Twenty seven says before Serin died she was at the adventurers guild. Though she had long resigned to be stuck at level 80 there was much use she could still offer the guild. Today she was helping train a group of healers.

Serin's class offered a wide range of status effects that adventures experienced in dungeons. Healer's often cleansed them off of the frontline, but rarely experienced having to do so while under the same effects. Todays training would help simulate that effect.

Serin entered the enclosed training room lit only by a magical contraption embedded into the ceiling. She was late to the scheduled time and was last to arrive. The healers were already standing in a semicircle in the middle of the room around their trainer. Most likely discussing how to perform during todays events.

"Ah, here is our guest for today" the trainer said as he noticed Serin. She did not know much about the man as he was new. "Allow me to introduce, Miss Hendall. B rank mage. " Her rank had the students whispering amongst each other.

Standing in front of the group she looked them over. "I'm told you are all new E ranks. Congratulations on getting through the bottom rank slog. Getting to level 40 is an achievement most will never see. Have pride in that."

The young adventurers all seemed to stand a little taller with that.

"Now," Serin continued. "I am sure you discussed this with your trainer in detail, but as a reminder of the importance of todays training. I will repeat that the lower floors of dungeons contain far more nasteir surprises. As healers it is not only your duty to save those that fall under any status effects, but of greater importance is to keep yourselves alive to be able to do so.

"My class specializes in debilitating effects and illusion. You will be placed in a suitable dungeon environment and various debuffs will be cast on you. For today the goal is to work on mana management and willpower. Any questions?"

"What kind of effects will we face?" A young girl asked from the front.

"That's for you to find out. A healer must be able to accurately identify and react to all manner of inflictions."

"How do we quit?"

"The illusion will not bar you from walking out. So just leave the space when you have had enough. I implore you to stay as long as possible however for your own benefit. Any more questions?"

Serin scanned the small crowd of adventurers finding them to be resolved to move on. "Very well spread out and we will begin."

The training was simple and routine at this point for Serin. The guild had asked her to perform it many times at this point. Few others could offer a similar training with the amount of effects she could cast. It was incredibly valuable for the healers to face it at this point in their adventuring career.

Serin would use [Shadow Mockery] to cover each healer in a one way illusion. It was cast as such so that each student felt as if they were in a low lit cavern while herself and the trainer could still visually examine them. Then she started off with a low powered [Poison] as she carefully controlled her mana. Each student simultaneously faced faced their rooms slowly filling with a green mist.

Those that could cleanse the skill would then face a personalized [Curse]. Serin usually cast a mildly necrotic effect onto the healers that could cleanse poison. Those that couldn't cleanse but maintained by healing themselves over time she would use [Paralysis] to disrupt them.

Walking by a student that she had noted earlier. He had managed to not only cleanse the poison, but also the subsequent curse. Serin sent another wave of [Poison] and then added [Fear] on him. The illusions prevented the sound from escaping however the boy clearly panicked under spell. His skills failed him as his concentration was thrown off from the dread he felt. Serin cheerily walked away with a job well done feeling like an excellent teacher. The more they suffered with her the better off they were later.

The training lasted a little over an hour and only a few students felt the need to quit. Serin released her Illusion. She wasn't capable of dispelling the effects she applied. So those still poisoned or cursed would have homework. Very little mana was invested in application so at worse a few more hours and the effects would end. Although, working together the healers were usually able to help get everyone cleared.

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Serin left as the students busied themselves talking over what they experienced and still working on healing themselves or others. The trainer said a word of thanks as she left. She walked through the guild hall full of nostalgic discussions of delves and sounds of celebration from successful returns.

A melancholic feeling rose as she felt those days were over for herself. Yet she reassured herself that the help she provided the guild ensured more would get to continue to have these experiences in her stead.

She continue on out the guild and made her to the inn was she staying at currently. It was far from the adventurers guild in the merchants quarter of the city of Gilcrest. She preferred staying over here as it was quitter and provided more comfortable rooms. Not to mention the higher quality food. It was an old tip a mentor had taught her. Adventurers so used to the rough lifestyle in dungeons often started lack an appreciation for the finer things. So any business that catered to adventurers was likely to offer cheaper services.

