The Goddess' Champion

The girl took a good glimpse of the sheet of paper, trying to think of where she had seen that tree.

"I have seen trees like this one, but not exactly this one in the Lindom Forest, but they're deep inside... werebeast tend to frequent there as it is past the border." Raki said cautiously, even furtively apparently getting memories from an earlier experience in that place.

With all said they made their way to the library

"How is your father?"

"He's not okay..." She wouldn't lie and say that it was perfect, she had already resigned herself to her father's fate, but it was still saddening to see him in such a condition, sometimes she thought it would be better for him to just die than suffer the way he is, but her inner selfishness would come forward, telling her that she wanted to be with her father as long as she could.

Seeing her dejected expression, Constantine had to pat her head with a sigh, he didn't want to give her expectations as he couldn't yet use the blessing, but after gaining some more followers, perhaps he'd be able to heal her father.

'How many followers do you think I will need?'

[I have no idea, it usually depends on the blessing, since it is merely a lesser healing blessing, three more worshippers should do, it is not your goddess' faith that has to increase but yours as you're the one imparting it... are you sure you want to waste it on him though? if any of your companions is ever injured or at risk of death, that blessing could save their lives]

'...' And that was exactly what Constantine was thinking, did he want to save Raki's father?

The answer was no... he hadn't known them that long, but Raki was going to be his disciple and assisting her this way is something he's rather compelled to do if he has the means.

"I want to tell you something, there is a way for your father to be saved but it won't be immediate or certain, I don't want you to hold high hopes, but I also don't want you to be all dejected, it will ruin your training."

"R-Really!?" Those words immediately impacted the girl's heart, she clung to his hand with hope.

"Yes, I'll try to make it work before something happens to him, but... I don't want you to have high hopes, Raki." He looked at her sternly, emphasizing those words, however, given his capacity and the favours he had done for her so far, she wanted to believe.

"I know, thank you sir... I-I will do my best so please, do your best too, it's my daddy..." She begged, aware that it was selfish to ask him to do this, but even then, it is her beloved father who had given his best to raise her until he could no more, if she could have him live for even a month longer, that would be enough for her.

"Hmn..." He simply nodded and decided to leave the matter to rest, he still had to introduce her... Sophia, Malik, Andre and Anya already believed in Aurelianne and he had to be careful too since the big man said that spreading someone else's fate was dangerous.

He didn't think for a second that he could just kill a group of cultists and get on his business, there was bound to be repercussions, the question was, which direction is the blow coming from?

As long as he could be prepared for every outcome, nothing else mattered.

**

**

"Good afternoon, my name is Sarah, what can I help you with?"

'Another beauty... and she's gloomy even.'

Constantine entered the library together with the two girls, it was a humble place, rather dusty... clearly, no one had stepped foot in a long time, the person in front of him was a raven-haired beauty... or better said 'ugly' girl... she looked gloomy as if her soul had departed long ago.

He could only sigh.

"My name is Constantine, could I find your books related to magic, Sarah?" He asked cheerfully and the girl tilted his head at his tonality before nodding.

Sarah was surprised that someone was interested in magic.

"Nice to meet you, Mr Constantine, this way, please..." She beaconed for the group to follow and the girls limited themselves to not talking, they weren't interested in any library after all, however... Zamira kept eyeing up this girl, Sarah... she's ugly indeed but she knows that for her Master, that is not the case.

'Master has weird tastes after all...' She sighed, having to include herself there too.

Meanwhile, Raki simply walked around them, paying attention to everything Constantine did.

"How long have you been working as a librarian, Sarah?" He began.

"Since I was a child, I'm twenty-two years old now... I took over my father's role, he passed away three weeks ago..." She said, her voice natural but sadness was perceivable in there, even if just a small drop.

"My condolences..."

He had noticed that most people seemingly always took over their parent's job after they passed, the sadness of having to watch your relatives die so early.

"Do people usually come to the library? It is rather... unkept." The place was dusty and dirty, his words produced a shiver in her as she bit her lips.

"No, the library is kept by the city lord's budget... it is used mostly to research resources, plants and other information that mercenaries need for their missions, but most of them are too arrogant to step in here to get information or just don't have time to waste it 'reading'... why are you interested in magic books if you allow me to ask..." She tried to evade the topic of the library's maintenance and he noticed.

"Personal research, I'm just interested to know what knowledge you have available in town regarding magic and magus."

"We have extremely basic books, no one has taken them for years, the last magus to be born in the town of loup was killed in an excursion, a sad epilogue." She sighed and took them to a certain category where there were at least five magic books, all dusty as if they had ever left the shelf.