Thirty years had passed, but sometimes, in the stillness of his office, the memories returned with haunting clarity.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECHxu7ePe6
The emperor closed his eyes, and the shadows of Willow Forest unfurled in his mind. A younger version of himself stumbled through the underbrush, dirt-streaked and bruised, a thick rusted chain clinking around his neck.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBY1vngFrPK
His bare, bleeding feet pounded against the forest floor as he fled, clinging to the delicate Queen of the Night flower, the only fragment of hope he had left. The monster pursued him, a grotesque specter with sickly yellow eyes, gliding silently through the trees.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNU05VjZDl5
“Foolish child,” it had whispered, “beauty in the dark always comes with a cost... Are you willing to pay it?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtpo92IfjG
The boy’s desperate voice still echoed in the emperor's mind: “If it means saving her... then yes.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpniTOMxTyt
A heavy knock pulled him back to the present, shattering the dark recollection. The emperor opened his eyes, his heart still pounding as if he had just escaped the nightmare all over again.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEQkLnpZwy
“The door swung open, and his secretary, Knoxville Tennessee, stumbled inside. His usually composed demeanor was shattered, his face pale and his hair disheveled, as if he had just witnessed something terrifying.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeBIuFa5R4
“Your Majesty,” Knoxville breathed, his voice urgent and trembling, “the priestess!... She's already here.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOD7BbcaTjd
"She's here?" The emperor's brow furrowed in surprise. "If so, let her in, and we'll go to La Maison Fleur."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxRftjO85n
The door swung open, and his secretary, Knoxville Tennessee, stumbled inside. His usually composed demeanor was shattered, his face pale and his hair disheveled, as if he had just witnessed something terrifying.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5T9YdPAGt
“Your Majesty,” Knoxville breathed, his voice urgent and trembling, “the priestess!... She's already here.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3RXXBVzpq
"She's here?" The emperor's brow furrowed in surprise. "If so, let her in, and we'll go to La Maison Fleur."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6DGH6qyu7
Knoxville nodded quickly, composing himself as he backed out of the room to fulfill the command.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs06VVA4BWf
_______
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kaAe4WExh
In the hallway of the main palace, where the priestess was walking, she saw Queen Saraphina. The priestess offered a formal bow, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rxIVMo2H2
“Your Majesty,” the priestess said, “what a delightful honor to be in the presence of such... unparalleled grace.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJTuq0ZypM
Queen Saraphina’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Oh, Priestess,” she replied, her tone equally mocking, “how fortunate I am to receive such glowing admiration from someone so… spiritually enlightened.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1WurMALJ7
The priestess tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I do my best, Your Majesty. After all, with such divine inspiration around me, how could I not?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDxrix5BUY
Saraphina folded her arms, her voice dropping to a sharper edge. “And yet,” she mused, “with all this divine inspiration, I can’t help but notice a rather unsettling aura. Surely it isn’t coming from you?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlvZmQyW2K
The priestess let out a soft, humorless chuckle. “Perish the thought, Your Majesty,” she said smoothly. “It must be the air reacting to your… overwhelming presence.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdChUkG6Lw
Queen Saraphina’s eyes narrowed, and her smile grew colder. “Overwhelming, is it?” she said, her voice deceptively calm. “How fascinating that even the air knows how to show proper respect. Perhaps I should take notes from it.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQbDbWUBZ2
The priestess’s lips twitched, her amusement barely concealed. “Or perhaps,” she retorted lightly, “the air is simply trying to make room for the immense power you so effortlessly exude.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBS0tjQk3y
Saraphina took a deliberate step forward, her gaze fixed on the priestess. “Power is a curious thing, Priestess,” she said, her voice low. “It can protect, or it can destroy. Which would you prefer to witness today?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGC86uoRIdI
