Lorebook 2. Irene._The Castle in the middle of nowhere.

"Irene!" Mother called her with an angry voice, but Irene was not there any longer.

She ran away from home with her two friends with the hope of a better life. Irene felt betrayed by her own family when she found out they planned to give her away as a wife to an old disgusting noble from the neighbouring county. She discarded her title and her line and fled away into a night full of pouring rain.

With her two friends that were once her personal servants, but she never treat them as just servants. Irene started her life as an adventurer far away from her old home. With the passing years, they moved further and further from Ibrevell Kingdom until they finally decided to stay in the multiracial Cridia Kingdom. Her escape was three years ago and her family never found her. It was not an easy job but with her two friends, they managed to find two more people for their party.

Time was passing and Irene just felt that her family is looking for her. She knew they will take revenge on her one day but the defiance that made her run that night changed into resignation. Her two friends started dating some guys from the city but she secluded herself and rarely left the room except times they took a job. Irene was tired.

Irene looked into an old broken piece of polished steel that Sulinna brought yesterday. She looked at herself and barely recognized herself. From the daughter of Ibrevell Baron, she changed into a worn-out shade. She was thinner but they managed to earn enough money to eat well enough. After the previous Irene only big clear blue eyes and long hair black as night left. She was a high elf, one of the last few thousand that still lived in this once bountiful world.

Irene touched her long ears, giving signs of her noble birth but fortunately, no one knew about this in these lands. She was still young but her tired eyes and destroyed skin made her look far older. She touched a single treasure she took with her on her self-imposed exile. A mythril ring she received from her grandfather. It was not magical or enchanted in any way but made from just a mythril. It was sewn into her shirt as a last resort to give her coin for food.

•••

When Merkett returned to the room with her boyfriend Paul, Irene was watching out of the window into the darkness. Merkett told her about the new job they managed to secure and waved Irene goodbye. Tomorrow they would embark on their next journey.

This quest was strange from the beginning. They fought many easy targets on their way to the dungeon so when they finally made it there they lost half a day to rest. Fortunately near the Desolate Forest Dungeon was an Inn where they managed to catch a breath. When they finally paid the entrance fee to the Cridia kingdom guard it was already late.

Desolate Forest Dungeon was a place of forever dusk. There is always dimmed light that deceives the unprepared who are consumed by endless fights, stop counting the passing time. However, her group was prepared. Smaller than usual groups tend to be but it always prevailed.

But not this time.

This time was different. Dungeon monsters were tougher than usual and more fierce. Like the dungeon itself wanted to kill them. After much effort, they managed to run with a loot big enough to cover the entrance fee.

They somehow managed to exit in a different place than they should have and almost immediately run into slavers.

•••

After this, everything went downhill. She did everything that was in her power to forget... But how could she forget? They took their time with them, they enjoyed their screams and begging for mercy. They raped Merkett even when she was bleeding and started losing her consciousness. They raped Sullina even when she puked with her own blood. She was raped, her friends were killed in the process and now she is going to die as well. She survived because she could heal herself but was too weak now to do anything. She already cried her eyes out and waited for the worst.

But the worst never came.

Instead, death came for slavers and mercenaries that ravaged her body and almost have broken her mind. She couldn't help but smile when she saw their skulls crushed in hands of servants of this dungeon. They died begging for mercy and with soiled pants. They died cut in halves or pierced with swords. That sight gave Irene happiness and certainty that when she finally dies she can tell her friends she saw the death of these monsters.

But she still was spared. Dungeon monsters took them deeper inside the dungeon where an incredibly handsome man welcomed them all in Avalon. He gave them food, clothes and allowed them to take a bath. He promised them safety and they believed him. They all bowed before him and cast away their miserable lives. They pledged their lives and fealty to him and he accepted them. He was their King and near him was walking the true Queen.

But Irene was barely holding herself together. At first, she was afraid that those monsters could impregnate her but fortunately, she was a healer and was able to determine that with her skills. For once luck smiled upon her.

The days passed with daily meetings with the King and Queen. And that finally brought Irene back to life, she had to pretend everything is all right before them. But it was at first a lie until she found a small chapel of an unknown god and she entered it without hesitation. She prayed for her friends, she prayed for herself and with each passing moment, she was feeling better. And it was then that she received direct confirmation that at least this God exist. He bestowed his blessings upon her and with a scream that no one heard or she ever told about anyone she was healed.

