[Heroic Legacy] [Author: Linhe]

The autumn sun, no longer as fierce as in the sweltering summer, still felt incredibly hot at midday.

However, the almost inexhaustible power of nature sometimes has to be slightly humbled by the small, diligent efforts of humankind.

Sunlight, filtering through the stained glass windows of the local cathedral, was cleverly and precisely reflected, falling at a perfect angle onto the ground, projecting the biblical stories already drawn on the glass onto the clear floor. Nature's magnificence, ironically, allowed human craftsmen to further showcase their exquisite artistry.

However, the two people inside didn't glance at the floor, now gleaming with a brilliant light, seemingly lost in thought.

"Your Excellency Archbishop Moore, is there truly no other way?" The speaker was a young woman; in the bright sunlight, the fine downy hairs on her cheeks were faintly visible, making her appear almost like a girl.

However, no one dared to underestimate her because of her age. After all, she was not only a direct member of the renowned Bruler family (a powerful and prestigious family within the empire), but also a magician—a true magician who had passed the magical trials.

To ordinary people, a magician was a symbol of power, capable of summoning wind and rain, controlling fire, conjuring spirits, smelting amalgam, and creating things from nothing—seemingly omnipotent. But those were merely street tales told by ignorant country bumpkins. Only those with knowledge and a basic understanding of magic knew that magic had countless branches and systems, such as the powerful and dangerous elemental magic, white magic that excelled in protection and healing, the highly dangerous and unpredictable demon summoning, and enchanting that could enhance the performance of real-world equipment. So many different systems that even a lifetime of study might not be enough to master even one school of magic. Many people lacking talent would spend their entire lives only to remain magic apprentices in old age. Only a magician who had undergone and passed the formal and rigorous magical trials of a magic academy could be considered a true magician.

Only true magicians can perform the miracles that ordinary people imagine.

Eileen Brühl is one of those young ones, and considering her age and her already remarkable talent, her future achievements are unimaginable. Her youthful passion and confidence make her fearless. Perhaps it is precisely because of this that she harbors the grand ambition of obtaining, or rather, recreating, the legendary heroic professions of ancient times.

Heroes are often those with exceptional talent, courage, and wisdom. Regardless of good or evil, regardless of how posterity judges their merits or demerits, they leave a significant mark on history. Regardless of stance or belief, immense power and wisdom are common traits among heroes. Becoming a hero is already a legend.

And the heroic profession is even more legendary.

It's not simply a matter of a profession belonging to a hero being called a heroic profession. Rather, those qualified to achieve the heroic profession are often heroes themselves, or rather, those who are most likely to become heroes.

In simple terms, regardless of profession, according to the principle that "every profession has its master," there is a certain probability of producing a hero. Of course, the probability varies depending on factors such as the profession's status, entry requirements, and required skills. At least, the probability of a hero emerging from the profession of beggar is far lower than that of a warrior who fights on the front lines year-round.

However, a hero among warriors becomes a hero not because the profession of warrior is inherently powerful or fearless, but because the hero first becomes a warrior, then endures hardships, trials, and tribulations, overcoming obstacles to ultimately achieve heroic feats. In other words, it is not the profession of warrior that is powerful, but the hero himself who is worthy of the title of hero.

The profession of hero is far more complex than this, quite different from ordinary professions. Its lineage often originates from ancient legends or even more distant mythological eras. The entry requirements are extremely high; some heroic professions can only be held by people of specific races, with specific talents, or even specific experiences. And throughout history, not every period has seen such special elites. This makes heroic professions prone to loss of lineage, disappearing into the annals of history. Unlike the long-lived elves, dwarves, and orcs with superior bloodlines, the mere century-long lifespan of humans exacerbates this phenomenon.

Although humans have made various efforts to preserve this lineage through written records and other means, the lack of oral traditions and hands-on instruction makes it incredibly difficult for later generations to recreate heroic professions simply by reading notes.

The young woman before them undoubtedly seeks to take on this daunting task, to recreate one of the legendary heroic professions—the Holy Spirit Sage.

A mythical profession, said to be able to wield divine and arcane magic with mastery.

However, in reality, both mages and clergy know that arcane and divine magic often interfere with each other and are difficult to coexist. Moreover, according to known theories, acquiring divine magic requires the clergy's boundless devotion to the gods, while arcane magic is the product of a mage's relentless pursuit of the truth of the world; their principles are vastly different. This insurmountable boundary has stopped countless wise men in their tracks, preventing them from advancing.

The reason why the Holy Spirit Sage, a heroic profession that defies common knowledge, isn't dismissed as mere fantasy is simply because of the more distant reality. The precious documents left behind from that legendary era clearly record the great deeds of one of the Holy Spirit Sages, a generation of heroes.

The last Holy Spirit Sage was named Napoleon Adolf. In his time, he was also a cardinal of the Church and the chief arcane mage of the Magic Guild; his name still appears in some ancient papal texts and magical documents.

Since the existence of those who came before cannot be denied, and the glory of the Holy Spirit Sage cannot be replicated in the future, the world can only preserve it in books, as an unrepeatable legend.

It was precisely for this reason that the old man hesitated for a long time before speaking: "Your Excellency Brule, as is well known, the principles of arcane magic and holy power are incompatible and cannot be integrated. This is precisely why countless wise men of the past failed in their attempts to recreate the Holy Spirit Sage. Before you came here, you must have read the books about the Holy Spirit Sage in the magic library, and you must have been mentally prepared for the difficulties involved." "That's right, that's right. Indeed, as you said, the great Napoleon Adolf did leave behind a diary in the magic guild. Judging from the description of his arcane abilities at the time in the diary, he was already at the level of a Grand Magus. However, the diary's records on divine magic are vague, so I hope to find other parts in the church to complete it. However, your church's cardinal informed me that not all books are collected and kept in the Grand Holy Court; a considerable portion are distributed in the libraries of various dioceses." It was clear that the female mage had already visited many church libraries but had found nothing. The young female mage pouted in dissatisfaction and said somewhat sullenly.

