Morning of the Festival

Breakfast is right up.

If things go as they should, Tama will be there. I absolutely need to ask her about the whole Goddess Chosen ordeal and how she was able to recognize me. That slippery cat will not escape me; even is she’s a fox.

I enter the living room we usually eat in; it hits me that this place really is not for the servitude. Everything feels luxurious and the table has way too much food which is way too inviting. I don’t know like 90% of what that is, but the smell is great so I will eat it anyway.

Why am I focusing this much on the food when I have a clear mission? That’s because my OBJECTIVE ISN’T THERE. Man, Tama’s such a hassle sometimes. Where is she now? Did she oversleep? My only hope is that she wakes up before Tsuki comes in with my tasks for the day.

I sit down and start chowing down. How is everything so delicious? I sincerely hope it’s not Tsuki who made this, it wouldn’t be fair for someone as beautiful and dignified as her to also be an exceptional cook. She always comes here to give me the day’s order, so it’s basically a race between her and Tama…and I know very well who will win.

But then the plot twist.

Neither arrive.

Half the food on the table had already mysteriously vanished and no one entered the room. I was then facing a conundrum. Keep on waiting and risk finishing a breakfast for two on my own or go away? The sensible thing should be searching for Tsuki, after all I am a maid employed here.

Fearing the call of the food, I exit the dining room and start walking around. There actually a lot of commotion, people I never saw before are running around the big entrance hall, moving chairs and tables. Confused, I had no other choice if not walking towards the exit. Everyone started to greet me with a “Good morning Miss” and I reply by graciously running away.

Too much people, way too much people around. I need familiar faces, but the only two I actually know around here are Tsuki and Tama. Before I knew it, I was in an empty corner of the garden. There were tall hedges forming a circle, with a small gate going inside. It seemed deserted and even the chaos of everyone walking around and screaming at each other seemed really far.

I guess one of my few talents would be exactly finding places like this in which to hide. While I never remember how to do it, I often happen to find myself in the perfect hiding spot during public events, like at weddings or when I was dragged to the big family house for the holidays.

“Tsuki will scold me so bad if she doesn’t find me around…”

I mutter to myself while at the same time opening the gate in order to hide inside the hedges. One thing is understanding what the right thing to do is, another is actually doing it.

“Oh…”

Inside the hedge circle there’s someone sleeping, curled into a cat-like pose and happily snoring. Luck was on my side after all.

“Tama!”

“Nyeh!?”

“You’re not a cat.”

“Don’t assunyan my race.”

“That mewing was so fake…”

“Is this how you thank me for finding you a job? By criticizing my cat impression?”

“So you’re not a cat.”

“Nyan” she said, making a paw-like movement with her hand.

“Terrible.”

“You’re bad Kaeducchi…”

“Kaeducchi?”

“Kaede would be too formal, wouldn’t it? After all we’re fellow reincarnated!”

“Shhhh, what if someone hear us!”

“Nya? You’re wornyed?”

“Please drop the cat act, I can’t understand half your words.”

“No worries, inside here no one can hear us. I enchanted this hideout so that no sound pass through…and also to make so no one find it!”

“I did find it though.”

“Yeah, my magic really does suck right? Nyahahah”

“Are we really safe?”

“You’ve not seen anyone else around right?”

“No.”

“Then we’re safe. The best spell to keep someone from eavesdrop on you is distance nyahaha”

Not sure I follow, but still, my chance is finally here.

“L…listen, I wanted to a…ask…”

“There goes your selective muttering issue.”

“D…don’t interrupt m..me please. I…it’s already hard a…s it is… I wan…ted to ask…”

“Ask about what?”

“R…reincarnation.”

“Uh, wow, really hope my shitty magic kept that word in nyahahah.”

“H…how did you r…ecognize me?”

“Huh? You’re Kaede, with those clothes you always wear it would be difficult to mistake you for anyone else.”

“I…didn’t mean that.”

