“You don’t look good, lass. The color of your face is all wrong, and I don't mean the bruise.” Gorian supported me with one arm around my waist, holding me up. “Did that thing do something to you?”

  “No, I did it to myself.” My hand clutched at my stomach as another spasm of pain twisted through my gut.

  [Soul Ignition] didn’t leave any cuts or bruises, but the internal damage was very real.

  Salt and bile rose at the back of my throat, bringing with it the threat of retching up blood.

  “Are you sure you want to talk to the prince in this state?” Zadina asked, her forehead creased with worry.

  “I dismissed him three times already. It might be something urgent.”

  He had called me again just as we teleported to the Guild Wayroom, when the dust of light was still dimming on our clothes.

  I dismissed my shroud and sword, then pulled out my usual velvet cloak from my Inventory Slots and raised the hood over my head, pulling it forward to cover my face. “Just get me what I asked for.”

  Gorian was still supporting me after we stepped out of the Wayroom. He had to. Perhaps due to the strangeness of the situation, or just the adrenaline of anticipation, but the pain wasn’t debilitating when I used [Soul Ignition]. Now, it was hammering me from the inside.

  Jakon rushed over to us, his large body casting a shadow over us. “What happened?! She alright?”

  His thick arms reached for me, but Gorian warded him back. “She is fine. Just give her space.”

  Thais was right beside him, her pointed hat swaying chaotically. It nearly stabbed a passerby as she thrust a red potion in my face. “Give her some of this!”

  Kamuel waved her off. “Both the Sister and I had already healed her, and given her potions.”

  Magical healing wasn’t actually working. All the spells and potions had raised my Hp by a mere couple of points, and they did nothing for the pain.

  Maybe this was done to prevent [Soul Ignition] being exploited for infinite Mana.

  The thought was a strange one. Was I delirious?

  “Please, make way.” Zadina shoved a path through the crowd swelling around us and reached the reception counter.

  Cindy, the same green-haired receptionist from before, approached us. “Can I help you, Sister?”

  “My… Joan… here needs some blush powder, and rouge?” She glanced at me for confirmation, and I could barely nod. The floor wobbled beneath me; I was glad for Gorian’s steady arm.

  Cindy eyed Zadina curiously. “Do you mean a make-up kit? You can borrow mine.”

  “She can borrow mine! I have magic-infused powder. It will definitely make her cheeks shine.” A blonde-haired receptionist leaned in from beside Cindy, volunteering eagerly.

  Zadina agreed, but the new receptionist pounced. “She fought, right? Was that how she got injured?” She sounded strangely hopeful, and her aura was rich with the savory flavor that I had tasted last time in Guild Hall before.

  Greed?

  Zadina blinked, taken aback. Oblivious to all the other hopeful eyes, she just nodded. “She did. Bravely.”

  A wave of murmurs crested behind us, punctuated by the sharp clink of coins. Zadina glanced back, looking lost.

  “Bah, this isn’t the time for your wagers!” Gorian growled. “Do none of you have any shame?”

  The din cut out, and everyone quickly averted their eyes. A lone coin rolled across the floor in the sudden silence.

  Perhaps seeing the coin, Zadina realized that it was her answer that had settled their bets. Her large shoulders sagged, and she glanced apologetically at me.

  She’s just as bad at withholding information as she was at lying.

  I pulled my hood deeper over my head and waved her forward. “Just, get me the room.”

  My head was starting to hurt as well.

  Zadina turned back to the reception counter. “I need a room. A private one. And no eavesdropping, spells or otherwise. This is an official Church matter!” The sharp edge of her voice caused both receptionists to recoil.

  —

  Once the door clicked shut behind us, I arched an eyebrow at Zadina. “Official Church matter?”

  “It’s true. I was asked to watch over your activities, especially with royalty.”

  “That’s… stretching it. Maybe you’re learning.” I offered her a tired smile as I wiped the sweat from my forehead and sank onto the couch.

  Taking out the handheld mirror and the borrowed make-up kit, I inspected my face.

  Gorian was right: I looked awful, even ignoring the dark, bruised swath covering the right side of my face.

