As Ren and the others stepped out of the inn, they were immediately met with the full force of the raging storm. The wind howled with ferocity, whipping through the streets with relentless intensity. Rain lashed down in torrents, drenching everything in its path.

Despite the weather, Ren and his companions pressed on. Rather they didn't have a choice in the matter. They needed to make sure that Azazel and the others were safe. They struggled against the gale-force winds, their hair and cloaks billowing wildly behind them as they made their way through the tempest.

"This won't do." Elena shielded the group from the worst of the storm. With a wave of her hand, she conjured a barrier of swirling air around them, providing a protective cocoon against the harsh weather. The wind magic formed a buffer against the driving rain and powerful gusts, allowing Ren and the others to navigate the treacherous streets with ease.

"This magic wouldn't last long as it consumed mana."

"Then we have to hurry and find them," Ren said. With Elena leading the way, they pressed forward towards the secluded alley where Iraelyn was engaged in battle with a group of Guardians. The sound of clashing metal echoed through the narrow passageway, punctuated by the occasional burst of magical energy.

As they approached, Ren and the others watched in awe as Iraelyn held her own against a group of guardians. Her movements were fluid and precise, her claws flashing in the dim light as she fended off the attacks of her enemies.

But what caught their attention the most was the fact that Iraelyn was unaffected by the influence of the Goddess of Smiles and Happiness. Unlike the townsfolk who had fallen into a trance-like state of euphoria, Iraelyn remained herself, her expression steely as she battled against the Guardians.

Ren felt a surge of hope swell within him as he realized that perhaps the Goddess had not yet taken notice of them. If Iraelyn remained unaffected, then there was a chance that they could still escape the town without falling under the influence of the Goddess's domain.

"Do you need help?" Elena asked, her voice cutting through the chaos.

Iraelyn paused for a moment, her attention briefly diverted to Ren and the others. "Oh. You guys."

In that fleeting moment, a guardian seized the opportunity to strike. However, it seemed as though Iraelyn possessed eyes in the back of her head, effortlessly dispatching the guardian with a punch without even glancing in its direction.

"I can handle this. Don't ruin my fun," Iraelyn asserted, her tone laced with a hint of irritation.

"It's not about fun. We have to find the others and escape from her," Elena reprimanded, her voice tinged with urgency.

Off to the side, Pamela trembled with fear and nervousness. She couldn't fathom why anyone would find fighting guardians enjoyable. And why were these souls so powerful? It didn't make any sense. Pamela lamented silently, her thoughts racing.

Are they really souls? Pamela questioned, her mind grappling with the inexplicable events unfolding before her.

Suddenly, amidst the heat of the battle, Iraelyn's halo slipped from her head, clattering to the ground. Pamela gasped, nearly losing consciousness from the shock of the revelation.

"What on the heavens?!" Pamela exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprised.

Iraelyn casually retrieved the fallen halo, nonchalantly placing it back atop her head as if nothing had happened. "I guess I dropped it," she remarked casually before diving back into the fray.

Pamela's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Are you for real?"

"It seems the secret is out," Elena remarked, her tone resigned.

"Don't tell anyone about it or you'll regret it," Evie warned, her expression unreadable.

"If you know what's good for you, keep your mouth shut," Ren added, his gaze piercing.

Pamela shrank under the others' intense scrutiny, her fear mounting. "Um . . . I'm a goddess. You know that mortals aren't welcomed here. Only souls should be here."

"We're already here, so deal with it," Iraelyn growled, flexing her clawed hand menacingly.

It appeared the fight was over, ending as swiftly as it had begun.

In the blink of an eye, Iraelyn appeared behind Pamela, her sharp dragon hands pressing against Pamela's neck. "You better not do or say anything funny. It's always easy to kill you," she warned, her voice dripping with menace.

"Y-yes," Pamela stammered, tears welling in her eyes.

What had she gotten herself into? If only she had avoided Ren and the others, none of this would have happened.

'Augh. It's because of my shitty luck, and I'm supposed to be the goddess of fortune and luck. How very ironic,' Pamela lamented bitterly.

"So, what are you guys doing here?" Iraelyn inquired, her tone curious.

"What are we doing here?" Elena echoed, shaking her head in disbelief. "We're here because we're worried about you and the others. The alarm just sounded, and we found you being chased by these little eye devils."

"Guardians," Pamela corrected automatically.

"Anyway, we have to find the others. It's not safe here anymore," Ren asserted firmly.

"If you're looking for the others, I'm afraid that they have already been captured."

All eyes turned towards the source of the voice, landing on Malifira, who now stood diminutively in the size of a palm.

"Malifira?!" the others exclaimed in surprise.

Malifira chuckled softly. "That's right, it's me. There's been a little . . . accident, and I was reduced to this. Don't worry, I think the effect will wear off tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? That's so long!" the others protested in unison.

"Just what in the world happened to you?" Elena demanded, her brow furrowed with concern.

Ren massaged his temples, feeling a headache coming on. "Not when we need all the help we can get."

"Can you reverse it?" Elena asked anxiously, realizing that even her spells was not effective against such a strange transformation.

Just what in the world had Malifira gotten herself into?

Despite the tension, Evie chuckled softly. "I'm more surprised that you haven't been blown away by the wind yet."

All eyes turned to her, their expressions deadpan.

"She really does have a weird sense of humor," someone muttered under their breath.

Malifira shrugged nonchalantly. "I have an item that let me stay grounded, and I'm working on this thing as we speak."

"Wait," Iraelyn interjected, her voice cutting through the conversation. "What did you mean to say that the others were captured?"