By the time they exit the forest, Al has decided that she is no longer going to use the name Al, because Al is a modern 21st-century woman and Adnia is a tiny girl with superpowers who is following a talking leopard who refuses to give her his name.
She has tried coaxing it out of him gently, tried tricking it out of him, and almost tried her luck with a tantrum before she remembers that the beast has sharp teeth and she values her life. Still, the beast doesn’t give its name to her as is proper and only smirks as she fails.
Therefore, Adnia makes the decision that he doesn’t exist.
Instead, she merrily skips her way out of the forest and down the winding path toward the cluster of houses in the distance. It’s farther than Adnia hoped, and the sun is hotter than she’d want, but she pushes through.
The homes are built of cobble; it’s quaint and so fantasy-cute that Adnia wants to squeal. The road is dirt, unlike the homes, and draws a few sneezes from Adnia as she wanders into the town.
Her small frame, blindingly happy smile, and fine-fabric dress draw attention, but nothing draws more attention than the Divine Beast walking as her guard. The villagers’ gazes follow each step she takes, and whispers spread quickly about a young lady and her protective beast.
Before Adnia reaches the center of the village, where the market is located, everyone already knows about her. It’s hard for things to not spread quickly through such a small village where everyone knows everyone. Each child who belongs to a villager’s family is already known, and no one inside the village could ever afford such fine fabrics.
The beast’s ears twitch, following the whispers about the tiny companion he’s picked up. His gaze flickers to her determined eyes and strained smile. She’s holding out well, but the walk to the village is not a short one, and her body is fragile and healing. Still, the girl pushes herself instead of asking for help.
What a silly child, he thinks as he wraps his tail around her waist and lifts her into the air.
Adnia flails immediately, a gasped “Hey!” falling from her lips before she realizes that she’s been placed on the beast’s back, who has yet to stop his slow trot.
She crosses her arms, pouting stubbornly. “Nia can walk just fine.”
The whispers of the villagers turn more lively and excited as the beast responds. “Nia is about to fall over.” His tail flicks gently against the back of her head as if reprimanding her, and Adnia holds in an aghast gasp.
How dare he, she thinks, her tiny hands ‘accidentally’ gripping his fur a little too harshly. “Nia thanks the mighty one greatly,” she says with a honeyed tone, her eyes crinkling as she beams down at the beast.
He says nothing, silently snickering at the childish attempt at hurting him and deciding not to inform his little companion that she’s failed in her pitiful revenge against him.
Soon enough, Adnia relaxes on top of the beast, her head swiveling this way and that to take in the sight of the medieval village. For a city woman like her, it’s a remarkable sight. There’s an atmosphere of peace that prevails throughout the village.
Ironic, considering that there are people being tortured somewhere inside one these very buildings. Adnia almost frowns as she remembers the Rai who are likely hidden somewhere.
Her gaze becomes more searching as she hopes to pick up some cue of where they may be. It was never stated in Blood for Blood where they were kept.
A surprised yell snatches Adnia’s attention as someone runs straight into the beast and her. She startles and half-jumps, slipping off the beast’s back. His tail immediately wraps around her, keeping her from crashing into the floor, and his gaze snaps to the boy laying on the ground and staring at them in fear.
The beast frowns and eyes the boy, as he had not felt the boy’s presence at all until he rammed straight into him.
The boy scrambles up from the floor in a hurry, bowing 90 degrees and yelling, “This Lanmo begs forgiveness from the miss and…” He peeks up at the beast and flinches when their gazes meet. “…her friend?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Adnia says gently, smiling softly to ease Lanmo’s fright. Until she realizes with a start what mistake she made, she smiles sheepishly. “This Adnia begs forgiveness for her slip; she was startled.”
Lanmo's curious gaze darts to the beast and back to Adnia. She smiles for a few seconds before withholding a sigh and digging a heel into the beast’s side.
She doesn’t want to be stoned to death just because the little bastard is too high and mighty to talk to a lowly human.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
The beast chuckles and dips his head slightly to Lanmo. “You are forgiven, child, but may you guide Muit and Nia somewhere my companion may have a meal?”
As Adnia wants to open her mouth to say that she’s not hungry, her stomach decides to growl.
