In the Invisible Spotlight

[girlywirly]

Shen Chun was just an ordinary 16 year old girl. She was ordinary. She looked ordinary. She had an ordinary job and had ordinary friends. She was dull. She was boring. She was lonely. And one day, she was serving a customer. " I'll have the tuna roll please. " the customer said. " Do you mean this one? " but when Shen pointed, the roll she pointed at disappeared. The customer fled.

[Mana Aramiya]

Mana sat at the table next to the one where the man had ordered his meal. Her eyes widened slightly as the tuna roll vanished as the waitress pointed at it, and she narrowed her eyes ever-so slightly. Given that she was from a small village that was isolated from the world, this new journey she'd been embarking on to see the world and gather more information on life outside of her village, this was a bit startling to see. How did the food vanish? Where did it even go? Mana took a small sip from her cup of water and observed as the man fled quickly. A common reaction, she'd assume.

"Excuse me, Miss?" Mana called to the waitress, holding up her hand slightly as she waited. "I'd like to make another order."

In the seat across from her, Enyou, her guardian for the duration of her travels, took noticed of the dissappearing tuna roll, as well, but said nothing in response to it. It didn't interest her in the least.

[girlywirly]

The waitress knew that the two girls were taking note of what happened. She silently took note of that, though being hipocritical, and tried to remember their faces. She soon, though, forgot everything, to her despair.

[Mana Aramiya]

It seemed as though the waitress noticed them, but for the most part, did not respond. Mana furrowed her brows and pursed her lips; she wanted to see if it was normal for things to suddenly dissappear when pointed at, or not. But it would seem as though she'd have to wait till a later time to question the girl about it. The world outside of her village was off, and Mana didn't really understand things too terribly well; there were people who looked very abnormal, and other who ran around using 'magic' and casting spells and what not. Back in Daigitsumura, her home, this of this nature were considered taboo, and thus never done. But now that the world is changing, it was her duty to follow the will of her elders, and gather information about the current changes within the society outside of her own sheltered one.

"Ojou-sama," Enyou prodded Mana out of her thoughts. "Perhaps it is best if we leave." The older woman didn't enjoy being inside places such as the one she was in right now, she'd rather be out in the woods, with nature.

Mana shook her head slowly, nibbling on some meat she ordered prior to witnessing the dissappearing food item. It was soft in her mouth, somewhat chewy, but good, she wondered what it was she ordered, but casted it to the back of her mind for later. The young priestess then decided that instead of waiting, why not just go up and ask her about what had happened? Logical idea, and that's just what she did. Mana soon found herself approaching the girl slowly, her curiousity getting the better of her, and she asserted her presence calmly.

"Excuse me, but, may I ask what it was that you did there?" She began politely, "Why did that man's order suddenly vanish?"

[girlywirly]

Shen stammered. She was trying to think of what to say when she had a cunning idea. " Oh, look at that! It's my lunch break! Everybody out of the store! We're closing up for the day! I want everybody out in 2 minutes! " Once everybody was out of the store, she packed up her things and fled. She could feel somebody following her and had a good idea who aswell but didn't want to show them that she knew they were there so she didn't turn around. She was getting extremely nervous. She tried to do something. She wasn't sure if it would work. She pointed at herself just as she had in the store. She vanished.

[Mana Aramiya]

To say she was surprised when the girl began to rush every man, woman and child out of the shop, would be a correct assumption to make, as Mana found herself standing with the less than amused crowd of patrons. She turned and laced her fingers behind her back.

What to do now.

She pondered, tapping her her foot in the sand. She could go back home, which was a pleasing thought at the moment. The people here were very abnormal, and Mana really didn't want to be bothered with dealing with them. But, then she'd be a dissapointment to her family and village by not completing her assigned duties. She released a long yawn, eyes watering up a little at the corners, and sighed for the umpteenth time that day.

This was a very trublesome deed to be done, Mana mused, and decided to go to another place in search of more information, when she noticed the same girl from the shop running away.

"Isn't that the same girl from the shop, Enyou?" She voiced her thoughts and motioned with her head to the fleeing woman. Enyou nodded her head lightly, and placed a hand on her sword.

"Shall I go and retrieve her, Ojou-sama?" The older woman offered, fully prepared to give chase at a moments call. However, Mana shook her head. The girl looked to be running from something, maybe she was in danger? If that was the case, then Mana felt like she'd have to help if she could. So with that thought in mind, she followed after the girl swiftly, her sandals audibly clicking against the path. Her legs carried her closer to the girl, and as she was about to call out to her, she vanished.

Mana faltered in her run, and looked around the area for any signs of the girl. What just happened? Was this some form of dark magic, or a trick of illusive properties? Mana didn't know, the Aramiya child was not well versed with the ways outside of what she was taught back home, and as such, remained standing where she was, looking nothing short of baffled, which was an odd look to be bestowed upon her soft features.

"Where did she go, Enyou, do you know?" Mana asked her companion, who merely remained quiet, like she usually did.

[girlywirly]

Shen was thinking if someone who saw this thought it evil of her but she could not turn back. She saw some faces that she knew she saw in the shop and wanted to explain. She thought of turning visible again to explain but she didn't know how. She tried pointing again, it didn't work. She tried running in circles, it didn't work. She tried lying down and saying some random words for hours on end, it didn't work. Shen was so stressed out she couldn't think straight. She wanted to jump in the nearby lake and hold barbels. Obviously that wouldn't work either. She wept and wept and wept. It was getting dark. No-one was there. She was alone. She didn't like being alone or in the dark either so she didn't know what to do. What if someone saw her footprints as she was walking through town but they saw nothing else? What would she do then? What COULD she do then? What could she do NOW?

She wanted to go home but couldn't. Suddenly, after a few minutes of scurrying, hiding then scurrying again, a sudden purple light FLASHED!!! Shen was worried. She felt as she was being turned inside out as the light got stronger, Stronger, STRONGER!!! She saw a familiar figure emerging from behind the light. As they came closer, Shen realised that she was the only one that had a reaction to the light. Infact, she also realised she was the only one who could SEE the light. As the figure emerged, Shen thought it looked somewhat like the woman following her. She wasn't sure if she was a sourceror of dark magic or not. If so, she [planned to keep her mouth shut any way. She wasn't sure what would happen next, so she just stood there, in the pain, the agony, the endless light, waiting.