“`
“Lilian, stay with me for the next few days,”
amidst the small garden brimming with floral fragrance, Margaret caressed her daughter’s hair with a smile, her eyes filled with affection.
Lilian endured the sense of disconnection but still played the role of a daughter.
She dined with the Hoffman family, and everyone there treated Lilian very well, not daring to offend her. During dinner, they even presented precious wines in an attempt to please the distinguished guest from the Fischer family.
The status of the two families had drastically changed compared to decades ago; the Fischer family was now the second largest family on the East Coast Province. Their members were honored guests in smaller families.
“She’s too young to drink,”
Margaret remarked subconsciously upon seeing the alcohol, and everyone in the dining room paused for a moment.
Lilian then shook her head and said with a smile, “No, I can drink. I’ve been of age for quite some time.”
She was no longer that little girl.“Hahaha, yes, Lilian isn’t a child anymore, of course, she can drink.”
“Indeed, Aunt Margaret has always treated Lilian like a child,” remarked someone.
Lilian sipped the wine and then smiled at her mother.
I’m not a child anymore, sorry.
At night, she suffered from insomnia, staring blankly at the ceiling, her life’s most important and sole mission to expand the grand domain of the Lord of the Lost.
Yet, her mother was also important, and in her presence, she had to learn to disguise herself, just like her father had done his entire life, never revealing the true secrets of the Fischer family to her mother.
“I can do it, I will…”
Lilian didn’t sleep all night, but having figured out what to do next, she found it much easier to interact with her mother.
The next morning, Lilian and Margaret shared a meal and talked about many things, tactfully avoiding any mention of Byrne and the Fischer family.
“Lilian, it’s rare for you to come over, why don’t you join me for tea?” Margaret suddenly suggested with a gentle smile, her eyes carrying a hint of hope.
But she seemed afraid of displeasing her daughter, so she hesitated to insist.
“Sure, Mother.”
Lilian did not reject her mother’s invitation. Since she had returned for only a few days, she decided to fulfill all of Margaret’s desires.
That afternoon, they attended a tea party, and soon Margaret proposed that Lilian meet a bachelor baron, as if she wanted to matchmake them.
Lilian, who had long resolved to devote herself to the faith, felt uncomfortable but didn’t outright refuse her mother, merely stating that she did not have much spare time at the moment.
Margaret nodded with a smile, fully aware that her child was rejecting the idea politely.
On the afternoon of the day when Lilian was about to leave Fein City to return to the Fischer family to handle many matters, Margaret finally made her ultimate request.
“Would you accompany me to the Silver Moon Church, Margaret?”
Her eyes were earnest, clearly indicating that this was her most crucial request.
Me, go to the Silver Moon Church?
Myself?
Lilian was taken aback for a moment, even feeling an urge to laugh deep inside.
Deep down, she genuinely thought that those false gods were laughable and hypocritical, their existence plunging the world into utter chaos. Given the chance, Lilian even hoped to drive out all Six Great True Gods Churches from the world!
“Okay, I will go with you, Mother.”
Margaret, her mother, was a heretic.
Lilian felt profound disappointment and pain deep inside, yet she couldn’t abandon the love for her mother; she would be the only heretic in the world that she liked.
Oh, great Lord of the Lost,
Please forgive my mother’s sins.
“`
“`
I hope my lifelong devotion will earn Your mercy for my mother, as she was just too ignorant.
After accompanying her mother to the Silver Moon Church, Lilian did not pray but simply watched everyone calmly, observing the believers of the false gods; all but her mother made her uncomfortable.
The church, built of white stones, was not very large and lacked a majestic feel; instead, it exuded a quiet tranquility.
The gentle-faced statue of the Silver Moon Lady stood at the very center of the church, and whether it was day or night, a lake-like silver moon constantly cast delicate moonlight above the statue at the top of the church, giving all believers a sense of unusual peace.
