Book 2, Chapter 6

Small correction: I’ve referred to Lily as ‘Healer’ instead of Alchemist twice. It was a mistake. Her tag shows ‘Alchemist,’ and they don’t know what that is.

Lily had awoken to the relentless embrace of the Amunara desert, its vast expanses of sand unfolding beneath the harsh gaze of the sun.

She was perched atop her own camel, and she felt the sun's rays prickle against her pale skin, paler than a ghost after all those years in the underground temple. Now, it was threatened to crisp under the unforgiving heat. Yet, the discomfort was mitigated by the resilience provided by her Attributes.

I almost died, she realized as she assessed what had gone down before. I can't believe it.

As the caravan trudged through the endless sea of sand, Lily's mind wandered back to the battle, dissecting each moment with clinical precision. A realization dawned on her, sharp and unwelcome. In the heat of combat, she had neglected to activate both Meditation and Crucible. Her focus had been fully consumed by the thrill of the fray. The oversight was not just a lapse; it was indicative of a deeper complacency that had taken root. The years of uncontested supremacy against the Diseased Venomshade Stalkers had dulled her sense of discipline.

The acknowledgment of her shortcomings was a bitter pill to swallow. Lily's breath hitched as she grappled with a sudden onslaught of inadequacy, the weight of her isolation, and the unyielding pressure to adapt and survive crashing down upon her.

Shaking off the vestiges of doubt for the moment, Lily turned her attention to the cascade of notifications that awaited her. The list was extensive.

[*Ding!* Class - Alchemist level 33]

[*Ding!* Class - Alchemist level 34]

The slow progression of her class levels was expected, yet the rapid advancement of her skills caught her off guard.

[*Ding!* Skill – Necrotic Restoration level 87!]

[*Ding!* Skill – Necrotic Restoration level 88!]

[*Ding!* Skill – Necrotic Restoration level 89!]

[*Ding!* Skill – Necrotic Restoration level 90!]

[*Ding!* Skill – {Master} Death Touch - Level 72!]

[*Ding!* Skill – {Master} Death Touch - Level 73!]

[*Ding!* Skill – {Master} Death Touch - Level 74!]

[*Ding!* Skill – {Master} Death Touch - Level 75!]

[*Ding!* Skill – {Master} Death Touch - Level 76!]

[*Ding!* Skill – Reality’s Whisper level 32!]

[*Ding!* Skill – Reality’s Whisper level 33!]

[*Ding!* Skill – Reality’s Whisper level 34!]

[*Ding!* Skill – Reality’s Whisper level 35!]

[*Ding!* Skill – Reality’s Whisper level 36!]

[*Ding!* Skill – Reality’s Whisper level 37!]

[*Ding!* Skill – Alchemic Constitution level 27!]

[*Ding!* Skill – Alchemic Constitution level 28!]

[*Ding!* Skill – Alchemic Constitution level 29!]

[*Ding!* Skill – Alchemic Constitution level 30!]

[*Ding!* Skill – {Master} Inferior Mandala of the Black Rain - Level 16!]

[*Ding!* Skill – {Master} Inferior Mandala of the Black Rain - Level 17!]

[*Ding!* Skill – {Master} Inferior Mandala of the Black Rain - Level 18!]

[*Ding!* Skill – {Master} Inferior Mandala of the Black Rain - Level 19!]

[*Ding!* Skill – Wraithform level 89!]

[*Ding!* Skill – Wraithform level 90!]

The sheer volume of advancements was staggering. However, it reflected the fact that her life had been at risk every moment of the fight. The Fortress Pincers constituted a threat that could have ended her life at any twist and turn of that deathly dance. In fact, she remembered Hadrian's teachings: they echoed in her mind, telling her that life and death situations were the reason why soldiers and adventurers would level up so much faster than any other class.

Now, with her adrenaline coming down, she stared off into the distance as the desert stretched endlessly before her. Her gaze drifted to the horizon, where the line between the sand and the sky blurred into oblivion. The vastness of Amunara, with its merciless beauty, was much different from the Papal State or the temple she had lived in so far—or even the monastery, if that counted. Here, in the open, with the sun bearing down upon her, she was free yet confronted with the enormity of the world and her place within it.

