Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 100: The Messenger Who Prays

Wow, that's a great speech from Origia. I never knew how passionate she was about her goal to bring the gods back. But I don't know if it's enough to convince her friends.

[I get it. We need the gods back in <Volo>. But...]

Calamum looks away from Origia and says, [The gods haven't answered our prayers for so long. Not even our parents and sages got one answer from them. It's best if we listen to the Masters, Origia. I don't want to see my mother collapse from [Mana Exhaustion].]

So messengers praying to the gods requires [Mana]? I didn't know that. Then again, this whole scene is set in the past, so maybe the change has to do with Origia's actions to create the [Sign],

[Calumum's right, Origia. The older messengers still have to deal with the monsters invading nearby civilizations and it's better to have them save their Mana in time for the inevitable battle ahead. Just please, Origia... It's either the gods or losing our original roles as messengers and protectors.]

Looking at this, they don't seem like bullies like the ones I've dealt with in the past. I understand their reasonings about all of this, but watching Origia start to tear up makes me wonder if it's all for the best in this world.

[...I-I understand,] Origia answers. [I'm sorry for riling you up like that. I'm just doing what I can for the beings and the world they created. I don't want it to die either way.]

Her friends seem sad seeing Origia like this. Again, I don't think they're mean to her. Maybe they're just worried about her, that's all. Putting all of the burden of the world in her hands. As if it's her lifelong goal. Just how much does she want the gods to return to this world?

[Look, we're sad that your mother is gone from [Mana Sacrifice], but Master Prodigo said that grieving will not bring them back to light. All we can do is move on and go back to our lives.]

Wait? Origia's mother...passed away? And by skill or spell, I've never heard before?! Damn, if that's true, then there is no way I can learn it. It sounds dangerous and might hurt Wind a lot if I cast it.

[Y-Yeah. Sorry about that. You should head to the sages now. They might be worried about you.]

Calumum nods. [Alright, Origia. If you need help, we're here for you.] He and their friends then placed their hands on their hearts. [May the god, Volo bless us.]

Origia slowly nods back before she did the same gesture as her friends. [May Volo bless us.]

I then watch them split off, leaving the girl alone in the streets of this bright white street. She did accept her friends' words. Yet I can see her tears continuing to flow down her face. I have a feeling she won't give up after that. She has the same look as me when I tried crafting my staff and potions. There is a chance she might continue. And a chance for me to witness that faithful event the tablet mentioned.

-----

To my relief, this flashback allows me to fast-forward to all of the boring stuff after that talk or I might get bored to death here. Yet it doesn't change the fact I'm seeing Origia's attempts to pray to the gods one more time. She mentioned she wanted to write a letter to them using those runes. As I watch her write down everything in runes from behind like a ghost, I can see the desperation and determination in her eyes. She won't stop until her goal is fulfilled and it's a bit more extreme than my crafting binges. But one thing I have to accept from her friends' comments is that she seemed to be a bit too determined.

She kept on fainting, didn't stop for food or drink (which by the way, can the messengers eat or drink?), or even leave her light blue house. She's doing everything to finish the letter, but at what cost?