“It was her!” She’s the one who t..t..tortured me!”

“Who is that rude bundle of sticks?” Mort muttered, displeased.

“Don’t worry about it,” Ray whispered back. “And don’t talk where others can hear you.”

She returned her attention to the group and observed the conflicted expressions of each of the people standing in the room. Jonathan, Vick, and Bill all looked at her with disgust while the corners of Suzy’s mouth were twitching upwards. She shivered as she saw the crazy gleam in the girl’s eyes.

Siegfried and Master Rambalt didn’t seem bothered. Similarly, Master Lion and Rick were expressionless, standing back and observing the situation.

Helen stared at her with a curious expression, though Ray couldn’t detect even a hint of judgment in the archer’s gaze. She squared her shoulders when she saw that and smiled, taking strength from the assumption that the situation wasn’t hopeless yet.

As usual, Ven was impossible to read because of the silver mask underneath his ever-present dark hood, she turned to Kelsey with a hopeful expression. She felt her hopes crash violently as she saw her face.

Kelsey was staring at her with her brow furled. However, the priestess had her lips pursed and her eyes screamed of confusion rather than the support that she was hoping to find there.

“She’s in league with goblins!” Peter continued. “It was her and that cursed slave that tortured us. It’s her fault that Jantzen is…”

Peter trailed off, choking up as tears streamed down his face.

Jonathan reached out and patted the young warlock on the shoulder. As he did so, his furious gaze never left the woman standing near the doorway.

“What are you?” Jonathan spat out. “You have a red eye and when I fought you before, I’m sure I saw fangs. You can’t be a vampire though, so what are you?”

Ray remained silent, unsure of how to respond. She knew what she was, but he would go batshit crazy if she told him.

“Keep quiet for a moment… don’t reveal anything incriminating. The only evidence they have is that idiot crying over there.”

She decided to listen to her god’s advice.

“Well? Why don’t you answer the question?” Suzy shouted, her voice rising with jubilation.

She shook her head.

“Even if you ask, I don’t know what I’m supposed to say.”

“There’s no need for riddles here. If you did it, admit it. If you didn’t, you just need to prove your innocence,” Bill interrupted.

Ray grimaced. They stared at each other silently for what felt like an eternity.

“Isn’t the burden of proof on the accuser, not the defender?” Helen joined the conversation, breaking the silence.

All eyes turned towards her.

“I saw her retire to her tent before the goblins appeared. The goblins snuck into our camp and killed us in our sleep. I didn’t see all of the goblins, but I also never saw her attacking us.”

Ray felt a warm feeling rising inside her chest. Her bright smile returned as she met Helen’s gaze and nodded her thanks.

“In fact, I did see both Peter and Jantzen attack Ray while she was asleep. Not only did she escape unharmed, but she graciously let the two of them live, although she did bruise them a little bit and knock them unconscious.”

Siegfried and Master Rambalt turned their gazes toward Peter.

“Is this true?” Master Rambalt asked, raising an eyebrow. “Did you attack your fellow student in her sleep?”

Peter flinched and his shoulders began to quiver.

“Sh..sh..she killed me! She stabbed me over and over again with a sword… she broke my bones one at a time… she’s a m..monster!”

“Are you sure it wasn’t just a nightmare?” Helen challenged.

Peter shook his head vehemently.

“She did it to Jantzen too!” he shouted, his voice bordering on hysteria.

“Did you see it?” Ven asked quietly.

Peter shook his head.

“They k..killed me first. I didn’t see it.”

“Then how do you know?”

Peter’s eyes went wide.

“You’re trying to defend her?” he shouted incredulously.

He pointed a finger at Ray.

“She isn’t human! I stabbed her in the heart and Jantzen cut off her head. I saw her head roll away! And then a minute later she walked out of the tent covered in blood with no injuries!”

“So, you admit that you tried to kill her,” Siegfried observed.

Peter froze.

“What?! What is wrong with you people?!”

