WARNING: MENTION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
Thenea waved at Lithea who's trying to find a spot, "Lily!" she took the liberty to give the newbie a nickname.
Lithea sighed.
"We'll watch from here!" she kept waving while Lithea never bat an eye on them.
"Call me by my name," she suggested, not wanting to keep getting reminded by her dead parents.
"Okay, Lily!"
The priestess mentally slapped her face and positioned herself; dropping her luggage on the ground. Just beside her.
The bat wings are fluttering fast to the point it's nearly invisible, and they headed straight towards Lithea who's just standing still with eyes closed.
"What is she doing?" Serene asked, "Why is she standing still?"
"What if she needs help?" Verin asked, worried.
"We can't help her no matter what, but we can step in if she's in absolute danger." Thenea reminded him.
"Absolute danger," Lance repeated, "you meant going to die?"
Thenea nodded.
The word 'die', perked Viv's ears and tilted his head, face slowly darkening. Serene noticed this and summoned some strong vines, "don't even think about it, brat."
Viv growled with the sight of the bats.
"Right," Lance spoke, "how come we haven't gathered until today?" he wondered when they've all been in the rank for long except Lithea.
"There have not been so much threat that needs all of attending," Serene explained, "so they only have one or two rubies take the quest."
Thenea nodded with sweet smile on her face, "I agree. Like how I used to work with Viv before!"
Serene raised an eyebrow, "the two of you?"
Lance was about to ask how they ended up working together when a hundred of bat clicks in different tones are ringing in their ears. They all immediately became alert and readied themselves, sight on Lithea.
"Is she scared?" Lance asked, she's not moving.
Lithea stabilize her breathing and summoned her mana all over her body to enhance her skills.
"Always determine your opponent's strength." Chi's words rang behind her.
She opened her mouth a little and exhaled for a few seconds.
One.
Two.
Three.
Her brow's furrowed as she keeps counting how many bats coming towards her.
Ten.
Eleven.
The other ruby adventurers watching are becoming anxious at her actions.
"Let's go! We should help her!" Serene said, summoning her lasso.
"Don't be hasty!" Verin retaliated, "remember the rules, Serene."
"But—"
Viv took a step and raised his arm, pointing towards Lithea. Everyone noticed him and looked at Lithea, she's releasing a huge amount of mana. So large they can see small hints of it.
'What in the world is this?'
Thirty.
"LITHEA!"
Lithea opened her eyes and the divine vision activated.
Everyone gasped at how her eyes glowed. As soon as she opened her eyes, the bats swarmed to her and attacked.
This went on for quite some time, she's particularly covered by the bats, and the others can hardly see her had she not worn a white fabric. They are all worried, trying so hard to see what's going on from where they stood to help their new member.
"What is she doing?" Verin asked no one.
"What are you—" Serene's question was cut off when the animal's flesh dropped on the ground, in pieces.
Everyone was stunned at what they have witnessed, one moment they were ganging up on her, the next, they're all dead. Brutally mutilated by a priestess who has not have a single drop of blood on her; she looked calm.
They all gulped while Viv's eyes dilated from the sight of the murdered bats.
"Did anyone blink?" Lance asked, his voice was shaking. Even Viv who is immune with such grotesque stuff could not believe his eyes.
"What?" Viv blurted out.
Verin looked at him, still wearing the shock in his face, 'yeah, what? What indeed.'
Lithea closed her eyes again, she didn't move a single muscle.
"What's she doing now?" Serene squinted her eyes.
Not a moment after, Lithea opened her eyes and turned around to return to her group. She was confirming if there are any more bats she needs to take care of, fortunately, the colony attacked all together, letting her have an easy job.
Everyone was wondering what kind of skills nor magic Lithea used, they have never seen nor heard anything like it. And her power could be the very reason why they allowed her to join the rank this early.
"That—" Thenea spoke; faces whipped towards her with ears wide open. Could it be she has knowledge of her powers? They all moved their faces towards her.
Thenea put her hands in the air, "that was amazing!!"
She dashed towards their youngest and wrapped her in a tight embrace.
"You are amazing! What was that?!" she inquired rather enthusiastically.
