Solo Strategy

After shedding my armor and gambeson, I took a large gulp of water from the jug on the table and collapsed onto the bed. Outside the window, the dark sky was slowly traversed by the disk of Seguna.

The day had truly been hectic. Scully drove me to the brink. She was always good at that, but after the night we spent together, she found new ways to get under my skin. Where did she get all that sarcasm, audacity, and that stunning bluntness, all seasoned with dark humor? Not that she was teasing me on purpose—it was just her way of interacting. Constant jabs without a hint of embarrassment, boldness beyond the limits... And yet, I didn't dislike her. Though I hadn't forgotten how she left me as bait in the Wicked Woods—or that she later saved me from Ridan.

All the way from the ruins of the old castle to the trade road, Scully never stopped trying to get a rise out of me. She didn't shy away from crude jokes or blatant sexual innuendos. But I felt there was something more to it than a mere desire to bicker. Judging by her stories about life on Earth, the huntress never had friends. Workmates—yes, but friends... Unlikely.

No matter how cynical I was, I could see that Scully liked me. Not just as a man, but as a person. No matter how she snapped or tried to jab, she enjoyed being around me. It wasn't love or passion. Perhaps she had met someone she wanted to call a friend for the first time, disguising it with the neutral term "partner." And when you think about it, there was nothing strange about that.

At first, she blamed herself for leaving me to die—a sense of guilt. Then, she set out to kill, only intensifying this feeling, but ultimately saved me. Real emotional rollercoaster. All of this was further exacerbated by my behavior. My doomed bravery seemed like strength of character to her. The dark humor of the condemned—my essential trait. And my response to her provocations, when I showed interest but kept my composure, clearly appealed to her.

The last straw was her obsession with old action movies where the heroes were "tough guys," and I inadvertently fit that image. Not on purpose. It just so happened that every time we crossed paths, the circumstances ended up such that I had nothing left to lose.

Apparently, unable to sort out her feelings, Scully oscillated between rudeness and sudden sexualization in her usual manner: "Wanna see my boobs?"

Maybe that's why, as soon as we reached the trade route, she gave me a peck on the cheek, mumbled something about urgent matters, and ran off. Leaving me standing bewildered for about five minutes, pondering the reasons for her sudden departure, before I headed to Trimentir.

Finding Skyros, the earthling who was into hang gliding, turned out to be easier than I expected. Although Trimentir was a major trade hub, nearly rivaling Tries in this regard, knowing the specific inn where the hang glider enthusiast was staying made the task much simpler. A couple of copper coins to the local boys, and not even half an hour after my arrival at the city gates, I was already sitting at a table with the very aeronaut.

Skyros indeed turned out to be the person I remembered from the Last Cycle. However, memory doesn't equate to knowledge. Working for Katashi, we seldom spoke at any real depth. Even though we saw each other nearly every day for a month back then, I had known practically nothing about him. In fact, I had to get to know him all over again. And, honestly, he turned out to be rather unpleasant: arrogant, cunning, and, it seemed to me, completely unscrupulous. But the moment the talk switched to flight, he transformed. His passion for flying literally shone in his eyes.

When I mentioned plans to create a glider, Skyros couldn't contain himself. Although he had never built such devices himself, he had flown them a lot and knew every detail. He even tried to assemble a version from local materials, but due to a lack of resources, he chose unsuitable components. The monster he produced was too heavy, and the fabric for the wing couldn't withstand the stress. As a result, the earthling nearly broke his neck. This failure left him penniless and tied to Trimentir, where he now carried out tasks for some alchemist, trying to gather funds and pay off debts.

Unlike Skyros, I knew exactly which materials were needed, not just suitable ones but optimal ones. Yes, they'd cost a fortune, but in the Last Cycle, the result had been worth it. Back then, due to my lacking talent in Air magic, I couldn't fully utilize such a device, though I did manage a few short flights.

Now, thanks to the intervention of Ishid's Echo in the Redistribution ritual, I possessed four Stars of Talent in Air magic and had already mastered the basics of the Wind Sense aura. And this opened up exciting possibilities.

If I managed to create an artifact glider, I could ascend to a height of about a kilometer. And crossing this threshold, as I remembered, granted an Adamantium Achievement and Affinity with the Air Element!

Despite the advanced magic, aviation in Ain remained terra incognita. Even the simplest balloons didn't exist here. Only those who had tamed winged monsters could fly. It was only the earthlings in the Last Cycle who began to change this paradigm. Alas, they did it after the start of the Invasion, when the development of "magical aviation" sharply slowed down.

