A chime echoed through my head, as I, Tagami Yusuke, awoke lightheaded from unconsciousness.
"Cold"
The cold atmosphere around makes me want to move my body, as I was laying down with my back and butt on what seems to feel like stone.
Instinctively I opened my eyes and started surveying the area around me, the swaying bonfire illuminates to what seems like a stone chamber. As I began to confirmed my surrounding again, I check my body for any abnormality.
It seems that I been laid in place on top of a stone pedestal. For some reason stark naked. In front of the stone pedestal, was an unknown humanoid shape like monster with sinister aura, the statue decorated with black items on the ghost like altar.
"What the hell ....... is this some kind of ritual?"
Confused I began to sit upright, rather than panic and fear, firstly I need information and something to wear.
I descended from a 1 meter high rectangular box like shape stone pedestal, directly beside it was a small table, atop it was fruits which look like mandarin orange, a boutique of colorful flowers which were beginning to wither, and clothes which looks wearable.
I had the impression that "I was dedicated like an offering to the altar". The small table was made out of stone, both the pedestal and the altar looks ancient, and there were traces of weathering on the surface.
"What, kind of ......... offerings are, these"
For the time being, bewildered by the way home I placed that thought to the back of my mind, next I used my hand to reach out for the clothes which was on the hands of the statue atop of the suspicious altar.
KIN KON
"!"
Surprised by the chime that echoed through my head, I retracted my hand. It was the same sound that I awoke to earlier. I turned back and looked at the altar, I didn't noticed any changes in the appearance. Once again I begin to survey the stone room, after checking there was nothing wrong I gently pick up the fabric.
I was puzzled that nothing happened while holding the fabric on my hand, I unfold the white clothes.
"This isn't a ladies' one piece dress right?"
It was a exceedingly simple to wear fabric have 3 lined up holes which allows the head and hands to pass through easily. The image of opening a hole in a futon sheet appeared in my head.
"to become teru teru bozu ... ..."
There was a waist cord which seems like a belt to coil around my waist, the kind that I saw in the movies which was worn by ancient people. After wearing the clothes, I suddenly seem to remember some of my hazy memories just before I was unconscious.
"It doesn't seems like i am in a --- dream"
I looked up at the low ceiling of the stone chamber which was illuminated by the bonfire, there was an ancient human painting of a disc shape earth filled with seas and mountains, this panting gave me a strong sense of dejavu.
"... ... I wondered what happen ... ...? I heard a strange voice, my body started floating ... ..., it feels like i have experienced this before"
This mysterious feeling which I can't put into words, a stream of information transfer came jumping directly into my consciousness. Next, I found myself leaving my body from the compounds of a shrine, my memories were vague after that.
After letting out a sigh, I stood up from the chair next to the altar and headed for the exit of the stone chamber. From the back of the altar through the opening of the entrance, there was a dark and narrow passage way.
After leaving the Stone Chamber the path immediately broke off and extended to the right as I follow the path it suddenly break off to the left, I have not a clue what just happened earlier. I took the a piece from the bonfire as a torch to light the passage way. As I took the piece of wood a chime sound echoed through my head, but I became accustomed to it and was no longed bother by it.
Not concerned by curiosity, anxiety and fear. Due to this sudden strange phenomenon, it felt like a mental shock that has nothing to do with the atmosphere, but somewhere deep down in my heart I have already accepted it.
~~~
A girl with pure white fluttering hair was trotting on the path towards the shrine in the forest that is located away from the village.
"Sun, Are you heading to the shrine?" (Zeshald)
"Yes, Mr Zeshald (teacher/doctor)" (Sun)
The village girl who replied to the middle age man, her name was Sun, she was heading towards the forest while holding onto a basket full of colorful flowers and freshly picked fruits of Lara. The person who called out to Sun was Zerald, he is the village doctor of the nearby village known as "Rufuku".
Although dull with age, he is one of those "god skill people", his blue hair and eyes indicates that he is blessed by the "Water God : Sharuna" with "water skills of Suigi people".
God Skill People ----
People of the four major god called these special abilities "God Skills". The residents of this world have established the four gods religion, as they believed that this world had been created by the four gods who governs the "flame", "water", "soil" and "wind".
The majority of the people entrusted with the "God Skills" are proofed of god's divine protection and blessing. Basically, each person can only have one type of "God skills" that dwells within them, those who are entrusted with "God Skills" will be influenced by the god in the form of their hair and eyes colors.
Zeshald is a middle class god citizen entrusted with the "God Skills" of the 2nd highest ranking god, the "Water God : Sharuna" among the 4 gods. As the water techniques of "God Skills" are adept to healing magic, it would have allowed him to live a luxury life in the city of god skill people, but he was a so-called oddball.
