In the prison cell, the dark elf slowly regained consciousness. Her entire body was soaked in the cold sweat she had just sweated, and even her hair was wet.
To be more accurate, she hadn't really "woken up," since she had always been conscious. However, all of her awareness had been completely overwhelmed by the unimaginable pain. The only thing she could feel in her mind was excruciating pain, as if a thousand small knives, coated in fire and poison, were cutting into her flesh, scraping her bones, and stretching her nerves and muscles until they were taut and straining. But this sensory overload, which had long surpassed the limit of what her nerves and consciousness could endure, somehow couldn't make her faint. It felt like being forced to swallow countless red-hot coals with an open throat, and yet, she had to force herself to digest them all.
Her fingers were broken, but the damage wasn't too severe, and under the effects of white magic, the pain had lessened. It was only when the intense magical pain had magnified a hundredfold that she lost control. Jessica had to admit that compared to the bloody methods she knew for interrogation, these high-tech techniques were child's play. She couldn't imagine how anyone could endure such an extreme trial without passing out, let alone resist.
If she could have surrendered, she would have done so long ago. But the torment wasn't meant for her.
On the ground, the man who had caused her so much suffering lay flat, his face calm.
"Bastard. You've caused me so much trouble." Jessica muttered through clenched teeth as she kicked Asa in the side.
Asa didn't react at all; he merely trembled slightly as Jessica's foot struck him. Quickly, Jessica extended her uninjured hand and pressed it against his neck to check for a pulse. But as soon as her hand touched him, she pulled back with a startled scream. It felt like she had touched a red-hot iron.
She wondered if it was just a hallucination or a lingering effect of the magic she had just experienced, when she noticed that Asa's clothes seemed to be changing. His cotton garments were slowly deforming, becoming scorched, and then peeling off his body.
Before she could understand what was happening, she realized the temperature in the cell had steadily increased, and the center of this rising heat was Asa. The man on the ground had somehow transformed into a burning ember, heating the entire basement. Carefully, she extended her hand towards his nose to check for breath. She did feel his breath, though it was as hot as the air from a furnace.
But Asa himself was unaware of this. All he felt was a slight, warm sensation.
If he were to escape his current predicament, he knew the only hope lay in using meditation. However, as soon as he fully exerted himself, he found himself immersed in an experience unlike any before. His mood and state of mind were also unprecedented.
The human heart and emotions were strange things. Some things you might have had for a long time, and some truths you might have understood already. But it was only when your heart had been filled with enough strong emotions that you could truly integrate those things you thought you knew or possessed. The strength born from emotions is the true source of power for a mature person.
Asa's emotions were still tinged with sorrow, helplessness, pain, and regret. But unlike at the beginning, these emotions no longer boiled and burned within his mind and chest. After he fully accepted them, they slowly cooled, settled, and sank into the deepest parts of his feelings. The deeper one's emotions, the more they could bear, for with that depth came the ability to face anything.
For the first time, Asa managed to reach a new level in his meditation. Now, he could sense not only his body but also his spirit, emotions, and heart. These were not separate from the body. In fact, they were the deeper, more fundamental aspects of it. Every bit of sorrow, anger, joy, and even the most subtle emotions merged seamlessly with his muscles and nerves. This was the fusion of heart and body, the blending of spirit and emotion.
Whether it came from his spiritual consciousness or radiated from every cell in his body, Asa saw a warm golden light gradually enveloping him, slowly soaking into his body and soul. He had felt this light before, a long time ago, knowing that it was something lying dormant within him. He hadn't sensed it again until now, but it seemed that his spirit had finally reached a certain threshold. With the aid of meditation, he had once again encountered it—and captured it completely. He felt nothing but warmth. This warmth was not gentle, like the safety and comfort of a mother's womb, but was more like the scorching heat of the blazing sun in the wilderness. Though rough, it was full of strength.
At the same time, a vigorous vitality began to radiate from his chest. Though his eyes couldn't see it, he could "feel" a tiny seedling sprouting in his chest, growing. The vitality brought by the seedling worked in tandem with the golden light, gradually filling every corner of his body and soul.
