"Uh, practice? Astris? What is she talking about?"
Those same questions lingered on Yuzuriha's lips, not loud enough for Marcille to catch but loud enough to hear herself speak.
She was capable of speech…again!
For some reason she couldn't speak earlier, as if something was choking her by the throat.
No, that would be an extreme example…Yes, it would be better to say that something was holding her voice back.
'This really sucks, there's so much I don't know. A lot of things keep happening to my mind and body. I suddenly know information I shouldn't and I have no control over this body'
'What is happening to me?!'
Yuzuriha wanted to shout out loud but held herself back. Currently she was walking with Marcille to the bedroom, leaving Leo and Willow to clean up the dinner table.
Marcille held her by hand as she guided her across the apartment.
It was only then that she began to notice how calloused her older sister's hand was. She could feel the scratches on her knuckles and the uneven skin from healed blisters.
'In my opinion, it's unbecoming of a lady to have such strong and rough hands. They feel like those from that construction worker I used to work with. Whenever a deal was sealed, we would shake on it. They feel like that'
'Makes me wonder what kind of job she does. Something with manual labor should be about right. But I have to acknowledge how gentle she's holding on to mine'
Her hand was rough and strong, yes. But it was also…warm and gentle.
⟨⟨ Information on 'astris' has been collected. Would you like a detailed explanation?⟩⟩
Yuzuriha's body twitched involuntarily as she heard that sudden voice, it nearly made her stumble. Mostly because it was too familiar.
'The Voice of God?!'
She quickly turned her head around but that proved to be useless for obvious reasons. And the voice usually came at the back of her mind so she was probably the only one who could hear it.
⟨⟨ Would you like a detailed explanation?⟩⟩
'There it is again. The last time it contacted me, it went silent the next minute.'
⟨⟨ Would you like a detailed explanation?⟩⟩
⟨⟨ Would you like a detailed explanation?⟩⟩
It was repeating. Like some mind record skipping on a broken turntable.
'Ah, should I accept? But wait'
"Yor? Are you okay? Could you be sick?"
Marcille's voice came from beside her. Her tone had softened, concern quickly coating every syllable as she asked about her health. She even went down to Yuzuriha's level, placing her palm on her head to check her temperature.
'Ok, that's a bit of an overreaction. Is she normally like this? I got to make up an excuse quick'
"If you're not feeling well, we could—"
"Bathroom!"
She said that so suddenly her voice tore through the hallway. But she didn't concern herself with that and did a follow up.
"I, uh…bathroom. I need the bathroom. Now. Badly!"
Marcille didn't answer immediately and Yuzuriha didn't wait for a reply. She spun on her heel and speed walked away without a destination in mind.
Yuzuriha slightly raised her arms like a malfunctioning doll. She had been to the bathroom once, guided by Willow but she didn't know this apartment that well.
'Where is it? Where is it? It should be around here somewhere'
Fortunately, through her enhanced sense of her smell and hearing she could tell that her hand found the right door, and she slammed it shut behind her.
She leaned against it and took a deep, shallow breath to calm her pounding heart down.
⟨⟨ Would you like a detailed—⟩⟩
"Shut up! I get it already. Just who the hell are you?!"
That repetition of the same sentence was really starting to get annoying. Her outburst was warranted, but that made her feel bad after because she had just…
'I just yelled at God'
A cold shiver cut down her spine so sharp she immediately went on her knees and bowed her head all the way to the tiled floor.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! Please forgive me God!"
Yuzuriha gave her sincerest apology while scraping her forehead on the cold floor. After everything that happened to her, she had a firm belief that divine punishment was definitely real!
And she didn't want any of it.
However, for a while, there was only silence. God must have been angry at her or took offense in how she responded.
And so, Yuzuriha raised her head and decided to try again.
"Look, I'm sorry for lashing out on you, but you were really getting on my nerves back there. Sometimes I get annoyed easily, but how about we try again?"
God didn't respond. She frowned.
"Well, I can't blame you. But could you at least tell me who you are? I feel like referring to you as God seems to be jumping to conclusions"
In all honesty it was a ridiculous notion to begin with. Out of billions of people in the world, why would God talk to her all of a sudden?
Was it because she died? Was this how reincarnation worked?
Yuzuriha had a lot of questions but no answers. She sat there on the floor for a bit before deciding to leave.
Marcille would probably get suspicious if she took too long and so, she went on her feet and just when she was about to pull open the door…
⟨⟨ I am what you refer to as…the Voice of God⟩⟩
It spoke and she was right! But Yuzuriha kept her cool. Taking another breath, she asked.
"You are God? But as in like…a voice in my head?"
⟨⟨ I am more than that. I am Sawatari, a bound Manifestation assigned to support your cognitive and combat development. Think of me as a personalized intelligent interface with selective world data. Your assistant ⟩⟩
"My assistant?"
Hearing the word reminded Yuzuriha of her former assistant at Ichimonji International, his name was Ichiji Hyoma, nice guy, but he wasn't the focus here!
For unknown reasons, she now had an assistant.
"Sawatari, huh? You responded when I said astris, right?"
That name was strangely Japanese, but she didn't press on that. There were other matters to press on.
⟨⟨ Correct. It was a valid query. So, I offered my services ⟩⟩
"And can you explain it?"
⟨⟨ I can. Would you like a detailed explanation now?⟩⟩
Now that she had calmed down, Yuzuriha exhaled slowly through her nose for the last time and spoke.
"Yeah…sure. Go ahead."