"I lied," Hatra said, allowing herself to go limp in Jean and Sapphire's hands. "That was fun."

Gio and Chandrika were cutting away at the bundles of spell-silk anchoring him to the front of the boat as they rode out the last trickles of their incredible forward momentum.

"How much time did that buy us, do you think?" Gio asked.

"Oh, I doubt that the ones behind us will be able to catch up, and if they do, they'll be haggard. Healing isn't one of Cybele's specialties." Chandrika answered.

Everyone turned to her.

"Cybele? Who is Cybele?" Sapphire asked.

"I misled you all earlier. I was under the impression that a Goddess as impressive and powerful as she is wouldn't need to hide her name or use trickery to meet her goals… but I was wrong. After studying their unit tactics and sampling the bite of their witchery, I can say without a doubt that this dungeon has been interfered with by Cybele, the Goddess of Ataraxia, Patron of Warfare, Witchcraft, and Contracts." Chandrika answered.

"But… Ataraxia is an ocean away." Jean balked.

"Indeed, it is. Perhaps that is why her agents use a 'divine smokescreen' of sorts. I do not doubt that it is costly for her to operate on the Grand Continent… but we have clearly bruised her ego… or at least the ego of her servants." Chandrika sneered.

"Then this changes nothing. If anything, now we know who to blame for the poor living conditions of the Telchines." Gio affirmed.

Sapphire looked at Gio and Hatra. "Forgive my ignorance… but you two have silver hair. Aren't you Ataraxian?"

"By ethnicity, sure… Our family comes from an island off the southern coast. But not even our grandparents worship the Grand Coven or their Goddess. I don't even think I've heard the name Cybele more than a handful of times." Hatra said.

"I think Grandma prays to a minor spirit? She's mentioned praying for blessings of safe travel in her letters before. I'd love to visit someday." Gio added.

"Same. But the point stands, Saph- We're good. I have no loyalty to a Goddess who uses feeling beings like tools. " Hatra replied.

"Then Gio is right. Nothing changes. Let's keep moving." Jean agreed.

_____

The group approached yet another of the stone buildings. The thralls were prepared for them, but likewise, so was the boat. Jean's eyes burned with incandescent energy. He made a triangle with his steepled fingers, pointing them toward the enemy.

"[Angelfire.]" He invoked.

A roiling, billowing deluge of white flames burnt forth, dealing massive damage to the group of thralls surrounding the upcoming crafting pavilion. The loose formation fell apart, with the dungeon dwellers diving below the waves, only to resurface a short distance away as the water did not extinguish the magical fires.

"Gnarly," Hatra said, loading her weapon. "Me next."

"Aren't you low on reserves after that stunt you pulled with our getaway?" Sapphire asked her.

"Like I said, the one thing that my [Imaginary Workshop] excels at is storing a large amount of fluids. With the juicy info I got from the Shopkeeper, I'm keen to use this Sludge pump as often as possible until I can choose its next upgrade."

The group watched the Telchines burn from a safe distance away. A few of them gathered enough wherewithal to try throwing spears or firing darts, but Gio made quick work of the futile projectiles.

"I'm glad that you got something out of the Shop after all. It would have sucked for you not to have gotten a proper benefit out of using those tickets." Gio said.

Gio nonchalantly used his synergy, shattering a reflected spear into five thin and sharp hafts, each impaling a thrall through the skull.

"Are you kidding me? If not for Chandrika's plan, I'd have missed out on a gold mine of information. I have an actual plan for how I'm going to shift my [Apprentice Thaumaturge - Spirit Distiller] into [Apprentice Artificer - Thaumaturgical Apparatus Specialist]. Did you know that this pump is considered Artifice, even though it's created by the system for a Thaumaturge? Apparently, Thaumaturgy interacts with branches of magic like Artifice, Auromancy, Alchemy, and a bunch of other stuff… even weirder arts like Golemancy. I was shocked to hear just how much overlap there is." Hatra cooed.

In between words, she raised her sludge pump into the air, firing calculated globs of freezing essentia at precise angles to harry the stragglers.

"The Shopkeeper's knowledge is expensive, but often worth it. Although I myself am struggling to take the advice that I paid for…" Chandrika replied.

"Is it about your class? If you feel comfortable talking about it, maybe we could help." Hatra said.

"It is… about my future. I asked if the Shopkeeper could divine what options I would receive upon my next class advancement." Chandrika said.

"That was an option?!" Sapphire shouted.

"As I said before we entered… There are seldom few things that the Shop is incapable of answering… if you can provide compensation to match the value of that information." Chandrika answered.

