THE ODD ONE
Prologue: The Otherworld
“Listen to me, Maria. I am giving you to the Church. I had vow to God that if ever your mother and I were able to have a child. She will be given to the Holy Church to serve God.”
Maria opened her light brown eyes as she recalled father's word before she was sent into the church after she graduated in high school. Her family has a strong obsecration to God and when her parents hadn't bless a child of their eight years of marriage. Maria's parent become worried and prayed countless time to grant them to have a child, and made a solemnly vow that they'll send one to the Holy Church if ever they would able to concieved a child.
And that's how Maria end up here inside the convent for almost 3 years. She hadn't yet taken a veil but soon she'll be official nun if she wouldn't do anything to prevent it.
Aye, Maria knew than everyone else that her life will be mesirable inside the convent. It's not like she doesn't have a faith to God or anything but it was not her calling. Maria strongly believe she's not destined to become a nun. What God in store on her, it's definitely not inside the convent.
Maria sighed exaperately as she placed the book against her lap. Her parent's wouldn't allow her to leave the convent. It would be witless if she run away without even a money to use nor a place to hide from them. Her only brother can't even help her since he's still dependent on their parents. Although, Maria did have a planned but will do it once she save up a huge amount of money. Her parents did not gave her a single penny, instead they beqeauth a huge substantial from the Church as a compensation to make her life in here at least comfortable.
“Jesus, it's dangerous up there. Get down `tis instant or else I shall informed the prioress that ye climb up the tree, Maria Soler!”
“Ahhh!!!!”
Startled by the voice, Maria staggered from her sit, relieved when she finally wound her arms around the trees to prevent her from falling the trees. Phew, that was close. She thought before glaring her collegue. She grunted and slowly went down the tree. “Sandra, you almost got me killed by your shreik.”
“Ye canna' blame me. I was nervous when I saw ye up there, what if ye got yerself hurt? Ye ken the prioress will be mad at ye if she see ye climbing up the tree. Oh, what's this...?” Sandra bent down to picked up the book on the ground.
Heart almost jump from her rib cage.
“That's...” She trailed off. Couldn't come up a word to say. She was relief that she put a covered the cover book so that no one will know that she was reading a book not related in God. “Bible....right, it's a bible. It was a gift from my younger brother.” She slowly grab the book from Sandra's grasp. He younger brother, Nathaniel knew it was against her will to be in priory. Pitied and did not want her life to become dull. Whenever he visit Maria, he sneaked to gave her a book or comics that Maria's love the most.
Thank heaven, no one can understand japanese language ( And no, Maria's 100 percent Filipino and not a japanese but she sometimes mistook to be one or korean because of her pale complexion and chinky eyes(1)). Thanks to her half-japanese and half-filipino friend that patiently taught her, she freak'n burnt her brows just to able to deciphered that certain language(2).
If so, she would end up kneeling against the rock salt for an hour. That's their punishment to the people who break the rules.
“Really?” She eyed Maria suspiciously.
She gulped. I'm sorry that I lied, Lord. But this is the only thing that keep my sanity intact.
“Yes. Uh, why are you here anyway?”
“Oh right, I almost forgot about `tis but can ye do me a favor?”
“Sure. What is it?”
xXxXx
“Are ye sure ye'll be okay to leave ye alone here?” Sister Meredith asked.
Maria blink twice before she answered. “Oh yes. I'm perfectly fine.” More than ever! She thought happily. Sandra asked her an hour ago to accompany Sister Meredith to assist the elder to buy food in the groceries.
“Okay then but before I take my leave.” Sister Meredith smiled at her and gingerly took Maria's hand, the elder place 150 Pesos (3.21 US Dollar) against her palm.
“Eeh?”
“`Tis is yer allowance for accompanying me here. Why don't ye buy something ye like?” After that, Sister Meredith went to the cold section because she forgot something, a smile crept on her. She didn't refuse it since she was in need of money in order she can get out from the place.
Yes! Just a little more, I can run away and once my plan successful. I'll take two or more part time job then go to college!
She silently giggled. She pushed the cart as she took a stoll. She didn't went far since Sister Meredith might come back. She stopped when she saw few people lining up unto the lottery booth not far from her direction.
“...be our lucky customer!”
“I'll definitely going to win that super rare item.” Maria overheard a guy.
“Super rare item?” She mumbled under her breath. She was not least interested in a lottery since there are less than 30 percent to win it. She cannot afford to spend her money over irrevelant stuff like this. Maria sighed and was about to leave when the lottery man caught a glimpse at her.
“Hey, miss!”
She stopped and frowned at the old man waving at her. Maria unconciously pointing her self. “Me?” She neared at the lottery man with cofusion in her face.
“Yes, you. Wanna give it a try? It only cost you 30 Pesos (1.070 US Dollar) to buy a ticket. If you win you'll get an awesome super rare item of Otherworld Online!”
She surpressed herself to rolled her eyes.
“Nice try, but I am not interested with whatsoever you called that.”
The lottery man and the others lining up the booth agape by her word. What's there problem? Further more, why would they want something an item for games? Maria has been inside the convent for almost three years, and cannot be blamed if she only has a few knowledge from the outside world. Besides she cannot expect the preist and others to talk about games over pray (Y'know?).
“Yer not interested? Lass, do you know what's virtual game right?”