The priestess’s smile faltered for a split second before she composed herself. “I’m sure destruction would be... quite the spectacle,” she replied, keeping her tone airy. “But I have faith that your grace knows when to wield such power wisely.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsYT9nlq9T
Saraphina’s eyes glinted dangerously. “Faith, you say? How charming. Let’s hope that your faith isn’t misplaced.” She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Because once it is… even the gods may not save you.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUPriW5A66
The priestess met her gaze, a spark of defiance flickering in her eyes. “Then I suppose,” she murmured, “it’s a good thing I have my own connections to the divine.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxstLh1T17
The tension hung thick in the air, both women locked in a silent battle of wills. Finally, Saraphina pulled back, a slow, calculated smile curving her lips.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh01KDdvdjf
“Be sure to use them wisely,” she said, her voice lilting with a final note of mockery. “You never know when a simple hallway encounter could become something... far more entertaining.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukv5QVqQEL
With that, she turned and walked away, her presence lingering like a shadow. The priestess exhaled slowly, the weight of the queen’s words pressing on her heart. Yet her own smile returned, sharper than before.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYcKndyllx
“Entertaining, indeed,” she whispered to herself. “Let’s see who finds the next performance more amusing.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJeSa8cnCq
____
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9akCcxoxJM
Meanwhile, the emperor was already waiting for the priestess at La Maison Fleur, where Lethyxia stood by, her expression unreadable. When the priestess arrived, she greeted them both, but the emperor did not acknowledge her greeting. Instead, he spoke coldly.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmyuemiJw6
"Priestess," he commanded, "examine Lethyxia at once."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNW05lyDGg
The priestess swallowed her irritation, stepping forward. She raised her hands, preparing to call upon her divine power. As she invoked the spell, a radiant light glowed brighter than she anticipated, flooding the room with an intense brilliance.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ666IxtIATZ
Suddenly, the light swallowed her whole, and she was wrenched away, dragged into a chaotic battlefield. Warriors surrounded her on all sides, their expressions frozen in a mix of rage and desperation.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmigyZ2udEj
The ground was littered with broken weapons, shattered shields, and skeletal remains, the rotten stench of death filling the air. Skulls lay scattered across the landscape, and a dreadful, heavy atmosphere pressed down on her.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF0evE0Cub
The priestess's heart raced as she took in the scene, her pulse pounding in her ears. “Where… am I?” she whispered, her voice nearly drowned out by the ghostly echoes of past battles.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiamG149Bt
The weapons glinted menacingly in the dim, unnatural light, and the air crackled with remnants of ancient curses and unfulfilled oaths.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIuWxxxm75
“The follower of the gods who dropped my existence has followed a demon like me. What a twisted soul,” a horrific voice echoed across the land, chilling the priestess to her core.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJgDCnuUfa
She spun around, her eyes landing on a small figure standing amidst the scattered skulls and decaying remnants. The girl was petite, her silver hair cascading in shimmering waves down to her shoulders.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDlAZd6Otn
Her gray eyes glinted with an unnatural intensity, and though she appeared no older than five, her presence was overwhelming, brimming with a sinister energy far beyond her youthful form.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfdrrnDh76
The priestess instinctively took a step back, her pulse racing. “Who… are you?” she demanded, her voice wavering despite her attempt to sound confident.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoqFSPgLFE
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpkAncofC7
The girl tilted her head, a wicked smile curling her lips. “Names are such trifles, don’t you think?” she said, her tone deceptively sweet. Her aura pulsed, sending ripples of dread through the air. “But for you, Priestess, you may call me…. Or,” she added with a giggle that sent shivers down the priestess’s spine,
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUk8w5LOJfe