Serene groaned and growled, she had them.
"I THOUGHT YOU KNEW WHAT KIND OF SKILL SHE USED, DAMN IT!"
She dashed towards the two girls and knuckled Thenea's head.
"This fluffy well combed hair of yours must be destroyed!"
Thenea giggled at her actions, making Serene even more irritated.
"Your cute face must vanish!"
Her yells and chaotic personality had the three guys who are watching them left dumbfounded.
The group went back to the center of the capital after Lithea's mission and when they arrived at the heart of the kingdom, they all split up. Serene bid her farewell, saying she wanted to go to a public bathhouse and that she'll join them after she finished doing what she needs to be done. They didn't ask her further and just let her be.
Thenea on the other hand went back home to her grandmother's manor with Viv tailing behind her. Although they want to ask why he's so infatuated with her, they decided to keep their mouths shut to avoid triggering Viv's other personality.
She does not live in the quarters like them as her grandmother lives within the capital and she has a driver at the inn nearby who waits for her to take her back to her guardian.
Verin and Lance stayed with Lithea to escort her, they deliberately chose to keep her company without asking if she will permit them. But in the back of her mind, it is fine to have them with her to keep her out of trouble. Not for her, but for the foul mouthed adventurers waiting inside the guild.
"Must we escort her all the way?" Lance asked, he was forced by Verin. All he wanted was to dip in the hot bath and relax.
"Yes," Verin answered, "for a commander, you certainly don't act one."
Lance clicked his tongue.
The priestess' reason why she didn't send them away was the same with Verin's reason why he had to keep an eye on her. With what she had witnessed back in the guild and to her having an unknown power, it is best to not let it be as it could cause a huge commotion between them and the others if she were to succumb to her anger.
But it is not just that, he also wanted to know where she came from; her background. He's never been this curious about someone until her, she possess such enormous power. He had to borrow some books from the library again.
The three of them arrived at the guild; Lithea opened the door and walked inside, immediately closing the door out of habit she developed while being in the temple and it slammed on Verin's face.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Lance grabbed his stomach, crying from laughing so hard, "Oh, this is the first time I've seen you in such a comical state!"
Verin glared at him, touching his nose, trying to see if it's broken.
When Lance met his glare, he cleared his throat and opened the door for him.
"M'lord!"
"Shut the fuck up."
Lance giggled alone after his friend walked pass him. But the moment they step inside the building, Lance's smiles faded as they were met with a heavy and cold atmosphere; all of them are staring at Lithea who returned unscathed.
'Oh no,' Lance thought staring at his friend's wide back, obviously burning with rage with how they act.
"Oh, you're back!" the lady in the front desk who entertained her earlier saw her, "are you here to report?"
Lithea nodded.
"Please come closer and place your hand on the wood like before," she placed the same plank wood on the desk and let Lithea put her palm on it.
The lady praised her based on what she saw and it painted grimace on some face.
"Wow, you're really good at this. You solved this pretty quickly."
She gave her a forced smile.
"Bah!" another adventurer started, "like it's believable."
Murmurs started again but unlike before, it is not as loud.
"Seems like she had those two dork took care of it and let her have the credit!"
Verin's fist tightened, 'another disrespect.'
The guild has always been fair and square. The plank of wood sees if one would deceive them and electrocute the deceiver, having them paralyzed for days, sometimes for a week.
Lance tapped his shoulder to calm him down. They do not want another smear of their name like the one back in the afternoon.
Lithea, as always, did not pay them any mind and waited for her payment. The lady, while preparing, informed her about the living quarters offered to the adventurers.
"Ah, Miss," Lithea paid her attention, "if it would not be a hassle, there's a living quarters for all adventurers. Free of charge."
Lithea didn't respond and just listened.
"Well, instead of looking for a boarding, you could just live there with the others."
The Lady heard their murmurs and glanced at them, "of course the living situation depends on each rank. Ruby and jade adventurers all live in the elite dorm."
"Both Verin and I lives there," Lance stepped in, "I assure you, you won't see any of their filthy faces there." And gave her a soft smile.
"It will be fun!" he added.
