Azure Scepter

Page 124

The Lord of the Scepter had a grim expression. He lay on the ground and sniffed around like a dog.

“The smell of sulfur is the devil,” he said, bowing his head in prayer.

"Great Saint Seir, Lady Bloodthorn attacked us, the demon container escaped in the chaos, and the little girl has been protected by Edith..."

After finishing his prayer, he walked to the window and looked coldly at Nordman on the ground and the red-haired beauty beside him.

—At this moment, Orianna stared blankly at the sky.

I haven't even cast a spell yet, so how did it "vanish into thin air" and crash down on me?

Moreover, isn't the power and precision of this "annihilation" a bit too exaggerated?

She stared blankly at the window shattered by lightning, then met the cold gaze of the Knight of the Scepter.

After a moment's thought, the high-ranking succubus understood everything—a powerful being was trying to frame her! And that dim-witted Asmo had clearly fallen for it!

She opened her mouth, about to explain, when suddenly, with a deafening roar, another bolt of lightning, this time "annihilation," rained down from the sky—the Scepter Knight was once again struck by divine punishment.

This time, even his immortal essence was taken away by that terrible lightning.

"Oh no, this time I can't clear my name..." Orianna muttered to herself.

The outer city area, the relief center has three floors.

Trier slowly opened his eyes, breaking free from the special vision provided by "divinity".

The next moment, he slowly opened his hands, then whispered a few incantations, and the immortal essences of the Scepter Knight and his twelve Asmer were thrown into the spacetime vortex.

Even if Saint Seir possessed moderate divine power, it would be impossible for Him to retrieve the souls of His subordinates in a short time...

In short, those Asmos are completely dead.

"It's a success, Master?" Noi's voice came from the side.

Trier nodded slightly.

"Very successful. The latent contradictions have now turned into bloody conflicts, and the powder keg is about to explode."

“But you deliberately spread the news that Livitt is in the Upper City. Isn’t that setting Edith up?” Noy muttered. “When those powerful beings find out that she is the one protecting Livitt, she will face enormous risks.”

“Once the conflict explodes, no one will care about her anymore. She’s in the most danger right now, which is why I invited her here,” Trier said, standing up and stretching. “As long as she stays here today, she won’t be at any risk.”

Before he finished speaking, Noi, who was standing by the window, glanced at the street and then chuckled.

"Master, Edith and Feudia have arrived."

Prelude to Chapter 246: The Story, the Familiar, Edith's Answer

The cold wind carried a hint of dampness, and before the first drop of rain fell, Princess Edith and her entourage arrived at the relief center in the outer city.

Edith sat on horseback, surveying the entire relief center. Amid the orderly flow of refugees, she spotted a black stone staircase. On the staircase, a soldier wearing a green tricorn hat was distributing supplies. Beside the soldier, Noy, dressed in a plain black priest's robe, was smiling and staring at her.

"Your Highness, Trier is waiting for you on the third floor."

Noi and her entourage came forward, and she turned her head to look at the procession behind Edith.

"These clerks are the people you brought to help organize the evacuation of refugees, right?"

“Fodia isn’t,” Edith dismounted. “Everyone else is.”

After briefly arranging for the accompanying scribes to help organize the refugee evacuation, Edith, along with Faudia, followed Noy into the three-story stone building of the relief center.

Although it wasn't night yet, the corridor was already lit up, and soft, warm yellow light spilled out from the mottled glass, reflecting the busy crowd inside.

A row of arched floor-to-ceiling windows lined the side of the corridor, and cool-toned light streamed into the corridor through the gaps in the window frames. Edith glanced outside and just then saw a few heavy raindrops fall.

"Plop." Raindrops hit the windowsill, splashing up a few water droplets.

For some inexplicable reason, Edith instinctively felt a hidden sense of oppression and unease. She stopped and looked at the leaden-gray clouds in the distance.

The clouds churned, while the purple lightning remained hidden, though the faint flashes of light peeking through the gaps in the clouds hinted at a kind of hysteria.

"What's wrong?" Futia asked curiously.

Edith hesitated for a moment, then shook her head: "It's nothing, it's just going to rain."

“Since it’s already raining, why don’t we stay here today?” Noy turned around and suggested softly.

“The important matter is the priority,” the princess said. “The sooner we finish organizing the refugees, the sooner they can escape danger.”

