The First Pope - Chapter 39
Chapter 39
By the time Cynthia, Polly, and the others returned, the sky was already beginning to lighten. Of the seven fourth-generation vampires, aside from the two who had run into Olivia's group, another one had sensed the changing tides and slipped away. The Elf guards searched the vicinity but couldn't find where the vampire had fled.
It was easy for high-generation vampires to escape, as the elves simply couldn't match their speed.
When Sarah saw Cynthia return, the heart that had been lodged in her throat finally settled. She and a few other members of the God Race ran to Cynthia's side and recounted what had happened with the vampires who had appeared there.
Cynthia merely nodded upon hearing that vampires had fled to their location, but her brow furrowed when she learned it was Olivia who had driven them away. She glanced toward the forest, a hint of worry hidden deep in her eyes.
Polly, who had returned with Cynthia, also heard Sarah's words. She exchanged a look with the other Elf guards, and the concern in their eyes was mutual. They turned and walked directly toward the woods.
Cynthia watched Polly's back for a moment, then, after a brief pause, lifted her foot to follow. But she had barely taken a step when a red figure emerged from the side, blocking her path.
"Excellency God Race, are you injured?" Avira stood before Cynthia, examining her carefully with a worried expression.
"Was that golden light just now from you?" Avira looked at Cynthia with adoration, even reaching out as if to intimately take her arm. "You're so amazing."
Just as Avira was about to touch her, Cynthia very naturally raised a hand to brush back her long, silver hair, then said with a smile, "If you train hard, you can learn it too."
"You've all been up all night. Go back and rest."
Avira's hand met empty air, and she had no choice but to retract it. Seeing Cynthia offer a few perfunctory words before preparing to leave, her eyes narrowed for an instant. She subtly shifted half a step to block Cynthia again, wringing her hands as she said pitifully, "I want to rest too, but I'm very scared."
"Excellency God Race, may I rest with you?"
Besides the morning mist, a bone-chilling wind was blowing. As Avira spoke, she hugged her arms and shivered from the cold.
A beautiful and pitiable woman trembling in the cold wind, her moist eyes filled with earnest pleading—most people would not be able to refuse her request. But Cynthia remained unmoved, smiling as she declined, "No, you may not."
Avira hugged her arms and lowered her head in disappointment, about to say something more, when a strong arm suddenly wrapped around her waist. At the same time, Hanni's voice, somewhat weak but still full of life, came from behind her. "If you're scared, you can sleep with me. Don't bother Cynthia."
Hanni's face was extremely pale from blood loss, but her eyes were exceptionally bright. She gave Cynthia a brilliant smile and waved a hand. "Cynthia, go on and do what you need to. I'll protect her."
Her back was pressed against a soft yet very firm body. Avira glanced to the side, then down at the arm across her waist, her eyes narrowing slightly.
After being saved by Cynthia and witnessing the power of Light Magic, Hanni now clearly regarded Cynthia as an existence on the same level as Elf Queen Olivia.
In her eyes, both the Healing Spell and the Light Magic were nothing short of miraculous.
To Hanni, powerful people were always very busy—like the Elf Queen, Clan Leader Helen, or even her own mother. Therefore, she assumed Cynthia was also very busy.
The person in her arms kept trying to struggle free, and with considerable strength. Hanni's wounds hadn't healed, and she was actually extremely exhausted, so she couldn't be bothered to persuade Avira to come with her. Seeing that she wouldn't listen, she simply bent down, hoisted the woman over her shoulder, and waved at Cynthia. "We're going to rest now." With that, she turned and left.
When Avira realized what Hanni was doing, she instinctively tried to dodge, but hesitated for a moment, mindful of her human disguise. In the end, she let the silly wolf carry her away.
Cynthia watched Hanni's retreating back and raised an eyebrow, unsure if the wolf suspected Avira's identity. She turned to Sarah and said in a low voice, "Keep an eye on Hanni and the others. If they disappear, come find me in the forest."
Although she didn't know why she had to watch Hanni and Avira, Sarah nodded seriously.
When Cynthia arrived by the bridge, Polly was just jumping down from it. She looked distracted, only perking up slightly upon seeing Cynthia. "Her Majesty the Queen is going to rest."
Cynthia looked up. The space above was shrouded in mist, obscuring everything from view, including the pale green figure she had long grown familiar with.
Cynthia slowly lowered her gaze and asked in a low voice, "Did Olivia say she was going to rest?"
Polly nodded.
With her sharp perception, Cynthia naturally understood this was Olivia's way of dismissing her. According to Cynthia's personality, upon receiving such a hint, she would certainly not be tactless enough to stay and be a nuisance. But… Cynthia thought of Olivia's overly pale face and the fatigue that occasionally showed through. After a moment of silence, she suddenly rolled up her sleeves.
Polly was taken aback by her action and said hesitantly, "You…"
Cynthia smiled at her and said lightly, "I'm going up to have a look."
"Her Majesty the Queen is going to rest," Polly said, quickly reaching out to block her.
"Do you know about the God Race's Healing Spell?" Cynthia asked abruptly, looking at Polly who stood in her way.
Polly paused, nodding in confusion. "I do."
She had just witnessed the power of the Healing Spell on Hanni.
Cynthia's gaze fell upon a cluster of small white flowers blooming on a vine. She casually plucked one, crushed it, and then cupped her hands together. A golden light flashed, and when she slowly opened her hands, the white flower was restored to its perfect state.
"Besides being the bane of vampires, the Power of Light can heal anything," Cynthia said calmly, placing the white flower on Polly's shoulder. "Including purifying the Power of Darkness from your queen's body."
Polly was shocked. "How did you know…" she said in disbelief.
