“Thank you again for your help,” Naomi answered. “One important thing: If someone feels they can't do what I'm about to ask you to do, they can safely step aside. But I want to tell you all that every one of you is equally important and plays a crucial role to fulfill, regardless of your path and personal successes. Each path was given to us by the gods afterall.” Knights nodded in agreement.” However, if someone decides to step aside, don’t worry. The same blessing could be given by any priest privately later. Also, because it's something from my world, it wouldn’t appear on the path. However, if anyone finds anything, please report it immediately to one of the grand priests. Now let’s begin. The first step is to form pairs or small groups, but no larger than four. Also, choose someone you don’t know. The easiest way is to turn right or left.” Confusion erupted as people tried to fulfill the strange request. “Great, now the hardest but the most important part. You need to reveal your path to the person in front of you.” Gathered people stare at her in silence. “Please believe me. I know it’s hard to do that, especially to a stranger. After all, our path is our entire life, and earning an embarrassing title is quite easy. Not mentioning that people expect us to become grandmasters just like that. I know it’s easy for me to say. Afterall, I’m an envoy of the gods. But, please try. Use this as an opportunity to learn something new, especially if you're stuck with something. And please trust me. If you do that, magic would happen.” Naomi pleaded.

  Slowly, people followed her request. It began with adventurers and knights. Adventurers were used to showing their paths to strangers while looking for partners for parties and expeditions. The knights, however, believed her because Naomi was an envoy of the gods. Sun elves followed them, also having high trust in her. The rest of the random people just followed. A few people stepped aside, but a group of priests immediately approached them to help them. There wasn’t a risk of finding any spy or traitor. They were inside the dungeon, and the law of hospitality would react if someone like that entered. But some titles or just low levels could be seen as embarrassing.

  While the conversations between people continued, Naomi and the grand priests spotted something unexpected.

  “The mana is moving around them. But why. It’s not a true spell.” Pinera whispered.

  “I think it’s because we are in a dungeon. Mana here is much more sensitive. Outside the dungeon, you will need a much bigger gathering to achieve even one tenth of that effect.” Jathur explained.

  “I hope nothing unexpected would happen,” Naomi responded, and the priests agreed.

  After some time, the talks stopped, and people began looking at Naomi with anticipation.

  “Thank you for participating.” She said. “I know that I asked for something unexpected and hard to do. But with time, I believe you would see the effects of this blessing. But there is one more detail. While the ritual was successful, grand priests and I saw mana moving around you, and you can ask mages among you. Mallen, you are a mage? Yes?” Naomi pointed at a halfling in the crowd. He respectfully bowed.

  “I’m indeed, Dungeon Mistress. Thank you for remembering my name. And yes. I indeed saw something, but my knowledge is too low to tell what exactly happened.”

  “Thank you. It’s not easy, but I'm trying to remember as many of you as I can.” Naomi thanked him. The movement of mana was an unexpected boon, and she decided to use it as proof that the false blessing is true. “Ok. Final part. Because we can’t check this blessing in our path,” Some people opened their paths, and indeed they don’t find anything. “We need to make sure it’s there. Thankfully, there is an easy way to ensure that, and there is a bonus of giving that blessing to others, especially to your family or partners.” That piqued their interest. Right now, they expect that after their success, Dungeon Mistress or grand priests would repeat that ritual for others as needed. “It could be a little surprising, but you just need to keep sharing your path with other people. When you go to the market to buy vegetables, when you negotiate with a customer for his order, or when you report your readiness to perform duties to your commander. Do that as frequently as you can. It could be a great opening for some gossiping, or maybe how to start talking to someone you like?” Naomi winked. “Anyway, that’s it. Thank you for your time and help.” Naomi bowed, and people thanked her in various ways.

