The days in Strugar were as intense and unpredictable as in the world's largest cities. Adventurers came and went like waves in a stormy sea, and with them came stories of triumph and tragedy. There were equal parts laughter and tears — lives that faded away and others that blossomed before our eyes. In Strugar, the weak became strong, and no one was ridiculed for their origins or shortcomings, because here, unknown powers emerged every day. At any moment, someone could evolve and awaken an ability never seen before.
— I'm not going to let you do this… You don't have to.
— I don't think it's fair. I want to help. And Malaca said I can try.
Damn… I should've never made that deal with Malaca. How can I say I care about her without sounding like some annoying old man?
— I'm making good money…
— Fly, this is what I want. Why are you trying to stop me?
What I felt for Helena was confusing. It wasn't love — not in the romantic sense — but there was an intense concern, like what a father feels for a daughter. And I hated myself for that. My old self was already dead, and that girl had no blood ties to me. Even so… I cared. A lot.
— Alright… If I can't convince you, at least let me talk to Malaca first. I'll be right back.
I left and slammed the door before even hearing any response. If I couldn't stop Helena, at least I could find out from Malaca if there was some way to keep her safe. Helena had never shown any sign of having latent power… but it was better to be sure.
— Miss Malaca, are you available?
Her room, as always, was occupied by someone important. And once again, this time was no different. In front of me stood a feline man, covered in fur with a face more beastlike — a lion, perhaps. I wasn't surprised. In Strugar, that might be unusual, but never truly rare.
— Fly! We were just talking about you. Please, come in.
— Excuse me...
— Stop that, kid. I want you to meet the leader of the Lions Guild, Leonan.
It was the first time I'd seen a creature like him up close. His face looked like it had come straight out of some fantasy stage play, a cross between a human and a lion, or maybe a Broadway character.
— Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Leonan.
— The pleasure's mine, Fly. You know… Malaca is a very lucky person to have someone like you by her side.
— Leonan, you talk too much.
— I don't follow?
— Hmmm... In this city, there are four guilds. Each one specializes in something different. I don't like to brag, but my guild is without a doubt the strongest among warriors. As for Malaca… well, she's always been known for having the best berserks. Remember Geovane and Katrina, Malaca? Ah… lovely ones.
— Leonan, you know I don't like talking about that…
— Anyway, what I meant to say is that you have the potential to breathe new life into this place. But I've probably said too much already. I'm off. Nice meeting you, kid. See you around, Mal.
Leonan was shorter than Malaca, but his muscular frame filled the space with authority. As soon as he left, Malaca let out a soft sigh.
— Don't mind the things that old man says. He's always stuck in the past…
— I understand… But who were Geovane and Katrina? I've never heard those names in the guild.
I wasn't the bragging type, but I'd always had a good memory — especially for names. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember those two.
— They died.
Her tone was cold, but her face couldn't hide the pain. I knew that expression well: the silent pain of loss.
— I'm sorry… I didn't know.
— Adventurers die every day.
— In any case, sorry for bringing that up. Actually, I came to ask for your help regarding Helena.
— She decided to see if she has any powers?
— Yes. But… I wanted to ask that, regardless of the result, she doesn't put herself at risk. I care about her.
— Fly, I know it's hard… but maybe you should let this girl take her own leap of faith. — Malaca spoke calmly, but there was firmness in her voice. — Besides, do you even know what she's been doing while you were away, preparing for your missions?
— She didn't just stay in her room?
— Of course not! She asked to help Bromeia… and then did the same with Zomeia. Helena doesn't want to be a burden to anyone. Do you understand that?
Yes… I understood. I understood all too well what it was like to feel like a burden. To carry the guilt of existing on your shoulders. To see exhaustion, forced compassion, and fear in people's eyes. I knew it well.
— Is it possible to do the evaluation today?
— HAHAHAHA! Only if it's right now! Just a moment.
— ZOMEIAAAAAA! GET THE STONE!
Everything happened so quickly it felt like Helena and Malaca had planned it all. It was as if every detail had been rehearsed.
— Alright. Now just do exactly what Fly did.
— I'm not going to go flying or anything, right?
— Don't worry, dear. What happened to that freak won't happen to you.
— Hey, I'm still here, okay?
The closeness between them — those quick, teasing, affectionate exchanges — was something I never really understood. But it warmed my heart. Somehow, I felt Helena would never be alone. My daughter… did she ever have friends like that? I couldn't remember. Damn it.
— Very well. I'll be right here, just in case. Are you ready?
I knew Helena well enough to know she was nervous. But I also knew that once she set her mind on something, it was hard to make her give up. Deep down, I just wished she didn't have to take that risk...
— Yes. Here I go.
The moment she touched the stone, a flash of light filled the entire room. For a moment, it felt like we'd been transported to another world.
In front of Helena, a man was seated on a throne. He had wings as magnificent as those of the Archangels I had summoned before… but larger. Much larger. Six wings — one on his back, one wrapping around his body, and another pair extending below, as if to envelop him in a celestial cocoon. It was a vision so imposing it took my breath away.
Then he rose.
The creature was beautiful. Majestic. His face radiated such pure beauty that it was impossible to tell if he was male or female. He was simply… divine. He raised a hand to his head and removed what I only then realized was a crown — a halo in the form of a golden ring.
