Pressure

Once upon a time, there was a goddess - a benevolent, loving goddess that looked after the human world with a fondness unlike any other. For a while, all was well, and the human realm prospered, until one day the goddess decided to visit the human realm herself. She was intrigued by the human race and the desires of the population - both from the prayers she would receive, and from what she observed from the heavens.

It was then that she fell in love with a man with eyes as blue as the ocean’s waves. In her human form, she met him on the sandy beaches of the shore one fateful summer night. The way the sunset’s orange rays cast a magical glow on his skin and illuminated his face was like an arrow shot directly into her heart.

As such, of course it was forbidden for a goddess to fall in love with a human, and in her deep sorrow and longing upon returning to the Celestial Realm, the goddess’s divine energy waned, disappearing like the sliver of the moon on a dark night. And so, her blessings no longer reached the human world, plunging it into a state of darkness that left the world susceptible to the dominion of demons...

—

“Akari! Wake up!”

A familiar voice shook her from the depths of slumber, and Akari found herself being pulled into an upright position from her seat.

“Ah... What’s the matter?” The blond girl yawned, rubbing at her eyes in a daze. “Did I doze off again?”

Wilfred sighed heavily, resisting the urge to smack his childhood friend upside the head. He was a knight after all, and it was unbecoming of any knight to mistreat a lady. Not that Akari could be truly called a lady, given her status in the small town which they lived.

“You know Akari, for a fortune teller, you’re quite dense. Not to mention lazy,” Wilfred mumbled, crossing his arms together and furrowing his brow. “The king’s right hand man and trusted tactician will be visiting today. The least you could do is stay awake.”

“Why? It makes no difference to me,” Akari retorted, kicking her legs up onto the counter and trying her best to ignore his condescending tone. “Many have wished for a session to speak with the Goddess Kiria, and none have been granted the honour. So, forgive me if I’m far from optimistic.”

Wilfred narrowed his eyes at her, and a strange tension filled the small shop. “Orion is different from the rest. You’ll soon see, Akari.”

Not soon after the words left Wilfred’s lips did the shop’s door swing open, and the bell jangled loudly to signal a visitor. A tall figure draped in an elegantly embroidered robe stepped into the shop, surveying his surroundings with a curious gaze.

Wilfred’s amber eyes widened as he swiftly lowered himself into a deep bow. “Captain Orion! You are early to grace us with your presence.”

Akari nonchalantly glanced in the cloaked figure’s direction, happy to let Wilfred handle the pleasantries for now. Sure, she had heard much of the sorcerer knight Orion’s conquests in battle, but it would take more than a couple of war stories to pique her interest.

“You must be the famous sorcerer Orion, the king’s renowned tactician,” Akari declared, eyeing the man up and down. “Welcome. Please, take a seat.”

She poured three cups of steaming herbal tea, setting them down onto a sturdy oak table and gesturing for him to take a seat across from her and Wilfred.

“You have my gratitude for your hospitality,” Orion said, lifting the cup of tea to his lips. He took a sip, and a content sigh escaping his lips. Akari noted that his voice was light and melodic, nothing like the harsh and commanding tone she imagined it would be. He appeared be quite the tea connoisseur as well, with the way he appreciated the tea's aroma.

“Am I correct in assuming that Sir Laurel has informed you of the reason for my visit?” Orion inquired, staring Wilfred square in the eyes as he spoke.

“Of course, Captain!” Wilfred replied hastily, almost knocking his cup over in his enthusiasm. “Everything has been prepared, exactly as you’ve asked.” 

“I would like to hear this directly from Lady Akari,” Orion mused, his piercing gaze settling onto the woman before him. Akari frowned slightly at his forward gaze, not used to men—or anyone, for that matter—eyeing her so candidly. 

“It is true that Wilfred has informed me of your request. However, I am not entirely sure how I can aid you, or the king,” Akari said slowly. “As you may already know, the goddess’s voice has long been silent. She has not spoken to our people since my great-grandmother delivered the last prophecy.”

“It matters not,” Orion declared, his determined gaze unwavering. “Your family’s bloodline has long been chosen to be the voice of the goddess. I believe it is only a matter of creating the right circumstances for her to reveal herself again.”

At this, the sorcerer set a small roll of parchment onto the table and slid it toward Akari. She unfolded it to reveal a delicate script that she recognized to be written by the king himself.

“Read this over, when you are able,” Orion instructed. “The king will pay you handsomely for aiding us in this endeavour—all the gold you should wish! So please, give this proposal some thought.”

“Certainly. I thank you humbly for your visit, Sorcerer Orion.” Akari smiled politely at the man before her, although it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

—

“So? What are you planning to do?” 

Akari sat with Wilfred in the garden behind her apothecary shop. She was perched on the stone ledge of a trickling fountain, lost deep in thought.

Wilfred sighed, noticing the stagnant look in her eyes. “Hello? Earth to Akari? I swear, if you’re not asleep, you’re zoning out on me.”

“Oh—I’ m sorry, Wilfred. I was contemplating the king’s proposal just now.”

“What exactly is there to contemplate?” Wilfred huffed. “The king needs your assistance. What more do you need to know?”

“The situation isn’t that simple.” Akari sighed in exasperation. “The letter said that the Holy Knights need help in subduing an enemy in a nearby village. And not just any enemy. From what I read, the culprit none other than a sleep demon.”

“A s-sleep demon?!” Wilfred swallowed, rubbing his upper arms in an attempt to stay calm. “W-well, this should be a piece of cake, right?”

“The king seems to believe that the increased presence of demons is what has been hindering the voice of the goddess,” Akari explained, rubbing at her temples in frustration. "And I can't exactly prove him wrong. It's true that dark magic has gripped the land since the disappearance of the goddess. But I don't believe it's the only contributing factor."

Wilfred was right, though. The wheel of fate had started turning, and Akari could feel it in her bones.