For the next few weeks, I spent most of my days at the temple, helping out where I could, whilst learning how to use my new Skills. Much of it was quite intuitive.

  For example, [Lesser Domain Of Light] implied it would function similarly to [Aura Of Light]. And when I tested it, that was exactly what it did. Except, the range of the spell was much wider, and I was actually able to pick and choose who I wanted to heal, instead of just healing everyone within the bubble.

  Whenever there was a large queue of sick or injured people coming to the temple, I would just use [Lesser Domain Of Light] to deal with them all at once, rather than wasting time healing them individually.

  Speaking of— [Healing Touch] simply became [Heal], which meant that I now no longer had to touch people to heal them. However, that didn’t mean I could use [Heal] on them over a great distance. I had to be at least a foot away from them to heal them, and I still had to point my hands in their general direction.

  It wasn’t a major difference. But it was a minor upgrade at least.

  Then there was also [Basic Light Magic Control] and [Boon Of Vitality]. The latter, as I suspected after testing it on Hannah, simply gave a target of my choice a boost to their [Vitality] Attribute. On the other hand, [Basic Light Magic Control] took a while for me to figure out. Not because it was an enigmatic Skill that was difficult to decipher— the implications of its name were clear enough.

  However, I wasn’t capable of casting any light magic spells. Perhaps I could copy someone else’s spell if I studied it long enough. But I could already do that, without the aid of [Basic Light Magic Control].

  After a few days of experimenting, I finally figured out that [Basic Light Magic Control] was related to my other Skills like [Lesser Domain Of Light] and [Sacred Flame]. I could make alterations to my other Skills depending on the situation if necessary. They weren’t significant changes— instead, it was like being able to give shape to my [Sacred Flame] or create barriers within my [Lesser Domain Of Light].

  It was nothing extreme. But it was very helpful, considering I was quite unfamiliar with casting any spell that wasn’t related to death magic or its sub-types in the first place.

  Lastly, I had also gained the Title Skill [Basic Blessing Of Life]. It wasn’t anything special— it gave a small boost to all Attributes to any target of my choice. Although, unlike [Boon Of Vitality], I could actually cast it on myself too.

  After I figured out how all my Skills worked, I took advantage of the time I could spend at the temple and read up on the books they had there, all the while asking Reverend Donovan a few questions about the Church and the Artifacts or Avatars of Death.

  Although… I didn’t learn much on the latter front, beyond a few additional details I hadn’t known before.

  “The Avatars of Death are these mysterious but powerful monsters that carry the essence of the Death God with them that have been appearing across Parvos ever since the Lady of Light slew Nox the Death God at the final battle of the War of Fate ten years ago,” the [Priest] had explained. “We do not know how to stop their appearances, and all we know about them is that their deaths bring about the scattering of these dangerous weapons called the Artifacts of Death across the land.”

  “What do you mean by ‘essence of the Death God’?” I had pressed Donovan further.

  But he hadn’t been able to answer the question.

  “Fortunately, I have yet to encounter one of these Avatars of Death,” came his reply. “After all, if one appeared here in Velmond, the city would cease to exist…”

  At the very least, I found out that the Avatars of Death were extremely powerful. But the fact that their existence was blamed on me was… well, I wasn’t going to reject the blame for it just yet. It was entirely possible they came about because of what I had done to alter my reincarnation process.

  But if it was my fault, it wasn’t my intention.

  And I wasn’t even sure how to stop them from just randomly appearing like they apparently did.

  At the very least, it sounded like their appearances were quite rare. Which was fortuitous, because they were supposedly extremely powerful and dangerous, that even entire teams of Inquisitors had been wiped out whilst trying to deal with them.

  And while I had leveled up a few times from healing folks and testing my Skills, I wasn’t even halfway to Silver just yet.

  *ding!*

  You have reached Level 6!

  +2 [Strength]

  +1 Free Point

  *ding!*

  You have reached Level 7!

  +1 [Speed]

  +1 Free Point

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  *ding!*

  You have reached Level 8!

  +1 [Magic]

  +1 Free Point

  Other than spending time at the temple, I occasionally met up with Nicky too— just to check up on her progress of rebuilding the Blood Swords. It was going relatively well. The Blood Swords was officially up to twenty members, thanks to recruiting mostly former members who quit because of Nicholas’s leadership.

  However, while they were all made aware of my existence, they weren’t told that I was the Death God, and they had only ever met me once, while I was wearing my mask and heels to disguise my true identity from them.

  Beyond that, they knew nothing about me. Not even my name. They just knew me as the boss, and that was it.

  But they were happy to be left alone to do what they did under their previous leader, all the while getting paid good money. And all I needed was a nice recurring source of income from the Blood Swords, whilst also having access to their connections.

  Everything else, I left up to Nicky’s volition. She was the one who was now in charge of dealing with Lord Alistair too— I made that much clear to him when I paid him another visit during a chilly night over the weekend.

