Volume 1, Chapter 29 – Secret Discussion

“Just who are you?”

Unlike Fia, who had risen from the bed without a trace of tension, Anastasia immediately questioned Claire.

A faint, almost imperceptible shadow of sorrow flashed across Claire’s expression before she quickly regained her smile.

“Claire. As you can see, just an ordinary civilian.”

“You don’t feel like an ordinary civilian at all. Have we met before?”

“Hmm… Have we? Even if I said yes, Anna wouldn’t remember. Speaking of which, you said the same thing when you saw me the other day.”

Claire shrugged and slowly walked into the room. With no chairs or tables, she had no choice but to sit on the bed, her tone calm as she spoke.

“It can’t be helped. More importantly, little Fia isn’t just the elf princess—she even remembers me after only meeting me once. That surprises me. Could it be that, like me, she bears a curse?”

“What nonsense! How could Her Highness possibly be cursed?”

Anastasia’s displeased voice prompted Claire to quickly apologize with a laugh.

“Sorry, sorry, that was out of line. As an apology, I can tell Anna why you forgot me. It might also help clear up the misunderstanding between us.”

Though Claire’s words were directed at Anastasia, her gaze remained fixed on Fia across the bed. Her clear, deep green eyes were filled with warmth.

“I wasn’t born in the normal way. From the moment I gained consciousness, I already looked like this. If a life’s age is counted from birth, then I’m actually only ten years old. And perhaps because of my unnatural origin, I’ve carried two curses since the moment I became aware.”

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“First, no matter who it is or how deeply we’ve interacted, if they go a certain period without seeing me, they’ll gradually forget I exist. Second, any living being, regardless of species, will feel fear upon seeing me—even if I cover my face. Just like how Anna met me once but now can’t remember me at all and thinks I’m dangerous. I suppose it’s because I violated the rules set by this world’s gods, which is why I’m cursed.”

“That’s why little Fia’s existence baffles me. She neither fears me nor forgot me after a single night. I’ve never met anyone like her before. Little Fia, just who are you?”

Her tone was less accusatory and more inquisitive. Claire stared into Fia’s eyes, as if searching for something within them.

“I’m just the elf princess, no?”

Fia answered bluntly.

◇

A short time earlier.

A bright and resplendent hall.

The grand hall, with its towering dome and spacious interior, was so radiant it seemed as though even the walls emitted a golden glow. The most striking feature was a statue of a woman with closed eyes, her hand outstretched. Bathed in the hall’s golden light, the statue resembled a goddess descended, her holy aura inspiring reverence in all who beheld her.

At that moment, two men in neat, luxurious vestments stood before the statue, heads bowed in prayer. Only after a full quarter-hour did they finally raise their heads, their expressions filled with piety.

“Thank you for your grace, allowing the sun to shine once more upon Milcandis.”

With this final prayer, the two slowly retreated to the center of the hall and began discussing official matters.

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One was the cardinal of Aurora City, while the other was the Judge of Milcandis Holy Kingdom—the one who had commanded the Unsinkable Moon to attack the elf princess before withdrawing from the frontlines.

As a theocratic state, Milcandis Holy Kingdom appointed bishops as city administrators, while Judges held positions akin to generals in imperial nations. However, compared to the generals of monarchies, Judges had broader responsibilities and were more loyal to the nation—or rather, to the faith.

In terms of rank, a Judge undoubtedly outranked a regional bishop, yet no clear hierarchy was evident between them. This was due to the doctrine of the Yuna Faith: humanity above all, with all humans united against foreign races. Thus, among their own, there was no distinction of superiority or inferiority.

The Judge was the first to speak. Older than the cardinal of Aurora City, he carried himself with far more composure.

“The swallows we sent out have reported that the remnants of the elf princess’s forces are hiding in the city. Combined with the elf princess’s resurrection and her annihilation of the interception squad, it’s possible she’s with them. Aurora City has become infested with too many unclean elements. We must capture the elf princess alive before the situation escalates.”

“Have you consulted with His Holiness the Pope?”

“No. Transmitting the message would take time. But given the nature of this news, His Holiness would undoubtedly agree. Recently, it’s not just the elf princess—Darkborn and members of the Witch’s Hall have also infiltrated the city.”

“The Witch’s Hall is negligible, but how did the Darkborn get in? Your Honor, how did you learn of their presence?”