This is understandable. It's said that Miss Eileen of Brule is an arcane genius; spells that are difficult for ordinary people to understand are nothing to her. Her initial attempt to become a Holy Spirit Sage might have been just a youthful impulse, but as she delved deeper into the records, her interest grew stronger. This might stem from a mage's instinct to explore the truth of the world, and perhaps it's precisely this quality that has allowed her to progress so far in the realm of magic. However, the mysteries of the hero profession are definitely not something that one or two geniuses can easily unravel. Even today, with such harmonious relations between the Church and the Empire, and a cardinal issuing an official letter to a mage to facilitate travel to churches across the land, finding clues from hundreds of years ago in those dusty, long documents is no easy task.

“Indeed, the extinction of the heroic profession is not what the Church desires. Regarding your request, His Holiness the Cardinal has already sent me a letter, asking me to lend you my full support and do my best to fulfill your request. I believe you will surely gain something here, after all, this place is said to be where the great Napoleon lived for the last ten years of his life.” “I hope so. While I am here, I hope you will provide your support.

Cardinal Moore,” the female mage said politely but clearly coldly. From her flat tone, it was clear she had little expectation; it was merely a routine noble courtesy.

Bishop Moore smiled, waved his hand, and said, "No need to be so polite. I'm just an ordinary old man. I was lucky enough not to die on the battlefield against the demons. Now that I'm old, I have to come down from the front lines to do what I can. Speaking of which, I'm from the Debon Province of the Makar Empire, just like you. How about this, I'll call you Eileen. You can just call me Moore, no need for all the formalities."

"Okay, you...you're too kind, Moore...um, sir." It was clear that Eileen wasn't too insistent on complicated formalities, and after thinking for a moment, she nodded in agreement. However, calling an old man by his first name was something a marquis's daughter, deeply influenced by aristocratic education, could never do, so after a moment's hesitation, she added "sir" to show respect.

Although Moore spoke very modestly, as if he were just an insignificant, lucky old man, Eileen knew very well that no bishop in the church was an ordinary person. They were either exceptionally shrewd and calculating, or highly respected and admired by all, or erudite and well-versed in classical texts; some even possessed all these qualities. Regardless, they all possessed considerable skill, and perhaps given time, he too could become such a powerful figure. However, he was still too young and inexperienced and had to treat them with respect.

Moore grinned again, chuckling. Church rules forbade beards, and as a bishop, Moore naturally had to set an example, sporting only a short tuft of white hair under his chin. This white, snow-like hair gave him a kind appearance. His wrinkled face was also a symbol of wisdom and experience.

“Miss Eileen, you’ve come a long way. After receiving the cardinal’s letter, I had someone organize Master Adolf’s notes overnight, hoping they would enlighten you. Would you like to rest first and then read them, or would you like to go now?” Bishop Moore asked.

To obtain clues about the Heroic class, Eileen had already traveled to many places following in the footsteps of the legendary Holy Spirit Sage Adolf. She had journeyed from the territory of the human Makar Alliance to the Iron Cavalry Empire of the East, venturing into remote and uninhabited areas, and even venturing deep into orcish territory. Naturally, she wouldn't let

the minor difficulty of "travel fatigue" bother her. The female mage immediately said firmly, "Please take me there now, thank you!" The old man nodded, his previously amiable tone suddenly becoming serious: "Very well, but Miss Eileen, since Master Adolf was not only a mage but also an important figure in our church, and his notes contain many church secrets, they are extremely valuable and unique documents. Therefore, when you study the Master's notes, you can only view them in the church library; you cannot take them out. Copying them also requires my approval.

I hope you can understand." "Okay." Having anticipated this from her previous experiences in other church branches, Eileen readily agreed.

“Then I, this old man, will personally take you there.” After Eileen readily agreed, Moore’s face regained its previous amiable smile. As he spoke, Moore waved to Eileen to follow him, and then walked towards the inner part of the church area… A week later,

“How is it? Any progress?” The white-bearded, white-haired old man asked with a smile. This was the bishop’s routine; every day in his spare time, Moore would take some time to visit Eileen in the church library.

Eileen shook her head, tapping two fingers on the table; the disordered rhythm subtly revealed her anxiety. She said, “No, if we’re just talking about clues, there are indeed quite a few in the notes and documents about Master Adolf in the Magic Guild and the Church. But that only shows that Adolf himself was a very powerful magician and clergyman. How he integrated the two different powers of divine magic and arcane magic is completely not mentioned in the records I’ve been able to find.” “There are no relevant records in the Magic Guild either? All the Church’s documents and records related to Adolf here are already here. I thought the key part was passed down in the records of the Magic Guild.” After listening to the female mage’s words, Moore wiped his shiny forehead, deep in thought.

“No, Master Adolf’s notes in the guild mainly focus on his insights into arcane magic, which are indeed very profound, but they don’t mention any methods for fusing holy power. As for the church’s part…” Eileen pointed to the neatly stacked ancient books and parchment around her, “So far, it’s mostly about the exquisite application of divine magic, without any mention of arcane magic or elemental fusion. Since I don’t really understand the divine magic part, I can only speculate. So…” The girl didn’t finish her sentence, only making a helpless shrug.

The room fell silent.

Moore pondered for a while, then finally spoke slowly: “If that’s the case, I think I understand something!?” The female mage looked at the old man with a questioning gaze, waiting for his explanation.

Bishop Moore continued, “As we all know, Napoleon-Adolf the Holy Spirit Sage was a figure from an ancient legendary era. In that time, the ancient gods had not yet departed from the mortal world, and dragons and demons still roamed the heart of Makar. Many talented individuals emerged then. Master Adolf's surviving writings also show that he was proficient in both divine and arcane magic, truly a master of both. The Holy Spirit Sage's several unique skills seem to be products of a fusion of the strengths of both arcane and divine magic.” “However, divine and arcane magic are incompatible; this is a fundamental principle of magic and divine magic. The same applies to you clergy. Because the method of fusing divine and arcane magic has not been preserved, this heroic profession has also completely disappeared,” Eileen calmly added.

