The Power of Purple

As Archbishop Arwin regained consciousness, the chaotic situation began to resolve itself with surprising speed.

Arwin’s powerful Holy Power accurately identified the spies of ‘The Veil’ among the priests, who were outwardly indistinguishable.

The spies were immediately exposed, but Arwin declared that he could not allow murder within the sacred cathedral and would lead them to the path of redemption.

In the end, the spies were imprisoned in the underground dungeon.

Several days passed, and Serina and the others were gathered in the banquet hall for a meal.

Fortunately, this time it wasn’t Ares’s unidentified stew, but normal food was served.

Everyone filled their hungry stomachs and continued to enjoy the meal.

In the midst of this, Marquis Roderick cautiously spoke to Lily.

“Lily, have you ever… seen a woman like this?”

Roderick carefully began to describe his sister’s appearance.

Similar height to Lily, with delicate features, and most notably, a small mole under her right eye was the most distinctive feature.

He added that she had reddish-brown short hair and blue eyes.

Lily listened to Roderick’s words and seemed to be lost in thought for a moment.

A small wrinkle formed between her brows.

“I’m sorry, Marquis Roderick… I don’t think I remember seeing anyone with reddish-brown short hair.”

Roderick couldn’t hide his disappointment at Lily’s words.

However, on the other hand, he also felt a slight sense of relief at the thought that his sister might not have been captured by the Black market.

At that moment, a priest cautiously entered the banquet hall.

His steps and gestures were very careful, as if not to disturb those who were eating.

“I apologize for interrupting your meal. Archbishop Arwin… wishes to meet with everyone.”

Following the priest’s guidance, they headed to Archbishop Arwin’s chambers.

The moment the door opened and they stepped inside, the four of them involuntarily gasped at the sight before them.

Archbishop Arwin was waiting for them, dressed neatly in his formal attire.

His face was full of vitality, and his posture was upright and without any unnecessary movements.

The image of the frail old man lying on the bed just a few days ago had vanished without a trace.

He felt like a completely different person from the one they had first met.

Most astonishing of all was the contained Holy Power emanating from him.

The energy gently enveloped the entire room, making them feel as comfortable as if they were soaking in a warm hot spring.

Arwin greeted the four with a gentle gaze.

“First, I am truly sorry. And… I sincerely express my gratitude.”

He lowered his gaze for a moment and continued with a troubled expression.

“Bertrand… was a child I personally took in and raised since I was young. His nature was not inherently upright, so I was always concerned… but in the end, he walked down such a dark path.”

Disappointment and regret were intertwined in Arwin’s eyes.

But soon, a flash of anger crossed his eyes.

“The Veil, was it? For those things to dare defile the name of the cathedral…”

Arwin’s voice contained an anger that was difficult to suppress.

Soon, Ares stepped forward and cautiously stopped him.

“Archbishop, you have not fully recovered yet. Please calm yourself.”

Marquis Roderick also stepped forward and added.

“Your Majesty the Emperor’s command will only be fulfilled by eradicating The Veil completely. We will take responsibility for handling it. Please do not worry.”

Arwin seemed deeply moved by the two’s dignified appearance.

“If the two Marshals are together… nothing could be better.”

Archbishop Arwin looked back and forth between Serina and Lily with a calm gaze.

He fixed his gaze on Lily and cautiously opened his mouth.

“Lily, I heard you went through a difficult time. I should have heard it directly from Bertrand… I am sorry.”

Lily raised her head slightly and smiled.

“It’s okay, Archbishop. My wounds have all healed, and as you can see, I’m very strong.”

Lily put strength into her voice, but Arwin seemed to see through Lily’s true feelings.

“The wounds inside are greater than the wounds outside.”

Arwin said that and placed his hand on Lily’s head.

Then, with a gentle smile, he gave her a blessing.

Warm and intense Holy Power permeated Lily’s body.

Lily closed her eyes involuntarily at the warm and cozy feeling that enveloped her entire body.

