Chapter 159: A Fleeting Peace (Part 1)

  No matter how severe the wound, it seemed there was nothing that could not be healed by the Cardinal's white magic. But no matter how profound or exquisite the white magic, it could not restore the Paladin's already depleted strength. The Holy Light Cross Sword, which originally could no longer be used, in the final strike expended all of Lancelot's battle energy and magic power, and even more than half of his life force. Now, even though he could still barely stand, for the time being, he was no different from an ordinary person.

  The Radiant Battleplate, scattered into fragments on the ground, made everyone in the Church dumbfounded. The Radiant Battleplate was not a glass wine cup; it wouldn't shatter completely from a single hard impact. Not only was it incomparably tough, it could also automatically repair its damage under the influence of white magic. In reality, the Temple Knight and Templars simply did not believe that there was any power in this world that could destroy this treasure of Celeste. But now they had seen it with their own eyes.

  "I didn't expect you to be a bit stronger. It's a pity that the task His Majesty the Pope gave me seems impossible to complete now." Lancelot wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, looked at Gru, and said lightly. His demeanor and voice held none of a loser's anger or dejection. In his brown eyes was still the same calm-as-a-mountain composure, solemnity, and tranquility, with only a faint hint of regret.

  "You are a good opponent." Black flames burned in Gru's eyes. His injuries had also recovered under Sedros and Ethan's treatment. His condition was slightly better than Lancelot's, but only by a tiny bit. Perhaps now any ordinary Templar could confront him.

  But this situation was obviously not going to happen. Even without any elves or others obstructing them, even though this person was covered in blood and on the verge of death, absolutely no one would draw their sword against him. They dared not.

  "I rarely remember the enemies I've killed, but I will always remember you." Gru extended his hand, his slender fingers pointing at Lancelot. He sighed again. "It's a pity we probably won't have another chance to fight such a satisfying battle. Opportunities for a rare one-on-one like this are few."

  Lancelot nodded. The identities of both were too special; a situation like today, with external forces suppressing their helpers, was unlikely to happen again.

  "Alright, alright, it's truly excellent that no one suffered any significant injuries. Let's leave it at for today. Tulalion absolutely does not welcome any pointless disputes. Mr. Sedros and Mr. Ethan are both our friends. Friends from The Radiant Citadel are absolutely not our enemies either. Let's all reconcile today."

  The elven elder's tone was very kind, but the bows and arrows of the many elves around remained drawn, which added much weight to his words.

  "Friends?" Adela turned her head and said with a cold snort. "Bring that thief leader who can still talk over here." Immediately a Templar flew over, and after a short while, returned carrying Axsis, who was trussed up like a dumpling.

  Adela looked at Elder Lloyd and asked, "Respected elven elder. That group of petty thieves of the lowest sort has been able to repeatedly break through your barriers. Don't you find that strange?"

  "Actually, I don't know either, but I can probably guess." Adela smiled. She gave Sedros a meaningful look. "Why don't we verify it now? What do you say, Mr. Sedros."

  Elder Lloyd followed Adela's gaze and gave Sedros a strange look, full of confusion. Sedros was also full of confusion. He frowned at Lloyd and shrugged his shoulders to indicate he didn't understand. Then he nodded to the Cardinal and made a gesture of invitation. "Of course, Your Eminence the Cardinal."

  Adela stared intently at Sedros's expression. In those distinct black and white eyes was a look of utter confusion. Her snow-white eyebrows were tightly knitted, and that gaunt face was full of questions, doubt, and bewilderment, with even the tiniest wrinkles candidly telling of her master's mood. No matter how suspicious or observant a person was, they could not find the slightest flaw in such a face.

  Adela sighed secretly. In fact, he understood that the possibility of turning them against each other was slim. Even if Sedros was indeed manipulating the thieves from behind, he would absolutely have a way to not reveal the slightest flaw.

  But things had come to this point; what needed to be asked still had to be asked. Adela looked down at Axsis, who was thrown on the ground. "If you don't want to wail until your death on the stake, then tell us everything. Why did you ambush Tulalion, and how were you able to break through the forest's barriers."

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Axsis trembled all over on the ground, like a skinned mouse under a cat's paw. Looking at the surrounding Templars and the dense crowd of elves, he used all his strength just to keep from defecating and urinating simultaneously. Trembling, he replied, "It... it... was a Necromancer from Diya Valley... he told us to come here to find a leaf with magical power..."

  "A Necromancer?" Adela frowned and asked sternly, "Are you sure?"

  "Yes, yes, yes... I swear in the name of my Lord's holy radiance, my Lord's supreme wisdom can see through everything." Sensing the Cardinal's importance, Axsis thought he had capital to save his life and quickly swore in the tone he had practiced years ago at the Magic Academy. "That mage wore a silver skull mask. I could tell it was made of mithril, and quite a bit of magic was solidified on it. Only Necromancers have those..."

  "The scrolls were also given to us by him... I've said everything, respected Your Eminence the Cardinal. I have discovered in your radiance a brilliance and warmth comparable to the gods. I swear that from now on I will convert to the embrace of the Lord, no, to your feet. I used to be from the Ainfast Magic Academy, I will definitely be useful..." After Axsis had said everything he could, he began a long-winded plea for mercy.

