Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 508: True God

Three days later, a new group of visitors arrived at the town of Siyak, which had been under lockdown for half a week.

"You’re telling me no patients from Siyak left the town, yet neighboring connected settlements still reported similar cases?"

Astrid pulled back the carriage curtain. Two slender, smooth black-stockinged legs emerging, their delicate heels sinking into the snow, leaving tiny punctures.

Hardly stepping out, she heard soldiers guarding the quarantine report troubling news, the logistical supply points along the transport route were deteriorating.

With Lyra’s hand extended for support, Astrid steadied herself, straightened her legs, and spoke in a low voice.

"Is it because the incubation period of the plague is too long, allowing invisible patients to enter the towns before detection? Or is the origin of the plague not Siyak at all?"

Or perhaps, Brennild’s plague authority could transmit pathogens without relying on physical carriers, simply riding the wind to distant lands.

Just like the first infected case that appeared in Siyak.

In this magical world, wind could be precisely manipulated. If the pathogen spreads through the air, then patients’ or secretions could be directed with terrifying precision to regions Brennild desired, like a specialized biological bomb.

Recalling Brennild’s past actions, the buried human and animal corpses outside the capital, and her haughty, godlike demeanor when confronting them, Astrid had no illusions about this so-called "god" possessing any moral boundaries.

Hearing Astrid’s question, the soldier respectfully saluted and replied softly.

"Your Highness Regent, physicians are currently diagnosing the specifics. However, according to travel records, prior to Siyak’s lockdown, only the logistical supply units passed through these two towns."

After entering wartime status, Charles established checkpoints strictly guarded by soldiers to prevent spies or infiltrators from penetrating the imperial defenses. All entries and exits were meticulously documented.

This provides crucial support for tracing the plague’s origins.

Astrid frowned slightly, her crimson eyes flashing with concern.

Although logistical personnel generally possessed early-tier knight capabilities and were usually immune to the plague, they could still carry pathogens elsewhere.

"I understand the situation. Duke Charles should already be arranging daily light magic purification rituals for certain logistics personnel."

Brennild’s intention was clear, using the plague-induced panic and casualties to force them to abandon Liya Tower Fortress before winter arrived.

After all, if there were no effective measures against this plague, she could use Siyak as a focal point to fan the virus outward. Once surrounding towns fell and land supply lines were severed, they’d face a severe shortage of crystal stones.

Food, armor, weapons, they had stockpiled these within the fortress. The actual shortage lay in magic-powered weapons, craftsmen, and crystal stones.

Overthinking wouldn’t help. Everything must return to reality. After briefly explaining the situation, Astrid took Lyra’s hand and walked toward the temporary outpost.

Tiles were buried under thick snow. Except for the main road leading to the center, all side paths were blanketed in white ice, untouched and lifeless. The entire town seemed dead, with only the central building still standing defiantly in the storm, emanating an indescribable loneliness and cold.

The Holy Knight in holy armor glanced back several times along the way, staring at the deserted small town, feeling the desolate atmosphere reminiscent of withered branches and fallen leaves, her eyes flickering with inner struggle.

It wasn’t just frontline soldiers enduring snow and facing life-or-death trials. Even rear supply towns share the same bleakness. Countless innocent civilians suffering from disease, their normal lives already a distant dream.

Without war, more mages might have devoted themselves to treating patients. This town wouldn’t be so desolate.

No, according to Astrid, this plague had a hidden mastermind.

Had war not occurred, they wouldn’t be suffering this pain.

The true culprits, the Pope, King Velys, the warmongering nobles of Velys, were undoubtedly the most despicable beings in humanity.

Feeling the pressure from Lyra’s hand, Astrid lifted back. The pink-haired girl pressed her lips together, her blue eyes reflected sunlight glinting off the snow.

"..."

Silent all the way, they reached the temporary quarantine zone. The number of patients had clearly increased since Astrid’s last visit days ago, yet some familiar faces had disappeared.

Presumably taken by the plague.

Astrid didn’t immediately enter resonance magic with Lyra. Instead, she first inquired about the general situation from medical staff. Other patients, seeing the Regent herself arrive, voluntarily lowered their voices. The quarantine zone’s restless atmosphere gradually calmed, leaving only persistent coughing audible.

During their resonance magic practice, many quarantined patients expressed dissatisfaction toward Duke Charles’ lockdown measures. The steady rising death toll hung over everyone like a sword, making even breathing cautiously necessary.

Watching Lyra individually checking on patients, Astrid made no move to stop her. Half an hour later, Lyra returned to the woman’s side, willingly placing her hand in Astrid’s.

"Astrid... let’s try it..."

Using the casting method they’d practiced millions of times, to save those afflicted by the plague.

Astrid nodded, leading Lyra by the hand into the casting room specially reserved for them by the physicians.

"Just like before. Relax."

The gentle tone echoed in Lyra’s ears. The girl closed her eyes, silently awaiting Astrid’s spiritual force to flood over her soul like an ocean.

Perhaps witnessing the patients together triggered some shared emotions. At this moment, the magical resonance between Astrid and Lyra accelerated noticeably. With nothing distracting her, Lyra easily achieved soul-linkage merely by holding Astrid’s hand.

Internally chanting ancient incantations, Astrid simultaneously inscribed magical circles into the air, drawing elemental particles. Within seconds, a wave-like arc of light enveloped Lyra.

The magic began. Across the table, Astrid grasped Lyra’s Light Sword resting on the surface, her fingers gently caressing the pure white scabbard, fingertips slightly indenting along the engraved patterns.

