Catheris's nails tore at the thin plastic seal over a small wooden box.
Saintesses were not always goddesses and their title of "Saintess" is proof of that. They're the successors of their patron deity, due to said deity's desire to ascend to a higher astral plane. In exchange, they look after the human world whilst they're gone, translating their philosophy and taking on their responsibilities. Saintesses are considered on the lower end of that plane, as they've only been let onto a bit of their teacher's knowledge.
Talismans were more effective than a mere blessing. But in the end, they were barely effective.
***
The sun began to set. As Catheris got closer to the shopping district, he noticed it appeared abandoned. It felt melancholic from the touches of nostalgic humanity left. Whilst not shut down it felt so drained. All the lights were off besides a few nail salons, and the shopping center's front was a shabby brown building.
He walked down to the end of the alley–just a concrete wall. A passerby wouldn't have noticed it if they weren't specifically looking for it, but to the side was a narrow path. And there it was–a lone grocery store.
Inside sat a green aproned clerk bored out of her mind behind the counter. She only had a few drink coolers keeping her company. Her chin rested on the back of her hand while staring at her phone. She glanced up from her lazed posture, then resumed to what she was looking at before.
Catheris tilted in for a friendlier, naive gesture. "May I see The Madame?"
Catheris: ^-^
"Aiii, we have a code you know." She groaned, not looking up from her phone as she got up and walked to the coolers.
"I haven't been here in years, so my memory's a bit hazy..." Catheris laughed nervously.
Haha. Hahaha. Hahahahahahahagsjkjdj. Ok let's get this over with.
"Alright alright, just go. You're lucky nobody's here right now." Shoo shoo. She swung the entire refrigerator open to reveal something behind it ...It didn't look like this place itself regularly got customers anyway.
It was a dimly lit secret entrance. The hallway turned at the end, the black fuzzy wall stopped him from seeing anything else. The floor was a rather tacky carpet that suited a casino.
"Go."
At the end of the hall he met a woman behind another counter. She wore a gaudy pink dress with slits and a cheetah print shawl hugged her waist. She accessorized with chunky gold accessories and sunglasses. Not The Madame.
She leaned on the counter. "Alright, 'whatcha looking for, kid?"
"Do you have anyone specialized in entering dreams?"
"Oh honey... they're fully booked for the time being."
"...I ...see."
"Eeeeh eh, don't worry. We also have some items behind me that'll do just the trick. I'll be back in just a second, darling!"
Her voice faded as she skipped away into the curtain closed door behind her.
"Oohh, you're just in luck," she yelled from the back.
She came back with a box with a wide, somewhat mischievous looking smile.
"Ah, thank you. I've been dealing with nightmares lately."
"That'll be 30,000 ov." She said before spurring on how great its creator was: his noble deeds, his pitiful backstory, his gracious gratitude-
"-by the way, no refunds," she shoved in.
"Do you think I just carry that much cash on me? It's unrealistic to think I'd carry months' worth of rent like that."
Prior, she boasted about how she'd have more money to spread between her fingers after this sale – it felt great even though it wasn't hers.
"Yeah yeah, well we don't get your kind much. Installations?"
"Card."
***
Kawaii Bells.
Each side of the box had kawaii bells harboring little chibi faces as equally cute as the name. Apparently, even with the mystic nature of this product, they still had to care for cute packaging. Inside were blessed bells with a paper talisman hung below to hang on the outside of his door. The description said the bells ward off evil spirits while the talisman protects.
Talismans derived their power from patron deities, who are on a whole other level. They were the representation of insurmountable concepts connected to the core of the universe as a whole. A human would disintegrate if they could ever come around to comprehending one of the beings.
Initially he thought the mystical ability was appealing enough – actually, who chose these types of things based on packaging? He didn't even get to see his options–he was assigned it. Either someone was showing off their graphic design skills or he was very unfamiliar with this industry.
Inside the box had... A kawaii adoption paper...? It was above a multitude of golden bells tied together in a spiral. They were connected to a wooden handle with a bundle of red string to attach it to wherever one pleased.
In the corners of the "adoption paper" were pretty pastel pink flowers. The "adoption paper" (it was a glorified business card with the logo on the back, they weren't even trying to be conspicuous.) itself was written in a pastel purple. It detailed the maker, its hometown, the blesser, and its birthdate. It also came with a small pamphlet underneath the soft cushion the bells laid on which explained how they worked.
[Patron deities were born in a time so ancient~ The state of the universe was like the bottom of the sea. It was a dull, barely habitable void with biological horrors.
These thinly inscribed symbols/holy names/messages, written in a long forgotten language, represent the very thread fate is weaved with. The energy of the future always wavers due to a myriad of choices being made, but these bells can stabilize the thread connected to one thing- your protection.
