Chapter 124 124 – A Prayer

[Vorn's POV]

A few days after his infiltration, John contacted me.

"Soon, I will leave for Ascaind country to meet the representatives there." The shapeshifters explained. "I'll use a wyvern so I can get there quickly."

I run my finger on one of my temples. This is a problem I have yet to really find a solution to. "You know what, John? Just go with the flow. In the end, you weren't asked to persuade them directly, were you?"

"Yeah, I was only ordered to accompany the government people. I was assigned to tell the Ascaind representative about the war." He continued. "Apart from that, I just need to answer their questions."

"I see." I sat back on the throne. "Good luck John. You are our best shapeshifter. I'm sure you'll get through this smoothly."

It is very unlikely that the top officials of the Ascaind country are willing to send the prophet to Durcia, after all. The dispute over the Mythril mines was still ongoing.

"Of course, Your Highness," John answered with a firm tone. "I will do this job well."

"Good, then." I hung up the call and looked up at the base ceiling.

This world doesn't have a good communication infrastructure yet, so the only information I got about the prophet is that she is rumored to be the daughter of a dragon.

It was something that could never be found even in this world.

I'm so curious about her.

***

<Miredow, the capital of the country of Ascaind>

A woman was kneeling in front of three statues of Lyra in a small temple. Her long black hair with reddish tips fluttered despite no wind.

"Oh, great lady Lyra, what shall I do?" Intertwining her fingers, she spoke in a deep but feminine voice. "Did our god not give any words? I have to exterminate the demons in the Durcia Kingdom, but this country keeps preventing me. I don't want to force them. It could trigger bloodshed."

Seconds passed, and the statues did not answer. The woman looked up, expecting the voice from the sky she had once heard as a child.

However, she still didn't hear anything. That place remains quiet.

"When did you finish praying, Vel?" Another woman entered at a brisk pace, making the pigtail in her pink hair move right and left. She wore a thick brown robe and carried a magic staff. "You won't get anything from them."

The woman with black-red hair sighed, then kissed her necklace pendant, which was in the shape of a ring with wings. "How about you pray like me sometimes, Candice?"

"Velvet Byrne, after all this time, finally asked her atheist friend to pray! Damn, even though you promised not to question my beliefs again." The pink-haired woman laughed. "I told you, I will never do it, Vel! Look, you have prayed many times, but your god has not granted many of your requests!"

Velvet sighed again, then stood up. "You saw the halo of light above my head when I was little."

A cynical chuckle left Candice's mouth. "After my years of studying magic and theories of energy in the universe, I have come to the conclusion that the light halo is just a bizarre phenomenon…. Seriously, we agreed not to talk about this anymore. Why did you suddenly do it?"

Velvet looked at the three statues of Lyra again. "Well, maybe it's because I've been feeling uneasy lately. The demon lord is rising, after all."

"Finally, we can go back to our village." Candice snorted. "Why are you even thinking about work?"

"They sent me here several times because I kept pushing them to send me to Durcia…."

"No." Candice cut her friend off. "You are here to rest and ease your mind."

Shaking her head slowly, Velvet walked away from that place.

"You know what?" Candice followed the woman. "You look better in winter clothes like that than armor!"

"You forced me to wear this!" Velvet patted the thick white fur outfit she was wearing. "I told you, my armor has a magic attribute that can keep me warm!"

"How many times a year do you come back to this village!? Twice? Three times?" Candice put her hands on her hips. "Which crazy woman came home wearing thick armor like that!?"

"Can we not fight at a time like this!?" Velvet replied even louder.

"Excuse me, ladies!" A nun with a wrinkled face wearing white clothes came to them. "This is God's house! How can you two fight here!"

"This is because Velvet still doesn't think about herself." Candice looked even more irritated.

Velvet snorted. "I never said that!"

"Enough!!!" The nun's voice boomed, but she quickly covered her mouth with her hand. She then lowered her intonation. "Ever since you were little, you two rarely fight. Why do you always make loud noises when you come here?"

The two women pointed at each other's faces. "It's because of her…."

"I said enough." The nun massaged her forehead. "You girls are going to visit Adrian. It's bad if you come to the cemetery full of anger."

Both Velvet and Candice looked away.

The nun then smiled and hugged the two women. "You girls have been together since babies. And remember, you are a prophet, Velvet. You have to be a good example. And Candice, you have sworn to be Velvet's guardian, right?"

Candice wiped away a single tear from her eye. "Sometimes I wish we could go back in time."

"We'll take our leave." Velvet kissed the nun's cheek. "We'll be back before night, mom."

"Take care." The nun released her hug and smiled. "I'll prepare dinner for you."

"Thanks, mom." Velvet smiled back and started walking while waving. "Bye."

Candice also said goodbye to the nun and walked behind her friend. That woman then pressed the tip of her magic staff into Velvet's butt, sending out a jolt of electricity, triggering the prophet to scream and jump.

"Candice!" Velvet protested while wiping her butt, but her friend had already run away.

"Is that how a prophet is!? How come you can't avoid my attack!?" The pink-haired mage laughed.

"This must be why you forced me to take off the armor, right! You want to attack my butt!" Velvet chased her.

The nun shook her head, but then her mouth curved into a smile again.