The priestess felt a trembling aura same as what she felt what talking to the mother of demons as she gasp "m-mother? Your the great mother of demons!!' her eyes field with joy.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32olP49zGL
The girl tilted her head further, her wicked smile never faltering. “Mother of demons?” she echoed, her gray eyes gleaming with curiosity and mischief. “How fascinating that you would recognize me so readily, little priestess.” Her deceptively innocent giggle cut through the dreadful air, each sound laced with a bone-chilling menace.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJvNvTfCle
The priestess’s eyes widened, and a mix of awe and disbelief flooded her face. She felt the familiar aura, ancient and overpowering, the same one she had sensed in the presence of the mother of demons. Her breath caught in her throat. “M-Mother?” she stammered, her voice breaking. “You’re… the great mother of demons!” Tears of joy welled up in her eyes, her body trembling with reverence.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e7L2EN99M
The girl’s expression shifted ever so slightly, amusement dancing in her gaze. “Ah, so you do remember,” she said, her voice dripping with mock affection. “How delightful. Tell me, Priestess, do you still cling to the gods you serve, or have you finally realized the beauty of what you call corruption?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOXo0REyRj
The priestess’s heart raced. She had long prepared herself for this moment, but standing before the being who commanded the darkest of forces, she felt both exhilarated and consumed.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPEpI2v8iO
“I—I am your chosen one and your devoted daughter!” she proclaimed, her voice trembling with a mix of joy and desperation.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbeIwgVHA8
The devotion she had once felt for the gods wavered under the intoxicating pull of the great demon mother’s presence.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOuo3EcYPJ
Her lips curled into a wicked smile, her gray eyes glinting with approval. “Ah, how delightful! To hear such fervor from one so lost in the light. Tell me, little priestess, what does it mean to be a devoted daughter in a world that has forsaken you?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jfzi6TLEO
The priestess felt a rush of warmth flood her chest, an overwhelming sense of belonging she had never experienced among the gods.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEG6kClDIWY
“I will do anything for you!” she exclaimed, her voice rising in fervor. “You are the embodiment of power, and I can feel your strength calling to me. I was meant to serve you!”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPjWBIJcLy
She leaned closer, the air thick with her dark energy. “Serve me, you say? What do you seek in serving me? Is it power? Acceptance? Or perhaps the thrill of embracing the darkness that others fear?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGMa1MAEVW
The priestess’s heart thudded in her chest. “All of it! I want to shed the chains of the gods and become one with you. I’ve always felt the stirrings of something greater within me, something that longs to break free. With you, I can be truly alive!”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUh3EjJ66S7
A low, melodic chuckle escaped her lips, sending shivers down the priestess’s spine. “Oh, sweet child, how intoxicating your devotion is. You could wield unimaginable power by my side. The gods have given you nothing but empty promises. They care not for your pain or your struggles.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4AoEuV45W
The priestess swallowed hard, her eyes wide with yearning. “I understand now! They used me, while you— you would embrace me, wouldn’t you? You see my potential! I can be the vessel of your greatness, the spark that ignites your dominion!”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwe3zstQKwp
Her gaze darkened, her smile widening as she reveled in the priestess’s fervor. “Yes, my little flame. Join me, and together we will rewrite the rules of this world. They will bow before us, and the light will tremble at our feet.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDzppitW6Z
The priestess felt a fire ignite within her, a consuming obsession that drove her closer to her.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQUjTFqDWX
As she opened her eyes, she found herself back in the original space, her heart still racing from the dark encounter.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0bF6GwYwV
She glanced down and realized Lethyxia was holding her hands, their connection pulsating with an energy that sent shivers of exhilaration through her.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61hvQ7ECwX
When she looked at Lethyxia, a knowing smile played on the demon mother’s lips. The priestess felt an overwhelming sense of purpose wash over her. She had glimpsed the depths of her potential, and there was no turning back..
