In the end, August's soul was sealed.
Just like Priscilla once was, he would become an undead spirit that had not truly died.
Imprisoned within one of the countless lands inside Duke Barlow's domain of the dead.
Never able to escape for all eternity.
Until his physical body in reality grows old and dies, his soul will dissipate along with it.
But that will only happen decades later.
All in all, this trip to the Cant Kingdom taught Aurelian quite a lot.
Why could her father earn everyone's recognition? Because he is the strongest warrior in the Empire.
Her grandfather is clearly not the king, yet all the nobles respect him greatly, even more than the king.
At the root of it all, it still comes down to their strength.
Strength is the foundation for ruling a country.
At the very least, having a negative example like August, one that left a deep impression on her, is enough for Aurelian to understand this principle.
After finishing training, Aurelian dragged her tired body, took off her heavy armored dress, and went to take a bath.
These past few days, because she has been learning necromancy, Viktor does not allow her to use other magic.
To prevent her from confusing other magic with necromancy.
Although Aurelian personally feels that her understanding and control of necromancy is already about enough, teacher Viktor always says that what she does is still not good enough.
He always says that the necromancy she uses is just turning a living being into another form.
It's basically giving a living creature an undead-like enhancement spell.
But a true necromancer should be like her grandfather.
With a wave of the hand, millions of dry bones burst from the ground, forming a vast army, invincible in the world.
Aurelian also knows that this is a big problem.
The key issue is that she is afraid of undead spirits, and there has never been any good solution to that.
So she can only take it one step at a time.
Wrapped in a long towel, Aurelian walks out while rubbing her hair.
She's already changed into clean clothes, ones her grandfather prepared for her.
Her hair is still dripping with water.
Without someone helping, Aurelian can never fully dry her hair.
Her grandfather isn't used to having too many servants, so there are very few in the large residence.
The few remaining servants all have their own duties.
Back in the palace, maids usually helped her dry her hair and bathe.
After she learned magic, she rarely needed their help, a single cleansing spell would solve everything.
Now that she's at her grandfather's place, combined with her teacher not allowing her to use magic, even taking a bath feels somewhat novel to her.
She's naturally not a delicate ornamental princess.
Even in a place like the abyss, a crack full of monsters, she could stay there for many days without leaving.
After finally drying her hair, she drapes the towel over herself and prepares to walk toward the courtyard.
But as soon as she reaches the corner of the courtyard, she is surprised to see a woman wearing a black nun's outfit, with a light veil over her eyes.
At this moment, she is quietly standing in front of Viktor.
Aurelian glances over briefly, then nervously hides to the side and starts watching carefully.
Behind that nun, there is also a girl who looks very familiar.
She appears to be around the same age as her.
She has hair as pale as snow, almost sickly, forming a stark contrast with her crimson eyes.
Those eyes shine like dazzling gemstones under the sunlight, extremely bright.
Aurelian compares carefully and finds the biggest difference between the two of them.
Because she lowers her head and looks at herself.
"..."
She lost. In that aspect, she lost.
Aurelian feels a bit depressed.
But the question is...
'Isn't that Priscilla? Why is she here now?'
Aurelian naturally recognizes her, after all, she's a girl full of tragedy.
From Teacher Viktor, she learned the entire truth.
She also clearly understands just how miserable this "revived" Priscilla is.
If not for Teacher Viktor, even the territory her father left her might not have been preserved.
Aurelian knows very well that Viktor is now Priscilla's nominal adoptive father.
Only in this way can he become the lord of Shuerben and protect her land.
Although Priscilla is pitiful, Aurelian still cannot forget her previous ghost-like appearance.
That time really scared her.
So Aurelian doesn't go out directly, instead she hides to the side and secretly listens to their conversation, "…Mr. Viktor, I've brought Priscilla."
"I will also fulfill my promise. Next, I will willingly let you use me however you wish."
Hearing these words, Aurelian, who is eavesdropping nearby, turns red like a boiling kettle.