“Theoretically, that’s how it is. Considering Master Adolf’s own high level of cultivation, and the even more ancient Holy Spirit Sages from before the legendary era, who were practically mythical, their power could even rival that of Seraphim. Conversely, could the same logic apply? Because people’s understanding of magic and divine arts is incomplete, mages only understand spells, and clergy only know divine arts. There haven’t been any figures proficient in both, so Holy Spirit Mages can’t find suitable successors, and thus the lineage cannot continue.” Moore cautiously stated his deduction.

“However, the principles of divine arts and the operating principles of magic are different. If the key points of interference and conflict between divine arts and arcane arts cannot be resolved, it’s meaningless.” Eileen initially thought this made sense, but after a moment’s thought, she cautiously offered a rebuttal.

Moore wasn't annoyed, but simply sighed and said, "Yes, you know that, and I know it too.

The Magic Guild and the Church know it as well. But the existence of Napoleon Adolf is undeniable, and he did indeed master divine and arcane magic. We must acknowledge that." An awkward silence fell over the room once more. After a long while, a voice broke the silence that filled the air.

"It's said that your predecessor, Mr. Moore, once explored the path of the Holy Spirit Mage!" Eileen asked with certainty.

Moore didn't reply immediately, but instead gave the female mage a deep look before saying, "Well, countless wise and powerful ancestors have tried to revive the heroic profession, and my predecessor, Bishop Kom Phil, was one of them. Unfortunately, he ultimately went astray and fell into depravity. It's a secret..." Suddenly, Moore laughed and continued, "But for the omnipotent Bruler family within the Empire, this is no secret. In short, the path of the heroic profession is fraught with peril, far beyond the reach of a mortal like myself. I only need to serve the Almighty Lord well; pointless contemplation will only lead to wavering." Eileen nodded without speaking. She had heard of Kom Phil before; he was said to have been a devout believer, but ultimately fell from grace while pursuing the path of the Holy Spirit Mage. Seeing no hope of success, he listened to the whispers of a demon, releasing an ancient demon sealed in a church, intending to use it as a bargaining chip to obtain the method to become a Holy Spirit Sage. Undoubtedly, he failed. The demon who had made an empty promise cruelly betrayed him, taking his heart with him as he left Alexandria.

This served as a cautionary tale, once again reminding all clerics of one thing: demons are untrustworthy.

"However, I've also read the records of Kom Phil. His method of trying to gain magical knowledge through demons is definitely unacceptable. But you don't have that concern, because you are a powerful mage yourself. All you need is a method, a method that allows you to deeply understand the essence of divine magic." Moore's words pulled Eileen back to reality.

Like a traveler in the dark seeing a distant light, Eileen, already exhausted from endless reading, immediately asked impatiently, "Do you have a method?" The old bishop shook his head and said, "There is no method, but there is indeed a concept." As he spoke, Moore stood up. His aged body, still vigorous and strong under the nourishment of holy power, remained robust even in his old age. After checking that no one else was in the library, the old man silently made a gesture. Instantly, the sunstones embedded in the wall began to shimmer, one after another forming a complex and exquisite pattern.

Although she didn't understand divine magic, Eileen could roughly guess through her magical perception that the sounds inside had been sealed off. Knowing that what was about to happen was very important, she quickly straightened her posture and sat upright, awaiting Moore's speech.

"Holy power comes from God, and God bestows holy power upon those who traverse the path. Only the devout can receive divine protection.

God is unfathomable, and one should not test the Lord." But Moore didn't immediately get to the key point; instead, he first quoted a passage from a classic text.

It was another cliché of clergy, and Eileen frowned slightly, somewhat displeased. Although this was indeed the Church's explanation of holy power, and the source of clergy power, it was too inconsistent with the idea that magicians believed in themselves, explored secret arts with their own power, and applied them.

Of course, this didn't escape the archbishop's notice. The tall, thin old man smiled knowingly, "I know you mages need to use your power to manipulate the elements of heaven and earth, communicating with reality and illusion. So you look down on us clergy, considering us slaves bowing down to the gods. I heard this from a mage in the army back when I was in the military." Moore continued, seemingly oblivious, "I'm good friends with many mages. I don't intend to comment on their beliefs, but frankly, such contempt for the gods completely contradicts the doctrines of the Light Church, so it's normal that mages with this attitude cannot acquire divine magic." "So, you mean I should give up?"

Eileen looked at the old man, speaking softly in a voice both could hear. This question wasn't just for him, but also for herself. However, the female mage knew deep down that she would never give up until the very last moment.

Only by understanding the Holy Spirit Mage more deeply could she realize how great Master Adolf had been.

Having discovered the secrets of the world, like the first humans who tasted the fruit of wisdom, they would never choose to turn back.

"No, that's not what I meant. In fact, I was just echoing what others had said. Bishop Colm Phil, in his notes, also pondered what a magician should do if they wished to become a Holy Spirit Sage.

" Moore waved his hand generously, indicating that he didn't mean it that way, and then posed a question to create suspense.

Of course, Moore quickly continued his explanation: "The faith of the divine is inextricably linked to the beliefs of believers. As you can see, wherever there is faith in the Holy Light, there are churches standing tall, protecting the local inhabitants and accepting their faith. The divine cannot be tempted, because tempting is itself blasphemy. Colm Phil believed that one can start with faith, feeling the power of the believer's will to better approach and understand the divine." "That method?" Eileen rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought. Indeed, the relationship between deities and believers is very close, but ordinary people can only see the magnificent churches on the land controlled by the Church of Holy Light, without delving into the meaning contained within them.

In fact, even the legendary, knowledgeable magicians only have a superficial understanding.

"In fact, feeling the power of believers' faith to approach and understand deities is an essential part of the cardinals' advancement rituals. After all, only those who truly understand God are worthy to serve at His side. Of course, the ritual arrays set up in our churches are far less grand and complex than those of real cardinals," Moore added.

