"Life has a strange way of making things interesting." ~Apple, when she could still speak

The three stared at the box.

"Do we open it?" Valor'el asked.

Shallies and Apple stared at him, like he had said something weird. Not exactly disgusting, but something surprising and uncharacteristic.

"We've been looking at it for a while," the seraph said, defending himself instinctively.

"I've been trying to open it for a while," Shallies explained. "It's locked."

"I don't see any lock," Valor'el mused aloud. He quickly followed up his statement. "Must be magical, then."

"Question now, is how to open it?"

Shallies Scanned the box and found nothing except for an existing Conditional Seal Magic Skill around it. She observed the seraph do likewise and find the same thing.

It was a high-level Spell, most likely cast by Catelyn herself. This meant that brute force would risk its contents. Even if Shallies could break through it, there was no telling if she could guarantee leaving what was inside unscathed.

It was clearly a challenge left for them by the Biomekeeper. She had known Shallies well enough to understand her intentions.

"Alright," Valor'el began, analyzing the situation. "Conditional Seal. The new question is, what's the condition?"

Shallies smiled and pointed to Apple. The teacup fairy tilted her head and pointed to herself, expressing her confused question.

"The box didn't open with my touch," Shallies explained. "So I'm pretty sure it'll open with yours."

"That sounds almost too simple," Valor'el interjected.

"Catelyn made extremely easy riddles that most people overcomplicated on their own. They usually missed the simplest of answers. So let's start with that."

Apple shrugged and approached the box, holding it with two small hands. The container stayed there without any changes.

"It was worth a shot, I guess?" the seraph mused.

"Run your mana through it," Shallies suggested.

When Apple did so, the box was immediately split in half, spilling its contents within. An envelope and five folded pieces of paper.

The envelope had the name, 'Bernadette', which was Shallies' first name and the one she used whenever assuming the role of Godkiller. It was clearly intended for her. She picked it up and retrieved the letter within.

She recognized Catelyn's handwriting almost immediately. She turned and read it for herself, ignoring the other two. They gave her space and waited.

Dear Bernadette,

Or is it Shallies now?

How are you? Since we parted ways, you never wrote me a letter, so I don't know where to send you one. As always, Stachie's blocking me, and everyone I asked couldn't reach you either. We know you're still alive because, well… We just know.

If you're reading this, I'm probably already long dead. I've had a good life, made friends as soon as I got home from the Divine War. So don't feel bad for me.

You're also probably trying to take a break. Finally! Do you know how much Valor'el and Phey'lan complain whenever they visit me? Or whenever I contact them? They keep telling me you're still adventuring or delving into high-level dungeons or climbing elite towers on your own. You don't even bother bringing Apple sometimes.

Poor Apple!

Since you were able to open the box, please pass my utmost respect to my teacher. Let's be honest, she taught me more than you did without uttering a single word. Knowing you, though, I'm sure you're proud of that fact.

I wrote this letter just because. I've no idea if you'll even get to read it. I'm betting on the fact that if you do decide on living my dream, you'll see the state of the kitchen and get it renovated. Then I'm hoping whoever finds this box gives it to you. I'm pretty sure they won't be able to open it anyway.

Like I said earlier, I just want you to know that I lived a fulfilled life. I came back to this house, made it a little more pleasant than the first time you saw it, and made sure some people would recognize this place. It's the only way I could think of to help the tavern.

Why didn't I do it myself, you ask? Not that you're actually asking it, I just thought you might want to know. It's because I prefer your cooking to my own. I have a bunch of recipes attached to this letter. They're not yet perfect, but I'm sure you know what to do to make them menu-worthy.

I imagine from time to time, looking at this place and seeing you run a small tavern. I imagine you in cute work clothes, cooking and chatting with your guests. I imagine you listening to their troubles, giving them advice or outright providing them your help.

That's what I like most about you, Bernadette. And I know you'll never change that part of you. I know you'll help those in need, no matter how small or trivial it might be for someone like you.

