Chapter 104 : Unfortunately, She Won’t Have the Chance

“It’s canceled.”

Lillian’s cold voice made Tifna’s throat tighten. The Saintess before her felt like a stranger.

Before, when the other her had appeared, she had at least tried to hide it.

But since she had deliberately forgotten the purification ritual, she seemed to have given up on pretending. She was just waiting for the right moment to reveal everything.

Her fingers unconsciously traced the hilt of her sword. She could feel that the Saintess before her was a completely different person.

“His Holiness said that until he is ready, we must continue…”

“He did say that,” a mocking glint in her violet eyes. “But he also said the holy water was useless, didn’t he?”

Tifna froze. She had only heard the Pope say that to her. Had he told Lillian the details after he left?

“Since it’s useless, canceling it is the most appropriate.”

“But…”

“You weren’t like this before, Tifna.”

She wasn’t like this before? Why was she bringing that up now?

She looked into those violet eyes. A trick of the light, perhaps, but she could have sworn she saw a flash of crimson in their depths.

“Have you forgotten what you said?”

What she said?

Before the crusade, Tifna and Lillian had only met a few times. The only real conversation they had was when she brought news of her brother. Lillian had asked her what she thought of Milly.

She had said she saw her as a sister to protect. That belief had held until the moment Milly had summoned Dawn and revealed her demonic identity.

“But now…”

“Is it that important that she’s a demon?” Lillian’s words were a heavy blow to Tifna’s heart. She stared at her, speechless.

The hatred of demons was ingrained in her from birth. Her ancestors had told stories of the ancient wars. The Church had preached of the evil of other races. The suffering her people had endured.

The innate hatred of other races had made her lose control the moment she saw Milly with Dawn.

“That night, I went to the… the dungeon,” she quickly corrected herself. “And even canceled the purification ritual.”

“Purification?”

Lillian laughed, as if she had heard a joke. “Do you really believe it was purification?”

Lillian had asked her this before.

She knew it wasn’t. It was torture.

Tifna’s expression gave her the answer. From the first moment, she had known it wasn’t a purification ritual.

“Now the Pope is preparing to completely purify Milly. What do you think that will be?”

Was her body trembling? Was she imagining what might happen?

She stared at her own trembling fingers. She should have trusted the Pope, but after seeing the reality of the “purification,” her faith was crumbling.

“Why are you telling me this?”

Tifna’s voice trembled. “If I tell the Pope…”

“You won’t.”

Lillian’s voice changed, a chilling tone that awakened a deep-seated fear.

“Because you’re not like the others.”

What did that mean?

How was she different?

She was about to ask, but Lillian raised a finger to her lips.

“That’s enough. If we continue, it will never end.”

And some things were too complicated to explain.

If she stayed with the little ones, the little knight would eventually see the truth of the world. But unfortunately, she wouldn’t have the chance.

A sharp snap of her fingers. The knight’s eyelids grew heavy. She closed her eyes and fell to the floor, fast asleep.

Lillian had no intention of erasing what had happened today. But if she let Tifna keep asking questions, it would be endless.

Let her figure out the answers on her own. As for what she would choose to do… it was a little exciting.

The sleeping spell wouldn’t last long, just half a day. By the time she woke up, it would be dark.

And at night, she could see her dear Little Milly again. What should she make for her tonight?

Before deciding, Lillian returned to her room.

The day Oswell had left, Xavier had gone with him.

She had to see what that old fool was up to.

She opened her palm. A tendril with a thumb-sized eyeball emerged, connected to Xavier’s vision.

She projected the image onto the wall.

For three days, she had been watching them through Xavier’s eyes.

She had never known there were such places in Starlight City.

A separate space, created with the help of those behind him. No wonder she hadn’t noticed anything.

Xavier’s rank was too low. He couldn’t get close to the inner circle. She could only see that they were preparing something.

She saw a few familiar faces, the ones she and Lillian had visited together.

They were on the list for the crusade, but they hadn’t participated.

Curious. What was Oswell up to?

She controlled Xavier, moving around. The separate space was a replica of the Holy Radiance Cathedral on the outside, but completely different on the inside.

After a thorough search, she finally found a hidden door.

She opened it. Through Xavier’s eyes, she saw a circular hall covered in golden runes. Tiny golden particles floated in the air.

In the center of the hall, a dozen rune-covered pillars were arranged in a circle. In the center, a sphere of light floated.

“What is this?”

It was the first time she had seen something even she couldn’t understand. Just looking at it, she felt a sense of danger.

Even she felt a sense of danger. This was the real weapon they were preparing for her.

“Well, no one is guarding it now. I’ll just destroy it.”

Xavier approached the sphere of light. Oswell’s voice came from behind.

“I didn’t say you could come here.”

He looked back. Oswell’s eyes flowed with liquid holy light.

“Possessed again.”

“Oswell” made a grasping motion at Xavier’s head. The next moment, the helmet, as if made of paper, was crushed, along with the head it was protecting.