The first to ascend a kilometer without the help of tamed monsters was Miranda in a hot air balloon designed by Arien. This happened when the future goddess of Spontaneous Magic had just overcome the Second Wall. Even if events were to repeat in this Cycle, I had a significant head start.

Skyros mentioned that on Earth, athletes had reached ten kilometers on non-motorized hang gliders. However, such records required special materials, unique weather conditions, and years of training. But I had an advantage—magic and access to materials unknown on Earth.

We ended up spending the entire day together. I cleared Skyros's debt—which for me was nothing, just twenty-two gold—and the earthling prepared the plans for the future hang glider. Not just a sketch, but a full-fledged blueprint with precise dimensions, proportions, and even load distribution. However, he had to revise it three times, considering my corrections, which I explained not by the memory of the future but by my knowledge of the properties of some unique materials.

During our work on the plans, I managed to order myself new boots—not artifact ones, but quite luxurious looking—and updated my wardrobe according to the fashion of Sun City. After all, I was soon to meet with Joanna, and that was something I couldn't afford to forget.

In the end, I left Trimentir through Sundbad's Gate at almost sunset, with the hang glider plans tucked into my backpack. As for Skyros, I gave him some hints and advice but didn't recommend joining either Vidar's group or the Ainuminati. It seemed to me that someone like him would be a misfit in either. Yes, he loved his hobby, but that was where his virtues ended.

Arriving in Sun City, I headed straight to the inn to avoid stumbling into more adventures...

Turning on my side without getting up from the bed, I reached for my backpack and pulled out the blueprints. I admired them for about ten minutes, then sighed heavily and packed them back. By rough estimates, just the materials for the glider would cost me about five thousand gold. Five thousand I didn't have. And that didn't include the work of an artifact master, who would charge just as much for such a unique order. Of course, there was always the option of turning to Katashi again. After all, it was he who built something similar in the Last Cycle. True, at that time, the future god of Labor was already at the Valirium rank. Still, I thought he'd manage even now, and explaining things to him, as another earthling, would be much easier than with any local craftsman. Besides, if he succeeded, Kay himself would probably earn a significant Achievement for creating something so unique for this world.

After packing the blueprints, I stretched out on the bed again. With an effort of will, I pushed away the intrusive images of Scully and the memories of the time spent with the huntress, switching to planning. My next steps clearly needed reconsideration.

It had so happened that I rapidly reached Sapphire, and now, as in the early days of Wootz, I faced a mismatch between rank and skills. My abilities met the minimum requirements of this step of the Great Spiral, but my mastery in applying them left much to be desired. Progress in mastering the True Spirit Armor remained mediocre, and my command of other learned types of magic raised questions. The situation definitely needed correction. Moreover, if I was serious about ascending to the sky, I needed to master at least a couple more spells from the Air school. I desperately needed a period without adventures for intensive training. Ideally, a month. However, the conditions set by the questers made such a period risky.

After thinking for a few minutes, I decided I couldn't spare more than two weeks. Further progress on the Spiral of Elevation without enhancing my skills could be deadly, especially when descending the Floors of the Inverted Towers. And if I wanted to improve my abilities in such a short time, it was best to find a teacher. A magic teacher. Moreover, I even knew a few names who could fit the role.

Considering that, unlike the Last Cycle, I now needed to study Air, the list narrowed down to two mages who didn't mind teaching for money. Both were in Deytran. One was a retired tunneller, and the other—a former captain of a merchant ship. The ex-captain, despite his advanced age, had only reached Opal, but his skills and spells were honed to perfection, and besides, in his "retirement," he was specifically teaching novice mages. What's more, he was much better with Air and Lightning than the retired tunneller, who specialized primarily in Earth and the same Lightning.

After some thought, I still decided to approach the ex-captain first and, if he was available, hire him as a teacher for two weeks.

Additionally, I needed to find time to visit Katashi and give him the hang glider designs. Yes, I knew Kay was busy with something else, but I believed I could interest him in the new project.

Of course, building the hang glider could be broken into parts, ordered from local craftsmen, and then assembled by myself. That would probably be even faster and more reliable. But doing it that way would deprive Katashi of a significant Achievement, possibly even an Adamantium one. And that wouldn't be good, going against my main strategy.

So, yeah, I needed to meet up with Kay and suggest making a glider, and while he was busy on that, I could throw myself into training.

However, it was still better to visit Deytran first. Three days later, the house I wanted to rent as a permanent base might end up being rented out to someone else. Yes, I intended to buy out the very house where the "past me" lived. It was just too convenient.

