Kapitel 18: Ch 18: Raid and Past

*2 hours after Serena fell asleep*

Serena's POV

*Ring* *Ring* *Ring"

'What the actual HECK.' I was sleeping so peacefully when my ringtone woke me up. 'Who even is this?', it's not Val. I couldn't think of anyone calling me other than her, 'and the only contact I have is Serena's parents' (oh and Lux).

Though, they only called me whenever they were asking for money. "Ha..." Sighing, I answered the phone. "Hello? This is Serena speaking. May I ask who's calling?" I questioned them politely. There was a long silence before I heard them speak. "Ah, yes. This is Mason Char, from the Cyclops Guild." Oh! That "guild"!

Cyclops Guild, one of the top 10 best guilds in all Elaris. "Well, Mr. Mason, is there something you want to talk to me about?" Okay, I need to finish this as soon as possible. My mom's instinct is telling me that Crissy's about to wake up soon.

"Ms. Bellus, we wanted to ask for your help in our raid today." Hm... I can do that but why didn't I get a notice beforehand? "Oh, well, I certainly can help. But why didn't I get a notice?"

Usually, raids between a party and another person/party, needs to be discussed, before going into a dungeon together. Them not giving me a heads up, can be interpreted as them being extremely rude towards me.

"Oh! We didn't mean to offend you, Ms. Bellus." He frantically said, trying to diffuse the situation. "It's just that, the dungeon we are going to is an A-ranked dungeon. And the healer we had, got injured just an hour ago." Hm... That is unfortunate.

Though, I can't possibly say 'yes' to their request. I HAVE A BABY TO TAKE CARE OF! 'But... But.. they'll get hurt.' GOSH DAMN YOU SERENA! Why did you leave your conscience with me! When I woke up in the body of Serena. I braced myself to embody the sadistic and cruel personality I believed Serena to have. To my surprise, Serena's essence lingered within the body—memories, feelings, and even fragments of her kindness.

As I navigated Serena's life, I realized that the villain I had once condemned was not inherently evil. Serena had a warmth, a gentle side, and a genuine love for those around her.

Slowly but surely, I found myself influenced by Serena's positive and kind-hearted personality. What started as confusion—why was Serena so kind in the remnants she left?—grew into a deep admiration. I began to adopt Serena's openness, her compassion, and her quiet resilience.

But there's a downside, 'I BECAME A GOSH DAMN PUSHOVER!'. Yes. THAT'S RIGHT. I can't even say 'no' to such simple things like when Valerie asked me to cuddle or the time when my previous neighbor asked me to take out her trash. 'I hate and love you Serena'.

Anyway, I'm a mother now. I have to put my family first. "I apologize again, Ms. Bellus. But this raid is very important for us!" I heard him say, 'NO YOU IDIOT! IF YOU THAT I'LL–'. "Then... If you don't mind me, then I'll join you." NO! I KNEW IT! STUPID MOUTH OF MINE!

"Se-Seriously, Ms. Bellus? Then! Thank you so much!" Yeah, yeah. But my daughter... AHA! "I'm sorry, Mr. Char, but can I take someone with me?" I asked him, of course it's natural to ask for his permission. He's the fricking party leader.

"Oh! Yes, even if it's a newborn baby. HAHAHAHAHA." He laughed exaggeratedly. Heh! He probably doesn't expect, that I'll literally bring a baby with me. This will be good. I quickly rose to my feet to change my clothes.

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"Ha..haha.." BWHAHAHAHAHA AS EXPECTED! Oh my gosh, the look on his face is really worth the effort. "This is my daughter, Cristina Ignis." I introduced Crissy to them. After a short introduction, we went inside the dungeon.

The entrance to the dungeon loomed ahead, its jagged stone arches dripping with a strange, phosphorescent slime. A faint, acrid smell hung in the air—a blend of decay and something metallic.

The clinking of armor and the sharp sound of boots on stone echoed through the dark cavern. Mason strode ahead, his broad shoulders tense but his sword gleaming with confidence. Behind him, the rest of the party moved in formation, their weapons at the ready.

I walked in the middle of the group, cradling Cristina snugly against my chest in a sling. Her tiny hand peeked out, grasping at the fabric, unaware of the danger around us.

I could feel the party's unease. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something metallic—blood, maybe. A low growl reverberated through the cavern. Mason raised a hand to halt the group.

"Stay sharp," he said, his voice low but firm.

I adjusted the sling, brushing a soft kiss over Cristina's downy head. "Don't worry," I murmured, more to the party than the baby. "She's perfectly safe."

"Serena, are you sure you should be—" one of the rogues began, casting a doubtful glance at Cristina.

"Yes." I interrupted smoothly, my tone as calm as ever. "Focus on the fight ahead. I'll handle the rest." What? Why are you looking at me like that? I can get serious too y'know?

The growl grew louder, and from the shadows, a massive, reptilian beast emerged. Its glowing red eyes locked onto us, its claws scraping against the stone floor. The dungeon boss. Mason didn't hesitate, charging forward with a roar, his blade flashing as he aimed for the creature's neck.

The beast lunged, its claws swiping at Mason. My hand shot up, "Aegis of Hope" a soft golden glow enveloping him just as the claws connected. Instead of ripping through his armor, the attack glanced off harmlessly. Mason shot me a grateful nod before driving his blade into the beast's thick hide.

Behind me, a volley of arrows whistled past as our archer took her shot. One embedded itself in the creature's shoulder, earning a deafening screech. I barely blinked, my focus shifting to another party member who stumbled after being grazed by the beast's tail. 'Vital Surge' a quick gesture, sent a wave of healing energy their way, sealing the wound before it could slow them down.

Crissy stirred, letting out a soft coo. I rocked her gently, murmuring a lullaby under my breath. "Don't wake up now, little one. Mommy's busy." The creature reared back, preparing to unleash a torrent of acid from its gaping maw.

"Sacred Shield!" I called out, my voice steady despite the chaos. A barrier of light formed instantly, encasing the party in a shimmering dome just as the acid sprayed toward us. The substance hissed and evaporated on contact with the shield, leaving us unharmed.

Mason took advantage of the opening, leaping onto the beast's back and plunging his sword deep into its spine. The creature thrashed violently, but I extended my hand again, sending tendrils of light to bind its limbs.

"It's almost done!" Mason shouted, driving his blade in one final time. With a guttural roar, the beast collapsed, its massive body hitting the ground with a resounding thud. Silence filled the cavern, broken only by the heavy breathing of the party.

"Good job, everyone," I said, stepping forward to inspect the group. "No serious injuries. Excellent coordination." Mason turned to me, wiping sweat from his brow. "Serena, I don't know how you manage to do all that with a baby strapped to you."

I smiled, shifting Crissy slightly so her tiny face was visible. "It's just another day for us." Crissy yawned, her eyes fluttering open briefly before closing again. I chuckled softly, pressing my lips to her forehead. "See? Even she knows it's nothing to worry about."

The party laughed, the tension easing as they began to gather the spoils of the fight. But I kept my senses sharp. After all, a healer's job is never truly done.

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"THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP!" They all shouted in unison, Mr. Char already told me the compensation for my help. Not gonna lie, he is very generous with the rewards. I waved them goodbye, and went back to my car.

"Hm... It took an hour... I should head back home now." I placed Crissy to her car seat, making sure that she'll be safe when I drive. After making sure that there's nothing wrong, I drove off.