A brilliant golden radiance reminiscent of the sun’s rays irradiated the fog-covered town, but it brought about not hope but a countdown to death. Under the golden light, Roel collapsed to the ground as if someone had siphoned out his soul.
But before the old man with the fog lamp could make a second move, Lilian suddenly leaped into the room. She gritted her teeth to endure the soul-rending pain as she pulled Roel tightly into her arms.
The next moment, four magicians dressed in white garbs appeared out of nowhere and began chanting a cryptic chorale.
The fog lamp had dimmed after subduing Roel, but upon Lilian’s arrival, it released yet another burst of soul-reaping light.
Lilian stood unfazed against the terrifying attack. Right before the second wave of light was about to strike, her magicians finally completed their incantation and invoked a spatial teleportation spell, bringing them out of this dangerous place.
Abhorrence warped the old man’s face as he watched the two of them escape. He turned to the four spatial magicians who were left behind and waved his bony hand. The four of them immediately disappeared as if they had been devoured by the fog.
After dealing with the remnants of his enemies, the old man’s expression eased up a little. He gazed at the depths of the fog and wandered off as if he was searching for something.
Meanwhile, inside an empty room in the town, an embracing couple suddenly appeared out of thin air and tumbled onto the ground.
“Tok!”
A loud thud echoed within the room. It was a heavy fall, but Lilian had no time to pay it any heed. The moment she landed, she placed her hand on the floor and invoked the Ackermanns’ specialty spell.
“Ten Fortresses!”
With a glow of mana, another layer of walls started forming along the inner perimeter of the dark room. It swiftly closed up to form a small isolated space.
At the same time, a barely discernible tracking spell swept across Roel and Lilian, but it was unable to pick up on their existence under Ten Fortresses’ protection.
Lilian looked slightly relieved after finally completing her defensive measures. She quickly turned her attention toward Roel.
“Roel, are you alright? Roel?”
Lilian endured her own discomfort and tried to wake him up, but it was to no avail. Roel refused to regain consciousness no matter what she did. She realized there was something amiss with the situation and hurriedly sat upward to hold Roel’s body.
“What’s wrong, Roel?”
Flustered by his lack of response, Lilian anxiously inspected his body but was unable to find any wounds. Left with no choice, she hesitantly raised her hand and placed it on his cheek.
I can’t continue indulging in my bloodline resonance with Roel—this was something she had already made up her mind on, knowing that she wouldn’t be able to bear parting ways with him if she continued getting closer to him.
She had intended this mission to be her parting gift to Roel, hoping that it could at least reduce the danger he was exposed to. But as if fate was playing a trick on her, the one thing she had been praying for not to happen had come to be.
Lilian closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. By the time she opened her eyes, her bloodline had already started trembling in resonance.
As if two ripples had formed on a calm water surface, Roel and Lilian’s bloodlines and mana swiftly achieved synchronization. Despite it being only a slight physical contact, Lilian was able to attain a full understanding of Roel’s current condition.
Additionally, warmth began spreading from her heart, bringing about a strong feeling of intimacy and fulfillment. It filled up all of the holes in her heart, and all sorts of irrepressible emotions such as affection gripped her. It was such an intense feeling that it left her feeling slightly giddy.
Fortunately, she didn’t lose control of herself. She remained steadfast to her primary goal.
It was just that she didn’t expect even an inspection via bloodline resonance to yield no results. Roel hadn’t lost too much mana, and the side effects caused by his Crown’s Stones were mild. In fact, he was in better physical condition than her. Despite so, he remained unconscious.
This put Lilian at a complete loss. The pained look that had started appearing on Roel’s face made her feel as if knives were stabbing into her heart, but she forced herself to remain calm so as to figure out a solution.
Earlier, when she was about to save Roel, she noticed that he was accompanied by two other ladies from the Knight Kingdom. However, she was unable to save them because they didn’t collapse onto the ground as Roel did. Instead, they disappeared into thin air just like the others.
That was also the fate that had befallen the members of Lilian’s main team.
