Each item had a small icon showing its type, and Eli could read a short description and then choose if he needed an item or not.

"So, do we roll for them?" Cruella asked.

Eli eyed her. It was a little strange how quickly she'd recovered from the ordeal.

"Don't you notice something about these items, shitheads?" Dana asked, her tone a little frustrated.

"They're hand-picked," Samantha said.

"Maybe not hand-picked," Irene added, "but they certainly are class-specific."

Eli couldn't stop looking at the first item on the list.

Tome of the Dying Light. Tome. Unique Item: Holds knowledge of the Dying Light and its mysteries.

+50% Amount healed with spells

+20% Experience gained

+15% Wisdom

+5% Intelligence

+500 Mana

Class requirement: Priest of The Dying Light

At first glance, that tome was so far above everything else, Eli's mouth fell open. He looked up at Samantha, who glared back at him. A shimmering light ran across her and he swallowed hard, gathering up the courage to inspect what specialization she'd chosen.

Samantha. Human. Level 10 Scholar of The Dying Light.

She messaged him:

Samantha: I'd rather be dead than a priest. I want the wand.

Eli: Deal.

The next items were a sword and shield combo. This one wasn't unique, but the description said rare and only fighters were able to equip them. The shield added +20 constitution and reduced all incoming damage by 20%. Not bad, not bad at all. The sword wasn't anything special, but it looked well made in the little picture and dealt damage with a modifier that took total defense and constitution into account.

Two instruments were added to the mix. It was clear which belonged to who, and not only because it was a violin and a lute. The lute gave bonuses to different buffs. The violin provided +5 in two skills called Provocation and Peacemaking, along with a +15% chance of successfully taming an animal. It was clearly tailor made for Amy.

The wand Samantha spoke of was next. It was rare and added +50% damage with light spells, +50 intelligence, +25 wisdom, +500 mana. The class requirement was like seeing the world pick a specialization for Samantha. Scholar of Light.

The other wand was only of the magic rarity, which he guessed was a step below rare. It added +20% to all magic damage, +20 intelligence, +10 wisdom. Still great, but a far cry from the other spell based loot.

A bunch of different weapons and armor followed, both of the metal and leather variety. There were also items used with alchemy and some other class specific things for the others. Nothing he could use, so Eli didn't bother reading the descriptions. A hat with +50% spell damage using fire spells caught his eye and Eli chuckled.

"What?" Amy asked.

"That very old-school fantasy looking red wizard's hat. Don't you think The Dragon would look amazing in it?"

"Can't see, remember?"

"Crap, I'm sorry."

"Just messing with you," she chuckled. "But the braille-like text doesn't show me what items look like, even if I'm looking through Rufus's eyes."

Rufus barked, happy to be out and about after the fight ended.

A bunch of books followed, and Eli found himself interested in all of them. Well, most of them:

Book of Professions: Enchantments

Book of Professions: Cartography

Book of Professions: Lock-picking

Book of Professions: Imbuing

Book of Professions: Inscription

Book of Professions: Detect Trap

Book of Professions: Veterinary

Book of Professions: Runeforging

Eli selected 'need' on Enchantments, Runeforging, and Imbuing, thinking they were related to upgrading equipment. The others would be interesting, but he thought them fitting other members of the party better.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

A part of the quest in the church still remained, and he had some time to look around while others perused the bountiful loot. Having reached level 20, it looked like it awarded him some new skills as well, but that would have to wait until later. There was so much to take in at the moment.

He closed his Character Sheet, summoned his Orb of Light, and walked deeper into the chamber. Reaching the other end of the church hall, Eli found another depiction of the wall. The tree from his sigil spell. This one did not show any corruption seeping in, gnawing at its roots. It stood tall and proud, shining brilliantly.

Without really thinking, Eli cast Sigil of Light, targeting the wall. The ground beneath his feet trembled, and Eli stepped back as the floor sank down to reveal a staircase leading straight down. It was a short set of stone steps and they ended in a sturdy-looking wooden door.

Quest Complete: The Corrupted Lord is Slain. Uncover his secrets.

Reward: +3 skill points, +1 talent points.

"That's quite the reward," Amy said from right behind him.

He jumped and let out a not-so-masculine screech. He hadn't heard her approach. She giggled, an equally strange sound coming from her.

"Ephraim and the voice that spoke to me said there are Priests down here. Light wanted me to save them."

"Light?"

"That's what the voice called itself."

"Oh," Amy said, thinking. "So, that is a jail cell?"

Zack materialized out of thin air. "Found something interesting?"

"Are you done with the looting?" Eli asked.

"Almost," Zack answered. "Cruella and Irene are fighting over one of the daggers. You'll have your book thing soon and I have this," he said, equipping a thin blade, thrusting it forward.

"Nice looking sword," Eli said, taking a step back from the very greenish looking tip of his weapon. "Daggers not agreeing with you?"

