2.2 - Truth

Exiting through the same door we had entered; my eyes took in the familiar surroundings. There were four main sights before us:

A grand archway with a two-sided sign above it, reading "Shrine of Silica." A staircase led down into a valley, where a town awaited us.

In front of the archway, there stood a large statue made of jade artifacts or other precious materials. Silica mentioned that it was a relic and the key to transporting between the two worlds.

To the right, there was an old and simple-looking shrine made of wood, with a worn out marble sculpture of a lady. Curious about the statue, we made a quick detour to the shrine. Silica mentioned it was one of her first ancestors that started the house here. The god of Silica.

The statue was very similar to what President looked like. An older model but very similar.

Lastly, there was the building we had emerged from, the House of Silica. It appeared to be a place where the members relaxed and called home, with rooms on the sides likely serving as their personal spaces.

Silica explained, "This is the God Silica, my first ancestor, who created this temple. She is the guardian of this town and is worshipped for protection and prosperity in this world. On Earth, my family worships this same god but with a different name, we pray for great luck and fortune. You could say my family is a god and protector of this town." Taking in the surroundings, we were filled with a sense of wonder and anticipation for what lay ahead.

Descending the curved stairs of the grand archway, we marveled at the ancient stones covered in green moss and the tree roots intertwining with them. It took us a good five minutes to reach the bottom, counting over 200 stairs. It was rather hard walking down holding my baggy pants and tight shoes. At the base, we faced a small entrance with an iron gate, with a small wall about 8 feet tall made of rocks that surrounded the city. One guard stood on the other side; their purpose unclear.

The guards greeted Silica, assuming she was headed back to the guild hall for a quest. He was an older man with a gray beard, carrying a spear and sword with chainmail on his chest and neck. Silica clarified that she was not going on a quest but rather registering her two new friends with the guild. The guard jokingly asked if I was her boyfriend, to which Silica promptly replied that we were just friends. The gate was opened for us, and we stepped through, receiving a welcome from the guard as "Welcome friends of Goddess Silica."

We entered the town that looked like to be a side entrance, we found ourselves surrounded by stone and wooden buildings, with dirt roads stretching ahead. It felt like stepping into a medieval setting, devoid of any visible technology, with horses in the distance. We passed by various shops, including butchers, taverns, and a blacksmith. I couldn't help but wonder how I was able to understand the written signs. The symbols made sense to me, and Kendra looked around with a mouth nearly touching the ground. As she was in awe of a new world.

Curious about our newfound ability, I asked Kendra if she could read any of the signs, but she admitted that they looked like jumbled letters and symbols to her. Silica chimed in, saying that only she and I could understand the letters and none of the members of her house could comprehend them yet. Basically, because I was a Nephilim, and it was a basic gift from the gods. Everyone else will be able to read in time, but writing is rather difficult. She also explained that everyone spoke the same language, and even Kendra would be able to speak and understand. It was a very strange experience, as I could understand them, but their mouth wasn’t the right words, it wasn’t Japanese or English.

We entered a clothing store, and it truly resembled what I would have expected from a store in the Middle Ages. The selection was limited, with a few styles and colors available, all made from linen, wool and crafted by hand. The store was divided into sections, with men's clothing on the right and women's on the left. Following a layout like Japanese shops, I couldn't contain my excitement to try on new clothes and see how they suited me. As we stepped inside, an eager elderly lady approached Silica.

"Welcome, my dears! What can I help you with today?" she asked. Silica replied, "I'm looking to get my new friends some clothes."

The lady nodded and promptly whisked Kendra away to the women's section, leaving me to navigate the store on my own. Silica called out to me from across the room, instructing me to choose three outfits for everyday wear, with the reminder that we would find armor later. I carefully selected three pairs of pants, two shirts, and one long-sleeve shirt, and made sure not to forget about socks and undergarments. Glancing over my shoulder, I noticed Kendra also browsing through the underwear selection, but I quickly averted my gaze, respecting her privacy was a priority if not I would be in trouble.

Being neighbors, our rooms were right next to each other and could often peck into her window from my room. We often talked to each other through that same window. A few times I saw, Well, things I haven’t seen, and she even caught me spying at one point. In my defense, it was only a bra a few years ago, nothing more, and she didn’t speak to me for a week. Since then, she has always been careful about closing the curtain. Adolescence can be scary.

Once we had made our choices, we presented the clothes to the old lady, who meticulously examined them. "Good choices," she remarked. "That will be 88 silvers "Silica attempted to negotiate, offering 70 silvers. The lady countered, "75 silver." Seems haggling is common in this world. Silica handed her a gold coin, which I wasn't certain about the value of since I was unfamiliar with the currency. The lady returned approximately 25 silvers in change, providing me with an understanding that one gold was equivalent to around 100 silver a valuable piece of information for future transactions.

Leaving the clothing store, we ventured into the neighboring shop to purchase footwear. They had leather boots available, and we acquired two pairs for an additional 10 silvers.

Considering the purchases, I realized that I now owed Silica 85 silver. Repaying her generosity would likely require considerable effort, but I was immensely grateful for her assistance. Without her, I could have found myself in dire circumstances, perhaps even lacking clothes or a place to stay. I wasn’t a sticker for money or anything. But owing money to people is never a good thing.

"Thank you so much, president," I expressed my heartfelt appreciation. "I would have been in grave danger without you."

“Please call me Silica in this world” and reassuringly it was no problem.

“Thanks, Silica-San”

“Just Silica, they don’t use suffix in this world.”

“Thanks, Silica” Kendra and I thanked her for the clothes. As she responded with a smile.

I had been in this new world for three hours now, having acquired new clothes and feeling ready for an adventure. The next logical step, as in any RPG, was to visit the adventure hall, as it was obviously time to learn some Magic!