Holy relics, talismans, and everything alike are connected to the patron deities. They are the only ones who can interfere with the natural course of this world.]
Ah... can't forget the slogan at the end.
Kyuu Kyuu ~☆! I'll be your savior, promise~
So, will it work?
'Sweet dreams, please.' Clasping his hands, Catheris prayed as he hung the bells on his door. Kyuu Kyuu.
***
'Warding bells' 'protection talisman' –such fickle promises.
.
..
...
It was like there was a rainy cloud over him when he woke up. He solemnly sat straight in bed whilst his gaze blanked out downwards.
Another dream where he could sense 'it.'
Though, besides being pessimistic... it seemed the belongings in his room were untouched.
Either the bells worked to some extent or that thing learned how to behave. He didn't feel a myriad of eyes intensely staring at his sleeping figure last night. Nor was he 'jumpscared' by the entity as he returned from brushing his teeth. Maybe it only applied to reality?
'What a one trick pony..' Seriously, was that all the demon could do?
Still, the bells confirmed something. He knew the business that sold him the bells could be trusted. He remembered even his grandma would stop in sometimes for a chat. The people there had a whimsical taste and were straight to the point. The questionable casino carpet, the really tacky decor, even the counter lady's style was somehow made cohesive.
'I really do need something Deliamois level freaky.'
To this day, it truly impressed him how deep the stories of the island go; the way everything branched out was equally as impressive. Fuck, he was still getting new stories from his grandmother – she should really record them for future reference. As the way things were currently going, she'd be dead by some car crash.
"You know, I should probably buy some bells for my bathroom-"
Pervert.
***
With a basket in hand filled with yakgwa, expensive fruits, and candies in tow, he walked into his grandmother's lavish hospital room.
The old woman nonchalantly greeted him. "How are you, my mette?"
More like how are you.
"Surely grandfather can afford a chauffeur, no?" Catheris swung the basket back and up into the air, out of her reach.
"Oh... you're right."
Catheris tilted his head. "Yes yes, I'll call him later about it." He sighed, his tired tone reprimanding her: everyone in this family just haaaad to have a little special something to them.
"Sooooo, how's it going?"
"I'll be going to the heart in a few days for something non-work related."
She always was intrigued whenever he mentioned anything outside of work, which said a lot about his social life. A man married to suits work.
"Hmmm, you remember Saintess Aul?''
"They say she was the guardian of our sister islands. She quelled the feisty sea so we could live here peacefully. Granted, she had a lot of connections with the creatures who live below the water: one of those being a sea witch."
"The sea witch?" he blinked blankly at her.
"Unbelievable, eh? Well we Deliamoisian sure are secretive."
He was 26, why hasn't she told him before?
"Mn mn, apparently Deliamois is where the sea witch found her red braided basket full of pearls. That's why she likes looking over us. Aul took more priority over Deliamois since it needed more attention, the ocean used to be rather troublesome."
***
I write today to inform thee of a highly anticipated guest I'm bringing to the island.
He's a peculiar thing, really. Only Ste. Euryphillis knows how he hasn't passed over to Ste. Ikilryos's side. It's obvious he has a high ink capacity or else his mind would've shattered ages ago. Because of that I also suspect he has an insane rate of processing malignant. It was a continuous heavy flow circulating throughout, aggressively being replenished. After ages, the Bureau of Paranormal Activity has found someone who fits the specifications for the test subject detailed in the proposal. Contrary to his confused act, he seems well informed of his situation. I don't know why he acted all naive about it.
Nonetheless studying him will bring us closer to the root of the issue.
[Notes aside, I think he harbors a sort of distaste for me after such a first impression.]
-Your darling dearest: Sunflower.
***
As the aforementioned proposal details, indeed, a formidable test subject would be very valuable to conduct studies on. With that noted, put that as the subject line.
But as a test subject, it'll be very dangerous to pair him up with an agent for observation. As you know, most of them are needed for intense jobs. Therefore we'd need to pair him up with a paranormal investigator. Protection is necessary, so we'll provide all the relics. But if your suspicion of his high malignant processing rate ends up true, that won't be necessary. Also, as one of the few freelance investigators, you understand our stationed investigators already have enough on their plate.
With that said, I've already contacted the others. We cannot afford to have our one and only precious test subject be uncomfortable, so be good to him if it winds up being you.
You were right though, he is peculiar. His identity itself is a confidential matter I don't have access to. Though he's Orpheus Orial, which is even more incentive for you to get in his good books. Even if we wanted to, we can't force him.
I'll start preparing accordingly.
-Heron
***
Whattt you didn't even ask me if I could refuse.
-Your star that burns the brightest
***
Now why would I even bother with that?
-Your craned neck beauty
***