Chapter 355: The Pope’s Decision

"Take them back to the courtyard," Anna told Levada. "I’ll make the report."

Levada nodded, though her gaze lingered on the Ancient Tree.

Before either executor could leave, Marzana turned away from the trunk, her hand still resting against its damaged bark. "Does that mean something happened to Mother Yggdrasilia?"

"I don’t know." Anna met her worried eyes before continuing, "Flonaralavenrosa couldn’t hear her even before she was injured. We need to find out why."

Marzana slowly lowered her hand, unable to find any reassurance in Anna’s answer. When Aeola approached to help her, she did not insist on staying.

Regis watched her lean against her companion before attempting to stand as well. His leg trembled beneath him, prompting Killian to hurriedly take his arm.

"Careful, Boss."

"I know..." Regis let out a tired breath and accepted his help. Even keeping his eyes open had become difficult, and the thought of walking back made him regret not resting a little longer.

By the time they reached the courtyard, Vanessa had already risen to meet them. Whatever she had been about to ask disappeared when she saw his face. "Lie down first. You can tell us afterward."

Regis offered no objection as Killian helped him onto the blanket beside the wall. Pandora folded a cloak beneath his head, while Aurelia placed the water within reach and checked whether his bandages had loosened during the walk.

Perto looked towards Marzana, who had returned with Aeola and Raxon. "Did it work?"

"Flona’s condition is stable," Regis answered, drawing Vanessa’s attention back to him. "There’s still corruption left, but I can continue once I’ve rested."

"Flona?"

"She told me to call her that."

Marzana glanced at him with a strange expression. "You asked to call the Ancient Tree Flona?"

"She offered."

Vanessa’s lips curved slightly, but she did not pursue the matter when his eyes began to close. Nearby, Morgana had lifted her head from Rumi’s shoulder to listen, while Auryn and Patti quietly made room for the returning elves.

"Then sleep," Vanessa said. "We’ll be here."

Regis gave a faint nod. He could hear Levada speaking to someone near the entrance, but the familiar voices around him gradually became indistinct as he finally allowed himself to rest.

***

In a private chamber within the Grand Cathedral of Light...

Pope Hagios listened to Anna’s report from distant Paradis, the documents he had been reading already set aside. His blue eyes remained lowered as her voice filled the quiet chamber, describing the ruined capital and the survivors gathered among its remains.

Queen Elysia had died in the sanctuary. Although Aziza had also been killed, the destruction extended far beyond their battlefield. Elves speaking of the Great Purification had attacked their own people, and those Anna tried to capture had died when a curse activated within them.

Even Flonaralavenrosa had been injured, while much of the Library of Eternity had burned.

Hagios lowered his head for a moment at the news of Elysia’s death. When he spoke again, his voice had grown quieter. "Are there surviving authorities who can help you organise their people?"

"We’re still gathering information, Your Holiness. Many of the survivors are wounded."

"I’ll arrange assistance. Find whoever remains of the Temple of Life’s leadership and work with them. Whatever records survived must also be preserved."

"Yes, Your Holiness."

"We’ll search our own records for anything concerning the curse." Hagios paused before returning to the part of her report that had troubled him most. "And you’re certain the Ancient Tree’s silence began before the attack?"

"That was what Regis told us. According to him, Flonaralavenrosa had already tried calling her sister before the demonic elves reached her."

Hagios slowly leaned back, his gaze moving towards the closed door. ’So it isn’t only Goddess Lemetina...’

He had repeated his own prayers, vehemently hoping for an answer, but it never came.

Even now, hearing that the Ancient Tree faced something similar, he could not decide whether he should feel relieved that he was not alone or more afraid of what it meant. ’If the people learn that even my prayers are going unanswered...’

His fingers tightened around the armrest before he caught himself. ’No. This must not reach them while I’m still trying to understand what’s happening. There’s already enough fear.’

Leorio and Bargadon came to mind as he considered who could help him find an answer. ’I’ll have to consult the other pontifices privately. If their gods have also fallen silent...’

"Your Holiness?"

Anna’s voice drew his attention back. Hagios released his grip on the armrest before answering, his tone as calm as before. "I’m listening. Tell me more about the young man who treated the Ancient Tree."

She had already mentioned Regis while explaining Aziza’s defeat. Now, as Anna described what she had witnessed at Flonaralavenrosa, Hagios found himself leaning forward again.

"You saw the corruption receding?"

"Yes. He was using demonic power, but the discoloration beneath the bark began to fade. Afterward, he told us that he had removed enough to stabilise her condition."

"And this is the same person you believe helped us in Toran?"

Anna explained how his account matched what she remembered of the summoning. He claimed to have been among the children kidnapped by the cult, and one of his companions had supported his account. There were still things she could not verify, particularly how he had survived the purification afterward.

Hagios listened without interrupting. He had seen enough of the cults’ cruelty to know what they could force a child to do. However, surviving his Beacon of Purification and then using demonic power to treat an Ancient Tree were matters he could not dismiss.

"Have our people in Harmonia look into his history," he finally said. "I would also like to speak with him once he has recovered sufficiently."

"Yes, Your Holiness. Until then, how should we handle him?"

"He is to remain under our protection while we investigate," Hagios replied. "We still need answers, but from what you’ve told me, he has already helped save many lives. See that he receives the same care as the people he saved."

"Understood, Your Holiness."

"Take care of yourself as well," he added. "The same goes for Levada."

There was a brief pause before her voice softened. "We will."

***

"Regis..."

Regis woke up as soon as someone called his name.

For a moment, he could not remember where he was. Then the ache in his body returned, along with the smell of smoke and the sight of Pandora sitting beside him.

"Anna’s back," she said quietly.

He followed her gaze and found the executor standing nearby. Killian shifted to help him sit, but Anna raised a hand before he could begin. "You can remain lying down."

Regis gratefully settled back against the folded cloak. "What did he say?"

"His Holiness is arranging assistance for the survivors. As for you, you’re to remain under the Temple of Light’s protection while we look into your circumstances."

"Protection?" Killian asked, studying her expression.

"It means we’re responsible for his safety."

Pandora’s eyes moved briefly towards Levada before returning to Anna. Beside her, Aurelia leaned forward. "Will you contact the Adventurer’s Guild in Harmonia?"

"Yes. His Holiness has instructed us to look into his history there."

Regis relaxed a little at her answer. There were people in Harmonia who could speak for them, and at least the executors were willing to listen. "And my people?"

"They aren’t being detained," Anna replied. "We’ll arrange further assistance for the wounded."

"You still need to tell us before leaving," Levada added from beside the wall.

"I wasn’t planning to," Regis replied. "Flona still needs treatment. I told her I’d come back."

Levada studied him for a moment before nodding.

"There’s something else," Anna said. "His Holiness would like to speak with you personally once you’ve recovered."

’The Pope...’ Regis remembered the golden light that had covered Toran and the pain of feeling it burn through his body and soul. His hand shifted against the blanket before he stopped himself.

Then another thought occurred to him. ’Tinateria... Would he know something about that sword?’

The damaged weapon had been left largely unexplored since he found it. If anyone could tell him more about the Holy Sword of Light, surely the Pope would be among them. Still, asking about it could wait until he knew how their conversation would go.

Regis looked up at Anna. "Should I be worried?"

"He asked us to keep you safe."

"That didn’t quite answer my question..."