Chapter 63
Lala meets us in the Garage, taking everyone’s reports quickly before we head back for a much needed bath. As we’re scrubbing away the day, a smoky black aura settles over Hui’Jin. It doesn’t appear harmful and it fades in a mere moment, leaving us all confused as to what the Goddess of Death was trying to convey.
But when we’re finally clean, after no fewer than 2 changes of the perpetually hot bath water and many bubbles, it becomes immediately clear. Hui’Jin removes her towel and wills her robes to appear, only to find they’ve changed. No longer are they unadorned penitent’s robes, the mark of an Acolyte is embroidered into the rough cloth in gray, with two dragon heads underneath, showing she’s the personal acolyte to a second rank High Priestess.
"Congratulations! You’ve served your punishment and you’re back on track to earning your full title" I grab her for a hug and notice the embroidery isn’t the only change. Her robes now have notches in the back and her wings proudly extend behind her.
"This is wow. Very wow." she stammers nonsensically "I thought it would take years to earn forgiveness, but in just a few missions with you, the Goddess saw fit to end my Penance."
"See how happy it makes her when we burn things to ash?" I joke and we all break into laughter before heading off to our respective beds.
When morning finally comes I climb out of bed, still attached to Lala, who didn’t manage a full night in her own bed, as usual, and find Hui’Jin sitting at the coffee table doing her schoolwork.
There’s a post it note in front of her to call Jurgen when I wake up, sitting on top of a blue bound book, but other than that everything seems calm. The television is on, possibly still on from last time we watched the news, and it’s still updates on the same horrific stories from 2 days ago, so we’re safe on that front.
"What’s the news Hui’Jin?" I ask.
"Neisa dropped off this book of cultivation techniques this morning. She says they’re only to be taught at the personal request of a High Priestess, so I thought you should have it. The other is a phone call from Jurgen. He said it’s not an emergency, but to call him when you were awake."