Evelyn felt relieved when Chloe stopped questioning her about the past. There was nothing more to say, nothing she could do to change it. She loathed herself for her weakness, for not being strong enough to save her family. When she first chose the healer class, it was out of a desire to protect them, to nd their wounds and keep them safe. But as the system evolved, so did her class—becoming the Evasive Healer, a choice born of her love for running, for freedom in motion.
Now, her patron seed determined to nudge her down a path she didn’t want—a path of pure healing, shackling her to others, leaving her entirely dependent on teammates for survival. The thought made her stomach churn. No, that wasn’t the kind of healer she wanted to be. Revenge burned in her heart, dark and all-consuming. Evelyn yearned to see the witch who had destroyed her family groveling at her feet, begging for rcy—a rcy that would never co.
But her current class wasn’t fit for vengeance. She knew it. And yet, despite weeks of deliberation, she hadn’t found the courage to act. Level 80 lood close, the gateway to evolution, and still she hesitated. Her indecision strained her bond with her patron, the goddess Isis, who grew increasingly frustrated with Evelyn’s refusal to heed her advice. Worse, Isis was the wife of the Mage God who blessed Sylas—a situation that tied Evelyn even more tightly to her patron’s demands.
"Assist Sylas," Isis had commanded ti and ti again. "Your classes are complentary. You belong in his party."
But Evelyn wanted nothing to do with Sylas and Kael or his group of elite fighters. What had happened to Thalion, the drama and betrayal within their ranks—it left a bitter taste in her mouth. She and Kargul were much happier assisting Eddie and Chloe in their search for their missing friends. Friendship mattered more to Evelyn than any divine command, and no friend would be left behind. Her defiance enraged Isis, but Evelyn no longer cared. Why not renounce this controlling goddess altogether? Maybe another god would take her in—a better one, one who understood her pain and thirst for vengeance.
As these thoughts churned in her mind, Evelyn sat on a wide tree branch, staring out at the savanna. The brown leaves before her danced in the breeze, their fragile movents stark against the distant roar of battling beasts. It was almost peaceful, in its way. She rembered sothing Eddie had said once: “You’ve got to stay true to your path, no matter how rough it gets.”
Her path wouldn’t be one of standing on the sidelines, watching her friends fight for their lives while she cast heals or summoned barriers. No. It was ti to choose, ti to break free. Evelyn inhaled deeply, steadying herself as she reached out to contact her patron. This ti, the conversation would be on her terms.
The skill activated, and her consciousness was transported to Isis’s divine domain. She appeared in a sprawling, blooming garden, its plants resembling tall, majestic white sunflowers adorned with runes on their leaves. The air humd with magic, and at the garden’s heart stood Isis, radiant and imposing. The goddess wore a flowing white tunic that only enhanced her ethereal beauty. If Evelyn ever aged into such grace, she hoped she’d carry it differently—with more substance, less vanity. She’d never be the kind of god who lorded over her chosen like an untouchable queen.
“Why have you co?” Isis’s voice was as lodic as ever, but her tone carried the weight of irritation. “Have you finally co to your senses? Are you returning to Sylas and the others?”
“Yes,” Evelyn lied smoothly, masking her true intentions. “We’re on our way back to Kael’s base.”
The goddess didn’t even bother to look at her, her gaze fixed on a distant horizon as if Evelyn were nothing more than a passing annoyance.
“Good. It’s about ti you followed the orders of your superiors.” Isis’s tone softened, taking on a saccharine sweetness. “Now, listen carefully. I will explain how to upgrade your healing spell—not just once, but multiple tis.”
Evelyn listened intently, committing every word to mory. The goddess spoke for what felt like hours, detailing advanced techniques for mana control and spell enhancent. Every word was a gift she would take with her when she left this ddling deity behind.
Finally, Isis concluded with a self-satisfied smile. “I expect to hear from my husbands avatar that you’ve joined Sylas’s party before our next eting,” she said, her tone dripping with condescension.
Evelyn said nothing. The mont Isis finished speaking, Evelyn’s consciousness withdrew, snapping back into her physical body. Not a single second had passed in the real world. Without hesitation, she opened her status screen, her finger hovering over the reject blessing button.
Blessed could renounce their patrons within the first year. After that, it beca far more difficult. That shouldn't be one of her concerns though.
With a deep breath, Evelyn pressed the button. Pain ripped through her body as the connection to Isis shattered. Blood seeped from her eyes and ears, a visceral reminder of the bond she had just severed. But even through the agony and weakness, she smiled—a small, defiant smile.
Freedom had never felt so sweet.
“What happened?” Chloe exclaid in shock as she saw Evelyn slump forward for a mont, her body trembling as though she'd just endured a fierce blow.
“Nothing,” Evelyn replied, her voice calm but slightly breathless. “I healed myself. Now I’m stronger.” A faint glow still lingered on her hands, the aftereffect of her healing spell.
In terms of stats, “stronger” was a lie. In fact, she’d lost a significant amount, but none of that mattered now. Evelyn’s lips twitched in a small, defiant smile. She had kept the skills she’d acquired from her goddess, losing only the stats tied to the ancient blessing. Was rejecting an ancient blessing foolish? Absolutely. But for Evelyn, it was the best decision she had ever made.
For the first ti in this tutorial, she felt truly free. Free to shape her destiny, to move forward without the crushing weight of divine expectations. There were no barriers, no invisible hands steering her fate. She could finally pursue the power she needed—a power not just for healing or running, but for vengeance.
The thought of Cathrin, the witch responsible for her family's destruction, sent a shiver of anticipation through Evelyn. Killing her wouldn’t just be an act of revenge. It would be a liberation, a reckoning. Healing and running had served her well, but now Evelyn was ready for the other side of the coin—the edge that cut, the force that shattered. And she would find it, no matter what it took.
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