It was a comforting sensation, like being in her mother’s arms.

While Lily was enjoying the Holy Power with her eyes closed, Roderick, Ares, and Serina were staring at Lily with astonished eyes.

This was because what he was doing now was not simply a blessing to heal wounds.

Arwin was directly sharing his own primal magic with Lily.

“A, Arwin…”

Discomfort was evident on Roderick’s face.

As Roderick himself had said that feeling Mana was more important than handling it, one could never handle Mana if they could not feel it.

But now Arwin was skipping that difficult and arduous process for Lily all at once.

Lily had never learned magic, nor had she ever sensed Mana.

Arwin’s Holy Power was changing her very existence.

When Arwin took his hand away, Lily opened her eyes.

She looked around her body in surprise.

“Huh? My body… my body feels so much lighter!”

A new light flickered in Lily’s eyes.

She didn’t seem to feel it yet, but Lily’s body was definitely flowing with a faint but clear Mana.

Arwin looked at the remaining three and gave them a playful smile.

“Why? Should I give some to you too?”

Roderick stammered in embarrassment.

“No, that, that’s not it…”

Arwin chuckled.

“Giving away this much won’t even make a dent.”

Then he looked at Serina and smiled.

“Well… now that I think about it, you were robbed a lot.”

Only Serina and Arwin, who were there, knew the meaning of those words.

Serina’s face turned slightly red.

She lowered her head silently at Arwin’s playful smile.

Soon, Arwin’s expression became serious again.

He stared straight at Serina with a worried look.

“Serina. Do you know that there is something special about your Mana?”

She knew that her Mana was not ordinary.

Because it was a gift from the goddess.

But she didn’t know exactly what was so special about it.

Serina shook her head.

Arwin nodded as if he understood.

Then he raised both hands and showed off his Mana.

In one hand, an intense Mana like a red flame blazed, and in the other hand, a brilliant white Mana shone brightly.

Roderick admired the sight.

“You wield both a spear and a shield, Archbishop!”

Ares muttered quietly as he looked at the red flame.

“Arwin of Blazing Flame…”

Arwin smiled faintly at Ares’s words.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that title.”

Arwin looked at Serina again.

“Serina, do you know why I’m showing you this?”

Not only Serina, but no one there knew Arwin’s intentions exactly.

Arwin met everyone’s eyes one by one and began to explain.

“You know that Mana is the energy of nature, right?”

Everyone nodded.

It was basic knowledge that Mana was used by drawing on the power of nature that permeated everywhere.

“And when that natural energy is converted into Mana, it is transformed into different Mana depending on each person’s disposition. The power of that transformed Mana appears in the form of fire, water, wind, or lightning. We call those who wield that Mana wizards.”

Roderick asked a question as if he suddenly became curious.

“Then… are knights who use Aura also wizards?”

Arwin chuckled at Roderick’s question.

“In the broad sense of wielding Mana, you could say so. But to be precise, a knight is one who adds sharpness to Mana and puts it into a sword.”

He looked at Serina again and continued.

“Do you know why I’m telling you this?”

Serina paused for a moment and then slowly nodded.

“My Mana… is not from nature.”

Arwin smiled as if satisfied with Serina’s intelligence.

“You’re bright. Yes, that purple power of yours… is foreign. I have seen those who covet such power. Their end was miserable.”

“Was their Mana also purple?”

Arwin shook his head.

“You all know them. Those who are called dark… no, dark magic users.”

Ares wore a worried expression.

“Haven’t dark magic users disappeared a long time ago? I heard that they slowly die because it is a power that cannot be handled by the human body.”

Roderick added.

“Most of them disappeared after learning that it drives the caster to death. Who would use Black magic unless they were crazy…”

Arwin laughed heartily.

“Haha, there are many crazy people in the world. Serina, be careful not to be consumed by power yourself.”

Serina looked back at Lily once and then lowered her head.

“…Thank you for everything.”