Lilian was the exception in her team, and Roel was the exception in his. From the looks of it, it would appear that the Ascart Bloodline possessed immunity against this mysterious form of attack.
“In other words, the cause of Roel’s current condition isn’t the earlier attack but something else… The fog lamp! I see… It’s his soul!”
Lilian was suddenly reminded of the earlier intense pain that felt as if someone was dragging her soul out of her body, and her eyes narrowed sharply. A euphonious voice abruptly sounded in the room as though responding to her analysis.
“You’re right, it’s his soul.”
“You are…!”
The Witch Queen suddenly manifested out of nowhere. Floating in the air, she gazed upon the alarmed and vigilant Lilian and spoke.
“Good day to you, Lilian Ackermann. You look like you need advice from a witch.”
“…”
The Witch Queen’s smile widened at Lilian’s silence.
Lilian knew that Artasia was one of the ancient gods contracted with Roel, but unlike the reticent Grandar and the motherly Peytra, Artasia gave off a dangerous feeling.
It was not that Artasia posed a danger to her life, but Lilian felt like she was being completely seen through and slowly guided into depravity. That made her even more vigilant than a life-endangering threat would.
Even so, she was unable to ignore Artasia’s words because she knew that there was no other way out.
Soul was one of the few fields that remained unexplored in the Sia Continent despite the presence of supernatural powers, or rather, it might be more accurate to say that it was a field that had hardly advanced at all. Even if Lilian knew the root of the problem, she was unable to devise a solution for it.
However, the Sia Continent had not always been that ignorant about souls.
The composition of souls was a common topic studied by quite a few gods back in the ancient era. In particular, witches were known to be well-versed in the field. No matter how much Lilian distrusted Artasia, there was no alternative option.
“What are you trying to say, witch? I won’t be manipulated by you,” said Lilian.
Despite Lilian’s aggressive response, the Witch Queen’s smile remained as radiant as ever. She gazed at the young man in Lilian’s embrace before narrowing her madder red eyes.
“I’m just here to offer you some advice on the terrible predicament you’re in.”
“Is that all? I find it hard to believe that a witch like you actually knows of compassion.”
“Aren’t you mistaking something? My hero and I are contracted to each other for life, unable to part ways till death. That is a relationship far more intimate than classmates, friends, or even couples.”
Artasia drifted closer and closer to Lilian as her smile slowly turned wicked. She leaned toward the latter’s ear and whispered softly.
“What we have between us is much deeper than yours.”
“… Meaningless provocation,” Lilian replied coldly.
“Is that really so?”
Artasia observed Lilian’s darkening complexion, her eyes twinkling with mischief and joy. However, she soon shook her head as her expression turned serious.
“Alright, let’s put this aside for the time being and talk about Roel’s current condition. The other two are already getting mad at me.”
She looked at the unconscious Roel and began sharing the history of the fog lamp held by the lanky old man.
“Portas Eye, the lamp of the Sun God. That’s the true nature of that fog lamp. I reckon those names hardly mean anything to you, so I’ll put it in a way you’ll understand… That’s a relic of the Savior.”
“A relic of the Savior? Didn’t you just mention the Sun God…”
“The Sun God is the Savior. Similar to how emperors have the habit of self-conferring all sorts of titles to sound more imposing, the Sun God is just one of the Savior’s epithets. It was symbolic of His jurisdiction over light, vitality, civilization, and hope… Of course, that was before He fell into depravity.”
The Witch Queen revealed a slight frown as if this was a topic that displeased her.
On the other hand, Lilian’s pupils dilated in astonishment at the revelation of a secret from the ancient era.
“That divine lamp used to hang on the highest tower of Nightless City Portas. It was a symbol of hope and prosperity, as well as an incarnation of the Savior’s eyes to guide the development of civilization. It was even known to be a divine artifact at its peak.
“However, the nature of the lamp changed when the Savior fell into depravity. After the collapse of Nightless City Portas, the lamp was placed under the custody of the Savior’s High Priest, which is that disgusting zombie you met earlier. Just the presence of the repulsive being leaves me nauseated.”