The battle against the Fortress Pincers had been the first true test of her new Class and Attributes. And only the Attributes given to her by the Feats had managed to make her a threat during this fight. Those and her magic...

She was no longer the unchallenged predator of the temple's depths.

With a deep, steadying breath, Lily focused on the path ahead.

As the camel beneath her plodded forward, her thoughts turned to the future once more. Then, she summoned the Feats she had gotten over the years in the temple.

[Common Feat - Violent Streak. You killed 500 sentient creatures. Congratulations on completing a Common Feat. You earn +5 in all Attributes.]

[Uncommon Feat - Ultraviolence. You killed 2500 sentient creatures. Congratulations on completing an Uncommon Feat. You earn +10 for all Attributes.]

[Rare Feat - Slaughterhouse Mayor. You killed 10 000 sentient creatures. Congratulations on completing a Rare Feat. You earn +20 for all Attributes.]

[Rare Feat - Aren't You Perky? You possess 3 Double-Perks. Congratulations on completing a Rare Feat. You earn +20 for all Attributes.]

With a sigh, Lily turned her attention to her Attributes.

Physical Augmentation: Strength 680, Speed 640, Toughness 660

Magical Enhancement: Power 720, Control 720, Regeneration 430

Reservoir: Vitality 385, Mana 385, Stamina 385

Mental Attributes: Focus 510, Perception 510, Charisma 335 Free Attributes: 275

She had allocated six hundred of her Free Attributes to bolster her Physical Augmentation, ensuring that her prowess in battle was as formidable physically as it was magically. Now, she wasn't sure it had been the smartest move.

And so, Mana received the remainder of her focus. With a heavy heart, she poured all two-hundred-seventy-five points into it, pushing it to an impressive 660. It was a sacrifice, a postponement of her desire to further enhance her magical capabilities, but one made due to a keen awareness of the fact that she had almost been killed because of the 'ideal' combat build she had dreamed up for herself.

I had thought my physical attributes would make up for the lack of high Mana reserves. In retrospect, that was stupid. And I should have used Crucible to make up for it in combat.

To a degree, it didn't matter where she allocated the Attributes. She was now able to redirect a non-trivial amount of Attributes thanks to Crucible...

Well, when I remember to activate it, she sighed. Not having needed it during those four years meant that first, she had gotten very few levels in it. Second, she had not developed the instincts to use it in the heat of battle.

She looked at the updated Attributes.

Physical Augmentation: Strength 680, Speed 640, Toughness 660

Magical Enhancement: Power 720, Control 720, Regeneration 430

Reservoir: Vitality 385, Mana 660, Stamina 385

Mental Attributes: Focus 510, Perception 510, Charisma 335 Free Attributes: 275

I could have redistributed around 240 to Mana at the beginning of the battle if I had been careful enough... Death Magic was so effective because of their low magical defenses that I wouldn't have missed a hundred less in Power and Control... there's still so much I need to train for.

The rhythmic plodding of the camel's hooves against the soft ground provided a steady backdrop to her thoughts.

"Milady, I must admit, I had greatly underestimated your abilities," Hassan interrupted her solitude, his tone laced with a newfound respect. "Your prowess in battle... I've never encountered a mage with such power. Nor do I know your Class."

Lily offered him a wry smile, the corners of her lips twitching upwards in amusement. "I know," she replied, her gaze fixed on the horizon where the sky kissed the earth. "It's an unusual Class, very much a generalist. But it suits me."

Hassan nodded, his curiosity piqued. "And Death Magic? You wield that too?" he inquired, glancing sideways at her.

"Yes," Lily confirmed, her voice steady. She sensed his apprehension, aware of the myriad of connotations that came with such power. "But don't worry. I don't use it to raise the dead, especially not in the city."

"That's reassuring," Hassan chuckled, but his expression sobered as he added, "The Ankh-Mut Order sanctions all magic, provided it's used responsibly. They're Amunara's government."

Lily's interest was piqued at the mention of the Ankh-Mut Order. "What exactly do Ankh and Mut mean?" she asked, feigning ignorance to gather more information.

