Chapter 120: Harik’s Past
Li Wen did not want to delve into why Moria appeared with the Bishop of the Gospel Great Cathedral.
While chatting with the nun, she managed to get some useful information. Ordinary clerical staff seemed to be unaware of Moen Abbey, Saint Floranne, or the Path of Light Chasing.
This was very strange. It was one thing not to know the former places of the Abbey and the Path of Light Chasing, but for a nun of the Church not to know the saints canonized by the Glor, it was quite thought-provoking.
Between considering whether it was the nun’s problem or the problem of the Glor, Li Wen did not make a hasty conclusion.
“We can go back,” Moria said softly. A worn Knight’s Sword now hung at his waist. It was the weapon used by Bishop Carlo when he was young, not a divine weapon, but it was enough for Moria to wield.
“Go back?” Li Wen tilted her head slightly. “Back where?”
“Sorcery Anomalies Hand.”
He needed to ask Harik about Nasha, the more detailed the better.
Among those he had previously contacted who had Great Blood and the opportunity to replace the real with fake, only Nasha existed. Great Blood was a miracle created by Oles Dihl, and also a sin. To prevent Nasha from causing irreparable calamity with it, Moria had to get it back.
Li Wen did not take it too seriously. She happened to be going to ask Marymana their attitude towards the suspected “Sage Ovum Sheath.”
So, the two left in a hurry under the farewell gaze of the bishop.
“Lord Carlo, who is Saint Floranne?”
Bishop Carlo glanced at the nun, thought for a moment, and then calmly replied, “I have never heard this name, but since it can be called ‘Saint,’ it must be a saint from another sect.”
*
“Who is the twelfth saint of the Holy Church?”
Li Wen said abruptly.
“She is under Saint Helena,” Moria looked at her in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
“Is it possible that the twelfth saint of the Glor is actually someone else, but for some reason, the Glor and the Holy See have concealed her existence?”
Li Wen proposed such an audacious statement. If it were anyone else from the Holy See present, they would probably draw their Longsword and cut her down as a heretic. But Moria would not do that. He seriously considered the possibility of this statement and finally reached a conclusion.
“Unlikely.”
Even Master Oles Dihl was about to become a saint, so what could the Holy Church not tolerate? This was not to deny Master Dihl’s contribution to saving Solonika, but the Glor always generously granted the greatest leniency and tolerance to saints who made great good deeds and sacrifices. They never denied such necessary evils.
It was not uncommon for heretics and heterogenders to be canonized as saints by the Holy See throughout history.
Moria could not imagine what kind of mistake a saint had committed to be expelled from the Glor.
That was probably impossible.
Since even the Eldest Son of the Holy See said so, Li Wen naturally lost interest in delving further.
Perhaps Saint Floranne’s full name was Floranne Helena.
The two returned along the way. This time, there was no magic from the Sorcery Anomalies Hand, so they could only return from Mitreton Academy.
Back at the Sorcery Anomalies Hand Association beneath Mitreton Academy, Moria went to talk with Harik, while Li Wen found Marymana. Her secret talk with Princess Victoria seemed to have ended, and the princess was nowhere to be seen, presumably having taken her leave.
“I will go to Black Raven Port tonight. This is a commission from Highness,” before Li Wen could even ask anything, Marymana looked at Li Wen and spoke. “I have already informed my teacher, but I don’t know what his plans are.”
It seemed that Princess Victoria’s target was also the Sage Ovum Sheath? Li Wen was not surprised. As for Marymana’s teacher, one of the Seven Sages of the Bird Association, Li Wen did not believe he would personally get involved. Talanis Air Continent needed his presence.
“Is there anything I can do?”
Li Wen asked. Before the Treasure Hunt truly began, there was no need for her to participate. Anyway, she just needed to reap the final fruits of victory.
“Just stay here with peace of mind,” Marymana smiled confidently.
Marymana’s confidence stemmed from herself and the Sorcery Anomalies Hand, but Li Wen was not very convinced. At least in her previous life, the final victor was not them, but the Wolf Leader of the Wolf Pack Club. He was like the most patient hunter hidden in the dense forest, waiting to deliver the final and most fatal blow to his prey.
“I will.”
This was naturally a lie. If she stayed here, how could Li Wen obtain the Sage Ovum Sheath? Besides, Moria had said it was best to stay by his side and not leave. He was definitely going to get involved in this matter, and she would shift the blame to him then.
Meanwhile, Moria had also learned about Nasha from Harik.
Harik met Nasha a year ago at a forest gathering of Wild Mages. Due to Arthur’s Supernatural Control Act, any form of mystical knowledge exchange or Transcendent gatherings were strictly prohibited. Therefore, most illegal Transcendants, especially Wild Mages like them, would set a secret time and place for regular gatherings to discuss magical academics, with the location and time changing for each gathering.
It was Harik’s first time participating in a Transcendent gathering, and he had made quite a few blunders. However, Nasha took an instant liking to him, repeatedly praising his talent and achievements in magic.
“…Actually, I just demonstrated a trivial trick. As long as one has studied magic extensively, even a Wild Mage like me can do it. So, at that time, I guessed she was a novice who had just embarked on her path, and was unfamiliar with everything about mages.”
Moria did not quite agree with Harik’s idea. Evidence from various aspects showed that Nasha was by no means as simple as an ordinary Wild Mage.
“After that, Nasha begged to follow me to learn spells… Haha, thinking back now, I was truly arrogant back then, actually thinking I was some genius magician, so I readily agreed…”
After learning about Harik and Nasha, Moria began to consider another question: why did Nasha hide her strength and identity to approach Harik, and why did she abandon him in the end? Was her replacement of Great Blood a spur-of-the-moment decision or a premeditated act?
If the latter, when did she start planning?
Moria did not dwell on these questions for too long. What was important now was to find her whereabouts and retrieve the lost Great Blood.
