Meanwhile, in the oasis, people work day and night for the first three days. Healers take care of the wounded, warriors, making sure all undead are destroyed, and priests with mages check the battlefield for every remnant of miasma. The funeral pyres were constructed for the fallen and the cultists. Fire was the only way to ensure that someone's body wouldn't be used to create a zombie, and to try to cleanse the influence of twisted gods from the cultists' souls.

  Some time ago, Naomi added Paoli and Lisusa to the group of people who are allowed to enter her core chamber. Until now, they have never gone there, except the first time when she invited them. Now, however, with Grand Priestess Pinera and Lady Itylara, they checked every few hours on Naomi's presence. All grand priests were worried about her mental state. She never witnessed the brutal reality of real war, and Dungeon Mistress even killed someone with her own hands. And everyone knows how she reacts when someone dies in her halls, so this time, she could be in a bad state even after the help of the gods.

  On the third day, after she visited the core room, Paoli approached Grand Priestess Pinera.

  “Grand Priestess. Can I have a moment to speak privately?”

  “Yes. Give me a moment, please.” The elven priestess finished checking the wounded warrior, and then both of them went to the side to talk.

  “Is Dungeon Mistress back?”

  “No priestess.” Paoli shakes her head. “But I think her soul stone is changing.”

  “How?” Pinera asked, dreading to hear the answer.

  “The colour looks somehow golden. It’s bright, so it's hard to tell.”

  “Golden?” Pinera blinked, surprised. She expected a diminishing of brightness, maybe even some dark spots, but not that. “Let’s go. I need to confirm that.”

  Both went down, and Grand Priestess agreed with her.

  “There is a golden aura around the soul stone. But what does it mean?” She mused for the moment.

  “Maybe it’s something like what happened with Lord Bernull?” Paoli suggested. “After his heroic deed, he was recognised by the gods and his crest became golden.”

  “I don’t know. And I don’t think that banners of the Dungeon Mistress changed.” Pinera mused. “We need to wait for Dungeon Mistress to confirm what’s happening. I will speak with the rest of the leadership, and you will warn Lady Iltara and Lisusa about changes. For now, we will keep it secret.”

  “Understood,” Paoli answered.

  Grand Priest Serator agreed that they needed to wait for Dungeon Mistress. However, on the fifth day, the banners also get golden trim. The findings caused an uproar in the oasis, and people's imaginations went wild.

  The grand priests needed to step in and ordered to wait for the return of the Dungeon Mistress. However, the Grand Merchant Venancijs couldn’t hide a banner, and the citizens of the city of Formia, capital of the Exeven Kingdom, where an auction of golem toys was planned, saw it too. Thankfully, he had his own magic radio, so he instantly contacted the oasis to know what happened. He only confirmed the phenomenon and the continued absence of the Dungeon Mistress. Priests and heralds were sent to calm down the citizens, but it did not help at all. Despite the details being kept secret, news of a marching army of undead spread. On the seventh day, Naomi finally returned, and it was Itylara who met her first.

  “Dungeon Mistress! You are back.” She shouted and ran to Naomi.

  “I told you, you can call me by name when we're alone,” Naomi answered. She smiled for a moment, then she became serious again. “How does it look outside?”

  “It’s safe, and battalfied is cleared. Scouts didn’t find anything suspicious, but for some time, guards will be doubled. We were mostly concerned with your health.”

  “Yes, it was bad. But talking with all those people and gods helped. Anyway, please help me with chests, I need to give them the Grand Priest Jathur.” Naomi answered and pointed at five chests, three of which were big and two smaller ones.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  When she appeared on the surface, people dropped whatever they were doing and ran to see her. King Alduin even hugged her, despite being in public. Naomi, while waiting for everyone to gather and calm down, smiled a little and repeated that she was fine, but it was a weak smile. Not her usual cheerful, broad smile whenever she was talking to someone.

  When all the grand priests gathered, people stopped talking and instead started waiting in anticipation.

  “How do you feel, Dungeon Mistress?” Minotaur priest asked.

  “Like I said. I’m fine. It will take some time before I truly calm down, but the worst is behind me. Accepting that my creation can kill someone is one thing, but to kill someone with my own hands is a much different thing.”

  “I think it’s my fault. I probably didn't stress that enough while training with you.” Lady Itylara spoke.

