Chapter 188: Relocation

"Are you leaving?" In the small courtyard before Wang Yu’s home in the royal capital of Alastair, Wang Yu asked with a hint of bewilderment as he spoke with the orc Eamon and his employer, Elliott.

"Yes. The royal capital’s crackdown on the Nightfall Church has grown increasingly severe. Before, it was merely public harassment, preventing us from preaching or holding services, but now they’ve escalated to dragging the Lady of Night’s followers off to dungeons on the flimsiest of pretexts."

Elliott sighed, his small goblin face etched with a hesitant, lingering reluctance; it was clear that reaching this decision had been a painful ordeal for him.

"The Shadow of the Royal Capital has also seen a surge in gangs targeting our church. While they appear unrelated to the official pressure from the city, Holo and the boss have analyzed the situation and concluded that these, too, are the work of the same organizations orchestrating the recent persecutions."

Eamon added his own observations, forcing Wang Yu to realize that the Nightfall Church’s status in the capital had effectively devolved into that of a recognized cult.

Though the faith of the Lady of Night was registered, the "special treatment" it received—both overt and covert—meant its situation was now little different from the heretical sects hunted by the Blades of Night.

"We will choose an auspicious day to depart the capital, likely very soon. We are the vanguard, tasked with finding a place where the Nightfall Church can develop in peace and spread the Lady’s faith. Once settled, we intend to bring as many of the Shadow’s believers as are willing to follow us to this new sanctuary."

Elliott laid out his plans to Wang Yu, the church’s nominal archbishop. At some point, this small goblin merchant—originally pulled into the fold simply because he knew Wang Yu and could help construct a gathering place—had become a vital pillar of the church and a devout follower of the Lady of Night.

Elliott’s connections, his keen eye, his accumulated wealth, and his vast experience as a merchant made him the undisputed choice to establish new strongholds beyond the capital, and perhaps even beyond the Kingdom of Alastair.

"Sigh, it’s truly a pity to abandon the foundation I’ve built here. I could have just kept earning gold coins in peace, but no—that old geezer Holo had to suggest relocating, and Eamon here immediately volunteered us to lead the charge."

Elliott grumbled, his tone laced with irritation as he kicked the orc’s thick, muscular thigh.

"True, the boss has made many sacrifices for this, but I will work hard to ensure we earn back every coin he’s lost," the orc replied with a simple, earnest smile on his rugged face, scratching his cheek.

"With what? That brute strength of yours? Even if you served as my bodyguard for a lifetime, you couldn't repay the fortune I’m throwing away by abandoning my business here. It’s infuriating!"

The more Elliott thought about it, the angrier he became, the tips of his long, pointed ears—shorter than an elf’s, as is typical for a goblin—turning a faint shade of red.

"Then I suppose I’ll just have to serve you for a lifetime," Eamon replied.

"Hmph, just don't go dying in some bandit raid before then," Elliott retorted with a scoff, masking his true feelings with disdain.

Watching the bickering pair, Wang Yu knew they shared a deep bond. He truly hadn't expected a goblin as fond of money as Elliott to be willing to abandon his life’s work for the sake of the church.

What was it about the Nightfall Church—a group he had watched form, essentially a collective of outcasts helping one another—that held such magnetic appeal? Wang Yu could not say.

Yet, he understood a part of it: it was a sense of belonging, or perhaps a profound appreciation for being treated as an equal.

"I wish you a safe journey. By the way, where is Ms. Wenna? I don't see her." Wang Yu smiled, wishing Elliott success in his mission, and inquired about his second employee, the elven ranger.

"Oh, Wenna is coming with us. She’s gone to fetch Mr. Zig’s younger sister. It’s no longer safe for her to stay where she was. We’ll leave her with you for a moment, and then have Mr. Zig come to collect her."

"Saint Darkness is quite fond of that clever, sensible half-dragon girl; she granted her a permanent blessing of the Night’s Protection, so she should be as safe here as she would be in any sanctified ground."

As Elliott spoke, the sound of a carriage reached the courtyard. It pulled up to the gate, and two figures—one tall, one short, both cloaked—stepped down.

Having already sensed them, Wang Yu opened the gate. The taller figure pulled back her hood, revealing the delicate, serious features of an elf, marked by a faint scar: it was indeed Ms. Wenna.

"Noelle, stay close to Mr. Wang Yu. We’ve already notified your brother; he’ll be here to pick you up shortly."