Under the direct sunlight, faint white steam can even be seen rising from her head.
'Use… use however he wishes?'
'What is she even saying?'
Just as Aurelian wants to hear more, Viktor has already stood up from his chair.
With a calm expression, he says to Michaela, "Come with me."
"Priscilla, stay here for now."
Priscilla obediently nods.
In the next second, behind Viktor, a huge teleportation array glowing with flowing azure magic appears, its patterns rapidly interweaving.
After a surge of magic fills the air, a deep tunnel appears behind him.
A storm whirls around, forcing Aurelian to raise her hand to shield herself.
When the wind settles and Aurelian looks up again, she finds that both of them have already disappeared into the portal.
Only Priscilla remains, still standing there, letting out a soft sigh.
There seems to be a calm kind of melancholy.
Aurelian becomes anxious and hurriedly runs out.
The moment Priscilla sees Aurelian, she is also stunned.
She is clearly surprised by her sudden appearance.
Those ruby-like crimson eyes look at Aurelian as she is about to say something.
However, Aurelian blurts out in shock, "How can you just watch him get taken away by a bad woman!?"
"He's your father now!"
Priscilla, "?"
———
A glowing azure portal slowly descends, quietly standing in the middle of an endless grassland.
A gentle breeze passes through, softly stirring the wild grass.
Viktor looks around but finds no extra figures.
Then he turns his head and looks at Michaela again, speaking softly, "Here is fine."
Michaela also looks around, clasping her hands together, seeming a bit troubled, "Isn't this place a bit inappropriate?"
"At least there should be a room…"
Viktor stares at her expressionlessly, and Michaela's veiled eyes also turn toward him.
The air around them seems to freeze for a moment.
Then Michaela is the first to break the silence, "Aren't we going to preach?"
"To let more people hear the sacred teachings of the Goddess of Fertility, to spread her compassion further."
Viktor does not respond, so Michaela tilts her head slightly and looks at him curiously.
As if realizing something, Michaela's cheeks suddenly turn slightly red.
"I'm really sorry, Mr. Viktor, I may have misunderstood your meaning."
"As someone blessed by the goddess, I rashly assumed you would want to promote her greatness more…"
She speaks a bit shyly, "However, I will still follow your arrangements."
"If we can't choose the environment, then at least… please be gentle."
Viktor turns his head away, no longer looking at her.
Anyone who can become a bishop of a church already has something off about their mind, and Michaela is even a divine envoy.
As everyone knows, anyone connected to gods is not entirely normal.
So he directly gets to the point, "Does a divine envoy's personality gradually become closer to that of their god?"
Michaela quickly regains her composure, the blush fading from her cheeks.
She knows Viktor is asking a serious question, "Yes, but also no."
She places one hand on her chest, her expression solemn as she calmly answers, "For example, after receiving the goddess's divine power, I, like the goddess, feel compassion for all things."
"But I will not give that compassion to everyone."
Michaela gives an example, "For someone like you, Mr. Viktor."
"If it were someone else, I wouldn't casually offer myself…"
"Alright, that's enough."
Viktor interrupts her and says flatly, "In short, you still retain your original personality, you haven't completely become an incarnation of the goddess."
Michaela nods in agreement.
Suddenly, the sound of iron cavalry hooves echoes across the ground.
The earth begins to tremble, like a giant drum resounding across the vast land.
At the front, Gwen is dressed in armor, wearing thick bone armor over her body.
She pulls the reins, riding a fine horse, leaping out from behind a hill.
In that instant, Gwen arrives in front of the two of them.
She pulls the reins, and the horse rears up.
Her silver armor gleams with radiant light, and a supremely sacred knight appears under the sky.
Then, Gwen's calm, almost cold eyes look at Michaela with scrutiny.
Feeling that sharp gaze like a cold spear, Michaela can't help but freeze.
While she is still stunned, Viktor's voice sounds beside her, "So, in a situation like this."
"As a fellow divine envoy, what do you think?"
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