With suspicious points piling up, Liam became intrigued. He returned to the van Deeran estate, searching for Priestess Ivreya. Welcomed by Tem's personal guard, Cross, Liam didn't beat around the bush.
"Is the priestess still downstairs?"
"No, Sir. Ivreya has finished cleansing the curse a while ago."
"Do you know where she went?"
"Yes. She inquired with me if there was a caravan heading for Svebrial. She said she had an important appointment."
"Really? Then why would she accompany a caravan and not use the teleporter?"
The guard was stumped.
"I… didn't ask…"
Liam rolled his eyes. He pondered for a moment whether to teleport directly to teleport to Svebrial or to follow the caravan before deciding on option two. Saying goodbye, he rushed towards the south of the city.
There was a truly bustling market in the south with many shops and stalls. It was directly adjacent to the headquarters of various merchant groups. And these merchant groups all occupied vast space to store goods and form caravans. However, as these merchant groups often travelled together there was a square which had gradually emerged as the main gathering point, even earning the name of 'Core of a hundred paths'.
Liam arrived at the core and swept the surroundings with his eyes. It was extremely bustling. Multiple caravans had gathered. Large beasts resembling muscular oxen, resilient hippos, loyal dogs, and more were waiting patiently while the merchants loaded or unloaded their goods.
Looking around, Liam quickly found his target. Close to the central position was a caravan surrounded by a group of people bearing the symbol of the van Deeran family. Liam walked towards them, addressing a tall woman who appeared to be some kind of overseer:
"Hi. Can I ask you question?"
"You are?", asked the woman cautiously.
"I am hired by Plutarch van Deeran to investigate something. I hope you can assist me."
"By the plutarch? My apologies. Ask away!"
Although Liam didn't show any prove, his words were enough to get the woman to help him. Well, this was after all still a game and not the real world. Thus, the overseer answered faithfully. Liam asked her if she had seen Priestess Ivreya today, to which the overseer replied positively.
Apparently, the priestess had arrived more than an hour ago. She asked the overseer for a caravan heading for Svebrial. The overseer didn't think much of it as the priestess often travelled with their caravans. However, usually she would join the caravan lead by someone called Henrihk.
"I told Ivreya that Henrihk had left a few days ago and wasn't available right now. But the priestess stated that she was pressed for time and would take the next best option. Thus, I introduced her to our friends of the van Snakan family. Their caravan was just about to set off and agreed to take Ivreya with them."
The priestess was certainly hiding a big secret. Or else, why would she be in such haste? Liam asked the overseer for the way which the caravan was bound to take and received a map from her. Quickly thanking the helpful woman Liam didn't lose more time and left the city.
Reen let out an excited cry as Liam ordered him to advance at full speed. They rushed along the path, forcing other travellers to eat their dust. As one of the main trade routes the path was patrolled regularly and there were no monsters blocking the way. Thus, Liam soon managed to catch up to the caravan. He could already see the priestess riding on a gorgeous white horse amidst the group of merchants.
Staring at the group, Liam slowed down and kept his distance as he contemplated his next action. It seemed he was quite early. If he confronted the priestess now, he didn't know how she would react and if she would tell him the truth. However, if he continued to chase the priestess might not show any obvious flaws either.
Just as Liam was pondering what to do next, there was a change in the group. Priestess Ivreya was speeding up a little to reach the front of the caravan, speaking to its leader. The two apparently had a brief argument before Ivreya convinced the caravan leader. Thus, not even a minute later the caravan took a turn to the left, veering off its original path.
Liam was glad that he managed to catch up or he might not have known about this. He still kept his distance while following the caravan as it followed the new path, making its way through a rugged valley. A few fearsome monsters finally appeared attacking the caravan. The guards killed them all but not without injuries. They complained to the caravan leader who remained unsympathetic.
Thus, the caravan continued until they stopped in front of a dilapidated temple. At this point Ivreya jumped from her horse, bowed lightly to the caravan and entered the old temple.
The guards again approached the caravan leader. They tried to convince him to return to the original path. This time the caravan leader still remained unresponsive.
Liam watched with a frown as he slowly came closer. Suddenly he was hit with an ominous premonition. The next moment the caravan leader convulsed as a massive cloud of black magic erupted from his body. Chaos broke out among the caravan. The guards and merchants tried to escape but they were too close. The dark magic engulfed them and the caravan fell into silence.
"Damn…"
Liam couldn't help but mutter a curse. As he came closer, the dark magic dissipated, and he saw dozens of people lying on the ground with pale faces and curse marks on their foreheads. But they still had a bit of life in them. If Liam could resolve the curse, he could still save them. Unfortunately, Liam had no suitable skill. However, there was one method to dispel curses everyone could use, but depending on the curse it might not work. This method was of course to kill the caster.
Laim stared at the dilapidated temple. At this point he had no doubt left. Priestess Ivreya had killed Tem van Deeran. However, what was her reason for doing so? Was she compelled by someone else? But a priestess using dark magic and being especially proficient in curses was suspicious by itself. It was time to get answers.
Approaching the temple a notification popped up. Liam had no choice but to dismount. He patted Reen and went up the stairs by himself, arriving in front of a gate where one half was lying on the ground in front of him, unable to block his view.
The interior of the temple was not big. Most of the space was taken by the main prayer hall. There were a few old statues around symbolizing more than one god. Liam's gaze quickly focused on a row of cages to the right. There were at least five empty cages and two were even occupied, holding two young women of about eighteen years, forlorn and helpless. Immediately Liam's expression hardened.
At this moment footsteps rang out. Ivreya entered his vision, carrying some books and documents. She threw them on a pile at the rear of the temple obviously preparing to destroy them. Upon seeing this Liam didn't waste more time. He entered the temple, prompting Iverya to instantly turn around.
The priestess didn't appear like a devout servant of good. She wore a grim expression, slightly pale, a darkness shimmering in her eyes. As she spoke her voice was almost a hiss:
"I didn't expect you to be so fast, nephilim!"
"And I didn't expect a sacred priestess to traffic humans and wield curses. Who are you really?"
"Haha, are you still asking questions? I am Ivreya. I always have been. Nephilim, at this point there is nothing to discuss. It will either be you dying or me!"
Ivreya didn't think any more discussion was necessary. She raised her hands and dark magic erupted from her, dyeing her sacred robes a deep black. Her feet left the ground as she floated slightly above it like a malevolent ghost, her black eyes piercing Liam.
The battle started abruptly. Liam drew his weapons and inspected the enemy.
[Dark Priestess Ivreya
Rank: Boss
Level: 62
HP: 76.000/76.000]
A grin slowly formed on Liam's lips. Fighting a boss of a higher level without Reen's help might prove challenging. It was almost a pity that his acquired title [Defier of Odds] reduced the level difference during damage calculation by one level, somewhat lowering the gap between them.
"Nephilim, I can see that you do not know how it feels to wield the might of light and darkness. Here, I will allow you to witness it once before your death!"
Ivreya pointed her hand at Liam and started muttering incantations. Of course, the latter wouldn't receive a one-sided beating. He rushed towards the priestess, holding back his ultimate skill for now, attacking with a [Brutal Strike] to interrupt the boss's casting. His sword was enveloped in a powerful force as he struck Iverya's waist, pushing her back a few steps, and stopping her cast.