Adventurer of Many Professions

Chapter 35 Inviting The Priestess!

The temple hall was alive with the soft murmur of prayers, the air thick with incense and devotion. Worshippers knelt on the polished stone floor, eyes closed, their hands clasped in reverence. All their attention was drawn not to the head nun standing at the front of the congregation but to the towering statue of the Sun Goddess that loomed behind her, bathed in a golden glow.

The statue was majestic, radiating an aura of divine power. The Sun Goddess was depicted with an expression of serene holiness, her eyes gently shut as though in meditation. Her hands were outstretched, palms facing upward, her left hand balancing a scale, a symbol of justice, and her right hand holding an emblem of the radiant sun, symbolizing light and life.

As Raymond and Sylph entered the hall, the sheer grandeur of the statue took their breath away. Though neither of them was a follower of the Sun Goddess, they instinctively drew a circle over their chests, a traditional gesture of respect, and bowed deeply. They didn't dare show even a hint of irreverence in this sacred space.

Straightening, they exchanged a quick glance before moving toward a side hall, where the priests resided. The side hall was quieter but just as solemn. The air carried the faint hum of magic, and as they stepped inside, they were greeted by a remarkable sight. A priest stood over a young adventurer, his shoulder badly clawed by a monster. The priest's hands glowed with a soft golden light, and as he murmured an incantation, the wound began to shrink, the torn flesh knitting itself back together. Within moments, the injury had completely vanished, leaving only smooth, unblemished skin.

Raymond, witnessing healing magic for the first time, couldn't hide his astonishment. "That's incredible!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with wonder.

Sylph, however, crossed her arms, her competitive nature bubbling to the surface. "It's divine magic, of course, it's impressive," she said with a slight huff. "But my explosion magic could blow their socks off any day!"

Raymond sighed inwardly, shaking his head at Sylph's ever-present need to compare herself to others. He opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by a soft, hesitant voice from nearby.

"Um… are you here for healing?"

The two turned toward the source of the voice and found themselves looking at a young girl dressed in a priestess's uniform. Her demeanor was timid, and as their gazes landed on her, she seemed to shrink back slightly. However, her eyes flicked to the wound on Raymond's arm, and a sense of duty replaced her nervousness. She stepped forward, clutching her hands together for courage.

"Your arm… do you need treatment?" she asked, her voice wavering slightly but underpinned by determination.

Raymond was about to respond when Sylph leaned in, scrutinizing the girl with narrowed eyes. "You?" she asked incredulously. "You look way too young for this! Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

The priestess flushed, her cheeks turning bright red. She fidgeted for a moment before straightening her back, her expression hardening with resolve. "I… I received the Sun Goddess's blessing yesterday during prayer," she said softly but firmly. "She granted me the gift of healing."

Raymond smiled kindly, his tone warm and encouraging. "That's wonderful. I'd be honored if you could help me, Miss Priestess."

The girl's eyes widened slightly at his words, and a flicker of confidence lit up her face. "I will do my best!" she said, nodding earnestly.

Raymond extended his injured arm, the jagged wound still raw and angry-looking. The priestess took a deep breath, steadying herself. She clasped her hands over the wound and began to chant, her voice trembling at first but growing stronger with each word. "Merciful Sun Goddess, grant me the power of your light to heal this pain… Healing Magic!"

A golden light bloomed around her hands, soft and warm, spreading across Raymond's arm. He felt an immediate change, a soothing heat that sank into his flesh and bone. The throbbing pain faded as the magic did its work. The wound shrank before their eyes, the skin knitting back together seamlessly. Beneath the surface, the fractured bones realigned and mended, as if time itself had reversed.

When the light finally dimmed, the wound was gone. Raymond flexed his fingers, swung his arm in a wide arc, and clenched his fist. It was as good as new; no pain, no stiffness, nothing to suggest he'd ever been injured.

"It's completely healed!" he said, marveling at the result.

Sylph grabbed his arm, inspecting it from every angle. "It's like nothing even happened!" she exclaimed, clearly impressed despite herself.

The priestess let out a small sigh of relief, a shy smile spreading across her face as she looked at Raymond. "I'm glad… I could help."

"Thank you," Raymond said sincerely, bowing his head slightly. "You've done an incredible job."

The girl's smile grew a little wider, her earlier nervousness melting away. As she stood a bit taller, Sylph muttered under her breath, "Still, my explosion magic is cooler…"

Raymond gave her a pointed look, but he couldn't help the grin tugging at his lips. It seemed no matter how much wonder the world offered, Sylph would always be Sylph.