"So, what should I do?" Eileen asked nervously, her inner joy indescribable. She hadn't expected that her long-standing question could be solved, making her deeply feel that coming to Alexandria was indeed an absolutely correct choice.

“No, strictly speaking, you don’t have anything special to do. There’s a small holy circle in the sanctuary of the church that can gather the spiritual power of believers. You just need to enter it, and then I will collect and infuse the faith power of the praying believers into it,” Moore replied.

“Okay, when can we begin?” Eileen pressed.

The old man glanced at the clock on the wall; the hour hand was pointing towards the number 4.

After thinking for a moment, he said, “Actually, we can start now. There are simple methods and complex procedures, but ultimately, the principle is the same.” “Okay.” Eileen felt a long-lost sense of tension and quickly took a deep breath to calm her agitated emotions.

The area controlled by the church was located in the very center of Alexandria. Like other places, the church was the tallest and most magnificent building in the city. This city had been a famous port city since ancient times. Thanks to its excellent geographical location and harbor environment, it had been a human settlement for thousands of years. Countless people attracted more capital and profit-seeking eyes, ultimately creating such a great port city.

The church area was separated from the secular commercial district and the cold, impersonal imperial administrative area. The church area was a continuous, self-contained whole, like a small inner city. The journey from the library area to the church didn't take long. Most divine spells in this ancient parish were inscribed by holy priests throughout the church's various buildings, so preparation didn't take long. Soon, Eileen was led to the sanctuary within the church, where the female mage stood in the Holy Cross array. Moore went inside to change from his casual clothes into a magnificent priestly robe. Golden holy statues formed a circle, surrounding Eileen in the sanctuary.

The sanctuary, said to be the abode of angels, was also the place in the church where one could directly communicate with the divine. Clergy believed it to be the most sacred place, hence the core of the holy array was often arranged there.

Following Bishop Moore's advice, Eileen stood in the sanctuary, anxiously yet expectantly waiting, preparing to deepen her understanding of the divine through her faith, hoping to gain a crucial clue to breaking through to the Holy Spirit Sage realm. Yet, she worried about losing her sense of magic, and this conflicting feeling made Eileen waver.

"Can we begin?" Bishop Moore asked one last time before preparations began.

"No problem." The female mage clenched her fists, calming her agitated emotions, and gritted her teeth.

The old man began to sing, the sacred melody swirling in the small room like an angel flapping its pure white wings. Moore's aged fingers gripped the sacred crystal at the nexus. Pure holy power flowed continuously from the nexus of the holy array, and then, along the holy light circuit, one by one, the holy sun stones absorbed the holy power, shining brightly, re-introducing the divine spells that had already been inscribed. Like a pair of giant hands, it grasped the power of faith that was praying in the city, and then placed it all in the center of the holy residence.

"Ugh~" Unlike the clergy who held the symbol of the Holy Light Church and sang hymns with solemn faces, countless voices surged into the mage's mind across the gaps in space, and Eileen felt her mind was in chaos.

The people expect the gods, and the gods accept faith and respond to the people's expectations.

"Dad has been sick for months, lying in bed every day. I hope he gets better..." "Old Ryan has been at sea for months. I hope something happened to him. If he's gone, my investment is gone. I hope the High God will protect me..." "My husband has been conscripted by the nation to fight against the Iron Cavalry Empire. May the High God protect him and bring him back safely..." "Bless me so that tomorrow's fishing trip will be a big success. We haven't been able to buy new clothes for a long time." "The High God is with me, give me strength, grant me enlightenment, and let me succeed..." "Amen!!!!!" All the voices finally converged into one sentence, echoing and reverberating in Eileen's mind... She didn't know how much time had passed before she came to her senses.

By then, it was completely dark, and the sun had set. Only a few magic lamps remained in the room, quietly emitting a soft glow, the light falling on the female mage's delicate and beautiful face, like the gentle moonlight.

Moore, still wearing his magnificent bishop's robes, stood there patiently waiting for Eileen to awaken.

When he saw the light return to Eileen's previously blank gaze, the old man asked with kind concern, "How are you? Any new insights?" The young mage didn't answer immediately. After frowning and pondering for a while, she sighed, "To be honest, my mind is a mess. I seem to have sensed something, but thinking about it, it seems like nothing at all. Just now, many voices echoed in my mind, somewhat like the mental links in arcane magic, but… there were too many." Then, the noble lady, who rarely showed her emotions, couldn't help but gently pat her head, looking very distressed.

Then, as if she touched something while patting it, Eileen cried out "Ah!" and pulled out a square metal object connected to a chain from beneath her blue mage's robes. Judging from the ancient inscriptions on it, it seemed to be a very old magical amulet. The amulet was now charred black, clearly rendered useless. Judging from the unusual look of surprise and annoyance on the monk's face, it must have been a valuable item.

Bishop Moore smiled kindly and reassured her, "First attempts are bound to fail; as long as everyone is safe, that's all that matters." He then stroked his not-so-long white beard and said thoughtfully, "Regarding the situation that occurred during the previous ceremony, I have a guess, a conjecture about the incompatibility between arcane and divine magic. For clergy immersed in holy light, representing divine inspiration and receiving the faith of believers is a very honorable thing. We would thank the Supreme Lord with joy and accept the power of the believers' thoughts without reservation. But your approach seems quite different from that of the clergy. Mages seem to prefer using their power to command spirits and manipulate elements to achieve their own goals. Our approach is to accept and submit, while yours is to control and dominate. Judging from your expression and the fluctuations of your magic just now, you were also trying your best to resist the prayers of the believers throughout the city to the gods with your personal will. So the originally harmless power of faith was constantly canceling each other out in your will." Eileen did not refute Moore's words. He simply nodded, looking as if he had gained some insight.

"This is a clash of ideologies; the conflict between mages and clergy stems from their completely different understandings of power. Most mages are also highly knowledgeable elites, and perhaps my direct quotation from the Holy Scriptures would bore those who study arcane magic. So let me explain using a saying attributed to a mysterious monk from the ancient East: 'When the cup is full, can you pour in more water?'" The old man cleverly employed a metaphor.