"What did the Shopkeeper tell you?" Jean asked.

"I am treading down three different paths. I am a proud and enthusiastic celebrant of my Grandmother's art as a Weaver. I am a talented Witch, as is my mother. And I am the newest of eighteen Sages, which my country is known for. If I so chose, I could develop my skills in a more singular direction, as either a [Witch], [Weaver], or [Sage]." Chandrika continued.

"So… I have a question. Is [Sage] both a skill and a class?" Jean asked.

"It is also a profession. I have the skill [Great Sage], but once I graduate from being a student, I may choose to take the profession by swearing an oath to my country." Chandrika said.

"Interesting. Are there many skills that do that, or is it unique to being a Sage?" Sapphire said.

"They're informally referred to as "Titles". You probably have a skill or two in your status that either is or could become a title. Think of like… anything that you could become talented at, where you become the person who does that one thing. [Baker], for example, is a skill that could evolve from [Baking]. You would probably have to like… singularly devote yourself in mind, body, and soul to a single skill to have the system recognize it in your class and profession like that." Gio said.

Jean turned away from the conflagration of semi-innocent creatures to pin Gio with an odd look. "How do you know that?"

"Hmm?"

"That's… a fairly rare piece of system lore. I was specifically told that it wasn't common knowledge by my father." Jean replied.

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"It can't be that secret. My teacher told me about titles." Gio replied.

"Secret isn't the right word… it's not like you can't talk about it…"

"I must confess that I have never heard the term." Chandrika said. "I suppose that my mother did hint that having a class and a profession that align in intention is a virtuous thing…"

"But for someone to have specifically told Gio about the mechanics of titles… is pretty weird." Jean reaffirmed.

"Mechanics? What mechanics? I just noticed that in some of the materials I was reading in school, people mentioned skills and occupations that had the same name, so I asked about it, and Mr. G told me that it happens. I don't know what about that is worthy of this reaction from you." Gio said, looking curiously at Jean.

"Oh," Jean said, wide-eyed. "Never mind."

Gio gawked at Jean. "Okay, so there's definitely something."

"Uh… I just assumed that because you used the correct term and everything that whoever told you about them would have explained the whole thing. I probably shouldn't be the one to explain it to you… or at least, my dad would tell me not to." Jean said.

"I'm fine with that… but could you at least tell me why? Why shouldn't you tell us?" Gio said.

Jean blinked, taking a long moment to reply. "I don't know."

"You don't know." Hatra deadpanned.

"It's not a secret, and I haven't been explicitly told not to share… just a vague mention that it would be improper to do so." Jean said, furrowing his brow.

"Sounds like it's really important that we commoners don't know whatever you're referring to." Hatra joked.

"No! It's not a nobility thing. It's commonly taught in the Ring Guard, too-"

"Ah, that must be why Mister G knows it." Gio interjected.

"Oh, right. I forgot your teacher was a veteran. Yeah, that makes a bit more sense. Well… I'll tell you all if you want. I guess don't get mad if there is some valid reason that I shouldn't share that I don't know about." Jean said.

"I'm curious. Let's hear it." Chandrika replied. Everyone nodded.

"Okay, so you know how everyone has their own version of the system, right?" Jean asked.

Everyone nodded.

"Well, certain people have vastly different interfaces. Obviously, everyone has a class, an occupation, and a list of skills. Sometimes, when a person spends a long, long time and a lot of effort, they can upgrade their skill to a point where it becomes a big part of them- almost a personality trait. Once this happens, they will unlock it as a "Title." Literally, the system will begin to refer to you as that name, whatever it is… kind of like a noble title, in a weird way." Jean explained.

"And since it's system-related, I'd imagine that there's some sort of tangible benefit that this unlocks?" Sapphire asked.

"Oh, for sure. Sometimes, it's unique upgrades to the skill that the title is based on, or even a new skill or passive effect. Obviously, True Mages don't receive direct numerical stat improvements… but I've heard of some… esoteric bonuses. Sometimes, it even unlocks bonus professions." Jean continued.

"Bonus professions." Gio gasped.

"Yep. I have no details about what those professions actually do, unfortunately. I guess it's rumored that my dad has one, but he hasn't shared that info with me." Jean said.

"Huh. That's neat. I uh… still don't get why that's privileged info." Gio coughed.

"I'm sure there's a reason… probably." Jean huffed.

"Nobility and our traditions." Sapphire giggled.

"Privilege changes people. I've seen it firsthand, unfortunately. Some people are only happy when they feel that they are superior to you in some way." Chandrika said.

Gio blinked.

