Chapter 197 News from Home
The cloak was removed, and the maiden’s soft silver-white hair cascaded down like moonlight. Ignet stood beside the Goddess, his eyes possessing true sight, allowing him to see the princess’s approaching steps and the determined lift of her fair face.
Compared to the delicate and beautiful girl cherished like a treasure by everyone in the past, Misella had grown considerably, appearing before him as a vibrant and beautiful young woman.
Beneath her silver-white hair, her face remained beautiful, perfect like a precious crystal, yet etched with thinness and weariness from hardship.
The silver-haired princess raised her face, her sapphire-like, clear and beautiful eyes reflecting an incredibly complex mix of emotions: sorrow and joy, hatred and love… such contrasting feelings all presented together, perfectly fused on the maiden’s face.
Is the sorrow and hatred because I abandoned her, killed her father? But she is the princess of the kingdom, and she still hasn’t let go of him?
Beyond these emotions, Ignet also saw the princess’s tightly clenched fingertips, her effort to conceal it, a minuscule hint of hope.
However, in the depths of Ignet’s memory, Misella was still the child with messy wedding attire, her heartbreaking sobs, and her humble pleas.
This was his lifelong debt. It was also the sin he needed to repay to Misella, but…
Ignet’s palm tightened, and he raised his face, looking at the silver-haired girl whose clear blue eyes slightly rippled, offering a gentle smile. “Your Highness, Princess.”
The radiance in Misella’s eyes dimmed. She opened her mouth, as if wanting to smile, but couldn’t utter a sound, her beautiful face as pale as fragile porcelain.
Sitting on the throne, Verafia curiously peeked her little head out. Seeing the silver-haired princess’s sad expression, her big golden eyes widened, and she nudged the knight beside her with her foot under the long skirt.
That idiot, how could he bully a girl like that?
“It’s Misella… Misella, why are you with Andes, and why have you come to the World Tree? Are you looking for Ignet?” The slender, long eyelashes blinked slightly as the life Goddess’s mellifluous voice filled the grand palace.
“Hmm, from Peka to the Emerald Forest, such a long distance, Misella must have suffered a lot, right? If it’s related to this idiot, this young lady will definitely get justice for you!”
Misella saw the maiden’s compassionate gaze. She never expected that the girl who once held fire and wanted to kill her would show her pity.
However, in a flash, she understood that this was because Verafia no longer saw her as an enemy, and her emotions became even more difficult, forcing a smile onto her face.
“No, no, Vera… Your Highness Goddess.”
Her teeth biting her red lips slightly, the princess let out a faint sound, “Lord Andes… rescued me last year after I escaped from Peka. That’s why I was able to follow him to your kingdom. And it wasn’t Ignet I wanted to see, but you.”
“Last year? Escaped from Peka?” Verafia was taken aback.
A year ago, they had just defeated the Moon Goddess and rebuilt the Elf Empire. Due to being busy with civil war and reconstruction, and also because of the Great Seal, the Elf Empire had been cut off from the continental nations for thirty years. Even now, the Elf Empire did not have much information about the current state of the outside world.
But Verafia knew at least that in the Peka Kingdom, the civil war that had lasted for three years finally ended with Queen Filirya’s victory. Duke Dawn, the leader of the royalist faction, was sent to the guillotine on charges of rebellion. Even Ignet’s father became the Prime Minister of the Peka Kingdom.
Misella was Filirya’s youngest daughter, still the princess of the Peka Kingdom, the beloved “White Iris Princess” of everyone. Who would persecute her?
If it were the remnants of Duke Dawn’s forces, how could they have made Misella say she escaped from Peka?
“Yes… Mother, Mother has gone mad. She and her witches want to destroy Peka… That’s why I wanted to escape, but they deliberately let me escape, intending to kill me outside of Peka.”
“Lord Andes rescued me from the witches’ claws at the empire’s border.”
