The village fair really was wonderful. Unlike every jrpg I’d played, the booths were filled with real items and the people behind them all knew me. Well… they knew Lilyanna, anyway. And she apparently knew them. It was strange, but not exactly unwelcome to be greeted warmly at each booth, to be offered free samples or advice or just a cheerful hello.

And the apple tarts really were delicious. Soriya was right about that. They didn’t give out the big ones for free though. The village, it turned out, did call their money ‘zeni’. Small round metal disks with pictures and numbers stamped on them, I couldn’t tell you what any of them meant.

“You see, this is why I like hanging out with you!” she enthused as we munched on the latest free samples that had been given to us at the past booth. “Everyone loves you, and you get all the coolest free stuff! Plus, you actually are fun to hang around.” She said this last almost as though she was surprised. I stuck out my tongue at her in response.

She laughed again. “So, where to now?”

I smiled at her impishly. “Are you sure you didn’t want to visit even more of the food stalls? I’m sure you haven’t eaten absolutely every free sample.”

“Rude! They’re your free samples, I’m just helping a friend out!” she affected an air of wounded innocence that worked entirely too well on her. It was strange. I… I liked her. I’d never met this girl before in my life, but we really seemed to hit it off. And not just this other me, but me me as well. It was a pity that nothing made any sense otherwise and I wanted to get home before I was dragged into an epic quest of some kind! Still… a witch could be really useful for knowing stuff.

“Right, ok. You could try being a little less spooky you know. Get some free samples of your own.” I parried while I thought.

“And ruin my witchy reputation!? People don’t come to a witch for cheerful home baked apples or to help them weed! Besides, that’s what you’re for, right?”

“Now who’s being rude?”

This time she stuck out her tongue at me. “I’m just stating facts. Everyone loves Lilyanna because Lilyanna helps everyone.”

“I just help people who need help. But right now, I need to see the guild proctor. And you were going to show me your newest spell.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right! Your new class! I haven’t seen you in a week and suddenly you’ve got a new class level! I bet I know what it is though.” She grinned.

“You couldn’t possibly.”

“Bet?”

“Um…” I dug through the coin pouch my mother gave me, and Soriya stopped me, waving her arms. “No no no no! Not MONEY! A favor! Witches always deal in spooky favors and stuff, right?! It’s tradition!”

“But I do you favors all the time.” At least, so the vague feelings of otherme told me.

Soriya made a face. “Technically you haven’t done me any favors, since we haven’t seen each other. You know, for a week. But I’ll let it pass. Do we have a deal?”

I thought about it. How much could this universe actually know me? How much did a witch know about how the universe worked? Anyone with an isekai’s knowledge would know of course, it was obvious what I was. Pink hair, prim demeanor, sweetness and light? I couldn’t be anything but the ‘staff chick’ of a party. But did a witch in this world know that?

“I’ll tell you what.” I said cautiously. “If you’re right, I’ll bake you one of those lemon and blueberry tarts you like so much.”

I blinked. She what now? How did… this knowing stuff without knowing it is really weird!

“Oh! YEAH!” She bounced up and down, fists pumping. “You’re the best, Lilyanna! Here, I’ll write down my prediction. Open it after you get your class evaluated!”

I nodded. “Alright.” I tucked the folded slip of paper away in my pouch. “Why do I have the sneaking suspicion this was just a roundabout way to get me to bake you lemon blueberry tarts again?”

She affected the innocent air again, hand on her chest. “Would I do that!?”

“Mm. You could have just asked, you know.”

“What, and ruin my witchy reputation?! What a waste of my cunning and overly elaborate manipulation! You’re such a terrible influence being all nice to everyone!”

I smiled at her. “You got that right, I’m a terrible woman, I’ll ruin your reputation if you keep hanging out with me.”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

The banter and gossip brought us to the guild proctor’s stand without much delay. It was a large stand, with imperial banners on either side, guild markings and large lettering proclaiming it “The most perspicacious Seer, Loremaster to the Duke of Windhaven, Guild Proctor and class insight.”

“Mm. Guild is run by the empire. I guess it’s only natural.” I murmured to myself.

Soriya looked askance at me. “Well yeah, what did you expect? Breezewood is on the frontier, but we’re still part of the empire. Everything official runs through them.”

Somehow I had not connected the fact that my beloved fantasy village might actually have a name that was anything other than ‘the town’. Breezewood. Huh.

“Hey, Soriya? You have ranks in {Loremaster} right? Why do they call our village Breezewood? Actually, if you… hey!” I stopped and glared at her. “That’s why you know my class! That’s cheating!”

She giggled and danced a few steps backwards, hands up. “Hey, it’s not my fault you forgot about my {Study} and {Quick Assessment}.”

She bounced on her toes. “Besides, I don’t have {Focused} or {Flash of Insight}. Yet. So it’s not like it was obvious. Just careful observation.”

