The First Pope - Chapter 70
Chapter 70
Although their time with the God Race over the past year had been very harmonious, it ultimately couldn't compare to the bond the three witch families had shared for thousands of years.
Even though the Garcia and Morgan families didn't approve of the Anderson family's actions, they couldn't refute Molly's words.
They did indeed have many clan members in the hands of the vampires.
After parting on bad terms with the God Race, the witches didn't return to their territory. Instead, they found an open space, and the remaining elders gathered to discuss the conflict between the Anderson family and the God Race. The atmosphere was surprisingly peaceful. Even the perpetually aggressive Molly reined in her attacking posture, constantly steering the conversation toward their trapped kin, which in turn made the Garcia and Morgan families feel guilty.
Betty sat away from the crowd, leaning against a rock and staring blankly in the direction of the elders, her eyes filled with confusion.
Camille, clutching a skeleton rat, cautiously approached her and tried to sit beside her. Seeing that Betty didn't shoo her away, the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up, and she called out sweetly, "Sister Betty."
She handed the skeleton rat to Betty, saying in a fawning tone, "This is for you. It's very powerful and can protect you."
This was the most powerful magical beast she could currently summon. Although it was precious, she didn't feel the slightest bit of heartache giving it to Betty.
Anything Eunice could give, she could give too.
Betty, who had been in a daze, slowly came back to her senses. She glanced at the skeleton rat in Camille's hand, remained silent for a moment, then reached out and took it, looking down to examine it.
The skeleton rat was very small, only the size of a fist, but the Power of Darkness emanating from it made Betty shiver involuntarily.
Seeing Betty accept the skeleton rat, Camille's eyes lit up. She moved closer to Betty, happily introducing her favorite toy like a child, "Sister Betty, don't underestimate it. It's very strong. I'll teach you a spell. When you're in danger, chant it, and this little mouse will transform."
Camille thought for a moment, then broke into a brilliant smile. "It can stop a fourth-generation vampire. I'm a genius too, right?"
"A fourth-generation vampire..." Betty looked down at the skeleton rat and murmured to herself, "A single spell can summon a magical beast capable of dealing with a fourth-generation vampire?"
Was Dark Magic... that simple?
Camille tilted her head, gazing at Betty with an infatuated expression. Hearing her words, she nodded happily.
Betty was silent for a moment, then suddenly handed the skeleton rat back to Camille.
Camille froze, asking in confusion, "What's wrong?"
Betty gazed at the cold night sky, her tone somewhat chilly. "How many human lives were exchanged for this spell?"
Camille's small face suddenly turned pale. She clutched the skeleton rat, looking aggrieved. "Sister Betty, do you hate me now?"
Before Betty could speak, a dagger emerged from the darkness, flying straight for Camille's neck. Camille dodged clumsily, but her shoulder was still grazed by the dagger's sharp blade.
She raised a hand to cover the bleeding spot, her eyes dark as she stared in the direction the dagger had come from.
Eunice walked out of the darkness, looked down at Camille, and said coldly, "Get lost."
"Don't let me see you near Betty again."
The scent of blood made Betty frown. She glanced at Camille's wound, wanting to say something, but ultimately held her tongue.
Camille lowered her eyes to hide her cold gaze. She wiped away the tears that had streamed down her face at some point and got up to leave without a word.
Betty watched Camille's retreating back and sighed silently.
Eunice bent down to pick up the dagger on the ground, casually wiped the blood from it, then walked over to Betty, moved her arm aside, and lay down with her head in Betty's lap.
Betty reached out and stroked Eunice's hair, saying softly, "We might have to leave this place."
The Anderson family had gone too far this time. Betty couldn't think of any reason for the God Race to let them stay here any longer.
Not turning on them immediately was already a sign of their tolerance.
Although Betty hid it well, Eunice, who knew her well, could see the disappointment in her heart. She frowned and said in a low voice, "If you like it here, I can stay with you."
"If they want to leave, just let them go."
All this talk about rescuing their kin captured by the vampires was just an excuse the Anderson family was using to absolve themselves.
She had grown up in the clan and had long seen enough of these people's hypocrisy.
But, having spent thousands of years with the Garcia and Morgan families, the Anderson family undoubtedly knew exactly what their weaknesses were.
Seeing Betty's hesitation, Eunice clicked her tongue in annoyance. She grabbed Betty's hand and used it to cover her own eyes, gritting her teeth hatefully. "This bunch of wastes is so annoying."
The witches discussed the matter all night, and the final result was not much different from what Cynthia had expected.
The Anderson family's actions had crossed the God Race's bottom line, a fact that both the Garcia and Morgan families understood well. Although it was regrettable, they ultimately chose to leave with the Anderson family.
However, it was the Anderson family who had erred, not the Garcia and Morgan families, and neither of the two families wanted to fall out with the God Race. Therefore, their official reason for leaving was that they had decided to depart temporarily to rescue their captured kin.
Before they left, however, Elder Kana specifically took Elder Molly to apologize to Chloe and the humans who had been frightened by the Anderson family.
While Elder Kana was taking Elder Molly around to make apologies, Chelsea and Betty went to say goodbye to Cynthia.