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRaAzeFrNs
“The princess is all healed, Your Majesty there’s nothing to worry about,” the priestess said, her voice sweet and honeyed, masking the chaotic excitement brewing within her.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbEI7dlkv1
"That's good to hear" the emperor said. And looked at lethyxia. "You will stay at this place from now on."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEphfSEvjE
Lethyxia nodded, her expression softening, though her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” she said, her voice low and cunning, like a cat that had just caught its prey.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0ADYJ544r
“Your Majesty, if it’s okay with you,” the priestess interjected, her voice smooth and persuasive, “I would like to invite the princess to the temple. I have sensed some strong divinity within her, and I believe her presence would greatly enhance our prayer rituals for the entire empire.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QZAZ6wNDD
The emperor narrowed his eyes, contemplating the implication. "I'll think about it.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvGQx26PZZ
“Oh, but think of the benefits!” the priestess pressed, sensing his hesitation. “The rituals could strengthen the bond between the divine and our people. It would also showcase the princess’s potential as a beacon of hope in these trying times.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1fxFtI2a8
Lethyxia smiled sweetly, masking her ulterior motives.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTq3hIeDuYB
The emperor remained silent for a moment, weighing his options. “Very well,” he finally said, though suspicion lingered in his voice. “But, I will send so notice for my final decision."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNp0m3ijj5J
“Of course, Your Majesty,” The priestess replied, her smile widening. “Your concerns are understood. We shall take every precaution.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOs6lvn9Xkf
The priestess felt a thrill run through her. “Thank you, Your Majesty. This will be a pivotal moment for our empire.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0imvYZ7BAa
As the emperor nodded, the tension in the air shifted, and he quietly left with the priestess, leaving Lethyxia alone in the grand hall.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM87utMxMUR
The dark aura that surrounded her seemed to swell in the absence of the emperor’s presence, making the air thick with anticipation.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34f5Gr50rh
Meanwhile, the emperor retreated to his office, deep in thought, while Mr. Knoxville, his trusted advisor, guided the priestess to her carriage. “Remember, Priestess,” he warned softly, “the emperor is watching closely. Be cautious with your words.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42FGSkDzyu
“Of course, Mr. Knoxville,” she replied, her excitement bubbling beneath the surface. “I only seek to serve the empire.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F5TeivzSj
As they made their way, Lethyxia settled into a heavy silence, her mind racing with possibilities. But she was not alone for long. Queen Saraphina entered Lethyxia’s room, her expression a storm of displeasure.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV41lYcxJKV
“What are you scheming you devil!” the queen demanded, her voice cold and clipped. “Do you think you can charm your way into my family’s good graces?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtG5hKhnYbg
Lethyxia met the queen’s gaze, with a curious expression."wh-what do you mean your majesty?"
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNGPMyPvao
The queen crossed her arms, a look of skepticism plastered across her face. “Nurture? Or manipulate? I see through your games, Lethyxia. You’re not here to help us; you’re here to serve your own interests. No, you’re not the real Lethyxia.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6yKFnTwnB
At that moment, Lethyxia’s expression suddenly became emotionless, and her eyes turned pitch black, dark tattoos spiraling across her body, glowing with an eerie light.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQJUou1361
The atmosphere in the room shifted, heavy with a sinister energy. Her voice transformed, deep and resonant, dripping with menace. “Long. Time. No. See. Saraphina.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxaqsYkj33
The queen's eyes widened, her heart racing. “What have you done?” she demanded, trying to mask her fear. “You’ve deceived us all!”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ib2WEo8Us
Lethyxia no longer the innocent princess but a vessel of darkness stepped closer, the air thickening with power. “Deceived? Oh no, dear queen. I’ve merely revealed what lies beneath the surface. The true Lethyxia was never meant to exist in this world.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0LuB5EDaS
“What did you do to her!?” the queen asked, her voice steady despite the dread clawing at her chest.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJg1rCbYwN
Lethyxia’s lips curled into a chilling smile, her voice a whisper now, laced with dark amusement. “Soul for a soul.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4ElEppKfD
“Where is she? Where is the real daughter of Mooniegale?” the queen cried, her voice breaking as she held back tears, her body trembling with fear and despair.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6rJzs4tpD
Lethyxia went silent for a moment, her eyes gleaming with malevolence as she regarded Saraphina. Then, she gave the queen an eerie smile, one that promised nothing but darkness.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqX2UIRPioa
As realization dawned on Saraphina, she gasped, covering her mouth in horror. “No… it can’t be…”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Et6Gkpq1W
Before she could comprehend the full weight of Lethyxia's words, panic surged through her, and she turned to flee.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreTqVeKFxj
She ran down the hallway, her heart racing, the sounds of her footsteps echoing ominously against the stone walls.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuJO2Q9pSY
Each step felt heavy, as if the very air around her was trying to hold her back, to keep her from escaping the truth.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXuO0KzlQk
Almost stumbling, she skidded to a halt, bracing herself against the cold stone wall for support. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, her mind racing as she fought against the terror that threatened to consume her.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblD73PbNtP
In her heart, she feared what "Lethyxia"had truly done to her step daughter, the innocent girl who had once brought joy and light into mooniegale's life.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXL0OUJOB4
“I will find your daughter...” she whispered fiercely to herself, steeling her resolve. “I will rescue your daughter moon, no matter the cost.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9vBMDR1zV
With a deep breath, she pushed herself away from the wall, her tears stinging her eyes. There had to be a way to fight this darkness, to reclaim her daughter from the abyss that Lethyxia had cast her into.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MTFfX0Kl9
As she moved forward, her heart was filled with determination.
