Gerard and Sprite climbed the steps to the upper level of the city. At the top of the steps, they met several armoured men.
"Business?" An armoured man held his hand over the sword at his waist.
"We're new adventurers, going to the World Totem." Gerard pulled his temporary identification out and grabbed Sprite's card from her.
"Okay; just a minute." He glanced over the cards before handing them back.
"Is everything in order?"
"Yes. Please hold out your hands."
Gerard and Sprite did so willingly, and he set small pieces of paper on their right hands.
"Meld." He tapped both pieces of paper.
The paper quickly disappeared and left behind the marking of a square inside a circle, with a triangle inside the square.
"What's this?"
"Show it to one of the knights if they ask for your upper city permit."
"Okay."
*This area has a different feel about it than the rest of the city.*
The courtard they stood on had a wall and gate blocking the forward path, the left led to a large building, and the right led to a building similar in appearance to the guards' barracks' in the city.
"The city administration building is the one to your left, and the World Totem is inside. Don't cause any trouble while you're here."
"Thank you."
Gerard headed in the direction of the large building. Upon standing before it, the building was easily twice the size of the adventurer's guild. Two paths led around the building through a large garden that surrounded the entire exterior of the building.
*Reminds me of my mansion a little.*
The administration building was grand and imposing, with tall stone columns supporting the high vaulted ceiling. The interior was dimly lit, with the only light coming from the flickering candles scattered throughout the room. The scent of incense hung in the air, creating a mystical atmosphere.
"This isn't an administration building; it's a church..." Gerard stated.
"It does seem that way," Sprite said softly.
A woman approached, dressed in priestly garbs.
"Welcome to the Solares Administration Building, to what may I help you with?"
"I'm looking for the World Totem." Gerard held his and Sprite's adventurer cards up for her to view.
"Your first time, it seems. Just a reminder that any further visits to the World Totem will cost twelve gold pieces. Follow me." The woman opened the door to their right, and they proceeded down steps in a spiral.
"Twelve?"
"We need to support our workers, maintain the building, and study the World Totem by hiring members of the MRI. We are completely self-funded."
"I see. Worthy reasons to ask for payment."
"Please keep up."
The three of them walked for several minutes until they came to a large door. Suddenly, all sounds disappeared while the woman chanted something. The door opened up to show a large red crystalline structure with thousands of inscriptions engraved into it. The sounds of the world returned.
"What was that?"
"Cautionary measures. We can't have just anyone gaining access to the World Totem."
Gerard nodded to show his understanding.
"Hey, I feel something strange coming from that," Sprite whispered loud enough for just Gerard to hear.
"Pretty sure it would have something to do with your connection to the gods," Gerard whispered back.
"Now, if you would go ahead and touch the World Totem, I'll be waiting outside. Just know, if you cause damages, you will be executed as per royal law."
"Good to know."
Sprite and Gerard walked forward as the priestly woman left the chamber.
The designer of the chamber placed torches at even intervals on the chamber's walls. Menacing stone statues stood motionlessly in alcoves between the torches.
"After you." Gerard motioned Sprite to the World Totem.
"Okay! I'm excited to see what human class I'm given!" Sprite rushed up to the World Totem and placed her hand upon it.
Sprite scrunched up her face.
"I'm going to relay the information now."
[Available Classes: Guide - Upon choosing a guidee, a guide increases the experience points gained by the selected person and gains 5% of the accumulated experience for themselves. A half melee, half spellcaster, designed to aid others in many aspects.]
"Oh, so one class? Even as a human, I'm destined to aid others."
"That's amazing, Sprite! We can continue to help each other just by fighting together."
"I suppose so. What about you?" Sprite looked at the World Totem.
"Well, I've already got my class and access to the System, so isn't this pointless?"
*Wait, I can possibly talk to the gods!*
Gerard jumped forward and placed his hand on the totem.
A flash of white blinded him, and when he opened his eyes, he saw a woman sitting on a throne.
"It's good to see you found time to visit." The woman crossed her legs and leaned back.
"Amathea, I presume?" Gerard took a step forward.
"You presume correctly."
"Good. So, what the fuck is going on?"
"I understand you have many questions since we're reuniting after such a long time, but we don't have very long. Ask your most dire questions."
"Okay; why did I start this life again? How did you even do it?"
"Because of the Hero's death and several other pillars of strength that held the world up were all killed by you, the world would have ended in less than a month. We had to use a great deal of our power to take you back to the start of your journey and hope you would take a more agreeable path."
"Ah, so I did end up killing the hero. What do you mean by more agreeable? Where was your oversight, your guidance? I was hunted, experimented on, and eventually killed by the person I loved."
"We overlooked the fact that we cannot commune with undead beings. Your previous life may have been difficult, but now that you have a human body, we-"
"You incompetent pieces of shit." Gerard ran forward and swung his fist.
