After a few days of settling in, Julian Zane finally came to visit Paul.
They spoke at length inside Paul's office, covering the Shadowland and several other pressing matters. Paul laid out the full situation as plainly as possible, how the orcs had begun attacking human settlements, how the northern prince start the war with the three kingdom, and how the Shadowland sat at the center of it all.
Julian listened without interruption.
When the discussion ended, he made his decision. For the time being, neither he nor his people would take part in any battles. Instead, he intended to focus on helping civilians and rebuilding what the deserts past the shadowlands had already damaged.
Paul hadn't expected more than that. He simply nodded as Julian turned and left the office.
Once the door closed, the real problem remained.
Paul still needed to keep a close watch on him. Julian had once led a secret organization, one that many would still label as dangerous. Trust alone wasn't an option. Paul would have to plan carefully, finding a way to deal with the orc threat while also monitoring the neighboring city and Julian's movements.
He let out a slow sigh.
None of it would be easy. And that was exactly why kingdoms always kept one or two exceptionally powerful individuals within their borders, to handle burdens no ordinary system could.
…
Liam sat quietly inside the carriage, watching the landscape roll past the window. The steady creak of wood and the rhythmic clatter of wheels against stone had filled the journey with long stretches of silence. When the distant walls of the capital finally appeared on the horizon, a weight lifted from his chest.
He hadn't realized how tense he had been until that moment.
Since the trip began, conversation had been rare. They spoke only during short rest stops or while training. And Luciana's training left little room for anything else.
Her methods pushed him far beyond his limits. Every session demanded speed, precision, and control until his muscles shook and his mana ran thin. He had once believed his former training as a paladin was harsh. Compared to this, it felt gentle. Still, he understood the reason. The coming months would test all of them, him, Marco, and Alina alike.
The carriage rolled onto the main road leading to the capital gates. Traffic thickened as merchants, travelers, and supply wagons formed a slow-moving line ahead. The massive stone walls loomed above them, banners snapping in the wind.
As their carriage approached, several guards stepped forward to intercept them. Their armor gleamed in the afternoon light, hands resting near their weapons as they moved to perform a routine inspection.
Then, halfway through their approach, they stopped.
Their expressions went blank for a brief moment. Without exchanging a word, they turned and walked back to their posts, abandoning the inspection entirely.
Liam stared after them, confusion tightening his brow. He turned to Luciana. "What did you do?"
She didn't look at him. Her gaze stayed fixed on the city beyond the gates. "I wanted to see how far I could use my new ability without relying on my full strength."
She referred to the power she had gained when she used the orb to reshape her domain. That moment had granted her a new method of control, her blood carried influence strong enough to invade a person's mind. For guards of this level, even a faint mist of it worked.
Liam exhaled slowly. "This isn't the only defense protecting a capital of a kingdom. Someone will notice."
"I know," Luciana said, her voice calm and certain. "That's exactly what I want. It will save us the trouble of searching for them."
The carriage continued through the crowded streets, wheels rattling over paving stone. Vendors shouted from the sidewalks, and the smell of baked bread and smoke drifted through the open window. After a few minutes, Luciana lifted her hand and pointed outside.
"Look. That's the Great Cathedral."
Liam leaned toward the window. The building dominated the skyline, its towers rising high above the surrounding rooftops. Despite its size, the area around it felt strangely empty. Workers stacked stone blocks and timber into makeshift walls that encircled the cathedral grounds. Lines of paladins patrolled the perimeter, armor gleaming as they watched every approach.
"What's the reason for all this security?" Liam asked.
"Remember, not long ago a god almost descended there," Luciana said. "Its aura alone could shatter a normal human, or other races, in seconds."
Liam kept watching the fortress like defenses as the carriage rolled past. The idea settled heavily in his thoughts.
Gods were terrifyingly powerful. Even Alad's strength could kill ordinary people without effort. The God of Light stood far above that.
The carriage slowed, then came to a stop.
Luciana turned to him and smiled faintly. "Looks like you were right. They noticed us."
"How do you know?"
"You need to pay more attention," she said, tapping the carriage wall. "This carriage was supposed to drop us near the gate. We've been inside the city for several minutes, and the driver left his seat a while ago."
Liam stiffened. "What?"
"Relax," Luciana said as she reached for the door handle. "We're not here to fight."
She pushed the door open.
When they stepped out of the carriage, a reception waited for them.
A dozen paladins stood in a loose formation across the street, hands resting near their weapons. Two bishops stood at the front, their robes heavy and immaculate. Beside them stood a mage whose presence pressed against the air like a silent warning.
Liam stayed a step behind Luciana as she walked forward, her posture calm and unhurried. She stopped several meters from the group.
The older of the two bishops stepped forward. "I am Andreas Weis, Head Bishop of Aetherra." His gaze studied Luciana carefully. "From your appearance and the information we have, you must be Luciana Dimont. The only difference is the color of your eyes. But you are her, aren't you?"
His attention shifted to Liam. "And you must be Liam Hans."
"You know me, sir?" Liam asked, surprised.
"Everyone knows the man who destroyed the corrupted nobles in a single hour in Flesa," Andreas replied. "There's already a bounty on your head in the black market. You should be careful. Many nobles want you dead."
Liam stiffened at the words.
