Reincarnated as the Lady Prodigy

Twenty-Seven [Pt.3]

Spirit and Goodbye [3] Infiltrating 

WHEN Jozine returned to herself, she found Eufema gravely wounded but is alive. On her side is Skele whose lower body has crumbled.

Jozine is relieved.

"How do you feel now?" Jozine inquired feeling worried about her executive. She's still uncomfortably using the word 'servant'. It rubs a sore spot.

Eufema showed her the empty bottle of [Healing Potion] then proceeded to show her wounds that are now glowing faint green that indicates the potion's work.

"I'm starting to heal now, Lady Jozine,"

She breathed a sigh of relief and nodded her head. They decided to rest for a couple of minutes, while doing so, Jozine decided to tell Eufema what she found out and their plan afterward.

"To think that's what happened to the village and their plan to us. Unbelievable... Truly, I'm astounded. I wouldn't believe that if I were the first one who found out since the village doesn't look a bit... dead, but considering what just happened to me," Jozine watch as Eufema heaved a deep breath. "I'm sorry, I've held you back."

Jozine frowned, "That's not true. Don't think like that. Instead, take a good rest to recover your strength." She encouraged Eufema. The latter nodded her head then leaned on the tree.

Jozine heaved a deep sigh. How could Eufema ask for forgiveness like that? She was the wounded one, it wasn't her fault. From the look for her wounds, she might have put up a tough fight. The impostor, Alga, was strong as well so Jozine can understand the wounds Eufema received and her situation.

Jozine placed a barrier around them to remain hidden from naked eyes while thinking of strategies that will help their plan to be executed more easily.

“The mercenaries are dead too, almost all of them are around high intermediate level. In terms of numbers, the villagers’ side is at advantage. All of us can use magic but not everyone is accustomed to fighting humans since hunters tend to hunt monsters,” Jozine contemplated while looking at the ground. Their advantage is they now know what the village’s plan is. They can pretend that they’re clueless and then infiltrate the village while they’re unguarded, the downside is that the villagers are mere puppets. If the one controlling them are sharper or noticed that they know something, they’ll be in a pinch. The entire village is also under their control; they must have also set up something just in case. Fighting inside the village is too disadvantageous for them.

“You must save the spirit. She is what they’re after…”

The spirit, Kalghaya, the spirit where the village is named after. Norman told her that the spirit’s residence is under the lake, the deepest part of the lake inaccessible to outsiders unless permitted by the spirit, thus, those people resulted to using evil magic at the surface and some parts of the lake. Damn, it's a good thing she decided to hand everyone the holy water orb, if not, Jozine can only imagine what could have happened to the others.

Just what do those people need the spirit for to resort to these excessive means? Jozine thought repulsed by how those people mercilessly killed a lot of innocent people to obtain a single spirit.

Although spirits are rare, it’s common sense that spirits would never, like ever, use their powers unless they want to. Spirits give blessings to those they want to give it to. No one can force them.

Jozine once read in a book that spirit lives in a different dimension, they can come and go in Pralea but not a single person has ever set foot in the world of spirits. Many would grovel and do everything just to possess one spirit. They’re powerful. Once they give their blessings to someone, that person can wield that power as if their own. Even a lesser spirit, considered the weakest even amongst the spirit, its power is at least on a Superior level in terms of magic energy. Those wealthy nobles and ordinary people who can’t use magic will do everything to get their hands on one because it can help them use magic through the spirit's power. Although spirits are mostly elemental-based, they’re powerful regardless.

Jozine wonders if that’s what they’re after. The power of the spirit so they can use magic? Even though those people can use magic, it must be what they’re after. For what purposes? It doesn’t take a genius to know that they are up to no good. They have to stop them no matter what, if it will affect the entire kingdom then the more they have to do so.

When Eufema woke up, Jozine briefed her of the complete plan.

“What do you mean? You will act with that… bone?!” Eufema exclaimed. Jozine expected this reaction, although it’s not to this extent. “Lady Jozine, have you really gone mad!? You want to fight alone against those numbers?!”

“Correction. It’s not I want, rather, It’s I need.” She emphasized. She breathed, “besides, I am not fighting them alone. Actually, I don’t need to fight them at all. As long as I get my hands on at least one of the crystals they’re using to fuel the magic on the lake, I’ll return here.” She smiled at Eufema and hold her through her shoulders, “We have to do this because our peace and safety is not guaranteed once we let their plan take place. If they succeed here and the entire kingdom gets affected, how about the opening of our auction house? I’m expecting to earn lots of golds on the first day, you know,” She joked giving Eufema an encouraging smile.

Eufema sighs, “You have a point. Don’t forget my share of the gold.”

“I know!” She looks at Eufema and said, “I’m sorry. You just fought and were badly hurt and now I’m telling you to go alone again. I know I’m being selfish but…” She decided to not stretch her words further, instead, she handed Eufema a storage ring. “This contains healing potion, magic power recovery potions, items for defense, and weapons. Use this all to secure your safety.”

“Lady Jozine…” Eufema whispered.

She just smiled, “Don’t forget to regroup with Elise and the others and inform them of the situation and the next course of action. There’s a receiver scroll inside the ring, I will inform the result of my actions through that, if I successfully wrote the letter it means I succeed. In any case that I don’t,” Jozine gulped when Eufema paled, “The paper will turn red. When that happens, follow the next plan that doesn’t involve me. Fema…” she smiled at Eufema while nodding her head, “I’ll be fine. Whether I won’t be able to send a message or not, the result of this plan and this mission lies to you and the others. You have to join them no matter what, understand?”