“He’s right!” Jonathan jumped in. “She killed Suzy and Bill before and now she killed Peter and Jantzen. Even with an endorsement from Sister Eileen, she is way too dangerous. Even if you refuse to punish her, nobody here will ever team up with her again.”

Helen raised a hand.

“I would team up with her.”

Jonathan stared at her in disbelief.

“You would trust her over the testimony of my whole team and the warlock apprentice?”

Helen smirked and shook her head.

“I trust her character after I saw the way she dealt with an ambush by her own teammates. There is no proof that she did what Peter says she did. On the other hand, Peter already testified that he committed the crime that I accused him of. As I said before, the burden of proof is on the accuser, not the defender.”

Helen stepped away from the group and walked until she stood beside Ray. She turned to face the students and instructors as she put an arm around her and patted her shoulder comfortingly.

“Thanks,” Ray whispered, quiet enough that only the two of them could hear.

“Don’t mention it. This is my way of apologizing for not stepping up and helping you before,” Helen whispered back.

“B..but what about Jantzen?!” Peter shouted, his voice cracking.

“What about him?” Ven asked.

“How do you explain that he didn’t respawn?”

Ven shook his head.

“We all know that it happens sometimes. Nobody knows why some people fail to respawn. All we have are theories that haven’t been proven yet.”

Ven stepped away from the group and walked over to stand on Ray’s other side. She watched him approach with surprise. She hadn’t expected Ven to help her. She had never really had a conversation with the guy, so she didn’t know anything about him.

She turned her attention back to the crowd and then focused her hopeful gaze on one person.

Kelsey noticed her staring with the most pure, pleading gaze that she could muster and sighed. The priestess took a step forward and shuffled towards her.

Ray’s eyes lit up with unadulterated joy. There were people other than Lexi who accepted her and stood by her. She revealed a beaming smile.

The four of them then turned and faced Peter and Jonathan’s team.

Peter stared at the three people supporting her with disbelief.

“There’s no way. This is a dream, right?” he muttered.

For Ray, the result was vindicating. Not only had Peter failed to ostracize her, but he, himself, had just become ostracized and lost his team. This was proof that her actions were correct.

Siegfried clapped his hands, drawing everybody’s attention.

“We have confirmation from Peter himself that he and Jantzen attempted to murder their teammate. There is a standing accusation that Ray murdered the two of them. Ray, do you have anything you would like to add?”

She shook her head.

“I have nothing to add. My friends here have said more than enough.”

“Then let us continue with the debriefing.”

He stepped back and Rick took over the stage. Peter fell to his knees, defeated, yet only Jonathan spared the warlock another glance. Everybody else focused their eyes on the warrior instructor.

“Both teams failed to complete their missions. The team led by Jonathan suffered a near-total defeat, with only Kelsey surviving by hiding. The team led by Jantzen encountered the bandits but allowed them to escape and was later ambushed by goblins and annihilated except for Ray, who also survived by hiding. It is presumed that both teams were defeated by the same group of goblins and the difficulty of the request in the Adventurer’s Guild has been raised to silver-rank.”

Most of the students nodded in understanding. Any group of goblins that could wipe out two separate groups of adventurers in different places in a single night, even if they were trainees, was dangerous. Ray knew more than anybody else here and she agreed that the difficulty was much too high for a bronze-rank mission, let alone a trainee mission.

“Finally, Jantzen, the leader of the second party, respawned as a drone. In the next few days, we will be organizing a new party from the current students. There will be no excursions while we wait for a team to complete the goblin extermination request. In the meantime, we intend to increase the intensity of your training. This is the second excursion in a row that we have had several students die and this is unacceptable.”

Jonathan hung his head in shame. Like everybody else, Ray knew the jab was mainly targeted at him. Not only had he experienced a full party wipe on the first of the two excursions, but he had rushed back out and lost half his party again. In the second excursion, he lost all but a single member.

“You all need to be more wary of death. Even if you can respawn, remember that it doesn’t always work. Jantzen did not respawn this time. Next time, that might be you. Train harder! Prepare more! Strategize and study your targets! We aren’t teaching you so that you can spend time in limbo, waiting to respawn. We are teaching you so that you can win and bring glory to the gods and to humanity!”

