IsraphelвЂTMs gentle demeanor vanished in an instant. A chill shot down SimonвЂTMs spine, while LetheвЂTMs eyes went wide with shock.
SimonвЂTMs mind raced. ‘Someone I resemble? Could she know my parents?вЂTM
This wasnвЂTMt a passing comment. Her voice was solemn, her expression grave. It felt as if she had already reached a conclusion and was merely seeking confirmation. Any attempt to deflect or change the subject would surely backfire.
вЂTMI have to answer this very carefully.вЂTM
She seemed kind, but she was a Saintess of Efnel—the greatest enemy of the Dark Alliance. He couldnвЂTMt let his guard down for a second.
After a moment of intense deliberation, Simon made his choice.
"I donвЂTMt know who it is I resemble," he began, deciding to shove his head directly into the lionвЂTMs mouth. "But IвЂTMm sure whatever youвЂTMre guessing right now is correct."
He watched her expression intently. He had to know if the person she was thinking of was an enemy or an ally.
Her pupils trembled with hesitation. Her lips twitched, and her voice, when it came, was slightly slurred, as if her thoughts had frozen. She was utterly conflicted.
It was, thankfully, not a negative reaction. It was a clear sign of a battle between what she felt she should do and what her heart was telling her.
вЂTMThatвЂTMs it. I absolutely must not be the one to say her name first.вЂTM
Simon waited patiently, his lips pressed into a firm line.
Finally, she spoke. "I see."
Her gaze shifted to Lethe, a hint of reproach in her eyes. Lethe flinched.
"Saintess Israphel! I—!"
"Be quiet, Lethe," Israphel commanded, her eyes returning to Simon. "No wonder. You refused my invitation to visit during the break, saying you were going somewhere far away." Her voice was sharp. "IвЂTMll ask again, Priest Ska. Are you AnnaвЂTMs son?"
Her reasoning was sound. There was no point in denying it. Simon lowered his head.
"Yes. I came here to save my mother, who has fallen ill."
Suddenly, she moved.
SimonвЂTMs eyes widened in disbelief as Israphel closed the distance between them and pulled him into a hug. The abruptness of it all made his body go rigid.
"Oh..." she breathed, releasing him to study his face with moved, emotional eyes. "Smile for me."
"What?"
"Smile. Quickly," she urged, her voice impatient.
Unsure what else to do, Simon forced the best smile he could manage.
"Oh..." A look of profound emotion filled her jet-black pupils. "Your smile... ItвЂTMs the spitting image of AnnaвЂTMs."
With those words, Israphel pulled Simon into another tight, heartfelt embrace.
Strangely, her claim of resembling Anna made the walls Simon had so carefully erected around his heart crumble like sand.
"Forgive me," he began, "but what is your relationship with my mother?"
"Well," Israphel murmured, closing her eyes again to hide her jet-black pupils. A gentle smile touched her lips as she drifted away from him. "Sisters, though not by blood. That is how I would define it."
"Oh." Simon smiled back, a sense of relief washing over him. "Then that makes you my aunt, Israphel."
At those words, Israphel shot several meters into the air before descending gracefully.
"Again!" she demanded, her eyes sparkling. "Say it again!"
"A-Aunt?"
"Hahahaha!"
A short distance away, Lethe watched the scene unfold with a dumbfounded expression. ‘IвЂTMve never seen her so excited. What is going on?вЂTM
There was a reason Lethe had kept Simon a secret from her. If she had asked Israphel for help, it would not just be Lethe sinning against the Goddess; Israphel would be implicated, too. One sinner was enough. Besides, Israphel had never voiced an opinion on Anna. To the Holy Federation, Anna was a vile traitor who had run off with a necromancer, abandoned her sacred duties as a Saintess, and betrayed her homeland. It would have been deeply disrespectful to even ask a Saintess like Israphel what she thought of her.
Israphel finally spoke. "I was terribly worried. Relations between the Holy Federation and the Dark Alliance have grown extremely sour, and all supply lines are under strict control. I feared the annual cure would not reach Anna safely."
Her gaze shifted to Lethe.
"Lethe. You were guiding my nephew, who crossed the border to get the cure. May I assume that is what happened?"
"Oh, no! I already delivered the cure to my teacher! A different problem has arisen...!"
Lethe explained the entire situation. Israphel listened intently, nodding slowly.
"The Essence of Purification is in Anna... I see. So that is why." She placed her hands on her hips. "You were going to the Tree of Life to get the ‘White Leaf,вЂTM the most crucial ingredient for the surgery? That is far too reckless. How on earth were you planning to obtain it?"
When Simon and Lethe exchanged an uneasy glance, IsraphelвЂTMs voice sharpened.
"Do not hold back. Just say it!"
The atmosphere grew tense, as if they were being scolded. As a flustered Lethe hesitated, Simon stepped forward.
"We planned to find the Tree of Life and negotiate with its guardians." He pulled the ancient imperial coins from his pocket. "If the deal failed, we were also considering... stealing it. My apologies."
Israphel shook her head, exasperated. "Even for the recklessness of youth, there must be limits! The mountain where the Tree of Life grows is teeming with Rank 6 and Rank 7 monsters! You two students were going to break through that on your own?"
Lethe bristled at her words and cut in. "You know my skills! I could have done it—!"
"Lethe, be quiet," Israphel commanded coolly. "You will fast for a month when you return to Efnel after the break."
LetheвЂTMs shoulders slumped, her expression turning gloomy. Three months of self-imposed fasting, and now another month by order of a Saintess. She might be stuck eating bland porridge for the entire semester.