In the corner of the prison cell, Jessica, now naked, had retreated to the farthest point, watching Asa in terror but with concern. She had taken off her own clothes and twisted her sweat out onto Asa's body. She even tried pressing herself against him to dissipate the terrifying heat, but the result nearly burned her own skin off.
All the flammable materials on Asa's body had turned to ashes. The entire basement had become an oven, heated by the temperature radiating from his body. Yet, Asa himself seemed perfectly comfortable, his face growing ever more serene and peaceful.
Finally, his body emitted a brilliant light.
In the underground prison of the cathedral, Cardinal Jarvis, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. His gaze was fixed on the wall at the deepest part of the prison.
Just now, the feeling he had been desperately searching for through meditation suddenly appeared. He looked at the wall with a mixture of astonishment and joy, saying, "As expected, it's here…"
Outside the cathedral, the Marquis had just forced his way past the guards and stormed into the cathedral, heading straight for the underground entrance revealed after the statue had been moved.
"Inham?" High Priest Ryan stepped forward to block the Marquis. "The cardinal has ordered that no one is to enter here. When did you return?"
At this moment, the Marquis's usual calm and collected demeanor had completely disappeared. His handsome and refined face was now twisted with anxiety, and he was filled with murderous intent and a sinister expression. He moved swiftly and tried to dodge the High Priest's block. "Step aside."
High Priest Ryan also moved but stayed in his way. Though he was a priest at the Magic Academy, in terms of physical ability, Ryan was no less skilled than the captain of the Holy Knights' squad. He was recognized as the most capable priest after Bishop Ronis, and was temporarily in charge of the Magic Academy. But now, he was surprised because, despite the Marquis seeming weak and powerless most of the time, just now Ryan had nearly failed to block him, and he had to use all his strength to stay in front of the underground entrance. He shouted, "What are you doing? This is the Magic Academy, and the cardinal's orders are clear. You can't enter."
But the Marquis pushed him aside, saying urgently, "I'm carrying out the Pope's orders. I have something urgent to tell Cardinal Jarvis. Get out of my way and stop the others."
"Hmm? The Pope…?" High Priest Ryan was momentarily stunned, and before he could react, the Marquis had already disappeared into the tunnel. He measured the situation and sighed, quickly heading toward the cathedral's entrance. Although the Marquis's words seemed unbelievable, they weren't entirely impossible. Recently, Ryan had also felt uncertain about the future of the Magic Academy. If Celeste did manage to reclaim control of the academy, then...
In the underground prison, Cardinal Jarvis was carefully feeling the cold wall.
The wall was covered in damp moss, but Cardinal Jarvis's expression was one of awe and satisfaction. "To think they set up so many traps. From the outside, it seems a high-level illusionist was hired to cast a permanent mirror spell. No wonder I couldn't see it last time… But this time, I've found the right place."
He took two steps back and drew his sword. Softly chanting a prayer, he cast every white magic buff he could on himself, and his body was filled with battle aura. While this trap was clever, it could be destroyed directly.
Just as he was about to raise his sword and unleash his power, a sharp voice stopped him. "Stop."
Cardinal Jarvis turned to see who it was, and his expression was full of surprise. "You? What are you doing here?"
"Of course, to stop you from doing something foolish," the Marquis sneered. "Do you even know what you're doing?"
"Of course, I know. I'm retrieving what rightfully belongs to the Dehya Valley. What's wrong with that?"
"Was it Vadenina who told you about this? I didn't expect she would manipulate you into seeking this. She's just using you, don't you understand?"
"Who isn't using someone else? My teacher taught me complete real meditation and all her magical knowledge, which has allowed me to improve at an astonishing pace. In exchange, I promised to help her with things outside. It's only fair."
"Do you think you can play games with her? She told you about this thing's existence because she knew you wouldn't resist trying to get it. She taught you real meditation to make you think you had a chance… I won't go into the details, but you must stop. This thing is something you absolutely cannot touch."
Cardinal Jarvis sneered. "How strange. As a member of the Dehya Valley, inheriting the will of the great Akibard, as a necromancer, it's my duty to retrieve this thing for the great Black Star. How can you, as the acting guild leader, stop me?"