At the mention of Darkborn, the cardinal’s aged face twisted in shock.

If the conflict between the elven kingdom and the Holy Kingdom was a long-standing grudge, then the enmity with the Darkborn was absolute. It was the Darkborn who had waged war against the gods, forcing humans and demi-humans to flee their homeland and seek refuge on the World Tree Continent. Without the Darkborn, humanity could have lived far better lives—at the very least, they wouldn’t suffer periodic famines or struggle to feed and clothe themselves.

Compared to the cardinal’s alarm, the Judge remained composed.

“This was also intelligence gathered by the swallows. They discovered traces of Darkborn in the forest—the aura of a Moon Dragon. The trail vanished after leaving the forest, but based on their movements, they’ve already infiltrated Aurora City.”

“A Moon Dragon?! How could such a creature enter the city undetected?”

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The cardinal’s voice rose an octave. Moon Dragons were the most magically adept and intelligent of all dragonkind, with bodies at least the size of a castle. There was no way one could slip into the city unnoticed.

The Judge shook his head slightly.

“Unknown. But if it’s a Moon Dragon, it’s not surprising they could infiltrate. Their magic is vast and varied—human magic is but a fledgling’s efforts in comparison.”

“Should we prioritize the Moon Dragon and set aside the elf princess for now?”

“No. The Moon Dragon’s objective likely isn’t us. Like the Witch’s Hall, their goal is probably the… tenth-tier forbidden spell that appeared in the Dry Desert a few days ago…”

As he spoke these words, even the unflappable Judge paused, his voice strained.

Silence fell between the two.

Tenth-tier magic far surpassed the realm of human capability, entering the domain of the gods. Under extreme circumstances, humans might cast ninth-tier spells, but no one had ever wielded tenth-tier magic. In fact, in the thousands of years since life migrated to the World Tree Continent, no tenth-tier spell had ever been recorded.

Yet, days ago, such magic had manifested within the borders of Milcandis Holy Kingdom.

It had transformed vast stretches of wasteland into crystal and molten rock. The explosion’s mushroom cloud had been visible even from Aurora City, hundreds of kilometers away. Without a doubt, no living being could survive such devastation. Had the blast occurred any closer, Aurora City would not have remained as tranquil as it was now.

“Are you certain? It was a tenth-tier spell, not ninth? Could it have been an unusually powerful ninth-tier variant?”

“Impossible. No ninth-tier spell has ever approached that magnitude. That’s precisely why the Witch’s Hall and the Darkborn reacted so swiftly. The question now is: who cast the tenth-tier spell, and for what purpose? Is that being still alive? If they’re dead, all the better. But if they live… In any case, the frontlines have decided to slow the war against the elves and focus on investigating the origins of this magical catastrophe. If such an entity turns against the Holy Capital—”

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It would be annihilation.

The cardinal silently completed the thought.

He quickly pressed, “Can’t His Holiness request an oracle from the Goddess? With divine guidance, we could narrow the search significantly.”

“The messenger should have already delivered the news to His Holiness. He will soon beseech the Goddess for an oracle. However, the chances of her responding are slim. We must rely on ourselves. Beyond assessing the magical disaster’s scope, our only recourse is to capture the elf princess. With her in hand, we can pressure the elven kingdom to cease hostilities and cooperate. Then we can focus on more pressing matters.”

“The previous oracle already foretold that things of the past are awakening. The magic of the Eternal Sun grows restless. Time is running out. The apocalypse approaches—perhaps this tenth-tier spell is its harbinger. We must unite every force we can.”

At the mention of the apocalypse, the cardinal’s expression darkened, though his eyes hardened with resolve.

“Understood. But with my current strength, capturing the elf princess alive won’t be easy.”

“I will use the Unsinkable Moon and have the Knights of the Court of Inquisition assist you. You must capture the Elf Princess alive. If absolutely necessary, even if we have to present a stance of seeking peace, we must get her to side with us and persuade the Elven Kingdom to abandon the war. Those people originally wanted to use a swift and ruthless war to force the Elven Kingdom into submission, that decision is utterly ridiculous.”

“Very well. I’ll begin preparations immediately. Your Honor, please activate the Unsinkable Moon to seal the city as soon as possible.”

“Indeed. Humanity shall prevail.”

“Humanity shall prevail.”