Malena pleaded in a desperate tone, and Charles, by nature, couldn't refuse. "Alright," he said.
With that, he approached. However, based on the information Andny's mosquito had gathered earlier, he could tell that Lisa was unharmed at that moment—she merely needed rest.
Though Malena possessed some knowledge of magic and was aware of certain secrets about her family's bloodline, she had never systematically studied magic—primarily because she couldn't grasp it. Thus, her understanding of the Warlock class remained limited.
She didn't realize that her daughter had awakened as the safest, most risk-free type of Warlock. Lisa's awakening held no danger; instead, it would bring her immense benefits, making her healthier, stronger, and more radiant in the future.
After all, this was a Divine Soul Warlock—a noble class that could only be awakened by those carrying the bloodline of a true god.
Still, appearances had to be maintained. Charles walked to Lisa's side, lifted her gently, and then pulled out his spellbook, casting Cure Wounds on her.
Under the milky glow, the bruises from the rubble faded in an instant, leaving no trace behind. Her breathing steadied, though she remained in a deep slumber, not yet awake.
Gazing at her peaceful face, Charles couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. No wonder Sophia had insisted he come personally to rescue the mother and daughter.
Perhaps Sephera had acted out of kindness, not wanting her eldest sister Theresa to wake and suffer remorse for yet another tragedy she had unwittingly caused. But Sophia—she must have seen the truth behind this girl with her vast knowledge!
She bore the bloodline of a true god, and her awakening had been imminent. And tonight, under the pressure of danger, she had awakened outright!
A Divine Soul Warlock!
Charles couldn't help but marvel. In this world, there were only five T0-tier classes, standing at the absolute pinnacle, their power eclipsing all others and leaving even T1-tier classes far behind.
Among these five, only two were pure spellcasting classes:
One was the College of Lore Bard, capable of ignoring class restrictions and selecting eight additional spells from any other class's spell list.
The other? The Divine Soul Warlock!
A noble class that could only be awakened by those with divine blood flowing through their veins, the Divine Soul Warlock could wield not only magic but also every divine spell available to a Cleric. In essence, it was like having two classes in one—leveling up once was equivalent to leveling up twice for others!
Though this class still suffered from a limited number of known spells, the synergy between divine and magic allowed the Warlock's extended mana pool to shine, unleashing devastating effects in an instant:
They could unleash massive area-of-effect damage or deliver crushing single-target bursts.
They could buff allies or dissolve enemy control spells.
They could make their entire team soar across the battlefield or heal their comrades to full after combat.
The only thing restricting a Divine Soul Warlock was their limited spell repertoire. Yet even so, their sheer dominance remained unrivaled!
What, you ask about the other three T0 classes?
Well… they were the Oath of Devotion Paladin (who could fight, tank, heal, protect, and dispel control), the Oath of the Ancients Paladin (who could fight, tank, heal, control, and grant group spell resistance), and the Oath of Vengeance Paladin (who could fight, tank, heal, smite foes on sight, and maneuver with terrifying flexibility).
Paladins were simply that overpowered. By player consensus, even the weakest paladin was T1-tier in strength. And rumors said the class would be buffed next patch—Divine Smite, originally melee-only, would become ranged.
If Mages were the game designers' favored child, then Paladins were undoubtedly their doting father.
Ahem!
Returning to the matter at hand—though Lisa had fully recovered, Charles had no intention of waking her. Instead, he turned to Malena and said, "Madam, with deaths involved, the forces behind these kidnappers won't let this go. For your safety and your daughter's, would you consider taking refuge in the monastery? Ah—forgive my manners. I'm Nigel Charles, the new Priest of the Monastery of Life."
"For the safety of you and your daughter, would you consider taking refuge with me at the monastery? Ah, forgive my manners—I am Nigel Charles, a newly ordained Priest of the Monastery of Life."
A Divine Soul Warlock of such potential was far too precious to let slip away. Charles had every intention of keeping her under his protection.
Malena's eyes brightened, her heart swelling with gratitude. She nodded eagerly. "Yes, thank you, kind Priest!"
As she bobbed her head, her ample bosom swayed noticeably beneath her pajamas. With considerable effort, Charles tore his gaze away, lowering his eyes to the slumbering Lisa. "Gather whatever you need to bring. After tonight, you may never return to this home."
Malena nodded, pressing her lips together before suddenly looking up. "Priest Charles… I wish to renounce my faith in the God of Justice and pledge myself to the Goddess of Life. Lisa will do the same. Might you perform our baptism after tonight?"
As a noblewoman, she knew full well the current state of the Church of the Goddess of Life. Before now, she had respected those idealists from afar but never wished to involve herself with them.
Yet now, her daughter's life had been saved freely by a nun of the Goddess of Life; their improved circumstances were due to the kindness of the High Priestess Theresa; and tonight, their survival was owed to the intervention of the Goddess's Priest…
She saw no reason to cling to her old faith. Believing she understood what he desired most, she thought her and her daughter's conversion would be the greatest remuneration she could offer.
Little did she know, this monastery was but a façade—its inhabitants knew next to nothing of doctrine, baptism, or purification!
Well, perhaps Sophia understood some of it, given her vast knowledge…
Regardless, his lack of expertise left him momentarily awkward. Clearing his throat, he deflected, "We shall discuss that later. For now, Madam, gather your belongings. I'll wait here."
Though his stamina held, the night's tension had drained him. All he wanted was to rest, holding the little girl in his arms.
Malena gave a soft nod and set to work. She took only a few essentials: some clothing, her meager savings, the scroll certifying her noble bloodline, and a signet ring.
Even in hiding, she clung to a sliver of hope—that one day, a surviving brother might return in triumph, clear their family's name, and restore their noble standing.
But that was a matter for another time. For now, she hurriedly packed before following Charles back to the monastery.
And so, the matter was settled.
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