The silver-haired princess’s intermittent voice carried, her profound sorrow lingering in her heart like a rusted blade scraping against her tender heart.
Upon hearing her words, Verafia’s eyes flickered sharply, and Andes, beside Princess Misella, nodded, confirming the princess’s statement.
Verafia suddenly realized that not only Andes but also Princess Misella’s cultivation had reached the Sacred Domain. However, her aura was extremely unstable, seemingly due to some forbidden method, forcibly elevated under duress.
As a Goddess, Verafia could tell that what maintained Misella’s cultivation in the Sacred Domain was a fragment of the Star God.
“Because, to escape pursuit, Misella used the Star God fragment left by Lancaster to forcibly elevate her cultivation to Saint-level?”
In Verafia’s eyes, despite Misella’s extraordinary talent, she could never have reached the Sacred Domain within five years. Just like Lancaster’s mass-produced Royal Guards with Star God fragments, Misella’s approach, although not as severe as the Royal Guards, would still damage her foundation and consume her life.
However, upon hearing Misella’s words, Verafia’s originally relaxed mood became chaotic.
The current Queen of Peka was Princess Filirya, her lover from a hundred years ago. The witch Misella spoke of was likely “Saintess” Ilyss. These two maidens had even more past ties to her than Seraphis.
But, according to Misella, they not only wanted to kill her but also to destroy Peka?
“I had no choice, so I followed Lord Andes to find you.”
Misella’s jade hands clasped tightly, biting her lips, her gaze complex as she looked at the Goddess on the throne. Finally, she lowered her face, her trembling voice continuing.
“About what Father did to you, Mother told me some things, and I know I shouldn’t resent you because of it.”
“But, if you still hold grudges, Your Highness Goddess, please vent them on me… But, Miss Verafia, for the sake of the millions of citizens of Peka, please stop Mother. Even if you want to abolish the royal family afterward, I will have no regrets.”
“Your Highness Princess, Veer doesn’t mean that.”
Looking at Misella, who bit her thin lips with a determined expression and bowed to plead before the Goddess’s throne, Ignet quickly stepped forward, taking her hand to comfort her.
The silver-haired princess’s turned sapphire eyes teared up, but when she saw Ignet appear before her, her gaze instinctively avoided him, showing sadness and guilt.
“Ignet…”
Misella spoke, her face showing struggle. Her fair fingers clutched tightly at her cloak, yet she still raised her face, biting her lips. “I’m sorry.”
Ignet instinctively felt a bad omen. But he couldn’t stop the girl’s words.
“Prime Minister, Marquis Mays… was also executed by Mother a year ago for trying to dissuade her.”
Ignet didn’t know how he heard the princess’s voice clearly.
He only felt the world spinning, and then a vast blankness occupied his consciousness.
—
(End of Volume 5)
There should be an epilogue…
Epilogue (Part 1)
Even on the World Tree, the sun’s light would eventually set. Dense sunset clouds covered the vast sky, and the remaining dim yellow light was entirely cast upon the branches and leaves of the World Tree. The verdant leaves were tinged with a golden radiance, rustling in the swaying wind.
An elf looked up, seeing the leaves swaying like wind chimes, and thought, is the Goddess’s mood also like these restless leaves at this moment?
However, such a blasphemous thought surfaced for only an instant before he quickly dismissed it.
In the Goddess’s palace, Verafia sat on the throne with her silken feet curled up, her hands propping her cheeks. She looked at Andes before her, puffing out her snow-white cheeks, her mind in utter disarray.
“Is it really as Misella said? I can’t understand, what exactly do Filirya and Ilyss want to do?”
Verafia’s slender fingers grasped her soft gold hair, her big eyes filled with confusion.
After Ignet and Princess Misella left, Andes explained the general situation for her.