Artasia’s mood soured upon recalling the lanky old man, but her explanation gave Lilian a decent understanding of the current situation.
“If that lamp is the Savior’s eyes, does it mean that Roel’s current state was caused by the Savior’s influence?”
“It’s not something as simple as a mere influence. After the Savior fell into depravity, that lamp warped into a pair of demonic eyes that could entice one into depravity. You should have noticed how the Fallens are fond of wielding staves and lamps. Those are an imitation of Portas Eye.
“Legend has it that those who are exposed to the light of Portas Eye will be dragged to the place where the Savior is sealed. There, they would be converted into His worshipers. Their sanity will be eroded and their minds consumed by madness and malevolence. It’s a vile relic feared even by gods.”
“Then Roel…”
Lilian’s face paled as she looked at Roel, her eyes filled with unease.
Artasia noted her reaction but didn’t answer right away. She also glanced at Roel, and there was a moment of silence before she continued on.
“My hero is indeed afflicted by the power of Portas Eye. His Crown’s Stone must have agitated that High Priest. However… the ritual was disrupted halfway through.”
“Disrupted?”
“Someone dispelled the power of Portas Eye before we could intervene. Even so, his soul still received trauma as a result. He might be spared from descending into madness and depravity, but the trauma would still place him in a coma.”
“Coma? How long will it take for him to wake up?”
“Let me see. Judging by his current condition, I’d say… around ten years?”
“What?”
Lilian was shocked to hear that, but she soon noticed the composed look on Artasia’s face and quickly calmed herself down.
“I’m guessing that you appeared in front of me because you know of a way to save him… What do you want?” Lilian asked coldly.
Artasia smiled cheerily in response.
“It’s nice dealing with someone as perceptive as you. I’m spared the hassle of explaining. However, you seem to be misunderstanding something. I’m not here to take something from you but to give something to you.”
“Get to the point.”
“It’s really nothing much at all,” said Artasia with a bright smile.
She placed her fair hand on her rosy cheek and uttered softly.
“You need to do it with him.”
A brilliant golden radiance reminiscent of the sun’s rays irradiated the fog-covered town, but it brought about not hope but a countdown to death. Under the golden light, Roel collapsed to the ground as if someone had siphoned out his soul.
But before the old man with the fog lamp could make a second move, Lilian suddenly leaped into the room. She gritted her teeth to endure the soul-rending pain as she pulled Roel tightly into her arms.
The next moment, four magicians dressed in white garbs appeared out of nowhere and began chanting a cryptic chorale.
The fog lamp had dimmed after subduing Roel, but upon Lilian’s arrival, it released yet another burst of soul-reaping light.
Lilian stood unfazed against the terrifying attack. Right before the second wave of light was about to strike, her magicians finally completed their incantation and invoked a spatial teleportation spell, bringing them out of this dangerous place.
Abhorrence warped the old man’s face as he watched the two of them escape. He turned to the four spatial magicians who were left behind and waved his bony hand. The four of them immediately disappeared as if they had been devoured by the fog.
After dealing with the remnants of his enemies, the old man’s expression eased up a little. He gazed at the depths of the fog and wandered off as if he was searching for something.
Meanwhile, inside an empty room in the town, an embracing couple suddenly appeared out of thin air and tumbled onto the ground.
“Tok!”
A loud thud echoed within the room. It was a heavy fall, but Lilian had no time to pay it any heed. The moment she landed, she placed her hand on the floor and invoked the Ackermanns’ specialty spell.
“Ten Fortresses!”
With a glow of mana, another layer of walls started forming along the inner perimeter of the dark room. It swiftly closed up to form a small isolated space.
At the same time, a barely discernible tracking spell swept across Roel and Lilian, but it was unable to pick up on their existence under Ten Fortresses’ protection.
Lilian looked slightly relieved after finally completing her defensive measures. She quickly turned her attention toward Roel.
“Roel, are you alright? Roel?”
Lilian endured her own discomfort and tried to wake him up, but it was to no avail. Roel refused to regain consciousness no matter what she did. She realized there was something amiss with the situation and hurriedly sat upward to hold Roel’s body.