“Your Highness, you’ve changed a lot in just a few weeks,” Noy said, tilting his head. “You never used to pay attention to these details.”

Edith turned her head and gave Noy a deep look.

"People grow and mature," she muttered to herself.

When Edith entered Trier's room, the warmth emanating from the fireplace dispelled the dampness and chill on her body; the crackling of the firewood and the bursts of orange sparks carried a comforting quality.

Edith's gloom and unease dissipated considerably, and when she saw Trier, she immediately felt a sense of peace from the bottom of her heart.

—At that moment, Trier stood in front of the fireplace, gazing intently at the roaring flames, as if the flickering sparks held some kind of divine revelation.

Seemingly hearing footsteps, he slowly turned around.

“Fodia, there’s a honey cake on the table,” Trier said with a smile. “Edith told me you love this, so this is a gift for you.”

Futia's eyes lit up, and she immediately sat down at the table.

"Actually, I don't really like honey cake that much," the elf said stubbornly in a low voice. "But if you specially brought it for me, then I'll eat it all."

Noi didn't say anything; she simply picked up her fork and used it to fork away the first piece of cake.

"..." Futia fell silent for a moment, then quickly reached out and grabbed the second piece of cake.

Trier smiled and shook his head, then looked at Princess Edith standing at the door.

Although Edith did not speak, the time traveler saw expectation in her eyes—she was also expecting a gift.

Trier couldn't help but smile.

—This is a sure thing; Edith definitely won't be going back to the upper city today.

Trier took Edith's hand and led her into the house.

"I have also prepared a gift for you, Your Highness."

"What is it?" Edith blinked, asking with great anticipation.

“A pot of hot tea, and an adventure story.” Trier sat back in his chair. “A story about the battle in the northwest.”

Edith hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'd love to hear the story, but before that, shouldn't we make arrangements for the evacuation of the refugees?"

“No need to rush, I’ve already arranged everything,” Trier replied calmly. “Within half a month, all the refugees will be sent to a safe place—and there’s no need to worry about food either. I found a large quantity of Basilan biscuits in Dans City, which is enough to completely solve the food crisis currently facing the city.”

"The organization of those refugees..."

“Everything has been taken care of. Besides the grouping, there’s also the order of action, rain protection, emergency plans, and drinking water and medical care. Everything has been arranged.” Trier interrupted softly. “You just need to bring the clerk over. The extra manpower can handle more unexpected situations.”

Edith blinked.

As expected of Trier!

It's so comfortable not having to use your brain...

With that thought in mind, she comfortably sat down in the chair.

Noy held the teapot and gracefully poured black tea into each teacup.

Edith thanked him softly, then picked up her teacup and took a small sip.

The bitter, mellow aroma stimulated the buds, and through the rising white mist, Edith gazed intently into Trier's calm and focused eyes.

“Our first battle was in Danles City,” Trier began slowly, “There were still many survivors there, but the cultists knew we were coming, so they decided to slaughter them all…”

Trier's tone was calm, and as he spoke slowly, the warm and refreshing aroma of tea seemed to seep into his words. Gradually, Edith became engrossed in listening.

Edith felt a pang of unease when Trier recounted the cult's plan to massacre all survivors in Danles; but when Trier spoke of how he successfully prevented the massacre through a series of strategies, Edith's anxiety subsided.

In the relaxed and leisurely atmosphere, and in Trier's calm and even voice, Edith seemed to have returned to the past—a carefree and hopeful past.

In the past, she lacked the wisdom to see the cruel conspiracies that seemed to bind her like chains; she couldn't see the ruthless schemes that used living people as pawns to crush and kill each other; she couldn't discern the insincerity in other people's words, nor the hidden, dagger-like intentions beneath their words.

Being with Trier gave her a deep sense of security; she could stop thinking about anything and not consider anything at all.

To be fair, Edith knew very well that Trier was not telling a true story, but a fabricated one—only victories in stories come from courage, faith, and a heart as bright as gold; while victories in cold, heavy reality come from thorough planning, overwhelming power, and bloody sacrifice.

Gradually, Edith became more and more engrossed in the story. She held the silver spoon she used to stir her tea in her right hand, motionless, as if she were under a spell. However, when the story reached its climax, when countless ghost riders surged out of the mountain peaks like a tide and rushed towards the mercenaries, Trier abruptly stopped telling the story.