"Teacher/Doctor, is that a new book?" (Sun)
"Umm. This time apparently it is about the items in the nonsense ancient shrine." (Zeshald)
"That Shrine which is in the village of no skill?" (Sun)
"Yes indeed, it seems that the evil god is somehow related to the no skill people." (Zeshald)
The no skill people, are literally those who does not have "god skills", they are clearly distinguished by the god skill people.
The people of the god skills are group into different class system status in accordance to their gods, those who are associated or blessed by one of the 4 gods live together in same city, on the other hand only a small number of no skill people are allowed into these district, while the other no skills people have to form villages to live on the outskirts of the city.
Generally, when the no skills people gather together to found a village it is known as "Village of no skills". And so in various old no skill villages there existed a number of mysterious shrines known as "no skill shrine", due to a sinister looking statue enshrine within it researchers called them "Temple of the Evil god".
The "Evil god", the one in the old tales of Karutsio "Calamity of the evil god". Legend has it that approximately 300 years ago that a disaster occurred in Karutsio, and it seems that this year is exactly 300 year since that disaster.
However, 300 years ago and the previous 300 years records about the legends of the "Last disaster" and "Calamity of the evil god" were not in detailed documentation, between the scholars half of them believed that it is a mere superstition.
"Calamity God ......, did such a being ever existed?" (Sun)
"Ho Ho ~ I also can't imagine the time of the legend when the creator of demons existed." (Zeshald)
The identity of the so called "Calamity of the evil god" is believed to be the natural disaster and outbreaks of diseases. The no skill people are suffering from injuries and illness, as they do not have the abilities like the water god skill people who can heal instantaneously.
Because of that, if a large scale disaster, like a plague/epidemic occurs it will cause catastrophic damages and suffering. Thus in numerous No skill villages there exist the calamity god's shrine, as a meaning of prayers so as large scale disaster like plague/epidemic would not befall onto them, thus to pray to the enshrined statue of the calamity god is common knowledge.
"Well, there is Mr Zeshald in this village of Rufuku so I am not afraid of any calamity god" (Sun)
"Ho Ho Ho, isn't Sun a good child" (Zeshald)
Zeshald lower his eye brows and smile, while stroking onto Sun's white hair with his old seasoned hands. Sun who has white hair and eyes as a trait is also known as a "No skill people". The region that he currently resides in "Rufuku Village" does not have any god skill people.
The Power Difference between a God Skill People and No skill people is limitless, thus a hierarchy of social status is apparent. Within the county regions, the no skill people are seen as ajin: demi-human, and may not be recognized as human beings.
The No skill people due to constantly being oppressed, other than those who are traveling for fun they do not like the god skill people. In a sense, the one who is living in this no skill village, the one who sees the no skill people as equal, and uses his god skill of healing to heal the villagers, Zeshald is indeed seen as an 'Oddball'.
Thus Sun respects Zeshald not only as a doctor of the god skill people, but also as a fellow human.
"Well then, I'm going to honor the offerings." (Sun)
"Umm, Take Care" (Zeshald)
After seeing off Sun to the shrine, Zeshald started to read the book 'Calamity of the Evil god' in his hands, while heading back to Rufuku Village. While examining the book he found a common point about the calamity god between the book and a verse in the bible. 'The Calamity god is powerful enough to cause the world to disappear'
"Hmmm I see. As I thought ... ... that sort of epidemic that written down can also be viewed like this."
Besides being the village doctor of Rufuku village, Zeshald have also been researching on the Shrine of No Skill, the reason he came to the village of no skill in the first place was to research on the calamity god, as a matter of fact the villagers do not possess the god skills while living their simple life, were impressed Zeshald's way of living to seek wisdom and knowledge.
In the city of the god skill people, whether it is from small items, to respectable buildings, they are all being created by the expertise God Skill Craftsmen of production and constructions, there are no other kind of people who are specialized in craftsmanship. The mastery level of the productions of depends on the individual God Technique, which affects the outcome of the buildings.
But for the village of no skills everyone within the village have to help out, in order to build a house. The foundation of the house, doors, roof and etc. is made out of wood, those who have skills and experience would teach those who are new during the building process.
By looking and noticing how the no skill people mutually supporting each other, how wisdom and technology are being passed down, thus Zeshald was thinking whether the environment around the old shrines affected them or not.
"It seems like the previous Calamity recorded down was around this season.....
Between the 5th day and the 15th day of Sharuna's fire month, and today's the 11th day." (Zeshald)
Since the 300 years ago calamity, there has been rumors spreading in the city. For some reason, the atmosphere feels like there isn't any preparation for any disaster, it feels extremely peaceful, to the extend where people were even drinking and snacking.
"... ...? It seems like more birds are migrating than usual." (Zeshald)
While looking at the sky within the forest of the shrine, Zeshald felt something disturbing the power of god within him. Facing the shrine Sun's Shadow is no longer visible.
"Well, I hope that nothing will happen for the better." (Zeshald)
Once again he looked up at the sky, while looking at the birds who were flying above the sky of the forest, he unconsciously walk towards the shrine.
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