Just a moment to clarify that my clothes are not dirty, the reason they are always the same is that Tsuki herself is capable of a simple magic which cleans all dirty sheets. So, every time I take a shower, because I do take them, every evening before going to sleep, she cleans my beautiful dress for me. There’s no reason to wear something different if you already have the perfect fit!

“Nyah? So you mean back when we first met then?”

“Yeah, exactly!”

“You stand out like a sore thumb Babygirl.”

“Gweh!”

She’s right, even in this world with magic mansions inside floating bubbles there’s no one else dressed in the same Gothic Lolita style as me. I know this shouldn’t offend me, nor come as a surprise, but it stung a little hearing those words from her…

“Was that everynyan?”

Why isn’t she dropping the cat shtick?

“N…no, I w…wanted to ask about the G…Goddess Chosen…”

“Oh? Who taught you that term?”

“Lionheart.”

“The Imperial Guard fellow huh… well, you were bound to find out eventually.”

“S…s…so…”

“You received a mission by Arthesya right? Mind telling me which?”

“T…to break… this chain.”

“This chain? Just that?”

“Y…yeah.”

“I guess this is the oldest and strongest one. But to ask just this…she really is at the end of her rope.”

“Y…you got a different one?”

“It’s been a while since I was reincarnated, at the time Arthesya still managed to give powers to her Chosen…but our missions were usually more complicated. Mine though…I abandoned it nyahahah.”

“Huh?”

“I told already you didn’t I? When we first met.”

“Y…yes I guess so.”

“Even then, I guess I can humor you a little for old time’s sake.”

“How old…”

“Nyah?”

“How old are you?”

“What a terrible question to ask a lady!”

“How much has it passed since you reincarnated?”

“Like a hundred years of so.”

“T…this means…”

She’s a hag! But more importantly!

“A…are we going to be young forever?”

“No, my race simply lives for much longer than humans.”

“Oh…I should have asked to reincarnate as a foxgirl…”

“Nyahahah. So that’s it for your questions?”

“N…no, I wanted to know…are Chosen really hunted down?”

“They are. I have no idea what the Imperial guard puppy told you, but as of now we’re the overwhelming minority. Even those who have divine powers and managed to survive ‘till today are scrambling to stay alive. That’s why I told you to give up on your mission and just live normally.”

“B…but…why has the Goddess sent me here then? S…she should have known…”

“No idea, probably she’s grasping at straws. Her seal almost choked all of her power out.”

“Hm…”

That’s… kinda shitty to be honest. After all this second life was not just a second chance at living but also a way to save myself from oblivion… and now what? Arthesya probably knew that sending me here without any powers would be useless. Unless…

“D…do you know if there’s a way to destroy the chain?”

“Oh, wow. Still haven’t given up? And there I thought you were getting comfortable in your maid life.”

“I…will have to try something…eventually.”

“Huh? She blackmailed you bad I see.”

“If I don’t accomplish my mission, I’ll be sent to oblivion…”

“Oh, that’s sucks. Never heard a worse one.”

“I…isn’t the same for you?”

“No, I was just asked if I wanted to live again and I took the opportunity. I have no idea what awaits in the afterlife, so taking up the offer seemed the better choice.”

“Gweh!”

“Paralyzed again?”

What do I do now? Not only she hasn’t given me any useful information, but the only thing I learned is that my reincarnation case it’s different from any other she heard before! This is the worst possible outcome…

“W…wait! You know magic!”

“I do!”

“Can you teach me?”

“To break the chain?”

“To try?”

“Nope nyahahah. I can’t even form a barrier correctly, what makes you think I can teach you magic? Honestly, are you sure it’s even possible for you to learn it?”

“Can’t know until I try it!”

“That’s enthusiasm nyahahah.”

With a earnest smile, Tama started walking away. “Have fun tonight Kaede, enjoy the festival. I’ll consider finding a teacher for you tomorrow!”