Using ancient magic as the direct force, Lyra and the Sword of Life as medium, and the ancient incantation as the catalyst.

Peak tier Magnus-level light-element magic, [Surging Tide of Light].

Peak tier Magnus spells required longer construction times. Although Astrid is peak tier Magnus, her mana quantity is only around Middle tier Magnus, so Astrid needed double the time to cast this peak tier spell.

Five minutes later, the arc of light expanded, its purifying light elements dispersing as particles through the building, enveloping every person in the quarantine zone.

Plague-infected patients watched light particles hovering in midair. A warm current floods their bodies, reactivating organs. Lungs previously scorched by fire rapidly cooled, the searing pain transformed into a soothing numbness. The chorus of coughing is reduced by more than half in an instant.

[Surging Tide of Light] utilized circle sequencing to dictate the light element particles’ movement order, emphasizing their inherent purifying properties, specifically targeting negative statuses instead of expanding into a light blade that incinerates everything foreign.

This was merely the first halo. As Astrid continued chanting the ancient incantation, more arcs formed, like stones dropped into water, concentric ripples spreading outward.

Peak Tier Magnus light-element magic, [Resonance Hymn of the Glorious Cathedral].

It massively amplified the previous spell’s effects. When combined with other light-element spells, casting intensity increased several fold, typically used as a follow-up spell.

Instantly, holy light filled every corner of the room. No darkness remained except where objects touched each other.

As the air’s chill dissolved, everyone’s gaze turned toward the casting room. The elegant Regent had just led that Holy Knight inside, and now a miracle akin to divine rain descending upon parched land had occurred.

Even renowned physicians couldn’t effectively alleviate their pain. Yet now, bathed in these rays, submerged in holy light, their internal agony rapidly receded like a retreating tide.

The Empire hadn’t abandoned them.

Realizing this, patients’ emotions visibly stabilized. Even the medical staff wearing bird-beaked masks and thick protective suits felt intense warmth beneath the heavenly radiance.

At the same moment, deep within the Kingdom of Velys, a raven-haired girl wrapped entirely in dark robes opened her eyes, her gaze probing toward the east.

Something capable of affecting the plagues she’d created using her residual authority must possess an exceptionally high status.

It should be that pink-haired girl wielding Moserria’s Holy Judgment Sword... but judging by that mortal’s demonstrated power, she shouldn’t be able to fully activate the sacred blade...

Therefore... other forces must be involved... 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Recalling that silver-haired figure who used ancient magic in the mountains, blocking her from reclaiming half her divine spark, Brennild frowned. Her pupils flickered with complex emotions.

Astrid Calliste, why could she chant divine language and release ancient spells?

After that war, humanity should have been stripped of their ability to access divine domains. Why, in this modern age thousands of years after divine rule ended, did such an anomaly exist?

And... she carried an aura strangely familiar even to herself...

What exactly was she? Or rather, what kind of existence was she?

An ominous sensation ignited in Brennild’s heart. She stared at the new scripture of the Church of Light in her hand, recalling everything witnessed in darkness. Ink welled up, spilling onto the paper, adding new annotations to their doctrine.

[All things in the world are born because of light, and exist because of light. Therefore, all words contradicting the faith of the Light God are betraying against the divine.]

[We are the Light God’s earthly avatars, the arbiters who punish all heretics.]

[After all ends, the divine shall bestow His mercy and love. The light we pray for shall arrive.]

Staring at the inked characters, Brennild’s lips curled into a mocking smile, her dark eyes rippling with faint disgust.

Although she loathed Moserria and felt nauseated by her own writings, they were perfect for manipulating hearts and gathering faith.

With a wave of her hand, the content of the new scripture stored within the Church of Light simultaneously changed. Brennild rose, transforming into a wisp of dark mist drifting eastward.

Ancient spells and the Holy Judgment Sword indeed possessed plague-dispelling abilities. But she wasn’t defenseless.

The fiercer the war, the more deaths, her power will continue to revive. The plague would spread like ink in clear water, gradually infecting the entire body.

............

Meanwhile, at a Church of Light in the northwest of Kingdom of Velys, Temple Knights formed orderly ranks, respectfully welcoming the arrival of the Saintess.

Bathed in radiant holy light, Monica stepped out of the carriage. Tall and graceful, her refined features adorned with a pure white robe. Her white lace headdress swayed gently in the cold wind. White stockings with patterned edges encased her lush legs, while black high heels crunched against the snow.

Officially, Monica claimed, despite her severe illness, she was here to bless knights spreading the faith.

In truth, her real purpose, known only to herself and Astrid, remained concealed.

"Are you feeling well, Lady Monica?"

"Thank you for your concern, Bishop. Although discomfort remains, I can still endure."

Smiling gently at the bishop in white robes before her, Monica said softly:

"The Temple Knights have left their homes to fight at the borders for their beliefs. As a Saintess, even if unwell, I must go forth."

Finishing, Monica placed the back of her hand against her lips, symbolically coughing once, seemingly to validate her sickly condition.

"I’ve heard frontline advances have suffered severe setbacks. The Pope needs to stabilize domestic affairs, preventing heretics from secretly colluding and undermining the faith during the Temple’s eastern campaign."

"Therefore, upon learning of my intention to inspect the frontlines, the Pope specially ordered me to bring sacred relics, so our fighting knights can feel the divine’s blessings."

"Raise faith as your banner. The God of Light is always with us."