The Deceiver's Path - Chapter 110 - The Cellar (Patreon)

Piper stood in the corner of the cellar of the Dancing Gnome Inn, safely concealed behind her [Wraithskin] spell, watching as an illusory copy of herself struggled against its bonds on the floor. Ophelia, Lukas, and Basil were all tied up in the same manner.

After using her illusions to expose the alleged heretics as demons in the plaza, the adventurers that the mayor had recruited for the mission had spirited away her friends to the Dancing Gnome Inn. There they were supposed to be restrained in the cellar, awaiting ‘rescue’ by the Silver Hippogriffs.

Piper had limped to the inn after the battle, knowing for her plan to work, she needed to be saved as well. Of course, she’d created a duplicate of herself using [Shifting Veil] and [Phantom Flesh]. There was no way she would ever let anyone tie her up for real. Not after everything she’d been through in this darn city.

Once her illusory self had been bound and gagged, the mayor’s men had departed. At least she thought that they’d left. It was always so hard to tell with classes that had stealth.

Now she found herself watching the others from hiding, waiting for what should be an imminent rescue. Her gaze travelled over her friends, stopping when she reached Basil and noted his many wounds with dismay. From the purple bruises marring his flesh to his swollen features, he must have been tortured.

Thankfully, everyone else appeared unharmed.

Ophelia kept making excited noises as she stared at Piper’s illusion. Not being able to talk was killing her friend.

A short time later, she heard heavy boots tromping across the floor upstairs. She waited with bated breath as the door swung open to the cellar. Then a man holding a tower shield and a spear crept into the room.

He glanced around before lowering his weapon. “The damned heretic was telling the truth. They’re all down here!”

More adventurers appeared on the stairs, with Eleni in the lead. The woman gave her illusory self a nod, which felt a bit weird to watch. And then the wayfarer hurried over to untie her bonds.

“Thank you,” Piper made her illusion say before rubbing her wrists.

“Does this make us even?” Eleni whispered.

“Something like that.”

Eleni swiftly released Basil from his bonds before hurrying over to cut the ropes binding Lukas. Both of the young men stood awkwardly, most likely not understanding what was happening. It was as if they feared they’d be arrested again at any moment, and this was nothing more than a cruel joke.

Finally, Ophelia was free, and she surged to her feet. She rushed headlong over to Piper’s illusion and flung her arms around her neck. But then she froze. Her mouth twisted into a frown as she turned to stare directly where Piper was hiding.

Her heart skipped a beat as she feared her friend would expose her illusion. Thankfully, for once in her life, Ophelia remained silent.

Eleni waved her hand to get the group's attention. “The infernal caster who imprisoned you was slain a short time ago. Currently, Lord Mayor Constantine is awaiting you outside. I believe he wishes to speak with you and provide compensation for your ordeal.”

“What… happened to the infernal caster?” Lukas asked slowly as he rubbed the back of his head.

“The Dawnward Host defeated the threat to our city,” Eleni continued. “Though they took horrific losses in the process. In the final confrontation, the inquisitor slew the infernal caster in hand-to-hand combat. However, she succumbed to her wounds a short time later.”

At hearing that, Piper exhaled with relief. Originally, she’d planned to create an illusion of an epic death for herself. But she’d had no mana left by the end of the battle. And she’d been so badly injured, she couldn’t wait around to let her mana regenerate.

The trek back to the inn had been excruciating, as her burned skin continued to crack and weep fluids. Every time she regained a sliver of her mana, she used it for [Demonic Blood]. But she hadn’t fully healed until she’d nearly reached the inn.

Eleni motioned for Basil and Lukas to head up the stairs. The other adventurers from the woman’s party tromped up with them, leaving her alone with Ophelia and Piper’s illusion.

“You can come out now,” Eleni said. “I know that’s not the real you.”

Piper allowed her [Wraithskin] to fall away and stepped out of the shadows. “How did you know?”

Eleni gave her a thin smile. “I had a feeling you wouldn’t let them tie you up.”

“I knew you were over there!” Ophelia said excitedly. “Do you want to know how I knew?”

Piper gave her friend a meaningful look. “Is it something you should say in front of my new friend?”

“Um… probably not.” Ophelia looked guilty before brightening. “It’s because I could smell you. Even after your bath, you still stink of the undead.”

