Iris waited one day before contacting Jackson with hope in her heart. They had separated soon after exchanging contact information but the other only had bad news for her.
Since Iris had been spotted near Noir, the whole place was being combed by the commission's agents. There was no way to get into the city without alerting the commission.
So Iris gave up on it and began formulating a new plan of action.
The finance and crafting experts were out of her hand for now but there was still someone whom she could try to find.
The book hand mentioned a retired architect who had been skillful enough to make the original courts and had even contributed to the making of the original court. They were written off as a legend in the book but had not made an appearance in front of the MC.
Only the readers knew what the reason for that had been.
It was because the original architect had already passed away. The original courts had been ancient in their emergence and only the knowledge had been passed into the predecessors of the original architects.
Only the members of a court knew who their architects were and that knowledge was kept a secret.
The one Iris was about to meet was the descendent of Isis's court architect. The child had been the only one left alive when the massacre had happened as she had not known anything.
The commission had tried to take her in and teach her but the kid had escaped. There had been a warrant for her search but the kid had gotten lucky and survived this far.
But Iris knew this was not luck or co-incidence but Holy Maiden Lunadel's influence. She had held the commission back with her words and actions. She had taken the other under her wing verbally and that had been enough.
In the original novel, the MC had asked the architect for help after Holy Maiden Lunadel had been asked to travel to the abandoned court of Isis so there was not much information available about her.
Iris only had a vague idea of where the other could be and all because of one small line mentioned in the book.
She was headed to the Valley of Euphoria - the Elvian capital of the region.
There was only one problem there - the commission's stronghold and the security checks present all over the place.
Iris was not sure if she would be able to make it inside alone. There was too much interference from all sides for her to get away without anyone finding her secret out.
So that was why she had taken a page out of the original MC's book and decided to travel with a group inside the city.
Since her court was officially affiliated with the commission now, she had legal authority as a member of said group.
"So you are a healer? When did you join the commission? I heard that it is great to work for them" the girl sitting on Iris's opposite side asked, her eyes shining.
She had been traveling with the group for a few days now and she had gained their trust quickly. It helped that she had controlled healing and could pass off as a weak healer.
"It is alright. I just do what I have to" Iris replied with as much gentleness as she could. There was not much, to begin with, and it came off as really dry.
"I see. It must be, ugh, tough to do your work. You must be tired as well" the girl looked uncomfortable at her tone and Iris wanted to sigh in annoyance.
It was not her fault that her default tone was cold and uncaring. It was the fault of her original body.
There was this and the annoyance of messages irritating her.
'System had a new message from user ' Player'. Would user 'doctor' like to hear it?'
This was the tenth time this day and if another one came in then Iris would scream. It did not help that only she could hear the annoying deep on that message.
'Fine, play it' Iris decided to rip the bandage off finally.
'Hey sis, are you angry at me? Why are you avoiding my messages? It's so boring now that we have left Nori finally. The rest of the troops will stay there for a week more but Rose seemed convinced that you left so Council Lady Russo decided to leave as well.
Well anyway, that was all, and please message me back so that I can stop recording this again and again'
Iris felt her anger drain away. The message was useful but annoying all the same.
'System, record a message from my side.' there was a beep and Iris recorded her side of the message.
'STOP. You don't need to spam. I will reply when I get the time and not a second earlier.
Also, don't contact me till it's an emergency. '
Iris waited only a few seconds before she got back a reply.
'Sheesh, calm down. I get it so chill.
I somehow feel like you were not like this as a dude. Maybe it's because you're a chick now so it's harder to control your emotions.'
Iris felt her eyes twitch at the message and also felt rage. The other had hit a home run with his words.
Iris did feel emotions that were not her own but belonged to this body but she did not want to hear it from someone else.
'Drop dead.'
Everyone shivered as those red eyes narrowed in glare and started at thin air. There was murder in those eyes and everyone took an unconscious step back.
'See, unstable. And people wonder why I like guys instead of girls. It's just easier.
Oops, gotta go or Council Lady Russo will tell that old hag about me getting distracted'
There were no more messages after that and Iris felt her temper finally receding. The other meant well, mostly.
"Umm, are you alright? Y-You look sick" the same girl from before asked in a hesitant tone. She seemed as if she was ready to bolt out at any second.
"I'm a healer. If something made me sick then you all would feel it as well" Iris replied and her voice came out as cold and ominous.
The girl shivered and retreated into her corner. Everyone else also avoided her eyes in her cabin and Iris could not help but feel bad.
It was all this body's fault. It made Iris sound cold and heartless.
She suddenly could not wait to get back home and into her own body. Life had not been successful but it was not bad as well.
"We are halfway there. Those who want to change seats can do so now. Also, freshen up and eat something" Iris saw everyone in her cabin peak up at the announcement.
Iris could only sigh at her fate and wait for things to happen. She did not have to be a seer to see what was about to come.
"I would like to change seats.", "Me too", "M-Me too"
One by one, people began to leave Iris. As more and more people left, more and more people began to look worried. But not all were cowardly enough to leave her alone.
By the time they were ready to leave, Iris had a cabin full of new people who looked at her curiously. And the cycle began all over again"