"Ankh is the essence of life, the beginning of all existence. Mut, on the other hand, represents the end, the inevitable conclusion of the life's cycle," Hassan explained, his eyes distant as if recounting a tale passed down through generations. "It's said that at birth, we are pure Ankh, vibrant with life. As we age, Mut grows within us, slowly consuming the Ankh until death finally claims us."

Lily pondered his words, her mind racing. The duality of Ankh and Mut mirrored the teachings of the Book of the Dead. The concept of life being devoured by death, a perpetual struggle between two opposing forces, was a theme that had haunted her journey.

"The Order believes in the balance between these forces," Hassan continued, "Their warriors harness Death Magic, while their priestesses wield Light Magic. It's a delicate equilibrium, one that governs the very fabric of Amunara."

Lily absorbed his explanation. The Order's interpretation of Ankh and Mut, the cycle of life and death, offered a glimpse into why her father might have sent her here of all places.

...

As the caravan approached Amunara, the vast desert began to give way to the first signs of civilization. The relentless sun, ever the silent observer, cast its golden hues over the shifting sands, transforming them into a radiant path leading to the city's gates.

Lily, seated atop her camel, gazed ahead with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. The frown on her face deepened as she mulled over Hassan's explanations of Mut and Ankh. The concept intrigued her, yet she couldn't shake off the unease that crept into her thoughts. Her past experiences with religious zealots had left a bitter taste in her mouth, and the thought of encountering another such order made her wary. Yet, the possibility of learning more about the forces that had shaped her powers was too tempting to ignore. "I'll have to pay them a visit," she murmured to herself, "but only when I know more."

Vince rode beside them, breaking her train of thought. "We're almost at Amunara," he announced, his voice carrying a note of finality. The city's gates were now visible in the distance.

Hassan nodded in agreement. "The High Priestess will be pleased with our results," he said, a hint of pride in his voice. "Even if we don't have the book with us."

"As long as the High Priestess pays up," John chimed in from behind, his tone light and carefree.

"Shut up, John," Vince shot back with a slight edge to his voice. "We're staying with Khnum before our next expedition. He insisted on having us over as guests—we better not offend him. Behave when we're there."

Lily listened to their exchange, her interest piqued by the mention of Khnum and the arrangements in Amunara. Yet, Vince's next words brought her back to reality. "Once we're at the gates of the city, you're not to follow us anymore," he told her, his tone firm.

"I wasn't interested in doing so anyway," Lily retorted.

Vince scoffed. "You don't have a penny on you, and other than that armor, I don't see anything of value. I wonder how you'll get money to survive since we're not going to give you any."

Hassan, ever the mediator, intervened. "Well, I believe the girl should be compensated for her services," he said, his voice warm. "She did save our caravan."

"And I saved her life," Vince grumbled, steering his camel away from the group.

"Sorry," Hassan apologized to Lily, reaching into his pocket and flipping a gold coin her way. "At least you won't starve."

Lily caught the coin, touched by Hassan's gesture. She made a show of tucking it under one of her bracers, aware that she couldn't let it disappear into her ring in front of them.

I need a backpack, she thought, her mind already turning to the practicalities of navigating Amunara on her own.

Lily, seated atop her camel, felt a wave of relief wash over her as the city's gates loomed ever closer. The weight of her solitude, carried like a shadow through the endless sands, began to dissipate at the prospect of entering a world where her unique blend of magic would not cast her as an outsider.

The caravan came to a halt at the city's gates – a grand archway that stood as a testament to Amunara's enduring splendor. The air was thick with the scent of spices. The architecture, ever white and somewhere tinted purple and gold, had a touch of divinity to it.

Lily dismounted her camel, her feet touching the ground with a sense of purpose.

"Thank you for bringing me here," Lily said, turning to face Vince, Hassan, and John.

Vince nodded, a gruff acknowledgment of her words. "Just remember what we discussed, and don't come begging for money—find a job if you need one; you seem capable enough," he said before turning away.

Hassan offered her a warm smile, the kindness in his eyes a balm to the uncertainty that gnawed at her. "May the balance of Ankh and Mut guide your steps, Lily. Amunara is a city of many secrets. Tread carefully."

John approached her, his green eyes alight with a mischievous sparkle. He took her hands into his, holding them with tenderness. "It's been a little adventure, hasn't it?" he said, his voice tinged with a hint of regret. "I hope our paths cross again and under better circumstances."