  I did the best I could with the kit. I’d had some practice playing dress-up with the maids, but that was basically pretend. Besides, there was a world of difference between the refined cosmetics of a Ducal house and the meager materials that commoners had access to.

  The powder was too coarse and opaque, clumping in pasty lumps that were immediately obvious against my iridescent skin. And the rouge? It was a flat, aggressive crimson that lacked any natural warmth.

  Whoever mixed these pigments didn't understand the first thing about undertones or texture. I had half a mind to grind my own.

  I scowled at the result in the mirror. Looking like a badly painted doll would probably upset Tomas even more.

  With a frustrated sigh, I tossed the kit onto the table.

  I give up. This is pointless; none of these would ever match my skin tone.

  “You could do this after you get some rest at home,” Zadina said, watching me wipe the mess off my face.

  I shook my head. “My governess would probably force me into bed rest when I get back.”

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “And she’d be right.” She settled down beside me, her hand reaching out to gently brush aside my hair. She lingered on my face.

  Because of my bruise, I assumed.

  “I failed as your guardian,” she said to me, her eyes still lingering. That salt taste returned to her aura.

  “Thank you, for letting me do what I need to. And… for trusting in me.” I turned slowly to her. “What did you tell Kamuel?”

  “What he needed to hear. I hope… My Lady, that you trust in me as well.”

  I studied her ice-blue eyes, wondering what exactly she thought of me. Indirectly or not, the Queen must’ve sent her for a reason. Still… she had been reliable.

  “I do… Let me talk to the Prince first. He must be contacting me so often for a reason.”

  Tomas answered me instantly. His chubby boyish face appeared before me, along with those yellow eyes and the grand bedroom in the background.

  He jumped off of his seat when he saw me, his face filling my vision. “Jo! What happened to you? Your face!”

  I self-consciously covered my bruise with my hand. “I made a miscalculation and got hurt.”

  “It looks… terrible. I want you out of there right now!”

  “I’m safe now.” I bit back the pain pulsing within me and forced a smile. “If you feel that my appearance has been compromised, I would not protest calling the engagement off.”

  “No!” He slammed his fist against the arm of his chair. “I don’t want you hurt! At all! Jo! I can’t lose you.”

  His small hand reached out to grab me, but his fingers blurred just as they were about to touch my chest. “I want you here!”

  His plea made me uncomfortable. What’s the proper response to that?

  I lowered my gaze, shielding more of my bruised face. “I know it’s upsetting. But I promise this will heal. It always does.” I groped for a different topic. “Was there something urgent? You tried to contact me several times.”

  “Father complimented me on my trips to the temples, and getting to know the guards.” He beamed proudly. “I was excited to tell you.”

  “You did well, then. Have you made your decision?”

  “No… I wanted to ask you. They all made big promises. Some of them told me they can get lots of people to say good things about me. Others said their god will bless me with one thing or another. One was wealth, another strength. One even showed…” he started blushing. “...a portrait of a foreign princess.”

  “I’m sure she’s tantalizing."

  “No one’s as beautiful as you!”

  “Even now?” I teased him, pressing one finger to my right cheek.

  “You look even prettier now.”

  A light, pained laugh slipped from my lips. “You need to work on your lies, Your Highness.”

  I glanced over at Zadina. She promised not to tell. “What did Lumus offer?”

  His eyes lit up. “Their Library. It was huge! And their scribes will copy books for me!”

  “So knowledge. A good fruit. Very astute of them. And Isolde?”

  The spark died in his eyes. “They praised Mother, a lot. Then they said I can join their gathering, which was just a big round table with a bunch of old people.”

  “Their council?”

  “Yes, that’s what it’s called. It was really boring. They were just telling people where to go and what to bring.”

  I rested my throbbing forehead against my palm.

  They’re finally sending out people, now?

  I remembered how Thais and other adventurers had complained about their priests sitting idle in their temples. This was a fundamental shift.

  “Your Highness, do you have a map of Avatince?”

  “Yeah, it’s right here.” He got up and walked over to a wall, and the view followed him, revealing a giant tapestry map.

