Roxy on the record

We finished our mission, thankfully there were no complications on ours.

Once we got back and filed the paperwork we added Roxy to our little group and I went home to get a change of clothes, because walking around in half-chard pants and only my chest wrapped in bandages, was not a look I wanted to be known for.

Passing a shop window with a decent reflection I had to say I was fairly attractive, I didn't hate that idea.

Maybe I could get used to this and even enjoy it.

---

Who was I kidding I would never get used to this.

" No that one's just a little bit too fire god, try the next one"

Kay and Roxy were already done with their shopping, both of them just updating their weapons or armor.

With a straying piece of clothing here or there as they saw it through the day.

Me however they wanted me to get a whole new look that would mesh with the armor style I wanted.

However all their efforts and all of my previous ones fell away when I saw it.

It was a black battle skirt, it was part of a whole set, everything you needed to be fully kitted for battle.

"Ohhh, I didn't even know they carried gear that high tier."

My best friend approved as well it seemed.

I was just staring at it, mesmerized.

Something about this outfit called to me, the same way the book in The Archives called to me.

"We normally don't, this was in with a shipment of raw material and premades from one of our suppliers, it wasn't on the Manifest but my boss refused to even look into where it came from, just wants to sell it."

"I'll take it" I say the words knowing I should ask more questions, but not caring.

"V even with a 'you did get it here' markdown, this is really expensive."

"And?"

"Would you like that packaged or would you like to wear it out"

My best friend shot the sales lady a look but knew she was going to lose this argument.

---

In the end, it cost me everything I had managed to save to this point and everything I had brought from 'home'.

My heart still soared because it was worth it.

My suspicions were right, the moment I put it on my tattoos showed and glowed, the pattern having expanded further up my arms recently making the effect ethereal.

With the glow, the already near perfect fit became perfect, the outfit changed size but so did I, we met somewhere in the middle. Most people wouldn't be able to notice the difference in my body.

I knew putting this on had somehow accelerated my Goddess' plans.

What people would notice, is the color change, the outfit was now black with pink highlights, the pink highlights took the shape of the ritual craft lines made into the fabric that provided the high tier protection on such a light material.

' You now wear the armor of one of my sacred knights, fitting for the rank of power you now possess'

The Whisper of my goddess took the mystery away and I shared it with my companions.

"Well you are our heavy hitter, a knight being in that role is probably the only thing that makes sense about our little group."

---

I know some of it is my Goddess's influence but I never thought I would be this happy about any piece of clothing, let alone something so feminine.

However I couldn't sit and admire myself, my friends had crashed out in my living room last night and I needed to rouse them so we could get to work, because I really was broke now.

"You Two better be grateful I can cure hangovers"

"thanks v" " f*** off"

Simultaneous replies from my house guests, I give you one guess which was which.

"I've got a light breakfast ready for you," I indicate two plates sitting on the coffee table by the couch they had crashed out on. "Sorry it's not bigger, we need to be moving and sluggish teammates are not helpful teammates."

While they ate I finished enjoying my tea.

This life wasn't so bad.

---A few weeks later.

"This sucks!"

" I know I know, but it pays well and that's what matters,"

" I know but we're basically going to be babysitting some rich idiots kid that decided they wanted to play at being an adventure, they've not checked in and now it's our problem.

When they're probably just fucking around happy to not be under daddy's thumb. "

" If it makes you feel any better the contract said nothing about their emotional well-being, you can make fun of them the entire way back if you want. "

" Now you're speaking my language "

" V , don't encourage her "

" Roxy all I do is encourage her, it's hilarious most of the time. "

" I can't believe I ended up being the responsible one in a group. "

" I mean, you did join a group of fuck ups,"

" Can you really keep calling us that when we've got such a high mission success rate."

" Hey just because we're stubborn enough to not die doesn't mean we're not fuck ups."

" You're in a chipper mood... you're just excited about the money aren't ya." Kay, always ready to call me out.

" Maybe "

" it's been a few weeks we've completed enough missions to be fine. "

" Yes, fine, however can I be blamed for wanting to have a safety net like I used to?"

" no, I...."

Both me and Roxy soon saw why Kay had stopped mid sentence, we had arrived at the campsite the group we were looking for was last known to be.

This cave campsite had been marked safe and used by multiple teams over the previous months, something must have changed because everything was destroyed and there was blood everywhere.

" We should go, we need to report this."

'No my child, find and destroy, if you leave it will get away.'

" We can't"

" Why not?!"

" My goddess just told me that if we don't kill it now, it'll get away and kill again."

" Did she tell you what it was?"

" No "

" And you still want to... Fine... fine! Roxy look alive, high alert, V, orders?"

"I will be up front, Kay be middle, Rox be rear. Kay best healing on standby, Rox and me will have best single target attack primed."

"OK" "understood"

There was a soft glow from both Roxy and Kay.

' I am the light that pierces the darkness '

A heavy crossbow with a bolt larger than I'd ever seen, that glowed so bright that it was as if we were in the Sun, instead of just having the Torches and the small ceiling hole.

Somehow it didn't hurt our eyes and let us see near perfect.

We ventured deeper into the cave Network through a hole that wasn't marked on the map.

It looks as if something had pushed its way through into this chamber.