Lily smiled, squeezing his hands in return. "I'm sure they will, John. Take care of yourself."

As they turned to leave, Lily watched them disappear into the throng of people that flowed through Amunara's gates like a river of life.

She started walking aimlessly, curious to take the city in.

The streets of Amunara stretched before her – it was quite a literal maze. The sounds of the city, from the clatter of hooves against cobblestone to the distant hum of commerce and conversation, enveloped her in a clamor of humanity. The air was rich with the aroma of cooking fires and exotic perfumes.

As she began to navigate the bustling streets, the sense of disorientation grew. The crowds seemed to swallow her whole; each face a stranger who looked nothing like her pale self. She distinctly stood out amidst the locals, even more than John and Vince, who had taken quite a tan of their own. It was in this moment of overwhelming chaos that she reached for her spatial ring, seeking the comfort of the familiar.

But her fingers found only bare skin.

Panic surged through her as she realized the ring was gone.

"What the—" She looked at her hand and then at the other. "Where..."

Her eyes widened, remembering how John had taken her hands before saying goodbye.

"That little shit," Lily growled, spinning back and running to the gates. But when she got there, she found herself lost.

I have no idea where they went... Khnum's place? Who's Khnum anyway?

Betrayal and rage boiled within her as she contemplated her next steps. Alone in Amunara, without her ring and the treasures it held, Lily faced an uncertain future. Yet, amidst the turmoil, a resolve hardened within her. She would find John, reclaim what was hers, and punch his smirking face.

...

Lily had wandered around, asking people who this Khnum was. Most hadn't given her the time of the day and had simply ignored her. A few had briefly explained he was the richest Merchant in the city. When she had asked how to reach him, they had looked at her armor and level and laughed at her.

Khnum only did business with those whom Khnum knew personally. He lived in a mansion that had guards posted all around. She had considered sneaking in to find her ring for a moment, but then she had reasoned that making herself a criminal barely hours into arriving in a new country wasn't a great prospect.

Lily found herself drawn to a scene unfolding in one of the city's squares. It was bordered by vendors whose stalls were full of exotic spices and textiles. At its center, amidst the verdant oasis of meticulously tended plants that offered a respite from the relentless sun, a gathering of what she believed were Priestesses of Ankh-Mut stood out, their serene presence a stark contrast to the cacophony around them.

They're healing people, she realized, seeing them tend to a queue of people with all different kinds of wounds. Each Priestess had a different queue in front of her, clearly divided by the severity of the wounds.

This takes me back to the days at the Sanatorium with Aunt Gentiliana, she thought with a tinge of melancholy coloring her heart.

Among the throng of the wounded, Lily's attention was captured by a particularly poignant exchange between two priestesses, whose names she gleaned from their conversation as Merit and Anippe, and a man whose body bore the unmistakable marks of a disfiguring condition.

The man's voice, tinged with years of suffering, broke through the murmur of the crowd. “Please, Anippe, can you not do anything to ease my suffering? I’ve been to many, and all have turned me away.”

She manouvered around the crowd to take a better look at the man and the fact that everyone was giving a wide berth to him.

That's most likely leprosy, Lily thought to herself with a frown.

She tried to get a better angle to see what was happening when, on the fringes of the square, she saw a drunkard slumped against the wall. His eyes, too, were fixed on the unfolding drama with a clarity that belied the foul stench he emanated. Approaching him, driven by a mix of curiosity and instinct, Lily inquired, “What is happening?”

The man, momentarily surprised by her presence, soon redirected his gaze toward the priestesses and the afflicted man. “That man has been affected by the disease for twenty years. Now, not even his own family wants him in their house. The Priestesses have tried many times to heal him, but it’s a sickness that Light Magic can do nothing against,” he explained, hiccupping through the speech.

“Leprosy, for sure,” Lily murmured, identifying the ailment with a clinical detachment born from her previous life's knowledge. The man's gaze met hers, a brief flash of lucidity cutting through the fog of his drunkenness, reminding her eerily of Hadrian’s discerning eyes. But just as quickly, he collapsed against the wall, lost once more to his stupor.