From her understanding, Filirya had allied with Bishop Richelieu of the Peka Church back then, representing countless followers of Peka. Even if Ilyss’s Abyssal Church had made considerable contributions during the Peka civil war, it shouldn’t have reached the point where the Abyssal Church replaced them.
Filirya, as the princess of the former king, naturally commanded the loyalty of the nobles and churches supporting the royal family. However, according to Andes, Filirya not only supported the Abyssal Church to replace the Church of Light but also gradually confiscated the lands of the nobles who supported her, bestowing them upon believers of the Abyss.
This completely defied logic, and such hasty actions that disregarded consequences and benefits left Verafia utterly bewildered as to Filirya’s reasons.
“Hmm, could it be, as Misella said, that Filirya and Ilyss really want to destroy the Peka Kingdom?”
Even now, Verafia harbored no goodwill towards the Abyssal Church, an organization that only brought blasphemy and destruction.
“I have always been in the Empire, and I only hear about Peka’s internal affairs, not as much as Princess Misella understands,” Andes replied, seeing the Goddess’s inquiring gaze. He shook his head and said, “However, when I was escorting Princess Misella, I heard in the Empire that the Queen of Peka had crushed the nobles who rebelled because of the Prime Minister. I’m afraid the Peka Kingdom has now completely fallen into the hands of the Abyssal Church.”
“Princess Misella once told me that Prime Minister Eggesti must have also been aware of this early on and even had a chance to escape in the end. However, he was too hesitant and concerned about his relationship with the Queen, holding onto a glimmer of hope, and ultimately met a tragic end.”
“Eggesti? I never imagined he was so loyal to Peka Roland,” Verafia stuck out her tongue slightly.
Eggesti was her apprentice, but even if he hadn’t betrayed her back then, he was at least silent. If it weren’t for Ignet, she would have lost interest in this Marquis long ago.
But Ignet was different…
Verafia recalled Ignet’s ashen face and near fainting when he heard the news in the great hall.
She knew that despite his reticence, the Marquis Mays held a deep affection for him. Because of her, Ignet had been away from his hometown and family… and even his father had died at the other end of the world. Ignet must have felt immense guilt.
What about Ignet’s relatives, his sister Shiel? In this situation, are they well?
Verafia then thought of Flarn, who had become the Blood Queen. That quiet but very dependent blood race girl, she couldn’t help but worry about her more in her heart.
She raised her head slightly and saw Ignet re-enter the palace, her heart startled. “Ignet, why are you here?”
“Princess Misella has been settled. Little Fei is with her.” Ignet came to her side. His expression was still somewhat drained, but he still smiled at her.
“Hmm, then, about Eggesti…”
Verafia wanted to hold his hand, her golden eyes slightly evasive.
“Don’t worry, Vera. I’m fine. Since that was Father’s personal destiny, and we are on opposite ends of the world, it’s hard for us to change it. I just hope that Father’s soul can find peace.”
Ignet said, seeing what the girl was thinking. He reached out and rubbed her golden little head. “Actually, if it weren’t for you, and I had stayed by my father’s side, perhaps only one more person would have died.”
Andes suddenly raised his face. “Regarding Lord Eggesti, Princess Misella pleaded with the Queen of Peka. She made great efforts, but… I hope Lord Ignet does not blame her.”
Ignet nodded silently. “Of course, I have no reason to blame Little Mi. Please don’t worry, I am not blinded by hatred solely because of you.”
Seeing Ignet like this, Verafia felt a pang of distress. She suddenly jumped off the throne and ran to him with her silken feet. She reached out and took the youth’s hand.
“Ignet, why don’t we go back to Peka together?”
Ignet looked at the girl, who slightly raised her golden big eyes, surprised.
He knew that his girl, who had always longed for a peaceful and leisurely life, was now willing to give it up for him, after finally regaining it.
“After all, Eggesti is Ignet’s father.”