Rick stepped back and turned the stage over to Master Rambalt.

The old elementalist cleared his throat.

“Kelsey and Ray, well done for surviving. The rest of you suck.”

Then the elementalist returned to his original position.

The air around the students seemed to thicken as the mood sank further. They were already somber from listening to Rick’s passionate speech but now they were just depressed.

Ray giggled as she sensed the mood falling.

“Dismissed!” Master Lion declared.

Ray turned her attention to the three people standing around her. These were her new friends who had supported her.

“Thank you all so much!”

Helen and Kelsey smiled and Ven nodded his acceptance.

“What do you guys think of making this our new party?” Helen suggested. “We’ve got a guardian, a rogue, a priest, and a ranger.”

Ray raised her hand.

“I’m also studying enhancement magic and dark magic.”

Helen raised an eyebrow.

“An arcane guardian and a warlock, then? Are you aiming to be a dark knight?”

She shrugged.

“I honestly haven’t planned it out that much. I’m just learning whatever I want to.”

Helen nodded in understanding.

“So, what do you all think? I like the potential of this team more than my last one.”

Kelsey half raised her hand.

“I only have one condition. I need a team for lessons, but I do not want to be an adventurer. If you’re okay with me leaving the team when we graduate, then I have no objections. I wasn’t officially part of a team before anyways.”

The three of them looked at Ven. The cloaked man’s shoulders sagged.

“But then I would be the only male…” he muttered.

“Is that a problem?” Ray asked, tilting her head to the side.

Ven shook his head.

Helen smiled.

“It’s settled then! Who wants to be the leader?”

All of them exchanged glances but nobody volunteered. Ray motioned towards Helen.

“Why don’t you do it”

“I’m a ranger. It’s best if I’m in a position like 'vice leader'. My focus is tracking, scouting, detecting enemies, and long-range shooting. Oftentimes, I will be moving separately from the team so it's best if someone else is the leader.”

“Same issue for me,” Ven commented.

Kelsey and Ray exchanged a glance. Ray opened her mouth to speak but Kelsey beat her to the punch.

“I nominate Ray, all in favor, raise your hand!”

Kelsey, Helen, and Ven each raised their hand. Ray opened her mouth to protest but Helen cut her off.

“It’s settled then. I’m off to train so I’ll see you all later!”

Helen rushed off towards the training dummies and the three of them watched her leave. Ray returned her attention to the other two, and then her eyes widened in surprise. Ven disappeared while she was focusing on Helen. Only Kelsey was left.

Kelsey laughed when she saw Ray’s flustered expression.

“What did you expect? We all gathered to support you. As the one who brought us together, whatever the reason may be, doesn’t that make you our leader?”

Ray sighed in defeat.

“I suppose so.”

Kelsey took a step closer to Ray and started to whisper.

“Will you tell me the truth later?” she asked, her tone turning serious.

Ray’s eyes widened.

“About Peter and Jantzen?” she clarified.

Kelsey shook her head.

“I want to know how you can be an immortal and still respawn.”

Ray pursed her lips as she chewed on her reply.

“Tell her yes. She’s figured out this much and it doesn’t look like she told anybody else yet.”

She nodded slowly and Kelsey’s smile widened.

“I’ll visit you tonight. Tell me then.”

The priestess turned and left through the open doorway, ascending into the daylight of the streets above.

Ray withdrew her battle hammer as she pondered what to say to Kelsey while moving toward the training dummies to practice.

***

Duke Jantzen observed the drone that was once his son with a heavy heart. Tears failed to form even as he gazed upon the empty vessel. He had sent his son off on the excursion with such joy and hope…

“A report from the only survivor of his party, a trainee called Ray, indicates that they were ambushed by goblins. The reports of the other three who respawned corroborate the story,” his butler reported. “However…”

The butler hesitated. Duke Jantzen noticed.

“However?” he prompted.

