Tightened her armor as she eyes the dark elf’s muscular body now partially enclosed.

“I’ve never seen someone so weak to suddenly become such a terror at a flip of a coin.”

“…”

“From someone who can barely cast their miracles to someone who flail their hands with Mad Dead’s sorceries. And I know you are not of his highness’s follower.”

“So, who are you?”

“Mad Dead?”

‘Someone actually worship that loser? Even though I liked his spells, he’s not much.’

“My name’s Lyra.”

Looking at her in the eye, “Is that right, Lyra. Show me your status.”

“What? Why would I—” gritted her teeth as she saw Siola’s piercing glare.

“Tsk. Here.”

{Lyra - Level 258}

{HP: Rank B | MP: Rank D | SP: Rank S}

{Class: Spellcaster Rogue | Abilities: [Shadow Strike], [Silent Death], [Dark Arrow], [Nightshade Poison], [Dark Vision], [Smoke Bomb], [Invisibility], [Caltrop Trap], [Art of the Mad Dead, Crucible Black], [Shapeshift], [Teleportation] | Passive: [Black Blood], [Blade Dance I], [Dagger Mastery], [Stealth III], [Night Stalker I], [Dragon Skin]}

{STR: Rank B | DEX: Rank S | FTH: Rank E | INT: Rank A}

‘So few abilities for someone at that level. Possibly sacrificed a few to obtain the other. She even has Art Spells and Dragon Skin.’

“You’re strong.”

“Of course, I am. But clearly, not enough to beat a kid.”

“I’m 21.”

“What, your level?”

“Age.”

“Well, I’m 344 years old.”

“Uhuh, so what’re you going to do now, Lyra?”

“What else? The other you, put this on me,” a strange rune on the back of her hip, “I can’t go anywhere even if I wanted to. When she pops up, she’d just summon me back.”

“…”

‘The other me, huh. I need to determine whether it is Hex or something else.’

‘Putting that aside for now though, Mad Dead’s Plague is troublesome.’

‘Not only that it turns its victim into zombies, but it also turns them immortal. The initial victims can never die unless they’re blown to smithereens or better yet, a Tier 6 miracle called Divine Cascade or something similar is needed.’

‘I’ll need it fast.’

“Hey… Hey!”

“Hm?”

“My point is, I’m stuck with you now. So, you tell me. What’re we going to do now?”

“Pilgrimage.”

“Huh?”

Siola walks out of her room, scratching her linen shirt as she walks down the stairs. Lyra follows in her shade.

“Ah, you woke up. Listen, about— Gyaaaaah?!”

“D-D-Dark Elf?!!”

She went to the back.

“Madam Vanya, calm down.”

And returns with a rapier, “H-How did you get in my house?!”

“You weakling dares to point that thing at me?”

“Lyra.”

Sharp glares. Clicking her tongue as she backs away.

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“She’s with me, Madam Vanya. Please calm down. And listen.”

“The town is in danger. Mad Dead followers have become an undead. I’m off to find a way to put them to rest but before I can do that, you have to be careful.”

Lowering her rapier.

“Mad Dead? Those lunatics who kidnap children for sacrifice?!”

Turning her head to Lyra, “You kidnapped children?”

“No.”

“Liar, I know you people. You’d do anything, anything! To get your hands on them.”

“You, humans and your wild imagination.”

“Alright, enough! Please.”

“Madam Vanya, I have to go.”

“Wait, Siola. I’m coming with you.”

“?”

“I was planning to tell you just now, but if that dark elf is going to follow you, I just… I can’t leave you alone with her.”

“Madam Vanya…” lowering her gaze, “I’m weak.”

“…”

“I’m not strong enough to protect myself, I wouldn’t be able to…”

Her head down, Vanya can see it for the second time. Siola’s vulnerable state. Very different than her usual nonchalant and prideful stature.

She pats her head, “I promise you, Siola. There will never be an instance where you have to protect me. I promise.”

For the first time, she can feel Siola’s cheek, it’s soft and cold.

She nods.

Waiting outside in the breezing morn. Lyra rested her back against the wall as she glances at Siola who is patting a white rabbit with no front feet. She also notices that Siola is also staring, but not at her eyes, but rather, something below. Her muscular arm.

“What’s with that rabbit?”

“Found it bleeding when I was on patrol. After healing it, it just started following me. Maybe it knows where it can find a safe haven. Something as such seems to be too much to ask.”

“I won’t be sorry for it. You’ve damaged me enough.”

Siola closes in on her eyes glued to her underarm, “Are you saying we’re even now? After last night?”

Grimace on her face, “…”

Leaning close to her side breast, her cheek rubbing on Lyra’s arm.

