The rest of the show seemed to pass by in a flash as Souta was too preoccupied by what he read on the note he picked up as well as his divination.
'Becoming a spirited?' he thinks as he watches an acrobat balancing on an elephant's trunk 'like that thing that I read about in those books? But don't these guys worship that evil being Kazeyami?'
Souta audibly groans just thinking about this boatload of information he received out of nowhere.
Pondering his options the rest of the show flashes by..
coming to its end, he decides. 'I'll see what these clowns want then i'll go see if i can join this nations church and become a paladin'
As the ringmaster says his final words releasing the crowd, Souta stands up with the rest of the crowd "it's decided then" he mutters as he begins to make his way towards the back of the tent while the rest of the crowd heads out of the tent.
Souta unfolds the curtains, opening the back of the tent. He sees that only the girl stands in the middle of a dimly lit room companioned with a familiar orb used from earlier.
"oh so you were interested.." The ominous oracle remarks staring at Souta
Souta looks away feigning his interest in the topic that was left on the note.
Before walking closer to the girl, Souta questions
"So.. becoming A Spirited, what are you talking about?"
Souta thinks back to his last night at the inn reading the book he borrowed..
"Gods thrive on the connection they have with humans that share similar ideals with them.. A human that is exceedingly close to a God's ideals will become 'Spirited'.."
Souta snaps back out of his thoughts..
"Why are you bringing up something so mythological? It makes no sense."
The oracle giggles quietly, smirking at him, almost like Souta said something that was more silly than what she was referencing to him about being 'Spirited'.
"Well.. In this world -"
"This?.. World?!.." Souta panics
His eyes grow wider and blur the girl in front of him, turning the girl into another vanished color converging, becoming one with the room itself.
'No… there's no way she knows about my other world… that's too unrealistic… no wait. she's the oracle after all..- right?!' his mind races- his heart palpitates- he perspires.
Souta interrupts..
"What do you mean by this world?"
The girl giggles and replies sarcastically-
"Well.. I mean the world we are both in right now? What else could it possibly mean?" she smirks at Souta looking for a differentiation of his attitude, studying him..
Fearing that he may give himself away he attempts to act as if she is the weird one for bringing up the notion of 'this world'
"What a weird way to put it" he remarks
"I guess it is" she giggles "but there's still one last step to becoming a spirited. Do you know what it is?" she questions
Getting an ominous feeling he replies "no, not really. What is it?"
Growing a devilish grin she grows closer before whispering in Souta's ear "its a blood ritual" she says pulling out a long silver dagger stabbing Soutas hand piercing completely through
"FUCK!" Souta screams, pulling away from the strange oracle whose eyes seem to be pitch black. He turned and began to run "what the fuck!" he screams to himself as he keeps running until the strange carnival is left behind.
Looking up he notices that it is morning already. After he is sure that he's a safe distance from the Carnival he pulls the strange silver dagger out from his hand, quickly wrapping a piece of cloth around his wounded hand to stem the bleeding.
"That's it" he says angrily to himself "i'll make sure that those guys pay for this"
Looking around he notices a civilian. Hiding the dagger in his pants after making a makeshift sheath from his belt.
He approaches the civilian asking where the nearest church is, upon receiving directions he begins making his way toward the church.
'Ill report those fuckers to the church and make sure that they all get locked away for good' he thinks grimacing in anger.
On his way to the church he notices that he's getting multiple strange stares from many people, the more they stare the faster his heart beats. Feeling a strange paranoia he begins holding his wounded hand, his palms growing clammy.
Looking around he feels as if everyone is staring at him. Now visibly dripping sweat he notices a lady approach him, his vision slightly blurry.
"Are you okay dear?" she asks with worry apparent in her voice.
"Yes, I'm fine" he retorts.
"You don't seem to be fine" she says, still seeming extremely worried.
"I'm fine goddammit!" he yells back at her causing her to recoil. Noticing that he's gained the attention of multiple scrutinous stares he begins running towards the church.
'Fuck,fuck' he thinks as he runs 'what the hell did that bitch do to me, did she poison me or what' battling this internal struggle he begins to lose his way as his vision becomes more blurry and tunneled as he finally slows down.
"young man, do you need help?" questions a man who is dressed as though he's a priest. Looking at the man a bit more closely Souta notices that he's wearing a pendant with a symbol of a sword cutting through a chain on it.
"I-I'm j-just trying to-to reach th-the paladins ch-church" Souta stutters.
"Are you okay?" the man questions
"Yes i-i'm just trying to reach the church" Souta says with more finality
"Well i'm going there right now, you're welcome to tag along if you want" the man says kindly
"Alright, th-thanks" Souta manages to eek out
"Your welcome" the man says kindly. Leading Souta through the city. Not paying much attention Souta begins thinking about what Could be wrong with him.
'Im sure I must have been poisoned. Though it must not be deadly otherwise I would have already dropped dead by now.' he thinks continuing to follow the kind man towards the church.
'Where are you going.'
Snapping out of his stupor Souta looks around noticing that he is once again in an alley. Feeling confused he looks toward the man who has now stopped and turned around looking at Souta with an unreadable expression.
Suddenly Souta found himself on the ground feeling warm blood trickle down his nose 'did he just punch me in the face?' Souta thinks while standing up again, his legs shaking as he does so.
"I have no clue why a circus freak like you is trying to go to the church, but it's my lucky day" the man says walking closer to Souta.
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb with me, freak. You worship that foul deity Kazeyami, and when I bring you in and find where the rest of your buddies are, I'm sure to rise in level" the man says with a look of superiority in his eyes.
"What the fuck are you talking about" Souta says stepping back "I don't worship that strange god" Souta says desperately.
"Your lies know no bounds. Whatever. I, Noel spirit level one, spirited of the paladin church shall bring you in and make sure that your lies end forever."