The Noblesse Oblige Ceremony, an event that connects all nobles and aristocrats alike for a purpose; to contribute. This event was first created when humanity was in a brink of extinction.
The ceremony's sole purpose at that time was to bring forth the humanity's prowess to the fullest, pushing the monsters to control their numbers and lead to the direction of a stabilized world.
As the ceremony continues to be used, so did the society changes as the form of "contributionists" separates the people, the people who is willing to contribute to the world and society, and the people who isn't. Thus forming the now called noble society.
The event's system assigns certain roles fitted for certain people, starting from hunting, inventing, competing, supporting and providing roles. It was definitely designed for giving people life purposes.
And I was being assigned with the goal of providing, or in my terms, charity work.
The announcer on-stage declares..
"And now, let the Noblesse Oblige Ceremony commence."
The audience's applauses made the ceremony look grandeur. The announcer continues..
"Noble youths, come forth and seek your purpose."
Teenagers scattered around starts piling up in front of the stage and other people, children and adults, backs off to make space. I too, stepped up for the event alongside other teenagers.
That's when I see Princess Luciana stepped up to towards up front at the podium alongside the announcer.
She turns around and looked at the statue, a female-looking statue holding out her chest area with both hands. The princess started appeasing prayer to the statue.
"O Lady Grace up above, please grant these promising youths the purpose in their needs."
The statue's covered chest area started glowing bright with the hands basking out beams of light and the teenagers braced both of their hands and started praying.
Looking at these fellow teenagers, I doubt that there will be anything significant getting involved with them but I guess I should keep them in mind.
Praying was nothing new to me, but this event is a special case for a reason. It will allow one to fully commit whatever was given to them albeit righteous or not with no drawbacks.
With that thought, I started praying as well. I closed my eyes and whispered softly.
"I dedicate my wish to the divine Grace up above to let me inherit the will to fulfill my desire."
"Dear stray soul of the other world..."
All of a sudden, an echoing voice similar to Princess Luciana echoes in my head that I abruptly open my eyes. This familiar ominous feeling, I've felt this before, or more like I've been here before. I'm in the void.
The voice continues..
"Fore as you have inherited a powerful will, you will now be given a different calling from anyone else."
The princess' voice intercepts..
"May the Grace bless you with wisdom!"
Around me slowly fades and changed into a different environment, but the place is in shambles. No, rather than calling it a church, it'd be wise to call it a chapel.
Bright light was shining out in the windows and the chapel was full of rusted seats and cracked walls. I immediately knew I'm in a different place.
I was still standing in the same spot, in front of me is a stage with my foot facing a three-step stair. Standing in the stage is a nun with both of her hands bracing and intertwined, praying by herself.
She then faces me and stares at me. She looks at me with disdained eyes, the same ruby eyes the princess has. Looking at her face, I can only describe her as dazzling.
I can only look at her in a daze as this situation is completely out of the ordinary. But at the same time, she looked similar to someone. She spoke in a whisper.
"Awaken your stranger self."
My vision instantly invokes the memories of my previous life. Every single one of them is filled with struggles, hardships and accomplishments that it overlaps the ways I've lived as a noble.
I remember it all now. The me being transported to this world was no mere coincidence. I had a reason, a calling is what brought me in this world.
"Let the sacred light shower you!"
A single shout from the princess wakes me back to the church, leaving me no time to contemplate.
It was then a golden light surrounds us and that's when we can feel something or somewhat different like when we can see a clear direction of what we're supposed to do.
As for me, the desire has gotten fiercer and clearer alongside obtaining memories of my past life. I desired of wanting to keep on living before but that's because I still have not done the most absurd thing that I could never do on the otherworld.
Now that I have transported to another world, I now claimed the answer I tried to seek from before.
It was the same for the other teenagers as well. The sensation they're feeling must be hovering around their body.
"Nobles, may all of you shall strive and thrive on what Grace have chosen for you."
And an ending speech was being stated by the only princess.
Thus the night ends in a condescending way.
***
I was in my room of operations early in the morning, contemplating about the incidence back at the parish church.
First was the talk between me and the princess. I was bothered about what she said by subjects. Subjects for what in whose organization?
There's also that ceremony when I was brought to the chapel internally. And that voice of Princess Luciana coinciding in the void or the nun's and looked similar to the princess. What's the connection between the princess and the nun?
Lastly is the purpose I was given, bringing back the memories of past life and bestowing the calling 'The Man For All Seasons'. Was the old me that significant of a figure?
Many things happened in the span of a single night that one could easily get lost. But let's not dwell on those matters for now, now that I've taken the 'calling' it's time to do some groundwork.
Let's start by interacting with the townsfolk outside.
***
I started strolling in the side roads checking if there's people around striving for something in need. Sure enough, there was this kid sitting under a tree with his arms wrapping his knees.
He seemed like he was cowering in frustration.
Maybe not in desperate need, I mean a kid is a kid, but maybe it's not so bad, everything starts in small things so let's go talk to him.
I approached the tree the kid was sitting on and lean on opposite direction of the tree.
"Are you frustrated?" I emphasized it in deep voice.
The kid was surprised when he heard me that he starts to look around. When he notice my presence from behind him, he reverts back to his old position and stayed quiet.
"Staying still will make you feel even more pathetic but that's fine. There's nothing wrong in lamenting all alone because there's no harming anyone. However.."
I stopped to see the kid's reaction. He was groveling, without a doubt.
"You will still suffer."
When I said that, I felt his presence lit. Was he that devastated?
The kid grips his hands tighter and spoke up.
"What do you want? Are you also going to sabotage me like the rest of them?!"
"Gee no, kid. Plus, you already looked defeated in there."
"Hmph."
"Hey, you gotta talk it out. You can't just keep on mulling it over by yourself when you're trying to seek for attention in this obvious spot."
Silence enveloped when I remarked until he uttered out in frustration.
"My parents forced me out of the house!"
Oh. Abusive parents, huh.
"I swear, all of you old people are just so shrewd in your own little world, and my parents are the same as them not having anything going on in their life like... just what do you want from me!"
The kid's eyes started to swell up with tears as he continues.
"Then they went on and destroyed all my creation in spite, al because they couldn't go on with their lives and kicked me out of the house. And here I am, just.. existing."
After listening to him in earnest, I gave him a little pep-talk about pain and solitude.
"When one part of you grows, the other gets departed. It's not that apparent to know how you make up with yourself when it comes to living on your own. However, you live to keep on suffering, and to survive in life is to find the meaning of that suffering."
"*Sniffs* Eh.."
I smiled when the kid looked at me
"By the way, do you have time to look down in sorrow, kid?"
"..."
He stayed silent and I continued.
"You see, it's a tough world out there and all I can see is a vast source of inexplicable sessions. There may be unpleasant to experience, like yours, and it sucks.. but, you let it get to you and you'll miss out on the lessons you're meant to take."
"What are you trying to say?!"
"What I'm saying is, deal with it! Nothing else!"
"Huh?!"
"Get a move on, kid! Whine about it all you want but you will have to stand up and get to the next thing! So just deal with it!"
"..."
The silence took a few seconds but he eventually spoke.
"I-I don't understand.."
"You don't have to for now. Just remember it."
Well, it may be too much for a child to just get it over with.
"Oh! Then how about you'll be of service to our household?!"