The Villain's Redemption

It seems that she had to use everything she could to leave this place. Rhea smiled at everyone who can't even look at her straight in the eyes. To them, staring at her blue eyes was a sin. It meant death.

To the original Rhea it was nothing but stupidity. She stared at everyone, men, women, and children as they hoped she would be able to protect them from the dark ones and rogues just outside of their villages.

"Thank you for being so patient," she started. "Mercy…. How many representatives are here?"

"Replying to mistress, we have a total of twelve village leaders. All of them were asking protection from the Sybill."

She nodded, her benevolent gaze once again roamed in the hall as she slowly took in the interior, and the number of guards wearing the same shade of blue as the one Mercy was wearing. All of them had swords in their h.i.p.s, their steely gaze matched their straight posture. "I will create talismans… "

"Mistress what about your body?"

"Thanks to the medicine, I feel better now." She was talking about the medicine that she didn't drink. She met Mercy's curious gaze. Just one look and Rhea knew that this Mercy knew about the poison inside the medicine soup that the previous Rhea had been drinking — the same poison who finally killed Rhea. "Give me the sheets." She eyed the pieces of yellow paper to her right. They were about four inches tall and one inch in diameter. The village leaders would put the talismans to their doors, and it would prevent the dark ones from getting close to the village.

Even the previous Rhea couldn't understand how it worked. All she knew was the electric current would surge inside her every time she uses her ability. It would instantaneously make her feel better. However, the church does not permit her to use her ability all the time.

They only wanted her to create at least fifteen talismans every day. After that, she would be sent to her heavily guarded quarters and would inform everyone that she was feeling ill. At that time, Rhea wasn't poisoned yet.

So she complained and would try to help more people. Again, the church would inform her that they were only doing this for her protection. Then, they would make her drink potions that would make her feel 'better'. And that was when the sickness started.

The previous Rhea didn't think about it, as she knew about the sickness from the history books about the previous Sybills. She thought it was normal to feel sick after using a lot of her ability.

Rhea watched as Mercy brought her the yellow papers. Then she immediately started chanting some words only a Sybill would understand. After taking her healing potion, Rhea could now create a talisman without fainting.

"Mistress? Would you like to drink some medicine?" Mercy interrupted her just as she finished creating the first talisman. Rhea ignored the woman as she stared at the symbols that appeared on the paper. The symbols appeared to glow, it was as if it was floating on the paper.

How stunning!

[Side quest activated: Make the villages revolt against the church. Reward: 200 coins. No option to decline.]

Before she could process her thoughts, the system echoed inside her head again…

[Side quest activated: Create a daring escape. The more daring, the better. Reward: 200 coins. No option to decline.]

[Side quest activated: Save the villages from the dark ones. Reward: 200 coins. No option to decline.]

[Side quest activated: Find the source of the dark ones that are terrorizing the villagers for years now. Reward: 200 coins. No option to decline.]

Rhea blinked. Then she blinked again.

What's with these side quests? These are really hard ones!

This is not just manipulating people!

'Robot! I am not very good at saving people! How come there's no option to decline?'

[Great power comes with great responsibility.]

Rhea facepalmed.

What the hell? What great power?

"Mistress… you look pale. Are you alright?"

Obviously, the woman was waiting for her to faint.

"I am good. I need to protect them." Rhea said in a gentle tone. "Let me continue. Please stop interrupting me. I need to protect them."

When the people heard her, everyone immediately knelled.

"The Sybill is merciful and kind!"

"The Sybill is merciful and kind!"

"The Sybill is merciful and kind!"

"The Sybill is merciful and kind!"

"May the gods bless the Sybill!"

"May the gods bless the Sybill!"

"May the gods bless the Sybill!"

Rhea smiled. She didn't miss the sinister glint in her maid's eyes. "This is what the gods wanted me to do. Please stand up and rest. I might not able to finish the talismans tonight so the church would find accommodations for everyone."

"This… mistress… that is not — "Mercy tried to stop her. However, Rhea only looked at Mercy.

"What's the matter? Are you saying that the church won't help the people in need?" Rhea's brows knitted. "Are you trying to ruin the name of the benevolent church?"

"Mistress, I did not say that!"

"Preposterous!" Rhea's voice boomed. The thick suffocating silence that followed made everyone still. "You are disrespecting the church! Guards!"

For the first time, panic appeared in Mercy's face. "Mistress! I did not say such a thing! How could you frame me?"

"How could a mere servant say that the Sybill is framing her?" One of the village leaders, a woman with long blue hair, chimed in. "Where are the guards! How come the guards are not listening to Sybill's orders?"

Mercy's eyes widened. She looked at the anger in the eyes of the village leaders. "Mistress! Please forgive this little one! Mistress, I didn't mean it! Please forgive me!" She kneeled and kissed the marble floor, tears already streaming in her cheeks. "Mistress… please me more benevolent and forgive this servant!"

When the guards saw the scene, they approached Mercy and started dragging her towards the exit.

"Stop! Let her go!" Rhea's soft voice interrupted them.

"Mistress…" Trembling, Mercy once again started kissing the floor. "Please forgive me. I didn't mean to stop you. Please forgive me!"

"The gods told me to give them shelter." Rhea lied without batting an eyelid. "What you did would warrant death."

"Mistress!"

Rhea sigh, a tear ran down her cheeks. "But I am someone grateful for your services all these years. So… I would ask them to send you to a nunnery to pay for your sins."