Small by the standards of the world's trade capital, but two-story, with its own courtyard hidden from prying eyes and three exits leading to different streets. Not to mention, an old sewer ran under the courtyard, which could be easily accessed, providing an additional escape route. Moreover, the house had several powerful protective spells cast on it. Renting it for a year would cost me five hundred gold. Expensive, of course, but worth it.

Gold... Da'Nnan curse it! These Gate transitions significantly emptied my wallet! If not for the deal with Scully, I'd have been broke after paying for the house. And I still needed to buy materials for the glider: silk of air spiders, Soaring Tree wood, and one and a half kilograms of valirium—quite costly expenses. Luckily, all of this could be found in Deytran. On top of that, boots that could endure the strain of a high-rank warrior were as essential as air—and such artifacts cost an arm and a leg.

Maybe it was worth heading to the Bottomless Lake and shoring up my finances by gathering three or four handfuls of shining pearls? It wasn't far from Pentapolis after all. But before that, it'd be beneficial to learn the Air Bubble spell; it'd allow me to stay underwater longer than just holding my breath. Memories of almost suffocating while searching for the first shadow altar in Feyst were still unpleasant.

I could also have tried my luck in the Inverted Tower of Deytran; I knew a couple of secrets on how to do that. But here I ran into the same problem again: the miserable state of my skills. Because descending through the Floors was no walk in the park; you could lose your head if you succumbed to greed.

Another option was to wander through Ain and gather whatever had been "left lying around," like those valirium sword fragments. But even here, there'd be pitfalls. I had already been burned by blind trust in the memory of the future, so I left that as a last resort. Besides, truly valuable artifacts like Da'Rrun's spear, I couldn't reach yet. To get through the jungle and unearth that relic, one would need to cross the Second Wall or... be a Shard.

Alright, I had enough money for now. I would think about extra income after settling things about the hang glider with Katashi. In any case, all those plans could go up in smoke after my meeting with Gera Joanna. I still wondered what it was about me that had interested the Bearer of Pacifying Light? It was certainly not my predatory profile or "pretty eyes." And then there was Wayne's hint about a split in the Paladin Corps...

Realizing I could build theories endlessly, I cleared my mind and focused on mental training. An hour of meditative practice later, feeling sufficiently relaxed, I drifted into sleep. After all, as they say, "morning is wiser than evening."

Waking up, I went downstairs, washed up in a large barrel in the inn's courtyard, then, after a leisurely breakfast and changing into the local attire, I stepped outside, taking only the Thunder Dagger and the First Feather with me, leaving Striking Whisper and my backpack in the room.

First, I headed to the Radiant Quarter, where the main barracks of the corps were located. Through some bustling boys playing with pebbles, I sent a message to Gera Joanna. Half an hour later, I received a response—a note with just one word: "Agreed."

Great, so I'd guessed right about where to invite her for dinner. Now, I just needed to reach the place and book a table for the evening. This simple task took me another fifteen minutes. After that, I headed to the trade districts. First, I spent ten gold coins on quality clothing that would be appropriate for a respectable venue yet not too flashy, unlike the doublet Larindel had gifted me.

While waiting for my chosen attire to be tailored, I asked the merchant where I could find a master shoemaker. I liked his recommendation: he directed me to a craftsman who made footwear for paladins.

Another couple of hours went into interacting with this shoemaker, as I wanted something similar to what Scully wore. Her notable boots were clearly custom-made, combining the advantages of local fashion and earthling designs for hiking and military footwear.

At first, the shoemaker was reluctant to take my order, citing a heavy workload. However, the jingle of pure gold and the unique nature of the request eventually swayed him, and I managed to start a productive conversation with him, as a result of which, I ended up four hundred gold poorer but was promised a pair of artifact boots by the next day, resembling the combat boots I knew from Earth. Footwear that certainly wouldn't fall apart at the first sprint to top speed.

Only a third of the cost was due to the rarity of the materials and the alchemical compounds used as impregnants and glue; the other two-thirds covered the master's work and the urgency I'd specified. Unfortunately, craftsmen who had passed the Second Wall didn't work for a handful of copper and knew the value of their labor. Although, if I hadn't insisted on a permanent Silent Step spell on the boots, I could have saved at least fifty gold. But I decided that if I was ordering a quality item, it was best not to be stingy and do it right from the start. Even so, I was quite lucky; such work usually took two weeks to a month, but the craftsman happened to have the necessary blanks on hand.

