I stepped out of the carriage to the screaming cheers of the people surrounding us. I looked around, stunned at the display of various people dressed in the church’s garb, skin inked by neon colors. Askret approached, stepping down the steps with the help of his butler. Askret, too, had a multitude of intricate glowing tattoos shining vibrantly on his skin. 

How was that possible? I’d seen him just a night ago, and he hadn’t had anything like that. Could it be the light from the city? Maybe it was closer to blacklight than I thought. Had they tattooed themselves with a material only visible in the shine of the city’s underbelly? 

He gestured for us to follow, a friendly smile on his face; it seemed different with the now-visible tattoos. We walked up the church steps, and I desperately held onto Gale’s hand. Mira trailed behind us. The doors to the church slid open slowly with a deep creaking sound. 

The interior of the church was unlit, save for the ceiling — it was a collage, a multitude of stars, even more deep and intricate than the night sky I’d watched with Gale. The glowing shapes in the ceiling revealed nebulae, like a tapestry of the sights I’d seen in science magazines. I looked, astounded. How could they capture something this detailed? I realized belatedly that it was moving. Shooting stars flew across the roof, small glittering shapes meandering their way across the sky. 

I looked up in awe, before Gale dragged me forward to keep pace with Askret. I looked around us at the pews set up through the church, seating the people who sat in attendance for the ceremony. There was a pulpit in the center, and behind it, raised on a platform by a stain-glassed picture of what I presumed to be Navira, sat a pedestal in which a sword was embedded, barely peaking over the stone. 

Askret led us to the stairs, before assuming his place in the pulpit. He was leading the sermon? Was he some church big-wig? He looked out to the audience, raising his hand to silence the numerous murmurs. 

“Brothers and sisters,” He said, his voice casting far into the walls, “The time has come once again for the test of our faith. We greet the Hero and Saintess, two young travelers who act with Navira’s will.”

He rested his hand on the surface in front of him with a loud smack. “I have seen firsthand the Saintess’s power, of that there is no doubt. I truly believe that her companion is the Hero, our savior.”

He paused, letting the shower of whispers die down. “The time for Navira’s grace is at hand. ‘Let Her tears shower the land!’”

“Let Her tears shower the land!” The crowd repeated in a roar.

“Let Her kindness mend their hearts!” Askret shouted. 

“Let Her kindness mend their hearts!” 

With that, he raised his hands, as did the crowd. He repeated a prayer a few times, before lowering both his arms and the crowd into silence once again. He turned towards us, giving an apologetic smile. 

“My apologies, the ceremony requires such devotions.”

My face twitched. “It’s no big deal.”

Nope! Not a big deal at all! I wasn’t feeling threatened by a cult, not at all. I really hoped this sword was worth the trouble. Askret gestured for us to move up the stairs. 

“Are you not coming with us?” Gale asked. 

He shook his head. “It is forbidden for any not designated as Hero to stand on sacred ground.”

I pointed to myself, the question hanging in silence. He gave a friendly smile. “You are the Saintess, Navira’s chosen. Naturally, such boundaries do not confine you.”

I shrugged, and turned to the stairs. Gale and I walked, steps synced, to the top. As our heads peaked over, the sight took my breath. The sword was centered in a circle of pitch black water, lightless despite the ceiling of stars overhead. I looked behind me, a pang of anxiety seizing my heart as I saw those watching us. Could we do this?

Gale stepped forward alone, his footsteps sending ripples spreading through the water. I crossed my arms, watching. He stood in front of the sword. It was a longsword, the handle a palm and a half long, with a surprisingly simple looking hilt. The blade itself was like dark steel, not black, but rippled with waves.

Gale raised both hands and gripped the sword. He pulled with all his might, but the sword remained unbothered by the attempt. A question mark floated above my head. Was Gale not the Hero? What was happening? My questions were suddenly interrupted by a screen flashing in my eyes. 

[Notice: ‘Navira’s Tear’ has detected the Host. The Goddess’s gaze turns towards you. Would you like to bind ‘Navira’s Tear’ to the system?] Follow current novels on Novᴇl_Fire(.)net

I blinked. Should I agree? Could I really come to an alternate world and see a sword in a stone but not pull it? The thought felt illegal. Bind the sword.

[Mission Received: Assist the Hero in pulling the sword from the stone. Reward:

Navira’s Tear

Navira’s Blessing

3000 Hero Points]

I stepped forward into the water. Murmurs from behind me rang through the hall, but I ignored them. As I stepped, the ripples from my footsteps carried the reflection of the stars above, the sole points of light in the oppressive darkness. Why did it feel like they were staring at me? 

I walked to Gale’s side, and put my hands over his. He looked at me in surprise, and I could see the frustration of the failed attempt in his face. I smiled at him, and pulled.

The water beneath us burst into countless stars, as if suddenly seeing the roof above us for the first time. As we pulled, bright white cracks like spiderwebs sprang from the pedestal like a pattern, before they reached the edge. A rumbling sound filled the church, and the sky above us began to move. 

The stars began to rotate, slowly at first, before revolving across the ‘sky’ so fast it became a blur. The water reflected the sight, catching me in a vision of being suspended in space, watching as time sped by. 

We pulled again, and the blade slid an inch free from the stone. The cracks deepened, and with a resounding shattering sound, we pulled the sword free from the pedestal. The water beneath us shone pure white, blinding me, before hints of purple creeped in. The light, which had been cast from the entire circle, slowly condensed until it surrounded only me. 

I looked down at the small circle below my feet, and felt the warmth of something course through my body. My hair raised as air rushed from underneath, and I felt a tingling across my skin. 

I looked down in shock as vibrant spiraling purple patterns appeared across my arms, spreading all the way to my shoulders before stopping. The neon lilac hue was much like the tattoos of her faithful, leaving me a bit at a loss. What the hell?! Did I sign up for a tattoo session? I could only hope they wouldn’t be visible outside of the city. 

[Navira’s Blessing received:

Intermediate Shadow Magic.

Navira’s Mark: Your affinity with shadow magic has reached maximum. Additional effects will be revealed when unlocked.]

The shouts of those below us entered my ears. I looked over, and all of them were kneeling, faces pressed into the floor. My eyes twitched. I looked at Gale, who was holding his new sword. He had it raised in front of his face, inspecting the blade. I watched as lilac purple glyphs shone on the blade, one appearing on the back of Gale’s watch hand. His eyes widened. He released his grip, and the sword disappeared. The tattoo flickered, and the sword reappeared in his hand with a flash of light. We grinned at each other, eyes sparkling. 

“Hero,” Askret called from below, his voice raw, “We greet the Hero!”

“We greet the hero!”

Gale and I walked to the edge of the stage. We smiled, holding our hands together as the crowd cheered for us. Creepy cult or not, it felt pretty nice to be bowed down to like this. Maybe I should make Gale do the same later? 

My thoughts were distracted as I watched robed figures intermingling with the crowd move. Were those church workers? They each approached a member of the church, standing strangely behind them. What were they doing? I looked towards Askret, and his butler slowly stepped to his kneeling master. My mouth dropped, and I shouted towards him.

“Askret, watch out…!”

I was too late. The butler leaned forward, tore a dagger from his sleeve, grabbed Askret by the neck, and slit his throat.