Wenna knelt, removing the dragon-girl’s hood and offering a smile. In Wang Yu’s memory, this elf was usually cold and stern, but now she was remarkably gentle, pinching the girl’s soft, chubby cheeks.

"Okay, Sister Wenna, I’ll wait right here."

The girl, with her prominent dragon horns, nodded earnestly, looking quite well-behaved.

"If you encounter any danger, hold onto the pendant Saint Darkness gave you. The Lady of Night will protect you, understand?" Wenna cautioned, stroking Noelle’s red hair.

"Mm." Noelle gripped the small metal pendant shaped like the Lady of Night at her throat and nodded again.

Wang Yu sensed a potent aura of the Lady of Night emanating from it; this was clearly the source of her protection.

"When will I be able to see everyone from the church again?" Noelle asked, looking up at Wenna with a pitiful expression.

"Soon. Once the capital settles down and the war with Sewentan ends, we should have found our new home. You can just have your brother bring you to visit us then," Wenna said softly.

"Keep practicing the Cursed Fire that Master Holo taught you. He said you have not only a great talent for fire magic but also an unimaginable wellspring of life force within you. The Cursed Fire is undoubtedly one of the powers best suited for you."

Wenna pulled an old, red-bound book from her pouch—depicting a hand with flames erupting from the palm—and handed it to Noelle.

Noelle clutched the book to her chest and waved vigorously at Elliott’s departing group. "Goodbye! I’ll come find you all!"

"I wish you all the best. May the Lady of Night watch over you!" Wang Yu waved in farewell as well.

"Take care, Mr. Wang Yu."

"May the Lady of Night bless you."

"Let’s stay in touch once we’re settled!"

The three voices drifted back. Watching their figures disappear around the street corner, Wang Yu felt a pang of sentimentality. The world was vast, and long-distance communication was not well-developed; he didn't know when they would meet again.

But there was little cause for worry; the prayer-based communication network existed. Though he couldn't use it himself, he could always ask the girls to help him reach out.

With that thought, his melancholy vanished. He looked at Noelle, who was still staring blankly at the corner. He had to wait for Zig, but he couldn't just leave her standing there.

"Um... say, could I borrow that book on Cursed Fire to take a look?"

Wang Yu wanted to say something, but he wasn't sure how to talk to a dragon-girl of such a young psychological age, so he ended up turning his interest toward the book in her hands.

Truth be told, he was curious about what was written in this book, which seemed to represent a power distinct from witchcraft, sorcery, or battle qi.

"Okay." Noelle seemed a bit confused by his request, but she handed the book over without hesitation.

"Thanks—oops!" Wang Yu took the book with interest, then let out a comical, and quite deliberate, yelp.

He had already sensed Aivia approaching. The young mage, looking slightly annoyed, had nudged his lower back with her elbow, and Wang Yu had played along with a mock cry.

"Come inside with me, Noelle. It’s too windy out here. If you have any questions about magic, you can ask me—I recall you were already able to cast second-tier spells last time, right?" Aivia said gently, taking Noelle’s hand and leading her toward the house.

Aivia and Noelle were well-acquainted; Aivia, who helped the professor engrave magic circuits onto dragon bodies every week, often assisted in tutoring Noelle in her magical studies.

As expected of a race with a natural affinity for magic, the young red dragon Noelle showed talent in fire magic that did not pale in comparison to Aivia, a true prodigy.

Shaking his head as he watched them enter, Wang Yu opened the book. He really wasn't good with children; Aivia was much more reliable.

...

"Sister Aivia, do you think my brother sees me as a burden? He’s always so busy and rarely comes to see me. Since we arrived in the Kingdom of Alastair, he’s spent even more time studying."

"Even though everyone in the Nightfall Church is kind to me, and no one treats me like an outsider, and Saint Darkness takes such good care of me, but..."

Sitting at the dining table, the red-haired dragon-girl asked in a low, dejected voice, looking toward Aivia, who was sitting opposite her with a magic book in hand.

"Mr. Zig?" Hearing the question, Aivia set aside her book and pondered. She thought of her own impressions of Zig, Wang Yu’s evaluation of his subordinate, and her own past reflections.

"Not at all. Mr. Zig is a very gentle person who takes his duties seriously. It is precisely because of that that he has so much to do. He doesn't come to see you because he is busy, not because you are a burden."

The young mage explained her perception of Zig to the dragon-girl. In Aivia’s eyes, the girl’s silhouette and her doubts began to overlap with her own past.

