Now that Lapis was gone, I decided to check out some… History.
("I wonder if they have 18+ recordings.") [Solace]
I immediately slapped myself for that.
("Why am I like this? …Do I need to touch grass?) [Solace]
Having said that, I scoured the shelves for something interesting.
("Enthronement of the first lord… Birth of the first dragon… Throwing a baby out of a window?!") [Solace]
That really made me wonder who decides what to record.
("Well… Considering earth's history… That doesn't seem that bad.") [Solace]
I know, I know. I'm not gonna point any fingers or name any figures, but… pretty much anyone who's gone to school will know what I'm talking about.
("Oh, this looks interesting.") [Solace]
I found one labeled "Bestowal of the gods", so I took a minute to watch.
("Hm… There's no sound.") [Solace]
I inspected the crystal ball, allowing me to find a small magic circle on the back.
("Is this it?") [Solace]
I didn't want to mess with it without making sure, so I had to double check.
"|Analyze|." [Solace]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Name: Sound Button
Description: A magic circle haphazardly made and named by the Sorceress Lapasia Fae for the sake of convenience.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
("Wow.") [Solace]
Considering Lapis' personality, I didn't doubt the description.
("Let's see if it works.") [Solace]
I pressed the magic circle, but nothing happened.
("Hm?") [Solace]
Pressing it a few more times, a whole lot of nothing happened again.
("I could've sworn the magic circle name had "button" in it. Maybe I need to put mana in it?") [Solace]
Following that thought, I focused some mana in.
"I re— Left—" [Crystal Ball]
Audio started to come in. However, it was kind of glitchy.
"From now on, humans will be born with a god's blessing." [Crystal Ball]
("Oh, now it works.") [Solace]
Watching the video, I saw a bunch of shining figures speaking to each other.
"How shall we determine it?" [Golden Body]
"Perhaps we should change one of their appearances?" [Golden Body 2]
At this point they had no traits for me to go off of, so I went with Golden Body 1, 2, and so on.
"Physical changes shouldn't be done. "It" won't allow us." [Golden Body 3]
"Hm…" [Golden Body 1]
The Golden Bodies racked their brains for ideas. I wasn't sure if they were gods or not, but I guess they aren't omniscient either way.
"Let us change their hair color. That should be within bounds." [Golden body 2]
The Golden Bodies nodded.
"A good choice." [Golden Body 3]
"Very well. Let it be known that hair color shall define a god's blessing upon humans." [Golden Body 1]
A bright light then covered the entire crystal ball, causing the video to end.
"...Huh?" [Solace]
("Was that why every person I've met had some kind of weird hair color?") [Solace]
Judging by what I had just seen, each person's hair color was a different kind of blessing from a god. It may have just been an assumption though.
("I'll try asking Lapis about it sometime.") [Solace]
Seeing as I had finished watching the video, I placed the crystal ball back.
"Eh?" [Solace]
I suddenly lost control of my leg. My leg kicked off my shoe and sock, then proceeded to wind itself back as far as it could.
"What? What's happening?! Help!" [Solace]
Without warning, my foot accelerated and struck the corner of a nearby shelf with my small toe.
"You have gained |Experience|. |Gentleman's Favor| has gained a level." [Spirit Guide]
"OWWW!!" [Solace]
Control returned to me, allowing me to fall while clutching my foot.
"Argh…! Oh…! Urgh…!" [Solace]
I rolled around writhing in pain, inhaling sharply with every breath.
("So this is what Lapis cursed me with?!") [Solace]
It was truly painful.
"You have acquired |Pain Resistance|." [Spirit Guide]
("Really?!") [Solace]
That was quite a surprise. It wasn't when I trained with Master as he hit me, or when I almost died in a dungeon. It was when I stubbed a toe that I got |Pain Resistance|.
("I am so confused!") [Solace]
From the depths of my heart, I wished to scream a number of profanities.