7:00 p.m.
Luxen City.
Vivian stood in front of Shirley's Tavern.
There were people coming in and out of the entrance, people standing on the side chatting, and people walking on the streets who threw curious glances at her. However, she paid them no heed.
She let out a sigh.
Hopefully, those kids are here...
So that I can get over this real quick…
I really want that [Lightning Mastery]…
As long as I get that…
I don't care even if they don't show up anymore after that…
She entered the tavern.
The moment she stepped inside, many gazes immediately landed on her.
Putting aside beauty despite looking haggard, a Priest would never come to such a place. The Brown Cloak over her body and the gold necklace with a vertically stretched-out sun pendant were proof that she was a Priestess.
Sniff.
Sniff.
It still smells...
I have to make this quick...
She swept her gaze around until she finally spotted Felize, Torr and Gaze who were standing in a corner.
They locked eyes with her and she made a gesture with her head to go outside before turning around and leaving.
***
Vivian stepped outside of Shirley's Tavern and immediately went to the side.
There were two Silver II Rank Adventurers, both males, a few feet away from her and they noticed her. They both looked at each other and nodded before one of them approached her.
"Hi, excuse --"
"Just leave me alone please," Vivian said without looking.
"Honored Priestess?" a familiar voice called out.
Vivian turned and saw Felize, Torr and Gaze.
"Do you kids have a curfew? Like maybe your parents will look for you if you're out late?"
They all looked at each other before returning their gaze back at her.
"We've already asked permission to stay out late, even until the morning," Gaze said.
Vivian nodded.
"Good. Let's go somewhere else. If anyone asks you why you're with me, just tell them I'm hiring you guys for some Priest stuff. And if they ask what is it, tell them it's none of business. And if they persist, tell them to come to me and ask me straight to my face why is it their business to know."
The teens nodded.
"Yes, Honored Priestess."
Vivian turned away and began walking.
***
Vivian and the three teens were walking in an affluent neighborhood.
Although Vivian's clothing was covered by her Priest attire and was carrying a poleaxe so she more or less didn't seem under-dressed, it was a different story for the teens that many people were looking at them.
In fact, the people, especially the Guards, around would've already questioned them had it not been for Vivian.
They arrived in front of an inn called Graham's Lodge House.
And if Vivian were to judge it, it looked a couple of grades better compared to The Silver Wing Inn she stayed at a while ago.
She entered with the teens following behind her.
The main lobby was decorated with high-end furniture and architecture.
Vivian ignored the staff as she made her way to the stairs.
And before going to Shirley's Tavern, she already booked a room here for them to continue the Awakening Ceremony.
The room here is 5 gold coins a night…
And it comes with a tool for practicing Magic Arts…
I just hope that what this inn says about secrecy is true…
***
Ka-cha!
A door opened and Vivian stepped inside a luxurious living room with the three teens following behind her.
"In case any of you are hungry, feel free to eat the food over there," she said and pointed at a tray on top of a coffee table.
After booking the room, she also ordered some food before heading over to Shirley's Tavern.
Vivian went to the side and then placed her poleaxe there. She also removed her cloak and other items, such as a small sack and water pouch.
The teens looked around in awe. It was a beautifully decorated luxurious large room divided into 3 sections: bedroom, bathroom and living room. It was also their first time entering such a place.
"And in case the food is not enough, we can order some later. The food service in this inn is open 24 hours," Vivian said as she picked up a huge metal slab and then placed it in the middle of the living room.
The metal slab was square-shaped measuring 12 inches on each side and 3 inches thick. It also had a small half-ball-like stand on each side to make it stand like a table. This "tool" was used for training Magic Arts and its strength could withstand up to Adamantite-Grade Magic Force.
Vivian sat down on the floor in front of the metal slab and then turned to Felize.
"You. What was your name again?"
"Felize, Honored Priestess."
"Come here, let's continue where we left off."
"Yes, Honored Priestess."
Felize sat down on the floor across from Vivian with the metal slab between them.
Vivian then turned to Torr and Gaze.
"The both of you, support her as usual."