"Who dares to say they truly understand Lord Akibard's prophecy? Everyone interprets it according to their own desires. You're just driven by your own greed," the Marquis snapped. "In any case, you must stop."
Cardinal Jarvis stopped looking at the Marquis and raised his sword to slash the wall. A brilliant, unmatched beam of light extended from the sword, striking the stone wall.
With a loud rumble, the entire prison shook. However, after the stone chips flew, there was only a faint mark on the stone wall, almost unnoticeable. At the moment the sword beam hit the wall, countless magical symbols briefly appeared around the wall.
Cardinal Jarvis stared in surprise at the shallow mark on the wall. He knew how powerful his sword strike was—he could easily destroy a granite mountain with it. But the magical symbols that appeared on the wall made him realize he had indeed come to the right place. "To think it's a mixed protective barrier, combining the highest white magic sealing spell and the chaotic suppression of black magic. Most of the power of this barrier is to suppress what's inside… This must have been built by Sandru and Ronis together. It's clear now that the thing is behind this wall."
"I told you to stop, didn't you hear me?" The Marquis's voice had turned cold and sharp, like a blade.
The coldness in his voice made Cardinal Jarvis's movements halt abruptly. He slowly turned to face the Marquis, his expression now also frosty. "Who are you to tell me to stop?"
The Marquis didn't answer, just gave him a cold, piercing look.
"Who are you to stop me? Is it because you're the acting guild leader?" Cardinal Jarvis's tone turned mocking. "Or is it because you're my father?"
"Does it matter which?" The Marquis's voice was still cold. "All you need to know is that you must stop."
Cardinal Jarvis remained silent for a moment before he smiled strangely, sheathing his sword. "Fine. I understand. I'll stop this time. But when I have the opportunity and the power, I'll come back for it."
"I'm doing this for your own good. Don't you know? I'm your father. Would I harm you?" The Marquis furrowed his brow, his voice uncharacteristically stern.
"Sorry, to be honest, I've always felt like I didn't have a father," Cardinal Jarvis suddenly said.
The Marquis froze for a moment, and the expression that had been taut with tension softened slightly.
After a long silence, Cardinal Jarvis turned away, speaking slowly, "You know? Since I was old enough to understand, I've always resented the fact that I didn't have a competent, or at least a decent father. No one even knows who my mother was. Everyone knows my father has countless sons and daughters across the continent, yet he decided to bring me into the family and declare me his only son… I don't know if others would consider this good luck, but for me, I would have preferred not to have it. At least then, I could have lived more quietly. He threw me into a world full of dreams and desires but gave me a disrespected, rejected identity. Since I understood, I've lived with the mockery and disdain of the family. That's why I've been desperately trying to climb higher, to reach a place where I can look down on everything, even this father of mine..."
The Marquis listened quietly, his face expressionless.
"But then, one day, when I was utterly desperate, thinking I had reached the point of no return, this father suddenly appeared before me, and shattered all my previous beliefs. I realized how profound, elusive, and powerful he truly was. All my efforts, struggles, and goals seemed laughable before him, like a puppet show. And so I followed the path he laid out for me, a path higher and brighter, leading me directly to a world I had never dared to dream of... This man, whom I now call father, suddenly became a shadow looming over my head, looking down on me, watching my pathetic puppet shows, then controlling me, making me walk the path he designed. I wanted to walk my own path, but he stopped me. I understand, it's just because my power is insufficient..."
"Sorry," the Marquis suddenly spoke, looking at Cardinal Jarvis's back, his eyes full of quiet sorrow and regret.
"No need to apologize. We've always done our own thing, haven't we? I'd feel awkward if you were so polite," Cardinal Jarvis responded without turning around, his tone detached.
After a long silence, the Marquis sighed, nodding in agreement. "I understand... I won't interfere with you anymore. But at least before that, there are a few things that must be done. First, kill that boy..."
"No, I've promised Teacher Vadenina I'd leave him alive. I'll send him to Celeste, the Pope won't kill him, but at least he'll be imprisoned. As long as he doesn't cause trouble, it'll be fine."
"You still don't understand what Vadenina is using you for?" the Marquis said sharply.
At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor, and the voice of High Priest Ryan could be heard, "Lord, are you alright?"