When she had first been rescued by Wang Yu, she had been deeply insecure, especially when watching Wang Yu, who remained calm regardless of the circumstances.

When Wang Yu proposed she become his knight-servant for a year, her feelings were a mix of affection and a gnawing anxiety—a fear that she would drag him down and eventually be abandoned.

When one gains something precious, one always fears losing it. A girl who had lost family and been betrayed valued those she could rely on above all else.

However, after discovering her dual talent for witchcraft and sorcery, demonstrating her alchemy, and mastering powerful spells, Aivia realized that Wang Yu’s attitude toward her had never changed—regardless of her talent or her strength.

It was under the influence of such a man that Aivia had regained her confidence through their many battles side-by-side, finding what she truly cherished.

There was no such thing as being a burden; they needed each other. That was all.

"Don't worry. If you still feel like you’re holding your brother back, you can just grow stronger. Your talent for fire magic is excellent. It won't take long; if you work hard, you’ll be able to help Mr. Zig soon. Do you have confidence?"

Aivia’s tone was light, pointing Noelle toward a path forward, just as Wang Yu had once asked her if she had the confidence to reclaim her castle.

Aivia’s words were effective. They gave Noelle a direction, and a new, brilliant light began to shine in the dragon-girl’s eyes.

"Indeed!" the dragon-kin maiden replied.

…………

"Oh, what a marvelous power. It bears a resemblance to battle aura, yet it is not entirely the same. Its manifestation mirrors that of a spell, but the source of its strength is not mana; rather, it is the vitality of one's own being. In essence, it is a variation of the druidic arts of life."

"The more potent one's vitality, and the more advanced one's life form, the more formidable the flame of incantation becomes when fueled by the dissipation of that very life force."

"Though Sieg’s sister is but a young red dragon, she is, after all, of the dragon race. It is no wonder that a druid like Holo would find her innate talent so astonishing."

"I have a feeling I could wield this myself..."

Wang Yu rested his chin upon his fingers, pondering. The more he studied this tome of incantation fire—which he had "coaxed" from Noelle—the more intrigued he became.

Furthermore, despite the contents having no apparent connection to battle aura, Wang Yu sensed an underlying link between the two.

As he mused, Wang Yu lifted his head; his keen senses had already alerted him to an arrival. Sieg stood outside the courtyard of Wang Yu’s home, clad in his usual immaculate attire, wearing his signature gentle smile as he tapped lightly upon the gate.

"Here to collect your sister?" Wang Yu asked with a smile as he opened the gate.

"Indeed. Though I am an inadequate brother, I could never neglect the duty of coming to fetch her."

Sieg wore a look of mild embarrassment; he had always felt himself lacking as a brother, whether in the time he spent with her or the guidance he provided.

"There is also intelligence regarding the Royal Family’s stance on the faith of the Lady of Night. They are indeed intensifying their efforts to purge the Church of Nightfall, with the goal of diminishing the Lady’s influence within the capital."

"It is a simple tenet of divine magic: the weaker a deity’s influence in a given place, the less power their miracles can manifest there. The same applies to the efficacy of prayer-based communication networks. That is their objective."

"Tsk, it seems the Church of Nightfall’s decision to relocate was indeed a wise one."

Wang Yu curled his lip. The atmosphere of the Church of Nightfall truly clashed with the shadows of the capital, and indeed, with the entire city itself.

"I have brought you some specific intelligence this time. The Royal Family anticipated that the Church might choose to flee, so they have stationed personnel under the guise of private soldiers to monitor them. Once they step beyond the city limits, it will be easy for them to strike..."

Sieg’s tone was grave, heavy with concern.

"Damn it." A vein pulsed in Wang Yu’s temple as he let out a curse.

"The Church of Nightfall and our Night’s Edge share a strong bond. Therefore, we will not stand by and watch them be assaulted. We shall use our authority within Night’s Edge to organize a party—nominally tasked with resolving issues in nearby villages, but in reality composed of the first wave of the Church’s migrating members—to depart the city directly."

"But won’t the discrepancy in numbers be discovered when the party returns?" Wang Yu asked.

"It matters not. Though Night’s Edge is nominally loyal to the Royal Family, our true responsibility is to the kingdom as a whole. Clearly, the influence of the Church of Nightfall upon the kingdom is entirely positive. Thus, even if we are discovered, it is of no consequence. It is, in its own way, a statement."

"Very well. I like it." Wang Yu pulled the corner of his mouth into a grin.

The two men bumped their fists together.