Posts from 🍁Nine Ancient Obelisks

And don't you get gourmet points for pie and tea?

After waking up, Erika goes to the university.

- Hmm? Hmm! Good, very good - like the smile of a loved one, like a sweet dream at the end of a day full of events! - Stepping away from the canvas and finally giving the unexpected guest the attention he deserved, the man greeted him with an elegant bow. - Welcome!

—Like an exciting book, like an interesting conversation! - the southerner replied in kind. - Is there a special reason for this wonderful "today"? - he decides to ask, just in case.

– Greetings, Lady Kimchilla,” Camistella began in her usual manner. – And greetings to you as well. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the pleasure of learning your name back then. But you must admit: the world is surprisingly small. Are you now offering participation in experiments to the most influential lords of our kingdom? I am filled with vague doubts. Dispel them!

- Oh, Lady Camistella... - Kimchilla was somewhat distracted at that moment. - Something tells me I haven't seen you since our last meeting; what are you up to these days?...
- Pfft," the scientist made an unpleasant face. "My name is Snafghoria, and let it be known that if it weren't for experiments, we would all be living in caves right now, and there wouldn't even be any talk of civilization's benefits. Scientific research is the highest form of human intelligence! It is the only thing noble in this vulgar world!"
- Well, well, Lady Snafghoria," the artist interjected, "don't go too far criticizing the world, or you might end up on the stake; I heard that an inspection is being carried out in the capital." The word "inspection" clearly worried the researcher. "Tell us better what interesting things you have here, some alluring little bottles." To confirm his interest, Phainant twirled one of them between his fingers, almost dropping it on the floor. "Oops..."
- Be careful!” Snafghoria exclaimed indignantly. “This is a very valuable specimen!”
- I’ll explain,” Kimchilla offered. “They should help me change my natural eye and hair color, and then...”
- A-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A! - The artist suddenly screamed as if he had found himself on an operating table without anesthesia, forcing both women and the servants milling around to cover their ears.
- W-what's wrong, sir?” The wealthy woman stared at the guest in bewilderment.
- It's you.”
- Huh?
- You. After the experiment is completed, when your reflection appears in the mirror. What if you turn into some hideous hunchback? To reinforce his words with an image, the artist hunched over, made an idiotic face, and laughed disgustingly. "Hehehe!" And then immediately straightened up. "But even if you get lucky and that doesn't happen, the object of your desire will never reciprocate your feelings. Never, under any circumstances. Do you understand?"
- Why is that?...
- Because, however unbelievable it may sound coming from me, appearance isn’t everything. And you, Lady Kimchilla, by rejecting what was given to you at birth, will lose something very important – your own dignity. Do you think anyone will be interested in you romantically after that? There will only be one path left for you: to become a priestess of Nanaya, because not even a self-respecting Scrye would want you.

- Hooray! 🥳 Thank you! - Insho signs. - What should I do now? 🙂

- For now, nothing - the new season hasn't started yet. - The leader gives the recruit a bag with 1000 rems. - Here, take this.

Waking up, Erika goes to university.

And arrives there. It seems that Snegoles, the university caretaker, worked tirelessly, day and night, because today she was again in her usual place.

Added 2 minutes later

"Like an exciting book, like an interesting conversation!" the southerner chimed in. "Is there a special reason for this wonderful 'today'?" he decides to ask, just in case.

- As long as we are alive, every day is wonderful, my young friend!

- For now, nothing – the new season hasn't started yet. - The leader gives the recruit a bag with 1000 rems. - Take this, it's for you.

- Aaaah! Well, okay, then I'll eagerly await the start!

Happily taking the bag, Insho went home, pondering what she should do until the season begins.

- Good morning. I would like to sign up for the "Martial Arts" course. But there's a catch... I'm not from around here, could I have some kind of "individual training schedule"?

Are the courses studied sequentially? That is, first, an introduction to weapons, and only then tactics and duels?

Returning home, Insho sees a new inscription on her wall – "stinky."

Added 22 minutes later

- Good morning. I would like to sign up for the "Martial Arts" course. But you see... I'm not from around here, can I have some kind of "individual learning schedule"?

Are the courses studied sequentially? That is, first, an introduction to weapons, and only then tactics and duels?

Yes.

- Of course! But first, - Zavirushka gives Erika a blank student ID, - please fill in the fields with your name, place and date of birth, and height.

