Priestess of the Wind Goddess

"Mwoooooh~ Your food is the best as always, Vi-chan!"

"And your appetite is always amaze me, Lydia."

How did this happen? All I wanted was to go home after my visit to Rouxan-san, but somehow, I brought this strange lady too. And she's somehow knew about Mom.

My encounter with her is kind of... annoying. It started after trying the appraisal crystal on me.

xxxxx

After I get out from Rouxan-san's shop, I decided to try the Appraisal Crystal on me. I was curious what my stats looks like even though he already explained that my stats is average for a kid and no cheat-like ability.

Rummaging at the item bag given from Rouxan-san, I look at the Appraisal Crystal while careful about for not getting punctured by the giant needles inside it. Even though such a small bag able carry many items, no matter the sizes, but it's a lesser one, which can only carry no more than twelve items. Maybe I should ask him about item capacity on each bags soon.

When I took the Appraisal Crystal from the bag, I tried to use it, except one problem... I don't know how to use it.

He never showed me how to use it, but knowing how expensive it is, which is one silver coin each, I can understand that. I need to find out how to use it.

I tried to point it at myself, but no result. The same thing happened when I tried it to some passerby. Does is has something to with invocation? But it's embarassing to say it out loud.

Whatever, let's try it, but in hushed voice.

"Identify."

Still no result. How did it not work? Is it broken?

I think not because it still pure and clear. According to Nee-san, when it becomes dull and dark, it cannot be used anymore.

Maybe I said it wrong, or maybe it wanted to know which one to be appraised. Let's try it again.

"Identify self."

When I said that, it finally showed the result. So that's how it work. Now let's see what my stats look like.

Name: Annette Mana
Age: 6
Gender: Female
Level: 1/100
Class: -

Stats
HP: 26/26
MP: 15/15
SP: 10/13

STR: 2
MAG: 2
END: 2
AGI: 3

Skills:
-

Blessings:
-

Wow, just like Rouxan-san said, it was average for a kid. And to add a salt on the wound, I have no skill at all. Then the result faded from the crystal.

I know about the HP and MP, but SP might be the stamina of the user, which is already depleted. STR short of strength, MAG for magic, END for endurance, and AGI for agility. Everything is two, except the agility is three.

I was curious about the class. It might be the same as the MMORPG I played in my previous life, Adventurers of Excelia, except the RPG-like system might be different than in the game.

The crystal is still clear, but not as clear as previously. It really just like what Nee-san said, only ten times per crystal. I don't know how many uses left, so I need to conserve its usage. To make sure no one steal it, I put it back to my item bag.

Well, since I already knew about my stats, in which I regret it, I need to find a way to be strong enough to defy my fate. But first, I need to go back home to help Mom, then go to the library again, if Mom allowed to.

That was the plan, until...

"Ghaaak..."

...something heavy fell on me, which made me fell to the ground.

I tried to move... whatever it is, from my body, but I can't. The weight started to kill me. When I take a look at it, it was not something, but someone.

It was a woman with brown hair in ponytail wearing some sort of priestess garb. Maybe she's a priestess, or just a conman pretending to be one.

I tried to call her, but there's no response from her. Is she fainted? If so, I need to call someone to help me. But a sound coming from her stomach answered everything. She groaned and said something to me.

"Please feed me."

She's hungry.

Well, since she's hungry, maybe I can attract Mom's bakery to her. But first...

"Release me first."

She obeyed and stood up, in which I followed too. After cleaned my dress from the dust, I'll try to approach her.

"Do you have money?"

"I'll pay it."

I might be started it rudely, but her answers has no energy at all. Maybe starvation has made her looks so tired.

I'll try different method, but not too rude like before, starting with smiling professionally.

"Well, how about to the bakery. I know the place where the best bread made in Silld."

It was exaggeration since the bakery I knew is owned by Mom. But I'm being honest about her bread being the best.

"But I don't want to eat bread~"

Now she's whining about it. I need to control myself and keep my smile.

"Why not?"

"Every day is always bread. I've had enough of it. The mention of bread always remind me of her."

