On route to Alex's new home, a particular meeting happened between two individuals. A short youth who seemed to be selling potions at an average and affordable price caught the attention of the girl who had changed one aspect of her clothes.
Unlike the pure white and golden clothes she wore before, the ones she was wearing now were dyed pitch black through a special use of her magical energy. Despite the changes only being in colour, the priestess uniform she wore no longer looked anything like the outfit she wore wore while she was with the Radiant Sword Mirror Cult.
In fact, she looked more like someone of the Common Class called Rogue which specialised in nimble strikes rather than all-out strength like Warriors. Through her looks alone, it wouldn't be hard to assume she was a high-ranking Adventurer.
The potion salesman on the other hand didn't seem to stand out in the bustling kingdom of Lancia where stores were filled with customers everyday. Those interested in commerce would find better shops the closer they got to the Adventurer's Guild. However, a sharp-eyed customer with enough cash would find high quality salesmen like the one in front of her every so often.
"Excuse me, can I buy a few potions?"
"Sure thing! I have everything you'd want in your life! Whether it be cough medicine, weight-loss medicine, skin-treating medicine, vaccines, venom cures, panaceas, aphrodisi- I mean, erm... 'vigour' medicine. Whatever your looking for can be sold here!" The short young man pulling his own cart filled with potions laughed awkwardly after seeing the girl before him. He really wanted to make a break for it since Rogues have been garnering a bad reputation due to some of them turning to banditry just so they could make a quick buck.
"..." That last medicine seemed to hit a nerve as she looked at him like he was the biggest scum of Gaia. Her disapproving eyes was met by his own, that seem to say: 'Hey, I am only a salesman.'
Fear's doubtful face looked like this: (ಠ_ಠ)
Her piercing eyes made him look away in embarrassment, as she was being too serious
"Hey, what's with that look? It's not MY fault customers are 'weak-legged' these days."
"I don't even want to argue with you. Just sell me some of those Healing Potions over there."
"They are quite expens-" The salesman swallowed back his words as she handed him two gold coins.
"Thank you for your patronage! Be sure to use these four potions wisely since their fast-acting effects can only close up wounds. Internal injuries can only fully be treated after going to a Healing Sanctuary built by the Luminous Church. Unlike me, they give their services for free. Think of this advice as thanks for buying my medicines." The short young man seemed like a generous but chatty individual as he spoke to her.
"Are you a believer of the Luminous Church?" The priestess named Fear asked the youth in interest.
"Who knows? I'm definitely not a believer of that Mirror Religion that recently popped up. They are pretty unpopular recently due to their strange beliefs, and since the Grand Hero has finally started preaching and revealed classified information to those with great faith. You know, I have an eye for these things. Just stay away from the conflict of these two religions, is my advice.
I've even heard that the Mirror Religion's free Spell Slot brainwashes their inner members or something." The youth said dismissively while moving his heavy cart using a bit of magic.
There was a basic skill even regular people of Gaia could use called 'Lighten' which improved the strength of one's physique. It could even be used at night to illuminate the surroundings so one could easily walk around the district in the dead of night.
This was different from 'Partial Whitening' as it equally distributed Mana all over the body, and that even a child can use Lighten unlike those who need a high amount of training to focus their strength.
"They don't brainwash members." The priestess shook her head. Although she had been part of the Cult for many years, her affiliation with it was largely due to using fear to make sure she wouldn't rebel. She knew well that members had freedom.
When it came to inside working of the Cult, she knew things most people would be unaware of.
"All they do is share memories with each other, and by doing that, they truly emphasise with each other's feelings, and the burdens of another person's Role. You could say that despite being a small-scale Religion that had been growing a lot lately, their members are close-knit." She shook her head before deciding to walk and talk.
Even now, it was hard to forget her preachy Role as a Priestess used to advertise the Mirror Cult.
"You seem to know a lot about them... Where did you get this info?" The shorty glanced at her.
"Every girl has their secrets." She snickered and didn't even try to hide her thoughts in any way. It was to the point that the youth couldn't understand why she would wear such an intimidating mask...
Despite what the mysterious helmeted spearman told her, Fear wasn't too impatient to go to the address she had been given and was more curious towards the world she never had much time to interact with. Although the information she was given gave her a good understanding of the kingdom's political structure, she had never known what it felt to actually walk around here by herself.
At some point the topic changed and the two of them grew more familiar with each other as time passed. The masked girl and young salesmen seemed to get along surprisingly well.
"Should I hold the cart for you?" Fear asked after they were genuinely close enough to share burden.
"...It may sound inappropriate to answer a question with a question, but: Are you actually serious?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" She asked while thinking he was surprisingly good at being formal for his age.
"Rogues don't have much of a good reputation around here. They say trusting a Rogue is a road to financial loss." She didn't correct him on what her Class was since being a Rogue was fine with her.
One of her 'sisters' was a genuine Rogue anyway.
"I guess you don't trust me..."
"No way, it's fine~ I'm tired anyway." The short salesman showed his trust by letting her push it.
As soon as the priestess' hand held onto the front of it where his own hands were, he couldn't help but realise that the whole weight of the cart suddenly vanished. His eyes widened in disbelief as he watched the girl casually move his heavy cart like it was made of air. What made this scene to be unbelievable in his eyes was the fact she wasn't using the skill 'Lighten' to increase her strength...!
"You're a Humanoid Beast, aren't you...?" The shorty whispered while pretending to give her a hand. He didn't want other people around them finding out since the influence of the Church was large enough to be considered a major part of society even now. Though some joined the Mirror Religion for fun, others were devoted believers of the Holy God and the virtues of the Church...
There was no telling what would happen to her if a wondering Nobleman was to figure out her identity.
