The Saintess lived at the highest point of the village, at a point almost above the canopy of the surrounding jungle.
The Saintess of the Gehenna people was told to have the ability to converse with spirits. This ability also gave her a connection to the "Great One" above, the Gehenna Tribe's interpretation of the Heavens.
To get her abode, which was meant to keep her most connected to the highest power, one needed to use a complex set of rope bridges and unique floating structures made out of the surrounding foliage.
It was intentionally made difficult to reach, but the people of the village could get there without any sort of trouble whatsoever.
Naturally, Damien didn't have the same familiarity they did, but after living in the village for a year, it was easy for him to follow along as the small woman guided him through it all.
When they finally reached the place, Damien was surprised by how humble it was.
All the houses and facilities in the village had an almost spherical design. They looked absolutely beautiful, and were an incredible display of architectural skill.
These facilities were usually relatively uniform, but everyone liked to decorate their own abode. The houses in the village could be told apart by their various colors and the decorations put on the outside, some of which were similar to things that existed in Damien's own cosmos.
The Saintess' house, however, maintained the natural faded red color of the wood it was made from and didn't particularly have any flair to it.
It was the most normal-looking residence. Its position in the sky told enough about its true stature.
Entering the house, Damien was left alone by his guide, meant to proceed further without interference.
The house wasn't too big. It was only around 30 meters across, so Damien could see the other side from where he stood.
However, there was a curtain separating the house into two parts, and to meet the Saintess, Damien had to first walk through the curtain.
It was a sort of ceremony that would cleanse his body and adapt him to a world where spirits could manifest.
Damien, of course, walked through with an extreme sense of intrigue.
He didn't feel anything particular as he passed through, but…
"As I thought."
The Saintess' voice came from the space in front of him, her figure still yet to appear in his vision.
"You are not like the rest."
Her words were relatively simple as she dumbed down her speech for a non-native speaker like Damien to understand.
But it immediately became clear that he wasn't supposed to feel nothing when he walked through the curtain.
"Saintess."
Damien gave his greeting, bowing lightly to show respect.
"No need for that. Come sit.
The Saintess beckoned him forward. Despite not being able to see her, he still felt the gesture and knew where to sit.
He walked forward five steps and sat down where he stood. His rear met a small cushion that wasn't present before, and the scenery around him changed.
It was the same wooden house, however, the Saintess was now present, just a few feet in front of Damien facing him with a small table between them.
"Have you enjoyed our home?"
The Saintess asked a simple question.
She looked the same as the first time Damien saw her.
An elderly woman with pure white hair. The wrinkles on her face were prevalent, but each and every one told a story of the life she'd lived.
The feather crown on her head remained there despite her being in the comfort of her own home. It was a sign of her position, and wouldn't leave her head for the rest of eternity.
She would carry it even in death.
Damien always felt a profound aura from this woman. It made sense that she had a position like "Saintess." She seemed incredibly suited for it.
But Damien still didn't know why he'd been called here.
"It's a great place," he responded, following the flow of the conversation.
"Your place is nothing like what I've ever seen before."
"Mm. You are a foreigner."
The Saintess nodded as if it was natural.
"This world is new to you, no?"
Damien's eyes widened slightly.
The term "foreigner" always bugged him.
The obvious definition was obvious. Since they were not of the tribe, they were foreigners.
However, it was clear now that in their case, the meaning was deeper.
"Your kind does not exist here."
The Saintess spoke as if she understood Damien's doubts.
"Doesn't exist?" Damien echoed.
"Yes."
The Saintess nodded again.
"You. Nothing like you in this world."
Was it a matter of appearance?
It was true that Damien had only seen skin tones that would be considered unnatural in his own cosmos here. To them, he probably looked like some sort of twisted clone of their species.
But the look in the Saintess' eyes didn't seem to be referring to something as superficial as appearance.
"What did you see?"
The Saintess. An existence that could converse with that which was ethereal to all others.
What did she see when she looked at him?
"What I see…" she said, mirroring his words.
Her eyes became hazy, as if she was looking at something beyond reality.
"I see…Gehenna."
Gehenna.
The namesake of the tribe.
It was not the tribe itself, but something else.
Damien always assumed it was a concept they worshipped, but he was wrong.
Gehenna existed in reality.
And when the Saintess looked at him, she saw a reflection of it.
"The land of Mist, the Spirit Cemetery, Gehenna."
The Saintess' eyes snapped into clarity. Her eyes focused directly on Damien, peering into his soul.
"Gehenna will open soon. You must go."
Damien raised his brow.
"Is that why you called me?"
"Yes. To enter Gehenna, you must pass many trials. Today, I tell you about Gehenna, so you may begin your journey."
The way she talked was like it was predetermined for Damien to enter that place, whatever it was.
Damien didn't like how that sounded, but it was true.
The instant she mentioned it, he felt his heart skip a beat.
"This Gehenna…is it the reason you allowed us to stay in the village."
"No."
The answer was so instant that Damien almost reeled when he heard it.
The Saintess smiled, as if mocking his wariness.
"You are fated with our tribe. You may not feel it, but you are already family. You were not allowed to stay for Gehenna. Rather, Gehenna chose you."
"Gehenna chose me…?"
The Saintess didn't give him a clear answer.
She just smiled that same vague smile, as if telling him to find out the rest himself.
Damien took a breath.
Whatever Gehenna meant, for it to be the tribe's entire namesake, it had to be something grand.
Naturally, he wasn't going to give up the opportunity to go there.
'But before that…'
…there were some things he needed to know.
And the Saintess seemed to have called him here to tell him those very things.
'It's only been a year…'
A development like this was surprising, but more than welcomed.
"Then, please…"
Damien nodded, covering his excitement with a blanket of caution.
"...tell me about Gehenna."
