Using the [Boots of Shadow Step], she teleported just by the edge where her hand was caught by Pent.

“Heheh, next time.”

“What?”

But suddenly, he noticed her went limp.

“W-Wha… You guys, hurry!”

“Get her up, get her up!”

“Ouuu!”

*Bam*

Her dark brown eyes look up to see the forest in front. Head spinning as she tries to get up.

“Hnngh, wh-what just…”

“Ma’am!”

Her eyes widened, “Right, you guys!”

She turned, “Y-You’re… you’re all right.”

“Sorry, I…” losing her balance.

Colon lends his shoulder.

“Th-That thing, where…”

“Ma’am, it’s okay. You, you’ve defeat it.”

“Huh?”

Siola, struggling to even walk, approaches the edge of the cliff while Pent and Colon assisted her and there she can see the corpse of the monster floating towards the ocean.

‘H-How?’

She pulls up her profile status, shocked to see it.

‘What? I’m maxed out?’

‘Dimensional Storage. First time I’ve seen it. A Tier 0.’

“Remember, Ma’am. You used that golden light power with your mace and—”

“Right.”

‘Mage Shift. I passed out after muttering a cast on that spell.’

‘It is no class change spell.’

‘My body… something… or someone… was using my body.’

Sweat runs through her forehead as she turns around, massaging her head.

‘Am I cursed? Was it a hex?’

‘If so, I need a purification spell asap. Maybe, to the capital’s church. Maybe a pope can help me but what if they won’t?’

‘Stop, stop, stop!’

“Priority.”

Panting, she tries to stabilize her breathing.

“Miss Siola?”

“I’m fine.”

“…”

“Mark this place. Scribe it on a piece of parchment. And…”

“Let’s go home.”

Nodding, the two was relieved and slightly form a smile. Though, they can’t help but to look at each other, worrying about their savior. As they start their journey on returning back to Clearwater Creek, all the men including Pent and Colon can’t help but notice a change in Siola’s expression. Her anxiety is showing.

“Um, Ma’am, is everything alright?”

“Of course. Worry not, it’s only two-three-days walk.”

“That’s not—”

Colon grabbed Pent’s shoulder, he shakes his head. Troubled, Pent looked at Siola one more time and let the in his mind matter rest for now.

They march onward and although they were ambushed multiple times by monsters, something ha changed to the way they battle.

“Ignis shard! Ignis shard!”

“Shock Lash!”

“Glimmer Veil!”

Siola who has always been supporting in the back with her crossbow now gallantly fight her way through, killing monsters with magic, and healing allies with miracles.

Despite the many battles they have gone through, the many stops they had to take, they eventually see Clearwater Creek in the distance.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Finally,” said one of the soldiers.

“Pent, we’re actually here!”

“Almost… but yeah.”

He glances at Colon and he smiles, with him returning it. Although their faces are full of Joy, their leader had grimace on her face.

‘The doppelganger mention someone named Garan, a person that they told me I’ve killed.’

‘It’s possible that Mage Shift was casted before, and it killed this Garan.’

‘But how did I obtain it actually? This doesn’t make sense.’

‘No matter. I’ve reached enough level to ascend to Master Rank. And I have good enough pending levels to noticeably improve my stats further when I rank up.’

Soon they arrived by the gate. The men reunite with their friends, even Colon as well.

“Miss Siola.”

“Colon.”

“I’m truly… sorry. For everything. Without you, I’m not sure we will even survive let alone completing the mission. So, truly, I’m grateful. Thank you.”

He bowed.

She pats his head and smiled.

Although it is his duty to report back, Colon strongly insists for her to do it instead. Thus, she knocks on the door of Oklam’s office.

“Who?”

“It’s me, sir. Siola. We have returned from the expedition.”

“Oh, come in.”

“So, what’s the good news am I looking at.”

Siola’s eyes lit up, “It’s wonderful, sir. Although there has been some… issues, we have managed to find the new dungeon. We have yet to set up the encampment because we thought that we ought to return as we are behind schedule. And the men wouldn’t last another day.”

“Hmm, is that right?”

Taken aback, “We also have very good news that the area around the dungeon is safe, sir. Although, the dungeon location itself is in between hard places and rocks, encampment is very doable if you would send another expedition.”

“Ohh, now that’s we’re talking about, ahaaaa… Yes, good job, Siola.”

Siola with her eyes opened, glistening as she gazes upon the captain. Swiftly, she reaches to her crossbow and shoot him in the head but it was stopped mid-air. Her eyes widened.

“Clever little—”

“Shock Lash!”

Her electric whip was grabbed by him.

“Ignis Shard!”

The fiery bolt of fire gazes his cheek, yet he’s unharmed.

“Fufu, fufwahahahaha.”

“This is all you got?”

“How can Garan died to an incompetent girl like you.”

“Though you did surprise me. I thought you were a Priest, yet you’re able to cast those spells like a natural born mage. Must’ve had quite the intelligence, aren’t you?”