Having finished my shopping for the day, I leisurely headed towards the inn, planning to occupy myself with training until evening. That was what I would have done if I hadn't spotted a familiar face in the city crowd. Quickly catching up with the young man, I tapped him on the shoulder.

"Geophon! Is the Ainuminati really moving to Sun City?"

"Strate... Raven?!" the Earth mage exclaimed in surprise. "So, you're here for..."

"Just shopping, and I wanted to check out the festival that happened recently," I smiled as openly as I could.

"Shopping?"

He was clearly surprised by our unexpected meeting and tried to hide it behind banal questions.

"Yeah, I'm all worn out..." I replied to the mage, putting on a pained expression. "I've literally worn through my shoes twice already, and on the locals' advice, I've decided to order proper boots that can withstand the strength and speed of high ranks."

"Oh, right, Clement also complained that his shoes and boots don't last more than five days," Geophon seemed to relax and smiled openly at me.

"So, are you moving, or are you in Sun City for another reason?" And then, I quickly added, waving my hands, "If it's a guild secret, no need to tell me."

"We're just planning to move," the Earth mage shrugged, "but where to, it's still unclear. Arien sent off a few people to different cities to scout around..."

"And you're one of those 'booted off'..." I laughed at my own crude joke.

"Exactly, one of the 'booted off'," Geophon agreed with my wording. "These Gate transitions are terrifying. Especially when you try to understand the physics of the process, it makes your head explode."

"Magic," I winked.

"So, you've been in this city for more than a day?" The Earth mage's eyes sparkled with interest.

"Let's grab a bite, I'll tell you what I've learned."

"Ah... sure!" he agreed easily.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Taking a seat in the nearest tavern, we ordered ourselves a hearty meal, and while it was being prepared, I shared what I knew about Sun City, emphasizing that although it was safe here, the city was essentially under the complete control of the Light faction. I answered a few probing questions, and then, as the conversation quieted down, I inquired:

"Listen. I left the Ainuminati in a hurry because I had to, and I forgot something."

"And what would that be?" Geophon asked neutrally, biting into a roasted duck leg.

"To learn the spell Lightness," I replied straightforwardly.

It really would come in handy, considering my plans for conquering the sky.

"Hmm... Arien mentioned that you learn quickly," the Earth mage pondered.

"I saved you at least a couple of days with my story," I pressed on, keeping a friendly smile. "Besides, I really do learn fast."

"But not here, right?" the Ainuminati mage frowned, glancing around the dining hall.

"There's a sizable courtyard at the inn where I rented a room."

"Is it expensive to rent a room there?" Geophon asked, inadvertently revealing he had likely arrived in Sun City just this morning.

"There are cheaper places, but a minstrel recommended it to me, and I took the advice. So far, no regrets. It's called the 'Chalice of Light.' And don't frown; all the names here are this pretentious. While we walk to the inn, I'll tell you more about the city."

"Alright." Geophon seemed pleased with this last argument.

After finishing lunch, we reached the "Chalice of Light," where I asked a servant to take us to the courtyard and not disturb us. Once we settled on some not-so-comfortable but sturdy stools, Geophon leaned forward, clasping his hands together.

"Lightness is a spell that's very difficult to teach any local mage. Do you know why?"

"I have a few guesses," I said. "But I think you'll tell me yourself."

"I will. The thing is, it's very hard to explain to the locals the difference between weight and mass. They simply don't get it. So, my question is: do you know the difference?"

"I do." Under the demanding gaze of the Earth mage, I continued, recalling my school knowledge. "Mass is, you could say, a measure of matter; it remains the same whether on Earth, in Ain, on the moon, or in outer space. Weight, however, is the force with which mass presses on a support, depending on the force of gravity. So, unlike mass, weight is variable and depends on gravity."

"That'll do," Geophon grimaced. "In short, Lightness specifically affects weight, leaving the mass of the object unchanged."

"Got it," I nodded.

"Good, understanding this makes learning the spell not so difficult. And one more thing you need to grasp: Lightness doesn't work on living objects. We haven't figured out why, but it just doesn't work."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Then let's begin the training."

Rubbing his hands together, the Earth mage began explaining the theory. Much to my dismay, what seemed like a simple spell proved quite challenging for me, and the stone in my hand stubbornly refused to become lighter. I thought I was doing everything right: blending mana and prana in the correct proportions, swirling the energy properly, but all I got was a dud. Only when, at Geophon's suggestion, I used a bit more imagination, picturing the stone as if it were on the Moon, did I start to get results. In the end, what should have been a simple lesson dragged on for nearly four hours, but I finally grasped the basic principle and managed to cast the spell several times on my own.