Anyway, I'm just rambling on now. Old age. You know how it is. If you're actually here, reading this, I'm sure you know where to find my final resting place. Give me a visit sometime. I won't be going anywhere.

And I hope you enjoy your break! Don't forget to take it easy. See you around.

Lots of love, Catelyn Nivan

Shallies wiped her eyes before turning back to Valor'el and Apple. They didn't say anything about her obviously strained eyes, or the drips of tears on the letter when she gave it to them.

While they read, she looked up the recipes. They were decent enough to spark the mentor mentality within her.

Decent, even for a person who had passed away, wouldn't have cut it if Shallies was being honest. She would've pushed Catelyn into improving the recipe, even though making recipes and cooking wasn't what had made the Biomekeeper her apprentice. Apple's apprentice, but at this point, she might as well have been her own.

Shallies, still in tears, quietly scolded herself for not giving the dead a break. Catelyn left these for her to perfect, not to get critiqued for.

But they're utterly mediocre…

The teacher wept, not caring if her companions saw her. She took the decent recipes and held them onto her bosom, as if embracing the person that had written them.

Apple, feeling the same emotions, gave her Soul Confidant a hug. Valor'el poured some tea, and passed it to her.

"Miss Yor'ylin said they could finish the rest of the kitchen on their own," he started. "I'll still help dig the cellar, so if you wish, you and Apple can visit Catelyn tomorrow."

Shallies mildly shook her head and placed Apple on her shoulder. "We can't go there until I have a successful tavern. She'll laugh at me."

Of course, it was a metaphorical statement. She simply didn't want to feel lacking towards her promise the next time she saw Catelyn.

Apple curiously pointed towards the recipes, which Shallies showed to everyone. The two read them and tilted their heads in confusion.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Isn't this…?" Valor'el pondered, unsure of which word to choose. "Lacking?"

"She skipped a lot of steps in most of them, and even forgot some essential ingredients," Shallies explained. "But nothing we can't fix."

"What's a cowblink?" he asked, studying one of the recipes a little closer. It was named, Cowblink Tail Peanut Sauce Stew.

"It's a special species of cow. They blink in and out of reality, mostly out of their own whims. Their tails are pretty special. You don't have to butcher the entire cow, just harvest the tails with any sort of numbing process. When the cowblink blinks back into reality, they'll have a new tail."

"That sounds like an infinite amount of tail!"

"Well, it depends," Shallies took the recipes and the letter and stored them into her Class Inventory, within a personal space that she knew she could access easily even without Stachie's help.

"For them, blinking requires a certain amount of energy. They don't do it often, so the caretakers have to study each cow individually and be familiar with their behaviors to cut their tails on time before they blink. You can't just preemptively cut them either, because a cow without a tail leads to irritation and skin issues, which in turn, results in less desirable tails and overall meat and other produce."

"Oh, that seems a little more complicated than I had thought." Valor'el pondered in earnest. "But if it's something people normally take care of, my own people can probably learn it."

"You have Farmers in Avel Paradise?"

The seraph nodded. "Not everyone had a second Class during the Divine War. When we were given our seclusion, most of those who didn't have a second Class took Professions. Some of our Farmers can influence the land now, resulting in easier planting cycles and larger yields. I bet, with some instructions and notes, they can take care of these cowblinks."

"We'll try if anyone has any that they're willing to part with. Cowblinks are pretty expensive. Not just to purchase, but to take care of as well."

Shallies finished her tea and stood, signaling to everyone that it was time for bed.

"I'll check on Arun'dul before heading to bed," said Valor'el. He started for the stairs before a knock came from the front door.

The three looked at each other, wondering who would be visiting at such a late hour. Apple shrugged and opened the door.

"I'm back!" Grace shouted in a celebratory pose. With the teacup fairy's permission, the half-orc giddily went inside.

"Welcome back," Shallies said. "I didn't expect you to visit until tomorrow. Actually, we were planning to visit you instead."

"Welcome back, Miss Grace," Valor'el said with a bow. "You'll have to excuse me, however. I must check on Arun'dul for now."

