It was a cruelty beyond measure. To suggest making a new spark. I tear at my hair as my body failed to be a safe haven for new life. I can't keep trying. This is too much. The door knocks. The adventurer guild master enters. Didn't wait until I answered, did he. He winces on seeing me.

  “Cea, you haven't left the room for four days.” The Elf said with a bit of concern. “Cea!”

  So frustrating. I look up and then at him. His revulsion grows. I must be hideous. I am hideous. A monster. He grips my arms.

  “Cea. Come let's go to the food hall. You need to eat.”

  “Why.” It's not a question. Just a lament.

  He answers anyways, “You owe it to those you failed to keep living.”

  I want to kill this man. Owe? I feel like the only thing I owe my babies is my death. At least before I knew they were out there ready to try again. These latest, never a chance to begin.

  “Well anger is better than despair.”

  “Guild master, I am about five seconds away from stabbing you in the heart.”

  “Ha, you wouldn't be the first woman to tell me that.”

  My glare at his stupid face can only last so long against his earnest glow. I huff a small hollow laugh and let him lead me out of the room.

  -----

  This is a daily reminder: You have 384 unallocated stat points

  Only seven years this time, I suspect the lich has lost some of her support. Six miscarriages. I skipped the last year, just spent time with that stupid looking guild master.

  I gripped my face, I am not her. I keep repeating it to myself.

  -----

  The crowd was smaller for this trial. Mental magic not being the flashiest. Or most well liked—

  Soul raised to 527

  A supplicant has tied themselves further to you

  Remaining Soul 812

  The burn was less but systems, it still felt like my entire being was on fire. That message seems familiar. I think it is from the east.

  “Lady Sara?”

  “A moment [Lady] Ophelia. I am just dealing with a bit of soul burn.”

  The woman raises an eyebrow. I don't bother elaborating. She knows far too much about me. I have no desire to inform her of more. Instead, I look to the stage. I was hoping for something dealing with golems but instead it's just a weight lifting test. With your mind. I snorted at my own thought, my attempt at not showing emotion failing in the worst way. She looks at me again but I wave her off.

  “I fear there is no avenue for you this time.” She sees my resignation. “We should see if her vigil is constant.” I already know it is. I put my hand out. Ophelia pulls her aura back, my hand instantly is coated in the lich's. Ophelia's aura returns again before any sort of mischief can occur.

  “A pity a daughter of Maxwell can not show her might.” She said it without malice, just a passing thought. She turns to leave, I follow. After a bit I notice it is not to her office, but the estate we are headed for.

  “I do not work every day, lady Sara. Besides, you are to have guests.”

  -----

  I hold the not so little Tibyder up. Her little legs kicking as she squirms.

  “Your hands are cold.” Xena exclaims. I put her down.

  “Sorry, I was just so excited to see you.” She hugs me for a moment before backing away and rubbing herself.

  “Still too cold, are you going to be okay?” I give a brave smile and nod. “You sure?”

  Barbain snatches her daughter, “If Sara is anything Xena, she is a survivor.” She chides.

  “Twu.” Alicia exclaims from next to Beatrice. It got a chuckle from everyone.

  We were meeting in Ophelia garden. Seeing all this I could never ask them to do more. Unfortunately our host had no constraints on her.

  “Seeing as lady Magdeline is being remiss on why we are here, I would ask lady Maxwell if she is willing to become a [Junior Priestess] in her order?” Ophelia just goes straight to it.

  Barbain looks at me, “Explain.”

  I sigh, “It’s to warm my soul. Priestess in my order healing will help combat the undead attached to me.”

  “To combat Cea?” Barbain asks.

  I wince hearing my…her name. “Yes, the lich.” It got an eyebrow raise but they didn't ask.

  “I'll due its.” Alicia shouts out.

  “While adorable, how ‘bout when you're older.” Beatrice says to her. It earns her mother a frown.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “So why are you avoiding this?” Barbain probes.

  “Its going to give you horns. The capital doesn't exactly feel safe.”

  “Because everyone who sees them calls you the Demon or devourer.” Beatrice says offhanded.

  “Yes…”

  The adult Tibyder looked at each other then laughed. My face scrunches up, not understanding.

  “Sorry, mother. You had the same misgiving about giving us cat ears. Even without all your memories, you still have the same worries.” Beatrice explains.

  Seeing how they are Tibyder, I guess I couldn't dissuade them.

  “Well lets do this then, Sara.” Barbain comes forward.

  I look up to the sky, my eyes close. I feel my body expand. My many legs are under me, sharp, lethal.

  Barbain is looking up at me, “You're huge.” She murmurs. I wince at her words. “Will I get to be that large?” She asks.

  “One status quo change at a time.” I say with a patient smile. I noticed my upper body hadn't changed, other than having a second set of arms. Those were different. The right lower arm was pure mithril bone, just as it was with Aurora's body. The left lower was green, plant fibers. A dryad’s arm. My lower spider was pure black chitin, and yet tiny dots of ultra violet and red sprinkled my abdomen. Galaxy spider butt. Alicia was walking up to one of my legs. “Careful little one, they are quite sharp.” I say soothingly.

  She looks up at me with awe. I give her a pat on the head then turn to Barbain. My lower hands cup her face. “Daughter, would you join my order as a [Junior Priestess], to heal those in need?”

  She looks up at me, a smile. “Of course, mother.”

