An Extra’s POV

"How strange…"

After hearing all of Rey's detailed narration of everything that happened in the Shrine, those words naturally proceeded from Esme's lips.

"Right? I thought about it for so long, but it still makes no sense to me."

"Yeah…" Esme mumbled. "Why would they request for me specifically? I'm the hated Half Elf vermin, after all…"

"Well, I think—"

"Guess we'll find out once I ask them." She interrupted Rey, snapping her fingers once she made her choice.

"Wait, Esme. It's actually dangerous to—!"

"I know what's going on in your mind. It's possible that they want to execute me or something. However, all of this lies in conjecture. Are you really willing to throw away all your efforts thus far for just that?"

Rey had a rather conflicted expression on his face. He wanted to open his lips to say "Maybe?" but something stopped him from speaking out loud.

Esme smiled as soon as she saw this, shrugging a little nonchalantly. "It's fine, Rey! I also have many questions I want to ask this Oracle person, so it's a win-win for both of us."

It almost seemed like Esme was the one trying to convince Rey to go at this point. The latter understood why she was doing it, and instantly realized that being more difficult would only be an insult to her resolve.

"Thanks, Esme… really."

"I believe I owe you even more thanks." She beamed with a smile. "I guess I really was relevant to this whole adventure, after all!"

Rey laughed upon hearing this. "Yeah, I guess I'll have to thank Ater later. He always has such good sense on matters like this."

"Yup! You should! Do you think he predicted that this would happen?"

"Pfft! No way!"

The two continued in this good spirit as they increased their pace, their attention fixed on the path ahead that led to their goal.

—The Elven Shrine.

**********

point when Rey and Esme arrived,

they both simply sped into the outer court and landed on the hallowed

away with her hood and was wearing her usual white

"Yup!"

sanctum by Rey's Skill. The statue stood in its usual position, and the general ambiance remained the

all of that was soon

fell to the ground, clutching her head the

"E-Esme—?!"

her tight before she fell to her knees. Her expression depicted something akin to

happening to you?

just kept

her Life Force or any other

notice a

Linked

Oracle? Is Esme feeling it all at

answers, and he feared that taking her out now

if it could

didn't want to see Esme in

doing Oracle? Stop hurting Esme!" He yelled out,

the last straw for

she could be attacking Esme's soul or something. There's no guarantee that any of this is positive!' He gritted his teeth and enveloped

out of

~ZZZZTTTZZ!~

barrier suddenly manifested within the shrine, shrouding both Rey and Esme in its

That wasn't all, though.

of sweat formed on Rey's face as slight hints of panic began

'Damnit! Damnit!! Damnit!!!'

those overwhelming feelings were swiftly suppressed, but he couldn't help but constantly feel the anxiety rise as he found the crying Esme

else—like destroying the barrier with

thing Rey saw in the Shrine was the face of the statue staring intently at Esme; almost as