The First Pope - Chapter 140
Chapter 140
Betty remained unconscious for two whole days before she finally woke up. The moment she did, she was anxious to go to Zakariya to find Eunice, with not a single memory of what had happened before she fainted.
During the two days Betty was unconscious, Cynthia had carefully examined her physical condition but found nothing abnormal aside from her being rather weak. The only strange thing was that the power of darkness within her body was continuously, albeit slowly, increasing.
However, the Garcia witches had been practicing dark magic for some time now, so the growth of dark power didn't necessarily mean anything.
"I've already sent Darcy to Zakariya to get Eunice. She should be back in a few days." Cynthia gestured for Betty not to move, then walked to the table and poured her a cup of nectar. She soothed her in a soft voice, "Even if you run to Zakariya now, you won't be able to see Eunice. Why not wait patiently for a few days?"
The sweet fragrance of the nectar and Cynthia's gentle voice did well to calm Betty's anxious mood. She leaned back against the headboard, raising a hand to rub her face in an attempt to calm herself. She lowered her head and said in a small voice, "Thank you, Cynthia."
The relationship between the God Race and the Anderson witches was already so strained, yet Cynthia was still willing to help her find Eunice.
Cynthia chuckled and shook her head. "There's no need for so many thanks between us," she said softly. She leaned against the table and took a few sips of nectar, her golden eyes occasionally glancing toward Betty. After a moment of contemplation, she asked tentatively, "Betty, do you remember how you fainted?"
Betty, who was taking small sips of nectar, shook her head with a blank expression. "I only remember that I was determined to go to Zakariya to find Eunice, but I don't know why I suddenly lost consciousness."
After she spoke, she saw Cynthia lower her eyes as if deep in thought. Her heart sank, and she frowned, asking, "What's wrong with me?"
In fact, Betty had also noticed that something was off with her lately. Although she had been in a state of dual physical and mental exhaustion due to her worry for Eunice, it wasn't enough to cause her spirit to collapse or for her to be in a daze.
The practice of witchcraft and dark magic required a very high level of mental strength from its practitioners. While Betty couldn't be considered exceptionally talented, her aptitude wasn't ordinary either. It was impossible for her mental strength to falter simply because of fatigue.
"You were a bit strange before you fainted." Cynthia didn't hide Betty's bizarre actions after she lost consciousness. Instead, she described them in detail, then asked in a solemn voice, "Your thoughts were filled with the God of Darkness. Have you been in close contact with her?"
Betty shook her head, her long, brownish-red hair hanging limply in front of her, looking dull. "I haven't had much contact with her. I've only been practicing the magic spells she provided."
Besides, all those spells had been delivered to her by her clanswomen. It wasn't just the Garcia Family practicing these spells; the Anderson Family was as well.
Betty lowered her eyes and thought hard about what else might be wrong. Suddenly, something occurred to her. She held up her hand to Cynthia and said, "Right, this blood mark appeared on my wrist recently."
She rolled up her sleeve to reveal her slender wrist. On her fair skin, a strangely shaped blood mark was exceptionally conspicuous.
This mark had only appeared recently. It didn't hurt or itch, looking a bit like a bruise from an impact, and the mark was gradually fading. So, Betty hadn't paid it much mind after discovering it.
Cynthia walked over and stared at the blood mark on Betty's wrist for a while, then probed it with the power of light, but found nothing unusual. She had no good leads on Betty's strange behavior before she fainted and could only shake her head and advise, "Stop practicing the dark magic spells for now. Wait for Darcy to bring Eunice back, and you two can stay here for a while."
Betty couldn't go back to the witch clans now. Regardless of whether the "God of Darkness" the witches had released from the Temple of Darkness was the general Helen had mentioned, judging by the witches' recent bizarre behavior, this "God of Darkness" was by no means a benevolent being.
If Cynthia hadn't already been tied up with the plan to attack Thacker Plain, she would have gone to Capri Plains long ago to investigate this "God of Darkness."
