Golden mana was Lillian's unique energy, so it was perfectly normal that Echidna had never encountered it. In truth, she was not an "omniscient" being—especially during the years after her death.
It could be said that she possessed an extremely thorough understanding of certain ancient histories—perhaps more than anyone else. However, during the four hundred years following her death, her knowledge of the world had been very limited. At most, she could likely learn fragments of information through the holders of the gospel books.
As for how many gospel books existed, Lillian did not know, but he was certain there were not many. Consequently, her understanding of the present world was naturally scarce. Even so, the vastness of her knowledge was no exaggeration. For instance, her casual remark—"it even carries a trace of spiritual power"—was not something an ordinary person could have discerned.
Until now, whether it was Priscilla or Beatrice, both had been astonished by Lillian's golden mana. Yet neither had been able to make an immediate judgment about it. Only Echidna, with a single glance at the golden flame, concluded that it contained spiritual power. Such perceptive ability was far beyond that of others.
"Can you tell me how you achieved this—how you fused spiritual power into mana?"
Faced with Echidna's curious question, Lillian had no answer. For now, it seemed she was still unaware of the golden seed within his mind. That also meant that although she had drawn him into this mental world, she had not invaded his consciousness.
There was a significant difference between the two. If she had attempted an intrusion, she would have easily discovered it—but the consequences would likely have been no better than what had happened to Geuse. She would have been eliminated by the passive awareness of the "goddess"—or perhaps an active one; Lillian could not be certain. In any case, that fragment of consciousness would treat any intruder as an enemy and destroy them.
Just as Geuse had said before his death: "Even a witch would not be able to contend with it." If the Witch of Greed had invaded with her own consciousness, she would probably have been burned to ashes.
Perhaps she herself had sensed this danger and therefore never even considered trying. After all, even the half-mad Petelgeuse had perceived a sense of threat upon first meeting Lillian—let alone someone like Echidna.
"It's something I can't control," Lillian said. "But speaking of spiritual abilities—do you know how to restore or expand the 'capacity' of one's spiritual power?"
"Hehe." Echidna smiled gracefully upon hearing this. "I knew you would ask that."
"…Because of my first meeting with Beatrice, right?"
When they first met, Lillian had asked about spiritual power, and had also inquired about curses and lifespan magic. If Echidna could observe through the gospel books, then she would certainly know about those matters.
"In that case, what's the answer?"
"Don't be so greedy," Echidna said. She stood up, clasped her hands behind her back, and walked slowly across the hill. Raising a single finger to her lips, she spoke softly, "You may only ask one question at a time."
"… "
"From your expression, I can tell you're thinking: 'How unfair—I still have so many things I want to ask!'" Echidna said with a smile. "I know. So, how about we make an agreement?"
"What kind of agreement?"
Lillian looked at her cautiously. In this world, things like contracts were highly binding—especially when made with an existence like a witch. A single misstep could easily lead to being trapped.
"Don't look at me like that—it will benefit you," she said. "You should know where you are now, shouldn't you?"
"The Sanctuary?"
"That's right. You could also call it my tomb."
Echidna raised three fingers. "Within the Sanctuary, there exists a 'trial,' consisting of three stages. The terms of our agreement are this: I grant you the qualification to participate in the trials. Each time you pass a stage, you may ask me one question."
"… "
"Of course, if I do not know the answer to your question, you may replace it with another. Well? It's quite a good arrangement, isn't it?"
Three trials.
Lillian frowned deeply. He knew nothing about the content of these trials, nor what might occur during them. Yet he truly had important questions he needed answered. This agreement…
"I accept."
Seeing the look in Echidna's eyes that suggested everything had gone exactly as expected, Lillian thought to himself that she had already grasped his weakness—she knew he could not refuse.
"Excellent." She stepped gracefully toward him, raising her slender arm and lifting her palm slightly. "Come."
Once Lillian made a decision, he did not hesitate with needless doubt. He raised his hand and lightly tapped his palm against hers.
"The agreement is sealed."
The Witch of Greed, Echidna, revealed a sly smile.
---
When his awareness returned, Lillian found himself still standing before the stone door, his hand extended in the motion of pushing it open.
He had not even entered before Echidna pulled him into her mental world. Rather than coincidence, it seemed more likely that she had not wanted him to enter the stone door at all. What was inside? Could it be her corpse? Surely it had not been preserved until now.
He lowered his hand. Since Echidna did not wish him to enter, he saw no need to anger her merely to satisfy a bit of curiosity. After all, he still needed to rely on her—that was why he had agreed to her "contract" in the first place.
Three trials, three questions. That alone was already sufficient. No—the content of the trials remained unknown, and judging from Echidna's demeanor, they would certainly not be easy to pass. There might even be danger to his life. But there was no choice; it was a risk he had to take.
As Lillian turned and walked outside, he reflected that this visit had already yielded the greatest reward—Elsa had not completely died. Her soul had been absorbed into Beatrice's gospel.
If that was the case, Echidna must have observed the battle through the gospel at the time. The reason Rem and Ram had not been killed by the Archbishop of Greed was likely because Beatrice had intervened to help them. Under such circumstances, the reason she had not also saved him…
Could it have been Echidna's doing?
Lillian frowned as he considered the matter. From his interactions with Beatrice, she held no ill will toward him. In fact, they had even formed an unwritten verbal agreement: he could read in the Forbidden Library, and in the future he would bring her to meet Echidna.
Because of that agreement, Beatrice should not have stood by and watched him die—unless one of the only two people in the world capable of changing her mind had told her, "Do not save him." One of those two was her "brother," Puck; the other was Echidna.
Puck seemed unlikely.
So it really had been Echidna manipulating events back then—the timing of Elsa's soul being absorbed as well…
Lillian suddenly stopped and glanced back over his shoulder.
Could it be… that she deliberately guided all of this just to make me come and meet her?