A burning sensation like boiling liquid started flowing in her body: it made her kneel at first and then lie on the floor of the chapel, screaming in pain. She raised her hand towards the ceiling and saw gold glitter over her previously broken arm. It was healing with an incredible speed and when glitter moved elsewhere she felt only happiness and almost euphoria. With each scar from her body disappearing she felt happier and happier. Like that terrible day has never happened. Her body was burning but she no longer was screaming, she was laughing and crying out her thanks. She felt fire slowly retracting from her arms and legs concentrating on her torso, she felt it even in her crotch or deep inside her chest and stomach.

When this stopped she saw her new class. Cleric of Eriar.

That's it then. She was healed, her body was dripping with sweat and she was weak. But she pursed her lips and climbed on her knees to say thanks to the Eriar.

But Eriar did not respond to her.

•••

She returned quickly to the home she was given and took a bath. After it, she inspected her body and was in shock. In the big mirror, she saw that every single scar was gone. Almost two centimetres of the cut-off tip of her left ear had grown back. She swallowed a cold ball that formed on her throat and touched herself down there. She was purified by the Eriar and his flames.

Irene quickly picked up fresh clothes she received from the Queen and despite the late hour, she runs to the chapel where she prayed the entire night. She cried and thanked for this miracle her new God bestowed upon her and begged him to lead Merkett and Sullina's souls to a happy afterlife.

But Eriar never responded.

However, he never had to. Irene believed in him.

•••

A few days passed and they all fought with King Theon's denizens in big training chambers where they fought everything from the lowest of monsters to the scions themselves. They leveled at the terrifying speed that she thought impossible. At the end of their first day, they were at level nine on average, by the end of the second day they were fifteen. After a week they were level thirty. And each day King Theon and Queen Amber checked their progress.

Irene was fortunate to get acquainted with Queen herself while they studied under the tutelage of Stella. In shock, Irene discovered that Queen Amber was in reality a mortal. A Half-Elf that King saved and then gave her The True Name which granted her immense power. They both very quickly become best friends as they both were the same age of twenty-one. She felt happy in the presence of the Queen and never once felt fear in the presence of the King. She rather fell in love with him, broken by the fact he is not paying attention to her. But how she could blame him?

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Compared to Lady Amber, Irene looked mediocre. She was tall, slim, and now when her scars and defects were gone she once again could call herself attractive. Her smooth skin was white and looked better than ever before. Her long hair, dark as lightless night was smooth as silk and reached almost to her thighs. Her noble face was petite and captivating but it was her incredibly blue eyes that caught anyone's attention. And yet... And yet compared to Queen Amber she would be just a meaningless addition if King Theon ever decide to... No...

No. That was crazy thought and impossible. She was in love with that incredible man but...

She still wakes up at nights with screams and cries. She never sleeps with lights turned off since that fateful day. Nightmares still haunt her, never allowing her to fully heal and forget about what happened.

She finally met that one man she loved and knew full well he belong to another woman. Even if he is not a human at all but a dungeon core. He is compassionate, merciful and wise.

And she... In her mind, she was just a used plaything.

•••

A few days later, an explosion shook Avalon. She woke up in King's private quarters and was still stunned after surviving that blast. She tried to save her Queen and Friend's life but Amber was dying and she was too weak to save her. And then King gave her a true name.

Irene va'Theon

By taking this name you became a chosen maiden of Dungeon Core Theon. In his domain, you can always find respite and protection. You will be revered as a *path choice* by his denizens and your fate will be forever tangled with his.

The True Name grant you class.

Class: Saintess available upon accepting True Name.

Saintess is chosen champion of Eriar who holds true authority over this world. You are his oracle, his voice and the extension of his will in this world. There is no wound you can't cure or effect you couldn't dispel, you are walking benevolence and mercy.

Class effects:

You can learn any healing magic.

You can learn any buff magic.

You can perform Saint Miracle once per 24 hours.

You can tap into the natural mana around you to enhance passive skills.

Increased mana recovery.

Title: of Avalon available upon accepting True Name