Shallies directed Grace to one of the tables, while Apple brewed more tea. Their teamwork was fluid, requiring no words.

"Arun'dul's still here?" Grace asked.

"Yeah, he's in a coma," Shallies replied. "Something wrong?"

The half-orc shook her head. "I should've expected that when I saw Valor'el."

"Nevermind that. How are you?"

"Great!" Grace beamed at the interest. "We submitted our successful quest, and I got another level! I'm Level 13 now!"

"That's good," Shallies said, nodding along. "What about Marisa and Ben?"

The half-orc turned solemn at the question.

"When they woke up, they didn't remember much, and I didn't have to make up excuses. I just told them I found them somewhere near camp and that whatever we saw went deeper into the dungeon. They didn't ask much after that and just helped me continue surveying the outer region. I think the fear got to them, but they pushed through it because they know how important this is for me."

"I'm glad to know it worked out fine," Shallies confirmed, sighing with relief. She declined Apple's offer for tea, but insisted that Grace have a cup. "What's your plan now?"

"I…" Grace hesitated. "I have a request."

"You're not going to ask to be my student, are you?" Shallies guessed, half-joking. The half-orc's surprised reaction confirmed that she hit the nail on the head.

"How did you know?" Grace asked, eyes glittering with admiration.

"Experience," Shallies replied. "This isn't the first time someone asked me to be their teacher after finding out who I really am."

"Oh…" Grace scratched her head. "I thought I was the only one."

"What did you assume?"

"I thought the others would be too shy to ask you, or too scared. I thought you just chose your apprentices. So I figured I'd ask and try to make a good impression."

Apple's laugh chimed like a small bell. She was listening to them while taking a dip in her own teacup.

"What's so funny about that?"

"No adventurer in their right mind would back away from an opportunity to be my student," Shallies explained. "Contrary to your belief, one of the reasons I hide my identity is exactly because of how adventurers like you would react."

"Oh…" Grace's beaming smile disappeared. "I guess that's a no, then?"

"I don't outright decline the requests," Shallies said. "I give them an interview, and then I give them a trial. I believe anyone who asks deserves a chance. Regardless of how you found out who I am, it's part of your luck, your destiny, to have found me. So, my answer is 'not yet'. Not until you pass my requirements."

Valor'el descended from the stairs. His face indicated he already had an idea of what was happening.

"Did she ask?"

"Just now," Shallies confirmed.

"Mind if I observe?"

The semi-retired Godkiller shrugged and passed the question to Grace.

"Why? What's there to observe?"

"Your answers," Valor'el replied. "As a potential fellow pupil, I would like to know more about you as well."

"Fellow?"

"Obviously, I am one of Lady Shallies' students."

"I technically don't teach him anything anymore," Shallies interjected. "But a pupil's always a pupil. That's one of the important things you have to accept."

Grace tilted her head. "Isn't that normal? Why give it such importance?"

Shallies looked at Valor'el who simply shrugged back at her. She felt like the interview was going both directions. She didn't mind.

"Power has a way to corrupt the undisciplined and the over-righteous. It doesn't matter what direction you're coming from. If you're unable to control yourself, one way or another, you're going to betray me."

"I'll never betray you!" Grace said, looking hurt.

"That's what everyone says the first time."

The half-orc passed a look towards Valor'el. Again, the seraph simply shrugged.

"People who undergo Lady Shallies' instructions become incredibly powerful and influential people. That is to say, some of them let those things go to their heads. Godkiller is a desirable title after all. They meet a bitter reality when they realize how wrong they are."

"What did you do to them?"

"What else does a Godkiller do?" Shallies kept her expressions blank.

Grace covered her aghast face with both hands. "I see…"

Shallies allowed for that implication to sink in. Valor'el kept himself distant, simply observing them. Apple was too relaxed to care.

"How many?" the half-orc asked. "How many of your own students did you kill?"

"Three," Shallies replied.

"Out of?"

"Twelve-thousand, four hundred, and ninety."

"Oh," Grace said, blinking. "That doesn't seem too many."