How she plays! How she plays! Phainant is truly the star of this celebration! Oh, minus the ears... "I decided to take up magic. It's a worthy pursuit, even if it requires regular visits to Shinengen. So, I was away for some time," Camistella began her monologue, "and what a surprising coincidence: one day, on the streets of Shinengen, I met Madame Snafhoria, who tried to catch me off guard. I suppose this is a regular practice for 'Mania of Research,' as it's a well-known and rather peculiar shop... finding test subjects for testing new developments is probably not easy. In any case, the key feature of the unique products of 'Mania of Research' is their unpredictability. In some cases, the chance of success is fifty-fifty... in others, you don't even know what those chances are. Of course, there are also stable products, but tell me, Madame Kimchilla: is it worth trusting 'Mania of Research' with hair and eye color changes? It's irreversible, it might give you the wrong color, or, even better, change something else about you as a bonus," Camistella smiled sadly. "Mr. Phainant is right, Madame Kimchilla, the risk is not worth it. He is also right about the instigator of your desires: perhaps none of us are meant to understand his true desires. You are already beautiful, why go to such extremes? Why surrender your body to uncontrolled randomness? And to you, Madame Snafhoria, I will say this: it seems that you deliberately seek out 'clients' among the depressed, preoccupied, or absent-minded. Because with a clear mind... hardly anyone would associate with you. And one more thing: science strives for accuracy, and your research is the direct opposite. I will remain silent about how many forces in our world are above science." Having finished her monologue, the Lunarian thought that Kimchilla would gain great popularity among the priestesses of love... what prospects! Perhaps she would be nicknamed Kamchilla the Gray!

- You won't be able to write the word "genjutsu" without the word "Genza," - croaked Genza, not particularly concerned with the orthographic accuracy of what he said, and coughed from his parched throat - he was incredibly thirsty, and it was incredibly stuffy in the bag. - So this is what adult life looks like. Stuffy darkness and embers under your feet.
He tried to see something through the tiny holes in the fabric of the bag, then whispered behind him:
- Bro... are you alive?

- Of course, you can! But first, - Virushka hands Erika a blank student ID, - please fill in the fields with your name, place and date of birth, and height.

Erika writes down the necessary information:

Name: Erika

Kimchilla's answer was very concise.
- Lady Camistella. Lady Snaffgoria. Mr. Faineant... Leave me alone for today, I need to be by myself.

Well, the mission is complete, the rest is just details. – Of course, the final decision is always yours, Mr. Faineant, – Kamistella said at the end and headed for the exit, pulling Faineant along with her (outtakes). – Of course, the final decision is always yours, Ms. Kimchilla, – Kamistella said at the end and headed for the exit, pulling Faineant along with her. It turned out to be easier than she thought, but the annoying "scientist" wasn't gone yet, and it was worth keeping an eye on her.

The brother (if it was him) didn't respond – it seems he hadn't woken up yet and was walking under the influence of hypnosis. The captor wasn't very talkative either. After an indefinite amount of time, the sand under their feet gives way to cool stone, and the scorching sun overhead also disappears. The trio navigates through a maze of corridors and then stops; the prisoners are made to kneel, and their escort sits down next to them. - Aruji-sama, the volunteers. At that moment, the sacks around Genza and Girra's heads are removed, and they see a long hall, with menacing-looking people in black robes lining both sides. Each one was armed. - Good. When the unfamiliar old man, obviously the leader of this gang, stood up from his seat, the buttons on his shirt couldn't withstand the force of his muscles, and one of them flew off and hit the young man in the forehead. - Welcome to the "Passionate Desire" base. Despite the absurdity of what happened, no one in the hall even thought of laughing. To his right stood a young woman with a warlike appearance, and to his left, a creepy-looking boy... or girl? It was unclear. - Hey... what's going on? - Girra, who had just regained consciousness, asked in a whisper.

- Hello, - Gen reflexively shook his head from the impact of the improvised projectile, and the question ran through his mind - was this event with the shirt an elaborate staged performance, or did it happen by chance?
However, without dwelling on this thought, he glanced at those present - he probably wouldn't be able to tell how much their clothing corresponded to foreign standards, but he noted to himself that he had probably seen such unusual blades for their latitudes or longitudes a couple of times before.
Sitting on their knees, as if they had been brought to the executioner, was more uncomfortable than the stares of the thugs, but he made every effort to maintain his posture.

- W... What's going on? - Girra asked in a whisper, just coming to his senses.

- We were brought here, - he replied in the same whisper, experiencing a certain degree of internal tension, which was not typical for him, and waiting for further developments.