  And today, I was going to head over to the temple once again. I left first thing in the morning, right after having breakfast. Hannah was helping deal with my share of the chores in the orphanage while I was spending most of my time out.

  But apparently, she was already used to it, because that was what she did when Eli used to sneak off to steal or whatever he did.

  “You’re heading out for the temple again?” Ms Mary blinked at me as I pushed the door to the orphanage open.

  “That’s right,” I said as I nodded back at her. “Donovan told me there was something important he wanted to speak to me about today, and I don’t want to keep him waiting.”

  “I understand that. But…” The middle-aged woman looked me up and down, before she continued. “You’ve really grown a lot recently, huh?”

  I scratched the back of my head as I started out the doorway. “Well, I guess you can thank my Class for it.”

  And with that, I left the orphanage behind once again. I made a beeline straight for the temple, although I was stopped a handful of times by passersby who recognized me as the city’s local [Healer].

  Ordinarily, I would stop and make short conversation with them. But today, I was in a rush. Or rather, I was quite excited for the news I was about to hear. Because even though Reverend Donovan didn’t mention a word about it to me, I knew exactly what it was that he wanted to speak to me about.

  ***

  “The boy is here, Reverend,” a voice said, drawing Donovan’s to the entrance to the room.

  The [Priest] was kneeling before a small altar to a heart-shaped stone statue placed at the corner of his bedroom. And at the doorway stood Sister Frida— the other [Nun] who was working at the temple alongside Sister Elia.

  Compared to Elia, Frida was much younger, looking to be in her mid-twenties at most. She had come from the capital nearly ten years ago, and since then, Donovan still had yet to learn much about her. She did her duties without complaining, nor did she ever ask for much. Which made her quite standoffish.

  But her appearance came as a boon to the temple, because this was during the time the city began to cut funding to them. So most of the other [Nuns] who were working here left to work in other cities due to the poor conditions of the temple. Even Elia had wanted to leave a few times, choosing only to stay because she had worked in this city for decades.

  And yet, Frida never complained once.

  Donovan hadn’t known why she chose to come to a small city like Velmond. However, as long as she didn’t show a desire to share anything about herself, he would respect her privacy and ask her no questions either.

  “Shall I bring the boy here?” Frida continued, bowing her head to the [Priest].

  But Reverend Donovan just shook his head as he rose from the altar. “There’s no need. Just tell Eli I’ll be out in a minute.”

  “Yes, Reverend.” And with that, Frida excused herself.

  The [Priest] took in a deep breath and walked over to his desk at the other corner of the room. He pulled open a drawer and produced a letter he had received just this morning. But it had been a letter he had been expecting to receive since three days ago.

  It came from the Capital of the Sanctus Empire— or rather, it came from the Grand Temple of Light itself.

  Donovan had been in communication with Archdeacon Emmett— his former mentor— for the last few weeks, regaling everything that Eli had done as a [Healer]. And together, the both of them had come to a common theory about the boy’s origin.

  After all, it was not just a rarity for a child to have a Class, but to also be as capable at his age? It was beyond prodigious. There had to be something more to it. No random boy would be able to find a cure to the Blight when even the greatest [Healers] and [Alchemists] of the Sanctus Empire could not. There had to be something that could explain his incredible talents.

  And both Donovan and his former mentor came to an agreement as to what this was.

  Donovan drew back from his desk, carrying the letter in his hand. He took in a deep breath as he started down the steps, heading towards the main hall of the temple. As of right now, it was just a theory. And it was not even something that the [Priest] could ask the boy.

  So as much as Donovan would have liked to keep Eli around and helping out with the temple, it wasn’t even necessary any longer. Thanks to the recent resumption of funding by the Lord of Velmond, a [Deacon] and another [Nun] would be sent to help out to help out around here, since their presence could actually be afforded.

  Besides, it would be selfish of Donovan to want to keep the boy in such a small city. After all, if both Donovan and Archdeacon Emmett were right, then Eli was destined for something far greater than they could ever imagine.

  Donovan steeled himself as he tightly clutched onto the letter when he saw the boy standing by one of the pews at the main hall of the temple.

  That’s right, you have to be… Donovan thought as Eli spotted the [Priest].

  The two of them exchanged cordial greetings as usual, asking about their days. Nothing important. Until—

  “So, what did you need me here for today anyway?” Eli asked, peering curiously at the Reverend.

  And Donovan knew his instincts were right. There was no other explanation. The boy was—

  The Heir of the Lady Of Light.

  Donovan took in a deep breath as met the boy’s gaze. “Tell me, Eli…” the [Priest] started.

  You who are the [Hero] anointed by the Goddess of Life, the afterthought came in Donovan’s mind as he looked deep into Eli’s black eyes, before finishing his question.

  “What do you think of enrolling into the Holy Academy of the Church of Life?”

  That was right. Donovan was certain. Emmett believed it too. Eli had to be the next [Hero] who would slay the Death God.

  And in response to the question, the boy’s lips curled up into a smile.