Lithea nodded to the lady, "alright."
The girl immediately clapped her hands and went to the back to fetch her her keys. When she came back, she brought a box with her with a golden key.
"Just pour a small amount of mana into your key before you unlock it and both will be automatically be registered as pairs."
Lithea's brow raised, she's never heard of anything like it. This could be for safety reasons.
The two guys watched her stare at her keys innocently.
Someone from the crowd slammed the table and chuckled loudly, "come on! I can show her fun when I want to."
Everyone laughed and the others whistled.
"Think you can just harass someone just because they outrank you?" Lance gritted his teeth.
"Why, what has she proven anyway?" the guy with braided beard, and drunk, stood up; taunting the three.
"It might be a surprise to make her a ruby rank just right after registering," he shifted and faced the guy, "but it is not for us to question."
The lower ranked adventurer threw his head to the back and cracked it, "ha!"
Verin's eyes twitched.
The guy started walking towards them, "what I won't question is her performance in bed."
Once again, the people inside the guild are laughing and murmuring. Throwing insulting and inappropriate words towards Lithea.
The two ruby guys' blood boils.
Lance glanced at Lithea, she was just staring at the double doors. One would think she's affected by the words thrown at her, and this kind of situation has been warned by Chi to her as well. Her hands were trembling as she held the box and her luggage tightly.
"Hmmm," the guy rubbed his beard, "are you so excited that you're shaking?"
But if one would look closely, Lithea's eyes penetrated the doors. She's not trembling in fear, she's trembling in anger.
Verin whipped his head to Lithea and saw the rage in her eyes. He closed his own eyes tight and let out a long sigh, clenching his jaw.
'This crazy bastard.'
The adventurers of the lower ranked were still laughing with their beers spilling as they keep moving, supporting the jerk who are provoking the three.
"Yeah, show 'em what's good!" someone agreed, raising his mug of beer before chugging it down.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" mockeries filled the room.
Both Verin and Lance's eyes are locked on the guy who led the others. He is making his way towards Lithea who's minding her business, not saying a word to retaliate their disrespect.
The attendant behind Lithea had her hands clasped together under her chin, worried at what could happen.
"Hey, miss!" Lance called her out.
"Eh?" her eyes grew wide, her head became overwhelmed with countless scenarios.
"What are you standing there for?"
The lady immediately ran to the back to fetch some knights on duty.
A loud laugh boomed again, "Come on, miss ruby. Let's have some fun."
Every corner of the structure, all you see are heartless human ganging up a rookie. Their crazy laughs, and loud insults dominated the guild. They all can't accept the fact that in a snap, their years of hard work was snatched by a mere newbie, and a priestess at that.
He fasten his pace and raised his hand to grab Lithea's arm. His smile widens, exposing all of his teeth. His eyes shrank with his drools escaping his mouth. A truly horrific sight to those who he deemed inferior to him. But before he could touch Lithea, Verin's grip tightened around his throat.
"Urk!"
It was so sudden. He didn't even notice the swordsman move.
"Aack!" the attendant came back with three knights in tow.
"What's going on here?!" one of the knights asked, unsheathing his sword.
Verin's orbs burned through the rude guy's eyes.
"Make a move and I'll show you fun," his voice thundered through his ear.
The adventurer swings his feet and gripped on Verin's wrists while his free hand slaps his arm, telling him to free him.
"Stand down!" the knight ordered.
The struggling boar grinned, "Is she that good for you to defend her?"
Verin got cold creeps from his back. He gulped as he slowly let go of the insolent fool.
When he's fully free, he gave him an eerie grin, "uh, she is good."
Verin immediately took a big step back and before the guy could fully process what's going on, a sharp wind flew by the adventurers who are in the waiting area and Lithea was already by the door.
Gasped.
"You fucker!"
Everyone's eyes traveled towards the person who is flinging his hands on the wall, stuck by a set of thin threads.
"Let me go! Let me—guk!" he spit some blood.
Everyone screamed and moved away from him.
"Told you," Verin shrugged, "she's good."
The three then exited the guild, leaving everyone inside frightened and well-aware of how much an adventurer with a ruby rank can do.