"I wouldn't be much of a teacher, if the case was the opposite." Shallies looked down towards Apple, patting the fairy's head. "It hurts all the same, you know? I may not have a biological child, but I treat every student as if they're my own."

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine." This time, Shallies smiled. "You need to know what you're signing up for."

"Did they all become Favored Classes?" Grace asked, trying to move the subject to a less tragic tone. "Your students, I mean."

"Yes," Shallies replied, gesturing over to Valor'el. "They do, eventually. Even the previous owner of this house became a Favored Class holder."

Grace blinked at that. She stood and almost shouted. "Catelyn was your student?"

Shallies gestured for her to calm down and sit. The half-orc did as told.

"I figured since you're interested, I'd let you in on that little tidbit."

"So her stories about the Divine War were real…"

"All my students must participate during a Divine War," Shallies said, not skipping a beat. She looked Grace in the eye. "That'll be your responsibility too, if you become my student. Of course, I'll only let you in if you ascend to Favored Class."

"I'll do my best!"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Shallies reminded her. "You have a trial to pass, remember? There's also the concern that I'm actually on vacation."

"On vacation?"

"Lady Shallies has never stopped adventuring until she decided to open a tavern," Valor'el answered this time. "Never. Since becoming a Godkiller."

"Not once," Shallies added. "The only reason I'm here is because I want to fulfill a promise to Catelyn."

Grace's sudden wide-eyed expression obviously showed that she was able to put two and two together. "So that's why you want to open a tavern!"

"And that's where the complication comes from," Shallies said, appreciating how quick-minded the half-orc was. "While I can teach you and provide you with the highest benefits a mentor could provide, I'll only rarely join you in your quests."

"That's what I expected in the first place!" Grace smiled. "I want to be strong enough that I can fight on my own."

"Dungeon delves are rarely done on your own," Valor'el interjected. "You need a proper party. Not to mention raids."

"I know that," said the half-orc, her eyes never left Shallies. "But I want to be strong. Really strong."

"The last person who wanted to be as strong as I am, ended up hating me, because they could never reach that strength."

"That's not my goal, Lady Sha—"

"Drop the Lady. You're used to calling me just Shallies before."

"Alright. That's not my goal, Shallies. Having a party or a raid group is fine by me. I won't deny teamwork. I won't decline help. But I still want to be able to stand on my own without depending on them. Even if that's not soon, then someday."

Shallies understood. The lone-wolf mindset, but a rather tame and flexible one. A result of never having gotten enough interactions with her peers. Grace had a desire to prove herself, but not overbearingly so. And most importantly, she presented it in a positive manner. There was no need to change her mindset.

"Alright," the semi-retired Godkiller said finally. "Rest for a week, then come back here. I'll give you your test. But you have to remember our number one rule."

"What rule?" Grace stammered, caught in between a celebratory pose and a confused look.

"Never tell anyone who I really am." Shallies leaned forwards, her eyes never leaving the half-orc. "Understand?"

Grace straightened herself. "With my life and honor, Shallies. I'll protect your secret."

The half-orc finished her tea and left, skipping merrily on the road. When Shallies closed the door, Valor'el was staring at her.

"You don't expect her to pass," Shallies said, implying her question.

"It's normal to think that, Lady Shallies," he replied. "Those that pass your tests are never normal."

"Fair enough." She nodded. A yawn escaped her at the same time. "I haven't yawned in a long time. I guess it's time for bed."

Valor'el agreed silently, giving way for Shallies to head up first.

"By the way, I'm going to the Adventurer's Guild in town tomorrow. It's time I start making connections."

"What for?"

Shallies shrugged. "Magical ingredients. I'll also check for cowblinks for you, since you'll be busy here."

"I appreciate it."

"Good night, Valor'el."

"Good night, Lady Shallies, Apple."

As Shallies tucked herself underneath her blanket, she smiled, looking forward to tomorrow.

[You still haven't allotted your new Skill point, Shallies,] Stachie reminded her.

"I'll do it tomorrow. Good night, Stachie."

[I'll add it to your to-do list. Sweet dreams, Shallies.]

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