Upon entering the bakery, Himiko was directed by the woman who had called her earlier to take a seat at a particular spot. As she sat down, she looked around to observe the bakery. After a moment of observation, a woman who was sitting at the dining area of the bakery called out to her. Her elbows were rested on the table, her hands were brought together with fingers crossed, and her hands were positioned close to her mouth.
"Miss...?" she quietly uttered from a distance, smiling to catch Himiko's attention.
Chapter 2 - Getting Acquainted or Initial Confrontations
Upon Himiko's glance, she noticed that the woman was smiling at her. When she decided to ignore her, she suddenly found herself transfixed, her eyes wide, and she quickly blinked, opening her eyes rapidly. In an instant, she was now in front of the woman, both of them seated and facing each other at a table.
"What are you planning?" Himiko asked quietly, but the woman didn't respond. At that moment, the woman who had called out to Himiko earlier from outside the bakery entered, carrying bread and tea to their table. After a brief silence, during which Himiko stared at the woman before her, the woman who was facing her closed her eyes. She reached for the tea cup at their side and took a sip. "Ah~~ Oh, it appears you're taking this situation quite seriously... I apologize for the unfortunate circumstances I've brought upon you. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Kurogane... Kurogane Kasumi, representing the Management System of the Magistrate Institute. I've been dispatched by someone who goes by the name 'he Found you floating around the sea' to communicate the essential information you need as an upcoming student of the Magistrate Institute," Ms. Kasumi stated with her eyes closed, a gentle smile on her lips, and a faint flush on her cheeks.
Upon hearing this, Himiko couldn't help but tilt her head, conveying her confusion. "What do you mean by... that?" she asked with a voice tinged with uncertainty. Upon hearing Himiko's words, Kasumi couldn't help but giggle.
"Let's just say I've given you a chance to get to know yourself better," Kasumi said with a sharp gaze fixed on Himiko. After her statement, Himiko's body twitched slightly, and she let out a soft sigh. "How did you find out about that?" Himiko asked.
Following Himiko's question, Kasumi suddenly lifted her left hand towards her face and opened her palm. A circular shape resembling a hologram emerged from her palm, constantly changing and shifting shape as if glitching. "NexusGifts..." Kasumi muttered, performing the magic. In this moment, Kasumi explained the concept of NexusGifts.
• NexusGifts - These are abilities that bestow individuals with the power to wield magic. They are granted to deserving beings in the world of Aetheria. There are numerous types of NexusGifts, and their attributes are intrinsically linked to an individual's essence. The potency of each NexusGift varies based on the recipient, embodying the Power of Unveiled Essence and Beauty, manifested through the Language of Strength and Righteousness.
"What does it mean...? How can I do that...? And how will I get to know this individual?" Himiko asked quietly, her head slightly tilted and her brow furrowed. "Can you please teach me?" Himiko inquired, her voice still soft, while slowly raising her head to look at Kasumi. In response, Kasumi smiled, then closed her eyes. With a snap of her left fingers, the surroundings suddenly started shifting colors as if glitching. After a moment of this, the place where Himiko and Kasumi stood underwent a sudden transformation. "What is this?" Himiko asked.
"I've transported us to the 7th Dimension. Here, concepts are boundless, allowing us to perform actions unaffected by logic and the limitations of lower dimensions," Kasumi explained with a continued smile.
"Would you still like to learn?" Kasumi asked with a gentle voice, and Himiko responded with a nod. Kasumi then raised one of her fingers, lowering it to point at Himiko. She crossed her legs and rested her head on her left hand. "From what I understand, you are a Reincarnated being, is that correct? And you have no memories, which is why you know nothing about this world or who you are," Kasumi said, smiling and looking at Himiko. Himiko nodded once again, prompting Kasumi to close her eyes, stop pointing at Himiko, and release a sigh.
"Aetheira. This is the world we inhabit. Here, the NexusGift is possessed by many individuals, and it is the World of Rights and Strength... and before this world, there were Six Gods known as the Divinocracies. They are the creators of this world and the Six Sovereigns of Aetheira. They are the Gods of the Concept of balance, and their power brought the World of Magic to life, hence the strength and beauty of this world are balanced due to their Presentable Deeds," Kasumi explained with a serious expression.
"I apologize for my statements, as I am not very knowledgeable about the history of this world," Kasumi apologized again, and Himiko responded by shaking her head, indicating that there's no problem with Kasumi's explanation. "No problem. It's okay," Himiko said without any expression.
Upon seeing Himiko's response, Kasumi closed her eyes briefly and smiled slightly. "Just like I mentioned, we have six Sovereigns or you can also refer to them as Realms. And right now, we're in the Sovereign of Hoshimori, the Nation of Oceans and Palaces. I can't yet reveal the names of the other five Sovereigns as I am assigned not to. Within this Nation, structures cater to its citizens, including the ocean. The Magistrate Institute also originated here, and only talented students are accepted into that academy. So, are you open to my... proposal?" Kasumi mentioned.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not sure yet about what I'll say," Himiko replied. Kasumi just smiled at her even more and continued to gaze at her. Then she closed her eyes again and sighed.
"Continuing from what I mentioned, we have six Sovereigns. Within those five Sovereigns, each one is governed by Dictators. They're the leaders of the respective nations. Referred to as The Five Primordial Reapers, they are ancient beings acting as the Dictators within the Sovereigns.. As for the one Sovereign without a Primordial Reaper, it's overseen by the Synarchy Council. The government of Aetheira, is structured this way to illustrate the complexity of this world. This understanding will help you know whom to respect. It's crucial not to oppose the Five Reapers, as their true capabilities remain unknown," Kasumi explained with a grave expression. Concluding her words, Himiko closed her eyes and nodded, signifying her comprehension. This prompted Kasumi to tilt her head and offer another smile.
"Would you like me to continue, Miss?" Kasumi inquired. Himiko responded with yet another nod, affirming, "Yes."