SAINTESS [Chapter 60: Eternal Abode Sacred Chant]

Isatia gazed at the world beyond the cathedral doors, her beautiful eyes shimmering with an unusual light.

Having entered Church of Radiance through Vanessa, Isatia finally understood why, along the way, only the cathedral was visible, and everything else was pitch black.

Most likely, her [Eternal Imperial Crown] had already collapsed and disintegrated along with the collapse of the Hub Clocktower.

With everything falling into silence, naturally, nothing could be seen.

Thus, Isatia could already foresee what would happen next, her spiritual sea, crumbling apart, would leave her as a living corpse, forever trapped within the darkness that remained after the collapse of her [Eternal Imperial Crown], enduring endless solitude.

However, what she hadn't expected was that upon opening the cathedral doors, instead of the impenetrable darkness she had encountered before, what appeared before her was a fully intact city-state, and, surprisingly, her Imperial Knights, who should have disappeared entirely along with the Hub Clocktower.

They had all revived once more.

But why??

Isatia didn't understand what had happened during this time, and suddenly turned her gaze toward Vanessa.

“It's not because of me, Miss Isatia,” Vanessa shook her head with a soft smile. “Do you remember those Mars people who thanked us earlier?”

“What do you mean?”

"That's right. Those Mars people who perished millennia ago, finally liberated from the tyrant's grasp and granted true freedom, used the lingering soul strength they had left upon the [Archon of Enslaved Souls] to rebuild this place," Vanessa explained. “They did this to express their gratitude to you.”

“Now then, Miss Isatia, do you still believe that these so-called 'insignificant' people cannot decide the course of events, or stir up any real change?”

“...” Isatia remained silent.

'Virtue + 50.'

'Current Virtue: 3774.'

“Still, even so.” The Imperial Knight Captain turned his gaze toward the Hub Clocktower.

They had all noticed that the previous blue-haired youth was gone, replaced by this dreamlike, stunning cherry-haired beauty. They didn't know what had happened, nor did they particularly wish to inquire.

However, the knights present were all seasoned veterans, loyal and capable elites who had served across generations by the side of the Lanteville family heads. Most of them had seen the Radiance Saintess before. Although not entirely certain, combined with the fact that both figures appeared within the cathedral, many of the Imperial Knights began to form their own suspicions.

But suspicion remained just that, it wasn't something they were supposed to dwell on, so no one asked.

They had long passed the age of childish curiosity.

Still, wasn't their imperial princess on good terms with this girl, who appears to be a descendant of the Varelis family??

Among the heroic spirits of these Imperial Knights, a few understood exactly how to resolve the crisis facing the Lanteville family. Although they couldn't yet confirm whether Vanessa was truly a Varelis descendant, their expressions toward her began to shift gradually, soon followed by a sense of regret.

What a pity. Both of them were girls.

“Even so, we've merely returned to the state before the collapse,” the Imperial Knight Captain said, eyes fixed on the ancient clocktower riddled with cracks. “The Hub Clocktower hasn't been repaired.”

Of course, reviving the dead was already a miracle in itself. Perhaps it was because Isatia's [Eternal Imperial Crown] had collapsed within the Mars Dungeon, and the souls of the Mars people carried a resonant power, enabling the restoration of the [Eternal Imperial Crown].

But true reversal and repair were impossible, this was tied to the matter of [Divine Authority].

“In other words, the clocktower will eventually collapse again,” the Knight Captain's words caused the hearts of every knight present to sink.

They had survived the disaster, but not completely. The clocktower was the root. If the fundamental issue remains unresolved, it will ultimately collapse, and the [Eternal Imperial Crown] will be destroyed once more.

“Your Highness.” The Imperial Knight Captain turned toward Isatia. This young girl was exceptionally special among all the Lanteville family heads he had served.

With his vast experience in reading people, he knew that if she could grow up unimpeded, she would surely become a dominant ruler, even reaching the pinnacle, achieving things no previous Lanteville head had ever accomplished, ascending to heights none of her ancestors had reached.

