Lea leaned forward, there was something gnawing at her mind for a while now...

  "How can I perform my ascension ritual without alerting the church?", she asked everyone.

  Malediction is something that shouldn't be in the system; it is literally evil and a curse. But it is something she cannot get rid of.

  It just feels... so right.

  The key to becoming more powerful is embracing the Path, but Lea is scared of embracing the power of evil. A small part of her held her back, not fully committing to evil, no matter how satisfying it was.

  Rasputin stares at her, his tone heavy, "If that is what you want... then best run to Lacrosa. The people there accept everyone, as long as you don't betray them."

  Lea didn't expect a fellow religious person to suggest running away. This was… unexpected, almost surreal.

  She had always thought of Rasputin as rigid, unwavering, the type who would cling to doctrine even if it burned the world around him. He spoke like a mentor, a guide nudging her toward a path she hadn't dared to consider.

  "But... Lacrosa is the capital of another nation." Lea frowned, biting her lip, "A nest of foreigners from all walks of life. Won't I just fall deeper into corruption if I go there?"

  Rssputin folded his hands, his expression solemn but not condemning, "Lacrosa is dangerous, yes. It is a city where every Path is walked openly, even those that the Church forbids. But it is also… a sanctuary. A pce where one can pursue their path without the eyes of inquisitors watching every breath."

  Lea blinked. She hadn't expected a priest to speak of Lacrosa in such terms.

  Rasputin continued, voice calm, almost pastoral, "You carry Malediction, a Path not too different from Madness; it has a low survival chance. But hiding from it will not save you."

  He tapped his chest lightly, where his rosary hung, "The gods test each of us differently. Some are given light, some are given shadow. What matters is not whether your Path is clean in the eyes of men, but whether you walk it with discipline and understanding."

  "Even cursed power can be turned to righteous ends, if you remember who you are."

  Lea's heart wavered. His words were not condemnation, nor indulgence. They were… strangely reassuring.

  "So Lacrosa.", Rasputin said finally, his eyes steady, "is not a pce of salvation, but of preparation. Go there not to abandon the Church, but to grow where the Church cannot guide you."

  Lea lowered her gaze, her chest tightening. She wanted to argue, but deep down she knew he was right.

  "Woah...", she looked at him in awe, feeling familiar with his speeches, "Thank you..."

  "I am merely doing the duty Lady Pain gave me.", he smiled, her first impression of him melted away.

  He was a true priest, one who guides others.

  "If you want to, I could stage an abduction.", Bathory suddenly offered.

  Lea widens her eyes, "Huh? Why?"

  They don't know much about each other, so she was suspicious. She doesn't know about Bathory's objective for having her, merely a First Step Pathstrider.

  "I need to destress a bit after all of that research~!", she stretched her shoulders, letting out a small moan, "I want to Mimic your Paths, since you'll walk the Path of Divinity anyway, might as well gain a favor from a future god!!"

  "..."

  Lea, as well as everyone, minus Lady Keter, was speechless. How can a person be so honest and carefree?

  "Um... no, I would like to not be kidnapped, thank you.", Lea shook her head.

  "Worth a try.", Bathory merely shrugged.

  Lea sighed. She wouldn't run away from the church, not right now. But to advance further, she would eventually need to separate from it.

  There isn't going to be a convenient camity coming her way for her to fake her death.

  "Still... I want to visit a gathering, maybe in Lacrosa.", her eyes dart around, "Does anyone here have any idea?"

  Bathory hummed, "Hmm... there is going to be one coming up soon, next week's Wednesday. I have an expedition going on so I can't meet you..."

  She turned to Lady Keter, "May we have a private conversation?"

  Lady Keter nodded, "Just go to another section of the library."

  No grand cover-up or walls were forming, just... telling them to go far away. It was a bit anticlimactic in a sense.

  "Come with me!", Bathory got up from her seat and excitedly walked toward the East of the library.

  Lea nodded and followed.

  They got far away from the table, with the other three chatting as they went.

  "Okay... look for Esmerm Street, the salon named 'Galley's Spa', find an old woman who looks like she eats children— you'll know when you see her, just say you came here on a recommendation and say the code word 'I seek the Lady in White'. The gathering happens when the clock tower hits seventy-three, so come an hour before then."

  Lea listened in attentively, nodding as she got a firm grip on the info. She chose to believe her for now; she'll deal with what comes. After all, Lacrosa is supposed to be very safe.

  The two of them returned to the table, and it looked like the three had finished their conversation.

  "While you are at it...", Zorro spoke to Lea, "Dantes, can you look for an item that carries the Path of Resonance?"

  "But...", Lea doesn't have much money on her, and she was about to reject.

  However, Zorro put a bar of some type of metal on the table.

  "Use this gold bar, just come to a bank and have it turn to Cee.", he said it nonchantly.

  She was dazed for a bit. Are all adventurers this rich? First, Bishop Rudiger, who is famous for his wealth during his adventuring days, now him?

  Guess if you make it big, you are rich... she silently sighed in her thoughts.

  "Alright...", she accepted being an errand girl.

  "You can keep the change.", then he turned to Lady Keter, "Respectable Lady, please witness our deal."