"And then? How did you deal with those ghosts? How did you defend against the magical bombardment?" The princess tapped her teacup with a silver spoon, then casually took the last piece of cake from in front of Futia. "What happened after that? I see no possibility of turning the tide..."

Noi took out the second piece of honey cake, put it back on the table, and then forked away the first bite again.

Trier glanced almost imperceptibly out the window.

Outside the window, a white owl was flying swiftly towards them, large raindrops slowly sliding down its wings.

That was Granny Lor's magical pet; it must have brought news that Livitt had been captured...

"I'll tell you after we finish eating," Trier said with a smile as he stood up.

"That's so mean!" Futia protested, "You deliberately stopped right before the climax, that's so mean!"

"You'll find out tonight, don't worry, let's go eat first."

Trier casually walked to the window, locked it, and then drew the curtains.

"The wind is really strong."

"Wait!" Edith interrupted. "Is there something outside the window?"

“Nothing’s wrong, you’re just too tired,” Noy said. “Radiance blesses you—would you like another cup of tea?”

Edith looked puzzled, but a moment later her expression suddenly changed.

She immediately got up and went to the window, then forcefully pulled open the curtains.

Outside the window, a white owl was forcefully nudging the window latch with its beak. Upon seeing Edith, the magical pet's eyes widened with excitement.

Trier opened the window, and a wet owl immediately flew in.

"It's Granny Lor's magical pet!" Futia exclaimed, standing up in surprise. "Something must have happened in the Upper City!"

“There’s no need to rush. The fact that the magical creature is still alive proves that Laura is still safe,” Trier said confidently.

However, before he could finish speaking, Edith immediately interrupted, "Granny Lor's pet can talk—Bark, what on earth happened?"

"Something's happened! Something's happened!" the magical owl shrieked. "The white-masked scepter-wielding knight attacked Master! Master used magic to teleport both Livitt and himself away!"

Edith's expression changed instantly, but after half a breath, she took a deep breath and regained her composure.

“Trier, I must go back immediately. Oris has found Livitt.” The princess gripped the hilt of her sword and said calmly, “I need your help.”

“You’re too nervous.” Trier pressed down on Edith’s hand holding the sword. “It’s nothing serious at all. Trust Granny Lor—stay here with me a little longer, just a little while.”

At that moment, everyone in the room stared at Trier in disbelief.

They had never seen Trier speak in such a pleading tone before!

Edith's mind wavered. She slowly closed her eyes, then hesitated before releasing her grip on the sword.

Trier breathed a long sigh of relief, then took the opportunity to tug at the other person's slender, fair fingers.

However, the next moment, Edith opened her eyes again.

“Trier, you orchestrated what happened in the upper town, didn’t you?” The princess’s voice trembled slightly.

Trier didn't speak, but looked earnestly into the other person's emerald green eyes.

“How could it be related to Trier?” Fythia said. “He only returned to Eraf today—and besides, Trier has no motive whatsoever for helping Oris, does he?”

Edith's face turned even paler.

"Trier, please give me an answer, okay?" she pleaded in a voice as faint as a candle flame flickering in the wind. "Please..."

“It’s too dangerous to go back to the upper city now. Let’s stay a little longer,” Trier said softly. “In essence, Levitt has nothing to do with us. Her unfortunate fate is predetermined by her identity. Even if nothing happens to her today, something will happen to her sooner or later.”

“True freedom lies in conforming to one’s inevitable destiny,” Neu added. “Freedom is not about doing whatever you want, but about the necessity of freedom.”

“And what about me?” Edith asked, her voice trembling. “According to this logic, wasn’t my sacrifice to Losevie by my father also an inevitable fate?”

“That’s not the same thing. Your destiny lies in escaping sacrifice,” Noi insisted firmly.

"What are you talking about? Livitt is in danger, shouldn't we go and save her?" Feudia interrupted, puzzled. "Noy, don't be a coward like Aurelius. Think about our past experiences. When have we ever overcome difficulties as long as we are united?"

At that moment, Edith suddenly revealed a bitter smile.

She had figured everything out: the information about Levitt was leaked by Trier, whose goal was to use Levitt as a trigger to ignite all potential conflicts.