  The next day, the Arch Priest and an army of priests and inquisitors started working feverishly to copy and send a letter written by Naomi to every town and village, no matter how small. The Grand Inquisitor developed a detailed plan for organizing the public reading of the letter. First, the rumors about the content would be spread. Especially the part that it contains blessings against the followers of twisted gods. The idea was to scare away as many cultists as possible, and when people found only other, ordinary people, it should strengthen their belief in the blessing. Naturally, he ordered holy knights and adventurers to be mixed in with the crowd, just in case there were one or two cultists. In a way, it wouldn't be a bad outcome. It could be seen as another proof that blessing is working, but the safety of citizens was most important. After the herald read the letter, there would be time for the priests. They need to help reinforce belief, and help people who struggle with their lives, and their paths in extension. As the path-sharing ritual spreads, inquisitors will observe and identify those who avoid participating. The harder part was to spread false blessings among the nobility. However, the Arch Priest proclaimed that nobility must attend the official presentation of a letter from the Champion of the Gods. Only serious health problems and frontline duties were accepted excuses. Obviously, the chances of finding some traitors or people with dubious paths were high in that situation. Therefore, such meetings were always attended by many holy knights. To minimize the inevitable chaos associated with the arrest of one or two nobles, before the official gathering, the local high priest would privately share a false blessing with the royal family to ensure that they, at least, were free from corruption.

  Not everything went as smoothly as they planned. People were sometimes more reluctant than expected, and later there would be a few rebellions, thankfully, a small one, and easily squashed. Also, the economy takes a hit in a few places because influential merchants and important citizens would vanish. But local guild masters of merchant guilds and grand forge masters acted immediately to mitigate the negative effects as much as they could. In the future, four years later, the network of cultist spies and followers would be almost eradicated. Regrettably, in big cities, they were still able to find a dump and a forgotten cellar to hide. However, over time, the false blessing will take root, preventing them from acting openly. As predicted, some people started saying that it was all a scheme. However, the lack of any reaction from the clergy, especially the Inquisition, and the fact that people considered them mad, made them give up.

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  All of that would happen in the future. For now, in On taram something different is happening. The first caravan after the battle is about to depart, and with it, some adventurers with whom Naomi grows close.

  “So you finally decided to return?” Naomi asked the tall adventurer.

  “Yes, Dungeon Mistress. I think I take it easy for some time.” Wistram answered. Almost all of his team perished during the battle. Only Unar, their scout, was still alive, recovering from his wounds.

  “Don’t forget to visit your siblings. Or at least send them a letter if you are going in a different direction.” Naomi lectured him.

  “I’m bad with writing words. It will be easier for me go to them. And my hometown is small and cosy, so it should be a good place for taking a break.” He nodded.

  “Good. Remember that you are always welcome. You can return here any time.” She added.

  “And I invite you, Dungeon Mistress, to find me if you would be passing by.” Wistram laughed.

  “I will definitely do that. It will take me a few years, so you should have enough time to do a few stupid things. Maybe even you will get a title.”

  “I definitely would have a few good stories by then,” He answered. Despite his smile, the battle shook him badly. The loss of friends from the team and how close he himself was to dying make him realize his mortality. Until now, he had everything under control. He carefully chose his opponents and was able to properly prepare before any challenge. Despite that, Wistram wasn’t a coward and many times charged forward and took dangerous quests when needed. He many times ended up injured, a few times badly, however alweys he was sure he would survive. But not this time. Only the miraculous intervention of the Dungeon Mistress saved his life, and many others.

  There were also people with opposite feelings like him.

  “Morlan, can I take some of your time?” Naomi approached the elf warrior.

  “Always Dungeon Mistress.” He bowed respectfully.

  “How do you feel?”

  “Calmer, but I made up my mind. I don’t want to be disrespectful, Dungeon Mistress, so please don’t try to convince me to change my mind.”

  “Understood. I wanted to do that, indeed, but instead, I had a request for you.”

  “Request, Dungeon Mistress?”

  “Nothing big. Just something to think over during the journey until you reach your destination. Twisted gods through cultists want all of us dead. You are not half bad, so you would catch many cultists on your path of revenge, but our mana and stamina are finite. And when even one of them dries out…” Naomi didn’t finish.