Eileen paused, taken aback. While most mages were indeed knowledgeable, not everyone was an expert on Eastern imports. Fortunately, the young genius mage was quick-witted and soon understood Moore's meaning, exclaiming,

"You mean...?" "It cannot be spoken of, it cannot be spoken of, to speak of it would be to fall short. How do they describe this? It seems Eastern monks like to call it Zen. They are quite interesting people, aren't they?"

Moore suddenly interrupted Eileen, revealing a childlike, even slightly mischievous expression, and even mimicked an Eastern monk's less-than-perfect clasped hands gesture, winking at Eileen.

Eileen nodded, half-agreeing and half-neutral. In the path of magic, there are countless paths to the source. Enlightenment is one of them. As a certified mage, Eileen was naturally aware of this. However, when it came to a clue she had been pursuing for so long, one that might be a breakthrough, Eileen couldn't help but probe further: "Bishop Moore, do you mean that I must abandon my prejudices and start learning divine magic from scratch to become a Holy Spirit Sage...?" Faced with the mage's question, Moore scratched his head and said,

"That's not entirely what I meant. After all, knowledge is boundless, while life is finite. Moreover, Master Adolf's life was legendary; countless predecessors have tried to follow in his footsteps but have not known how to recreate his glory. What I really mean is that I hope you can let go of your existing prejudices and truly understand the essence of divine magic. As for the divine magic itself, relatively speaking, it's not that important." The bishop's words were truly profound, every word carrying deep meaning, and the mage couldn't help but ponder them deeply.

Bishop Moore pressed his advantage, continuing, "As the world knows, divine magic is a gift from God to mortals, originating from the gods themselves. Mortals obey the gods with piety, are justified by faith, and receive support from God. Because you arcane mages believe you already know the path to worldly truth and cling to your own ways, it's difficult for you to gain divine approval through devout faith, and it would take far too long for you. I can only think of using the divine connection during the cardinal's initiation ceremony to help you understand this from a human perspective, perhaps allowing you to grasp the essence of divine magic from the bottom up." Seemingly worried that the girl's understanding of divine magic might be insufficient, Moore added, "Divine magic is essentially a contract between God and man. Mortals serve Him wholeheartedly, and He bestows selfless blessings upon them, regardless of wisdom or foolishness, good or bad.

" "Is that so?" Most mages had heard of this legend, of course, but the essence of divine magic was far too simple—unbelievably simple—so they mostly considered it a trick used by clergy to win over believers. Eileen asked, half-believing, half-doubting. Tilting her head slightly in question, she now displayed the demeanor of a young girl, rather than the mysterious, aura of a genius mage she usually exuded.

“Indeed,” the old man replied kindly, “divine magic originates from believers’ faith in the gods. Only believers receive blessings. It seems completely contrary to the mages’ so-called ‘seeking the roots, exploring the origins of the world,’ but who knows if it doesn’t lead to the right truth? Arcane magic certainly has many unique aspects, but isn’t divine magic the same?” His explanation was eloquent and far superior to that of ordinary priests in the countryside, and it didn’t offend anyone.

The old man's erudition and humble demeanor were truly admirable, and Eileen grew increasingly respectful of this wise and humorous elder. She asked, "Then, Archbishop Moore, what aspects do you think I should begin with when I start learning divine magic from scratch?" Being open to advice is a virtue, and even more so, a good learning attitude. It seemed Eileen was prepared to heed Moore's advice, to set aside her prejudice against clergy, and to begin learning the basics of divine magic from the ground up.

Moore was also satisfied with the female mage's reaction, stroking his beard and smiling, "If you really have to start from scratch, there's nothing better than studying the Book of Genesis. However, I imagine the legendary daughter of the Marquis of Makar, with her photographic memory, must have already read the main scriptures of the Church long ago. Your main task now is to review the Bible..." Then, Moore hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I think that in another week it will be the annual grand celebration of Alexandria. At that time, the whole city will hold a grand celebration and prayer ceremony to commemorate the city's resistance against the demonic tide. At that time, I suggest you perform another ceremony of perceiving faith, feeling the devout power of all believers. Perhaps this will deepen your understanding of God. However, I hope that this time you can feel everything with a devout and humble heart, emptying the cup so that new water can fill your heart. Instead of using your spiritual energy in a pointless struggle against the power of faith, letting your precious energy and faith be wasted." The old man then added a metaphor: Experienced hunters, when diving into a river, only follow the current and skillfully utilize it, rather than struggling and wasting their strength fighting the river, thus failing to reach their prey. "I understand, I will do my best,"

Eileen replied firmly, looking at Moore. The Makar Alliance has revered the Church of Holy Light as its state religion for hundreds of years, a truly long history. The relationship between the church and the secular world is deeply intertwined; it's no exaggeration to say that almost all the nobles of the Makar Alliance received their early education from the Church's *Genesis*. As the second daughter of the Bruler family, Eileen naturally read various church texts from a young age. As a mage, she was not lacking in knowledge; what she lacked was simply faith—the devout faith required by God.

Eileen raised her last question: "Bishop, will the gods accept this… I mean…" The usually eloquent and quick-witted female mage stammered, her clumsy performance making her blush with embarrassment. However, Eileen was well aware that clergymen rarely allowed outsiders to casually comment on or discuss the divine; the slightest carelessness could be considered blasphemy. This vigilance was especially pronounced among mages, as throughout history, more than one influential great mage had claimed to usurp the glory of the gods. In the eyes of all devout believers, this was undoubtedly a great blasphemy.

Moore, however, was surprisingly tolerant, lacking the usual clergyman's wariness towards mages discussing the divine.