"We should reinforce the result by practicing again in a couple of days," Geophon said wearily, once he was confident I had the hang of it.

"I'm afraid in a couple of days I'll already be in Deytran," I replied and, spreading my hands, added, "Business."

"Yes, you always said you wanted to get to this Deytran," the Earth mage laughed heartily after drinking some spring water. "Care to share what draws you there?"

"It's simple. I need money, and where else to earn it but in the trading capital of the world?"

"Money... There's never enough of it," Geophon sighed. "So, how much did you say a room in this inn costs?"

In the end, Arien's "scout" decided to stay at the "Chalice of Light," but before that, he wanted to walk around the city, emphasizing that he preferred to do it alone. This suited me perfectly, as I had specific plans for the evening. So, after saying goodbye to Geophon, I first washed up and then went up to my room to change into new clothes. Then, peeking into the corridor, I called one of the maids, and she helped me adjust my outfit to make sure it fit properly. After thanking her with a few copper coins, I left the inn.

It wouldn't have been a bad idea to visit a barber too, but there was very little time left until sunset, and I decided I could do without. As I approached the tavern—or rather, the quite expensive restaurant—I paused for a moment to consider: should I buy some flowers? But in the end, I decided against it, since in Ain, flowers were rarely given to women and only for special occasions or as a hint. And I certainly wasn't planning on hinting anything to Joanna. Besides, if it weren't for Wayne's tip about the split in the corps, I probably wouldn't have gone to this meeting at all.

The dining hall, designed to accommodate a large number of guests, wasn't particularly crowded that evening. Almost half of the tables were empty. Given the prices, this was probably always the case: even dining alone without delicacies cost a couple of gold coins here. But these prices were largely justified because the cooking was done by true masters. I hadn't been here in the Last Cycle, but I'd heard a lot of good things about the local cuisine.

After inquiring with the servant about what the chefs had prepared today, I refrained from ordering for now, asking only for a pitcher of spring water.

Gera Joanna entered the hall just as the last rays of the sun faded. If I hadn't been expecting her, I would never have recognized the famous paladin in the girl who appeared. The Bearer of Pacifying Light was dressed like an ordinary affluent city woman. A light dress with a wide belt accentuating her slim waist, high-laced sandals—a true work of art—and an almost weightless scarf with a sapphire clasp subtly hinted at her rank. Or rather, the rank she chose to show to those around her.

Surprisingly, she didn't use illusion magic or cosmetics—just a touch of eyeliner and a hairstyle in the local fashion. Those were all the changes, yet no one recognized her as the famous Gera Joanna. Probably because she never left the barracks without her armor and hammer, which had become inseparable from her image. Without them, she was simply unrecognizable. She looked significantly younger than her true age, and it was hard to give her more than eighteen. Even that was likely because the eyeliner seemed to add a couple of years.

Standing up, I bowed and, pulling out a chair, invited the guest to sit.

"Delighted to see you, Anna," I greeted her as she settled into the chair and I took my seat at the table.

"Anna?" Her eyes widened.

"That's how your name would transform in my homeland: Anna, Annie, Annette," I explained, immediately taking the initiative in the conversation.

"Annie..." she said, as if tasting the name. "I like it."

"Still, Anna," I smiled, "Annie, let's say, is for more informal chats. But if you wish, I can address you as Gera Jo..."

A Dome of Silence instantly appeared over our table, and the Bearer of Pacifying Light gave a tense smile.

"Anna," she nodded. "I'm incognito here."

"A lady's wish is my command," I nodded with the utmost seriousness and gestured for the waitress. "Anna, what would you like to order?"

"I haven't been to such places for many years, so I'll leave it to your choice."

"With pleasure."

Since I'd already asked after the chef's recommendations, I knew what was worth ordering.

"Fresh vegetables from Balano Island and boiled konkito lobster for the lady, and for me, a dozen royal prawns baked over coals in cheese sauce, and white rice. Also, bring a bottle of light white wine."

As soon as the waitress left the confines of the Dome of Silence, Gera Joanna remarked, eyeing me with considerable interest:

"You are quite a gourmet, Sheriff Raven."

"There aren't so many pleasures in the world that one should deny themselves good food," I winked, trying to stay calm and not drown in her enormous eyes.

"Don't expect me to exclaim that nothing is more important than serving the Light!" the girl laughed and added, "I repeat that to the novices so often, I might start believing it myself."