While Betty was unconscious, Olivia had already led her people back to the Elf Territory. Before leaving, Polly had, in the Queen's name, invited the God Race and the Morgan witches to be guests in the Elf Territory. So many people weren't needed just to discuss an attack plan. The God Race and the witches were puzzled, but since it was an invitation from Queen Olivia, they went to the Elf Territory early via the teleportation array. Cynthia, waiting for Betty, was slightly later than them.
The God Race territory was overcast and drizzling, but upon arriving in the Elf Territory, the weather changed to a clear sky with a gentle breeze. Betty's body was a little weak, and her complexion had been poor, but after arriving in the Elf Territory and being surrounded by the vibrant power of nature, a bit of color returned to her pale face.
"The scenery of the Elf Territory is truly beautiful," Betty said, looking at the lush greenery before her. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would never have imagined that such a pure land still existed on the Sitatul Continent.
The elven guards standing by the teleportation array all greeted Cynthia warmly when they saw her. Cynthia smiled and nodded at them, then gestured for Betty to follow her. She said with a smile, "I have the same thought every time I come to the Elf Territory."
Betty turned to look at Cynthia. Her brows relaxed, and the corners of her lips turned up slightly as she said with a smile, "You really like the Elf Race."
She still remembered the first time they met the elves; Cynthia had shown great interest in them. Although Cynthia had met the witches first, in the end, the relationship between the God Race and the Elf Race grew much deeper.
Cynthia was unaware of Betty's inner thoughts. Seeing the smile finally appear on her face, she also curved her lips and chuckled softly, "It's not just the Elf Race I like." She also liked the Elf Queen.
Betty didn't understand Cynthia's hidden meaning and was about to ask when a burst of laughter came from ahead. A dozen little elves ran out from the woods, their faces beaming with brilliant smiles as they rushed to Cynthia's side and sprinkled the flower petals they were holding toward her.
But because the little elves were too short, the petals only reached Cynthia's waist before fluttering down.
Cynthia looked at the flower petals scattered on the ground, her fine brows raising slightly. She bent down and picked up a little elf, her long silver hair swinging in a graceful arc with the movement. She asked in a gentle voice, "What are you all playing at?"
The little elf smiled at her but didn't speak.
Along with the little elves came several squads of elven warriors. They stood scattered on both sides, seemingly just to clear a path for Cynthia. There were also some young elves standing on the treetops, enthusiastically greeting her.
Although the elves had been this enthusiastic on her previous visits, it had never been this… lively.
Holding the little elf, Cynthia walked forward with the elven warriors clearing the way, smiling and nodding at the elven maidens who greeted her, though she was lost in thought.
The area with the teleportation array was relatively remote. When Cynthia led Betty truly into the Elf Territory, she realized her feeling that it was livelier than usual was not a misconception.
This liveliness wasn't brought by the visiting God Race, werewolves, or witches, but by the elves themselves.
The clearing normally used as a training ground had been tidied up specifically to welcome guests. Young elves carried baskets full of fruit, weaving through the crowd. Verdant vines were wrapped around the tall, straight trees, and the tender branches and leaves were dotted with colorful flowers. Older elves sat on the treetops, playing music on homemade instruments, while beautiful elven maidens danced barefoot on the clearing below.
Every elf's face was filled with smiles. It didn't look like they were entertaining guests, but rather holding a grand festival.
Cynthia was a little surprised by this scene. She put the little elf down, her gaze sweeping around. She then pointed Betty in Chelsea's direction before walking toward Olivia, who was conversing with Helen.
It was quieter where Olivia and Helen were. Besides them, there were only one or two Wolf Race elders. When Cynthia approached, Olivia and Helen were chatting idly. Sensing Cynthia's presence, they stopped their conversation. Helen faced her and nodded slightly, saying with a smile, "Long time no see."
"Olivia has been distracted since just now. I knew you had arrived."
Olivia had been gazing at Cynthia as she walked toward her. Hearing Helen's sudden words, her light green eyes lowered slightly. Her clear voice was a little cool as she called out in warning, "Helen."