“A boy by the name of Peter was hysterical when he respawned. He claimed that the woman called ‘Ray’ and her catkin slave were in league with the goblins and murdered him and Jantzen by torturing them to death.”

There were a few points there that caught the duke’s interest.

“A catkin slave?”

The slave he recently took from his son and sold was a catkin. There were multiple catkin slaves in the town, but his intuition told him it wasn’t a coincidence. Was this ‘Ray’ the mysterious benefactor he thought had beaten sense into his son?

“Have you determined the veracity of his claims?”

If it was true, then he needed to take action. However, he knew the types of people his son surrounded himself with. He couldn’t trust this ‘Peter’s’ claim at face value.

The butler shook his head.

“My apologies, but I have not been able to yet. The students were summoned to report to their teachers, and I intend to investigate as soon as they return.”

Duke Jantzen nodded. His shoulders sagged as he turned around, unable to bear the sight before him.

“Investigate thoroughly,” he ordered, moving through the doorway.

“By your will,” the butler replied with a bow.

***

“By the power and authority granted unto me, I accept your vow in the name of the New God. Remember this covenant for as long as you live.”

Lexi smiled as a familiar burst of energy filled her arms just long enough for her to cleanly snap the blade near the hilt of the small dagger in her hands. When she had first performed the ceremony, she had been a little worried that she would be unable to break the blade by herself, but it seemed that her new god would miraculously provide her with the strength necessary to accomplish the task.

The blade snapped cleanly, and Lexi buried it in the dirt, before returning the hilt to its owner, a young goblin with a long, crooked nose and sharp eyes. The goblin stepped back into the slowly growing crowd as the final goblin of the group stepped forward to make their covenant. This group of ten had approached her in secret and asked to be initiated after Vorg spoke to them.

Lexi was more than happy to accommodate them and performed the ritual. The tenth goblin, Jug, smiled as he kneeled and offered her one of his twin swords. Lexi accepted the blade reverently and baptized him in the name of the new god.

As she returned the hilt of the blade to the goblin assassin, a familiar voice interrupted the holy event, shouting angrily in fluent English.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Lexi sought out the source of the voice and her ears twitched nervously as she recognized Flynn of the Glitter Court.

“The Glitter Court has not allowed these radical elements to preach their dogma nor has the Court authorized the existence of proselytes amongst our kin.”

The goblins behind Lexi began to shift and mutter amongst themselves with unease. Vorg moved until he stood beside Lexi and addressed the grumpy Court Secretary in Goblin.

Flynn snorted, angling his chin up.

“The decision of the Court was made before that perfidious false-god worshiper delivered her ultimatum. We will never abandon our heritage. The only god we worship is the Fae Mother and thus it shall be. Any of our race who opposes this fundamental state of our beings is a mistake and a heretic.”

Did he just call Ray a ‘perfidious false-god worshiper’? Lexi grit her teeth, her tail going stiff as her claws started to reveal themselves.

The recent converts grumbled in confusion and Lexi bit her lip, shoving down her anger as she observed them nervously. She knew that none of them were proficient enough in English to follow the conversation, but they should understand enough from the tone of the conversation that the Glitter Goblins disapproved of their actions. They were all part of the Gobber faction and were very aware of the closed-mindedness of the Glitter Goblins.

“We don’t want to abandon great Demestrix,” Vorg reasoned in English. “We believe to accept help. We need miracles if survive until we discover Fae Mother and why she disappear.”

Lexi wasn’t sure why they were speaking in English. The only possible reason was because they wanted her to understand what they were saying, but this was internal goblin politics and she was an outsider.

“I see that you have fully become a heretic. I am disappointed in you,” Flynn growled.

“A heretic?” Vorg coughed out in surprise.

“I bring an official declaration from the Glitter Court. We demand that you cease leading your fellows into condemnation until after the Court has released our decision. These brothers and sisters should be making an informed decision. Do not condemn the innocent to a life of heresy before the official stance has been made clear. It is already embarrassing that we have to exile some heretics from our tribe, we would much prefer to exile only those who would intentionally brand themselves and reject their divine heritage.”

