Later that morning, at the town of Light’s Hope…

Sun’s up. Townsfolk and adventurers out and about. Life goes on, demons be damned.

Anna and I have the whole day to prepare for our foray into the Cathedral of the First Saint, where we’ll be tested by the First Saint herself, Saint Alyssa Alcadeias. In a life lived centuries ago, as was written in the Libram of the First Saint, she founded the Order of Selene. Since then, her eternal, undying spirit remains on the Isle of Spirits as a Devata – a holy Monster of the highest level, whose divine soul embodies the magic and might of Healer and Paladin alike.

Within the Cathedral of the First Saint, Saint Alyssa guards two tokens of triumph – the Blessed Rosary and the Holy Grail. They're needed to prove one's worth of becoming fully-fledged members of the Order of Selene. She’ll only yield them to a Healer and a Paladin who can brave the Cathedral and the challenges within, and thereafter, weather the divine storm that is her wrath unleashed. Three minutes for the latter… no more, no less.

In the previous timeline, Anna and I barely survived this Dungeon together. Like students scrambling to finish an exam in the last moments before the bell chimes, we made it by the skin of our teeth, completing the Trial of the First Saint to prove ourselves worthy of the Order of Selene. It was a world of pain, and then some more, even with our mastery of Spell Ward and Sanctuary. And uh... it's quite the bonding experience, I’ll say!

I’m much stronger than the first time we did this, and Anna… she’s keeping up with me nicely. I know we can do this again, together.

On our first triumph one timeline ago, Saint Alyssa taught me a spell of the Devatas – Aura Blade. With it, any blade or weapon, hell, any object, can be infused with Mana to form an Aura within it that’s strong enough to clash against any blade, parrying even the deadliest of killing blows. Pretty handy in a pinch!

I remember Saint Alyssa's words. She said I'm capable of using Aura Blade because I’m a Hero, guided by Prophecy. Just as she was, in life. Golden eyes and all... blessed by the divine forces of this world. She said it would help me in the coming days, and it did! Came in clutch for a couple of close calls with weapons coming in hot to strike me down with all the hatred in the world.

Not sure what’ll happen this time, though. Like I said, I’m returning to this trial as a pretty tough Healer! Not to brag, but I could probably pass the entire thing all by myself! Because, y’know… I’m big and all grown up now! But that’s just me daydreaming for an easy ride and a free lunch. I’ve got a hunch that it ain’t gonna be that easy. Never is.

Good grief. I’m just thinking and thinking. Anyway… where were we? Oh, right. Preparations! It’s why Anna and I stepped outta the Chantry of Eternal Light, to do some shopping. There’s a list of approved items one can bring into the Cathedral of the First Saint if one seeks to enter in good faith to be tested by Saint Alyssa and the holy monsters within. Stuff like bandages, potions, and food. Nothing too fancy. On the other hand… stuff like magical Scrolls and alchemical weapons like Fire Flasks are strictly forbidden. The Cathedral is a trial to test the mettle and mastery of healers and paladins in their respective arts, after all!

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That said… I do wonder what would happen if someone broke the rules. As far as I know, nobody from the Order of Selene has. I’d assume it’d mean forfeiting the trial and the rewards it entails… but what else? As much as I’d love to find out, I’d rather not.

So, uh… gotta focus! Eyes on the prize. Someone out there once said that overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer, and that the cost of preparation is measured first in gold, then in blood. On both counts, I learned first-hand in the previous timeline that both nuggets of wisdom are very much true, especially when you’re in the thick of it!

“So, umm… where to first?” Anna asks me as we consult our shopping list together. “Or should we split up? We’d cover more ground if we do that.”

“I’d rather we go about it together,” I answer warmly. “It’s a bit slower, but then…”

I smile at Anna, and she returns my smile with her own, her cheeks blushed red and a hand pressed gently upon them.

“Yeah. So, how about it?”

“Yes ma’am!”

We pick up Healing Potions at the Apothecary’s Shop. Red like blood and a bit too bitter for my liking, they do good enough to dull pain, mend wounds, and restore lifeblood. Just like a well-placed Heal. As Paladin and Healer, our Heal spells are usually good enough. But it never hurts to be safe!

Oh, and a couple of Mana Draughts as well! These swirl blue and purple in their glass vials, and they’re sickeningly sweet yet icy cold and refreshing. Kinda like a chilled, non-lemon-lime soda! Very, very useful since healing is thirsty work! Or casting spells, for that matter.

“Right…” I muse out loud as we pack the last of our purchased potions to go. “What’s next?”

“Food and water,” Anna answers as she consults our shopping list. “General Store?”

“Sounds good.”

From aisles of stocked shelves like a convenience store back in my world, we pick up some waterskins (to be filled up later!) and sandwiches from the General Store. Napkins too! There's not too much to prepare here, because the Cathedral of the First Saint isn’t too big of a Dungeon. Relatively speaking, I mean! Just need enough of a bite to eat to tide us by till dinnertime.

Oho! I think that’s the last of what we need! Gotta say, that’s not as much stuff as I thought we’d be hauling! Then again, we aren’t exactly going off on some deep expedition into hostile territory for days on end. Not yet, anyway.

“Umm… Arisa?” Anna asks after we’ve paid up at the counter and left the General Store with our shopping in tow. “Can we get lunch at the Adventurer’s Guild today?”

“You sure you don’t want what the dining hall’s serving up today?” I tease with a playful wink. “Menu said it’s potato soup served in a bread bowl!”

“I know! I’ve had it before and it’s nice! But umm… the Guild tavern has a really nice pepperoni pizza! And umm… we rarely get to visit Light’s Hope…”

“Pizza, you said? I’m listening.”

Upon hearing my words, Anna’s eyes immediately light up.

“It’s the best, Arisa! It’s got a nice thin crust so it’s not too filling, and it always has so much cheese and pepperoni on every slice…”

“Woah…”

“Can we, Arisa? Pretty please?”

“Hmm…” I answer teasingly, before smiling brightly and nodding enthusiastically. “Hell yeah! I love pepperoni pizza. C’mon!”

“Yay!”

With that, we head for the Adventurer’s Guild, supplies in tow and just in time for lunch. Today’s shaping up to be a pretty nice day!