Verafia pulled his fingers. This time, she didn’t act as proud as before, but spoke with a rather low and subtle voice. She raised her face again and said softly,
“It’s not just for Ignet. Misella also asked me, and… I have a feeling that Ilyss and Filirya’s ambitions are not limited to just Peka.”
Hearing the girl’s voice, Ignet revealed a hint of emotion.
Verafia, still holding his hand, her small body sat back on the throne, her delicate fingers grasping the silken gold threads. “However, the distance from the Emerald Forest to Peka is not easy. If we go through the Northern Ice Ocean… that’s even more so.”
“Unless we pass through the Storm Inner Sea, but that’s the territory of the Empire again…”
Verafia’s voice suddenly paused. She raised her gaze and looked at Andes, who had been conversing with her.
“By the way, Andes, you are a Temple Knight of the Church of Light, possessing Dawn, why are you by Princess Misella’s side?”
She recalled her previous question. As Princess Siya’s knight, Andes’s feelings for her were no less than hers and Ignet’s, but according to Andes, he had been by Misella’s side for over a year.
The young man’s deep blue eyes were raised as he said, “Your Highness Goddess, I have already been branded as a heretic colluding with demons and have been removed from the Holy See.”
“What?”
Verafia exclaimed. She remembered that in Peka, Andes before her was suspected to be a chosen of Light and the most talented person on the entire continent, almost decreed to be the next Grand Knight. How could his clerical status have been revoked?
“Then, what about Princess Siya?”
“Pope Moon imprisoned the Princess. He also killed His Majesty the Emperor.”
Hearing Andes’s words, Verafia understood his intention in coming to the World Tree. Her heart became chaotic, but before she could speak, the blue-haired youth knelt before her on one knee, a knight’s gesture of oath.
“Your Highness Goddess, I am willing to offer you everything. Please help Siya.”
Epilogue (Part 2)
Ignet walked out of the palace. He had intended to find Misella but discovered the silver-haired princess standing anxiously at the entrance of the palace courtyard, absentmindedly talking with Ophi.
“Ignet?”
Seeing the familiar face appear, Misella’s eyes lit up, and she rushed over, but then seemed to remember her reservations and gradually stopped before Ignet.
“Why are you here, Your Highness Princess? Did Little Fei upset you?”
Ignet smiled as he saw the silver-haired princess approaching.
“N-no, it’s not Miss Ophi’s fault, it’s just that I insisted on waiting here.”
Misella said flusteredly, her sapphire-like beautiful eyes filled with mist, her fair fingers twisting slightly. She opened her lips, then lowered her head. “I’m sorry.”
“Are you talking about Father’s matter? Little Mi didn’t do anything wrong, and Your Highness braved danger to plead for Father and rescued him more than once, I am already very grateful.” Ignet shook his head and smiled.
“Then…” Misella slightly raised her face, her sapphire eyes falling on the youth’s slightly lonely face.
“Don’t worry.”
Ignet reached out and rubbed the princess’s head, showing a smile again. “Vera promised to help Little Mi return to Peka. After defeating your mother, she is also willing to support you as the new queen.”
Misella looked up at him, somewhat dazed. This was the first time Ignet had acted so intimately with her since their parting. But she felt as if their relationship had become even more distant.
She could feel Ignet’s calm state of mind. He no longer minded, no longer avoided her, treating her as just a friend, only a friend.
She wanted to look up and see Ignet’s gaze, which contained concern and a lingering apology.
Queen… is this your compensation for me? But I don’t want it, as long as I can…
She suddenly lowered her face, her lips curling in a self-mocking smile.
What right do I have to hope for anything now?
Yes, she had long understood that it was all a fantasy. Before coming to the Elf Kingdom, hadn’t she already made up her mind that even if Verafia wanted to kill her, she would have no regrets, as long as she was willing to save the citizens of Peka?
“But, we need to wait a little longer. Vera has already informed Queen Lavranos. After all, Little Mi is the princess of Peka, and I think Her Majesty the Queen will host a banquet for you.”