My smile twitched as I heard the reason of her being very picky. If I was her, I will appreciate any kind of food, but I can't do that. And I'm curious who is 'her' she's talking about.

After calming down, I tried to persuade her even more.

"The bakery I mentioned also sell stew and coffee."

"I'll gladly eat it!"

Talk about quick personality change, she's so eager as I mentioned other stuff. But looks like I did it.

"Then follow me, um..."

"Lydia!"

"...Lydia-san. By the way, I'm Annette."

After I introduced myself, I gestured Lydia-san to follow me. Instead of following me, she embrace my neck from the back and whispered to my ear.

"Please carry me, An-chan."

...

Excuse me, what?

xxxxx

That's how I met Lydia. And yes, I stopped using honorifics to call her, not because she insisted to, but her acts made me don't want to. And don't think about how I carry her.

As of now, she's already ate more than ten plates of stew, and she keeps ordering for more plates of stew. Even though she don't want to eat bread, but she ordered and ate it. Just how big her stomach can handle? Is she not worried about her... 'waistline'?

While I'm watching her with deadpan expression, I heard the other customers whispered at her, but one of them said that they're not worried about her, but her wallet. Seeing how she gobble up all of those foods, I kind of agree with them. Then I saw Mom took a seat on the opposite side of her after the shop empty.

"Nebr thufh An-wan waf yur dohter, Bi-wan."

"Eat. Or speak. Choose one."

That's the first time I see Mom being harsh, maybe about Lydia speaking while eating. But she's right, because all I can heard from her was gibberish.

Then Lydia swallowed her food and said what she said before.

"Never thought An-chan was your daughter, Vi-chan."

"I thought you already knew about it, since you're one of my di- acquaintance."

"I didn't! My training to become a priestess forbid me to receive messages. It's not fair!"

"Blame those hags for making such strict rules."

What are you talking about, Mom?! What if they send the executioners to eliminate you?!

But, to think such kind and caring mother like her would be so hateful toward the church, even using crude language.

"I know you hate the White Sect Church for their... certain gender policy and other side, Vi-chan, but they're much better than the Lumina Sect Church and their human supremacist policy."

White Sect? Lumina Sect? Are the church in Excelia some sort of cult?

If I remember correctly from the game Adventurer of Excelia, only one church in Excelia, known as Six Origin Church. So, what happen to that church now? And how much it changed from that game?

And this White Sect Church seems suspicious when she said 'other side'. Who's the creator of that sect? The White Girl? Or the White Devil from that book? But they seem reeks of sexism hecause of their policy.

Let's not think about it and just listen to their conversation, even though it seems rude.

"So, what happen to you now, Lydia? Are you still working as one of their priestesses?"

"I've been exiled."

"It's a pity."

"You're not being pitiful at all!"

I don't know what to say but... Mom is so blunt, at least to something she hates.

After Lydia emptied her food, her expression turned serious, unlike her usual lazy and happy expressions.

"Vi-chan, three years after my exilement, I just got an oracle from the Wind Goddess. And I want to share it with you."

"What? Bu- right, your unique skill, Divine Links."

Unique skill?! Just like Rouxan-san's 'Soul Appraisal' skill.

"What's the wind goddess said, Lydia?"

"She said that a child will change the fate of this world in the future."

The fate of this world? What is she mean by that?

"Did you find that someone?"

"No. Every time I met and trained them with an instructor, they'll give up easily. But there's someone... interesting in the orphanage I visit before. And I have invited her to the church."

"Interesting?"

"Her name is Aria. She has black hair with some white tip on her bangs, has two different eye colours, and an Imagin as her tamed monster."

Imagin?! If I remember from the game, it was an extremely rare monster which can shapeshift into any kind of forms, including weapons, but extremely fragile when their level is still low. Rumor said that if the tamer leveled their Imagin, they will become a powerful and indestructible weapons.

That Aria girl might be have a high luck to capture it. Also, her name has some similarities as Ariadne from dating simulator I played in my past life, which also the one Annette serve as a personal and combat maid in one of her future memories.

