Boom——
The fireball exploded thunderously on the manor’s open ground, its surging heatwave igniting the surrounding weeds, leaving behind only ashes and scorched earth.
The butler beside her noticed that his mistress’s magic was somewhat different from a few days ago, so he began to clap and compliment her, “Miss, your magic has grown even stronger.”
Mia’s eyes sparkled with admiration as she watched.
Being flattered made Roland feel a bit light-headed, but she didn’t show it. She only replied modestly, “It’s barely passable. I still need more practice.”
After three days of training, Roland could now skillfully cast Fireball and perform standard applications of mana. Even her maximum mana had increased to 15.
So today, she planned to take Mia to see Isaiah, to see if she could pry the truth about her father’s death from him.
“Butler, take Mia and me to the village church. We’re going to see Isaiah.”
When the three arrived by carriage at the church, it was filled with quite a few worshippers, seemingly in the middle of a Mass.
The butler led Roland and Mia in through a side door, staying quiet to avoid disturbing the ceremony. Once inside, they stood to the side of the church, watching and waiting for the service to end.
Isaiah stood on the pulpit, presiding over the ceremony. The worshippers below followed him in singing hymns. Looking up, one could see people on the second floor playing the organ. With the domed frescoes and light pouring down, the group was easily immersed in the sacred atmosphere.
Especially Mia—she felt as if something was beating in her chest, as if it was some kind of mission, or perhaps she had found her place.
“Lord, we thank You for Your mercy, thank You for enlightening the Holy Father, Holy Mother, and Holy Son, thank You for the sweetness and deliciousness You bestow. We pray that You allow us to share in the Holy Blood and Holy Body, and that by the Holy Spirit we may be united as one.”
“Lord, we ask You to watch over the Universal Church, so that we may be made perfect and flawless…”
“We ask You to remember all brothers and sisters who long for light and life, and our ancestors who have passed away, that they may behold the glory of the Holy Light…”
“We ask You to remember us all, and all the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters You have loved throughout the ages, that we may share eternal life…”
As the Mass gradually drew to a close, Mia slowly returned from the sacred reverie. For a brief instant, a faint glint of gold flashed in her eyes, only to vanish in the next moment.
“May the Lord be with you all.”
When the ceremony was finished, the villagers dispersed, carrying renewed hope as they returned to their lives.
The previously bustling church soon quieted down. In no time, only Isaiah remained. He had noticed Roland’s arrival from the beginning, but had been unable to leave due to the ceremony. Now, he could finally speak.
“That’s the child you told me about, isn’t it?” He pointed at Mia, who was hiding behind Roland.
Roland replied, “Yes, her name is Mia. Strictly speaking, she’s my adopted daughter.”
“Adopted daughter… I wonder what Rod would think about you adopting a child when you’re not yet an adult yourself.”
“Then let him crawl out from beneath his tombstone and ask me himself.”
“That’s a bit much for him, don’t you think?”
“Let’s not talk about that. Mia’s throat is injured, so she can’t speak. Can you heal her?”
“Let me take a look.” Roland pulled Mia forward.
But faced with a stranger, Mia was as timid as ever, not daring to make eye contact.
“Mia, don’t be afraid. The priest just wants to look at your throat. If it can be healed, you’ll be able to speak.”
Although she envied others who could speak normally, Mia had gotten used to her current life. To suddenly leave her comfort zone and adapt again—it was honestly hard.
Seeing her hesitating, Roland decided to give her a little pressure: “Are you not going to listen to Mama?”
Not listening?
Those three words were like knives scraping across Mia’s heart, exposing her rotten, fragile emotions.
It was a memory from an unclear childhood—endless wind and snow, the biting cold, and the ever-present feeling of abandonment. Even when her thoughts faded, she could never forget.
No! Mia will listen… Don’t abandon Mia again!
In that moment, she desperately wished she could speak, to beg not to be abandoned once more, but her injured throat wouldn’t allow it.
All the emotions she couldn’t express with words could only be shown through her actions.
Driven by fear, Mia overcame her own limitations and walked away from Roland towards Isaiah.
Isaiah crouched down, meeting Mia’s gaze calmly. He spoke kindly, “The Goddess says that suffering is a path every believer must walk to reach the kingdom of heaven. What you’re enduring now might just be the test She set for you. So don’t be afraid—just face it with sincerity and overcome it with courage.”
His words seemed to carry some mystical power, soothing Mia’s emotions.
“Now, let me see if there’s anything I can do for you.”
The scripture book opened on its own, radiating a warm light.
Mia felt a tickle in her throat and subconsciously tried to scratch it, but the sensation disappeared as quickly as it had come.
After checking her condition, Isaiah stood up, his expression solemn. “I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do.”
Roland had already expected this outcome. After so much time, the wound might have healed, and it was reasonable for Isaiah to be unable to cure it. Still, she wanted to ask, “Why?”
“I don’t really know. I tried to use the Goddess’s power on her, but it felt as if something was blocking it—or perhaps assimilating it would be more accurate.”
“What about magic?”
“I tried that, too. It didn’t work either.”
“All right, it can’t be helped. At least we tried.”
“Miss Roland, about this child—there are some things I feel I should speak to you about privately.”
“No need. Say it directly—I don’t want to keep anything from Mia. She has the right to know everything.”
“Then I’ll be blunt. Her constitution is very unique. At the very least, her affinity for the light attribute is extremely high. One of the most important factors when the Church of Light selects Holy Daughters and Holy Sons is light affinity. This directly affects their connection with the Goddess. If the Church finds out, they might send people to take her away.”
“Take her away directly?”
“Yes.”
Roland hadn’t expected the Church of Light to be so overbearing. If they really did come, she would have no choice but to watch as Mia was taken.
“You’re part of the Church yourself. Why are you telling me this?”
“I may believe in the Goddess, but I don’t agree with such methods. Besides, you’re Rod’s daughter. Both for personal and moral reasons, I should help you.”
“Thank you. I’ll remember this.”
With Mia’s issue settled, it was time to deal with her father’s matters. She said, “I’ve been learning magic these past few days, and I already have the power to protect myself. So, can you tell me the truth?”
“I didn’t expect you to have such talent. That’s for the best. But I’d still like to see for myself what you’re capable of.”
“You mean you want to spar?”
“Just a friendly match, nothing more. Let’s head to the village’s central dueling ground. It’s also a good chance for the people to meet their future lord.”