Jeret's eyes blaze golden, flames flickering across his hands. Across from him, Aulus channels his own energy, his body glowing with the aura of Sword energy.
The tension builds rapidly, both men preparing for another clash.
But before they can strike, the clear, resonant sound of a bell echoes across the estate.
Thung.
Thung.
The sound reverberates through the air, and suddenly, all the magic energy they had gathered dissipates into nothingness. The magic power in the surrounding evaporates, leaving everyone standing motionless.
Everyone turns, searching for the source of the sound.
Thung.
Thung.
With each ring, the magic in the air continues to dissipate, leaving everyone in daze.
At the edge of the palace ground, three figures dressed in pristine white robes stand calmly, commanding attention. The insignias of the Ten Gods Temple gleam on their garments.
The one in front wears a long, white hooded coat, holding a specter in hand. Behind him, to his left, stands a man in white pants, shirt, and coat, with two swords at his waist, exuding a heavy, oppressive aura.
To his right, a bald man, bare-chested with loose white pants, wears two large bead chains. His eyes and ears are covered with cloth, and the bell sound emanates from his clap--a visible ripple of energy spreading each time his hands meet.
Both Aulus and Jeret stop immediately, their focus now on the newcomers.
"People from the Temple," they whisper under their breath.
Before anyone can react, the bald man claps again. After making sure he has everyone's attention, he stops and asks, 'Where is the child?'
Jeret, ignoring them, turns his furious gaze to Lady Ersia, his voice sharp with bitterness. "Lady Ersia, I used to respect you. I believed you were a woman of honor and dignity. Even after the 'Three Princess Marriage' conflict, I thought you would treat Erina with decency. But I was wrong. You ruthlessly demoted her rank."
"This insult will not be forgotten, and you all will pay for it," he adds darkly.
His words strike a chord with the audience, and they finally understand the reason behind his sudden attack on Aulus.
Lady Fellicia, seeing this, steps forward, trying to explain the reasons behind Erina's demotion, but Jeret is beyond reasoning.
Meanwhile, Lady Ersia and Avernus exchange glances, their focus shifting toward the three mysterious figures in white.
"Where is the child?" the hooded figure asks.
His voice does not merely travel through the air--it resonates inside their minds. Everyone present feels the weight of his words.
For a brief moment, Everyone seems lost, their thoughts fading away as the hooded man's question lingers in his mind.
After several breaths, the crowd slowly returns to normal, though many are drenched in cold sweat. This person is not to be trifled with.
"People from the Temple, as troublesome as ever." Avernus whispers lightly.
"What business do you have here?" Lady Ersia asks, her voice sharp and threatening.
"I am here because the gods led me, child," the hooded man replies calmly, radiating quiet authority. "Where is the child?" he repeats, this time addressing Lady Ersia directly.
"What are you talking about, priest?" Lady Ersia asks.
The man with two swords lets out a long sigh, his hand drifting toward the hilt of his blade. The tension in the air grows palpable as he begins to unsheathe his weapon.
Before he can draw, Avernus's voice interrupts. "Sorry to intervene, but it seems like you have not noticed me, Dimachaerus," he says, stepping forward with a confident smile. He pulls out a black card, flashing it at the Temple's representatives. "I'm here on behalf of the President, with a direct Government Order."
The swordsman pauses, releasing his grip on the hilt.
"This just became more troublesome," he mutters.
"Truly," Avernus chuckles.
The hooded figure's eyes remain calm as he addresses Avernus. "If I recall correctly, your President promised not to interfere in the affairs of the Holy Empire."
Avernus's smile remains. "That's true. However, the President requires all SSS-ranked individuals to be present at the Government Building. If you start a fight here, none of you will make it to the meeting. I hope you'll cooperate and avoid forcing me to use the Order Rune."
"We are only here to see the child," the hooded figure replies.
He turns to Lady Ersia once more. "The child is blessed by the Ten Gods. You know how important this is to us--to the child."
Jeret's voice cuts through the silence, loud and filled with shock. "What?! The child is dead!"