"It's called a sabre," Zack said. "I used to fence in college."

"So you're going to be a fencing rogue alchemist?" Amy asked.

"Something like that."

Eli carefully walked down the steps and put his head against the door to see if he could hear anything. When his chin touched the wood, a notification popped up.

Only accessible to followers of The Dying Light.

"Looks like you can't come," Eli said.

Zack slid down the stairs and touched the door. "Guess you're right. You should bring Sam, at least."

"Not so sure she'd want to come along."

Samantha approached them, coming over from the corpse. She was twirling her new wand between her fingers. "Not so sure about what?"

"The door will only let you and me in."

She shrugged and brushed a strand of blonde hair back, trying to look casual. "Fine, whatever. Want to go now?"

Eli couldn't seem to get a grasp on the young woman, but slowly shook his head. "We shouldn't wait long, but I think we should head back first for a little while." Then his eyes widened. "Goblins!"

Everyone turned to look back at the door leading into the church. It was open now, but empty.

"No, not here. I mean, back at the office building. I think the voice might've told me we're under attack again."

James, who'd wandered up to them, snickered. "Hearing voices now?"

Eli ignored the quip and cast Warp again and found that it worked now that they'd beaten the boss. After marking the location, he rushed over to the rest of the group, who were talking heatedly.

"Yeah, we have to finish this up now, guys," Eli said. "I think the goblins are attacking us again."

Dana got up and equipped the bow she'd looted from Ephraim's corpse. "Let's go."

"Fine, you can have the damn dagger. But I'm taking the pouch," Irene grunted.

Cruella grinned. "Deal."

A whole bunch of items added themselves to Eli's inventory, and he found the book and equipped it without looking at anything else. To his delight, it didn't pop into his hands. Instead, it came attached to his belt with leather straps. The tome was not a weapon, which meant he could equip a staff when he found one.

"Everyone ready?"

Samantha gripped her wand so hard her knuckles whitened. "Ready,"

"Go for it," Cruella said.

James equipped his new sword and shield, as well as a bulky-looking plate armor. He nodded to Eli.

Irene and Zack both blended into the darkness.

Amy drew in a deep breath, going a little pale, showing she'd just activated See Through Their Eyes. "Ready!"

Eli looked to Dana, who was holding a book. "Cartography? What the fuck am I supposed to do with Cartography?"

She looked up at him and her cheeks reddened as she put the book away. "Ready."

Eli warped them down to the ground floor of their office building where pandemonium had broken out. Dead and dying humans were everywhere, and piles of goblins lay motionless. Their party exploded into action, cutting into their enemies like they were nothing. These goblins' levels were still low, and the lowest leveled Ravenous Barbarian was at level 10.

Princess popped into existence and barreled into the stairwell, absolutely murdering goblins and creating a path up the stairs to whichever floor the humans were protecting. James stood fast against the goblins still trying to get in while the rest of the group hurriedly followed the bear.

A calm settled over Eli and he stepped toward the doors, walking past James.

"What are you doing?" James asked, following.

"Wait here. I'll be fine," Eli said, holding up a hand.

He saw fear in the goblins' faces now. Had that always been there, or was it because Eli's party had turned up and killed all their friends?

"I know that you can understand me," he said, walking up to their front lines. The goblins backed away, opening up a small path for him to walk down. "I mean you no harm. Please take me to your leader."

As soon as his back was turned, a level four goblin tried to stick a knife in his back. The blow dinged off his Aegis, but Eli held back on re-casting the spell, wanting the full effect in case they all decided to pile on.

"I am a Priest of The Dying Light. We need not fight," he said. The seriousness of the situation made him talk a little funny, almost like he was in a fantasy movie. He figured the goblins expected that of him.

A few arrows came whizzing through the air, and one found its mark in his chest and would have pierced right into his heart if not for the Aegis. They, too, dinged off and Eli kept a close eye on his Aegis buff, ready to re-cast if necessary. He walked through a sea of green little bastards. The goblins reached up to his waist, barely, but the sheer number of them were staggering.

"Bring me to your leader."

Zack: Eli? What the hell are you doing?

Amy: That's not safe!

Eli glanced over his shoulder to see his friends standing there at the bottom of the stairs, looking out at him.

Eli: Don't follow. I'll be fine. Light said this might be resolved without violence and I want to try it. If they all attack me, I'll just Warp back. Hold the stairs and make sure Barbara and her cronies don't start bombing the goblins from above.

Irene: No one has seen HR. Most of the management is gone too, apparently.

Eli: Since when?

Zack: Since this morning.

Eli: Damn it. Well, I'll be back as soon as I can. Make sure the elevators are clear.

James: Be careful.

Dana: If he dies, I call dibs on that book.

Eli ignored her and continued walking away from the building. Goblins stood watching him in silence, fear on their faces.