Looking Forward to Another World Chapter 5: Blessing

Within Twilight Manor, on the topmost floor of the Central Tower, lay Loki's personal sanctuary. This divine room, essentially Loki's private quarters, overflowed with a diverse collection of peculiar items.

The table was adorned with exquisite quill pens and mysterious, faintly iridescent crystals that shimmered with a rainbow hue. Ancient-looking footwear and headwear were casually hung on the walls.

The bed itself was nearly obscured by towering stacks of thick tomes and elaborately decorated short swords. Even the room's corners showed piles of compact storage units, each filled with an assortment of bottles in varying shapes and colors.

Loki herself guided Riezel into this unique space.

"Come on in," Loki announced, casually pushing the door open and stepping inside. "Please excuse the disarray."

Riezel, feeling a touch of unexpected formality, first paused at the threshold, offered a slight bow, and then proceeded into the divine room.

"Have a seat right here," Loki invited, her demeanor radiating an almost childlike excitement, as if she had just acquired a new favorite toy. With great enthusiasm, she cleared a space amidst the clutter, moved a chair, and gestured for Riezel to sit.

Observing the carefree and uninhibited Goddess, Riezel couldn't help but find the scene somewhat unusual, despite his awareness of her unconventional personality.

Even in his past existence, beings associated with the divine were typically held in the highest regard, never subjected to disrespect.

Lost in thought, he complied with her invitation, taking a seat while his eyes scanned the eclectic surroundings.

Meanwhile, Loki's gaze remained fixed upon him throughout, her signature mischievous smile never wavering.

"Apologies, most of the Familia's adventurers are currently out on a dungeon raid, so I couldn't arrange a more lively welcome for you," Loki explained with a bright, unabashed grin.

"That's perfectly fine," Riezel replied, retracting his gaze from the room's contents and offering a slight shake of his head. "I'm not particularly fond of boisterous gatherings, so this suits me well."

"Mmhmm, I can see that. You strike me as that sort of person," Loki affirmed with an approving nod. She then added, "However, whether you prefer it or not, now that you've joined my Familia, you're one of us. Remaining too withdrawn isn't healthy, you understand?"

"I understand," Riezel responded, a calm smile gracing his lips as he met Loki's eyes. "If I encounter individuals worth engaging with, I certainly won't keep to myself."

"Individuals worth engaging with, you say...?" Loki's expression shifted subtly for a moment, but she quickly shrugged it off. "Very well, we'll leave it at that for now. I don't wish to lecture a newcomer. We can discuss such matters later."

With a gesture, she propped her chin in her hand, crossed one leg over the other, and studied him with narrowed eyes, that ubiquitous smile still playing on her lips.

"So, you're still unblessed, correct? Haven't received any divine favor yet?"

In response to Loki's pointed question, Riezel deliberately avoided her scrutinizing gaze and simply nodded.

"I haven't received any blessings as I only arrived in Orario today. Prior to this, I haven't encountered any Gods, nor have I been affiliated with any Familia."

Riezel understood the futility of deception when facing the divine beings of this realm. Thus, he refrained from any pointless dishonesty; his every word and action projected an aura of remarkable sincerity.

"I see..." Loki let out a low chuckle. "If you possessed anything extraordinary, you wouldn't have been standing at the gate waiting for me."

What indeed, is the Loki Familia?

It stands as one of Orario's most formidable Familias, an unparalleled force in this world, widely recognized alongside the Freya Familia as one of the strongest groups in existence.

Given its immense power and prestige, there was never a shortage of individuals eager to join its ranks.

However, gaining entry into the Loki Familia was far from a simple endeavor.

Even Familias of lesser standing than Loki Familia typically imposed certain prerequisites for aspiring members; they wouldn't accept just anyone indiscriminately.

As a general rule, to join a renowned Familia, one must exhibit exceptional qualities.

If an applicant had prior Familia experience and had received blessings, their current strength would be the primary consideration.

Conversely, for those who had never belonged to a Familia or received blessings, their potential became the deciding factor.

While the former category was a different matter, the latter almost invariably hinged on race and innate abilities.

This was primarily due to the existence of beings known as 'Demi-Humans' in this world.

Beastmen, for instance, possessed naturally acute senses and a variety of innate skills dependent on their specific classification.

Dwarves were renowned for their superior strength and endurance, outmatching other races in both attributes.

Amazonesses, exclusively female, were acknowledged for their formidable combat skills and remarkable resilience.