But it was truly a case of heaven envious talent. Her generation just happened to encounter this catastrophe. If only she were given more time, perhaps she really could have found a way to resolve the issue within the [Eternal Imperial Crown].

It was simply an ill fate.

This was the thought in every knight's heart now, accompanied only by helpless sighs.

A thousand years of guarding, finally reaching its end.

“Well, perhaps I can give it a try,” came a gentle, soothing voice just as the atmosphere grew heavy, spreading across the withered hearts of every knight like a healing melody.

All Imperial Knights turned their eyes toward Vanessa. Although filled with surprise, some of their gazes also held skepticism. Others shared the same initial doubt, but after a brief moment, their expressions shifted to one of sudden understanding.

If this girl truly was a descendant of that family, then accomplishing such a feat didn't seem so strange after all.

“You... have a way?” Isatia turned around, looking at Vanessa in astonishment.

She understood better than anyone how troublesome and difficult the side effects of the Lanteville family's [Divine Blessing] were, clearly not something ordinary methods could heal. After all, unless nourished by another [Divine Blessing], the damage to the [Eternal Imperial Crown] was irreversible.

This was the price their family paid, a thing tied to the laws of the world. How could it possibly be changed?

“Maybe I do,” Vanessa said after a moment of thought. Under everyone's watchful eyes, she stepped up the stairs and ascended the stage.

All eyes were fixed on her, along with all their hopes. For a moment, the only sound within Church of Radiance was the crisp tapping of Vanessa's high-heeled shoes against the ground.

“May I begin?” Standing firmly upon the cathedral's judgment platform, Vanessa asked Isatia.

Although Isatia had no idea what Vanessa intended to do, she nodded in agreement.

Below, the Imperial Knight Captain calmly observed Vanessa, then solemnly offered her a knight's salute.

Following his lead, the rest of the knights did the same, collectively bowing before Vanessa. The cathedral roars with the synchronized sound of armor clinking.

They said nothing, but their meaning was clear.

Everything, we entrust it to you.

Vanessa took a deep breath. If this had happened earlier, she truly wouldn't have been able to do anything. Isatia was simply lucky, she had arrived just in time.

Wasn't this what it meant to be a fated heroine? Whenever she faced a life-or-death crisis, a savior would appear, allowing her to narrowly escape disaster.

Hmm, wait, something felt off.

Vanessa noticed a blind spot in her thoughts.

Why did it feel like every time these heroines fell into peril, the one who came to their aid... was always her?

When Shikondell was bullied by tribal people upon entering school, the one who helped was her. When Mirexia fell victim to the conspiracy of [Bronze Blood], the one who came to her aid was her. When Aesphyra was being crushed by Julliana, the one who stepped in was her. And now, with Isatia's [Divine Blessing] on the verge of collapse, the one helping once again was her.

And each time, it was such a perfect coincidence, she just happened to have acquired the ability needed to assist them.

This time, she was truly grateful to her ancestor, Elusa, for passing down numerous lost alchemical recipes. In addition, Elusa had restored the broken portion of the Varelis bloodline, the final missing piece of the Varelis family's [Divine Blessing].

Indeed, the Varelis family possesses many [Divine Blessings]. With this one, there were now three.

The third Varelis [Divine Blessing] was called [Eternal Daylight Hymn], and its effect was highly random.

Yes, truly random, but any object could be targeted.

Vanessa wasn't a construction worker. The structures within the [Eternal Imperial Crown] were inanimate, and certainly not ordinary buildings. Normal holy light or healing spells wouldn't work, she lacked the relevant expertise.

But [Eternal Daylight Hymn] was different. It can target any entity and apply a [Miracle] effect upon it.

And this [Miracle] effect was entirely random.

Moreover, every power comes with a cost. The [Eternal Daylight Hymn] was no exception, its cooldown was extremely long, possibly allowing only one use per month. Additionally, it had side effects, though compared to [Divine Blessings] like the [Eternal Imperial Crown], they were relatively minor, merely sealing the user's [Soul armament], rendering them unable to use magic for a period.