“I do not,” Piper said with a growing smile. “I washed all of that off.”

“And you turned the bathwater black,” Ophelia retorted. “Aren’t you banned from returning?”

“I am not!”

Eleni watched their exchange with a raised eyebrow. “If you two are done, I have a message from the guild master.” She paused as she eyed Ophelia. “Is it safe to say it in front of your friend?”

“Definitely not,” Piper sighed. “But I doubt she’s going to leave.”

“As soon as the Lord Mayor is done talking to you, the guild master wishes for you to depart the city.”

“What?” Piper exclaimed. “He never said anything about that!”

Eleni held up her hand to silence Piper. “While Constantine is planning to exonerate you and give you back your rank as an aspirant, it’s still best if you lie low for quite some time. There is still the matter of the House of Ares searching for you. Even though you were replaced by a demon, they still may seek vengeance against you.”

The memory of her holding Jason’s heart returned unbidden. She flinched slightly as she remembered the terrible scene. She had a feeling sleep wouldn’t come easily tonight.

“And you need a rest,” Eleni said softly. “Any adventurer who went through a quarter of what you’ve been through would be sent for a lengthy downtime by the guild.”

“Where does he want me to go?”

“The guild owns a large estate in the mountains, several weeks' travel from here, where we train most of our aspirants. There’s a mining town nearby, and while there aren’t nearly as many amenities as Kalmyros, I've heard it’s quite nice. I imagine Niko will want you to spend some time training before your return.”

“What about you?” Piper asked. She’d grown to like Eleni quite a bit during their time together.

Eleni gave her a crooked smile. “I’ll keep trying to reach the rank of adventurer. Maybe when you get back, I’ll join your group.”

“I’d like that.”

“Me too.”

Ophelia groaned. “This is so boring. Let’s go outside and get our reward. I’m buying all the ice cream in the city afterward.”

Piper turned to Eleni. “Do you think you could give us a moment, please?”

The wayfarer nodded and walked over to the stairs. Halfway up, she ducked to look under the railing. “Don’t take too long, or the mayor will grow annoyed.”

Piper nodded. She waited until Eleni was gone to draw her friend into a tight hug. She held her there for a long time, a tear trickling down her face. “I missed you so much. Are you really alright?”

“I’m great!” Ophelia said, pushing herself back slightly so she could see Piper’s face. “And I’m going to be the best adventurer.”

“They didn’t… hurt you?”

“Nope. I awakened almost the second I got to their manor. And when the nuns took me, they kept me locked in a dungeon the entire time. You have no idea how bored I was!”

“Well, I’m glad you weren’t hurt.” Piper turned to leave. “What were you going to tell me?”

“Oh, I received a celestial class.”

“You what?” Piper cried out. “Are you serious?”

Ophelia nodded proudly. “I’m a Celestial Ravager. I think it’s like a berserker class?”

“We can’t go out there!” Piper exclaimed. “What if someone uses [Identify] on you?”

“Oh… oh, that would be bad. Why not just use your spell to hide it?”

“Because the spell only works on me,” she said with growing exasperation. “I guess I could make an illusion of you...”

“No way.” Ophelia crossed her arms. “I want to get the money myself.”

Piper took a deep breath and cast [Truth Shroud] on herself. She needed to figure out if there was a way to cast it on others as well. Watching the mana weave together intently, she tried to decode the streams of energy.

The seconds ticked by, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before someone came to check on them. She had to figure something out fast.

Casting the spell again, she tried to twist the flow of mana to include Ophelia as well. But the spell resisted, almost as if it wasn’t capable of that. After a few tries, she still accomplished nothing.

The sound of steps coming back down the stairs made her grimace. Eleni popped her head into the room. “What’s the holdup?”

“I’m having some spell trouble,” Piper called back. “I need another minute.”

“Well, hurry up. The mayor’s looking more miffed by the second.”

Piper continued to subtly alter the threads of mana as she repeatedly cast the spell. Finally, after five attempts, with her mana reserves nearly empty, she felt the spell alter just enough to cast on Ophelia.

Congratulations! You have learned the spell, Shroud of the Damned, Level 1.

The deceiver works from the shadows, infiltrating strongholds and sowing discord. This spell allows you to alter the race and level of others.