“However, at that time, Little Mi will likely need to assist Her Majesty the Queen in persuading the elven nobles.”
Misella took a soft breath. “I understand.”
“Well, that’s good. In the meantime, Little Mi will also reside in the temple. Vera has already prepared a room for you.”
“Doesn’t she… mind?”
“What does that girl mind?”
Ignet smiled. “By the way, Little Mi still has the bloodline of the Moon Elf. I wonder if Little Mi would be willing to go to the Moon Well?”
“Although the Moon Goddess has passed away, since Little Mi is her descendant, perhaps you can reconnect with that Goddess’s inheritance. Vera specifically asked me to accompany Little Mi…”
Listening to Ignet’s slightly smiling voice, Misella felt even more distressed. She felt estranged, something she hated. Although she believed she had overcome it, she couldn’t escape it. Her slender fingertips tightly grasped her tender palm.
“Ignet.”
The silver-haired princess before him spoke slightly. Ignet’s voice stopped as he saw her raised beautiful face and her clear sapphire eyes, wet with mist.
“Thank you.”
Her fair teeth contrasted clearly with her red lips, and Misella’s frail voice came from her lips, “Ignet… thank the Goddess on my behalf too.”
—
Sacred Tree Palace.
Queen Lavranos had been waiting there for a long time. She looked up and saw a delicate, small girl with an exquisite white dress, her spiritual power manifestation gradually appearing from the sacred tree. A gentle smile appeared on her face, and she gave a slight bow.
“Your Highness Goddess.”
“Lavranos… Hmm, don’t act like that. Lavranos knows me well. If you truly consider me your Goddess, I’d actually feel quite uncomfortable.”
The golden-haired Goddess said, slightly pouting her delicate lips.
Listening to the girl’s voice, the Elf Queen’s face showed a gentle smile.
The girl before them was the Goddess of the Elven race.
However, she had always been unwilling to consider herself a Goddess, believing that she, who had not contributed, should not enjoy the faith of the elves. Thus, she often stayed alone in the temple and had never influenced anything in her capacity as a Goddess.
Since the Goddess was unwilling to interfere in elven political affairs, a new Elf King was needed.
Lavranos, as one of the few legends of the elf race and possessing high prestige, naturally became the new Elf Queen after Seraphis declined.
“Have the Elven nobles met Misella?” Verafia found a place to sit and slightly raised her delicate face, looking at the Elf Queen beside her.
“Yes. The princess of Peka has persuaded many elves, but some heard that she has an unusual relationship with you and made inquiries about you from this princess,” Lavranos chuckled softly.
“Hmm.”
Verafia seemed somewhat unenthusiastic, her face showing a conflict.
Lavranos saw the thoughts in the Goddess’s mind and smiled, handing her a thick scroll.
“Your Highness, what you told me earlier. Half a month ago, I informed the elders of the major clans at the Sacred Tree Council. This is the final voting result on whether to send troops to Peka.”
The Sacred Tree Council was an ancient tradition of the elf race, convened by the Elf King, where elders from major city-states and clans voted according to different weights, making decisions on important national policies of the Elf Empire.
“Why do so many elves agree?”
Verafia’s divine sense swept over it, and she showed a slightly surprised expression, then looked at Lavranos with suspicion.
“Please don’t doubt me. I did not coerce or bribe anyone.”
“But, the elves have just ended a war. Why would they once again throw themselves into a human nation’s conflict?” Verafia asked, “Is it because of me?”
“Cough… your name was indeed mentioned.”
Lavranos saw the conflicted look in the girl’s eyes and couldn’t help but shake her head helplessly. “Your Highness, you are our Goddess, and you saved the elven nation. The elves respect you and love you. Otherwise, how could merely hearing your name move everyone?”
“But, precisely because of this—”
“Furthermore, as you said, Ilyss and Filirya, who rule Peka, are like Goddess Eluxia. They are backed by the power of the Abyss, which will endanger the entire continent. What will we do then?”
