Chapter 163: The prayer warrior at the shrine.

Lita moved like a nimble cat through the quiet corridors. All the hidden shortcuts across the Kaelion estate were already deeply imprinted in her brain, thanks to Jimmy’s detailed map.

Kill Jimmy like the Divine Maiden ordered? Lita scoffed in her mind as she dodged a sweeping servant. As if! That man is way too useful to me right now. I’ll throw him to the wolves only when I’m good and ready. As for now, she could continue disguising their entanglements with the cream Trinity had given her and buying herbs for birth control.

Reaching the secluded, mountain-side shrine, Lita quickly smoothed down her dress, sat on a stone bench, and waited. Sure enough, after a couple of minutes, she caught sight of the Grand Patriarch’s tall, stoic figure slowly walking up the rocky path.

Her eyes lit up. Showtime!

Lita whipped out a framed picture of Zyra that she had prepared in advance and placed it right on the center altar. Then, she threw herself onto her knees, bowed her head till it almost hit the floor, and started wailing loudly enough to awaken a sleeping dragon.

"Oh, heaven! Why are you so cruel?!" Lita sobbed, making sure her voice echoed off the shrine’s stone pillars so the Grand Patriarch wouldn’t miss a single word. "My sweet, innocent sister Zyra! You were taken from this world so soon! Oh, heavens, please have mercy on her soft soul! Grant her a worthy reincarnation in her next life!"

She sniffled loudly, squeezing out tears like a professional opera singer. People alwaysbond over shared grief and dead loved ones, she thought proudly. Now we have something in common! He’s going to see me as a sweet, loving sister!

The Grand Patriarch slowly climbed the stone stairs of the shrine. His old ears were sharp, drinking in every bit of Lita’s dramatic weeping. He cast a brief glance at Zyra’s picture on the altar, then looked down at the wailing girl on the floor.

The nerve of this little fox, the old man thought, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

Mrs. Munch had already reported everything about Lita’s past behavior. Lita had been mean, petty, and downright horrible to Zyra back in their old home! But Zyra, with her kind and foolishly big heart, had repeatedly overlooked Lita’s venomous little schemes. So seeing Lita here, putting on a big tearful show of being a "loving sister," didn’t surprise the old fox one bit. It was another scheme.

Ignoring Lita’s theatrical performance, the Grand Patriarch walked past her, knelt before his late wife’s majestic tombstone, and closed his eyes.

"My love," he prayed silently in his heart, "please look after the Scorpion kids from up there. And... please forgive me for Zena. I couldn’t get directly involved in those children’s lives. In this ruthless world, showing affection to the weak only places a target on their backs. My softness would have been used against them." It was a prayer that he said every single Wednesday.

His wife had come from the Scorpion family. She had been adopted by Zena’s grandmother as a child. Zena had been like his daughter and her children should have been raised by his side. Zyra should have married his grandson.

A single tear slipped down his weathered cheek. He quietly wiped it away with his sleeve, composed his grand expression, and turned around to face Lita, who was now sitting back on her calves, sniffling pathetically and looking utterly miserable.

"You must have loved your sister very much," the Grand Patriarch spoke, his voice deep and calm. "I am sorry for your loss. I know what it is like to lose a loved one."

Lita burst into a fresh flood of dramatic tears, looking up with big, trembling eyes. "Oh, Patriarch! Zyra and I were more than just sisters! We were best friends! We did everything together and loved each other deeply! I feel so lost without her!"

The Grand Patriarch nodded slowly, his face expressionless.

Loved each other deeply? he mused inwardly. According to what Mrs. Munch told me, you weren’t even her friend, let alone a loving sister. You practically wished her dead every Tuesday.

"I see," the Grand Patriarch said aloud, keeping his tone soft. "You are free to come to this prayer shrine whenever you wish to pray for her." He then raised two fingers and called out, "Maverick."

A shadow blurred, and a stern-faced male figure instantly appeared beside the old man, bowing low. "Master."

"Order a proper memorial tablet for Zyra carved from the best high grade energy stones and jade." the Grand Patriarch commanded casually. "Place it here so Lita can pray for her sister properly."

Lita’s eyes sparkled through her fake tears! She prostrated herself on the ground, banging her head softly against the stone floor. "Thank you, Grand Patriarch! Thank you so much for your immense kindness! May the heavens bless your generous heart!"

Lita slowly picked up the picture, wiped her red nose, and walked away down the mountain path, keeping her shoulders slumped to look completely heartbroken.

Inside, her heart was doing victory flips. Hah! It’s working! If I run into him here every Wednesday at 11:00 AM, I’ll completely win his old, lonely favor in no time! She looked at Zyra’s picture, "You are useful to me this once. More than when you were alive."

Back at the shrine, the Grand Patriarch watched the girl’s pathetic, slouching figure vanish down the path. A sharp, mocking smirk slowly spread across his old face.

"Foolish girl," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head at her childish tricks.

He placed his hands comfortably behind his back and turned around, walking leisurely toward the vibrant flower gardens he had personally planted years ago in loving memory of his wife.

******

Sabrina Kaelion got off the transport beast and gazed up at the towering, almost ominous building: the headquarters of the Black Flower Guild in the capital city.

Even from the front gates, the air thrummed with raw energy. Shouts of glory, the clanking of heavy iron, and battle songs echoed through the open windows. The Union of clans and guilds tournament was fast approaching, and every inner disciple was training like a madman, hoping not to win first prize and bring glory to their guilds and clans.

A sloth-eyed woman in black leather armor stepped out from the shade and cut her path off. It was Kalinda, one of Sabrina’s most trusted people.

"Madam Sabrina," Kalinda bowed briskly, her face dead serious. "Good timing. We finally caught the tail of the thief who’s been sneaking into our inventory."

Sabrina walked toward the sleek metal elevator in the lobby, her dark cloak flowing around her like storm clouds. "Oh? Who is this gutsy rat stealing under my nose?"

Kalinda swallowed hard before spitting out the name: "Bianca Rothsfield. You are familiar with her, are you not?"