With a slight nod, he said humbly, “Yes, I know most magicians are arrogant, so I can only have you start with the power of mortal faith, understanding the divine from the bottom up. For cardinals, they have been in contact with the Holy Light for decades, tirelessly striving to spread the glory of the Almighty Lord. For them, experiencing the power of faith from a large number of believers at once is just a routine advancement. But for magicians who have never experienced this before, this act of touching the essence of faith is very helpful in understanding the divine. Besides, God loves the world, and for mortals, the divine always uses gentle and subtle methods to let us feel the Lord's great love.” Eileen remained noncommittal about Moore's statement. Although the wise and humorous old bishop's words were very touching, as he said, the education of magicians was inherently anti-divine, and years of education could not be changed overnight. As for agreeing to the bishop's plan, on the one hand, what the bishop said did sound very reasonable and feasible; on the other hand, and more importantly, it was an exploratory attempt to find the clues that the Holy Spirit Mage had been searching for. From this perspective, it was less that the old man's persuasive words convinced the young mage, and more that Eileen's own obsession drove her to make this attempt.

Perhaps worried that the female mage might be afraid of the completely unfamiliar ritual, or perhaps due to the church's respect for the Bruler family, or other considerations, Moore reassured Eileen: "Your Excellency, Mage Eileen, to avoid possible interference between divine and arcane magic, I suggest you do not enter the Holy Power Barrier wearing magically enhanced equipment. Of course, to ensure your safety and allow you to better comprehend the power of faith, I will use divine magic to shield myself, combined with the assistance of true spirit possession, and will provide you with timely guidance. For better results, I also need your permission." Hearing this, Eileen's admiration for the bishop deepened even further. As is well known, there are several major categories of divine magic, and spirit magic is one commonly used by clergy. According to its level, it can be divided into: True Words, Holy Words, and Divine Words. Holy Word - I Am a Shield and Divine Word - Holy Spirit Possession are both renowned protective divine magics used by clergy. From the perspective of mages, Holy Word - I Am a Shield is merely a powerful divine magic, its fame stemming from its inherent spirit of sacrifice. The damage suffered by the protected is directly transferred to the caster, and as long as the caster does not die or interrupt the Holy Word, the protected will not bleed. Holy Spirit Possession, however, is even more extraordinary. It is said that only when a clergy's faith and abilities reach a certain level can they safely guide and separate the power of their soul using divine power, giving the separated soul the sacred attributes of the Holy Spirit in heaven. It is even a powerful auxiliary divine magic that allows even a mortal with no religious background to potentially unleash divine magic. It can possess a devout believer as needed, granting the possessed person the caster's own power and perfectly protecting them. It's a versatile spell, combining offense and defense, but like all similar types of divine magic, it places extremely high demands on the caster.

From any perspective, this unassuming bishop Moore is quite remarkable.

After finalizing the next steps, Moore rose to take his leave. He needed to make thorough preparations for the ceremony a week later, as the cardinal's inauguration ceremony required the participation of most of the church's clergy and was only possible after extensive prior coordination.

The clergy in Alexandria were far inferior to those in the central papacy in both quantity and quality, especially those who met Moore's requirements.

"But a whole week is enough." While discussing with the female mage, it had unknowingly become late at night. The church corridors were empty, the only sound the soft echoes of footsteps.

Bishop Moore thought this, a smile spreading across his face, a smile no one else could see.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters..."

Eileen sighed listlessly, continuing to flip through the Bible in her hands. Counting the time she read it in her childhood, this was now her fourth time rereading Genesis. That meant she had read this not-so-thick book three times in the past five days.

Of course, for Eileen, known for her genius and as one of the youngest mages in history—considering that other youngest mages in history have passed away or disappeared—Eileen should be considered one of the best among the younger generation in the last century. For such a powerful person, merely reading a not-so-thick book three times in five days would be an insult. So in these five days, it wasn't just this one book, but also… Eileen's gaze shifted to the bookshelf: [The Bible - The Covenant of God], [The Bible - Radiant Enlightenment], [The Bible - Revelation]... Eileen browsed through all the classic texts passed down by the church under the name "Bible." Due to the tight schedule, it was impossible to study all the documents in just one week; she could only read through them, and barely managed to memorize the general meaning and essence.

The ability to read ten lines at a glance and to have a photographic memory is a legend about human memory, something Eileen could barely manage with her current mind. However, to digest obscure and difficult knowledge and make it readily available as an instinct required much longer to understand and analyze. Some demanding knowledge even requires a specific opportunity to comprehend.

Compared to the bishops of the other dioceses, Moore was remarkably generous. He not only made public the church's normally secret texts but also frequently discussed arcane magic with Eileen, attempting to draw parallels and find clues to the Holy Spirit and the Sage.

However, due to the need to prepare for the ceremony in advance, and the preference for the local bishop to preside over many matters of the grand celebration, Moore hadn't made his usual daily visit.

The female mage, needing to peruse numerous confidential documents, had been confined to the church's library, working tirelessly day and night to review the church's fundamental knowledge.

Another day quickly passed, then another, and then the next… Finally, the week-long wait, neither long nor short, came to an end.

Although she hadn't left the church district, Eileen could still sense the festive atmosphere from the bustling city sounds and fireworks that reached her ears through the walls.

Bishop Moore, who had been out of sight until now, reappeared before her with deep dark circles under his eyes. His tired expression and the varying degrees of mud on his boots suggested he had been on a long trip.

Several other people accompanied Moore, whose distinctive church attire and cross pendants clearly indicated they were clergy.

It was somewhat shameful, really. Although Eileen had traveled between various churches in her quest for clues and the Holy Spirit Mage's legacy, it was solely for her own purpose, and she had only engaged in minimal interaction with church personnel. She was completely unfamiliar with the inner workings of the churches. Her conversation with Moore was an extraordinary privilege for the proud female mage.

"The sacred array for the grand celebration can't be activated by me alone. These are some highly respected clergymen I brought from the diocese; they will be responsible for maintaining the sacred barrier during the event. The ceremony will take place at noon tomorrow. Review the sacred texts one last time, and make sure you get a good rest tonight." Moore looked exhausted, the dust on his hair and beard indirectly indicating his fatigue. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Moore led them away hastily.