  I place my top right hand on her forehead. Our souls touch and horns start to grow from her forehead. They are blood red. I return to my kitsune self. I pull my right hand from her head when her eyes widen and she grabs my wrist.

  Deity raised to 3

  You didn't tell me you were a goddess.

  I wasn't expecting this to reveal such.

  It's literally a priestess order under a goddess. How would it not?

  Neither Lea or Rin said anything about it.

  Considering how skittish you are, would you have been alright hearing it?

  Suppose not. Rin did get rather reverent after she gained her horns.

  And Leander?

  Her title was before I ignited my soul core.

  She looks away from me, biting her lip. I tilt my head. Mother, you need more soul.

  I can't level Barbain. I guess I could devour rabbits and bears.

  She shakes her head at me. Pure soul, not cluttered soul with memories. I'm going to find more supplicants, mother.

  My chest seizes at her words. She lets go of my wrist before I could dissuade her. I could order her. Demand she listen to her [Head Priestess]. My soul itches at the thought. She gives me a look that says she has decided. I grab her arm.

  Be careful, your soul being in multiple places is dangerous.

  She smiles and nods. I let go. I didn't tell her how much it hurts me to take in those increases. Beatrice looks like she wants to say something. I walk over to her. Talking with one attention to the others as a hand on her shoulder speaks with her directly.

  The inquisitor doesn't realize you're a Vampire. I don't wish to expose more than I need to.

  You keep letting Barbain have all the fun, I'm going to think you're playing favorites. I suppose that means my ascension is delayed further.

  Pretty sure your current pregnancy precluded that anyways.

  Can't hide anything from you. Will they be a Vampire as well?

  I don't think so, maybe if you were at the level of Barbain.

  Seems my over eagerness has caused complications.

  Considering all the miscarriages I've had, bringing a child to term is a blessing.

  Mother? I blink. I take a moment to rethink what I had thought.

  Sorry. I have a lot of sad memories in me.

  My hand lets her go and I spend more time with the Bs.

  -----

  “Curious, I was quite certain that Barbain Maxwell race was Vampire.” Ophelia says as we watch them leave. I don't bother saying anything. The only real defense to [Detect Falsehood]. “Getting in touch with [Dame] Qorth will take some time.”

  I shake my head, “She is training as a knight, let us see how my latest [Junior Priestess] does, [Lady] Ophelia.”

  “Is that wise? Should you not be grabbing every advantage you can.”

  “They are my daughters, I should be sacrificing for them, not the other way around.”

  “Rather noble, but pointless if everyone dies because of it.”

  I take a moment. “You don't really believe that.”

  You have gained [Detect Falsehood] Competent 1

  Apprentice - Picking up lies is even easier, no longer do you need to focus on someone to know

  Gain 4 exp

  “Good, you must have progressed to have notice.” She coos.

  “I thought my skills were cursed. My father's reliance on this skill led to my first pariah title.” I huffed out.

  “Do not blame him for how you ended up. It was more your oversized soul than that title.”

  I shake my head, “I don't but I do wish he had believed me. I promised him I would make it in this world.” I say wistfully.

  “Curious, are you beginning to open up to me, lady Sara.” Ophelia asks.

  “[Lady] Ophelia, you will always be the one who sentenced me to be executed for telling the truth about my family.”

  She remains silent on that. I guess even silence can tell you something.

  -----

  …

  25-12-1706

  …

  So I can assume my first execution was pretense. Was it because I was a [Soul Eater]? No, that came later. Did Ophelia know that was a result of my using my pariah aura to kill? That I would become a [Soul Eater]? Did she wish to execute me before that happened? Was she wrong?

  Now instead of removing me she aims to mold me into her image. Perhaps she wishes to retire. This is all rather harrow

  …

  -----

  The door opens. Ophelia steps in, her hair down. She was in her nightgown.

  “I was. The Queendom only condemns those on actions not threats.” A moment's pause. “I was wrong to order your execution knowing you believed you were telling the truth. I had assumed you were delusional. Not worth the time for rehabilitation and a future danger.”

  I felt a twinge. She believes everything she told me. But there is something left unsaid. I decided to ignore it.

  “I have simply exchanged one spy for another.”

  “You fault me for keeping any eye on you?”

  “No, not when I am becoming Cea.”

  “Not even going to try to avoid saying it?”

  “Getting a skill ping for saying a lie out loud is the worst, Ophelia.”

  A small chuckle, “Now you're being brazen.”

  “You're in your night clothes, I think we can dispense with honorifics.”

  She rolls her eyes, “I do want you as an [Inquisitor]. Our Queendom is growing and there will be much work to be done. Also as [Head Inquisitor] I will gain a general feel if any of my subordinates are in the wrong.”

  “Says the one who just admitted to being in the wrong.”

  “Yes, and you are not blindly devoted, a check on me. I have many working under me but you are uniquely situated to be my protégé. The proper temperament, considerate but willing to be cruel if necessary.”

  “It's awful you think that. Worse that I feel like agreeing.”

  “You already are hated, Sara. Is it a stretch to use your status as our nation's Demon to serve justice?”

  I roll my eyes, “My fault for not omitting that title. Besides, you're not done testing me. I might just bite off his head.”

  “So you know.” I can hear him weeping in the cells. “In that case, I'll drop the pretense. You will be questioning him.”

  “I still haven't agreed.”

  “Yet you wish to know why he is here.”