Tink TInk TInk

Flicking against the stone was causing the black liquid inside to dance about.

Urgency aside, it was pretty amusing to watch.

Each time my finger comes into contact sends the droplet into a frenzy as it wiggles about inside the stone.

Even just placing my hand against the stone causes the droplet to suspend against the boundary.

As if it was trying to reach me.

I've been attempting all sorts of things for a while now.

Many of which are too embarrassing to even recount.

My best assumption is I won't be able to operate this device unless I know the language.

That won't be feasible for the time being.

Leaning my back against the monolith, I slide down to the dusty ground.

This is the most thinking I've done for quite a while.

Ignoring the fact I've been hurt and busy since I woke, I haven't even eaten food since yesterday's breakfast.

Feeling the cold stone against my skin is soothing to the touch. Pulling the intense heat that has accumulated beneath my skin out from me.

[It's so humid and hot if I don't get any water or food soon it could get dangerous later.]

There is just one problem.

I can't seem to find a way out of here. The doors are jammed shut and any hole or window that gives me a glimpse of the outside is too high for me to climb to.

In an even more pressing matter. I look down at my arm.

Dried blood inside and out can be seen covering my entire arm down to my hand.

The blood has stopped flowing, but the stained shirt holding the wound closed needs to be redressed.

Even I know that if I don't clean my wound regularly I could be in real trouble. Losing my arm could be an actual possibility in the future.

My train of thought stops.

Blood?

That certainly could be an answer to my question. It isn't too uncommon to see in fantasy settings.

Spells or rituals requiring blood to activate or act as a medium.

Peeling back the cloth on my arm, the large gash still ghastly as ever is shown again.

I squeeze lights on the skin against the wound and fresh blood wells up.

Wiping some on my finger, I stand and turn to the stone.

Before even reaching it, the black liquid is already pressed towards me. Wiggling violently, as if trying to break free.

Moving my finger back and forward, the droplet continues to mimic my movements the best it can.

[It seems it was actually following the blood in my body.]

I extend my hand, placing my finger against the stone.

A moment passes.

[Eh?]

Nothing happened.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

No lights, no otherworldly power, no anything.

I seem to have gotten ahead of myself.

With a heavy sigh, I begin to wrap up my arm again, preparing myself for the pain to come.

Except there isn't any?

Pulling the cloth back I see no traces of the cut even being there in the first places. Well, besides a large amount of dried blood coating my arm.

Poking at my skin, I am given there same usual feedback.

What happened? Looking up and into the stone once more I have been given another question rather than an answer.

Where the black liquid was once stored is now empty.

Grabbing the monolith with both hands I lean closer to the stone. Trying to glimpse of any remains.

[None... It is all gone.]

Normally one would be happy that their arm was no longer in immediate danger.

I like to believe I have more forethought than most. Well, I think that, but in doing so I just raised my own death flag.

My only hint at returning home just slipped away in the form of a weak healing spell.

My last bit of faith in myself left, resigning to the cold floor one again while closing my eyes. Hopeless.

"That isn't true at all, I can't sense any faith from you at all."

I open my eyes, but I see nothing.

Fear fills me again as I fall and stumble back into... nothing.

The hard floor, the monolith, the large white stones of the church. All gone.

"I can see you are also not quite hopeless yet. You're quite the liar aren't you?"

This voice that seems to be approaching me from all sides, continues to melt into me.

By now I can't even flail about. I am stuck as if im suspended in the warm currents.

"Rei the Oathbreaker. Rei the Lost, oh so many titles you have and you've yet to even leave this room. I could go on, but after waiting for this long, I would rather not spend it with simple mockings."

Before this voice that seems to find every crack in my being, all of my insecurities seem pointless.

The words that normally would mean nothing to me hurt. Striking heavy blows on my ego.

Speaking as if she knows who I am...

"I do know who you are."

[And what I am thinking apparently.]

I want to run. To find purchase on anything around me. Fear of being caught by someone after doing them a misdeed is filling my body.

[Wait. Why am I even afraid? Or guilty?]

The kind of worry one would have after not doing something they were told, and they hear the front door to the house open. Reminding them of the one responsibility they had that day, and it was forgotten.

It is almost instinctual like I am being scolded or reprimanded by a parent of some sort.

"Mother?"

Before I can even think to catch on to my own stupidity.

"Hahahahaha! To think that your first words to me, your God is none other than calling me your mother."

The darkness around me splits open and light not only spills in but begins to shape itself.

A dress so long you could mistake it as drapery, completely concealing underneath what could have been.

Folds over folds, as far seeing as the ocean. filling up my entire horizon. Until only the dress remains in my sight. Flowing and waving all around me. Even piling up against my feet.

So focused on what is happening around me, I finally looked up. I was blinded by what would leave anyone breathless.

If the light around me could be described as a bright white. Then her skin could only begin with the word pure.

A pure white that seemed to demand that there be no impurities.

Even her irises, which generally would have a color of some sort. Only contained a white void. Constantly approaching her heavily contrasted pupils. Her white eyelashes further emphasizing this.

Long white hair that after passing her perfectly slender shoulders, seemed to disappear into the white folds around her.

Despite the obvious inhuman qualities, I could not envision a more beautiful woman.

Not all of her was white, however, her bountiful lips carrying a light pink.

A body that although blending with her surroundings, commanded the light around her to bend and separate. Forming a voluptuous-

"I think I will stop you there. I do enjoy what people think of me when they first see me. But usually, at this point the only places left are off-limits.

Pulled from my stupor, I meet the eyes of this godly being.

"Allow me to formally introduce myself. Elene, Goddess of Humanity. Although you seem to be faithless... well you can only go up? So best of luck."

"You keep saying that. Faithless, Oathbreaker, what do they mean? Of course, I am faithless, God isn't exactly present in my world. I've never even met the dude."

She looks at me with slight disdain.

"I am the god of your world. I think you misunderstand I am the Goddess of Humanity. That includes you and your world. As well as the many others you know nothing of."

Bending slightly to lower her much taller self to head level for me.

"That has always been the problem with my children... I've seemed to have spoilt you guys rotten. Always thinking that you are the one and only deserving of my love."

Her soft hand reaching down towards me rests softly on my black hair as she begins to pet me.

"Hmm, you carry more beauty than your titles would imply. Have you been trying to look like a girl?"

"Please don't jest."

"Right Right. Well firstly I'll answer any questions you might have, but you must first become my follower."

[Ehh, she commands dignity and definitely has presence... but why do I feel like she is a used car salesman giving me a pitch]

She has a tired look on her face.

Oh right, she can hear my thoughts.

"Oh um, forgive me. I am just having a hard time trying to understand all of this. Besides becoming a follower sounds ominous. Like there is some catch where you get my ever-living soul or can command me to go into battle."

With a smile unbefitting of her next words.

"Well, I already get your soul regardless, but yes it does mean I can command you into battle. Even die for me."