Betty looked extremely haggard after a sleepless night, but when facing Cynthia, she still managed to force a smile, her tone feigning ease. "I didn't expect we'd have to part again for a while. I wonder when we'll meet next."
Cynthia reached out and stroked Betty's hair, saying softly, "This is your territory too. If you get tired, come back."
She didn't say anything to ask the Garcia and Morgan families to stay. The witches had made this decision after careful consideration.
It wasn't something a few words from an outsider could change.
Betty sniffed and nodded silently.
Darcy, standing beside Cynthia, stared at Betty for a moment, then shook her head slightly and sighed, "With the Anderson family's temper, if I sent a God Race team to help you, it would surely cause more conflict."
She took out two scrolls and handed them to Betty. "Chloe asked me to give these to you. If you encounter danger, open one, and the God Race will send people to help you."
Betty stared at the scrolls, slightly stunned. She recognized them; they were teleportation scrolls Cynthia had created for the God Race to use for calling for help and communication, in case they ran into danger while she was away.
There weren't many teleportation scrolls to begin with, yet the God Race was still willing to give them two.
As Betty hesitated on whether to accept them, Darcy had already pushed the scrolls into her hands, smiling. "Chloe just looks rather cold, but in reality, she has always remembered the help the witch clans gave the God Race."
She paused, then winked at Betty. "Of course, that doesn't include the Anderson family."
Cynthia chuckled and said gently to Betty, "Take them. To destroy the temples, the vampires will surely guard the captured non-humans strictly. You'll definitely face a lot of danger on your journey."
Betty caressed the scrolls in her hand, pursed her lips, and said softly, "Thank you."
She looked up at Cynthia with a smile, much of the gloom between her brows dissipating. "Once we rescue our people, I'll have Elder Kana occupy the territory next to Ochester. Then we can live together again."
"We will properly guide the Anderson family," Betty promised seriously. "We definitely will."
Cynthia nodded at Betty and said with a smile, "Alright, the territory next to Ochester will be saved for you."
Darcy glanced at Cynthia, wanting to say something, but ultimately held her tongue.
Could the Anderson family be guided? It might be better to just give up on them.
Compared to the emotionally volatile Betty, Chelsea, who had come with her, appeared much calmer. She handed the three staffs she had been holding to Cynthia and said in a low voice, "The Light Crystal you showed me last time... my clan and I studied it and made three staffs that can barely be inlaid with it."
"But the energy in that crystal is too great. These staffs will only last a few months at most."
The staffs were the color of white jade, with a smooth and delicate surface. Cynthia studied one for a moment, then took out the Light Crystal and brought it near the top of the staff. The Light Crystal emitted a faint golden glow and then merged with the staff.
Cynthia held the staff and tried casting a Light Magic spell. Seeing its power, she raised her eyebrows in surprise. "It's a perfect fit. Thank you, Chelsea."
Chelsea shook her head. "It's a pity we only made three."
"It's more than enough." Cynthia put the staff into her Space Gem and praised her sincerely, "Witches always bring me surprises."
She reached out and patted Chelsea's shoulder, saying softly, "Chelsea, I believe you will also become a great witch like Elder Hettie."
Chelsea lowered her eyes slightly and said nothing.
Cynthia pulled her hand back, her gaze on Chelsea and Betty filled with a gentle warmth as she said, "I look forward to our next meeting."
After Betty and Chelsea left, the smile that had been on Darcy's face slowly faded. She looked at Cynthia and said in a heavy tone, "The Garcia and Morgan families could have stayed."
They had been getting along so well, and she really liked these witches.
Cynthia walked to the table, poured a glass of water, then leaned against the window, watching Betty and Chelsea's retreating figures. She said softly, "They will not abandon the Anderson family."
Even if the Morgan and Anderson families had their conflicts, when forced to choose between the God Race and the Anderson family, they would choose the latter without hesitation.
Cynthia raised the glass and took a sip, her golden eyes looking unusually deep. "Let's hope the Anderson family has some conscience."
And that they don't let their companions down.
Darcy sat in a chair without speaking, her feelings incredibly complicated.
Cynthia finished the water in her glass, then turned and placed the glass on the table. She glanced at Darcy, suddenly remembering something, and asked, "By the way, I've been meaning to ask, what's the deal with Doris?"
Prophecy... is that also a talent of the God Race?
"Doris can occasionally foresee things that might happen," Darcy explained simply. "It's a talent of the God Race, but it seems only she has it right now."
"Oh?" Cynthia was surprised. "Only her?"
Darcy nodded. "Actually, Doris didn't grow up with us. Like you, she was also lost."
Cynthia asked with interest, "Then where did she grow up before she found you? What about the clan members with her?"
"I think it was in Thacker Plain," Darcy replied. "When we found her, she was all alone."
After saying that, she remembered something else and added, "By the way, we also found our Divine Stones in Thacker Plain."
At that time, they were also fleeing and had stumbled in there, discovering Doris and the Divine Stones. They didn't know the stones' purpose then, but they felt a sense of closeness to the aura they emitted, so they took many with them.
Thacker Plain was very dangerous, guarded by vampires on all sides, so they left quickly. Although they had thought about going back to investigate, they never did because of the danger.
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