  “Are they sending most of the people to Kandlehar and Zeenith?”

  “Yes, how do you know?”

  “It’s about Area of Influence. Look at the position of those two cities. They are in the middle of nowhere, but if Lumus were to convert them…”

  “Then Isolde’s domain would be cut in two?” Tomas held his chin as his finger tapped at the center of the map. “Lumus could engulf the capital. But they’re not fighting, are they?”

  “Influence is a fight, Your Highness. It brings the faithful—the lifeblood of a religion. One grows at the expense of the other. Isolde must be bleeding believers right now due to the missionaries from Lumus, and they’re trying to staunch the wound.”

  Zadina stiffened behind me, but I could afford to ignore her.

  I’d already gone over the deep end with her.

  My eyes were drawn to Tomas’s map. I could see the contours of the zones controlled by each religion, pushing up against each other.

  It feels strangely like another type of game entirely.

  “For better or worse, I believe Isolde is your path forward, and not just because of your faction. Think about their offers. One gives a passive path to knowledge, curated at their discretion. The other gives you a voice at their highest seat of power. Only one of these is meant to give you agency.”

  He nodded for me to continue.

  “Just by having you there, it proves they are desperate. That gives you leverage. If you wish to make an impact, I suggest you guide them toward focusing more on the towns and villages. I’ve talked to a few people, and Isolde has been neglecting her roots.”

  “You’ve been talking to commoners?!”

  “Have you not been talking to the servants like I advised?”

  “That’s different! These sound like people… outside.”

  “They’re your subjects. It would be good for you to know where your power truly comes from. Have you been given a geography lesson before?”

  He shook his head.

  Of course. He’s still young, but I need him to know.

  Using the map as a reference, I began to give him a rundown of all the information I had gleaned from the atlas: the various regions, their industries, religions, and how they’re aligned.

  In the middle of going through the northwestern provinces, Tomas made a chilling comment. “Oh! Mother had a meeting with that Marquis in the middle of the night. I overheard him mentioning that he’d be sure to ‘stay put’ when he left.”

  Things are happening faster than I’d thought.

  “Your Highness. I have a request. It’s not very savory though, and might get you in trouble.”

  “We are together, Jo.”

  “If you hear of anything that involves Bloomcrest, can you please inform me as soon as you can. I do not wish to make you a spy, but there are people I care about…”

  “I will do it regardless. I can’t lose you. I will contact you right away. I still have one use of the messenger left this week. Wait…” He paused, his brow knitting as he did the math. “You contacted me twice this week. That means…”

  He slumped back to his seat, his head dropping.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “You’re a genius, Jo, and Anthony’s already commanding troops. I feel like a failure.”

  “Tomas, you are brilliant. You don’t need to be like me. I’m a freak. I can’t even smile right.” This time, I was the one reaching toward his image. “One day, will you teach me?”

  “Of course!”

  His image began blinking, a sign that our conversation was at an end. I was about to say goodbye when pain twisted my stomach, hard. My head pounded at the same time, forcing me to double over.

  Zadina was at my side in an instant, catching me before I hit the floor.

  “Jo!” Tomas cried out, his face contorting in panic.

  I raised a hand, forcing myself back up. “I just need… rest. I’ll see you soon.”

  After disconnecting, I curled back up into a ball.

  Stupid vague skill descriptions. [Soul Ignition] mentioned nothing about suffering backlash afterwards!

  A long drink of water, and the pain finally settled.

  “My Lady, I know I promised not to disclose what you said here. But I’d like to impress upon you that the faithful of Lumus means no harm by spreading the word. We only mean to enlighten.”

  “It does what it needs to survive. It feeds. It consumes. Until only it is left.”

  I had seen the result of the all consuming spread of another Lord of Light—all the other gods scattered as fairy tales before the bonfire.

  There was a reason why the Celtic Druidess was the last of her kind.

  I tapped on my bracelet and brought up the waypoints screen in my mind.

  Teleport took hold of me. Light sprinkled from above, draping me in soft luminescence as I strained to give Zadina one last curl of my lips.

  I don’t care if she sees anymore.

  “I’m going home now.”