White light blinded him again, and he looked to see his fist lodged in the World Totem. No longer was he in the other realm, but back on solid ground.
"Coward."
"What did you do!?" The woman rushed back into the room and looked at the hole in the totem.
"I-I punched it?"
"I'm getting the knights; they'll-" She stopped and gaped in awe at the totem.
Where the totem was damaged, the hole filled back up and repaired itself before their eyes.
"What the?"
"I think the gods decided executing me might be a bad idea."
"Huh!?"
Gerard touched the totem again and concentrated, but the path back to the other realm was blocked.
"No luck. Let's go, Sprite." Gerard grabbed Sprite by the hand and walked her out of the chamber.
They retraced their steps until they exited the building. Gerard walked into the garden area and sat on a wooden bench overlooking a fish pond. Sprite sat on the ground and watched the fish swim around in the water.
"How'd it go with Amathea?" Sprite asked without turning her attention away from the fish.
"I might have tried to hit her and was ejected from their realm."
"Hit her? You tried to strike divinity?" Sprite flicked her head around and stared at him in surprise.
"I'm not so sure that's what they are anymore. It seems they're making things up as they go along."
"Well, they are my creators."
"I created your body. I essentially recreated your mind. Am I also divinity?"
"You make a good point. What you've done shouldn't be possible for a mortal being, but you're not divinity. So who are those beings in the other realm?"
"That's what I'm going to find out."
"But how?"
"We need money, powerful allies, stronger abilities, and much higher levels. Membership and quests from the guild should help with everything we need. We'll figure the rest out as we go."
"Then let's get that quest done." Sprite stood up and brushed the dirt and grass from her pants.
"Agreed."
---
Outside of the latrine, Gerard and Sprite covered their noses.
"That's gross!"
"You're not wrong." Gerard inched forward and took the sign away from in front of the door to prevent entry.
He opened the door and clenched his fist as he kept himself from vomiting due to the smell. He entered to see a swarm of flies escape into the city. Inside, a creature made of filth stumbled forward. The scent increased the closer the creature got.
"Nope!" Gerard closed the door promptly and shook his hands.
*Cleanse!*
[You do not have access to magic.]
"Oh, right."
"What, what was in there?" Sprite still covered her nose.
"I don't want to talk about it."
Curious, Sprite pushed past him to look inside and immediately closed the door before her breakfast left her body.
"That's a muck. Creatures born in filth after a little mana finds its way to it."
"Well, it's disgusting."
"Agreed." Sprite regained her sense of balance and looked behind Gerard.
"Excuse me, are you the adventurers?" A young man with a basket full of items approached.
"Yes, we've been handed this quest. There's a monster inside, though."
"Oh, I was afraid of that. Here, the city researchers have been working on protective gear against hazardous materials, and I managed to convince them to lend it to me for the good of the city."
"You're the person who put the request in?"
"Yes..." The man looked at the ground and sighed.
"What?"
"You see, it's usually my job to clean the latrines, but I got sick, and then this happened."
"It's okay. It's not your fault. Just give us those items, and we'll get the quest done."
The man nodded and set it down before backing away and then leaving Sprite and Gerard to change. Inside the container, the man prepared two brushes, a thick liquid of some kind, and the suits. Gerard pulled the suit up over his clothes, and after seeing Sprite wear hers, he was reminded of hazmat suits from his previous world.
*Rudimentary, but it will work.*
"Sprite, how do we defeat a muck?"
"Their bodies are filth, and their core is condensed mana, just like a slime."
"So if we wash away the filth, we can find and destroy the core?"
"Theoretically."
"Okay, it's a plan!"
---
Gerard stood at the door to the latrine with a bucket filled with water, grabbed from a nearby well and opened the door before rushing in. The creature groaned and reached for Gerard. Gerard launched the water at the muck and flinched as the filth splashed all over the room. Where its chest had just been, a blue crystal poked out. Quickly, Gerard grabbed the crystal, along with some filth, and threw it at the wall, shattering it.
*So, I can use my fists to attack, because their primary use isn't attacking. The same with the water. I'll have to test this more thoroughly.*
The muck's body slid onto the ground and covered Gerard's new protective boots.
[You have gained 250 experience. The value is split between your human race and your classes. 275 experience until your Villager class reaches level 2.]
"So that's how that'll work."
"Yup!" Sprite smiled, another bucket of water in her hands.
"Well, that's that." Gerard sighed and looked at the added mess on the floor of the latrine.
"Good job!"
"You couldn't have helped?
"I thought we'd need this water for the room." Sprite shrugged.
"Yeah, yeah, okay. Let's finish this."
Gerard grabbed the container of thick liquid and the brushes and returned to the latrine.