Raymond smiled warmly at the priestess, nodding in gratitude. "Thank you, Miss Priestess, for healing my arm. I truly appreciate your help."

The priestess blushed slightly, fidgeting with the hem of her robe. "Ah… actually… this is really the power of the Sun Goddess," she stammered, her voice soft. "If you want to express gratitude, you should thank the Sun Goddess instead."

Despite her modesty, the small smile tugging at the corners of her lips betrayed her happiness at being acknowledged.

"Eh? You're quite the humble one, aren't you?" Sylph quipped, grinning as she tilted her head at the priestess. "Sure, it's the Sun Goddess's power, but you're the one who prayed for it and brought it to life. Without you, Raymond's arm would still be in bad shape. So don't sell yourself short, it's thanks to you too."

Raymond nodded, chuckling softly. "Sylph's right. I've already thanked the Sun Goddess in my heart. Now I'm thanking you, Miss Priestess. Without your dedication, her blessings wouldn't have reached me."

The priestess blinked, her wide eyes reflecting a hint of surprise before softening. "So… so that's how it is," she murmured, her expression brightening into an innocent smile. "Then… you're welcome."

Raymond couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at her earnestness. 'What a sweet and slow-witted priest,' he thought, shaking his head fondly. Still, with his arm fully healed, his thoughts turned to more pressing matters. He had originally planned to simply register as an adventurer today, but instead, he'd ended up taking on a commission, getting caught in a skirmish, and seriously injuring himself. 'Arya is going to scold me senseless when I get back…'

"By the way, Miss Priestess, what's your name?" Sylph suddenly asked, her tone unusually enthusiastic as she reached out to clasp the girl's hands.

The priestess's cheeks flushed again at Sylph's unexpected fervor, and she seemed momentarily flustered. "Ah… um, my name is Lorene Welty," she finally replied, her voice soft but steady. "You can just call me Lorene."

"Lorene, huh?" Sylph repeated thoughtfully, a mischievous glint appearing in her eyes. "Now that you've got the Sun Goddess's blessing and can use healing magic, are you planning to leave the temple and become an adventurer?"

Lorene blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question. "I… I hadn't really thought about it…"

"Well, you should join 'us!'" Sylph declared, leaning closer with a conspiratorial grin. "Raymond and I are both young like you, but we're skilled. We'd make a great team!"

Raymond's brows lifted slightly as he realized Sylph's intent. 'She's trying to recruit Lorene on the spot!'

To be fair, it wasn't a bad idea. Priests were invaluable on the battlefield, and Raymond had just experienced firsthand how important their abilities could be. Adventurers often competed fiercely to recruit priests to their teams as soon as they left the temple. Sylph's boldness in seizing the opportunity was… impressive.

Lorene, however, looked flustered, her gaze darting between Sylph and Raymond. "I… I don't know…" she said hesitantly. "I just received the goddess's blessing yesterday, and I haven't decided yet whether to leave the temple or continue serving here…"

Sylph opened her mouth to push further, but Raymond cut her off with a calm smile. "That's okay, Lorene. You don't have to decide right away. Think about it and let us know. And if you decide not to, that's perfectly fine too. Don't feel pressured."

Sylph shot him an annoyed glare, clearly unhappy with his soft approach, but Lorene looked visibly relieved. "Thank you," she said quietly, her voice filled with gratitude. "I'll think about it."

"Still, you should seriously consider joining us!" Sylph said, her enthusiasm reigniting. "I'm telling you, I've mastered 'Explosion Magic!' There's no better team for a priest than ours!"

Lorene's eyes widened in awe, and she looked at Sylph with newfound curiosity. "Explosion Magic…? That's amazing…"

Satisfied that she had made an impression, Sylph grinned triumphantly. Raymond simply shook his head, amused by her antics.

With that, the two adventurers said their goodbyes and left the temple, their footsteps echoing down the stone hallway. Behind them, Lorene stood by the temple doors, watching them leave with a thoughtful expression. She clutched her hands to her chest, clearly moved by their words, and no doubt still marveling at Sylph's proclamation of her destructive magic.

"Well," Raymond said as they stepped into the sunlight outside, "that went better than I expected."

"Of course it did," Sylph said confidently, puffing out her chest. "How could anyone resist my charm? And Explosion Magic is way too cool to pass up."

Raymond let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Let's just hope Lorene doesn't think we're crazy and change her mind…"