  “I’m aware of that, Dungeon Mistress. And I’m ready for that too.”

  “Yes, I’m sure of that. But there is a catch in all of that. Cultists are slaves of twisted gods, disposable tools for them. The best you could achieve is slowing down their plans. So why not try to spoil their plans instead?”

  “Spoil?” It did catch Morlan's interest.

  “Spoil.” Naomi. “By revealing their plots, hiding places, and so on. It would be harder to do compared to just charging head-on into the battle, but imagine the damage you can inflict.”

  “That is very tempting, Dungeon Mistress.” Elven Mage agrees.

  “Good. Think about that for some time. I hope that we can see each other in a few years when I start traveling.”

  “I promise to think about it.” Elven mage boved.

  There were also sun elves ready to move out.

  “What a shame you can’t stay for some time more.” Naomi looked sadly at King Alduin.

  “I also regret that, but the attack of the grand lich shows us that we need to strengthen our border patrols. We also need to see how we can retaliate for that provocation. We cannot leave it unanswered. And all of that meant a lot of traveling for a while. But don’t worry. More of my warriors are heading here as we speak. While most of them are young, your dungeon would help them grow.”

  “I promise to take good care of them,” Naomi answered. “And you, Itylara?”

  “The same is for me, and any other head of one of the families.” She answered.

  “But what about you?”

  “Oh,” Itylara realizes what Naomi is asking. “Don’t worry. I’m pregnant, not mortally wounded.” She laughed. “Also, we believe that it’s a good fortune for the child to be born on the sands of the great desert.”

  “I was looking forward to welcoming your child as an aunt. Well, future aunt.” Naomi corrected herself.

  “I promise to arrange a route to visit you within a year,” Itylara promised.

  “Until you and the child are healthy, I would be happy enough. So don’t push yourself too much.”

  “I promise.”

  “I also wanted to present you, Commander Sallanis. He and his men are the first team of riflemen.” King Alduin presented a sun elf warrior standing a little to the side. He was carrying typical leather armor of sun elves, but instead of a traditional spear, he was armed with a sword and a rifle. His team counts only ten people, and only five of them have guns. And they also they own banner showing they are serving the Dungeon Mistress. It was the same pattern like golem elephants had painted on their heads. It was a tower placed over the gear and crossed rifles over the shield. And the trim was golden, as any banner that represents Naomi, or people serving under her orders.

  “Commander, I see you and your men also get ready,” Naomi spoke.

  “As much as we could, Dungeon Mistress.” He bowed. “Regretably, time isn’t on our side.”

  “Regretably.” Naomi agreed. They were in public, and while people around were loyal, however, adventurers get talkative after a few ales, so they couldn’t discuss their plans openly. “Commander, before you depart, I have a request.”

  “I swerve to fulfill it to the best of my abilities.” He bowed.

  “I’m sure of it. However, please prioritize your own and your warriors' lives. And about my request. Like everyone know I’m against bloodshed, but regrettably twisted gods aren’t, which forces us to spill the blood of the cultists. That’s why I want to ask you and your men to try to end their lives swiftly and without unnecessary cruelty.”

  Commander and King Alduin paused for the moment, surprised by her request. Dungeon Mistress was against bloodshed afterall. But then Alduin understood. An answer was in how she ended her request. ‘Without unnecessary cruelty.’ She still cares about others' lives, even cultists who were beyond saving.

  “Rest assured, Dungeon Mistress.” The elven king spoke. “Your wish aligns with our own to end this war swiftly and decisively. We will concentrate on that and let the gods judge their souls.

  “A yes, now I see it too.” Commander nodded.

  “Thankyou. I know it could be unreasonable for me to ask you to do that, but I just needed to do that. However, you all should prioritize your own safety. I want to see you all back in the future.”

  “I promise to return as soon it’s possible.” Alduin gently spoke to her to lessen her worries.