Veins pops, “Who… the hell are you? Where’s Oklam?”

“In the basement, the boy never leaves his desk. I thought maybe he had a curse preventing him to leave this cheap wooden chair, heheh.”

Air swirl around, taking of his skin as his body transformed to that of a dark-skinned muscular woman. Silver sharp eyes, tied long black hair, and an agile outfit revealing parts of her muscles, abs, and thighs.

“Why are you doing this? Who are you, and what do you want with me?!”

“Oooh, feisty.”

Siola notices her peculiarly long ears.

“Dark Elf.”

She giggles, “That’s right.”

Returning back to Oklam’s seat even after seeing Siola’s started chanting her miracle.

“Sacred Flame!”

Golden light crashed onto her mace, imbuing it with its fiery light.

“Ooh, to think a Priest could receive the same blessing as a Paladin.”

“Enough! Just… just tell me what’re you doing here, or I’ll—”

“You’ll what? Kill me? Even after those attack, what makes the next one different?”

“The next one will make sure that you’re dead. Straight up.”

Despite her confident words, her eyes tremble in fear, and the dark elf notices it and grinned.

“How cute.”

“Don’t worry, you can put that mace away. I just wanted to talk with someone who killed our initiate. Since she is strong enough to kill her, that means, she can replace her.”

“Huhh?”

“Aren’t you curious? About who exactly you’ve killed?”

“I don’t, and I’m not interested.”

“No, it doesn’t matter whether you’re interested or not because you see. You will be her replacement. So, don’t make this harder on yourself.”

“There is a door right under the dock, you’ll have to swim a little to get to it. And tonight, I expect you to come.”

“And if you started blabber about this passage. Well, you won’t even have to wait till night.”

She disappears into thin air.

“…”

Grinding her teeth as she squats, “Damn it…”

As the stress and anxiety kept piling up and up, something within snapped.

“That’s it.” She smiles.

“I don’t give a ploof anymore.”

“Oh but first though, Oklam.”

Her expression returns to normal as she descends down the stairs. There she sees Oklam and Pent enjoying ales. They saw Siola.

“Ma’am, how’s it going with the captain?”

Colon looks at Pent and Siola talking, and both of their expression is not cheery. When his eyes met hers, Siola tilts her head, telling him to come.

All three walks towards the basement.

“What’s going on?”

“Something bad. Very bad.”

“Yeah, what?”

“The captain.”

The basement is dark but visible enough for Siola to start searching.

“The captain? What about him?”

Siola started tearing down boxes and crates, until eventually, she found him. All tied up depraved with only his loin.

“Captain?”

Pent and Colon quickly got him and begin cutting the rope tying his wrists.

“Sir Oklam.”

His eyes widened at the sound of her voice. She appeared before him, grabbing his shoulder with a look of concern.

“Are you alright, sir? Are you hurt any—”

*Bam*

As soon as the rope loosened. He punches Siola, sending her straight to the side of the stairs.

“Gahk?!”

“C-Captain?!”

“You, the fucking nerve! You fucker!”

Siola, with her face bleeding, “Wh-wha?” *BAM*

Oklam kicked her by the stomach without any restrain, the velocity crushes the stairs behind.

“Sir!”

“Captain!”

They wrestle him.

“Stop! Please!”

“Come to your senses, captain!”

“Come to my senses?!”

“Why the fuck are you two on her side! She’s the one who puts me in there!”

“What?”

“Came to my office and snuck up on me! Threatening me, saying she’s going to destroy the town and kill everyone in it! She’s a demon!”

“Sir! Sir! Please, calm down!”

“Captain, we just returned from our expedition. There’s no way that could’ve been true.”

“What, you’re telling me I’m a liar, Colon?!”

“Get your hands off me or I’m gonna kill you, you son of a bitch.”

Colon, shocked by the grimace of their Captain.

“Sir, please,” Pent tries one more time, “Listen to reason. We’ve been with the ma’am for the past week. We found the new dungeon thanks to her. You couldn’t have possibly been trapped in there for that long, right?”

“Captain, please. We just came back. It’s true.”

*Pant *Pant

His adrenaline lowered as soon as he saw Siola, struggling to get up. Tears fallen off her eyes as she tries to pick up the tooth that fell out of her mouth. His expression hardened.

With Oklam and Colon back in the office, Pent left to deliver a purse of golds and an iron tag. It has Siola Mithra engraved alongside an emblem of Lorkhan. At the back of it listed her achievements of which resulting in the making of this tag. Her citizenship.

Siola looks at it, yet, no joy can be seen in her face. She wears armor no longer.

“Ma’am. I’m truly sorry about—”

“It’s alright, Pent. Besides, I’m already healed.” Nodding as she tries to smile.

“And thanks for giving me these clothes. They’re quite comfortable.”

“O-Of course, I owed you in so many ways. This is not enough for what you did, but I hope I can repay this debt in the future.”

She smiles. Tapping his arm, “Good luck, Pent.”

“You too, Ma’am. Thank you.” Bowing as she leaves.