Lanmo glances at her stomach before locking gazes with her again. He jumps, as if caught committing a crime, and gestures wildly in a direction. “Lanmo’s mother owns a bakery. Lanmo will be glad to direct Miss Nia and Mister Muit there.”
As Lanmo leads them, Adnia finds herself stuck between two thoughts. She finally knows the beast’s name, and how does the beast expect her to pay for food? Does it think she’s made of money? She’s six! Adults are supposed to pay for her.
Adnia eyes Muit in contemplation. How likely is it for a Spirit Beast to have cash? He’s older than her; realistically, he should pay. “Oi!” she whispers close to Muit’s ear, which twitches in her direction. “How are we paying?”
Muit shrugs, the movement sending a small ripple through his muscles. “Do you not have coin?”
Adnia closes her mouth with a sharp click lest she gape like a fool at the stupid beast. Again, she’s six!
System! Adnia mentally calls.
~~~~~
(·•᷄∩•᷅ )
Host has finally called for system!
Host, this system thought host forgot about them.
~~~~~
The villagers gasp, staring at the floating blue square filled with a script they cannot recognize. Adnia glances around, and her heart nearly stops as she realizes that the people can see the system.
They can see you? she mentally asks, her smile becoming stiffer by the second.
~~~~~
Yes, host! But the English language doesn't exist in Blood for Blood, so they don't know what this system is saying. (ㅅ´ ˘ `)
~~~~~
Oh. Adnia rereads the system messages and compares them to the signboards on the stalls and shops, not having noticed that she is surrounded by text in a language she shouldn’t know.
How do I suddenly know the language and can I still speak English? Adnia asks mentally once again, not wanting to say something aloud and have everyone understand her even if they can’t read the system messages.
~~~~~
Host... ╮ (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.) ╭
System has no idea how host knows the language, but Host still knows English or Host wouldn't be able to read the system's replies. Host, it seems to this system that speaking the language of this world is possibly more natural for host's body so host hasn't realized?
~~~~~
To Adnia, that sounds like bullshit. Knowing a language has nothing to do with the body and everything to do with the mind. Did whoever brought her here screw with her head? She shifts where she sits, feeling uncomfortable with the thought. Being brought to a new world is one thing, but her mind is hers. Adnia doesn’t like the thought of someone being able to screw with it.
Her tongue darts across her lips as Adnia puts far more thought into trying to successfully say a sentence in English than she ever had to before. “Is it…” she stops, the words of her first language suddenly sounding foreign to her ears. “Is it safe for you to be seen?”
Muit glances at Adnia and then toward the system before he focuses on the path that Lanmo is leading them down, not at all seeming bothered by a floating screen.
~~~~~
Divine Beasts take all kinds of shapes, host! They aren't always animals, so this isn't as strange to the people of this world as it would be to the people of host's old world.
~~~~~
“Okay, so you’re like a gaming system, right? Do you have a world map?” Adnia asks, her gaze trailing back to the path they came from.
~~~~~
∘ ∘ ∘ ( °ヮ° ) ?
~~~~~
If the system had eyes, Adnia is sure they would be staring at each other in confusion right now.
~~~~~
( ˶°ㅁ°) !!
Host, this system is not like a video game system.
~~~~~
“You gave me a quest and everything?” Adnia crosses her arms, staring the system down.
~~~~~
Because (ᵕ•_•) this system was created with the purpose of guiding host, but system's knowledge is limited to what was given to the system and what host knows. (⸝⸝⸝-﹏-⸝⸝⸝) But! This system can absorb any map that host gives and can display it for host! And system can map out any area that host has been!
~~~~~
“I want a refund,” Adnia says, pouting.
~~~~~
( ╹ -╹)? Host didn't pay for systems services?
~~~~~
While Adnia spends her time talking with her system, a new rumor spreads throughout Liu, one that, unbeknownst to Adnia, will be stuck to her for many, many years. The villagers discuss the strange young girl, dressed in fine clothes with not one, but two Spirit Beasts, who can read a script that no one has ever seen and speak a language no one has ever heard.
When the priests of the local Celestial Shrines hear, they gather in excitement. This child can only be one thing: a Divine blessing given to help humanity, a Saint.