Cynthia gently pushed Polly aside and sighed as she started up the steps. "I guessed."
In truth, it wasn't entirely a guess. She had been observing Olivia this whole time and had noticed a few clues from her condition.
How did that woman manage to get herself into such a state after just one trip back to her territory?
Polly watched Cynthia's back as she ascended the steps. After a moment of hesitation, she ultimately decided not to stop her.
Given Her Majesty the Queen's current state, it would be better for her if this member of the God Race could stay by her side.
Thinking of certain matters within the clan, Polly scratched her head in frustration. Those damn vampires who had plunged the Sitatul Continent into darkness truly deserved to die.
It didn't take long for Cynthia to reach the top of the steps this time. Olivia stood with her back to her, gazing at the morning sun that had yet to reach its zenith. "How did you know I have the Power of Darkness in me?" she asked faintly.
The orange sunlight spilled over Olivia, lending a certain warmth to her silhouette, even though her voice remained as cool and distant as ever.
Cynthia stared at her back for a while before walking over. "I already told you, I guessed," she said with a sigh.
She leaned against a vine and turned to look into Olivia's eyes, her own golden eyes tinged with a hint of helplessness. "I kept making you angry, yet you still let me rest here. I knew something was strange."
That was why she had insisted on staying with Olivia. Apart from some selfish reasons and the desire to discuss Light Magic, it was also to find out what was wrong with her.
"I sensed a little of it on you before, but it was very faint, so at first, I thought it was my imagination."
Olivia remained silent.
"Because the light aura on me is very strong, having me around makes it more convenient to expel the Power of Darkness in your body, right?"
Seeing Olivia lower her eyes without refuting her, the smile on Cynthia's face vanished completely. Her expression turned serious as she said, "Why didn't you tell me and let me help you purify it?"
Olivia was silent for a moment before turning her head away. "It's just a little Power of Darkness. I can handle it myself," she said coolly.
If she weren't at only half her strength right now, she would have cleared out this bit of dark power long ago.
The person beside her had her lips pressed tightly together, her face pale, and her eyes still showing traces of fatigue, yet there were no weak emotions like vulnerability or unease.
Olivia was a dominant person, both in strength and in character.
Cynthia sometimes felt she was too stubborn, but she had to admit, this side of Olivia was very attractive to her. Looking at the indifference on her face, the flicker of anger that had risen in Cynthia's heart completely dissipated. Her gaze shifted down to Olivia's pale green hair, and she reached out to take a strand, twirling it playfully. "Acting like this makes me feel like you don't trust my abilities."
Olivia paused, then frowned. "I don't."
She just… didn't want to trouble an unrelated person.
"How did you get the Power of Darkness in you?" Cynthia asked curiously, still winding the pale green strand around her finger. "Was it from the injury you sustained back in Ochester?"
Olivia didn't want to discuss the topic, but seeing the concern in Cynthia's eyes, she hesitated for a moment before answering, "It's a matter concerning our clan."
"Is your weakness also related to this?"
"…No, that's a separate issue."
Cynthia was speechless.
Cynthia raised a hand to touch her nose, thought for a moment, and asked, "You were looking for the Temple of Light for the sake of the Elf Race, weren't you?"
Olivia did not deny it.
Cynthia recalled Olivia's constant mentions of Holy Water. "You want the Sacred River in front of the temple," she said thoughtfully. "Are you trying to use it to purify something?"
She thought of the most important thing to the Elf Race and asked tentatively, "The Tree of Life?"
Seeing that Cynthia had more or less figured it out, Olivia let out a silent sigh. Her flat tone carried a trace of helplessness as she said, "Why must you know these things?"
"Because I want to help you," Cynthia said with a slight smile, raising her eyes to meet Olivia's.
Her gaze was incredibly gentle. Olivia met it for a moment before she couldn't help but look away. "…The Tree of Life is tied to the propagation of our entire race. It is close to nature and light, but after the gods left, the Sitatul Continent was overrun by vampires."
"The light vanished, nature weakened, and darkness shrouded the land. The Tree of Life was tainted too much… and began to show signs of decay several hundred years ago." This was a secret of the Elf Race, something Olivia should not have told Cynthia. She frowned, surprised at herself for having said it.
Cynthia didn't notice Olivia's strange reaction. After hearing her words, her expression grew grave. "Does the Tree of Life's decline also affect you?"
Olivia glanced at her and said in a low voice, "The Tree of Life is tied to the survival of the Elf Race. As the Elf Queen, I cannot simply let it be."
"So?"
"…I gave it a portion of my life force to sustain it."
Cynthia froze for a second, and her face instantly darkened. "That kind of action is what truly disregards the Elf Race, Olivia."
"If you die, the Elf Race will head towards extinction long before the Tree of Life withers."
Cynthia's words successfully enraged Olivia. A flash of anger crossed her face as she turned to stare intently into Cynthia's eyes. Her pale green eyes were bright and dazzling as she emphasized each word, "I will not die."
"And the Elf Race will not possibly be destroyed."
Cynthia found herself mesmerized by the angry Olivia. The strong emotion had brought a flush to her pale cheeks. Her gaze was resolute, her aura powerful and confident. In the face of her formidable presence, her stunning beauty became secondary. To Cynthia, those bright, pale green eyes had captured her full attention.
"I was wrong," Cynthia apologized immediately. "I'm sorry."
Olivia's anger faltered, and she slowly calmed down.
Cynthia caressed the strand of pale green hair wrapped around her finger, then gently enclosed it in her palm. She smiled at Olivia, her gaze focused and sincere. "I shouldn't have casually judged you and the Elf Race."
"You are very powerful, Her Majesty the Queen."
So powerful that she found her dazzling and… captivating.
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