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

It’s sunny. Townsfolk and adventurers are out and about. Life goes on, demons or not.

Anna and I have the whole day to prepare for our foray into the Cathedral of the First Saint, where we’ll face the spirit of Saint Alyssa Alcadeias – the First Saint herself.

As was written in the Libram of the First Saint, she’s the one who founded the Order of Selene. Now, centuries thereafter… her undying soul lingers on the Isle of Spirits as a Devata – a holy Monster embodying the magic and might of Healer and Paladin alike.

Inside the Cathedral of the First Saint, Saint Alyssa guards the twin relics sacred to the Order of Selene – the Holy Grail and the Blessed Rosary. She’ll only yield them to a paladin and healer who can brave the Cathedral and the challenges awaiting within, and after all that… endure the divine storm of her wrath unleashed. In her words:

“Three minutes. No more, no less.”

In the previous timeline, Anna and I barely survived those three minutes with her. We barely scraped through by the skin of our teeth, like students scrambling to finish an exam just before the bell. It was… quite the experience!

So, I know we can do it again! I’m much stronger now… and Anna’s kept up nicely. Together, we’ve got this. Easily, if I do say so myself!

In the last timeline, Saint Alyssa taught me Aura Blade – a holy spell encapsulating the mastery of Mana wielded by a Devata. With it, any blade – or even any object – can be infused with Mana… making it strong enough to clash against any weapon. It’s quite the lifesaver in a pinch!

I remember why she deemed me worthy of Aura Blade. She saw in me what she once was – a Hero guided by Prophecy, golden eyes and all. It was her gift to me for my journey across the mainland of Nisha… and it came in clutch for Anna and me so damn many times when we thought ourselves outmatched… when all hope seemed lost.

But who knows what’ll happen this time? I’m returning to this as a much stronger Healer. I don’t wanna brag… but I reckon I could pass the Trial of the First Saint easily on my own! Or not. It’s never easy with these sorta things. Never is.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Anyway… where were we? Oh, right! Preparations. It’s why Anna and I stepped out of the Chantry of Eternal Light in the first place! A wise man once said that overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer. And that the cost of preparation is paid first in gold… then in blood. In the previous timeline, we learned that the hard way – we were both beginners back then.

We’ve got a list of approved items for the Trial – simple supplies like bandages, potions, and food. Nothing too fancy. The Trial of the First Saint aims to test the mettle and mastery of healers and paladins, after all.

“So, umm… where to first?” Anna asks, glancing at our shopping list. “Or should we split up? We’d cover more ground.”

“I’d rather stick together,” I reply warmly. “It’s a bit slower, but then…”

I smile at Anna, and she blushes, pressing a hand to her reddened cheek.

“Exactly,” I add with a playful wink. “So, what do ya say?”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Our first stop is the Apothecary’s Shop for healing potions. Blood-red and far too bitter for my taste… they’re effective at dulling pain, mending wounds, and restoring lifeblood – just like a good Heal! Our spells usually suffice… but it’s always wise to have backups.

We also pick up some mana draughts. These swirl with blue and purple hues in their vials, sickeningly sweet but icy-cold and refreshing, like a can of ice-cold soda! They’re essential to keep our Mana reserves strong on a long trip. Spellcasting is thirsty work, y‘know!

“Okay, so that’s done…” I muse as I pack the potions into our bag. “What’s next?”

“Food and water…” Anna replies, checking the list. “General Store?”

“Sounds good.”

At the General Store, we grab waterskins (to fill later!) and a few sandwiches. Not much is needed, as the Cathedral of the First Saint isn’t a sprawling Dungeon. Just enough to keep us going until dinner.

And uh… that’s it! Not as much stuff as I’d imagined… but then again, we’re not venturing into hostile wilderness for days on end. Not yet, anyway.

“Umm… Arisa?” Anna asks as we leave the shop, bag of supplies in tow. “Can we get lunch at the Adventurer’s Guild today?”

“Not up for the Chantry’s potato soup in a bread bowl?” I tease with a playful wink. “I thought you like that! As do I!”

“I do! But the Guild restaurant does a very nice pepperoni pizza. And umm… we don’t visit Light’s Hope very often.”

“Pizza, you say? Heh. Now you’ve got my attention.”

Anna’s face lights up instantly. “It’s the best, Arisa! Thin crust, loads of cheese and pepperoni on every slice…”

“Woah…”

“Can we? Pretty please?”

I feign deliberation, then grin. “Hell yeah! I fucking love pepperoni pizza. Let’s go!”

“Yay!”

With that, we head to the Adventurer’s Guild, supplies in tow and just in time for lunch. I gotta say… today’s shaping up to be a really good one!