Luciana answered before he could speak. "You are correct. I am Luciana." She paused, her voice steady. "But not Luciana Dimont. I am Luciana Dracule. The name given to me by the Creator."
"The Creator…" Andreas repeated, a faint smile forming. "Then you are welcome here. Come. Let us speak inside."
He turned toward the massive cathedral behind him.
The paladins stepped aside in perfect unison, opening a path. The mage and the second bishop fell in behind Andreas as the group began walking toward the towering church doors.
"I see you're still repairing the city," Luciana said as they walked through the cathedral grounds.
Workers moved in the distance, hauling stone and timber while paladins kept watch along the newly built walls.
"Yes," Andreas replied. "Most of the damage from that battle has been repaired, but we had to make several adjustments." He gestured toward the restricted areas surrounding the cathedral. "Traces of godhood mana still linger in parts of the city. We're working to contain it and keep civilians away from the most dangerous zones."
"And how goes the war?" Luciana asked.
"After the Kingdom of Magic sent reinforcements, we managed to halt the prince's advance," Andreas said. His tone grew more serious. "But he adapts quickly. Every new clash brings a new tactic. Each one costs us lives and forces us to change our defenses again."
As they walked, he motioned to the woman at his right. "This is Ms. Sophie Heilig. She arrived with the Kingdom of Magic's forces and has been helping us ever since."
Luciana turned her gaze toward the mage. "Sophie Heilig. The Primarch of Elements' student."
Sophie met her eyes and gave a small, composed nod. "That's correct."
They moved deeper into the cathedral, their footsteps echoing along the long stone corridor. Sunlight filtered through stained glass, casting shifting colors across the floor as they walked.
"I received a letter from Flesa this morning," Andreas said. "But I would like to hear it from you directly. What is your purpose here, Ms. Dracule?"
"I've come to deliver the Creator's message," Luciana replied. "And to make sure the necessary actions are taken. Once that is done, I will join the war in the north."
Andreas smiled. "Then it's fortunate I already summoned the others."
He stopped at a large wooden door and pushed it open. The hinges groaned as it swung inward, revealing a spacious chamber filled with waiting figures.
He stepped aside and gestured for them to enter.
"Now," Andreas said, "let us begin."
…
Leo and Elna spent most of the night telling Selina about the Shadowland. Stories stretched late into the dark hours until exhaustion finally forced them to rest. Leo also used this opportunity and told her about his real identity.
The next morning, they stepped onto the main deck. Elna leaned against the railing and watched the endless ocean with bright curiosity, her eyes following the shifting waves and distant horizon. Leo knew that excitement would fade once the scale of the ocean settled in. Days of nothing but water could wear anyone down.
He decided to turn the emptiness into training.
He walked to the edge of the ship and raised a hand. A faint shimmer spread through the air as his Sphere of Creation emerged. Light bent and folded, shaping itself into a massive floating platform beside the ship. Thick stone pillars formed beneath it, though they never touched the water. Gravity magic held the entire structure suspended in the air, perfectly steady despite the rolling waves below.
The crew stopped what they were doing and stared.
Even Selina looked impressed.
Miriam squinted at the structure, suspicion clear on her face. Leo was an illusionist. To her, the answer seemed obvious, until Leo and Elna stepped onto the platform without hesitation. The surface held firm beneath their feet.
Doubt crept into her expression.
"What is this?" she asked, still refusing to step closer.
"It's a platform," Leo said.
"I know that," she replied, irritation creeping into her voice. "I meant how did you make it?"
"It's my spell. I can turn any illusion into reality."
Miriam's eyes widened. "What? How is that even possible?"
Before Leo could respond, Selina vaulted over the railing and landed lightly on the platform.
"Before you two start training," she said, drawing her weapon with a grin, "why don't you spar with me first?"
Leo glanced at Elna. She simply shrugged, a small grin tugging at her lips, and stepped aside. He turned back to Selina.
"Okay."
Excited murmurs spread across the deck. Crew members leaned over rails and crates to get a better view. Miriam watched with the rest, though concern tightened her expression. No matter how mysterious Leo's magic was, this still didn't look fair.
Selina was near S-rank.
Elna moved to the edge of the platform, leaving the center open. The wind tugged at her hair as she folded her arms and watched.
Selina's gaze locked onto Leo. The air between them grew heavy and still. Then, without warning, darkness gathered in her palm and condensed into a massive black and red scythe. The curved blade shimmered with a faint violet edge as she lunged forward in a blur.
Miriam's eyebrows shot up.
"She's using too much power from the start…"
She recognized the weapon instantly, Selina's scythe in its full power. A strike from that could kill an A3 fighter in seconds.
The scythe came down with crushing force.
BOOM.
The impact thundered across the sea. Yet the blade stopped cold.
Leo's sword held it in place as if the attack weighed nothing at all. His arm didn't even tremble. The shockwave rippled past him, whipping his coat and sending loose ropes snapping against the mast.
The crew fell silent.
Selina's lips slowly curved into a smile. "It looks like my conclusion was correct. You're far stronger than the last time we met."
She kicked off the ground and leapt backward several meters. Shadows coiled around her scythe like living smoke. A second weapon formed in her other hand, its blade dripping with dark energy.
She lowered both weapons and leaned forward slightly, excitement flashing in her eyes.
"Let's see how much stronger you've become."