CH 5

Sera opened the door. There were two knights standing watch just outside. Apparently, they were going to escort them to the king’s office. One walked in front, the other in the back. They walked as they took in their surroundings that they had not been able to focus on yesterday. There was no carpet on the floor. The windows were small, but there were candles placed at just the right places to keep the hallway well-lit. There were also intricate carvings on the ceiling and walls.

It did not take too long for them to reach the office. The guard who stood in front of the room announced their arrival.

The two awkwardly shuffled in. It was a bright room with a large window. There were several people waiting inside.

One person sat behind a large desk. Next to him, sat a middle-aged made with a big forehead. On the other side was a man with white hair whose hands were laid on the desk. There was a small desk near the window where a small bearded man sat. Next to him was a sparkly, prince-like person. And then there was Rasche, who stood leaning against a wall. Oh, wait. One of the beastmen. He seemed to smile upon seeing Maki.

Everyone stood up at once, which scared the two a little. The man with long ears looked like he wanted to say something, but the man behind the large desk held him back as he began.

“It is an honor to meet you, Saintesses. I am Arthur, king of the human territories within this Sun World. In your country, I would likely be called Arthur, son of Wildom. We do not have family names here. May I introduce everyone else first?”

The two nodded. So the tired looking man with blonde hair was the king. King of the human territories, he said. Chiharu worked her brain.

“And this here is Aeris of the elven territories. He is over 300 years old, but freely moves between countries as a goodwill ambassador.”

She looked closer at Aeris who bowed and saw that he wasn’t quite the old man with white hair that she had initially thought. He was youthful, with silvery hair and long ears.

“And this is Grudo of the dwarven territories. He was a good alchemist back in the day, but has since retired. He also comes here as a goodwill ambassador to play, I mean, to commune.”

He just said play. The old man’s eyes were glimmering as he bowed politely. He looked like a child who had found a new toy.

“The one leaning on the wall over there is Zynis, of the beastfolk territories. He has a most peaceful disposition and is also staying here as a goodwill ambassador.”

In other words, the other beastfolk weren’t peaceful?

“I hope there is no misunderstanding. The people of the beastfolk territories love to fight, but they are not violent.”

Okay. This is a lot of information.

“That is the chancellor. The younger one is the prince.”

“I am called Morse.”

“And I am Edwy. Father, you really skimped out on our introductions!”

“Perhaps.”

Perhaps. Chiharu chuckled inwardly. Edwy shrugged. It seemed that this was business as usual for them.

“Well then, may we hear your names, Saintesses?”

The two looked at each other and nodded.

“Maki Aida and”

“Chiharu Asou.”

“Aiida and Asoo. The previous Saintess only wanted to be referred to by her family name.”

“Oh, if it is normal to use your first name here, then please do.”

“Then, Maki and Chiraaaru it is.”

“It’s Chiharu.”

“Chihaaru.”

“…That’s close enough, I guess.”

And so introductions were finished.

“Great, now will you sit down?”

They sat down on a sofa, and the others in the room also found their individual seats.

“Now, I am sure you must be very surprised to be so suddenly summoned to this world.”

They nodded. Then the king began to explain to them how this world worked.

“In other words, your god just brought us here without permission.”

“Indeed.”

The king said apologetically.

“But why? We are just average people. We don’t have any special abilities at all.”

Maki said.

“Saintesses always say that. They do not understand why they were brought over here. But that does not change who they are.”

“But how do you know!”

Maki pressed.

“Because the palace was cleansed the moment that you arrived. Also…”

“Also?”

Arthur glanced over to Sera.

“You have the marks on your forehead.”

“Mark?”

Maki and Chiharu looked at one another. Nope. The bangs covered it. Maki then says to Chiharu:

“Okay, let’s raise our hair together now.”

“Right.”

“Go!” “Go!”

Wh-why!

“Ohhh…”

“Saintess…”

“God…”

Before they knew it they were surrounded by the others, and their emotional exclamations. However, as for the two concerned…

“3 x 3 Eyes!*” “3 x 3 Eyes!*”

Can I please faint? Surely I should be allowed to lose consciousness at a time like this. Chiharu thought as she stared hard at Maki’s forehead. She could tell by Maki’s surprised expression that she had the same thing on her forehead too.

“No, now that I really look, that’s not an eye. It looks like a gem. Maybe an opal.”

Maki says. Chiharu tries touching her forehead. There really was something there. How had she not noticed until now? It was hard, whatever it was.

“We came to another world and turned into freaks…”

Maki says sadly. No, that’s not the worst of it Maki-chan! Now we’ll never get married. And I was only just dumped. I’ll never meet anyone now…

“How beautiful! Just like your predecessor, it suits you two very well.”

The chancellor says with a bright smile.

“And to think that it has grown so much in just one day. This is astounding.”

The king adds. Grown? It’s going to get bigger!?

“Chihaaaru, don’t look so surprised. I shall explain.”

The king says. And so the two face him and sit upright on the sofa.

“Sera, is this not the first time a Saintess has not fainted at this point?”

“Yes. If my memory serves correctly.”

But I did want to faint. Really.

“As Saintesses gather Miasma, a rainbow-colored gem is created on their foreheads. It will plop right off once it has grown a little larger.”

I almost fainted once again. From what I could feel, the thing was the size of my thumbnail. And that would just plop right off…

“Chiharu, be strong!”

“Ughh. Plop off…”

“It does make me wonder. Is there a dent after it comes off?”

“A den…”

“Chiharu!”

“Chihaaru, it will not dent. Do not worry. They say that there is no pain as well. Once it is gone, your forehead will be normal again, before it slowly generates a new gem. Your predecessor only made one gem a year by the end.”

Right, one a year.

“And at first?”

“Well that is, um…”

The king’s eyes swam awkwardly before landing on Sera.

“It should be once a month for the first couple of years.”

“Oh, just once a month. Then that’s perfectly…not reasonable!!”

Chiharu said as she jumped to her feet. She could understand the need to purify. But to have to excrete it as well!

“AHHH!” The room gasped.

Plop. The rainbow-colored gem fell to her feet. Chiharu slowly brought her hand to her forehead. Yes. There was no dent. It was smooth.

“Chiharu!”

Dear god. Chiharu, 25 years old. Has fainted for the first time.

The last thing she saw was a flash of white hair in the corner of her vision, and then she thought she felt a strong hand support her.