"Are you new here, dear? I don't think I've seen you before. Did Rachael drag you here?" the elder asked. Her sharp eyes made Iris feel exposed and not in a good way.
The silence was tense and somehow Iris had a feeling that the tension existed only on her side.
"Well, a guest would be putting my situation a lot higher than it actually is. I'm essentially a prisoner here. I don't think you will be able to tell me what would happen with me next?" If the other was trying to gather information, then so was Iris.
Anything the elder gave away here could of potential usage.
"I'm afraid I do not know what the situation is. But anyway, since Rachael introduced you as a guest, a guest you shall be. Dear Rose, please lead our dear guest to her room" the elder lady was calm and collected.
But Iris felt outclassed by the other already.
There was a hint of something behind that facade she could not think of even matching. Even the magic that was pricking her felt gentle but subtle.
"Of course. Please follow along dear guest" Rose lead the other out, her short red hairs bouncing with her every step.
Everyone had eyes on Iris when she left but the only ones that felt burning were a few. The most prominent one was of the elder lady who looked at the leaving female.
"So, now that they have left you should start speaking. Is it something we need to be concerned about? That young lady, she was no ordinary human, was she?" the elder lady asked, her eyes narrowing at the other.
Her hand extended and a smoking pipe appeared out of thin air. The elder lady took one puff of air and exhaled it slowly.
All at once the hustle and bustle of the surroundings faded and smoke took its place. The earlier surroundings of walls and people were no more.
"I appreciate the privacy. The matter is of concern. The young lady I brought here seems to be a healer but not a normal one at that. But what concerns me more is that she never approached the commission despite her great skills"
Rachael's lovely face was twisted in a worried expression.
Elder Rise watched the young woman puzzle over her thoughts and doubts but decided to let the other come to her conclusion.
Her task was to look after the nearby operation, not to guide these young ones.
"And what about it? Many start out of the commission but they all end up joining the cause anyway. What makes this lady so special? Surely she cannot be more special than our Holy Maiden Lunadel"
The elder seemed not to be worried at all.
She had seen many talents just like this young lady before her. But there was only so much one could do without any background support.
Unless this lady was a god herself, there was no way she would be better than Lady Lunadel herself.
"I don't know but something doesn't add up. Rose said that there was no poison residue in the patent but it should not be possible without divine intervention. Healing to this degree should not be magically possible with divine arts" that one sentence from Rachael changed the whole mood.
The elder, who had been relaxed at this point, suddenly went alert.
"No residue? I see. You are afraid that this is devil magic. If so, then this is a more pressing matter" the elder blew through her pipe once more before she closed her eyes in resignation.
Her body relaxed as soon as the smoke exited her pipe and the smoke started to recede from around the pair.
"I understand. I shall contact the council at the earliest. You should try and entertain our guest. Form a friendship with them if possible" the blond lady nodded as the surroundings began to go back to normal.
No one paid any attention to them.
Most of the people in the commission had not even noticed that exchange, the illusion too strong for them to even be aware of it.
"I will do my best. Also, should we bring the couple in as well? For protection" Rachael asked, her voice quiet and calm.
No one paid any attention to them still and the elder lady nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, the other pair reached the 'special guest room' which was situated on the top of the central tower.
"This room has the best view. I'm so jealous you get to stay here while we cannot" Rose exclaimed as she kicked open the door.
Iris could not help but find the redhead's endless energy was tiring her out.
"You can have this room if you want to. I will just exchange with you" Iris spoke without thought, only realizing her mistake when Rose turned to her with a cautious face.
"Did you say something?" the breath that was caught in her chest was exhaled slowly.
Either the other didn't hear her properly, or she was polite enough not to draw attention to the little mishap Iris just made.
"I said, please leave me alone now. I wish to rest" Iris forced her voice to come out as cold and distant and it somehow worked.
"Sure. someone will be here with dinner soon since it's way past lunchtime" thankfully, Rose left pretty quickly.
'System, are you still there? Is this progress alright?'
For some reason, Iris could not help but feel suspicious and dejected. She had made a voe to stay out of sight and work in the background but it seemed not to be working.
'User 'Doctor' is assured that everything is stable. Kindly continue in a similar manner'
The system's reassurance did nothing for Iris. The feeling of 'wrong' did not go away at any point.
But now Iris had three free days and she would utilize them to plan an escape.
There was also the second part of the mission perimeter she had to think about as well. This was not going to be easy.
Especially not now when the commission was so spooked out about her existence.
'System, is there any way to learn additional skills outside of medicinal ones?' Iris knew a few but Michael had no access to those memories yet.
Her character level for Iris was only 4 right now so a lot of things were out of her reach right now.
Not to mention, the big point in her life was also coming.
'User is informed that they can look for new spells in the shop. Spell level will depend on the user's proficiency in the art and spell'
Last week had been spent in a daze and being lost in Iris's memories. Everything Michael had done had been influenced by Iris and her memories.
As such, there had been no time to examine her new body but it could no longer be put off. It was finally time to face her new reality and her new body.
Michael might have come to terms with being Iris mentally but the physical shock had yet to descent in her brain. It was finally time to see herself naked and take a bath all on her own.
There was one spell she wanted to grab.
With the silence spell in place, it was time to face herself.
Thankfully, no one heard the loud yelp and screams Iris let out before acceptance seemed to snap into her brain.
The real thing felt different than what you learn in medical school and screen after all.