Wow! That was unexpected.

"You don't believe it?"

I understood that such a question was a real provocation, but Wayne's words about the split in the corps wouldn't leave my mind.

"I do," the Bearer of Pacifying Light replied simply. "But everything in its own time."

"I can't disagree," I nodded, realizing my provocation had been sidestepped. "And today, I hope you have time to relax."

At that moment, the wine was brought to us, and the maid poured it into tall crystal glasses.

"Let's drop formalities," Gera Joanna suggested, raising her glass.

"As you wish, Anna," I smiled, taking a sip of the wine, the taste of which I didn't even notice.

With each passing second, I felt more out of place. This conversation was going nothing like I had expected. It was as if two barely acquainted young people were on a first date, though I knew for sure that wasn't the case. I became even more tense when the paladins' mentor began to chat lively about the weather, fashion, and architecture. Of course, I could keep up with the conversation easily, but with every word, my anxiety mounted.

"Anna," when we finished the first course, and I ordered dessert, I couldn't hold back any longer, "can I ask you a frank question?"

"Yes?" She fluttered her long eyelashes like fans. "Of course."

"Do you like me?"

I had to do something to steer this conversation, which was heading who knows where, in any other direction, as I could already feel my nerves ringing with tension. And I found nothing better than such a provocation.

"A directness worthy of the first Sheriff of the Book in centuries," the Bearer of Pacifying Light chuckled softly to herself.

"You didn't answer... Anna." I took a small sip of wine, tilting my head expectantly.

"I like that type of man. Confident, strong, knowing his worth."

In her eyes, I noticed a carefully concealed amusement and something else, something indescribable that sent a chill down my spine.

"Yet again, I didn't hear an answer." I felt she was trying to seduce me, but after spending time with Scully, my hormones had calmed down, and simple fluttering of eyelashes or bare ankles weren't going to sway me.

"Raven, excessive persistence can scare off girls," Joanna said, seemingly a bit tensely.

"I, however, do like you," I decided to floor the pedal, pushing the provocation to the limit. "You're very beautiful, one could drown in your eyes, and your waist is so slender it seems it could be encircled with one hand..."

"Ha!"

I managed to crack her mask, and the girl blushed. Faintly, almost imperceptibly, but she blushed.

"It's been a while since anyone said such things to me. It seems I should mingle with people more often without my hammer!"

She couldn't be denied a sense of humor.

"Yes, your hammer... is intimidating," I admitted, hiding my eyes behind my wine glass.

"Intimidating," she nodded, regaining her composure. "I agree."

"So, is this actually a date?" I smiled, hoping it came off open and genuine.

"The evening has just begun, are you in a hurry?"

Her habit of never answering a question directly was starting to get on my nerves!

"This evening is just for you, Anna."

Not allowing the maid to fill her glass, I poured wine for Joanna myself.

"Tell me about yourself. About your people." She asked, resting her cheek on her hand, elbow on the table.

"It's a very sad and tragic story," I tried to avoid the topic.

"And yet…"

"We are called the Sortudo…"

In about five minutes, I painted a tragic picture for Gera Joanna, telling her about a distant island that sank due to a terrible cataclysm. I explained how the youngest and most promising of us were sent to a far-off continent through an incredibly complex ritual, scattering our people across all of Ain.

I wasn't sure if the Bearer of Pacifying Light believed my story, but at least she didn't press for details and nodded, sighing heavily at the most tragic parts.

"So much is happening in the world..." she said after hearing me out. "And I've been sitting here for five years, responsible for training recruits. And, apart from the Floors and rare missions, I see nothing around me."

"It's unfair—to hide your beauty from others." During the story, I had composed myself and was ready to continue this verbal sparring as long as necessary.

"It's been so long since anyone complimented me!" the paladin mentor laughed. "But you didn't tell me about yourself. As I understand, you recently arrived on the continent and just a few weeks ago were on Bronze..." She gave me a scrutinizing look. "Yet now you're already on Sapphire. How did you manage that?"

Actually, such questions in Ain were a gross violation of all conceivable norms of etiquette. It wasn't customary to ask about such things, especially so openly. Still, ignoring her words would have been inappropriate now.

"I suppose you know that after winning the Alchemists' Guild's grand tournament, I immediately elevated to Steel, and then, with the help of Metal pills, reached Wootz in five days." She simply nodded, indicating that she did indeed know. "After that, a few adventures, which I didn't seek but that found me on their own, the choice of the Book, and here we are..." I spread my arms as if that was all that had happened to me over these months.

