Chapter Thirty-Three: Blur

The young witch peeked at the branch leader, with beads of sweat gathering on her forehead.

"Well, just like the other's I'm interested in the newly established guild. That's all!" the witch answered. fumbling back and forth, trying to keep her cool.

"Ah, yes, so I'm supposed to believe a witch, in other words a noble lady, just waddles into an adventure guild out in nowhere? Don't make me laugh! I've heard young lady Jasmine got into trouble with a duke. Are you perhaps someone sent to take revenge? If so, I will advise caution, witch. I'm not as forgiving as my looks may imply!" the man said, stepping forward. His hulking frame towering over the short girl.

A colossal pressure descended on Jasmine, and her knees slightly bent. The floor underneath her cracked and she saw red. Taking a step back in fear, she nearly stumbled. The witch wasted no time in undoing her illusion, revealing her exotic appearance.

The branch leader started sweating when he saw the witch's true facade. A somewhat slim girl, with a crooked gray witch hat, covering her silky smooth brown hair. Her blue eyes staring into the man's eyes, apologetically. A somewhat meek and weak self-esteem oozing of her, having just been threatened, receiving the end of a veteran's bloodlust. Pale white skin, just as smooth as her hair.

"Lady Jasmine?" he asked, gaining the attention of the adventurers around them.

The crowd hurriedly turned and saw the beauty of their future noble.

"Just as beautiful as the statue!" one of the staff members mumbled. Having seen multiple statues and paintings of the young noble. One explicit one even, where she was unclothed, hugging the totem of her lord.

Thinking of the painting the cashier blushed slightly and made himself as small as possible, hoping no one heard what he said. But he was out of luck, for Lady Jasmine's hearing was extraordinary.

"There's statues of me?" she asked. Humor noticeable in her voice. Like she hadn't just faced death's incarnate.

The man stepped back and said. "I've only seen one! It's at the front of your mansion, my lady!" he answered, hiding some facts he deemed unnecessary for her to learn from him. Having some regards for his own life.

"Oh, that's cool!" Jasmine exclaimed, her attention derailed once more. Well, not really, she was just stupefied and searched for a reason to leave. Sure, she's met powerful beings, way too powerful. She's almost certain there's no mortal in Zingtopia stronger than the Litch she met. But this was the first time someone of extraordinary power threatened her life.

To say she was uncomfortable would be an understatement. She wanted nothing more than to get out of there, breathe fresh air and meet her mom and dad. Maybe even her annoying brother.

"Well, I must excuse myself, that statue can't see itself after all." Jasmine said and ran off. The adventures stared at the ground beneath her, stunned by what just happened. That's when one of the staff members noticed the crack and quickly glared at the branch leader. The branch leader in question whistled innocently and walked away.

With haste, Jasmine strolled through the village. Everywhere she went a crowd would gather around her, singing praises. Even the guards stopped being professional, going as far as to walk up to her and shake her hand.

"It's a pleasure to have you back my lade, we've missed your presence in this village!" they said, everyone talking over each other. Pushing their competition away, so that they could be the one to talk to her.

"Lady Jasmine, does Lenart and Howard know you're here?" one of the guards asked, hitting a sore spot.

"No, I wanted to see the village first, before going to meet them." she answered.

The guard shifted uncomfortably and asked. "Do you want us to leave my lady?"

"No, since I'm already found, you may as well bring me to them!" she said and sighed. Her short adventure came to an end, in a rather anticlimactic turn of events.

…

~Pov Jantyr~ (First person)

"Hahaha" I laughed loudly, watching Jasmine get bullied by the guild master. She really thought she'd get away with hiding under his nose. What a stupid child. Thankfully that branch leader has proven to be loyal and indifferent to power struggle, that's good.

As of lately, I've been feeling restless. Almost like I'm stuck, forced to stay still. But each time I move I feel terrible throbbing in my head. It started when I reached 4000 faith points.

Just recently I passed five thousand and the feeling got worse. I have a backing suspicion it will only get worse.

To hunt in my turf, in other words in the forest they need to carry my totem. So adventurers hunting here will assist me in getting more energy, as the kill will count as a sacrifice to me. I will make their share of the energy stay inside the monster, or animal they kill so it stays behind. As taking everything will disintegrate the body and not just empty its energy.

To put it simply, I'm grinding levels and it's causing headaches. With it comes a longing for a physical form, something that I find suspicious.

In the eyes of a god, time truly does pass fast. A feast was held for Jasmine and her family moved into the mansion with her. My original totem was visited daily by Jasmine, as she entered her personal library, holding the secrets of the entire tower.

She regularly visited, together with Howard and Leif. The two of them still made considerable progress each day, same with Jasmine. She would sneak out to hunt, placing wards, illusions and all kinds of magics to be able to leave undetected. She only met lesser monsters, like goblins, wolves and kobolds.

A month after her return a man arrived. A squad of armored soldiers followed him. He sat in a carriage, enjoying his time, he demanded Jasmine to come and handed her the official decree. From now on she was a baroness.

Jasmine invited the man and asked if he could declare her village a town and he said. "This town meets all the requirements to become a town. But first I must convert your request to the high table. They will do what they see fit!" afterwards he left.

The next day JAsmine sneaked into the adventure guild and tested her rank. The hand drew her blood and shined 0A.

Months passed after that like a blur and summer arrived. Today was Jasmine's birthday.