How Annoying!

Kingdom of Lugnica,

The Sanctuary,

Samuel POV,

Samuel followed behind Ryuzu with his hands behind his back, Beatrice choosing to simply walk beside him, a hand tugging on his shirt. He looked around observing the village that they had entered not moments ago, it was in a really poor condition. Shoddy dilapidated houses and a central cathedral, a few people could be seen walking around though their clothing seemed to scream that they were in shambles. Another thing that stood out though, was that they had animalistic features coupled with their human appearances, namely ears and tails.

"........" He observed them in silence, surprise written across his face, true he had already expected seeing something like this but to witness it with his own two eyes as completely real things was a completely different feeling.

"My apologies for the conditions, we've no real contact with the outside world." Ryuzu addressed him, thinking that perhaps he was surprised by the conditions of the place. Samuel simply nodded..... he wanted to touch those ears.

They drew no particular attention from the residents of the village and in a matter of moments, they had arrived at a tall structure covered by vines and plant growth. A thick layer of miasma hung in front as if preventing entry, "That.... is the trial grounds. If it considers you worthy, you might be able to enter even if it is daytime." Ryuzu pointed at the entrance, understanding that a normal human sent here could have no real purpose.

The three of them however, didn't pay attention to a certain blonde hanging around the place. He seemed to be observing them with narrowed eyes, sitting on a tree.

"Mhm, so... why do I have to go in there?" Samuel asked with a smile, he didn't quite remember ever expressing such a wish or being asked to do so.

Ryuzu's eyes slightly widened, "Well you.....isn't that?...." She was lost for words, true the boy had never even asked or said that he wanted to take the trials... She had just assumed that was why he was here....

"How stupid."

"My apologies." Ryuzu slightly bowed her head to Beatrice, she had wasted quite a bit of their time then.

"It's alright, I did plan on going in." Samuel chuckled, scratching the back of his head, he just wanted to see the stern Ryuzu be thrown for a loop and as a result, she was just now blankly staring at him.

"Why would you want to?" Beatrice looked up at him in slight surprise, what purpose could he have with her mother's grave? Samuel pointed at the tomb itself, the miasma had rolled back allowing entry into it, it wasn't that he particularly wanted to but rather it wanted him to go in.

"This is a surprise." Ryuzu noted looking at the tomb, the trials could usually only be accessed at night..., unless the person was extremely qualified to undertake them.

Ruffling Beatrice's hair, Samuel walked forward, "Back in a bit." He reassured with a wide smile, he had earlier come to the conclusion that it was much better to simply confront the person that seemed to have already completely made him move the way they wanted him to rather than Echidna trying even harder and him being completely fucked over as a result.

"Who was that?" A gruff yet young voice came from beside Ryuzu and Beatrice making them both turn to look at the person that had talked. "Betty's contractor." Beatrice folded her arms with a smug look, she had finally gotten one......this much was allowed right? Ryuzu looked at her in slight surprise for a few moments, making it obvious that the two had some history but then she turned towards the blonde teen, "Don't be rude to our guests, Garfiel. That was.... someone attempting the trials."

A slight wave of mana rolled off as the tomb itself slightly glowed making the three look at in shock, "Oi oi, you gotta be kiddin me." Garfiel almost shouted, his eyes widened in a mixture of surprise and displeasure, one trial was done just like that?! "Heh." Beatrice looked at him with a mocking smile, this was surprising but only served to make the spirit proud.

"That boy... how?" Ryuzu mumbled to herself, most people took a long time to clear the trials while others only ended up greatly injuring themselves and yet, he had finished one as soon as he entered?

-x-X-x-

Undisclosed Location,

Samuel POV,

Samuel looked around rubbing his chin in thought, a hand on his waist. All around him there were plains filled with green grass, the Sun shone overhead and the blue sky had little to no clouds. This place should have been beautiful to look at but there was this strange ominous feeling that he just couldn't shake off.

Earlier, Samuel got told to face his past but then he arrived here, maybe it was because he had lived two lives and accepted his past regardless. Letting go of regrets? He had none in the first place, while his first life was spent under questionable conditions, doing questionable activities, he had long moved past it, a life spent like that taught him much and it was something held close to his heart.

"Just how long do you intend to keep me waiting?" A girl complained, making Samuel shrug, "Prune my head and you get ignored." He replied, even if slightly, she could see exactly what he saw in those few moments where the past was shown, that was something Samuel didn't quite appreciate.

"Ah, I get it, I get it. I'm sorry for looking into your head when you were the one who let me in in the first place." She raised her hands helplessly, refusing to actually apologise.

"That didn't sound like an apology at all." Samuel sighed, turning around, there on a grassy hill sat a woman with pure white skin and long white hair, black piercing eyes and a well proportioned body. Her body was covered in black clothes, the only parts visible being her hands and neck.

Her appearance had been described as one that could captivate any at mere sight and Samuel couldn't help but agree with that sentiment, he had seen a lot of attractive people with otherworldly beauty and yet they paled in front of what he saw right now, maybe it was just her unique charm.

"You're not scared at all are you?" She asked with a small smile, resting her head in a hand, the other on the table right in front of her. Samuel simply shrugged, her presence was supposed to be dangerous and nauseating but he wasn't quite affected by it. Why? Well, he understood that while fully capable of harming him she would do no such thing and was devoid of most of her actual power, if she had it though, then yes, she would be terrifying.

Echidna, the Witch of Greed. One of the Seven most feared entities in the world, possessing more knowledge than any in the world as well as an unhealthy obsession with it, Echidna was possibly the worst among the seven, her thinking far removed from the human thought process.

Samuel, honestly put, didn't quite remember all he had seen in his last life, people tend to forget things over time after all but even then, he knew to not take her lightly.

With a sigh, Samuel walked up the hill taking a seat opposite to her, "So then, what made you call me here?" He asked slightly leaning on the table as the Witch poured him tea, this was one thing he actually wanted to know from her.

"Really? That's your first question?" Echidna asked, pushing a cup towards him making the teen simply gaze at it, as if contemplating something. "I'll do you a favour and answer anything you might want to know so ask away." She smiled widely, this was coming out to be really fruitful, her suspicions had been long confirmed.

"I see.... Why call me here?"

"Now, let me th....? Wait what?" Echidna slammed her hands on the table out of surprise as she stood up, hitting her head on the overhead umbrella before sitting down rubbing it, "Ow..."

Samuel looked to the side, slightly shaking, what just happened was hilarious, one of the seven witches...

Recollecting herself, Echidna coughed with a small blush, "*ehem* Ignoring that, is that really all? Back in the day, people used to come from all over seeking my knowledge you know."

"Really now." Samuel deadpanned, 'people' used to be too busy trying to survive after staying in her presence for too long considering it actually killed.

"I-I'm not lying!" Echidna raised her hand in protest, it was true! People did seek her out!

Her previously calm demeanour had broken down but she was quick to notice it and recollect herself, "So, as for why I called you. I'll explain to Mr. World Traveller." Echidna smiled widely, a knowing smile that made Samuel instantly wary of her.

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Share thoughts please.

How much do you think she actually managed to figure out?