Although the Royal Family had shown their support for the Radiant Sword Mirror Religion's beliefs of equality between Humans and Beasts, it wasn't like the people of the kingdom would instantly become friendly with Humanoid Beasts which were considered by the Church to be no better than mere animals that can be eaten or enslaved at a whim. He also couldn't establish them as a state religion unless he wanted to fight the Grand Hero.
The animosity that had been built between the two races wasn't something mere words could quell...
"How did you know...!" The naive girl seemed shocked as she looked at him like he was a genius.
"You DO know what human limits are, right? Or have you never figured to check the differences between a Humanoid Beast and a Human? Now it makes sense why only your hair is visible through that outfit." The youth face-palmed in frustration.
"Please don't tell anyone. I don't want to be ostracised by everyone and taken into custody..."
"Don't worry. I wouldn't be helping you cover-up your identity otherwise." The youth just smiled.
"By the way, this may sound inquisitive, but what is your 'Species' anyway? No, forget it... I'm not sure how you haven't been found out until now but I think it's best that you stay close to me for now. I'll keep you safe." Unlike before, she felt this youth, who now acted like a 'man' before her, to be more pleasing to the eye than the pervert-stalker-knight-hybrid who helped her escape from the Cult.
And that had nothing to do with how absolutely stunning the guy looks. His handsome face had nothing to do with it. She would be a gullible girl if a guy's nice smile was all it took to win her trust...
Okay, I'm kidding. She had literally zero contact with guy's other than her 'younger brother' all from a young age. As a result of that, genuine kindness from any guy was enough to make her put her faith in him. It was just an ordinary and natural response.
"Thank you for helping me but... I'd like to keep what 'Species' I am a secret." However, it wasn't like she had no brain in her head and acted purely out of emotions. She knew it was best not to reveal too many secrets no matter how great he seemed.
"That's fine... I was only curious anyway. Do you have a home?" The salesman asked as if he was wondering if she had anywhere to return. Though he wasn't really expecting an answer since Humanoid Beasts weren't the he type to reveal themselves normally. To enter so deeply into the Human Empire, you needed a lot of helpers...
"No." This short and unexpected answer caused his eyes to widen. As they were making their way through streets, he couldn't help but scratch his head while worrying about what to do with her.
He couldn't leave someone who easily blew her cover as a Humanoid Beast on her own. What would happen to her if she got caught? He felt it would kinda be his fault for leaving if she was to get hurt since he couldn't ignore her plight...
"Since you revealed your secret. Want to hear a secret of mine?" The young merchant put those thoughts at a the back of his mind before asking her this question to her mischievously. His eyes seemed to be saying she would be surprised.
"Now I'm feeling curious~ Please do." She nodded her head. He then leaned his head towards her before whispering into her eyes. This time it was her turn to widen her eyes in disbelief as he put his finger over his lips while making a 'shush' sound.
'A prince acting as a merchant? Seriously?!' The smiling expression under her mask froze as she looked at him. She didn't think that one of the first people she'd meet after gaining her freedom while walking around the empire would be a Prince!
The second prince, Vhalen Lancelot, may not be a Magic Prodigy like his brother, but there were many rumours saying that he was the first person in a hundred year to have a Healer Class in the Royal Family. The reports the Radiant Sword Mirror Cult allowed her to look at even suggested that he had one specific aspect of his Imperial Attribute sealed due to it being deemed 'rebellious' to Gaia.
Just like how Classless Beasts rebelled against their Roles, his secret power rebelled against time.
What power of his had been sealed? No one outside the Royal Family knew. However, it was speculated that he had the power to 'turn back the clock and reverse death' an act that went against the greater Will of Gaia. That's why they put the Second Prince high on their list of individuals with great status they wanted to 'convert'.
Everyone wanted more life, that's why people would fall into the temptations of 'Demons'...
"Shocked, aren't you~?" Even though his current smile would seem annoying to most, Fear was instead grateful for his help. She could tell that the reason he didn't want to separate was out of worry.
"I don't know how you managed to survive without a home, but I know of someone who might be generous enough to let you rent a room. I heard his mansion is pretty big after all." Though she knew he was trying to be kind, she knew there wasn't any way this offer would work. There was too many people with animosity towards Beasts and those of high status with money were of no exception.
"I know you want to refuse, but we're almost at that place already. You should give it a shot!" Vhalen over-familiarly slapped her back to get this foolish Beast out of her daydreams. The handsome youth was well-aware that night was the worst time to be outside in Lancia Kingdom due to the patrolling guards tasked with keeping citizens in check.
Her fate would be far worse than being found out in clear daylight since the kingdom's soldiers would instantly consider her to be a spy and execute her on the spot if they found out her origins. The short yet handsome youth wasn't willing to see such a ditzy girl be killed, that's why he came up with a plan on the spot so she wouldn't be in danger.
Fear gasped not in pain from Vhalen's strong palm but out of recognition for the place she was at. She took out a piece of paper from her sleeve and read it, only to find that her conclusion was correct!
'Alex Stuman's home...? Why is everyone telling me to come here? First it was that pervert-stalker-knight-hybrid and now even a prince? Is this some form of destiny?' Fear titled her head in confusion.
She decided to eat up her doubts and knock on the mansion's door. However, just as she got close to the door, her superior sense of smell picked up a familiar scent that filled her with terror. Memories she had been locking at the back of her mind resurfaced as she realised what she was facing!
It was too late to turn back now as a scholarly youth opened the door, his eyes looking at the masked individual in front of him suspiciously while secretly motioning his fingers to draw some runes.
"What does someone like YOU want?" A runic glow appeared in his eyes which saw right through her.