The purple mist tickled Dink’s nose, causing him to sneeze. Rubbing his nose, he detected the faint scent of jasmine. Looking past Jiltia, Dink’s eyes were involuntarily drawn to the shapely exposed legs of the sisters behind her.

For some reason, I find their modest habit more arousing than the robes of the others. Jiltia puts it all on display. There’s no mystique to tease me with.

“These women are our healers, they will deliver your injured friend to the infirmary to be attended to. Come with me, I’ll take you to your companions,” Jiltia said, interrupting his thoughts. In response to her words, the two outside rows of women moved to the edges of the walkway.

Dink watched them in confusion as the first woman in the centre row, an attractive Elven woman. He wasn’t sure what subrace she belonged to. She stepped to the side while the Human woman behind her simultaneous stepped forward to take her place before splitting in the opposite direction.

Like clockwork, the entire centre row followed suit to array themselves into a wall of flesh, forming a U-shape. Revealed behind them was a pair of identical twin Dwarven women walking toward them dressed like Jiltia. They were both burly yet possessed exceptionally delicate features, unusual for their kind. What they carried caused Dink to flinch, they were holding a stretcher with the unconscious form of Estra on it.

“Estra! I’ll accompany her so there’s a familiar face when she wakes up,” Dink said, stepping toward the stretcher.

The blank-faced sisters contracted back simultaneously, sealing off the gaps between them. The twins carrying Estra didn’t pause as they entered the rear of the formation. It closed behind them, preventing Dink access. The two Dwarven women silently observed Dink with cocked eyebrows.

“There’s no need to worry. Estra’s in fine hands. You’ll be the first to see her once the sun comes up, I assure you,” Jiltia breathed into his ear. He felt a pair of dainty hands land on his shoulders to steer him out of the path. The group of sisters immediately started marching forward in unison.

Dink watched the sisters leave before turning to face Jiltia. She stood behind him a flirtatious smile filled with promises. Pushing her enlarged chest into his face, she reached down to give him a reassuring hug. The scent of jasmine became overwhelming, once again causing Dink to sneeze. Jiltia leapt back in horror, wiping snot from her cleavage before flicking it away in disgust.

“Oh, forgive me for not warning you. It’s a bit hard to do with my face buried between your tits,” Dink apologised sarcastically, wiping remnants of his boogers from his nose with an exaggerated sniff.

“No matter. I’m certain you meant no harm. Let me lead you to your companions. The ladies just informed me Axion has made himself right at home in the villa we provided. I can see your look of confusion, Mercy allows us to communicate telepathically with one another. We are his personal stewardesses in the world, after all. Hahahaha,” Jiltia teasingly replied while Dink looked at her in shock. She took advantage of his guard being down to take hold of his arm.

She started leading him in the direction the first group of sisters disappeared. Dink tried to resist by digging in his heels but quickly discovered her natural strength outmatched when she effortlessly dragged him along beside her. He permitted it as he started to brood.

There’s definitely something wrong with this woman. In fact, this whole place seems off. Yes, the last time I was here was before the Expanding Woods. A lot can change in almost one thousand years, but still. The precautions like a barrier and healing only once a week kind of make sense. The flirting and revealing clothing, not so much.

Also, why was I not allowed to accompany Estra? The sisters I knew never shied away from displaying their god’s power. It was quite the opposite. Mercy loved flaunting his power to recruit more naive young girls into his harem.

Dink’s mood continued to darken as they navigated through the halls and gardens. Jiltia chatted incessantly beside him while pointedly ignoring her attempts at pulling him into the conversation. Finally, they arrived in an open area surrounded by a verdant garden.

In the middle was a gorgeous walled villa with a raised terrace of a style identical to the main monastery. A staircase led up to a pair of decorative bronze gates with thick hedges on the other side offering privacy.

As the pair approached the gates from the stairs, Dink noticed a symbol of a simplified chalice discarded in the hedge. He recognised it as the symbol of the god Mercy. He frowned at the discovery and was about to confront Jiltia about it when he was interrupted by a loud splash followed by fits of giggling.

A sister arrived at the gate, it was the sentry from the barrier outside. The beautiful Half Wood Elf woman lowered her eyes demurely as she silently opened the gate inward from the other side.

“That would be your friends having fun. Thank you, Sister Eos. You are dismissed. I’ll take care of things from here,” Jiltia instructed.

“Yes, mother superior,” Sister Eos replied, curtsying in obedience.

Sister Eos squeezed past the pair, giving Dink a wide berth. She glanced over her shoulder and caught him watching her. She broke into a sprint and fled into the night, eliciting a light chuckle of amusement from Dink. Dink walked through the gate. Before Jiltia could follow him in, he turned and blocked her path with a hand.

“There’s no need for you to come in,” Dink firmly stated.

“Are you sure?” Jiltia asked, her face once again filled with confusion at his rejection.

“I’m positive that we won’t be needing anything further. The hospitality of the Sisterhood of Mercy is renowned throughout Nyre,” Dink dryly replied. It was once true during his time as the Sword Saint. “Good night. I look forward to seeing Estra recovered in the morning.”

“Uh…” Jiltia started to respond. Dink slammed the gate in her face, walking away without listening to what she had to say.