___
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUU1TNYVOo
Meanwhile, the carriage carrying the priestess arrived at the Sere of Hope orphanage. Inside the manager's office, the atmosphere was tense as the priestess sat across from Kila, the manager, her demeanor commanding and assertive.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpvYsMH65f
“Show me where the child is,” the priestess demanded, her voice laced with authority as if she were already one of the VIPs at the orphanage.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsSTiSZG6J
Kila nodded, a hint of apprehension flickering in her eyes. She stood up, gesturing for the priestess to follow her.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbU3Dg1obyV
As they walked through the orphanage, the cheerful sounds of children playing faded into a heavy silence, replaced by an unsettling aura that hung in the air.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOlKCg0OtN
They descended a narrow staircase, the walls damp and cold, leading them to a darkened corridor.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfiyz3OY4d
Kila hesitated for a moment before pushing open a creaking door that led into a room that resembled a dungeon more than a sanctuary.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SDleibLa4
The room was dimly lit, shadows clinging to the corners where the flickering torchlight barely reached.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4H7t5xeYVo
The walls were made of rough stone, cold to the touch, and the floor was hard and unyielding. In the center stood a heavy iron cage, rusted and ominous, casting a long shadow across the floor.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqenA8T1qm
Chains hung from the ceiling, clanking slightly as they swayed with an unseen draft, adding to the atmosphere of confinement.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwzmBTEH5l
The air was thick with the scent of mold and despair, a stark contrast to the warm, nurturing environment the orphanage claimed to provide.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOsab1Ujfj
Kila stepped inside, her expression somber. “This is where we keep... Her,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid that the walls themselves would hear her. “It’s for their protection, but...”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixUgVCcL87
The priestess's eyes narrowed as she took in the grim sight before her. “Where is she?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggIwOx2Mbj
Kila pointed towards a corner of the room, where a small figure huddled in the darkness, clutching her knees to her chest. “There,” she said, her voice trembling. “But she’s been... different since she arrived.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtoxd1mMmU
The priestess approached the cage, her heart pounding with joy to get a closer look.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgGxV7Lig8
Through the dim light, she could see the child—a girl with silver hair pink and Striking silver-white eyes, her expression hauntingly vacant.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVEOEX39pY
The aura surrounding her pulsed with a dark energy that sent a shiver down the the child's spine.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmgCSVGH75
“xia,” the priestess whispered, her voice filled with a mix of horror. “this time, I'm taking her.” she said with authority.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kfBu9yQS9
Meanwhile, inside the underground arena of the orphanage, Ermis fought fiercely, his every movement a calculated struggle for survival, and for the entertainment of the nobles who cheered with wild abandon. The air was thick with dust and the metallic scent of blood, the clash of weapons echoing in the vast space.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3Fm6H6pb0
As Ermis narrowly dodged an incoming attack, his focus was briefly interrupted. A whisper of shadow flickered at his side, relaying an urgent message the shadows he had tasked with guarding Xia had grave news. The priestess had taken Xia once more.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBcNvlaa2D
Ermis’s grip on his weapon tightened, rage flaring in his eyes. He clenched his jaw, trying to suppress the fury that surged within him. "Not again," he thought.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8DgSXRrEf
The priestess's interference had pushed Xia to the edge before, and Ermis knew he couldn't let it continue.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCSVaxr6fF
Determined, he forced his mind to refocus on the battle at hand, plotting his next steps. He needed to win, escape, and reach Xia before it was too late.
ns216.73.216.94da2
