Chapter 11 "Indemnius Spirit Crystal"

This was my third day since Grussel drove me out of the base. After that, I hadn't met with any members of Dark Night at all. Likewise Dimas. I wonder what he was doing now. The town wasn't too big. We could easily meet or cross paths, let alone this Aunt Saantya's clinic building, which wasn't too far from the hunter base. Perhaps he had forgotten about his best friend.

Even though I wanted to be accompanied by someone in a dull time like this. I couldn't disturb Kak Shella or my other friends.  They were working during the day like this. Only the hunter had a long spare time when the sun was still shining. Of course, I couldn't just visit them. The bastard old man indeed would drive me away.

I let out a long sigh. Staring out the window of my room, which was on the third floor in a large building behind the clinic. Not much could be seen from here. Just buildings that were built so close to each other and people passing below. Actually, I wanted to buy something. But got canceled after looking inside my purse. A single piece of silver coin and one bronze coin. I was really flat broke right now.

Being a hunter was fun because it always got a challenge every day. But it wasn't balanced with the income. Most of the earning of the game was for the group's saving-or even eaten by Grussel himself. The remaining bucks were divided equally on all members, whether they participate in the hunting or not.

In fact, I could find another job to improve my life. There were a lot of job offers from friends. For example, from the twins Vani and Vian. The two sisters were offering me to become a waiter in the restaurant they work at. The salary was about fourteen silver coins each month. It could make me buy anything I wanted. Not only that but there was also an offer to become officers at the Glafelden Town Trade Bureau. But I didn't accept it.

Two main reasons kept me out of other jobs in this town. One, because of my actual race, Haier-Elvian. If I changed my occupation, only a matter of time until my new coworkers found out my true identity. Maybe they wouldn't accept me like members of Dark Night did. They indeed would discriminate against me. That was my strong reason not to further engage with the townspeople. The second reason was, by becoming a hunter, I could go to any place I wanted. Perhaps by then, I could find answers to a phenomenon that I had. While finding a way to return to the homeworld.

Although the chance was thin, I...

"Anggi, are you awake!?"

Suddenly a surprising voice coming from behind. When I turned toward the door, I found Kak Shella was in there. While both hands holding the basket containing the clothes that had been washed clean and neatly ironed.

"Eh, Kak Shella!? Yes, just now."

"Have you wash your face?"

I nodded.

"But your face was still tangled," uttered her, glaring at me.

"L-Looks like because I overthink about many things."

"What's it about?"

I shook my head slowly. "It's not important. Forget it! By the way, aren't you working at the clinic?"

"My work shift starts later in the afternoon. So I take the morning to wash clothes. If you need extra clothes, just say to me.  I'll prepare it for you."

"No, really! I don't wanna bother you again."

Kak Shella paused, then smiled thinly. "Anggi ... do you think this little thing bothers me? Rather than what you already have done for other friends and me? C'mon! You don't need to feel embarrassed. Just ask me if you need anything."

I sighed. On the second thought, it wasn't too bad if continuing to refuse help from others. Moreover, Kak Shella was likely to be forcing me to rely on her during my hard times like this.

"Alright. I accept your offer. I'm going to the city library this morning. Could you lend me a nice dress? Ah, but don't be too flashy as the last one!"

"Okay!" she said gleefully.

Half an hour later, I was heading out with new clothes that had been prepared by Kak Shella. A plain white blouse and trousers made from linen fibers. Complete with a leather jacket which into the present trend for teenagers in this city. Not to forget a knit hat to cover my ears. Although fashion clothes in this world were similar to the European middle ages, it wasn't too bad. At least fashion clothes here were evolving slowly but surely towards the better.

My step shoes mixed with everyone's else when entering the city streets. People walking on the sidewalk I walked, but not as much as during peak hours.

It didn't take long for me to get to the city library. Rows of books welcoming once past the giant twin doors made of teak. Bookshelves filled every corner of this large and magnificent building. I didn't know what the library chief was thinking. The shelves were arranged to form a maze. Fortunately, the shelves' height was only as tall as an adult shoulder. You definitely got lost if the height was three-meter tall.

I approached the front desk located right before the giant doors. This table was very long. Some people were behind the front desk. They would help those who wanted to borrow a book or just asking about the book catalog. I chose a receptionist whose queue was empty.

"Hey, Anggi! Long time no see. Where have you been lately? Previously you're here almost every day," said the receptionist lady.

"I was busy. Maybe a few days later, I would often come here because I got a long holiday." I chuckled.

"Why? Are you fired from work?"

"Hey, watch your mouth! I just ... take a break, you know!" I yelled with a loud voice. The girl just laughed at my response.

"Do you want to borrow some books today?"

"Nope. I want to read here. If there is an interesting one, I will do."

"Do you need help with the catalog?"

I shook my head. "No need. I've memorized it all. So don't worry!  I'm here just to greet you."