The Elf Queen said, “A hundred years ago, during the demon invasion, the elves who remained neutral joined the war under the command of Saint Silis. You are our Goddess, but the Peka Kingdom also concerns the safety of the elves themselves. Why would you have the thought of dragging us down?”
“Is that so…” Verafia murmured.
“And there’s more.”
Lavranos took out another letter and handed it to Verafia. The seemingly simple letter was imbued with deep magical fluctuations. Verafia’s divine sense brushed it aside, and lines of Imperial text appeared in her eyes.
“Is this Falter?” She raised her face slightly in surprise.
“‘The Sacred Light descends, twilight is close at hand.’ His Majesty Falter used this as a reason to request our troops,” Lavranos said softly, looking at the girl’s face. “His Majesty Falter helped us defeat the Dark Elves. This is not just a promise from the Goddess alone, but something all elves should bear.”
“Moreover, as he said… the karma from a hundred years ago, perhaps the final war is truly coming.”
Verafia clasped the letter in her jade hand and nodded. She thought of the Saintess of the Abyss, the Pope of Sacred Light… and slowly turned her face, looking out the window at the world.
The World Tree’s branches swayed, and the falling leaves were bathed in dim yellow light, just like the setting of twilight.
Prologue: Light
Light hung in the dome, like the scorching sun, brilliant and eternal.
Night receded, and daylight was frozen in the holy city.
The Tyloratea Empire rose after the fall of the Golden Era, surviving the demon disaster. It was now the most powerful nation in human history, the Holy Kingdom of Light.
The priest in his white robe suppressed the reverence in his heart. His supreme faith in the God of Light allowed him to witness the scene in the Temple.
Pure light descending from heaven permeated the Papal Palace. No amount of precious gold could describe its nobility, and no amount of pure faith could depict its sanctity.
It was an ocean of light, like a holy kingdom presented before his eyes. The saints carved and sculpted within were blessed by the light and would be reborn in the divine kingdom.
The priest became increasingly excited, bathed in the grace of God, even the fingers extending from his robe trembled.
But in the next moment, his expression transformed into pure reverence, a fervent flame surging in his cloudy eyes.
In his eyes, a light even more dazzling than the Sacred Light was selflessly showering its grace upon the world from the sacred throne.
He was the messenger of God in the world, selfless and compassionate, generous and great. The grace of the divine was brought to the world by him, and even the light could not overshadow that great figure.
His Majesty the Sacred Majesty brought this holy kingdom to this impure world!
The priest’s gaze was fervent, his emaciated body beneath the white robe outlined in the light. A brilliant path of gold and jade extended before him, leading to the supreme sacred throne.
Suddenly, with a crisp sound, the priest lowered his eyes and saw a broken sword at his feet.
The hilt of the broken sword was tightly grasped by a tattered palm. This belonged to a tall swordsman whose molten armor revealed a shattered body, his sword dissolving into this pure light.
He was not the only swordsman before him. He had countless companions, from all parts of the empire – Sword Towers, fortresses, the imperial capital, monasteries…
They struggled to reach the holy city, reciting prayers to the God of Light and the empire’s anthems, simply wanting to challenge the supremely sacred existence here, dying in pain in the suddenly descending sea of light.
Until death arrived, they never gave up their firm belief, never loosened their grip on their sword edge.
Seeing their tragic state in the light, the priest felt not sadness but a profound sense of glee. He also felt anger.
These evil, foolish mortals! They dared to challenge the sacred throne of Light, they dared to overthrow the holy kingdom of Light! For such heretics to die under the blessings of Light was the Pope’s mercy.
The priest’s eyes were filled with fanaticism once more.
He approached the supreme sacred throne of Light, facing the brilliant and pure Sacred Light. Unable to bear such heavy grace, he clasped the golden cross on his chest and bowed his face in fear. “Your Holiness, the Pope.”