*Sniff *Sniff

“Urgh, what’re you doing, can’t you see people walking around.”

*Snifffffff*

Inhaling Lyra’s scent deep to her lungs. The scent of a warrior, one who has yet to partake in a gentle touch of water.

“Open it.”

“You,,,?!”

Reluctantly she lifts her arm slightly, revealing the stubble of hair that has been cut roughly. Steam gushing out of it, as it washes over Siola’s face.

She drawn closer to it, more and more until… shoving her face deep in it.

*Sniffffffffff*

Retracting her head slowly, Lyra closes her arm in respond. No flush, no blush, only disgust at Siola’s odd behavior. Bell ring as a door opens.

“Siola, I’m ready.”

She handed the rabbit over. Now her, Lyra, and Vanya starts off their journey in a carriage.

“Seriously, why would someone who earns a living for transporting people forget to maintain their method of transport. Just look at this carriage, it’s so dirty.” Vanya groaned.

“Clearwater rarely ever has people moving out. And those who got in are merchants and they already have their own way to get around. We’re lucky to even found one that would take us.”

“Don’t talk to me, elf. I still don’t trust you.”

“Hunh?!”

“You should be grateful that I even let you be here, human.”

“Well too bad, I don’t need your permission, do I?”

As they argue, Siola’s focus is on Lyra’s bosom, or rather Siola’s own profile status hovering over it.

‘Black Nova, a Cast blast spell that releases hex flame to the surrounding. It already sounds nice until I read it again. Hex. It is its own category of spell. Different to that of Dark, Hex is pure curses. It becomes more potent the higher the tier.’

‘A Hex Flame is an ever-burning dark flame with a twist being is that it has long-lasting pain. It will continue to burn even after it’s being put out. A spell of pure heresy.’

‘Although it’s only a Tier 4 spell, this one in particular does not require a chant.’

‘But Abyssal Touch, that’s new to me. A Tier 5 Touch spell that can sap all three primary stats from the target. It sounds good, but when will I ever need to do if I can just kill them. Not that I wanna be in close proximity range of a sword since I only have too low of an HP.’

‘Maybe I should work on that first.’

‘Buying equipment would be the fastest way to do it if I don’t want to change class. Enchanted accessories would be a boon to me. But there’s a bit of a problem.’

‘I never expected to ride a carriage. Because I don’t have any money.’

‘It’s going to be weird if I go to Hikanda Town now with such empty pockets.’

‘Not to mention, maybe there’ll be another weirdo like Lyra whom I don’t mind to have around, but I’d like to avoid dying. And I’d like to avoid using Mage Shift.’

‘I’ve reached max level. I can go up to Master rank now.’

‘A few ways to do it. In my case, a large sum of donation to the capital’s church would suffice. But without money, forget donation, I’d be surprised if I can even buy a bread without trading my stuff. No, I have to consider the alternates.’

‘Dungeon conquest. Although Armalia wanted me to visit Krilla dungeon so I can be her champion, when it comes to reaching master rank of a class, I don’t have to beat that specific dungeon and instead…’

‘I need to do some prerequisites suitable for my class, meet certain conditions, and then I can rank up to Master. Just like these two.’

“I have the ideal body a woman should have. Unlike you with all that… muscles.”

“Well, I’m not fat.”

“F-Fa… you,,,”

Siola stood, startling them, she went to the driver and asks him, “A change of plan, sir. Is there any dungeon nearby?”

“Oh? A dungeon, miss? Why yes, of course.”

“The adventurers guild from Hikanda have set up encampment on the lot of them here. There are three nearby. Voidspire, Shattered Realms, and Starlit.”

‘Hmm, I remember both Shattered Realms and Starlit, but they don’t have what I’m looking for.’

‘Waiting for Hikanda and going to Krilla dungeon is a safe bet, if I didn’t know how dangerous it is, so I could try my luck with Voidspire.’

“…”

“How about it, miss?”

“Let’s go for Voidspire. Is it far?”

“We’ll be there before sunset.”

“Sounds good.”

The driver speeds up the horses as she returns to be seated. Although she expected for both Lyra and Vanya to be at each other again, surprisingly, they’re not.

“A dungeon?” Lyra asked.

“Yes. You know anything about Voidspire?”

“Never been.”

“Oh, I know that one.”

“It’s a vibrant place where new adventurers started their journey on dungeon delving.”

“You know what’s inside it though?”

Shaking her head, “I’ve only trade outside.”

Lyra clicked her tongue, “Useless.”

“Huh?! Well, at least I know something about it unlike a certain uncultured, and less knowledgeable person here in this cart.”

“…”

“Wait, I don’t mean you, Siola. I mean her. You know, it’s—”