“I'm not a dumb, y'know. Of course I knew about it. I read a lot of sci-fi books back then.” Maria proudly said. She had read about Legendary Moonlight Sculpture and other books so she's perfectly know about it. Besides, there's no way someone could actually invent a game console that will bring someone to virtual world right?
The old man dumbstruck even more then he looked at her whole appearance. She was wearing a long sleeve blouse and over the knee grey skirt, but what caught his attention was her necklace with golden cross pendant.
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“You're a nun?”
“I haven't yet taken a veil so I am but a novice.” She said bitterly, didn't care about her uncharacteristic attitude for a soon-to-become-nun.
“It doesn't sound like you are.” He said wryly. However, the lottery man was persistant and even stopped her once again to walk away. “But wouldn't it be bad if you wont give it a try this as an experience. It's only 50 pesos.”
You demon! Just mere 50 pesos? Do you know how hard it is to get 50 pesos? I can't even get a penny from my parents for fear I'll use it up to escape from the convent, you embecile!
“No. Now if you'll excuse me. I...” She cut off her words when she notice the lottery poster. It said that the first prize was the super rare item (OWO) and second was 10,000 Pesos (214.085 US Dollar).
She wanted to bald herself, she was now at least interested upon seeing that huge amount of money. She did say that she doesn't have a chance to win but...sighed.
“Oh alright.” She'll give it a try.
Later, it was now her turned to spin the wheel, most of the customer leave crying in dismay for not able to won even once.
I'm sorry, Lord. I let my indulgence kick in again.
She took a deep breath and spin the wheel. Please point at the 2nd grand prize! Pleassseee! I must have that money! Let's make a bargain, lord. If I won this lottery I shall donate the half to the church, Peas...Noooooo!
Her eyes widened as she saw the arrow slowly made a tick tock sound as its pointed at the...
“What the...Oh my God! Praise you, sister! You have won the first prizeeeee!!!!” The lottery man shouted as he wave his golden bell as a sign she won. Most the people here glance at her with envy.
She was petrified. As the lottery man hand her over the piece of paper that was wrapped in glittlering wrapper with silver ribbon on it, he said... “Go to the official site of Otherworld Online and claimed the prize by using this coupon number. You sure are lucky!”
Nooo! I don't want this coupon! I want that ten thousand! Buuhuu! Oh Great! I won but what's the use for this coupon? This has no use of me.
“Can I just exchange this for the 2nd prize?” She said, hoping the old man would accept her bargained but the man shook his head.
“No can do, rules are rules. You should be happy to won that, many people would die just to get that. They would even buy it in a million just to get that.”
“Huh?” Now she was confused. “Why? What's this Wor...whatever you called it anyway that they even want to pay big money?”
“You really don't know? Well, I can't blame you for that since you spend so much inside the church. But Otherworld Online is the first VRMMORPG ever created and it was now world wide trending. If you sell that item like I said in the official site auction.”
“You don't say! Waeh? Why would I believe you?”
“Such an ungrateful child, I speak nothing but the truth! Why don't you search in the internet or ask someone you know?”
xXxXx
“How come I never knew about this?” She hissed. After the lottery man told her about it, she quickly called his brother (She did own a latest cell phone but no one knew about it. His brother gave it to her so that whenever she's distress or need something she can called his brother.). Maria can't trust the lottery man's word so after she and Sister Meredith went back home. She called his brother inside her room and asked about the Otherside Online.
“Well, you're not intested this kind of game, sis. I don't see any reason to ask you.”
Nathaniel was right.
“But at least, you should mention about it so that I look like a dumb person whenever I'm outside. You always talk to me about your online game experience.” Her brother was a game addict so she was a bit upset when he never once mention about OWO.
“Then what about it? I am fully aware that you're not interested whenever I talk about games.”
“I just want to confirmed if there items can be sell on the auction.”
“...”
“Hello?”
“I hear you. And...yes, you can sell it in the auction. Why?”
Maria ignored his questioned and proceed. “Then, if ever you have a super rare item. How much would you earned?”
“I don't get you, sis. Did being inside the convent made your screw loose?”
“Nathaniel Solerrrrr!”
“Fine. Fine! I can't tell how much exactly is it but I think more than 50,000 or more.”
She gasped. That's pretty big! With that, she doesn't need to worry for three or four months for her daily life expenses!
“Nath, can you keep a secret from our parents?”
“Why do I feel you're upto something. Sis, whatever you do, just don't do it.”
“Please?”
“Sighh....anything from you, sis. What is it?”
“I am plan to leaving this place once I earned of money.”
“Huh?”
“Don't huh me, you dolt. You know I... am not suitable to be here. I deserve to choose what I want but I cannot do it if I'm stuck in here. This is not what I want, Nath. And I only have a year left...please do me a favor. If you really pity me you've got to help me.”
It took Nathaniel to speak on the other line when he heard her sister's voice. He really loves her sister, he would do anything to make her happy even if it means to help escape from that place.
He sighed once more and said.
“Spill it out.”
Foot Note:
1. Filipinos been heavily influence by chinese, japanese and spanish. If you read their history you'll know why I describe Maria's feature look like a japanese or can be also korean because of her eyes. Click Here For Further Information.
Burnt brow is just an expression of saying she diligently study.