She was somewhat displeased that Helen always exposed her thoughts in front of Cynthia.
Helen lowered her head and smiled. After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Cynthia, she tactfully found an excuse to leave with her clan's elders.
Once it was just Cynthia and Olivia, Cynthia became much more casual. She moved closer to Olivia, her eyes glancing down at the cup in her hand. She took it and sniffed, surprised. "Wine?"
The Elf Race loved to drink nectar, so they usually served nectar to their guests. They also brewed wine, but they rarely brought it out for guests.
"Nectar is too sweet. Other races might not be used to it." Olivia watched as Cynthia drank the wine directly from her cup. She shook her head slightly but didn't stop her.
The wine, brewed from fruit, was not as cloyingly sweet as nectar; instead, it had a hint of tartness. But to Cynthia, it had a unique, refreshing sweetness, just like her mood at that moment. She licked her wine-moistened lips, her golden eyes lifting slightly, the smile on her face unstoppable. "Her Majesty the Queen has given me quite a surprise," she said softly.
She toyed with the cup. A strand of long silver hair slipped from the side of her face, partially obscuring her vision, but she paid it no mind. Her gaze was fixed intently on Olivia as she said with a pointed meaning, "What a grand festival."
Cynthia had spent almost as much time living in the Elf Territory as she had in the God Race's domain, so she was very familiar with certain elven matters—such as this festival.
The Elf Race would only hold such a grand festival under three circumstances: the ascension of a new Elf Queen, the birth of the next Elf Queen, or the current Elf Queen's Guardian Ceremony.
Her and Olivia's blood essences were only being stored; they had not yet been fused for gestation, so the first two were impossible.
The Guardian Ceremony… She should have thought of it when Polly invited the God Race and the witches to the Elf Territory in Olivia's name.
"I did remind you." A flower petal had landed on Cynthia's shoulder. Olivia reached out and brushed it away. Though her tone was calm and even, a faint smile graced her lips.
She had reminded her. It was Cynthia who hadn't understood, not that she had done it on purpose.
"Her Majesty the Queen did indeed remind me. It was I who was too dull." Cynthia held the wine cup but still couldn't resist trying to wrap an arm around Olivia's waist, her golden eyes full of a gentle smile. "Her Majesty the Queen is beautiful and kind-hearted; she would never deliberately tease me."
Cynthia's hand had somehow already pressed against her waist, the warmth of her palm palpable even through the dress. Olivia raised a hand to press against Cynthia's shoulder, then glanced at the crowd not far away, reminding her with a frown, "We are outside."
She didn't reject Cynthia's intimacy, but outside, she had to consider her status as the Elf Queen.
Cynthia's hand lingered on Olivia's waist for a moment before she withdrew it. Although she enjoyed teasing Olivia, she wouldn't do anything that would make her angry.
Cynthia leaned sideways against a tree trunk. Though she had put some distance between herself and Olivia, her gaze remained fixed on her, the smile never leaving her lips. Her crescent-white robe made her look elegant and noble, and even the sunlight pouring down on her seemed to soften. Her gaze on Olivia was focused and earnest, as if she wanted to engrave the person before her into the deepest part of her heart.
Ever since Cynthia appeared, the God Race and witches who had been tasting fruit wine and nectar or dancing with the elven maidens had all become distracted, glancing in their direction from time to time. After Helen left with her people, leaving only Cynthia and Olivia, their glances became even more frequent.
For the people of the God Race, Cynthia's status within the clan had already surpassed that of Clan Leader Chloe. They respected and trusted her. Hearing suddenly that she had been chosen as the Elf Queen's guardian, the members of the God Race were all bewildered and confused.
But when they learned that a guardian in the Elf Race was equivalent to the Queen's partner, they had a sudden realization.
After all, the relationship between Cynthia and the Elf Queen had always been very good—so good that rumors about them had been circulating within the God Race for a long time. Yet, when the rumors became reality, it still felt a little unreal.
So, had their alliance with the Elf Race now become a marriage alliance?
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