Judging from Moore's appearance, the manpower for the ceremony was complete, so now she needed to prepare well. Eileen thought to herself.

Silently encouraging herself, the girl focused even more intently on the Bible in her hands, her deep gaze sweeping over each word on the parchment, as if trying to etch them all into her heart.

In another part of the library, "How nostalgic. It's been seven or eight years since I left here, and it's still the same as before." The speaker was a male clergyman accompanying Moore; judging from the insignia on his clothing, he appeared to be a priest.

“Yes, familiar buildings, familiar roads, but unfortunately, there are hardly any familiar faces in the church anymore. That familiar yet nauseating smell again,” another voice echoed.

“Hmph…” Just as the third person began to speak, a dignified voice interrupted them, “Gentlemen, if you want to reminisce, I don’t object. But first, finish your work. We don’t have much time, and we don’t have much free time for pointless chatter.” The person whose conversation had been interrupted shrugged, not refuting, and the others also fell silent, but they all pulled out various objects marked with mysterious symbols from who-knows-where and began to busy themselves, a tacit agreement with the old man’s words.

The midday sun shone brightly on the earth, the sky cloudless. The dazzling light pierced straight through the azure sky, illuminating everything below, whether clean or dirty, presenting everything before people’s eyes.

Just like on the first day, the dazzling midday sun shone through the glass above the church, cleverly shielded by the meticulously painted decorations, thus giving the sunlight a colorful hue. Colored light shone on the snow-white marble floor, perfectly imprinting the exquisite scene on the glass onto the earthly land. At this moment, it was as if heaven had descended to earth, and the deeds of ancient warriors had transcended the boundaries of past and future, arriving in the present. It stirred an irresistible urge to worship the omnipresent gods.

However, today's protagonist was destined not to be the ancient warriors. To avoid interference between arcane and divine magic, Eileen carefully placed away the magically imbued items and stepped into the ceremony. For some reason, Eileen suddenly shivered, a strange sense of fear welling up within her. Perhaps it was the long-standing habit of not being free from magical protection that made her uneasy, Eileen thought, taking a deep breath to suppress the inexplicable emotion within her.

"Are you ready?" Just like last time, Moore asked gently. Today he wore a pure white robe, the spotless garments seeming to reflect the purity and innocence of its owner under the sunlight.

"Of course," came the same reply as the last ceremony. This time, however, the sorceress's tone was less fearful and more confident and invigorated.

She had every reason to be confident; in just one week, she had read through all the books recommended by Bishop Moore. She had even reviewed the highlighted sections two or three times. Her restless emotions had been emptied, and her mindset had been completely adjusted according to the bishop's requirements. Add to that the sacred aura emanating from the ancient, mysterious cross engraved on her chest, and the sorceress was determined to succeed in this attempt, giving it her all.

Seemingly infected by Eileen's confidence, Moore also revealed a hint of approving smile.

Then he waved his hand.

As if flipping a switch, a soaring song erupted from all around the room the moment the old man waved his hand.

Even Eileen, who knew little about the church, recognized it as a hymn.

The song, accompanied by a sacred and distant melody, quickly filled the sanctuary of the church with holy sounds. It was both singing and chanting. The power of the incantation coiled around the tip of the tongue, then surged forth, colliding with the already established barrier within the room and rebounding, intertwining, mixing, and trembling with the new chanting.

The sunstone, shining stone, and radiant magic stone, containing divine power, flashed with light, resonating with the hymns echoing within and the holy power stored within, driving this sacred force to operate. Streams of holy power surged from the magic stones, flowing along the previously inscribed marks.

When the last stream of holy power completed its journey through the holy circle on the wall, catching up with the previous holy power and merging into a complete and stable circuit…

“…” Everyone in the church felt a strange tremor. This sound was not perceived through the ears, skin, or any other organ of the body, but rather echoed deep within the brain. Everyone present knew that something must have happened, but you didn't know exactly what it was.

This tremor quickly trembled and shook, then resonated even more strongly with the city's prayers, praises, and confessions to the supreme God of Light, finally merging together.

In that instant, it was as if new senses had been awakened, an indescribable sense of perception washing over her. The female mage felt countless messages resounding in her mind, a multitude of prayers, praises, cries, and laments filling Eileen's heart.

Undoubtedly, Eileen's soul, having undergone systematic mage training and practice, possessed unparalleled resilience, far surpassing that of ordinary believers. The emotional fluctuations of merely one or two people would have no effect on her; they would simply be resisted and dissolved by Eileen's own soul barrier.

However, during the grand celebration, believers from surrounding cities flocked here, and given the special occasion, all members of the Church of Light expressed their devotion to the God of Light and their expectations of the divine in various ways. Countless scattered thoughts mingled with the boundless power of faith, each drop converging into a torrent, surging forth.

Eileen fell into an indescribable state, seemingly incredibly clear-headed, every belief that flooded in was crystal clear and readily understood. By concentrating her energy to carefully discern and connect with the thoughts of the common people, she could understand their prayers, supplications, and confessions. If she wished, she could even further invest her spiritual energy to discern the personal information, level of faith, and even current mental state of the supplicant from those simple and crude thoughts. Just focusing on this aspect for a moment, Eileen felt as if she were omniscient and omnipotent, as if she could grasp everything in her hands.

At times, Eileen felt herself falling into a drowsy state. Even when she was doing nothing and thinking nothing, thousands of thoughts would enter her mind, unconsciously influencing her. Countless points of faith, like tiny specks of light, constantly surrounded her, drawing her in uncontrollably even when she tried to ignore them.

Eileen felt her mind filled with endless thoughts—simple, commonplace thoughts, not even worthy of being called the lowest ghosts, yet their sheer number gave her, a noble person, this strange experience. The moment the thought of resistance arose, Eileen felt a surge of resentment in her chest, her inner restlessness burning like a flame.