"Rika, don't take this the wrong way, but…"

"I know who I am. I know that people call me a Princess because of my Mother and Grandmother, even though my country has no such concept. I am also a [Sage], which holds a lot more weight in my country than the word 'Princess'. A few years ago, however… I was just a girl. A well-cared-for child of a powerful line of witches, certainly… but I am not my mother's only child. I have five sisters, four brothers, and many cousins, aunts… uncles… great aunts… and only thirteen of all my family are Sages. I am… or I guess I was close with one of my older sisters before I became a Sage. She's who I was referring to, specifically. As soon as it became clear that I had something to envy, she became cold and distant." Chandrika recounted.

As she spoke, she cast her [Witches Mark] on the rapidly fading enemies, watching as they withered under the oppressive magic.

Gio didn't know what to say.

"I apologize, I didn't mean to make the conversation uncomfortable," Chandrika said.

She shifted slightly in her seat, not making eye contact with anyone.

"No! No… It's just that I guess I never thought about the negative side of your power." Gio said.

Hatra looked like she was biting her tongue. Jean and Sapphire looked contemplative.

"Don't get me wrong. I am neither deserving of nor looking for pity. Being a Sage is an incredible boon and a great responsibility. I am proud of my ability, and even if I could have somehow declined, I think that I always would have chosen this, even with my issues controlling it. I still love my sister… and I hope that with time she will come around." Chandrika finished.

"I'm sure she will," Sapphire said in a kind voice.

"Anyway…" Chandrika said, trying to change the subject.

As the last of the scaled creatures sank under the water, the team searched the fog for any signs of further foes.

Gio caught sight of a glimmer to the side.

"I'm diverting us for a second. I see something."

Smoothly guiding the boat with [Flow], Gio approached a set of three ruined pillars jutting out of the water. On each, there was a crumbling feminine statue, decayed to the point of being nearly featureless. The figure to the left held a decayed mid-staff of some kind in her hands, in a grip that did not look to be one of a warrior or a mage. The figure in the middle was holding her hands up, as if holding something toward the statues on her sides. The leftmost statue held the remains of a metal object in her hand, in a grip that suggested a kind of hand tool, even though it was rotted away to rusted scrap. Tiny motes of blue water mana drifted lazily around the statues, winding around their decaying stony limbs.

"Was this in the notebook?" Sapphire asked.

"I think I vaguely remember something about statues… but I guess grandpa didn't particularly care for dungeon archaeology. Who do you think they were? They don't look like Telchines, although I can't make out any details." Gio answered.

"Goddesses." Chandrika solemnly said.

"Really? How can you tell?" Hatra asked.

"Look at the pillars. It's the same stone, but the pillars that they stand on are untouched by decay. This is what happens to deities that die… all trace of them is scrubbed clean, and they are forgotten to the world. Then their names are inscribed upon tombstones in the Garden of Names." Chandrika answered.

"Whoa…" Gio uttered.

"What kills a god?" Jean said, dumbfounded.

"Other gods, mostly," Chandrika answered.

"So… did that Goddess do this? Kill these three?" Gio asked.

"Perhaps. If they are enshrined here… maybe this dungeon was once in their territory. Or, perhaps they died in ancient times, and this is simply a remnant of a long-dead religion. Either could be true. But if I were to guess… I'd wager that Cybele killed them." Chandrika replied.

Gio poked at the metal with an oar. It was so thoroughly deteriorated that it chipped off, splashing down into the water.

"Gio!" Hatra chided.

"What?" Gio replied.

"Be respectful!"

"I was just curious to see what the metal was. It doesn't look like the pseudo-orichalcum." Gio said.

"Oh. Hold on… looks like the system just calls it rusty scrap. Worthless." Hatra said.

"Yeah, but what is it made out of?" Sapphire asked.

"It doesn't say. It just says worthless."

"Okay, but… It's gotta be made of something. Iron, tin… bronze…" Sapphire continued.

Hatra creased her brows. "Weird that Inspect isn't giving me anything, even upon re-inspection.

"Hold on," Sapphire said, reaching over the side of the boat and chipping off a bit of the fragile detritus.

She placed a few flecks in a glass tube, swirling them around with a couple drops of a few hastily retrieved liquids.

"Weeeeeird. It's an amalgam. Lead, gold, Mercury, Antimony, and Iron. Very, very odd. Toxic, too." Sapphire said.

"That is weird." Hatra agreed.

"Probably some sort of ceremonial metal? No clue. Anyways, are we ready to move on?" Gio asked.

"Yeah. We're in the final stretch. Let's move."

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