Piper exhaled with relief at seeing the notification. She’d hoped that she would get an evolution instead of a new spell, but she was happy she could conceal Ophelia’s class. The last thing she wanted was to start another panic after someone spotted a heretic in the city.

Casting [Shroud of the Damned] on Ophelia, the last of her mana drained away. Once she was done, she altered her friend’s class to read:

Human, Level 1

Berserker, Level 1

When she had a chance later, she could find the name of a real class for Ophelia. But for now, it should fool any casual observer. At least she prayed it would.

Taking her friend's hand, she hurried up the stairs and across the main floor of the inn. She burst out of the door to find ranks of guards and adventurers waiting for them. In the middle stood the mayor, looking thoroughly displeased.

“Ah, there you are,” Constantine said. “I was about to present your friends with compensation for the Dawnward Host’s failure to prevent a heretic from kidnapping brave aspirants like yourself.”

The mayor then made a grand show of presenting each of them with a handful of silver coins. After he’d finished, he stepped back and motioned for the guards. Turning on his heel, he strode over to where half a dozen horses were being held by a young boy.

Piper jingled the coins in her hand, wondering how she would reach the mountain town. Would the guild master send for someone to take her there? Or would she have to find her way there on her own?

If she were responsible for navigating, they’d probably end up lost in the mountains forever. Her thoughts were interrupted when Basil appeared in front of her.

“It’s good to see you again,” he said uncomfortably. “I was hoping after you rested, you could rejoin my group. Obviously, you’ll want the night to fully recuperate before we attempt a quest.”

“Are you insane?” she replied, her voice rising slightly. “I would never group up with you again. Not if you offered me 100 gold.”

Basil frowned. “I hardly think that’s warranted. After everything that has happened to us, I doubt we’ll find many willing to take us.”

“Do you not realize that Selene and Althea are dead because of you? You were so reckless with your lives because all you cared about was marrying your stupid girlfriend.”

“You were there as well,” he countered. “Their deaths are on your head as much as mine.”

“You’re probably right,” she replied quietly. “I should have done more to protect them. And I’ll never make the mistake of holding back again.”

“Is that a no on joining my group then?”

Piper simply threw up her hands in frustration and stalked over to Lukas, who was looking around in shock. At her approach, he shied away like an abused animal.

She reached across to rub her arm awkwardly. “Are… you alright?”

“I am,” he said slowly. “What about you?”

Piper shrugged. “I’ll survive.”

“I’m leaving this place,” he said. “Since I don’t think I’ll ever see you again, thank you for saving me.However”

Piper grinned. “You’re welcome.”

Without another word, Lukas marched off, leaving her standing in the street. A moment later, Basil headed after him, muttering under his breath.

Ophelia appeared at her side. “So, what do we do now?”

“I think we should take a nice long rest,” she replied. “A very long rest.”

“But I just got a class! I need to level up.”

“I’m sure there will be some training where we’re going.”

“Oh, where are we going?”

Piper’s eyes widened. “Didn’t you listen to Eleni at all while we were in the cellar?”

“Not really.”

“We’re going to a villa in the mountains,” Piper said with a sigh. “You’ll feel right at home.”

“That sounds amazing. I bet there are lots of slimes up there…”

“No fighting slimes!”

Eleni walked over to them and pointed at an adventurer holding the reins of three horses. “I’ve been instructed to escort you out of the city. Someone will meet you on the outskirts to take you the rest of the way.”

The woman reached into her bag and pulled out two silver rings. “Wear these at all times. They will mask you from augurs and other prying eyes. Even the Ares family won’t be able to find you while you have these on.”

Piper took her from Eleni and slipped it onto her finger. She expected to feel something from the magic, but nothing happened. With a shrug, she held out the other one to Ophelia, but her friend had already raced over to the horse and pulled herself into the saddle.

Once her friend was seated on the horse, she gave Piper a broad grin. “Race you to the bridge?"

“It’s not a race,” she called back, but Ophelia had already spun around and was galloping away.

Eleni frowned as Ophelia nearly ran over an adventurer, who shook his fist in the air. “Is she always like this?”

“You have no idea.”

Still, all the loss and suffering over the past few weeks were momentarily forgotten after being reunited with Ophelai. As long as she had her best friend, she knew that everything would be all right.