Chapter 24: A New Dawn and Unexpected Encounters

In the dark depths of the underground prison, footsteps echoed through the corridors. The prisoners, all condemned men, hurriedly retreated to the farthest recesses of their cells, fearing that the guards might drag them out for judgment. The footsteps soon ceased, and a slender woman stood before a particular cell, her gaze fixed on it.

“Come forth, if you wish to rid yourselves of the Heretic God’s corruption.”

After a lengthy silence, a rustling sound emerged from within the cell, and a pair of dust-covered hands grasped the iron bars.

“Really… can you truly help us rid ourselves of the Heretic God’s corruption?”

The voice belonged to Glot, whose consumption of a mysterious elixir had left him deeply corrupted by the Heretic God. Strangely, despite the severity of his corruption, he showed no signs of Chaos emanating from him. From appearances alone, he seemed an ordinary man, with one notable exception: one of his eyes had turned a deep, unsettling red.

His spirit was on the verge of shattering under the torment of the Heretic God’s corruption, and it seemed he could barely hold on any longer. Snow examined him carefully and discovered that half of his soul was tainted with dark energy. Even with her abilities, she could find no effective solution, only managing to seal the corrupted half of his soul. This method, however, was merely a temporary measure, extending Glot’s life without addressing the root cause of the Chaos’s invasion. If the dark energy broke free from its seal, Glot’s days would be numbered.

Had Glot not been a noble of the Kleit Kingdom, Snow might not have bothered to intervene. Victor’s case was less severe; a simple Holy Light purification ritual would suffice to cleanse him of the Heretic God’s corruption.

After tending to both men, Snow instructed someone to notify the Kleit Kingdom’s royal family. This matter involved the Heretic God Cult, and the royal court would need to handle the situation accordingly. Once the verdict was delivered, Snow would decide Glot’s fate. Given that he harbored the Chaos energy of the Heretic God Cult, he remained an unstable element. If possible, she hoped to return Glot to Theoviga Academy for containment, ensuring that any potential outbreak of his corruption could be swiftly managed.

****

With the first rays of dawn, the silver-haired girl stirred from her slumber, stretching lazily as she sat up in bed. Attempting to revert to her male form failed, and she slumped back into the covers with a sigh. Since her return, she had been unable to restore her male identity, a puzzling development. Based on her recent experiences, she surmised that the injuries sustained in her male form were too severe, temporarily preventing her from shifting back. She suspected that only when her male body fully recovered from its wounds would she be able to change again. This situation, however, had a silver lining: her silver dragon aura, now a faint presence in her core, essentially granted her a third life.

The aura had diminished significantly from its original vibrancy, and Gern had no idea how to reactivate it. Perhaps the answers would reveal themselves once she returned to the academy. Gern pondered this as she lingered in bed, eventually dragging herself out. Her breasts felt heavier, her feminine curves more pronounced. She had also grown taller, potentially on her way to becoming a mature woman. Gern’s cheeks flushed at the thought of her body’s transformation, a mix of embarrassment and curiosity.

Shaking off her thoughts, she prepared a simple breakfast of black bread.

****

Amid the applause and admiration of the crowd, a pink-haired girl stood on the award stage, her heart swelling with pride. She had proven herself worthy of admission to Theoviga Academy, a moment of immense satisfaction. Yet, as she scanned the audience, she couldn’t find the familiar silver silhouette. Sina was crestfallen; since discovering Gern’s disappearance the previous day, she had searched the entire town without success. Today was her departure day, and she longed to bid farewell to Gern.

“If Gern returns and finds me gone, she’ll be heartbroken,” Sina thought, her mind heavy with the weight of time. As the moment to leave drew near, she followed the other students to the waiting carriages. She paused, her thoughts swirling with emotions. Attending Theoviga Academy was both her dream and her parents’ hope. Today, that dream became a reality.

“Farewell, Mom and Dad. Farewell, Gern,” she whispered, gazing into the distance as her eyes closed. Suddenly, a familiar voice caught her attention, and she opened her eyes to find two figures at the front of the carriage line. One was a silver-haired, golden-eyed girl in patched clothing, the other a regal woman in a magician’s robe, deep in conversation.

“This carriage must have cost a fortune,” Gern commented, her eyes wide with wonder as she examined the vehicle.

“Indeed, it’s equipped with an array of amenities,” the woman replied.

Gern looked around, her curiosity piqued by the lavish details. “Gern?!” Sina’s voice rang out from behind her. Gern turned to see Sina approaching, a mix of relief and confusion on her face. She had expected Sina to win the top spot; after all, the other contestants were either cheating or had succumbed to dark influences. For someone of Sina’s caliber, admission to Theoviga Academy was almost assured.

“You two know each other?”

“We met not long ago,” Gern replied, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.

“Oh?”

The woman glanced at the two, sensing she was intruding, and gracefully withdrew, leaving them alone. “Gern, I was so worried. I thought something terrible had happened to you.” Sina’s voice trembled with concern.

Gern cleared her throat, her mind racing for a plausible explanation. “I had an urgent matter to attend to, so I couldn’t say goodbye.” She hesitated, then added, “It was something I had to do.” Gern knew that her involvement with the Heretic God Cult was a sensitive topic.

“Well, how did you end up on the ship?”

“I was, uh, recruited by the enchantress,” Gern replied, her words tinged with a touch of sarcasm. Sina’s expression darkened, and she decided to give Gern the silent treatment for a while.