Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 100: The Messenger Who Prays

Okay, let's recap a bit. I was in the <Hill Forest> to get revenge on some ants and discovered the origins of the book I got from a strange man, I found myself separated from my big brother and Yur1 to do this [Sign Creation Ceremony] as my [Hidden Quest], defeated a large storm bird to get materials for my new magical pens, and found myself watching the game world's past as the second part of my ceremony. Weird, huh?

Still, I can't help but keep watching the flashback scene that the tablet provided me. I read the [Prologue Lore] a few months ago and I want to see how accurate it might be and what kind of stories remain untold in public. I wish I could have watched it with Wind and Yur1, but I want to be independent and pass the ceremony with flying colors without their help. Not to mention that Origia's story seems way similar to mine back when I was still being bullied. The other messengers that are the same age as her didn't look mean to me when I saw her passing them by, but...

[Oh, blessed life of <Vita>! Are you still up from praying for the gods again?!]

I turn to see Origia yawning as she is approached by several kids who have the same hair and eye color as hers, only their hairstyles and facial shapes were the only ones I could tell the differences.

[Looks like it,] Origia chuckles nervously as I watch her rubbing the back of her head, with her face turning a bit red. [That's what I get for writing and praying late. I wish I could talk more, but Master Protego is waiting for me back at the chapel, so...]

She tries to run in the other direction. But then, one of the kids grabs one of her shoulders and said, [Hang on, Origia!]

[What is it now? We can play writing games later, Calamum!] Origia groans. I didn't see any indents around the name she mentioned, was that short-haired boy a minor character or something?

[B-But... Don't you think you've been working too hard lately? The gods haven't been responding to us messengers and Master Protegio told us to cease our prayers right now for the defense. Plus, we can't afford you to lose your mana in time for it.]

I watch her face contorted in many expressions I can't describe. He has a point there. I don't know how long she prayed, but I can see how much she was suffering for her cause.

[I-I'm fine, Calamum. It's only minor exhaustion. Besides, I already figure out how to pray to them through other means.]

Other means?

[You mean saying our prayers and offering them the harvests and life that the beings sacrificed aren't enough?]

Origia nods. [Before the [Retribution], most of us messengers sent a message with special mana runes to communicate with them. Though I heard they rarely used it because it has mainly been used during a desperate battle the beings needed to win.]

[We heard all about them. The great messengers taught us back at the chapel,] another kid said. [What about it? Are you saying you want to send a message to the gods with a letter?]

[Not just any letter. I want to replicate the mana runes our great forefathers used to send a big message to the gods. The beings' suffering has to end and they need them more than ever!]

I watch Origia sigh and turn to look at a large white building behind her where a strange statue of a star stands along with 7 humanoid statues of which I couldn't tell their genders without taking a closer look at them.

[It has been 90 years since our great <Volo> sealed the other gods for their quarrels and our enveloping <Nox> unleashed those wretched creatures as punishment for the great war. The inhabitants have already suffered enough from their ancestors' mistakes and sins and it's time for the gods to see we need them more than ever! To help the beings stand up. To give them hope to move forward. And to help them rebuild the world our great <Volo> and the blessed <Sanctus> envisioned. We can't just sit idly while the inhabitants suffer from the barren wastelands and monsters roaming about. We need to act now and tell the gods to come back!]