“What’s wrong, Roel?”
Flustered by his lack of response, Lilian anxiously inspected his body but was unable to find any wounds. Left with no choice, she hesitantly raised her hand and placed it on his cheek.
I can’t continue indulging in my bloodline resonance with Roel—this was something she had already made up her mind on, knowing that she wouldn’t be able to bear parting ways with him if she continued getting closer to him.
She had intended this mission to be her parting gift to Roel, hoping that it could at least reduce the danger he was exposed to. But as if fate was playing a trick on her, the one thing she had been praying for not to happen had come to be.
Lilian closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. By the time she opened her eyes, her bloodline had already started trembling in resonance.
As if two ripples had formed on a calm water surface, Roel and Lilian’s bloodlines and mana swiftly achieved synchronization. Despite it being only a slight physical contact, Lilian was able to attain a full understanding of Roel’s current condition.
Additionally, warmth began spreading from her heart, bringing about a strong feeling of intimacy and fulfillment. It filled up all of the holes in her heart, and all sorts of irrepressible emotions such as affection gripped her. It was such an intense feeling that it left her feeling slightly giddy.
Fortunately, she didn’t lose control of herself. She remained steadfast to her primary goal.
It was just that she didn’t expect even an inspection via bloodline resonance to yield no results. Roel hadn’t lost too much mana, and the side effects caused by his Crown’s Stones were mild. In fact, he was in better physical condition than her. Despite so, he remained unconscious.
This put Lilian at a complete loss. The pained look that had started appearing on Roel’s face made her feel as if knives were stabbing into her heart, but she forced herself to remain calm so as to figure out a solution.
Earlier, when she was about to save Roel, she noticed that he was accompanied by two other ladies from the Knight Kingdom. However, she was unable to save them because they didn’t collapse onto the ground as Roel did. Instead, they disappeared into thin air just like the others.
That was also the fate that had befallen the members of Lilian’s main team.
Lilian was the exception in her team, and Roel was the exception in his. From the looks of it, it would appear that the Ascart Bloodline possessed immunity against this mysterious form of attack.
“In other words, the cause of Roel’s current condition isn’t the earlier attack but something else… The fog lamp! I see… It’s his soul!”
Lilian was suddenly reminded of the earlier intense pain that felt as if someone was dragging her soul out of her body, and her eyes narrowed sharply. A euphonious voice abruptly sounded in the room as though responding to her analysis.
“You’re right, it’s his soul.”
“You are…!”
The Witch Queen suddenly manifested out of nowhere. Floating in the air, she gazed upon the alarmed and vigilant Lilian and spoke.
“Good day to you, Lilian Ackermann. You look like you need advice from a witch.”
“…”
The Witch Queen’s smile widened at Lilian’s silence.
Lilian knew that Artasia was one of the ancient gods contracted with Roel, but unlike the reticent Grandar and the motherly Peytra, Artasia gave off a dangerous feeling.
It was not that Artasia posed a danger to her life, but Lilian felt like she was being completely seen through and slowly guided into depravity. That made her even more vigilant than a life-endangering threat would.
Even so, she was unable to ignore Artasia’s words because she knew that there was no other way out.
Soul was one of the few fields that remained unexplored in the Sia Continent despite the presence of supernatural powers, or rather, it might be more accurate to say that it was a field that had hardly advanced at all. Even if Lilian knew the root of the problem, she was unable to devise a solution for it.
However, the Sia Continent had not always been that ignorant about souls.
The composition of souls was a common topic studied by quite a few gods back in the ancient era. In particular, witches were known to be well-versed in the field. No matter how much Lilian distrusted Artasia, there was no alternative option.
“What are you trying to say, witch? I won’t be manipulated by you,” said Lilian.
Despite Lilian’s aggressive response, the Witch Queen’s smile remained as radiant as ever. She gazed at the young man in Lilian’s embrace before narrowing her madder red eyes.
“I’m just here to offer you some advice on the terrible predicament you’re in.”