Vorg was speechless.

“Innocents? A life of heresy?” Lexi muttered, her eyes filled with fury.

From the moment Flynn had insulted Ray, calling her friend perfidious, Lexi’s anger had been rising. He insulted the new god that had answered her prayers and acknowledged her. He was threatening those who sought her out to receive the blessings and miracles of this new god.

But, most importantly, he insulted Ray.

Lexi took a step forward and her mana released itself, directed by her rage. Flynn examined the furious beastkin for a moment with a critical eye before sighing.

“You’re way out of your league, cursed human. These false gods are the gods of your people and I would never deny you the privilege of worshiping them. I just ask that you refrain from leading my people astray and destroying the fragile peace that exists here.”

Lexi blinked in surprise, her simmering anger temporarily overwhelmed by her curiosity.

“Didn’t you hate us?” she asked cautiously.

Flynn shook his head.

“I do not and neither does the Court. We deny that seditious imposter who has rejected her heritage as the First Daughter of Kraveloz. We deny these malcontents who reject our own heritage. You, however, are more than welcome to embrace your heritage and follow one of the false gods who has invaded this world.”

Lexi stared at the Court Secretary with a baffled expression, her anger all but completely drained away. She struggled to wrap her mind around the goblin’s viewpoint.

Vorg shook his head.

“The Glitter Goblins are only think on the past. Heritage and culture is not as important as our lives. We are goblins now. Fae Mother is gone now for many years.”

Flynn spat a glob of coagulated glitter at the faction leader’s feet. The shiny mass writhed on the ground as it mixed with the dirt.

“When your band of refugees sought our protection, we graciously provided it. We took you in and treated you as our own. You brought nothing with you but mouths to feed and dissidence. I voted against you then and you can be assured that I will be voting against you this time as well.”

The Court Secretary turned and walked off. The small group of recent converts watched him leave with distaste in their eyes but none of them seemed all that worried. Vorg looked tired as he turned to Lexi.

“I’m sorry. The Glitter Court does not like other opinions.”

Lexi’s forehead wrinkled as she furrowed her brow. Her tail and ears twitched anxiously.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve been treated worse than dirt before and I am prepared to be treated poorly again if it means I can return a portion of what I owe to my friend.”

Vorg grinned, taking on a feral expression as he revealed his long, pointy teeth.

“Good. I can respect. There are few days before Court can do anything. We will grow our numbers and support.”

Lexi nodded her assent. Vorg looked at the ten goblins who had just been baptized and repeated his statement in Goblin. Each of them nodded their understanding, splitting up throughout the camp to spread the message to those they trusted. Vorg left as well.

Lexi returned to her meditation, practicing controlling her mana. On top of the exercises Shaman taught her to train her mana to take on physical properties, she also practiced enhancement daily. She had reached the point where she could enhance her arm and bend the elbow, albeit stiffly. With a few more months of practice, Lexi hoped to reach the level where Ray was - the ability to perfectly enhance a single limb.

The other practice she had recently begun was attempting to utilize holy power. She discovered a new source connected to the well of mana within her. She instinctively felt that it was holy power and that she had obtained it as a gift. This source was the difference between a person who had an aptitude for holy magic and a person who could use holy magic.

Without the source, it was fundamentally impossible to channel divine power.

Lexi could access the source without any issues. When she did so, her mana changed until it felt bright and cleansing. She reached that step without any training or instruction. However, she had no idea what to do from there. She had little experience with using magic outside of some elemental magic she learned from her tribesmen, and the enhancement magic she was currently learning.

As a beastkin, she was not familiar with the types of spells that a person could cast with holy magic. She knew there were healing spells, cleansing spells, and smiting spells but that was the extent of her knowledge.

She spent some time focusing on teaching herself daily, but she knew it would take her a long time to make a breakthrough without guidance. Resolving to consult Ray about the issue the next time her friend visited, Lexi continued to practice.