"Apparently, they were great adventures," Joanna said with a breathy tone, but I wasn't swayed by such simple manipulations.

"The main thing is that the adventures found me on their own," I said, grimacing as if at unpleasant memories. "I'm afraid my method of Elevation isn't suitable for the corps' recruits." I shrugged, as if apologizing.

"Elevation..."

The voice of the Bearer of Pacifying Light changed, and I sensed a steely edge in it. It even seemed her hand moved toward her back, where her hammer usually hovered. I took a sip of wine to hide how I swallowed the lump that suddenly appeared in my throat.

"I immensely enjoy our conversation," Joanna said, placing her hands on the table and looking into my eyes. "But do you mind if my brother joins us? You know him, after all."

Brother? She has a brother, and I knew him? Wait, that wasn't the point... It seemed the games were over, and I was about to find out why I'd been invited to this "date."

"So, it's not a date after all," I said, hiding my true emotions behind a smile. "Of course, invite him."

The girl made a strange gesture, and the man at the far table immediately stood up. He was dressed like a successful merchant, and a guest Ruby Sign gleamed on his chest. But that sign was a deception, as I saw his true rank—Reardane! As he approached, the man dispelled the illusion magic, and I recognized him.

"Glad to see you again, tournament winner Raven," he said.

"But I didn't expect to see you, Om Kiadi... or should I not call you that?" My smile must have looked strained.

"That's my real name," the officer of the Alchemists' Guild smiled and, with a snap of his fingers, moved a chair over to our table.

"And how did I manage to interest such extraordinary individuals as you, Joanna, and you, Om Kiadi?"

I hoped my voice didn't sound like the growl of a trapped animal.

The Silence Dome thickened, and everything a step away from our table looked as if in a distorted mirror.

"You said adventures find you," Anna replied as openly and amicably as possible. "Maybe they have found you now as well?"

"Speak plainly. I've already come to terms with my lack of male allure and realized that I don't quite appeal to Gera Anna as a man, so nothing can spoil my mood this evening."

As they say, "gallows humor"—that, it seemed, was exactly what this was.

The siblings exchanged glances, then Johanna nodded, and the officer of the Great Alchemists' Guild turned to me fully:

"Sheriff. What do you know about the Righteous Elevation Sect?"

What did that have to do with anything? At that moment, I completely lost track of what was happening at this table. But the improvement of my Mental and constant training allowed me to pull myself together quickly, and I began to speak in a deliberately indifferent tone.

"Many years ago, this sect was quite influential in the Free Cities of the East," I began, carefully considering each word. "Then it faded and disappeared from view. I can assume that their name—'Righteous Elevation'—hints that the members of the sect were opposed to the Elevation they saw... unrighteous. For example, the use of alchemy. Which is why the Alchemists' Guild waged war against this sect for many years. An undeclared war, but its echoes, judging by the interrogation you, Om Kiadi, put me through in Tries, are still heard today."

"Yes," the warrior-mage of Reardane couldn't control his expression and clearly tensed up. "You are right, Sheriff. Largely right. The sect declared our Guild heretics. Yes, there was a war. A secret war... A war in which my Guild lost."

Now, this was interesting. How did they lose? What resources did the sect have that it could defeat one of the Great Guilds?

"For nearly half a century, my Guild was expelled from the eastern coast of the continent."

I didn't know that either.

"But no, we did not give up. For many years we tried to regain our former influence. Then suddenly, the sect vanished. Disappeared like smoke in the wind." Kiadi's face became like a wax mask.

"But you don't believe in this disappearance," I said sharply.

"My grandfather and grandmother died in that undeclared war," Lady Johanna said quietly.

"But what does this have to do with me?" I was tired of these games, especially since I didn't know the rules.

"I know," Kiadi glanced at his sister and added, "we know that the sect is alive. For some reason, they chose to hide, stopped all their activities, but the sect still exists... And we learned this only thanks to you, Sheriff."

"Thanks to me?"

I needed to get a clear answer from them and understand what this pair wanted from me.

"It was precisely during your fight in Tries that the lodge, reserved by the sect and left in emptiness for many decades, was visited for the first time. It was precisely for you that the sect awakened one of its hidden agents and sacrificed him without hesitation," Om Kiadi said.

"Sacrificed whom?" I didn't understand.

"One of Sundbad's priests, facilitating your transition from Tries to Deytran, messed up the Exit settings, which is why you didn't arrive in Deytran." Like a poker master, the alchemist calmly laid his trump card on the table.