He approached Helena with incredible serenity. Then, he knelt before her. Yes, knelt. And gently placed the halo on the girl's head, as if crowning a queen. Helena remained still — perhaps in shock, or simply awestruck by the being.
Then the figure vanished. Without a word.
Malaca was still facing away, watching everything. Silent. It was Zomeia who finally broke the silence:
— Congratulations, Helena! You're a priestess… and a good one! HAHAHAHA!
— Zomeia, don't say another word. How many people were at the bar today?
There was urgency in Malaca's voice. Zomeia understood instantly.
— Auntie, the bar is closed. No one's there.
— Good. Zomeia, promise me you won't say anything about what you saw. Do you hear me?
— Yes… Auntie.
While Malaca whispered something to Zomeia, Helena finally seemed to wake from the trance. Her expression was confused — a mixture of awe and worry.
— Did something happen, Fly?
— I… don't know yet. But I'm going to find out now. Miss Malaca… what was that?
— I'm going to ask both of you to wait for me in my office. I'll be there in a few minutes. I'll explain everything.
— Fly… what's going on? Do you think Malaca is mad at me?
— Don't worry. Something happened, but she'll explain it to us.
We had already been waiting for almost ten minutes when, finally, the door opened. Malaca entered. Her expression was now calmer, but there was something in her eyes… an unusual caution.
— Forgive me for earlier. I had to make sure there was no one nearby. Fortunately, we're alone.
— Miss Malaca… what happened to Helena? It didn't seem like something bad.
— Hmmm… Yes, you're right. Nothing went wrong. — She took a deep breath. — Helena is a priestess… and a very powerful one.
She held out a scroll to Helena, her hands steady.
— Here it is. Read it. It's yours.
Helena took the scroll gently, as if afraid she might tear it just by touching it. Her eyes moved carefully along the lines of the document, but after a few seconds, she looked up, uncertain.
— Fly… I don't really understand what's written here. Can you help me?
Before stepping forward, I looked at Malaca. I knew that reading someone's scroll without permission was considered a serious violation — almost a crime. But she just nodded silently, her gaze serious and understanding.
— Of course. Let me see.
I took the scroll and began to read in a low voice:
🌀 HIEROPHANT PRIEST 🌀
• Level: 1
• Strength: 2
• Endurance: 1
• Speed: 5
• Dexterity: 3
• Mana: 999
• Magic: 2
• Available Points: 0
Abilities:
Supreme Healing – Heals any wound, of any severity, at the cost of mana.
Supreme Restoration – Allows the recovery of what was lost from the body.
⚠️ Note: What was never had cannot be considered lost.
I fell silent for a moment, absorbing the words. My eyes returned to the mana line.
— This amount of mana… it's way above normal.
— Yes… but that's not all. — Malaca added. — This healing ability… it's completely beyond the standard.
— I don't get it… — Helena said, frowning.
She couldn't have known. Priests were rare, yes, but even among the rare, they were considered moderately powerful. Their value came from their utility: healing, support. Never from brute force. Malaca, for instance, had worked with some of the best.
— Well, maybe because of your age, you haven't seen many priests. But I was once part of an elite team, and we had one of the best. — Malaca took a deep breath, recalling. — He could heal cuts and ease fatigue, but he couldn't handle deep wounds… and he needed at least two hours of rest between healings.
Helena and I listened attentively.
— You, on the other hand, have no cooldown. You can use your healing as many times as you want… as long as you have mana.
Her eyes lit up, almost like a child receiving an unexpected gift.
— So… that's great, right?
— Not quite — said Malaca, cutting in with a darker tone. — All priests discovered in the kingdom must be sent immediately for special training at the royal schools — the same kind attended by contractor Cintia. It's a rule imposed by the crown and it cannot be violated. On the battlefield, a priest is one of the most critical pieces.
In that moment, everything made sense. The question about the bar. The caution around others. The silence. The urgency.
— What I can do… — Malaca continued, her gaze heavy — is delay the report for a few days. But sooner or later, this scroll must be placed in the Box of Truth. And when that happens, all the guilds will know of her existence.
I felt a tightness in my chest.
So that was it… I would lose Helena.
Like I'd lost everything before.
I saw her eyes redden. Her lips trembled. Then, suddenly, she stood and ran out the door, as if the room itself were burning her from the inside.
— I'm sorry, Miss Malaca. I think it's just too much for us to take in… I'll go after her.
— Of course… — She stopped me for a moment. — Before you go… there's something you should know.
She walked over to the window, her gaze lost beyond the fogged glass.
— I've worked in this guild longer than I spent as an adventurer. I've seen the discovery of many priests — good ones, promising ones, blessed ones. But never… never have I seen that angel rise from its throne. Much less place its own halo on someone. Most of the time… it's us who are forced to kneel before him.
She turned to me, and there was something in her eyes I had never seen before: fear.
— I don't know what it means… but I thought you should know. I'm sorry. I didn't think this would happen.
— Don't worry, Miss Malaca. Thank you for telling me. And… for giving us this time.
— Of course.
I left the room with the weight of the world on my shoulders. And for the first time in a very long time… I felt afraid of the future.