I waved at her while leaving the reception desk. She responded with a wave and a smile too. When I first came to this world, my first choice to find information was this place. So I often visited the library, I was familiar with all the employees here. They were all pleasant people when spoken to. Of course, while trying to not get too close to them. Because it would be bad if anyone knew about my actual identity.

I took the stairs to get to the second floor, located quite high from the ground floor. The lower level contains a collection of fiction books, magazines, and foreign language lessons. At first, I was surprised to see this world also had novels and comics, as in the world I came from. With the nearly same quality, I quite enjoyed some of it. Meanwhile, I headed to the second level, containing the books of non-fiction, science, biography, and history. This section was I frequently visited.

From the beginning, I really liked to read at this place. Because from this place I got to know about this world entirely. If it weren't from the library, I wouldn't know about the countries outside this kingdom, races other than humans and Elvian, enormous monsters and exotic plants, as well as the history.

Only one thing lack of this place. They didn't have a lot of books about Esze, only some of it that could be counted by finger. And it was just mentioning it. I expected some books analyzing further about Esze. Either the introduction to its various kind, learning to mastery, as well as its history. I understood anyway. This library was located in a human country that couldn't control Esze. They might not write something impossible thing they couldn't do.

I was intrigued by the Kingdom Elvian West. Maybe their library had many books about Esze. But come to think, there was no point for me to sweat it.

After picking up some books, I rushed to the reading section in the room corner. Not so many visitors these days, so there were lots of empty tables I could freely pick. The choice fell on one of the tables against the wall and window.

This was the best place to read. You could get enough sunlight for reading. Besides, you could also get fresh morning air if you opened the window. Letting the wind caressed you while reading made you more felt comfortable and quiet.

Five hours passed without my conscious after reading books on the table. It was past time for lunch, but my stomach wasn't too hungry. It seemed that reading became my priority than having lunch. The information I got was so fascinating.

I chose books to study on all the deities worshiped in this world. After witnessing the Sun Festival and Rubiel Festival a few months ago, I became interested in other gods. It turned out that the world has and believed in twelve gods, including God Lillio and Goddess Lunaris. They were known as the Twelve Holy Gods, led by the Gods of Glory, Inggra.

It was said that the gods initially stayed in heaven, separating themselves from all creatures on the surface. As the most intelligent beings on the surface, humans began to have difficulty surviving from the giant monsters and demonic beasts. They were often preyed upon. The death rate was more than the birth rate. The human population shrunk down to about ten thousand from the initial amount reaching one million.

At the crucial time, God Inggra ordered all the gods to descend to the surface. Giving the command for them to save all humankind. With their extraordinary power, the gods destroyed monsters and beasts that dared to prey on humans. Then dividing this world into three continents. Blue Continent for human settlements, where I lived in the moment. Green Continent for the mythical creature. While the Dark Continent for the monsters and demonic beasts. God Inggra separating every continent with vast stretches of ocean, so they won't disturb each other.

This set of books managed to drown me into its world until the time passed very quickly. The evening had come ahead. The sky was reddish-orange, and gray clouds adorned it. The sun was going to set over the western horizon. Flocks of birds were flying and singing at the top of the building. Maybe they wanted to going home. That was how it should be.

I had to going home before dinner, or I would going to skip it. After reading, I intended to close the book. However, I halted immediately by an interesting page. 'Indemnius Spirit Crystal of the Gods.'

I saw it once again and made sure to read it properly. There was nothing wrong with the writing. The only strange thing this was the first time I heard the term. Even among some books about gods I just read, not even a single mention of it. Curiosity made me ignored the evening has come and then opened the next page.

According to this book, Indemnius Spirit Crystal were heirlooms belonging to the gods. Each of these gods and goddesses had one. These objects that maintained the stability of the world from the past until now. Although it has the name 'spirit crystal,' it didn't object shaped like a piece of crystal.

For example, Wind Spirit Crystal, Vitruj, belonging to Weather Goddes, Alina, Having a form of robes worn by wanderers in the desert. This heirloom has the power to control the wind and weather. What an incredible power, I thought. Another heirloom had different effects on each other. Suddenly my eyes fixed on one spot on the page.

.. the most remarkable wasn't spirit crystal belonging to God Inggra or Goddess Alina. But the Spirit Crystal of Hope named Nadzieja. Owned by Goddess Shakilla as the Goddess of Hope. A goddess who was very sincere and had a kind-hearted among the gods and goddesses. Nadzieja could grant any wish even though it was impossible.

"This spirit crystal was somewhat smaller than the other. Taking the form of a star-shaped pin, making it a symbol of hope for humankind."

I was immediately shocked. My mouth opened wide while reading the page. I reread the last part and tried to get it all.

Impossible. Star-shaped pin? Wasn't that thing that I picked up a year ago on the river during the inauguration of the Taekwondo club?

Once again, I was stunned. My legs were going limp instantly. "Does that mean ... I was brought into this world because of this spirit crystal?"