The entire crowd falls silent, disbelief rippling through their ranks.
Aulus steps forward, his voice heavy. "It's true. Erina's child is no longer alive."
"That can't be," the bald man with the beads whispers, his voice filled with disbelief. "I can still feel divinity here."
Lady Ersia's face grows solemn as she nods. "It's true. My grandchild is dead. Perhaps what you're sensing is the lingering divinity in the air."
The hooded man lowers his head slightly. "I am sorry for your loss, child. May his soul rest in peace." His voice is soft but carries deep reverence.
After a brief pause, he lifts his hood, revealing a face weathered by time, with eyes pure white and skin lined with wrinkles, though he radiates energy and vitality. "But I am not speaking of that child, Ersia."
The hooded man points to a densely magical area with glowing eyes. "I am speaking of that one."
Everyone turns their gaze toward the area, a deep unease growing within them.
"The child is blessed by the Ten Gods," the hooded man continues. "No one but us can teach her how to use Light magic effectively. She is too important to be left without proper guidance."
"We also have Light magic arts in our family library," Lady Ersia replies, her voice calm.
The bald man says in high voice " That child is blessed by the Gods and only Temple can nurture her to---"
Before he can complete his sentence, Lady Ersia coldly interrupts, "I don't care about your Temple or your God. So leave before I forcefully throw all of you out."
After hearing Lady Ersia's words, everyone becomes tense. But out of utmost respect and loyalty to her, all the Caelus members took an attacking stance, ready to fight to the death.
Seeing Lady Ersia's cold attitude, Avernus's threat, and the nervous yet ready-to-attack people, the hooded figure sighs and turns to Lady Ersia again.
"What do you want, Ersia?" the hooded man asks, his tone direct.
"Why are you here?" she counters calmly.
"How about this," he proposes, not seeing any other way. "When she turns fifteen, send her to us. We will train her in Light and Healing magic arts. It will benefit her."
Lady Ersia hesitates, her eyes narrowing as she considers the offer. 'I will think about it and give you my answer later," she replies
Before the hooded figure can respond, the Caeltheris manifestation pulses once more, and its form begins to expand.
The magic it has been releasing abruptly stops, and the dense energy surrounding the area begins to dissipate, revealing the individuals who had been hidden within.
As Caeltheris manifestation grows even larger, its wings stretch wide as it ascends into the sky, and the formation containing it shatters.
Caeltheris's body stretches to an incredible 500 meters, easily dwarfing even the Caelus Palace. Its form shimmers with intense ethereal energy, casting an enormous shadow over the entire palace grounds.
A deafening shriek rips through the air, carrying raw power that shakes the very foundations of the earth. The surrounding magical energy surges toward it like a tidal wave, draining the energy from those below. Weakness spreads through their bodies, and fear grips their minds as the colossal figure draws in the magic.
Caeltheris gleams with otherworldly light, dominating the sky. Its cry reverberates across Caelus Province, causing everyone to look up in awe and terror.
The sky darkens in response to its call, storm clouds gathering and swirling around the Caeltheris, crackling with raw magical energy. The air hums with divine power, as if the world holds its breath in anticipation.
Caeltheris soars over Caelus Province, shedding glowing particles that drift slowly toward the earth. Wherever these particles land, the environment shifts and changes, imbued with a fraction of Caeltheris's legendary magical power.
As it flies, the air vibrates with divine energy. Citizens watch with a mixture of dread and excitement, unable to look away from the extraordinary sight. Everyone's attention is captivated by its majestic presence.
After circling the Caelus province couple of times, Caeltheris finally returns to the palace grounds, landing before Lady Erina, its light-blue eyes glowing with ancient wisdom. It gazes at her intently, as though communicating with her.
Lady Erina's eyes turn completely white for a moment, her expression unreadable. Time seems to slow as she stands motionless before the Caeltheris massive figure.
After a few heartbeats, a single tear falls from her eye.
"Two years," she whispers, her voice trembling.