I scowled at her. “So you can’t replace the guild proctor, is what you’re telling me.”

“Well… not yet!” She grinned, then hugged me. “Oh, Lilyanna, a {Spiritist}! That’s so cool! That’s like one of the rarest classes!”

I found myself blushing and looking down. “It’s not all that special. I was just… worried.”

A rich cultured male voice interrupted us. “Excuse me. Did I hear your friend correctly? You’ve recently acquired a level in the {Spiritist} class?”

It was the guild proctor. Tall, darkly handsome-

And how is it that I have opinions about that now…?

-with saturnine features and dressed in an immaculately tailored guild proctor’s outfit that resembled a military uniform with tassels and braid that glinted gold in the sun. He loomed over me, which really wasn’t much of a surprise, I was clearly on the shorter side, but there was a decidedly… uncomfortable look in his eyes. Almost possessive.

Well he certainly looks like a trustworthy individual. I felt that same headache in my temples as otherme struggled with it, but this time I tried to explain to myself.

Come on me, he looks the part of a villain, he’s got a goatee and a monocle, he’s got creepy vibes going on, and we’re clearly the lost heir to something or other.

I felt the tension headache recede, but in its place was something perhaps a bit more disturbing. The clear feeling and echo of otherme’s thoughts. Perhaps he’s a red herring villain, a fakeout for the real enemy? He’s been so nice to us through the years!

Ok… hearing otherme’s thoughts could be useful but… I’m not really Lilyanna! This is… I need to get out of this isekai before I become anymore entangled!

“Hello Mr. Sallagia.” Soriya chirped. “Yes, Lilyanna has gained a level, and she’s here so you can explain it to her.” Soriya seemed completely unaffected by his aura, and I found myself grinding my teeth together, even as otherme folded my hands primly in front of me and earnestly said-

“Yes, I’d like to know more about the class please, and where it might lead me.”

“Hm, hm. Indeed. Lilyanna, yes? Your mother is Lucilla, I recall. You were the young lady who asked me all those questions about your mysterious amulet!”

Oh Lilyanna you naive trusting fool! You told this man about our plot widget!?

But he promised to help us, he said the Imperial Library was the most comprehensive archive of information anywhere!

His smile was oily and I almost wondered if he was going to start selling me a miracle tonic out of the back of a wagon. “You had levels in {Orator} I recall, the skills of {Encourage} and {My Trust in You}. Yes, that fits very well indeed. Of course I can tell you about {Spiritist}! {Orator} should synergize very well indeed with {Spiritist}. {Spiritist} is an extremely rare class, those called to it study the methods of control of body and mind.”

He loomed, his face partly in shadow, voice growing dire. “Uneducated folk often consider them cursed, untrustworthy and dangerous. Who wouldn’t fear with a mage that could warp your body or mind at will?” He suddenly stepped back and affected an air of nonchalance, flipping his hand dismissively. “The study of the magical arts has been hindered for centuries by such misunderstandings. A {Spiritist} is of course no more cursed than the {Elementalist} talent that your friend Soriya possesses. {Spiritist}’s possess great power to heal and protect, enhance and nurture. As well as to warp and control.”

Seriously, does nobody understand how creepy it is that a man who only shows up once a year knows all of our names off the top of his head!?

“Of course, the empire has a collegium of magical study. For such a rare talent I’m certain that we could get you a scholarship.” He leaned down, his dark eyes intent. “Did the world tell you anything when your talent awakened? Often talent has a reason for sprouting and the world will mention it.”

The world will… oh! The voice when I leveled up! Ok. Ok Lilyanna, this is important. Do we tell him, or not? He’s already super interested in us. Will telling him help us or harm us? Ok, well, I can throw a wrench in the world’s tutorial for sure if I don’t mention anything, but I desperately need the information this man possesses…

My hesitation had clearly gone on for too long, as the proctor pulled back and nodded. “I understand your concern, of course. There’s no rush. I completely understand your reluctance to leave your home, but the empire really does have the best teachers. And of course you could peruse the imperial archives to do your own study about that mysterious pendant of yours. Imperial Scholars have unrestricted access to the archives. A full scholarship is quite the prize, I don’t mind saying. But if you don’t wish the empire’s guidance, the offer is of course entirely optional. I will make a note to speak with your mother about the offer.” He smiled at me, and the sense of alarm in me leaped into my throat.

“W-well. It’s just such a big thing, a bit much you understand! Did, did you find anything out about my pendant?” I fumbled for an out to this suddenly ominous conversation.

“Ah yes, your mysterious pendant. May I see it?”

I couldn’t really think of a reason to refuse, but before I had to be unbearably rude, Soriya came to my rescue. “Hey, Mr. Sallagia, we’d love to but I promised to show Lilyanna something! Sorry!” And without further ado, she grabbed me by the hand and pulled me towards the physical contests.