They nodded.
"Yes, Honored Priestess," they said and then went over to Felize.
"Okay, let's begin…"
***
Day of Thura, 6:23 a.m.
The rays of the sun slipped through the windows.
[Heal].
A faint yellow light enveloped Felize's body, healing her wounds.
Vivian knitted her brows.
Hmm...
She was staring at Felize who was being supported by Gaze and Torr. Her face was a bit pale, her cheeks a bit sunken, there were dark and heavy eyebags under her eyes, her eyes looked like she was trying so hard to stay awake, and her body stank of dried sweat.
Doesn't [Heal] also cure blood loss...?
Then how come her face is a bit pale...?
Maybe it doesn't completely recover all blood loss...?
Or maybe I have to cast multiple times...?
Or maybe that's only with [Greater Heal]...?
Or perhaps there's something I haven't considered…?
Although Vivian couldn't see herself, based on how she flet, she could tell she looked no different from Felize.
Her stats were high. But not long ago, she trained her Magic Arts for 4 days without eating and sleeping. And then after resting for one night, she hasn't slept for 2 nights in a row.
Meanwhile, for Felize, she was just your typical Copper I Rank Adventurer, no different compared to the normal civilian.
"We'll continue this later," Vivian said and then got up. "I have some important business to attend to."
Unfortunately, they still haven't yet opened Felize's [Wind Mastery] but no one was surprised.
It can't be helped…
I'm only one person…
And it's not like I have unlimited mana…
I seriously need to buy a magic item that boosts my mana recovery…
2 minutes to recover 1 mana point is just too slow...
However…
A small smile appeared on Vivian's face.
At least I was able to open [Lightning Mastery]…
After getting hit with 20 [Lightning Arrow] spells, she managed to open it.
"The checkout time is noon time. You kids can stay here in the meantime if you want," she said and then went to the side to pick up her items before turning back to the teens. "I'll order some breakfast for you kids before I leave. Also, we'll meet again later tonight."
Gaze and Torr looked at each other and then at Felize who looked so weak. But after remembering Vivian's ruthlessness, they decided not to comment and returned their gaze to Vivian.
"Thank you for your kindness, Honored Priestess," Gaze and Torr said.
"T-Thank you… kindness… Honored… Priestess…" Felize said.
Vivian nodded.
"I'll see you kids later. Have a great day."
***
Vivian was walking down the street with the smell of fresh bread permeating in the air and people opening their shops.
I need to arrive at the compound before 7:30 a.m…
I can't miss the Teaching and Feeding Holy Mission…
She let out a sigh.
So many things to do…
Yet so little time…
Clank.
Vivian suddenly stopped and planted her poleaxe to the cobblestone sidewalk as she held it with two hands, using it to support herself like a staff.
Her vision turned black and her knees felt wobbly.
She closed her eyes and held onto her poleaxe to make sure she doesn't lose balance.
"Shit…!" she hissed.
She waited until her vision returned to normal and then shook her head before resumed walking.
As she was walking, she saw something up ahead which caused her brows to knit together.
A couple of meters away, she saw her father dressed in a police uniform from her previous world and talking to her former childhood friend who was dressed in casual attire from her previous world as well and holding a plastic bottle of iced tea.
She blinked.
And both her father and the woman disappeared.
She stopped and then rubbed her eyes with her left hand.
What the hell…?
She tightened her grip around her poleaxe.
Okay…
I'm not dreaming…
I'm wide awake…
And I'm here…
When she put down her hand, all of a sudden, a 3-meter-tall skinless humanoid monster with long and sharp teeth and fingernails lunged over her from the side.
BRAAAK!
"AAAHHH!"
Vivian swung her poleaxe against the monster out of reflex and it disappeared into a black smoke. However, in the process, she also struck a mountain of wooden crates and a person.
The person was a man in his early 20s. He was lying on the street while barely unconscious and severely injured -- he had a few broken bones that his left elbow was pointing in the opposite direction and a few ribs on his left side caved in.
She also noticed that she was standing in front of a shop.
"What happened here?!" a male voice bellowed.