Talking about Annette future memories, the personal and combat maid was her first ones. As for the last ones, she's become a priestess... and an executioner. What's even worse, she always killed at the age of twenty-one. Whenever I tried to saw the face of her killer, I always got a headache, but they always said this:

'No matter what it takes, I will thwart your plan, White Girl.'

She was called 'White Girl' too, and what did they mean by 'plan'?

I'll find it out what it means soon. Now, let's continue to listen Mom and Lydia.

"Hmmm, do you think this Aria girl might be the one who change the fate of this world?"

"Not sure, but I think... she's Orfe-sama's direct descendant."

"Please don't think about that, Lydia. Do you remember what the executioners did to everyone who proclaimed themselves as one?"

"But Vi-chan, An-chan is listening."

She realized I'm listening to their whole conversation! But why she didn't stop me?

"It's fine. The sooner Annette realizes how harsh the world is, the better she chooses her decisions. Although, Nia-chan seems way more overprotective for her than usual."

Even though your intention was for my sake, but it's called bad parenting, Mom. And you're right about the last part.

"Nia-chan? Ah! You mean, Sakura-"

"Don't. Say. It."

I know what Lydia want to say, but I'll try to act clueless to hid the fact that I know about Nee-san's true name and nature.

"Sorry, Vi-chan. Back to your question, well... you're right."

I can tell from Lydia's voice that she seems guilty.

"You did it, right?"

She only gave a nod to Mom, which made Mom sighed tirelessly.

"Good thing you've been exiled, Lydia. Painting the flowers to red is not your suitable job."

Eh, what? What's that mean?

"I know. But, the Five Origin Church recruited me as a wandering priestess, even though they knew about my exilement."

"They're much better than them, so I'm fine with that."

Five Origin Church? Isn't that supposed to be Six Origin Church? I'll ask Lydia about it later.

"That's all I want to say, Vi-chan. Aria-chan might be waiting for me in the church for too long."

"I see. Thanks for sharing it with me, Lydia."

This is my chance. I must not waste it.

"Lydia, can you train me too?"

"I won't allow it, Annette! You just recovered few days ago!"

I know Mom will mad at my proposal, but I'll try to convince her.

"But Mom, I always feel being a burden for both you and Nee-san."

"You're not a burden, Annette. Stop thinking about that!"

"But that nightmare-"

"It's just a bluff. I'll make sure that won't happen!"

It's really hard to convince her, but I'm not giving up.

"But I don't want to see you hurt, Mom. Let me train too. So that I can defend myself."

"But you-"

Before Mom continue, Lydia tapped her shoulder and she shook her head.

"Let her, Vi-chan."

"Not you too, Lydia!"

"There's a reason for that. I can see An-chan's determination, and stubborness. Also, the shaman already gave her a gifts."

She said that while looking at my item bag, followed by Mom. When she saw it, she just sighed.

"It will be hard for me to convince Nia-chan, but make sure she's safe, Lydia. Or else."

"You have my word, Vi-chan."

Then she looked at me with serious expressions.

"An-chan, I have hired a training instructor to help me drill both you and Aria. Many already given up, so I hope you prepared to be bruised, or coughed blood."

"Lydia!"

"Don't worry, Vi-chan. I'll heal her after training."

Hearing the last part of her warning made me gulped, even Mom worried about me. But, for the sake of defying my fate, I'll do anything to become stronger, except the R-18.

"I'm ready. Please teach me everything."

After I said my answer, she smiled slightly.

"Good, then let's go to the church, An-chan.

Teach me everything you know, Lydia, so that I can improve it by myself and replicate some skills of Annette future selves, because I have no clue how to do that. And if I can't defy my fate after getting stronger, just surviving and saving my family is more than enough.

My thought got interrupted when she called me for introduction with her usual happy expressions.

"But first, let's started the introduction. I'm Lydia, the Priestess of the Wind Goddess, Viento."

"I'm Annette Mana."

We both shook our hands after introduced ourselves, the sign to start our training.