The stars were shining by the time Serin arrived. There she enjoyed a lovely meal on the second floor balcony as she watched the city's nightlife start to wake. Afterwards she went to retire to her room.

She was nearly asleep when someone started to knock on her door. Irritated she got up and answered still in her nightwear.

"What?!" She asked as she opened the door. Standing there was an employee of the inn.

"Sorry madam. However, there is a guest that is insistent on seeing you."

"Who?" Serin asked curious about who would be making a ruckus to see her this late.

"A Mr. Quillis is what we were told." It was the last name that she would have guessed would have been spoken.

Somewhat off put she really found herself with only one option.

"Send him up, please."

"Right away," the attendant replied, quickly making his way back to the lobby.

Serin changed back into her black robes. The clothes bore an elegant style, but were ultimately crafted for combat. Something fit to be training students. Not meeting her son for the first time in decades.

She heard the crying of a child before a knock was heard.

Opening the door was her son, Quillis. He was barely older than a boy when he left her to go out on his own. Now his face was grizzled with age. He looked worn and distraught. His clothes too were messy and torn in a way that spoke of hasty travel. Then most upsetting was the infant crying in his arms.

"Please," he begged. "Save my daughter. I can only trust you..." Even his voice was different now. Deeper and carried with it an experience it hadn't had when she'd last seen him.

Serin without much thought quickly brought her hand up to the child and cast [Fog of Slumber]. She used the tiniest bit of mana and naught but a puff of smoke drifted towards the baby. However, against her expectations the cries did not stop. She raised an eyebrow and casted again with more mana sending a short gust of fog this time. This time the infant's scrunched face relaxed as it fell into a deep sleep.

Quillis laughed without humor. "Same as always mother."

"How are we to have a proper conversation with an emotionally rampant imbecile in the room? Anyways, get in here and tell me how I'm to save your baby."

Serin guided her son into the room. There was a small section in the room dedicated to greeting guest. Two simple couches and table between them. Quillis seemed to melt in one with his child still cradled in his arms.

Figuring she ought to err on the careful side she cast [Shadows Mockery] around the couches. A thin layer of shadowy fog formed a bubble around the area before settling into a blurry bubble. She didn't feel the need to create any illusionary effect and simply left as is. It would block sound and sight, which was enough for Serin.

With that finished she sat on the couch opposite of her son. "Now lets hear about this little monster you've created that can resist my skill."

Her son sighed heavy. "I don't know much of anything. I just know she's special..." A darkness settled on his face. "When she was awakened the church wouldn't tell us her class. The priest said they would have to ask first before they revealed it. They wouldn't tell us anything. We worried, but what could we do. Then two nights later assassins broke into our home. I tried so hard mom..."

Serin looked at his eyes and they were dim. She knew already what he was going to say. "I'm sorry you had to feel that loss." She didn't know what else to do. Hug him? He was a grown man and she was hardly even his mother at this point.

"I never regretted avoiding your lessons as much as I did that night."

Serin regretted it too. The boy had been destined for great things had he applied himself. She did everything to push him into being an adventurer with her. She had gotten him to level 33 back then before he left. Even then his class had allowed him to contend with his betters.

Awakened with Swift Wind, she knew even then in the church that it was going to be rare class focused on speed. Serin had seen such a bright future for him. As such it was no surprise to her that he was able to escape the assassins.

"I just left her behind. It was all I could do just to get us away. I don't know what they did with her body. Just--" Quillis' voice broke. "Just thinking about it. Its too much. Margery deserved better."

"You can't focus on it. I didn't know her, but I'm sure her daughter's safety was the most important to her as well. You need to focus on that. We need to think about what to do from this point onward. Alright?"

"Right..." He agreed.

"Don't worry. Now that you've come to me everything is going to be all right." Serin said, as she eyed her granddaughter wondering what sort of secrets she had.