  Adela frowned and made a gesture to a Templar. The Templar swung his sword down, and Axsis's stooped, rat-like head rolled to the ground with a spray of blood, his twisted limbs twitching and convulsing as much as possible before finally stopping.

  "So it was the folks from Diya Valley... no wonder they could have such scrolls." Elder Lloyd nodded.

  Sedros frowned and sighed, saying to the elven elder, "Those Necromancer fellows have always stopped at nothing. The Whispering Woods is a perfect example. Since they've discovered this place, you must be careful. This time I heard there were thieves plotting something in Tulalion Forest, so I felt there was someone scheming behind it, which is why I had Mr. Ethan go in first to investigate. But I never expected it would escalate into such a big misunderstanding in the end."

  Sedros's expression was still as sincere and regretful as ever. His performance was nearly perfect. Even Adela was beginning to wonder if things were really as he said.

  "Not everyone who can use Necromancy is necessarily from Diya Valley." The Cardinal glanced at Ethan and said. He was in an extremely foul mood now. Although he had been mentally prepared for Sedros's tricks, he never expected the thief leader to swear so convincingly that a Necromancer Guild was behind him.

  "What you say is absolutely right." The elven elder immediately nodded in praise. "Magic is just a skill, not an identity. However, the Necromancers of Diya Valley have indeed coveted our clan's sacred relic for a long time. Mr. Ethan once risked his life to escort our holy relic here, so regardless of what he is like in the human nations outside, at least here we must ensure his safety."

  The corner of Adela's eye twitched. He didn't speak. He understood that today he could only return empty-handed.

  Everyone before him was an opponent they had long dreamed of eliminating. One had almost no magic power left, the other was withered and exhausted. These two were a serious threat whether viewed from the Cardinal's perspective or another's. In any other situation, he would have full confidence in capturing them. Unfortunately, he also had full confidence that the moment he ordered an attack, the elves would definitely not stand by.

  On his side, there were still ten unharmed Templars and one Temple Knight, plus himself and several top-tier magic scrolls. It wasn't impossible that he could eliminate these two despite the elves' interference. But the odds were not great. More critically, he was certain that at least half of the elves' arrows were aimed at him. Which was more important, the enemy's life or his own? That question required no consideration.

  Adela's gaze swept over the faces of Gru, Sedros, and Ethan one by one. His eyes were not fierce. His gentle face could not look ferocious, but everyone could feel the flames burning beneath those eyes. Finally, his gaze fell on Luya beside Elder Lloyd, and he sighed as he looked at the emerald green leaf.

  Elder Lloyd also sighed, but he was looking at Adela. From the moment the Cardinal appeared, from his first glance at that leaf, he had already noticed.

  Ethan, on the other hand, was paying no attention to the conversation in the field. He was looking at a Templar. This Templar was also looking at him, and there was a strange smile on his lips.

  Ethan found it very strange. This was not the first time they had made eye contact. Every time their eyes met, he could not sense the hostility that should have been there. Those sea-blue eyes gave him a vague yet familiar strange feeling. Although he was certain the warrior's smile was not fake, a sense of disgust and hostility began to rise unconsciously in his mind. It was as if sediment that had settled in his mind for years had been stirred up by a suddenly thrown stone. But he was certain he was meeting this person for the first time. That handsome, sunny face was one he would definitely not forget after seeing it just once.

  "It seems we can only leave it at for today. We'll all see what happens later." Adela said lightly, then turned and led the Temple Knight and Templars back the way they came.

  "Please convey to His Majesty Magnus that we, Tulalion, will never be enemies of Celeste." Elder Lloyd waved his hand, and the elves parted like the tide, giving way to the Cardinal.

  Watching the Cardinal's retreating figure, Elder Lloyd muttered to himself, "There will probably be trouble in the future..."

  "The trouble that is meant to come will come sooner or later." Sedros walked over with a smile, "Today is a rare opportunity. Perhaps we should discuss together how to solve the future troubles together."

  "Actually, we could take this opportunity to eliminate part of the trouble first." Ethan said to the elven elder, looking at the retreating figures. "Four Temple Knights, ten Templars. This would be a great blow to the Church..."

  "That would be eliminating part of the trouble for you, Oufu. Because before the grand army of the religious nations of the Western Continent attacks you, they will definitely take the time to level Tulalion first." Elder Lloyd looked at him with a wry smile, "Not to mention we have no confidence at all that we can kill them all before they use their teleportation scrolls. No matter what, that Cardinal kid and the Paladin will probably escape."

  Sedros patted Elder Lloyd on the shoulder and said, "That's why we should have a good discussion..."

  The next day.

  The first ray of morning sun appeared from the horizon. The air over the forest was exceptionally clear, and every breath felt like being soaked in the snowmelt from the highest peaks in the world, filling the chest and abdomen.

  Ethan stood at the very top of a treehouse, feeling this incomparably beautiful morning. He was not the type of person to be easily moved, but when a person had spent nearly half a year wearing a mask, constantly vigilant against the danger that could descend at any moment, living every day in killing and fighting, the occasional relaxation brought by this brief peace could truly make one feel the infinite beauty. He could still see the traces of yesterday's battle through the trees: the cracked and sunken ground, the broken trees. But now elves and unicorns were walking gracefully through the forest, and the surrounding tranquility and harmony no longer held the slightest hint of yesterday's swords and shadows.

  "Hey, Elder Lloyd wants you." Luya called up coldly to Ethan from under the tree.