean about the impeccable record?", Diana's face lit up with understanding.

Momoko confirmed with a nod. "Yes, groups recognized by the Church are the only ones who can own Sacred Artifacts."

"Oh, I see.", Diana's eyes sparkled with comprehension.

"Owning a Sacred or Hatred artifact doesn't pose an issue in "The Last Supper", and all deeds, whether good or bad, are recorded in that tally. I hate to admit it, but I admire their transparency," Momoko said, her voice tinged with a hint of irony.

"What about its ranking? I'm curious – does it show the rank number?" Eba's curiosity was piqued.

Momoko nodded. "Yes, all navigators have their ranking recorded, including the groups recognized by the Church. And it doesn't just show the top 100 – it shows the ranking all the way from the top to the lowest."

"So, if there are 1,000 groups of navigators, then it's ranked 1,000, right?" Diana's eyes narrowed, seeking clarification.

Momoko chuckled. "Yes, like a foodstuffs list."

....

Momoko continued to share her knowledge.

"Have you heard of the Pessimist 5?" Momoko asked

"Yah, we have seen it at the tally last night, and if i'm not mistaken, they're ranked 5," Eba replied, her voice matter-of-fact.

"They've been consistently ranked 5 since their group was formed, but you know what their rank was in "The Last Supper" last July..." Momoko trailed off, her expression turning grave, her face a mask of seriousness.

"It was 3!" she revealed, her eyes devoid of amusement, her tone somber and serious.

"Huh? So the '5' in their name doesn't mean they're ranked 5?!" Diana's eyes widened in surprise. 

Momoko's serious face suddenly broke into a smile. "Yah, probably," she said, her tone lightening, the gravity of the moment dissipating.

Eba couldn't help but smile at Diana's innocent question, feeling a pang of cuteness at her sister's naivety.

"So what does that mean?" Diana's brow furrowed, still confused. 

"It means they did more evil things." Eba's smile turned mischievous. 

The Inquisitive Eba Uncovers the Truth

"But then, why do the Church recognize them, they were at the church last night, their names on the list...?" Eba tilted her head, a hint of confusion in her voice.

Momoko's words dripped with intrigue as she revealed, "It's because they lack concrete evidence, Consequently, the tally of 'The Last Supper' becomes void and insignificant as a form of proof. To acknowledge it would be a direct contradiction to their sacred image and beliefs. Despite this, the masses firmly believe that the Pessimist 5 carry out this actions deliberately and with intention." The air was heavy with the weight of Momoko's words, each one carefully crafted to weave a tapestry of intrigue.

Eba's eyes sparkled with understanding as she nodded thoughtfully, her gratitude palpable. 

"I see. I'm grateful for all the details you've provided." A slight crease formed between her brows as she continued, "And I'm confused about the artifacts at the Church," her voice laced with curiosity. "You mentioned they've known little about them, so why they panicked and alarmed everyone else, labeling it as bad news?"

"In the unknown land, the retrieved artifacts are often identical, with only slight differences or variations. However, the artifacts on display are completely novel and shrouded in mysteries, with no records of their components or elements." There's a high chance they're sacred or hatred. Momoko's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing as she responded to the unspoken question.

Meanwhile, Diana lingered in the corner, her hand subtly concealing something beneath her dress. Just as she was about to reveal the existence of another missing artifact, Momoko's expression shifted dramatically, as if seeking an answer from Eva herself.

"Eba, about last night... the one I said wanted to talk to you," Momoko began, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"Oum, sorry I passed out... but what is it you want to talk about?" Eba's voice was tinged with a hint of sheepishness, her words laced with a gentle apology.

"Um, what exactly is your Saints Blessing?" Momoko's eyes sparkled with anticipation, as if she couldn't wait to uncover the truth.

However, Eba, still unfamiliar with the customs of this world, gazed at Momoko with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. She knew nothing about the artifacts, and now, it seemed, she was equally in the dark about the Saints Blessings.