Israphel turned her gaze back to Simon. "Of course, I am sure that necromancer brother-in-law of mine had some sort of plan, but..."
Simon flinched.
"As an adult, I cannot permit children to venture into such a dangerous place by themselves."
"Israphel! We have to—!"
"I shall get it for you."
"What?" Simon gasped.
IsraphelвЂTMs smile was warm and reassuring. "In this Holy Federation, I am a demigod. There is nothing beyond my power here. I will absolutely retrieve it for you."
Her words radiated unshakeable confidence. If a Saintess herself took action, what could possibly be impossible in this land? Deeply moved, Simon quickly bowed his head.
"Thank you so much, Israphel!"
At his words, her smile widened.
"I have a villa I purchased nearby. Let us go there."
The villa Israphel brought them to was a tranquil wooden house overlooking the sea. Simon and Lethe stayed there for two days, spending most of that time sleeping off the accumulated fatigue from their journey and battles. In retrospect, Simon realized it would have been incredibly difficult to reach the Tree of Life in their condition.
Two days later, Israphel returned.
"I told you I would get it, did I not?"
She opened a small box, revealing a single white leaf resting on a red cushion. A faint Divinity emanated from it, and its unique pattern was an exact match to his fatherвЂTMs description.
SimonвЂTMs arm trembled. вЂTMTo think I would get this so easily!вЂTM
Israphel held the open box, her eyes fixed on Simon with anticipation. A bright smile finally broke across his face.
"Thank you so much, Auntie!"
Israphel merely raised the corners of her lips, but Lethe, knowing this was her equivalent of a joyous scream, could not help but giggle.
The three of them shared dinner and conversation.
"By the way, Israphel," Simon began.
"Yes, go on."
"You said you and my mother were sisters, but not by blood. I am curious about your relationship."
"Ah, I never explained that, did I?"
Technically, she was not his aunt. Israphel had originally been AnnaвЂTMs handmaiden during her time as a Saintess. Much like the orphaned Lethe, Israphel had nowhere to go until Anna took her in.
Anna had recognized IsraphelвЂTMs talent. When Anna ascended to the position of Saintess, she gave the vacant title of the Cross familyвЂTMs eldest daughter to Israphel. When Anna enrolled in Efnel, she personally petitioned the Pope so that Israphel, a mere handmaiden, could study alongside her.
Their master-servant relationship blossomed into an unbreakable friendship. They spent their school days as the closest of companions and graduated with outstanding honors.
"Someday, you will succeed me, Israphel."
When Anna, the shining star of her generation, had said that, Israphel had tilted her head in confusion. Though she had graduated as salutatorian, right behind Anna, her talent was no match for her friendвЂTMs. She had not understood what she meant back then.
Then one day, Anna was caught up in a major incident and vanished. Rumors swirled that she had married a necromancer and forsaken her title. To preserve the dignity of the divine authority and the prestige of the Saintesses, Efnel announced that Anna had been martyred in battle.
And the Essence of Miracles, passing over numerous other candidates, chose Israphel. That was how things had come to be.
вЂTMI wonder,вЂTM Simon mused, resting his chin on his hand as he listened to IsraphelвЂTMs story. вЂTMWhat was Mom like during her time as a Saintess?вЂTM
Whenever Simon was in trouble, people Anna had helped—like Lethe and Israphel—kept appearing to lend him a hand. Even if they were enemies now, they still had not forgotten her. He was curious about his fatherвЂTMs school days as KizenвЂTMs notorious troublemaker and Legion Commander, but now he was just as curious about his motherвЂTMs time as a Saintess at Efnel.
"It is rather funny for a Saintess like me to say this," Israphel began, holding her fork, "but from now on, do not mention AnnaвЂTMs name to anyone in the Holy Federation, nor should you be the first to reveal your identity. What you did was incredibly dangerous."
Her point was valid. Israphel was an anomaly in the Holy Federation; among the Priests, fanatics like Inquisitor-General Raith were the norm. The mere mention of the traitor AnnaвЂTMs name would make them grind their teeth and hunt him down.
"It was fortunate that Lethe and I have a personal connection, but you are a necromancer. If you encounter a Priest, you must be on your guard and be prepared to fight to the death. I am telling you this for your own good."
She was telling him to remember his identity as a necromancer and to clearly distinguish friend from foe. If they had met on a battlefield instead of as acquaintances of Lethe, Israphel might have killed him. And there was no guarantee that something like that would not happen in the future.
Simon nodded gravely. "I will keep that in mind. Still, knowing there are people like you two gives me hope."
"Hee hee! My nephew has such a way with words."
вЂTM...Ugh, what is this now?вЂTM Lethe thought, feeling a pang of jealousy as Israphel doted on Simon. вЂTMSo this is how he felt when my teacher and I were always together.вЂTM
"If youвЂTMre not going to eat that omelet, I will," Simon teased.
"Hey! IвЂTMm eating it!" Lethe shot back.
Watching the two bicker with a smile, Israphel spoke up.
"So, are you returning to the Dark Alliance tomorrow?"
"Yes," Simon confirmed with a nod. "Now that I have what I came for, I want to go back and heal my mother as soon as possible."
"Of course. AnnaвЂTMs health is the top priority. If I had my way, I would prepare a long-distance teleportation circle for you."
"No, no, I could not trouble you any further. I will take the Divine Train back."
Simon knew Israphel had to leave for the Sky Island early the next morning.
Israphel looked at Lethe. "Please see him safely to the end, Lethe."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," she replied, pouting.
Israphel smiled quietly and stood up. "Well then, shall we all retire for the night?"
"Yes!"

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