What? How? It wasn't just a simple Gate malfunction?

"How did you find out?" My voice almost betrayed me.

"The head priest of the God of Paths in Tries immediately noticed something was wrong as soon as you went through the Gate, and when the defector tried to escape, Lady Ai caught him… Unfortunately, the defector managed to end his life before we could learn all the details," the alchemist explained.

"Are you sure it was the Righteous Elevation Sect behind the Gate malfunction?" So far, these were just words, and I didn't really believe them.

"Yes," Om Kiadi answered without the slightest doubt. "He still managed to describe the 'client'."

"If the sect has been hiding for years, what could a detailed description give you?" I asked.

"That's…" The officer of the Alchemists' Guild seemed at a loss for words, but then Joanna placed her hand on his, and he continued. "The person who ordered the sabotage is unique. A mistake is out of the question."

"Either speak plainly, or I'm leaving," I said, demonstratively pushing back my chair.

"The task was given to the defector in advance, a couple of days after you appeared in Tries, as if the sect knew you would want to leave the city through the Gate," Om Kiadi began from afar.

"The unique person," I pressed. "What makes them unique?"

I felt like I already knew the answer, and the knowledge made me uneasy.

"Many years ago, our Guild managed to infiltrate the sect with an agent. It was our grandfather's sister." Each word was a struggle for Kiadi. "But for some reason, she betrayed us and killed both our grandfather and grandmother, luring them into a trap."

"I don't understand how events from such distant years can explain your story about a unique 'client.' Or are you saying your great-aunt is still alive?"

Great-aunt?! A wave of relief washed over me; I had been wrong in my assumptions.

"She is," continued Gera Joanna. "You see... she doesn't age. Such is her curse. Even now, she looks like a little girl..."

My hopes, which had just found a foundation, were shattered into fine dust by these words. Reygyana! I knew who she was! She was exactly the one I knew as Rey!

"Doesn't age..." I said, hiding my emotions behind feigned surprise.

"Children are cruel, and their games can be strange," said the Bearer of Pacifying Light. "And when these children play near a true altar, all sorts of things can happen..."

"Alright. Let's assume everything you've told me is the absolute truth." Folding my arms across my chest, I leaned back in my chair. "But do you really think I would seek revenge on anyone for a Transition failure? Especially on a cursed 'girl' who clearly hasn't had an easy life as it is?"

What I definitely didn't want was to meet Reygyana again! Not her—the one who could obliterate a Sidhe Forest combat group with a single spell!

The alchemist exchanged glances with his sister. It seemed to me that this was exactly what they'd counted on, and now they didn't know what to do next or how to continue the conversation.

"I sincerely thank you for your story. And thank you for pointing out the interest in me from a mysterious and, apparently, very powerful organization, but..." I spread my hands, rising from the table.

"But you're the only thread..." Om Kiadi was clearly taken aback.

"Sheriff!" Gera Joanna spoke up. "The sect is dangerous! Extremely dangerous!"

"Then inform the Tunnellers' Guild or the Corps!" I snapped. "No sect can withstand a confrontation with two such mighty forces!"

"They don't believe us," Om Kiadi shook his head. "Neither my sister nor me. We have no direct evidence, only our grandfather's dying words, and even those were spoken to a stranger."

"Words that could have been twisted ten times," I nodded. "I'm afraid you haven't convinced me that I should join your blood feud. And don't look at me like that; it is indeed a blood feud and nothing else. The sect only preached against alchemy, and your Guild, esteemed Om Kiadi, declared war on it. So, accept the consequences of that decision! From what I've heard so far, I'm more on the side of the sect than your Guild. People have the right to believe in whatever they want: in Righteous Elevation, in non-righteous, in rejecting alchemy, or in rejecting artifact use... It's a personal matter, a matter of faith. And I don't meddle in matters of faith!"

"But..." Om Kiadi opened his mouth and then closed it.

Gera Joanna stood up, approached me closely, and said very quietly:

"The true goal of the Righteous Elevation Sect is not the rejection of alchemy."

"Surprise me, open my eyes to the truth," a bitter smile twisted my lips.

"The goal of the sect is to free Eyrat."

The whisper of the beautiful girl seared. And what I heard made my heart skip a beat.

"And to free the Creator from demonic captivity, they need to open the Gates to Giard!"

She went on, but I couldn't hear her, slowly sinking into my chair. An echo rang in my head:

'To Giard.'

'Gates.'

'Open'...

End of Volume 8.