Turning her attention back to the priestesses, Lily listened as Priestess Anippe, her patience wearing thin, responded to the man's pleas. “We told you already, Senuy. We are servants of Ankh and Mut, but there are limits to what we can mend. Your affliction... it’s beyond the reach of our magic.”

Priestess Merit, her voice soft but firm, added, “The balance of life and death is delicate. Sometimes, intervening would mean disrupting the natural order. We’re sorry, but you must seek solace in the arms of Mut.”

The man, a figure of utter dejection, whispered, “Isn’t there any hope for me? Any at all?”

With a finality that left no room for doubt, Priestess Merit concluded, “Your path is one with Mut now. Embrace your journey towards the end. We cannot offer you the relief you seek. You can come to the temple, and we’ll give you relief.”

Wait, what? Is she suggesting he just takes his own life? Or that they do?

The cold suggestion of ending the man’s life as a form of mercy struck Lily with a chilling force. She watched, a silent observer, as the man accepted his fate and began to walk away. Compelled by a mixture of empathy and an indescribable urge to act, Lily followed him into an alley. There, away from the eyes of the city, he let himself collapse to the ground, his body wracked with sobs.

Lily stood there, at the threshold of the alley, watching the man surrender to his despair. The scene before her kindled within her a resolve to intervene, to offer hope where none seemed possible.

Her words cut through the stifling air, reaching the ears of the man who surrendered to his despair. "Sir," she began, her voice a gentle intrusion into his world of pain, "I might be able to help."

The man's response was laced with bitterness, a reflection of countless disappointments. "I don’t have any money left for faulty elixirs," he spat, his voice ragged. "I’m done! Let me just—I’ll go to the Order later and just have them take my body in exchange for peace!"

Lily sighed. "I can cure you here. I don’t need any money. Would you just give me your hand?" she offered, her tone imbued with an earnestness that demanded attention.

The man's reaction was a mixture of confusion and disbelief, his weary eyes searching hers for a glimmer of deceit. "Who are you?" he questioned, the raw vulnerability of his disfigured face laid bare under the harsh light of the day.

"A friend," Lily replied with a gentle smile, extending her hand as a bridge between despair and hope. "Would you just give me your hand, please? If you were ready to die, what are you afraid of anyway?"

With a hesitation that spoke volumes, the man unraveled the bandages concealing his hand, revealing a sight that tugged at Lily's heartstrings: the absence of his pinkie finger, the scabs that marred his skin, and the general decay of the flesh.

Taking his hand into hers, Lily felt a stab of responsibility taking over since she was the only one capable of handling this matter. Yet, as she focused on the task at hand. Only she possessed the unique blend of Death Magic and a deep understanding of biology to attempt what others deemed impossible.

Activating Death Touch and the Lesser Mandala of Eradication, Lily felt a significant drain on her Mana. But as she persevered, the scabs began to fall away like leaves in autumn, revealing healthy skin beneath. The transformation changed the man's posture as well, straightening it as if the weight of the sickness was slowly being lifted from his shoulders.

His reaction was immediate and profound. Wide-eyed, he fell to his knees, tears carving paths through the grime on his cheeks.

"Sacred Sands of Ankh, thank you, miss! Thank you!"

Lily, caught between embarrassment and deep-seated fulfillment, spoke back, "It's... all I can do. I'm happy to help."

...

Lily and Senuy walked side by side. Even though she had healed him completely, she couldn't regenerate the missing flesh nor give him back any digits. But he looked as if that didn't concern him at all. He almost looked proud of the scars that the disease had left on his face now that he had defeated it.

Senuy, rejuvenated by Lily's intervention, insisted on expressing his gratitude. "Please, allow me to offer you a meal at my home. My family must know of the miracle you've performed," he said, his voice brimming with newfound vigor.

Lily, though hesitant, couldn't deny the appeal of a warm meal. "That would be kind; I've just been robbed," she admitted.

The man stopped in his tracks, turning to her with concern etched across his features. "Robbed?" he asked.

Lily proceeded to recount what had happened, and the man's eyes lit up again.

"If they're staying at Khnum's estate, worry not. I believe I know someone who might assist you."

"You do?" she inquired, stunned.

"Yes," he replied, a smile breaking through the worry. "A friend of mine, deeply connected within the city's circles. If anyone can help you recover what was lost, it will be her."