“Child of Light, Light blesses you. Speak of your visions to the Supreme God.”
A figure of Sacred Light appeared on the sacred throne, shrouded in dense radiance, making it difficult to behold the great figure behind the light curtain, only hearing the divine voice.
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
The priest felt the Pope’s voice become much younger, attributing it to the great power of the Sacred Light, and became even more excited.
“Your Majesty, the Northern Alliance has officially forged an evil covenant. Those electors intend to form an alliance with Falter again, to offend your Holy Kingdom once more. The Queen of Peka has also sealed her borders, with dark powers cast over them…”
“The Northern Alliance and Falter? They were defeated by the Sacred Light before, and are not to be feared. As for Ilyss…”
The figure behind the light suddenly let out a strange laugh. “The former saintess wants to take revenge with the Abyss, does she? Little does she know, it is ultimately just the reverse side of the light.”
The priest did not know the names the Pope mentioned, but just hearing his voice, his eyes were also imbued with the purest light.
“Ander, you have traveled far and worked hard, so accept the blessings of Light here. My brother, the divine Lord has promised you eternal heaven.”
Moments later, the Pope’s merciful voice echoed from behind the light. He recited a blessing, and the priest’s face beneath his white robe showed surprise.
Then, light ignited in his eyes, and holy flames burned his entire body. The priest’s body trembled in pain, but the expression in his eyes became even more ecstatic, even more fervent.
Until the last trace of flame extinguished, a ray of brilliance merged into the pure light.
Suddenly, the Sacred Light dissipated again, revealing the figure on the sacred throne, which was the current Pope Moon.
Compared to his middle-aged appearance before, he now appeared as the youth who was once known as the “Bishop of Light,” like a pure divine being, with immensely pure golden light lit in his eyes.
“Ilyss, Falter. And others.”
The Pope uttered the names. In fact, he didn’t need anyone to inform him; he was now the ruler of Light. Everywhere the light touched, it could not escape his gaze.
Not just the people mentioned by the priest.
Where his gaze fell, he saw crimson flames igniting in the west, and the war halberds of the Orcs once again crossing the empire’s borders.
And by the Storm Inner Sea, the knight abandoned by the light arrived on the land of the elves, and the Goddess on the World Tree cast her gaze back.
“But… it doesn’t matter,” Moon’s face suddenly broke into a smile.
He waved away the light, revealing a sleeping girl on the sacred throne. Her bright red, soft hair quietly adorned her fair face, and her long eyelashes covered her beautiful ruby-like big eyes. The “Aeriogen” gem was tightly clasped in her tender little hand.
Time seemed to have stopped for the girl. Five years had not left the slightest trace on her tender face.
And all the light in the world seemed to be continuously pouring from this girl, like a work of art, filling the papal palace with the divine power of the Light Realm, even enveloping the entire Holy City of Light.
“Hmph, these people, they want to snatch you from me?”
As if treating a precious treasure, the Pope gently stroked the girl’s smooth, small face. He suddenly smiled, a flicker of intense heat appearing in his eyes, and his gaze, surrounded by Sacred Light, revealed a deep greed.
“But they are nothing to fear. Your Highness Saintess, please wait a moment. Soon, very soon, we will be together forever.”
…
Suddenly, the Pope’s fervent expression froze, and within the surging light, a deep shadow emerged.
“Human Pope.”
A low, hoarse voice issued forth, shaking the entire sea like a swaying mountain stone.
“It’s you?”
Moon turned around, looking at the constantly condensing figure. “King of the One-Eyed Dwarves. What destiny have you seen that you dare to disturb my meeting with the Saintess?”
“I saw flames ignite, the twilight of the sky.”
—
I noticed the word count was a bit short, so I added the last section… (though it feels a bit redundant?)
Well, if all goes as expected, this is the last volume…