“Is that all? I find it hard to believe that a witch like you actually knows of compassion.”
“Aren’t you mistaking something? My hero and I are contracted to each other for life, unable to part ways till death. That is a relationship far more intimate than classmates, friends, or even couples.”
Artasia drifted closer and closer to Lilian as her smile slowly turned wicked. She leaned toward the latter’s ear and whispered softly.
“What we have between us is much deeper than yours.”
“… Meaningless provocation,” Lilian replied coldly.
“Is that really so?”
Artasia observed Lilian’s darkening complexion, her eyes twinkling with mischief and joy. However, she soon shook her head as her expression turned serious.
“Alright, let’s put this aside for the time being and talk about Roel’s current condition. The other two are already getting mad at me.”
She looked at the unconscious Roel and began sharing the history of the fog lamp held by the lanky old man.
“Portas Eye, the lamp of the Sun God. That’s the true nature of that fog lamp. I reckon those names hardly mean anything to you, so I’ll put it in a way you’ll understand… That’s a relic of the Savior.”
“A relic of the Savior? Didn’t you just mention the Sun God…”
“The Sun God is the Savior. Similar to how emperors have the habit of self-conferring all sorts of titles to sound more imposing, the Sun God is just one of the Savior’s epithets. It was symbolic of His jurisdiction over light, vitality, civilization, and hope… Of course, that was before He fell into depravity.”
The Witch Queen revealed a slight frown as if this was a topic that displeased her.
On the other hand, Lilian’s pupils dilated in astonishment at the revelation of a secret from the ancient era.
“That divine lamp used to hang on the highest tower of Nightless City Portas. It was a symbol of hope and prosperity, as well as an incarnation of the Savior’s eyes to guide the development of civilization. It was even known to be a divine artifact at its peak.
“However, the nature of the lamp changed when the Savior fell into depravity. After the collapse of Nightless City Portas, the lamp was placed under the custody of the Savior’s High Priest, which is that disgusting zombie you met earlier. Just the presence of the repulsive being leaves me nauseated.”
Artasia’s mood soured upon recalling the lanky old man, but her explanation gave Lilian a decent understanding of the current situation.
“If that lamp is the Savior’s eyes, does it mean that Roel’s current state was caused by the Savior’s influence?”
“It’s not something as simple as a mere influence. After the Savior fell into depravity, that lamp warped into a pair of demonic eyes that could entice one into depravity. You should have noticed how the Fallens are fond of wielding staves and lamps. Those are an imitation of Portas Eye.
“Legend has it that those who are exposed to the light of Portas Eye will be dragged to the place where the Savior is sealed. There, they would be converted into His worshipers. Their sanity will be eroded and their minds consumed by madness and malevolence. It’s a vile relic feared even by gods.”
“Then Roel…”
Lilian’s face paled as she looked at Roel, her eyes filled with unease.
Artasia noted her reaction but didn’t answer right away. She also glanced at Roel, and there was a moment of silence before she continued on.
“My hero is indeed afflicted by the power of Portas Eye. His Crown’s Stone must have agitated that High Priest. However… the ritual was disrupted halfway through.”
“Disrupted?”
“Someone dispelled the power of Portas Eye before we could intervene. Even so, his soul still received trauma as a result. He might be spared from descending into madness and depravity, but the trauma would still place him in a coma.”
“Coma? How long will it take for him to wake up?”
“Let me see. Judging by his current condition, I’d say… around ten years?”
“What?”
Lilian was shocked to hear that, but she soon noticed the composed look on Artasia’s face and quickly calmed herself down.
“I’m guessing that you appeared in front of me because you know of a way to save him… What do you want?” Lilian asked coldly.
Artasia smiled cheerily in response.
“It’s nice dealing with someone as perceptive as you. I’m spared the hassle of explaining. However, you seem to be misunderstanding something. I’m not here to take something from you but to give something to you.”
“Get to the point.”
“It’s really nothing much at all,” said Artasia with a bright smile.
She placed her fair hand on her rosy cheek and uttered softly.
“You need to do it with him.”
