Secret of the blessing

The pipe twisted, rocking my body from side to side along its metallic walls. Darkness filled my vision until it suddenly didn't.

My feet suddenly hit the ground and my world changed. The darkness gave way to lamps hung on tall wooden poles. 

Departing from the world of concrete and trash it felt like being transported into a wholly different area. Like it suddenly turned nighttime and the surroundings filled with nature.

I was standing on what looked to be a soil and stone path?

Ahead of me, it was clearly a temple of sorts. But the theme was something I have never seen before.

Beams of red wood supported each wall and foundation. The roof was tiled with grey stone and the walls were a painted a dull cream colour. Banners of red hung down from the edges of the rooftops as they flowed to a hidden breeze.

Stacked asymmetrically, floors stuck out from the main tower and created an unbalanced structure. Miraculously it looked to be holding in place as ferns and moss grew in excess. Even a current of water looked to be spilling from one of the taller rooms which cascaded down into a rocky pond just underneath.

Marvelling at the sight, my attention was suddenly pulled back by the cat priest Burbo.

"Welcome, young one to the 243rd founding temple of Nala. Please do not look too long into the darkness..."

Seeing him now his form had changed. His body was now upright as if he were bipedal. Now clothed in black baggy ceremonial clothes, he now looked like a priest.

I questioned what the talking cat meant but as soon as I saw countless yellow eyes from the blackness of this place, I fixed my eyes onto the path with seriousness. I didn't want to know what they might do to me if I starred any longer.

"...It seems you understand." There was a hint of smugness in their tone, but it was quickly overpowered by a 'professional' voice. "Follow me, now."

Burbo guided me along the path as I kept my head down. Soon enough however we reached the door and entered into the Temple of Nala.

As soon as I walked past the door frame a burst of sensations enveloped over me. Like a fresh breeze of air only more oppressing in a sense. 

I was soon about to realise why.

"TO THE THIEF IN YOUR BODY! I AM THE GODDESS OF CATS, NALA." 

My eyes immediately was harnessed to the black baby kitten laying atop a plentiful of pillows and gold. Its fur was a perfect matt of darkness whilst carrying a single gem-like eye that shined mysteriously.

Servants all bipedal in behaviour and dressed in similar clothing to Burbo but white in colour, stood to the side whilst waving an enlarge leaf to the avatar of the goddess.

"BOW." A booming voice echoed through the room.

With crushing power, my miserable grade E strength collapsed thoroughly and I fell face first to the floor. In an instant all the power in my body dissipated and I was felt at the whim of this goddess.

"PITIFUL HUMAN, SHOW YOUR RESPECT AND KNOW YOUR PLACE!" The voice didn't even come from the small kitty, but rather a stone carving of a slender cat behind it.

I didn't even bother to try and gaze at the avatar, I merely held myself close trying not to faint before the pressure this goddess was placing on me.

"YOU POSSESS SOMETHING OF VALUE TO ME, HUMAN. SURRENDER IT AND I MAY LET YOU GO COMPENSATED!" 

The pressure seemed to lessen but the goddess seemed content to keep my body on the floor. I honestly didn't mind as long as I would be left alive.

Scrambling to fetch it out of my back pocket, I eventually pulled the trinket towards the stone carving. 

...

...

"I am unfamiliar with your kind, stand up traveller." A raspy voice whistled. 

All pretension of domineering display instantly shattered before me. Like chains breaking off my back, my body confusingly stumbled to its feet.

Did she call me traveller? Wait, whats with the attitude shift? What happened?

My eyes hesitantly met with the stone carving's behind the nonchalant kitty. To my surprise the statue had turned animated and hopped off from the podium of pillows and gold.

"Fear not, traveller. It was merely a test of sorts..." The stone cat strode around me and I was unsure what to feel. "You see, when I heard from my people you weren't who you said you were, I didn't believe it... But now I can see."

"...If you'll excuse me, but what do you mean?"

A pit began to form in my stomach. My mind whizzed with the worst case scenarios possible and nearly blacked out. But a voice pulled my attention once more.

This goddess seemed to do that a lot. Was it some sort of divine power? I could only guess.

"The memories in your head... or rather the person you once were. It intrigues me as to how discouraging it is reading your mind." The stone cat let out a rough purr.

"You can... I mean, of course you can." My voice turned defeated. I was way out of my league with this one.

"...Hmm. You seek my approval, yes?"

I nodded innocently.

"Then you shall have it."

My mouth gapped open, was it supposed to be this easy?

I looked with squinted eyes at the stone avatar which carelessly licked at its rocky fur. I was ready for some etcetera that was going to doom me.

"...On the condition that you must visit a temple of mine every week." I swear a mysterious glint could be seen, but who was I kidding. This was an avatar made of rocks. Plus, how was I seriously not killed yet?

"This humble human accepts!" 

My body bowed on reflex. Starring deeply at the floor with as much reverence as I could muster, a little muffle of a laugh could be heard.

"*pfft*... Be glad it is I who found you first and not that band of freaks."

Just as I was about to question her, in the moment I was raising my head I found the avatar's paw right in from of my face. 

Like a moment of epiphany, as if witnessing the universe converge into itself before reviving once again, some 'thing' surged into me. The pain of my clash in the arena was but a drop in the ocean compared to this feeling of helplessness.

My mind held on for as long as I could, but it was no use. I was a mere mortal after all.

However, from the last moments of my consciousness I was able to see all the changes in my status window.

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Ability :

Subconscious of 9 Hearts [NEW!] (Grade Unique)

Granted by the Cat goddess Nala, this divine blessing allows for the overlapping of nine subconsciouses within the body of the user. 

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Attributes :

Agility : F+ -> E+

Mana : F- -> E-

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