  “No. You and Paoli were telling that many times. It’s just my overconfidence that causes that. This is the middle of the desert, and I have this dungeon around me. There was no chance for me to fight with anyone. And yet it happened.”

  “We were overconfident, too.” King Alduin stepped forward. “I can see now that we were negligent with our duties to protect our home and you, Dungeon Mistress. I want to apologize to you officially.”

  “And tell me, King Alduin, how you intended to stop a whole army of undead with a handful of warriors patrolling the border. Sun elves or not, you need an army to fight against an army. You and your people have not allowed any cultists or zombies to enter my dungeon, so your duty is fulfilled.” Naomi answered.

  “Thank you, Dungeon Mistress.” King bowed his head.

  “Dungeon Mistress, I’m glad to see you in good health, and there is no doubt that the gods will make sure of that. However, I need to ask you to show us your path.” Jathur spoke again.

  “Is that necessary?” Naomi's shoulder slumped. “I don’t want to see some stupid title for killing a lich, no matter how justified it was.”

  “I understood your reluctance, Dungeon Mistress. However, during your absence, there were some events that we believe are tied to you. And your path could help us understand them.”

  “That sounds ominous,” Naomi answered. Then she takes a deep breath. “Sooner or later, I will need to take a look at my path.” And she summoned it. She was instantly bathed in golden light, and people around the world saw a golden aurora. The crowd gathered in the oasis knelt.

  “That is exactly why I didn’t want to look at my path,” Naomi muttered, and read the description of her new title.

  ‘Champion of the gods. When all hope is lost, you are stepping forward. You are willing to risk everything you have and face the most powerful people and beings. But you are not doing that for fame and glory, but out of compassion. You don’t want to see how others suffer. But your compassion goes beyond just making you brave. It can ignite a spark of hope in hearts lost in darkness and despair.’

  Naomi heavily sighed.

  “Dungeon Mistress, can I see it?” The Grand Priest of the Sun asked with a voice full of reverence.

  “Yes,” Naomi answered. “But it’s a mix of gibberish and exaggerations.”

  Jathur smiled. Dungeon Mistress reacted exactly like Lord Bernull when he learn that he was given the same title. According to the stories, his words were: ”This is bullshit.”

  After reading the description, he smiled gently at Naomi. It was a very appropriate description.

  “People of On Taram!” He announced. “By the gods' decree, Dungeon Mistress now become their champion. In times of despair, she stepped forward and brought us hope back. Follow her example and be the light for those who get lost in the darkness.” He gestured toward Naomi.

  “Oh, right. I probably should say something too.” Naomi realized. “So, first thing, everyone, stand up. You know what I think about kneeling.” All gathered stood up immediately, their gaze focused on her. “Ok. Let’s make things clear. I don’t deserve that title. I don’t want it. It was an accident. I didn’t plan to kill her. And I wasn’t risking my life contrary to all of you. If anyone should have it, it would be one of you, if not all of you.”

  “Dungeon Mistress, you are seriously mistaken. You are worthy of such a title much more than any of us.” Minotaur Grand Priest smiled gently.

  “Mistaken? How?”

  “Contrary to us, you didn’t need to fight. No one, even gods, was expecting that from you. There wasn’t a way for you to fight, except fighting those who enter your halls. And yet, you found a way. You built a golem to stand with us, and when the darkness was about engulf us all, you did not hesitate. We were fighting because we had no choice. You didn't have to, but you chose to fight with us anyway.”

  Naomi looked at him for a moment, then hung her head and answered quietly, but still audible enough for people to hear her.

  “That was a shity choice. To hide and pretend everything was all right. Or I could stand on my walls and shout, ‘You can do it!’ Right, what a great choice.”

  Her words caused an eruption of cheers and shouts of encouragement. The whole commotion took some time to calm down, because people in front needed repeat her words to those standing further away. Naomi stood in the middle, deep red with embarrassment.

  “Thank you.” She said when the commotion died down. “I don’t know what I would do without you all. Oh, and I don’t forget my promise. I invite everyone to a feast tonight. All on me.”

  A new way of shouts and cheers erupted. Naomi waved and turned to the grand priests and guild leaders.

  “We need to talk a lot.” Her face was serious.