'Goddess Elene, please show me my status.' (Rei)

During my prayer, I couldn't help but get a little excited. It is every shut-in's dream to experience what I am currently going through.

Well not including the rougher details.

Still, a world of sword and magic gets my blood pumping.

More excitingly, I get to see what Natsume believed to be my strong points. He was the type of person to see the best in anyone.

I get to see what he saw the best of in me.

Forget power and skills. What excited me most was precisely knowing what he thought to be my greatest qualities.

Even if they weren't the strongest or most dependable, they would still be the remains of my precious friend's faith.

And to answer my prayer, the black liquid that was previously lost inside of me welled up to my hand.

Feeling something foreign crawl throughout my body until it squeezed out was a disturbing process.

With a soundless pop, the first bit of mana I gained in this world was gathered in my palm.

'So this is mana? Or is it the representation of my faith?' (Rei)

I am still rather confused about this newfound power I have.

From what Elene told me, I don't have the ability to manipulate mana.

So does that mean she is moving it for me?

If that is the case she seems to enjoy doting on humans.

Bubbling in my hand, a small black sheet slowly takes form.

After holding the page, characters begin to carve away the darkness, shining in dull light.

Starting from the top, words I can understand begin to slowly take form.

My name is written at the top.

Beneath, all kinds of general information are listed about me.

'Sex, age, race, all things I know about myself already...' (Rei)

Anticipation is leaking from my skin as the first foreign word begins to take shape. Reading it as it forms.

"...Class Knight?" (Rei)

It couldn't be written any clearer.

[Class: Knight]

Like a fighter?

Does that mean I am stronger than I was before now?

Looking down at my frail and slender body, I can't begin to imagine how Natsume saw me.

Walking around a bit it didn't take me long to find what I was looking for.

Covered in chinks and terribly deformed, I pick up a broken sword.

It takes both hands just to lift it level with my waist, swinging is still out of the picture.

I guess nothing has changed in me physically.

I'd rather not give Elene more things to mock me with.

So I drop the sword against the marble floor, producing a resounding clang.

Picking up my status again, I begin to look over the next section that finished.

[Mana Affinity: Shadow - 1]

[Miracle Affinity: Support - 1, Enhancement - 1]

I was left confused more than anything after reading my status.

Did the one represent my proficiency or potential?

Maybe I will be able to ask Elene the next time she wishes to see me.

Continuing on, shadow wasn't much of a surprise for me.

Thinking back, my mana has appeared black this entire time.

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But how exactly do these suit me at all?

For as long as I can remember, I ran from every problem I have had.

Including the night Natsume died.

Unknowingly, I had already prepared myself for something orientated towards running and hiding.

On top of that, I stand on my best day at 170 cm with a weight of 65 kg.

Natsume was a giant in comparison, almost 20 cm taller than me.

He was the type to eat enough for two and then some. Some being my food.

No matter what angle you look at it, there could never be a time where I see myself being the one to protect him.

Yet here I am, the words knight and support meeting my gaze.

Unchanging.

There seems to be more room on the status, but nothing else appears.

There doesn't seem to be a stat system.

My only guess is that if mana wasn't involved, the status deemed it unnecessary information.

I am really weak though. I am pretty sure this will be an issue in the future.

As I attempt to put the status away into my back pocket, apparently feeling my intent, it melts into my palm once again.

Feeling it move throughout my body once again, stopping in my chest.

All things considered, mana is pretty handy.

Not counting the fact it feels like a bug crawling through me.

Trying to mimic that feeling, I begin my first attempt at using my own magic.

'Shadow, shadow, and... enhancement?' (Rei)

Thinking of my arm, I begin to imagine the mana moving towards it.

Not just move, but all kinds of things.

Wrapping around my skin.

Filling my arm like a vessel.

Any and everything I could think of I tried.

"Except Praying." (Elene)

Wait. She can talk to me still?

What was the point of seeing me in person then?

She does seem to a doting Goddess... Moving on.

Everything I do has to go through you?

I assumed it was just flavor text, but apparently, she actually meant what she said.

All mana manipulation is managed by her.

Isn't that a lot of work? Don't tire yourself out.

Focusing again on my arm.

'Goddess Elene, if you would.' (Rei)

Coming to life, I can feel the mana flowing from my chest to my arm.

Rather compared to last time, instead of a blob crawling through me I can feel a proper stream.

Looking at my arm a slight dark haze is emitting from me.

It doesn't feel that much different though.

I guess there is a simple way to see what changed.

Reaching down to pick up the same sword. I attempt to lift again.

...Except nothing has changed. The same sword still weighing a metric ton.

Maybe it doesn't do much in making me stronger.

I guess this is something I should figure out more as I go. Although I don't really understand how to go about training when I am not the one doing the work.

We will cross that bridge when we get to it.

First I need to find my way out of here.

To do that, the first foe I encountered still stands in my way.

Walking towards the large doors I try to open them with the only new method I have obtained.

'Goddess, please.' (Rei)

Focusing on my arms, the shadowy haze once again rises from me.

I push against the heavy wooden doors.

Surprisingly enough, all of the weight the doors seemed to have previously, vanished.

Fear trickled in again, as the only place I have grown accustomed to will now be left behind me.

Feeling the roughness beneath my skin as I continue to push, I prepare myself for whatever there is to come, beyond these doors.

The sun was already preparing to set. the church's entrance facing straight into the sun.

As if the church was welcoming the world once again.

'Or the world is welcoming us.' (Elene)

'An interesting view, but I don't think anyone from this world would welcome me.' (Rei)

'I would.' (Elene)

That is cheating you aren't from this world.

The previously chatty Goddess quiets down. Seeming to only care to talk when her interest is piqued.

Either way, I don't mind.

It wouldn't be long before the sun would sink beneath the horizon.

Adjusting to the light took some time however when I did I was stunned.

I stood in awe, not at the beautiful sunset unfolding before me, but instead at the land around me.

The ground flattened and black, surrounding the church.

What should have been the remains of a city was replaced entirely.

Instead only destruction.

-

My shoes now marred black by soot continue to crunch through the ashy field.

Looking back again, the church only a speck in the distance.

It wouldn't be long until it is completely out of sight.

Charred dirt marking out a crater of what should have been the remains of a city, now only a spec of white resting in the middle.

As if resisting the encroaching darkness.

Looking at the haze constantly leaking from my body. My first thought of misgiving towards my newfound power arises.

'Shadow doesn't seem like the type of power to restore hope in a world corrupted by darkness.' (Rei)

I still don't feel any different compared to before.

On top of that, I have been releasing mana constantly and I don't feel tired at all.

There doesn't seem to be an upper limit.

Turning away from the church, I continue walking into the sunset.

It won't be long until I am out of the crater. I can already see a road up ahead, that must have previously lead into the city.

'Wait.' (Rei)

The sun has long sunk beneath the horizon, yet I can still see clear as day.

I stop focusing on the mana spread around my body, receding back into my body.

A second passes and the surroundings in my vision begin to dim.

Blanketing the land in dark empty shadows.