41 Chapter 41

Elora reached the battlefield, only to find puddles of water at places. It appeared as if it had rained recently as the ground was still wet.

The water wasn't what surprised Elora. Instead, it was the body that was lying on the ground. Unlike the puddles of water in most of the places, there was only a puddle of blood around the body.

Elora landed before the body and turned it around. Even though she already knew who it was based on the clothing, she still couldn't come to believe that this body really belonged to Ruyi.

She gazed at the face of the body, confirming that it was indeed Ruyi.

"She is dead." Elora grimly stated as she checked the nerves of Ruyi.

"I can sense some dark aura. And the water here means that a battle took place here, possibly with a dark mage." Joan observed the surroundings.

Even though she was shocked that Ruyi was killed, she focused more on trying to find who the culprit was. "It looks like the battle took place not long ago. The one who did it shouldn't have gone too far."

​ Elora didn't respond. She just sat with Ruyi in her arms, still in disbelief that she was killed. It was the first time a Head Priestess had been killed like this, and it was when she was accompanying him.

"A dark mage who is capable of killing Ruyi couldn't be weak. You think Lambard could be behind it?"

"Lambard had no reason to kill her." Elora shook her head. "This is the work of a Dark Mage. Maybe I was wrong that Ruyi went to kill the people who disrespected us. She probably saw some dark mage leaving the city and went after them, only to die herself."

"We can't let her killer go free. Joan, do everything possible to locate those people. You have complete authority. If you need, call more people from the Church here! I want that dark mage to be found!" Clenching her fist, she declared her command.

She didn't want the killers to go free after what they did, no matter who they were! They had killed a Church of Water Priestess. That wasn't a crime worth forgiveness, even for her!

In a distant place, a dark figure watched the two ladies with the dead body.

"Looks like there's no need for me to take action."

The dark figure disappeared as if it was never there.

****

The maid once again appeared behind Lambard.

"What's the news?" Lambard asked.

"The two have already killed the Mage of Water before Elora could get there. They weren't there by the time Elora got there."

"I see. Well, that was fast even for Lira. It seems she is getting quite strong." Lambard rubbed his chin. "I wonder how strong she will become if she did succeed in getting the Ancestral Staff. Chaotic times are ahead, but then again, chaos does bring many opportunities with it. I wonder how it'll play out."

Lambard let out a calm smile as he stood on the balcony, gazing at the beautiful city that belonged to him.

The city was known by the outside world as one of the most chaotic cities. Still, it looked really calm at the moment. Only the sweet whistling of winds could be heard from the balcony.

"Maya, can you hear anything?"

The maid stepped closer. "Hear what?"

"Close your eyes and tell me what you can hear..."

"Other than your voice, I hear nothing. What can you hear, My Lord?"

Lambard gazed at the clear sky. "Hidden in the silence of the wind is the roars of a storm."

"Storm?" Maya gazed up. "The sky is clear."

Lambard simply smiled as he walked back inside his room.

Maya turned to follow him, slightly confused as to what Lambard was talking about, only to be shocked as a droplet of water fell on her head.

She gazed up. More and more water droplets started falling. The sky that was clear until now was covered in clouds now as it started raining.

****

The Horse raced through the forest, carrying Gabriel and Lira. Instead of taking the normal route, Lira had suggested that they take a more unorthodox path since she had a feeling that it wasn't safe to take the normal route after killing Ruyi.

Even though Ruyi had arrived alone to kill them, Lira knew that it was inevitable that Elora was going to find out about what happened.

"You are really strong." After a long time, Gabriel commented.

Throughout the journey, he was thinking about how Lira killed Ruyi. Ruyi wasn't a strong mage, and she also had an advantage because of the Holy Prison of Water, yet she was killed by Lira.

It was the first time Gabriel had seen Lira use a proper spell and one as powerful. The spell even made him jealous to some extent.

"That was one of my strongest spells. I only recently unlocked it. It's the first time I've used that, and you are the first person who saw it and is still alive." Lira chuckled. "So, how was the spell?"

"It was powerful. The Dark Mages are certainly strong."

"Not the dark mages but the holder of the Grimoire. This spell isn't in any other book. Only the owner of the Grimoire is able to use such a skill. I didn't even know about the existence of something like this until this spell became available."

"That was the advanced tier spell... It would be even stronger when you get the Ancestral Staff. If even then you can't kill the Head of Church of Light, I wonder just what kind of person he is."

"My spell is powerful, but that doesn't make me invincible. The other Rulers of Elements also hold such powerful spells. Ruyi underestimated me. Because of the Prison of Water, she didn't see me call out the Grimoire. That's why she died so fast. If it were Elora, it wouldn't be that easy."

"As far as the Head of Church of Light is concerned, even I'm not sure what he's like. All I know is that he is called the strongest Mage of a Light. He is a really strange person who never leaves the Church of Light. In fact, I don't think anyone ever saw him," Lira described the oddity.

"There are even some rumors that he never appears outside because he doesn't even exist. The rumors state that the Grimoire of Light hasn't selected anyone after the old Head of Church of Light died of old age."

"People say that the Church of Light doesn't have a head anymore, and that's why they made up a story about a new head who doesn't leave the place. Unfortunately, no one knows what's the truth of the situation."

"The Ruler of Light who has never been seen before?" Gabriel wondered. "So if he really exists, no one knows what he looks like?"

"That's right. Unlike other Elemental Rulers, the current Ruler of Light has never been seen before. There's not even a single portrait of him in circulation."

"How old is he said to be?" Gabriel inquired.

"The Old Ruler of Light died around ten years ago. According to the Church of Light, the new Ruler of Light was selected shortly after. Unfortunately, no one knows how old that person was when he was selected. The Church of Light has been really secretive about it."