[: Daniel POV :]
The reward I had eagerly awaited from this Holy Templar turned out to be a Forbidden Fruit.
It was a revelation that might catch some by surprise.
Contrary to conventional expectations of weapons, skills, or classes, the prize within the treasure chest was this forbidden fruit.
As my eyes rested upon the fruit, a surge of anticipation quickened my heartbeat.
This unique item, nestled in the chest, was more than just a desire.
It was a must-have, destined for my possession alone.
The exclusivity of this fruit resonated, emphasizing that no one else could claim it but me.
In the alternate future, following the unfortunate demise of Modern Fantasia, this Forbidden Fruit was lost.
It became a mystery shrouded in uncertainty.
Its whereabouts were a riddle, vanished into the nowhere.
Only by delving into the annals of Demonia’s history did I become acquainted with these mysterious “Fruits.”
“Now that this treasure belongs to you, feel free to take it,”
The Saintess offered,but her expression tinged with melancholy.
Was it a mere fleeting regret for parting with the treasure, or did some deeper undercurrent flow beneath the surface?
Curiosity bubbling within me and I couldn’t resist probing further.
“What’s troubling you, Saintess? Why the sadness over this fruit?”
I looked at her, seeking answers to the unspoken emotions that lingered in the air.
“Nothing… it’s just that… the Fruit holds a special meaning to the Goddess whom I exclusively devote my prayers to,”
The Saintess confided, her hand tenderly placed over her heart as she endeavored to bridge the emotional connection with her faith.
Perplexed by it, I questioned with furrowed eyes,
“What do you mean by that?”
It was a revelation new to my ears.
It spraked a keen interest to delve deeper into this aspect I had yet to discover.
This was a new world for me. Despite my knowledge of “Sovereigns, Monarchs, or Divinities,” the realm of “Gods” remained unfamiliar.
While I held a grasp on the history of Modern Fantasia, my understanding was limited.
I had a realization that there were factors of this world and beings that I had yet to comprehend.
“Do you know about the origins of these Forbidden Fruits?” The Saintess inquired.
“No… I don’t,”
I responded with a feigned air of obliviousness cloaking my true feelings.
Internally, a storm brewed within me.
In my knowledge of the alternate future, I held a firm grasp knowledge of these Forbidden Fruits.
However, my unease came not from the lack of knowledge.
But, it was from the unspoken rule that bound the Residents of Modern Fantasia.
They were forbidden to unveil anything related to ‘them’ to outsiders like then Players.
This restriction had began from the beginning and this rule couldn’t be broke.
Despite years passing by, the residents had maintained an creepily silence, a proof of the rule set by the Divinities.
Only when the players stumbled upon the histories ourselves were we granted a glimpse of the secrets held in this world.
A series of questions flooded my thoughts.
Was there a set of requirements or conditions that needed to be met for the residents to unveil the secrets surrounding these Forbidden Fruits?
It was a perplexing puzzle, and my curiosity ignited a thirst for understanding the intricacies of this unknown knowledge.
Despite the weight of my inquiries, I recognized that this matter wasn’t of dire consequence.
Instead, it presented an opportunity to gain insights from the Saintess’s perspective.
I wanted to hear the story, hoping that it might add information that I never knew of.
“Alright, I’ll tell you the story about them, and it has a connection to ‘me,'” She revealed.
All of the sudden, I felt a different presecence from her.
It was as if, there was a different energy emanated from her, and I could even sensed a transformation in her demeanor.
There was even an unfathomable aura surrounded her.
It was surreal sensation that had gripped me.
It was as if her very being had become a vessel for another Entity.
It was an inexplicable certainty that washed over me.
In the suddeness of this transformation, her presence seemed to send a subtle command to every cell in my body.
It had urged me to flee.
It wasn’t fear that gripped me, but a primal understanding that attempting to confront her in this state could only lead to one outcome.
And that is death.
Adding to the eerie atmosphere, the crescent of her eyes brightened.