Elves, as a magical race, possessed the capacity to perform certain miracles and wield arcane arts even without the bestowal of Falna.

In contrast to Demi-Humans, Humans typically lacked such distinctive traits.

Under these circumstances, if someone like Riezel, a mere human, were to approach the formidable Loki Familia seeking membership, it was highly probable that he would be turned away by the gatekeepers without ever getting the chance to meet the Familia's God./

Knowing this fact well, he had no intention of a direct confrontation. He understood the predicament he would face, which was precisely why he elected to wait by the gate for Loki. Instead of confronting mortals who judged individuals based on practicality, it was more advantageous to deal with capricious and unpredictable Gods. This approach would allow him to achieve his objective more effectively. Riezel arrived at this conclusion. For this very reason, he braced himself for a prolonged wait, prepared to remain for days. He couldn't conceive that Loki, a Goddess renowned for her free spirit, would remain confined within the base indefinitely. As it turned out, his foresight was accurate.

"First, let's have those clothes removed." Loki instructed, maneuvering a chair and settling behind Riezel. "Just the upper garment will suffice." He complied, unbuttoning his shirt and revealing his back. "Tch, tch, lovely skin. Quite superior to the backs of the young girls in our Familia," Loki commented, her gaze fixed on Riezel's exposed back. Simultaneously, she casually retrieved a box. Inside rested a needle. Grasping the needle, she began to speak, her eyes still admiring his back. "What knowledge do you possess regarding 'Falna'?"

Loki's inquiry caused Riezel to pause, contemplating. After a brief interval, he responded cautiously, referencing his recollection. "From what I understand, it is a power derived from the 'sacred text,' the divine language. This power is imprinted upon a mortal's body, utilizing the blood of a God as a conduit to enhance their capabilities. It functions as a catalyst, transforming experiences acquired through various endeavors into potent abilities, thereby accelerating and amplifying growth for rapid advancement."

"Precisely," Loki affirmed his explanation. "The 'Excelia,' imperceptible to mortal eyes, is essentially your personal chronicle. We Deities utilize 'Falna' to extract this history, converting it into sustenance for your development. This enables you to progress at an astounding rate and attain greater strength. This constitutes the sole role we Gods fulfill in the mortal realm." With that, Loki pricked her finger with the needle, and a single drop of blood emerged. Using this divine blood, she traced a pattern upon Riezel's back.

He felt the sensation of her fingertip gliding across his skin. However, his focus was soon captured by her voice. "Guided by the sacred text and manifested through the blood of the Gods, we concretize your abilities into a quantifiable form. Consequently, 'Falna' is also referred to as 'Status.' Any individual capable of deciphering the sacred text can visually ascertain the prowess of those we have blessed." Loki's voice adopted an ethereal quality, becoming mystical.

"A 'Status' is fundamentally segmented into four categories: 'Basic Abilities,' 'Development Abilities,' 'Magic,' and 'Skill,' with 'Level' being the paramount factor." "Development abilities, excluding them, are supplementary enhancements acquired upon leveling up. You will not possess them immediately after receiving the blessing."

"Basic abilities encompass 'Strength (STR),' 'Endurance (END),' 'Dexterity (DEX),' 'Agility (AGI),' and 'Magic (MAG),' totaling five attributes. Each attribute is graded from 'S' to 'I,' denoting its potency. Proximity to 'S' signifies greater strength."

"'Level,' as its name implies, serves as the most direct metric for evaluating strength. A higher level equates to greater power. The enhancement of basic abilities pales in comparison to level progression. Basic abilities refine a single aspect, whereas level advancement signifies a holistic evolution of body and spirit. Consider leveling up as mortals approaching our divine standing."

"Regarding magic and skills, the former enables the manifestation of supernatural phenomena. Initially, only a select few magical races could wield it. However, post-blessing, individuals of any race have the potential to acquire one to three forms of magic. The latter confers unique effects under specific circumstances, lacking the overt power of magical races but without limitations on quantity." Loki's voice resonated with an undeniable allure in Riezel's ears.

"Incidentally, both magic and skills, when activated through Falna, are intrinsically tied to your very being. They are directly linked to your personal inclinations and your affirmation of certain concepts, almost as if materializing the desires and aspirations dwelling within your heart. You might find it beneficial to introspect, reflecting upon your life; perhaps something will be awakened." As Loki elucidated, Riezel found himself involuntarily recalling his past, a life hardly worth revisiting.