  The dy of the Library nodded, "This deal is official."

  Looking around, seeing that everyone was quiet, Lady Keter announced the end of this gathering.

  "This meeting ends here.", she cpped her hands.

  Everyone but Lea vanished in thin air...

  "I shall tell you what you need to become a god.", her tone was nonchant, as if this were easy.

  "Yes, Lady Keter.", Lea tensed up.

  "You need to work on obtaining Judgement as you are right now. After that, for the third step, you need to get either Cloak or Silence. Then get the remaining one on your Fourth Step, which will be different."

  Lea let out a breath of relief; she did not have to destroy a country for her Fourth Step...

  "The Fourth Step would be plunging an entire at least 11,000 people to sleep in an area for at least 11 hours; the higher the popution, the higher the chance of success."

  Lea despaired... she doesn't even know how to do it at this point!

  "—or plunge yourself into an 11-year slumber and kill your own soul during that time."

  She only wanted to scream, she felt like screaming for daring to know such high-level knowledge at THE FIRST STEP!!

  Lady Keter ignored her plight and moved on to the next topic, "Now, let us practice swordsmanship."

  Lea could only sigh, "Yes, Lady Keter."

  Tapping the compass on her side, two parasols formed from glittering particles. Lady Keter threw one at Lea, who clumsily caught it.

  "Try attacking me.", she teased with a smile.

  Lea tightened her grip on the glittering parasol, its weight unfamiliar, almost mocking her.

  She swallowed, legs stiff, her mind still whirling from the impossible demands of the Fourth Step.

  Lady Keter twirled her parasol effortlessly, like a dancer bancing on the edge of a bde.

  Her smile was faint, unreadable, her eyes sharp as a hawk's.

  "Do not think.", she said softly, "only strike."

  Lea nodded, trying to steady her breath. She unsheathed the sword and rushed forward clumsily, swinging the parasol with both hands.

  Cck.

  Lady Keter deflected with a zy flick of her wrist, the impact sending a vibration up Lea's arms. The woman didn't even shift her stance.

  "Too heavy.", the dy chided, "Your swing is chained to fear."

  Lea grit her teeth and lunged a second time, this time angling the parasol low toward Keter's legs.

  The sword was caught. Trapped between two fingers. Lady Keter hadn't even used the weapon.

  Lea's eyes widened.

  "Better.", Keter whispered, twisting her wrist. With a sharp tug, Lea stumbled forward. The sword was wrenched from her grasp, dissolving into sparks before it hit the floor, "But you reveal your intent before your body moves. That is a death sentence."

  Breathless, Lea re-summoned the weapon, "I… don't know how to hide that."

  "You will learn.", Keter's parasol snapped open like a blooming flower. Then she closed it with a click, thrusting forward the hidden sword in a blur.

  Lea barely raised her sword in time— CRACK. The force rattled her bones, nearly knocking her backwards.

  Her knees buckled. But she stood.

  Keter's smile grew a fraction, "Good, you endured. But endurance alone is not survival."

  Lea panted, sweat forming at her temple. She tried again— this time she let her body move before her mind formed the thought. A sharp jab, followed by a twisting ssh.

  For the first time, Keter shifted her footing. Just slightly. Her sword intercepted with a ringing note, sparks of light scattering like fireflies in the library's air.

  Lea's heart surged... I touched her defense…!

  And then she was on the floor, the parasol knocked from her hand, Lady Keter's weapon pressed gently against her throat.

  Her master's voice was soft, almost tender, "Silence, Dantes. That is what you ck. Silence between thought and strike. Silence between heart and fear. When you wield Malediction, the noise in you will devour you before it ever reaches your enemy."

  Lea's chest heaved. She wanted to scream again, to protest, to say she couldn't possibly master all this. But the parasol vanished, Lady Keter already turning her back.

  "Enough for today.", she said.

  Lea sat up slowly, her body aching, her pride in tatters, yet somewhere in the sting of defeat, a strange fire lit in her chest.

  She knows she must do better, at least push the woman in front of her back a full step.

  "Now, between Silence and Cloak, which do you want to choose for your third Attribute?", the dy asked.

  Lea sank into deep thoughts... What would be the best Path for her? She has to account for the Fourth Step also.

  Silence, from its name, has something to do with being silent. It would definitely fit Lea well. Cloak is more vague, but it has something to do with hiding oneself.

  For such a grand ritual...

  "Cloak.", she said.

  Lady Keter smiled, "Very well."

  "The Shadow that walks Unseen;Silently under the Veil of All;Cloak in Darkness and Light."

  After giving the Honorific Title, Lady Keter went back to her seat, "For Cloak, you must hide yourself, let your target not know who you are, forever cloaked in darkness."

  "You can go now."

  "Thank you for your time, Lady Keter.", she bowed.

  Her vision of the monochrome world vanished, returned to her room.

  With a sigh, she stretched her body... then tensed up, trembling...

  I forgot to write my report!!... she screamed internally.

  =0=0=

  Elsewhere, a caravan enters, music and noise bst quietly in the dead of night, announcing their arrival...

  From one of the carriages, flocks of doves carrying flyers came out, heading toward the city of Ein...