It glowed and hinted at the extraordinary power coursing through her.
In the midst of this situation, a realization struck me.
Itt seemed that without any confirmation, that the Moon Goddess herself stood before me.
There was a torrent of questions surged within, threatening to spill forth.
Yet, discerning the absence of any malevolent intent in her aura, I chose to maintain an outward composure.
“Long ago, before this world even took shape, a race known as Demonia wielded mystical powers,”
The ‘Saintess’ continued, seamlessly narrating the tale as if her extraordinary presence was the most natural aspect of the unfolding story.
“Each of them was so powerful that they could conquer galaxies,”
She added, a tinge of awe in her voice.
“At the same time, their influence swiftly grew to the point that every corner of the universe knew about them, led by the four Kings,”
She continued, painting a picture of their ascendancy.
“Each of the Kings was a Demonia born with a unique power that defied the very reality of strength, and one of them was named after the Sun,”
She revealed, a subtle sadness concealed within the depths of her eyes.
The weight of emotions carried in her voice hinted at her connection with this ancient tale.
“And one day, the Demonia King named after the Sun met Sol, the God of the Sun, and the Brother of Luna, the Goddess of the Moon,”
She recounted with a smile that carried a mix of yearning and longing.
At this moment, the emotional shown on her epxression didn’t require a genius to connect the pieces.
“The relationship between the three of them quickly blossomed, and they became so close that Luna fell in love with the Sun,”
She declared with her body trembling.
As she bit her lips, they held a emotion which combined of sadness and frustration.
It revealed the complex emotions entwined within this celestial love story.
“But before their love could bear fruit, the Demonias, along with their four Kings, rebelled against ‘them,'” She revealed.
“No one knows the reason behind it or why they initiated it, but they suffered a resounding defeat in the rebellion,”
She continued, her voice tinged with sadness and frustration.
Almost tears welled in her eyes, the weight of an unresolved tragedy lingering in the air as she recounted this cosmic story.
“Due to their loss and rebellion, the Demonias faced punishment and were banished into these fruits, forever sealed without the chance to escape,”
She explained, her fist clenched in a mix of emotions.
“And this fruit that you’re holding is the Forbidden King of Fruit that belonged to Sun,”
She disclosed, revealing the name and the Demonia to whom it once belonged.
The weight of the revelation hung heavily in the air, and her emotions painted a vivid picture of the sorrow and regret embedded in this celestial tragedy.
“Because of the love Luna had for the Sun, she chose to safeguard it until someone worthy could wield its powers,”
Ehe explained with a depth of emotion.
“I believe you might be the one,”
She asserted with her gaze fixed upon me.
“You think so?”
I teased, prompting a chuckle from her in response.
“Well, why don’t you try eating it?”
She suggested.
“Alright then, don’t mind me,” I replied, taking the fruit.
Without hesitation, I bit into it, and the moment I did, my consciousness appeared on an unknown realm.
Surrounded by an all-encompassing darkness, my senses detected nothing but an abyss.
Moreover, there was a subtle sensation hinted at water brushing against my feet.
A disorienting question surfaced in my mind.
Where am I?
The surroundings echoed the enigma akin to my encounters with the Demonias.
Suddenly, a voice pierced through the void.
“You’re here.”
I turned towards the source to find an avatar engulfed in flames.
It was an entity resembling a burning sun, its fiery brilliance casting an ethereal glow in the obscure emptiness.
“I assume you’re Sun, one of the four Demonian Kings?” I ventured.
“Did Luna fill you in on that?”
He laughed, a chuckle resonating in the space around us.
“Well, you could say that, but that’s not what I want to discuss with you,”
He conveyed, steering the conversation toward a different path.
“I want to discuss a requirement,” He stated.
“A requirement?”
I echoed his words, a note of curiosity infusing my response.
“That’s correct, a requirement to harness my powers,”
He disclosed, a subtle smirk playing on his fiery avatar.
The mysterious atmosphere intensified as the revelation of this condition hung in the air.