Lilian calmly observed the prayers of the people. The doctrines of the Silver Moon Lady had much in common with those of the Lord of Salvation, both focusing on aiding the weak and providing for the poor, though there were also many differences between the two.
The teachings of the Lord of Salvation are broader in scope, with the priests describing His great deeds in saving the world and such, and they believe that salvation must also include the punishment of the wicked.
The assistance of the Silver Moon Lady is told through many small stories, where she has saved a hundred different individuals, including many evildoers, all of whom were reformed. The stories of the salvation of these hundred people are most familiar to the followers of the Silver Moon Lady.
She has a particular fondness for children and women, many of whom have been saved thanks to the miracles of the Silver Moon Lady.
Besides, the Lord of Salvation is also always described as a powerful being, while the Silver Moon Lady is seen as the other side of the sun, known for her humility and gentleness, and tries not to fight with men or gods.
Lilian shook her head slowly, knowing that they were all useless false gods; the faith in the Lord of Salvation and the Silver Moon Lady was nothing but a sham.
In her lifetime, she had never truly seen them lift a finger to save the world. The only god that ever truly helped the people was the great Lord of the Lost!
Finally, another morning arrived, and the carriage at the Hoffman family’s gate was ready; mother and daughter held hands, having not spoken for a long time.
“Well, Mom, I’m going back now.”
Lilian truly felt a sense of relief as if she had made it through; playing the obedient daughter was too exhausting, but she had no choice but to do so.
“Yes, Lilian… if only Darren could have come with you.”
Margaret suddenly burst into tears, her emotions a bit out of control. Lilian immediately began to comfort her mother, knowing she had always prayed for her brother Darren.
Holding her mother, she said:
“Don’t worry, Mom, nothing bad will happen to brother.”
—-
Within Rhea territory.
The bright sunshine poured down over a complex landscape of mountains and forests, and the man wearing the Iron Mask walked out slowly, followed by seven Cyart people, all possessing extraordinary powers.
For years, Darren had not chosen to flee directly back to his Southern homeland but stayed within Rhea territory, using his powers to harass the Rhea People allied with the Meyer family.
“Old Dog! We’re going back to Cyart!”
He looked at a man with a scarred face and smiled.
Over the years, Darren had repeatedly destroyed prisons, selecting various Cyart prisoners to join him, gradually forming a combat team composed entirely of Extraordinary Exponents.
Darren had chosen not to include any regular people in this team because their mobility was too poor and unsuitable for deep enemy incursions and sabotage.
Among this group of Cyart people, there was only one Transmutation Extraordinary Exponent, “Old Dog,” while the rest were Beginning Extraordinary Exponents. Still, they were able to rely on unity and coordination, again and again, to disrupt the Rhea People’s transport, communication, reconnaissance, command, and supply lines, constantly delaying and exhausting the enemy.
The top warriors at the Monarch Level simply didn’t have the time and energy to chase down such a small group of Cyart people, and the damage they caused wasn’t considered too severe.
However, it was very difficult for Transmutation Extraordinary Exponents to pursue them, and there was even the risk and possibility of being counter-killed.
So they often managed to infuriate the Rhea People and successfully evaded capture, leading the Rhea People to openly call this group of Cyart people “fugitive bugs.”
Of course, continuous fighting was not without its risks. The seven companions with Darren were only the ones still alive; over the years, many more companions had died.
“Staying here won’t yield any better results, and continuous delay without promotion will affect my future, as life is finite.”
He had made his decision to return to Nasir Town to advance to the 3rd Rank on the Path of Shadow.
Only with greater power could Darren truly terrify the Rhea People; the things he could do now were still too few.
Darren looked toward the South from afar and then turned sharply, spreading his arms and saying to everyone:
“I’m going back to Cyart in the South. If you don’t want to come with me, you can continue to stay here! We will first send those who want to stay to meet up with the main Cyart forces. Anyway, please make your choices quickly!”
“`
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