Regardless, Vanessa could only resort to desperate measures now. She had no choice but to try.

She took a deep breath, clasped her hands in prayer, gently closed her eyes, slightly lowered her head, and then, in the next moment, stretched her arms outward, lifted her head like a noble swan, and began to sing.

The immaculate cherry-haired girl released a melodious, enchanting voice, gentle as a nightingale, like a swan's lament, or the echo of heaven and earth, filled with sorrow and pity for countless lives, praising every brave soul who upheld justice.

Every Imperial Knight present, including Isatia, fell into a long silence, deeply submerged.

It feels as if a sacred angel had descended, purifying their hearts and souls.

This was no longer just a song, it brimmed with untainted divinity and holiness.

As the hymn reached its final movement, the girl's lark-like voice suddenly rose in pitch. With her motion, a pair of pure, flawless angelic wings unfolded from her back, and millions of soft white feathers scattered into the air like drifting dandelions.

It was only then that Isatia snapped out of her daze, instinctively turning her gaze toward the cathedral doors.

There, the rubble of the previously collapsed Mars Palace miraculously gathered together under the angelic girl's song, forming bricks and tiles that reassembled with the other collapsed fragments, then, astonishingly, new sections emerged, parts she had never explored before.

This... was nothing short of a miracle.

Isatia looked around, noting that although the cracks on the aged buildings remained, they were now covered by a pure white barrier resembling angel wings, a crystalline, translucent frost that evenly sealed the fissures.

She turned toward the core of the [Eternal Imperial Crown], the crucial Hub Clocktower. The same immaculate, transparent whiteness now covered and permeated its cracks.

At the same time, Isatia sensed a change within her spiritual sea.

Perhaps because she had long been in a state of mental exhaustion, she had nearly forgotten what it felt like to be in good spirits.

Not only that, the gaps and wounds on the Imperial Knights now rapidly heal. Their armor was reinforced, strengthened as if now impervious.

It was like a spring rain, awakening slumbering life, suddenly, the world brimmed with vitality.

Finally, amid a soaring, magnificent chorus, the hymn reaches its conclusion.

The angelic girl on the stage folded her wings, clasped her hands in prayer once more, bowing devoutly, as if all had returned to tranquility.

“What is this??” The Imperial Knights, noting the [Miracle] upon themselves, were astonished. They also observed the changes within the [Eternal Imperial Crown].

“Huff... huff.” After finishing the hymn, Vanessa exhaled deeply, feeling a sense of relief, but simultaneously, she felt every drop of her magic drained, as if her strength had been blocked, unable to be summoned at all.

Indeed, the Carillian family truly clashed with her fate, one had drained her life essence, still not fully recovered, and another had left her powerless.

Truly, one must never compete with a fated heroine in terms of destiny. Whenever she encounters them, she will inevitably become the benefactor in their story, forced to make sacrifices.

“Isatia, these are the blessings of the hymn. They can temporarily bear the corrosion in place of the clocktower,” Vanessa explained, then paused. “However, this effect won't last forever. It requires regular 'reapplication'.”

“As long as we keep renewing it... well, theoretically, it can be sustained, ensuring your life remains safe.”

Hearing this, Isatia was slightly moved.

'Virtue + 150.'

'Current Virtue: 3924.'

After all, who wouldn't experience overwhelming emotion upon receiving hope to continue living when previously trapped in despair?

Before she stood someone who seemed like an angel sent by fate itself, bringing her hope and rebirth.

“Thank you, Saintess of Varelis,” the Imperial Knight Captain solemnly bowed to Vanessa. “Thank you for saving the Teryl Empire, and the Lanteville family.”

“Sir Knight Captain, I'm not a saintess,” Vanessa replied awkwardly.

“You're not a saintess?” The Knight Captain suddenly fell silent. Clearly, none of the Imperial Knights present believed her words.