Becoming a god starts with enhancing fire arrows.

Paril took off her shoes and lay on the bed, her little feet in white socks swinging back and forth.

His eyes were fixed intently on the book.

Noticing Rhodes' gaze, she asked curiously, "Rhodes, can studying and meditation really help one comprehend new spells?"

Of course, priests can't learn spells from scrolls like noble mages.

Rhodes thought to himself, but began to lecture, "Unlike those physical professions who can gain experience in combat, for us, meditation and teaching are important ways to learn skills."

Paril rolled over on the bed: "The traveling priest who taught me magic seems to have also told me about the importance of meditation."

"But I didn't take it to heart."

She suddenly sat up, her eyes lighting up, and adopted a posture as if she wanted to meditate: "Then how about I learn a few spells first?"

Do you really think you can just learn magic like that?

Rhodes said with some helplessness, "Spells require the continuous accumulation of knowledge and long periods of meditation, measured in months."

Paril pointed somewhat indignantly at the book in front of her: "I've already read several pages!"

"Ha." Rhodes scoffed.

"If you can learn this by reading a few pages of a book and meditating, I'll eat your socks."

Paril closed her eyes and meditated. A few minutes later:

"I've learned it."

?

Are you kidding me?

"Young comrade, you must be truthful in your words and deeds. How can you be so young and not watch your mouth?" Rhodes teased.

"I really can!" Paril raised her little face, glared at Rhodes, her face full of defiance.

She stretched out her small hand, and magic gathered in her palm, soon forming a small, shimmering ball:

"This is a ranged damage spell, Trace Bolt."

?

Seeing Rhodes' surprise, Paryl continued to chant silently.

Feathers formed by magical energy glowed around him.

She continued, "This is a feather-falling technique that allows one to fall from a great height without getting hurt."

?

Rhodes glanced at her suspiciously. Could it be that this girl had been hiding her strength all along?

Paril looked very proud, her face practically screaming, "Praise me! Praise me!"

hiss.

She probably doesn't have the cunning or intelligence for that.

Originally, I thought I could find a kind family to take her in.

Now it seems that this foolish priest has some terrifying talent.

Could it be related to the dragon bloodline within her?

Rhodes was pondering when Paril took off her socks and handed them to him, asking innocently:

"Do you want it soaked in water or eaten dry?"

Rhodes silently pushed her hand away, his expression turning serious:

"The investigation is urgent. Tomorrow, we'll visit the patients' families according to the list."

Paril's attention was successfully diverted: "What if we also get petrification disease?"

"I'm skeptical that petrochemicals are a contagious disease, but I'll still take precautions tomorrow and avoid direct contact with my family," Rhodes carefully instructed.

"Oh, oh." Paril nodded blankly.

......

Early the next morning.

Rhodes was fast asleep when he was suddenly awakened by the sound of arguing.

I groggily opened my eyes and saw the morning light shining into the room through the window.

The soundproofing in this room is terrible.

My gaze swept over the bed next to her; Paril's bed was covered only in messy blankets.

Where is she?

Rhodes sat up instantly, all sleepiness gone.

Just as I was about to get out of bed, I saw the silver-haired Paril leaning against the door.

She wasn't dressed properly; she was only wearing one sleeve of her shirt, and the other sleeve was only half-covered, revealing her snow-white shoulders and slender calves.

I listened curiously to the sounds outside.

Is this really such a good thing?

Rhodes breathed a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, I imagined a scene in my mind: Paril, now old, sitting at the village entrance, chatting and gossiping with a bunch of middle-aged women while eating sunflower seeds.

"Paril".

Rhodes called her name.

Paril was startled, like a frightened kitten.

He quickly made a "quiet" gesture and whispered, "The neighbors are arguing with the town guards."

The one next door?

Harvey, the bard who speaks like a performer?

Rhodes quickly changed his clothes, opened the door, and decided to watch the drama unfold.

The spacious corridor was already crowded with people.

Besides a group of people who didn't know what was going on, there was also the halfling hotel owner.

The main character they were watching was Clint, the burly man from Harvey's squad.

Clint's mountain-like figure completely blocked the doorway to the room.

He held the long-handled axe horizontally in his hand.

They adopted an attitude that told no one to come near them.

Facing Clint were four guards wearing helmets and heavy armor.

Their silver-white armor was engraved with the town's emblem.

It appears to be an armed force belonging to the town.

One of the guards had his helmet slightly open and was talking to Harvey beside him.

Clint, wielding a long-handled axe, said angrily, "Harvey, don't listen to them, the Adventurers' Guild are all liars."

"I just went to the guild this morning to ask the priest for help, but I didn't expect that they would send a few guards to forcibly take Ashe away."

"This adventurer," the leading soldier said calmly, "we have clear regulations now; if anyone shows those symptoms, we must immediately send someone to take them away."

"Don't worry, we will have dedicated personnel to handle related matters."

"Bullshit rules!" Clint cursed.

"We can heal ourselves by finding a priest, why would we need you?"

The guard glanced at Clint and whispered to Harvey, the seemingly reasonable bard:

"Petrification is a very strange disease that is not something that ordinary pastors can handle."

"We are surrounded by civilians, and we have a mission to ensure that the petrification disease does not become known to more people."

"You're an adventurer too, could you try to persuade your companion?"

Harvey spoke up: "Hey~ I understand what you're saying, but it's really hard for us to accept that they're taking our companions away without giving us a specific timeframe."

"How about this, our team will leave Phil Town and go find a cure ourselves."

The guard was horrified: "That won't do! If we take the patient away from here, there will be even more infected people."

"Please believe us, it won't be long. Our guild is already developing an antidote and a treatment..."

Harvey fell into deep thought.

"I'd like to interrupt for a moment."

Rhodes stepped forward and positioned himself between Clint and the guards.

He looked at Clint, who was guarding the door, and Harvey, who was standing to the side:

"My partner is an excellent priest. Instead of staying here in this stalemate, why don't we go in and check the situation first?"

Rhodes' voice was calm and composed, exuding the innate elegance of a nobleman, and his words carried a convincing magic.

He knew that if the priests in the town were helpless against the petrification disease, then Paril, who only knew low-level spells, would certainly not be able to deal with it either.

He did this simply to see if his identification skills could reveal more information.

You can also ask her a few questions.

Clint's expression softened. Looking at Rhodes, whom he had met once before, he carefully asked, "Is your companion really a priest?"

Rhodes turned slightly to look at the girl:

"Paril, quickly use a healing spell."

Paril obediently sang.

Clint saw the green light appear, looked warily at the guards, and made way for the two of them, creating a narrow path.

"Wait, you can't..."

The guards, worried about the risk of infection, were about to speak up to stop him, but Rhodes interrupted them:

"We had a private meeting with Orion, the head of the Adventurers' Guild Hall, yesterday. He asked us to investigate this matter. You can ask him directly."

Rhodes’ tone carried a hint of authority.

The lead guard was taken aback.

Is he able to meet with Mr. Orion alone?

Moreover, Mr. Orion actually commissioned them to investigate the petrification disease on his own?

Could they be powerful adventurers from elsewhere?

While the guards were pondering, Rhodes had already led Paryl into the house.

Everything he said was true; how others interpret it is their business.

As soon as I stepped inside, I noticed that Harvey had followed me in.

Rhodes raised an eyebrow.

Unexpectedly, this somewhat flamboyant bard is quite cautious in his actions.

Harvey took off his little hat, bowed, and said, "Oh, please allow me to lead the way."

"Please~"