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You follow the path up to the steps{if Black cat = 1}, the cat happily walking alongside you{endif}. It raises the path about a meter up to the graveyard, which is surrounded by a hedge all around. As you walk up the steps you see a vague shimmer in the air behind the final step.

"Tia, do you see that too?"

"See what? Oh, you mean the barrier? Of course, it's a church."

"well... what does it do?"

She looks at you like you just said something incredibly weird. "Well, it's the barrier of the god or goddess of the church. How do you not know that?"

"Never mind that, can we pass through safely?"

"yeah, all it does is block any magic from sources other than the deity of the church. It's just for safety."

You slowly poke your hand through the barrier, simply feeling a tingle as it enters. "So why doesn't it cover the whole grounds?"

Stepping through, Tia gestures around. "It's mostly to make sure no one messes with the graveyard. Wouldn't want any upstart necromancer to have access to such a source. But they can be adjusted based on what is needed."

Necromancer???!!!

You step through as well. "So can you use my spear inside the barrier?"

Tia grabs the spear and pulls it out of your hands. "Yep and my powers aren't weakened at all. Pure skill, no magic." She looks at you smugly, clearly very happy to have the upper hand for once.

You reach into your pocket and say: "Oh well, but then you might never get your panties back."

Tia blushes, her smug look vanishing instantly. "I was just joking around." She hands you back the spear.

A smile comes to your face as you reassure her: "I know, don't worry." And you head for the church.

{if Black cat = 1}Behind you the cat lies down on the steps just before the barrier. Going for another nap in the nice warm sun. {endif}