In the following days, he continuously delved into the Art of Taming Spirits.
The Convocation of the Faithful in Hanvale concluded smoothly.
Seraphina also offered blessings for the deceased laborers.
This included wishes for favorable weather in Hanvale and peace and prosperity for the great nation of Wealdham.
Sylas attended the ceremony that day to see for himself.
In the bitter cold, Seraphina, wearing only a thin, simple white robe like a celestial being.
She was truly beautiful.
As beautiful as an ice sculpture, devoid of any humanity.
The blessings—it was all merely for her grand "Path."
And those like Beatrice below the stage, watching with rapt admiration, were also brutal predators.
Looking at the bloodstains that hadn't yet been cleaned, Sylas felt the woman on the altar was a demonic figure.
At this moment, he even began to fantasize: if Isolde could attack here, would it change this situation?
Even if Mirabel were to rule Wealdham, it likely wouldn't be this bad.
The more he thought about it, the more absurd it felt.
The women he had once feared and disliked now seemed incredibly endearing.
Once the Convocation ended, Seraphina began cultivating the potion with him.
Her disciples were similar to Luna, all little spirit creatures.
There were about twenty of them.
Seraphina, not wanting to drag them down, instructed them to follow Sylas from now on.
These little spirits naturally objected at first.
But after they met Sylas, their opinions changed instantly.
Honestly, having a handsome man as their new master wasn't so bad.
Sylas now resembled a noble lord raising a large number of pets, constantly pestered by a chattering flock of spirit girls.
Fortunately, he had learned the Art of Taming Spirits and could control them.
Otherwise, he would have been eaten alive long ago, reduced to...
The potion cultivation proceeded smoothly.
Seraphina had undoubtedly gone to great lengths to obtain the original Puppet-Heart Potion.
Therefore, with Sylas's cooperation, she finally obtained what she desired.
She was a woman of action. Once fully prepared, she planned to leave.
This aspect truly reflected her carefree, wandering nature.
The time for parting arrived.
Seraphina didn't want Sylas to see her off outside the city.
She bid her farewell to everyone at the gate of the small courtyard.
After the spirit girls cried noisily for a while, they hurried back inside excitedly.
They had a handsome new master to tease; why would they need their old one?
Sylas and Seraphina stood facing each other in silence, neither speaking.
Seraphina could sense his disapproval.
But she had already walked too far down this path.
"I'm leaving. If you have anything to say, say it quickly. We might not see each other again,"
Seraphina said, forcing a light laugh.
Sylas sighed. "First, I am very grateful to you for saving me, finding me such a comfortable place to live, and giving me so many... friends. Thank you."
Seraphina finally smiled sincerely. "Now that sounds more like it. I've treated you quite well.
You must take good care of all my disciples for me.
I've already spoken with Beatrice. She will—"
"That won't be necessary. I plan to return to Ironpeak," Sylas interjected bluntly.
"Return? Why would you return? You..." Seraphina's expression changed, filled with incomprehension.
Sylas straightened his back; he was slightly taller than her.
His speech finally carried some conviction.
His gaze was profound and firm. "We walk different paths, Sister. We cannot work together.
I cannot stay here in Hanvale, feeding on human flesh and drinking human blood."
Seraphina opened her mouth, then finally laughed in exasperation.
She reached out, grabbed Sylas's collar, and said coldly, "Are you implying I am extorting the people's wealth and bleeding them dry?"
Sylas showed no fear. "You're not extorting it; you're devouring it raw!"
Seraphina angrily retorted, "Nonsense! I didn't demand the Altar of Heavenly Ascent be built! The desolation of Hanvale, the people displaced—that wasn't my doing!
The entire nation of Wealdham is like this.
The Empress in Argenthaven only seeks immortality. She judges officials based on their reputation within The Arcane Order.
When those above have a preference, those below will inevitably emulate it to extremes.
Was I the one who deluded them?
If we hadn't come to Hanvale, Beatrice could easily have found other mystics.
Without me, the Convocation would still have been held.
These people would still have died.
Do you truly believe this was all my idea?"
"But you are an accomplice! You are a mystic of Wealdham! Rowena the Recluse reveres The Arcane Order. Instead of admonishing her, you fan the flames!"
Seraphina released him, her tone suddenly becoming flat. "Do you think that without The Arcane Order, Rowena would govern diligently?
She could just as easily venerate the monastic orders.
Take a step back. Even without The Arcane Order, without the monastic orders, if someone is single-mindedly obsessed with immortality, they will always find someone to provide a method, doing things that exhaust the people and drain resources.
Take the simplest example: you also tutored Mirabel.
If you refused to sleep with her, would she have studied properly?
Was that your fault?"
Sylas flushed red. He stammered for a long time but ultimately couldn't find the words.
On some level, his situation was similar to Seraphina's.
Both were merely excuses for the corruption of those in power.
When he was a captive in Aethelred, people also cursed him as a scourge on the nation.
The only difference between him and Seraphina was that Seraphina seemed to enjoy it.
He lowered his head and thought for a long time, finally letting out a miserable laugh. "Fine. You have no problem. You are innocent."
He composed himself and said with polite formality, "Then... I bid you farewell, Sister.
Though the green hills remain, and the blue waters still flow, may we meet again someday."
Seraphina let out a long sigh. She brushed back her hair and said softly, "I plan to go to Argenthaven. If I can control Rowena, I might truly be able to bless the land."
"Mm. Go ahead," Sylas said, polite yet distant.
Seraphina said helplessly, "Believe me!"
"I believe you!"
"..."
"Ah, I'm leaving."
Seeing she couldn't make him understand, Seraphina finally left in resignation.
Sylas took several deep breaths, as if steeling himself with great resolve. Clenching his fists, he turned abruptly and went inside.
He then held a meeting with the spirit girls, assigning them various tasks.
On the very day Seraphina left, Sylas also took advantage of the night to board a carriage and depart.
Luna and a dog-girl named Fomalhaut acted as his guards.
The other spirit girls, having received their tasks, went their separate ways.
With the Art of Taming Spirits, they wouldn't get lost.
The carriage left Hanvale, exited the Pass, and headed west.
Half a month later, he arrived once again in Ironpeak.
Walking through the streets of Ironpeak, observing the orderly lives of the common people, he was filled with emotion.
There was a time he consistently believed all people under heaven lived like this.
Now he realized it wasn't that the world was at peace; it was that the city he was in had guardians like Isolde and Gwendolyn.
Now, he also wanted to do something.
P.S.: Expediting the plot.