Jozine witnessed Eufema gulped down audibly, slowly, Eufema nodded her head. “I… I will do my best. You…” Eufema heaved a heavy breath while looking at the ground, “You too, have to be safe Lady Jozine.”

“Heh,” She chuckles, “Of course I will. I’m the owner of the auction house, Fema, more importantly, I’m quite greedy.”

It wasn’t heartfelt nor it is an emotional separation, still, Jozine worries for Eufema as she needs to act alone again. But, if Jozine were to choose to take Eufema with her in infiltrating the village, she wouldn’t even if Eufema begs her to it. This was her choice. She decided to help the village, it wasn’t Eufema’s nor the others' choice and because it was her who decided, she has to play the most important role and also the most dangerous one. That also means setting foot on that lair and having her life on the line.

For my chill life, I will do everything. Dang. I’m so amazed at myself… She chastised herself while running in the direction of the village.

According to her intel, Norman, there are five mages, all around high-intermediate or Superior level. They use illusion, puppetry, and copy magic.

“I need not worry about copy magic since Alga seems to be that one.” Alga, the impostor who she killed without a trace.

She killed a person. When she heard it from Eufema of course she was shocked, who wouldn’t, she might have caused other people’s lives to be ruined in her previous life, not once did she killed someone personally.

Jozine felt weak back then but whenever those people’s deeds to the village cross her mind, she doesn’t feel guilty. Instead, her emotions related to murdering Alga are none. She doesn’t feel anything at all. Jozine has no idea why her emotions would suddenly shut off but she considered it for the best. She can’t afford to feel emotionally and mentally challenged especially of her next course of action.

The village is surrounded by a big wall as expected. Skele and Jozine went to the part where Norman said. On the back of the village, there is a small hole in the wall big enough for her to crawl into, the good thing is near that hole in the storage room of the village where all tools are kept. In that same storage house is an underground passage that leads to three important parts of the village. The village chief’s house, the emergency exit which is on the nearby forest outside the village and the last one is the village’s dungeon. According to Norman, there are people, abducted from outside kept in that dungeon, the purpose? As meals. Yeah, they’re kept as food, not for the zombie villagers but rather the pet the leader of those people has.

“Using humans as pet food. What the f**k, really…” Jozine mumbled. “Skele, watch my back in case someone’s here.” She and Skele are concealed with magic so they won’t be detected by those people.

They carefully made their way to the storage room, using [Heavenly Eyes] to scan the inside of the storage in case someone is inside. It would be problematic if she has to engage in combat especially with one of the zombies since the puppeteer will know once the connection with one of the zombies is severed.

“Safe,” Jozine mumbled.

They quickly went it and searched for the entrance of the underground passage, it was at the far end of the storage but they luckily found it. The underground was dark so she cast a small light orb for them. By the looks of the underground passage, it looked like it hasn’t been used recently. Those people must have not known about this. If that’s the case, the possibility that the one manipulating the dead villagers can’t their memories is pretty high, which is a good thing for Jozine. Jozine is lead in three ways, the left one is on the village chief’s house, the middle one is for the dungeon and the last one would be the exit.

They treated carefully underground until they reach the small stair that would lead them to the village chief’s room. Norman said that those people are using the village chief’s house as their headquarters.

“Shhh,” she signaled for Skele to keep quiet while she uses her [Heavenly Eyes], as expected there are traces of four people in the room.

“What do you mean you can’t feel Alga’s presence…?” It’s a man’s voice.

“It is as what I said. Her presence’s gone around here.” Another man’s voice, this time it’s a little soft.

“Heh, don’t tell me that b***h’s gone? What? She’s killed by some weak hunter?” This time it’s a sultry woman’s voice.

“Irga, shut thy mouth.” Another man’s voice, a bit deeper compared to the other two.

“Oh sheesh, I’m just saying, Von. Hunters are weak, if Alga’s done by one of them isn’t she just as weak, no, actually weaker than them?”

“I do agree with her. From the beginning, I think Alga wasn’t suited for this mission.” What bastards and bitches they are. Jozine realized. She wants to feel pity for Alga since her comrades in their mission obviously don’t care about her at all. She is disgusted.

“It does not matter. If she was killed, it means this mission could be compromised.” It’s the man named Von.

“Compromised?” The first man who spoke, “Even if those hunters come running here what can they do?”

“Oli, do not underestimate thy enemy. Alga could be killed by them.” True. Killed by her specifically.

“But they haven’t seen us, have they? My magic in the like is still working it means there are still enemies, they must still be fighting.” The soft-voiced man.

“Those hunters are still alive? Wow, what a futile struggle. Double the amount of your phantom and just kill them so that b***h of a spirit weakens to the point of being unable to use her power. This is so boring.” It was Irga, the only woman in the room.

“I agree to thy suggestion. We cannot waste any more time. We must finish this village and capture that said spirit for the plan in Griselda to commence.”

Griselda. They’re planning something on Griselda? Jozine almost groaned. Why the heck is it to the place where she’s staying. She must be unlucky!

“Yeah. I’m just wondering if they’ve got the woman?”

“Ah, you mean the genius?”

“I heard she lost her magic though…”

And now who are they pertaining to? Jozine bit her lip. She badly wants to ask. Are they planning to kidnap some woman? Ah! She has to stop now, more than ever. She has become more dedicated. Especially since she lives in Griselda! Her chill life business owner will be over once she let them off!

She softly sighs and massaged her temple.

“What was the woman’s name again?” The soft-voiced one asked while Jozine nodded her head in agreement. If she knows the woman’s name she can warn her and also keep her safe. She might an important factor in this people’s plan.

“Her name? Ah… I think it’s Jo… Jo… In… Ah! Jozine Vesaurius! The light magic user!”

Jozine blinked.

Wait… What…? Me?!!!