"Relax, calm down, empty your mind. Only when the cup is emptied can new water be made in." A voice resounded in Eileen's heart, like clean water flowing down, extinguishing the restlessness. Under this voice, all negative emotions vanished.

Undoubtedly, this was the voice of the bishop, or rather, it was Bishop Moore using the divine spell "True Spirit Possession" he had previously cast on Eileen to mentally sense her.

At this moment, Eileen had deeply entered a stage of resonance with the power of faith, her soul completely immersed in the power of faith gathered by the holy array. Everything she saw, heard, and felt was a manifestation of the faith of countless believers calling upon their divine being. Her physical senses—eyes, ears, mouth, and nose—seemed to cease to exist, leaving only her soul adrift alone in this boundless sea. The

cry originating from her soul surged within Eileen's heart, and a fierce wind of psychic power raged wildly across the sea of her mind, causing even the mage's originally solid and impenetrable spiritual barrier to feel somewhat shaky. In detail, the psychic power originating from ordinary people who have not undergone mystical training is actually incredibly weak. However, when the psychic power of millions of divine subjects converges, it's like raindrops merging into a vast ocean, surging forth with unstoppable force. Faced with such unparalleled power, even the most brilliant sorcerer of the last century cannot underestimate it.

Just as Eileen was struggling to hold on, watching more and more psychic power penetrate the barrier of her soul, staining it with colors that were not her own, Moore's voice echoed in the mage's mind once more: "Do not try to resist; going against the current is a waste of energy. You must unleash your power, merge into the flow, and go downstream. In the interaction with faith, you will perceive the bridge between God and man. Come, relax your mind; all the prayers of the believers will merge into divine power. They are the source of divine power, the beginning and the end. As previously said, with a humble and devout heart, perceive the initial state of divine power..." Although the voice was merely a mental resonance, Eileen still sensed the speaker's optimism and the wisdom accumulated over the years.

Although she hadn't been in Alexandria for very long and hadn't had many interactions with Bishop Moore, the old man's illustrious reputation had already spread throughout the entire Makar Alliance. In her interactions with the old man, Eileen deeply felt the wisdom accumulated over the years within his seemingly frail body.

Eileen instinctively heeded the advice of the voice in her heart, trying to cast aside the mage's prejudice against the gods and calm her mind. She then began meditating using the method Moore had taught her recently, clearing her mind and allowing the faith of the believers to flow freely within her heart, scattering and dispersing across her forbidden zone. She ceased resistance, no longer attempting to eradicate the mortal prayers that entrenched her heart. Instead, she expanded her spiritual power, penetrating the mortal beliefs scattered throughout her heart, seeking enlightenment through resonance, to grasp the common essence of arcane and divine magic.

The condensed torrent of faith easily crossed the undammed boundary, surging into the valley of her heart, completely filling it without leaving a single gap.

In this resonance with the power of faith, Eileen felt as if she were in a bustling city. Her ears were filled with sounds: the voices of the elderly, children, young adults, and middle-aged people in their prime. Some voices were weak and insignificant, others were loud and confident. The voices of men and women mingled and mingled. Upon closer listening, each voice within the psychic powers was distinct, yet collectively they all seemed to point in a deeper, more singular direction, prompting Eileen to grope her way towards it.

Fortunately, after Eileen severed any thoughts of resistance, the torrent of faith calmed, no longer turbulent and terrifying, but quietly and gradually filling Eileen's heart, silently merging into her.

"Blessed are the humble, for they will receive God's gifts," Moore continued to resonate in Eileen's mind. This calmed the female mage, who had initially felt slightly uneasy about the endless penetration of faith into her soul, allowing her to forget the anxieties and forever cast aside any thoughts of resistance. She simply watched the influx of faith, listened to the voices of the spirits, and followed their footsteps in search of that singular path.

"God is Lord, He is the way, the truth, the life, the only one," an aged voice echoed in Eileen's ears once more. Eileen knew this was Moore's spirit resonating with her. Amidst the cacophony of sounds, this voice passed through no barrier, clearly audible to Eileen.

For a moment, all sounds fell silent.

The next instant, all sounds erupted again; in the mental world devoid of precise reference points, the previous silence seemed like an illusion.

Eileen knew clearly that this was not an illusion. At least, the inexplicable emotion within her was not unfounded. Following the spiritual resonance with Moore, Eileen suddenly felt a strange feeling surging deep within her.

That feeling was not unfamiliar—joy, happiness, emotion, excitement… strong positive emotions surged within the mage's heart, creating ripples in her previously calm mind. A feeling of being enveloped in glory gently enveloped her, bringing unimaginable joy. The intensity of this emotion was unprecedented, even causing tears to involuntarily stream down Eileen's cheeks.

Eileen didn't reject this feeling, or rather, no one would reject such a positive feeling.

"The lamb will kneel before the glory of God, obediently submitting to the will of God and his servants." This quote from the Bible—"God said"—was originally scorned and dismissed by sorcerers who considered themselves seekers of truth.

But in this special moment, Eileen felt filled and inspired by countless spirits. Tears streamed down her face; the sorcerress could no longer distinguish what she truly sought to explore. She could only instinctively kneel before the greatest spirit, her humble and submissive gaze conveying her devotion.

The ball of light formed from the spirit made no move, but Eileen was overjoyed to know that the great spirit was speaking to her: "Those acknowledged by God are noble, and the devout lamb should treat God's messengers with sincerity, as one would treat God himself." Eileen couldn't find a corresponding phrase in her mind, but this was probably because her knowledge was too limited to contain God's holy words. Besides, words received from the Holy Spirit were like God's words, and she should rightfully engrave them in her heart.

She shouldn't have spent so much energy studying arcane magic, leaving no time to heed the spirit's teachings. Eileen thought with some guilt. This was the first time the female mage felt deep regret for her research into arcane magic. This sense of guilt and remorse drove Eileen to make amends for her mistakes, to draw closer to God, and approach that boundless radiance. Fortunately, the messenger of the God of Light was noble and great, and did not get angry at Eileen's ignorance, but instead patiently conveyed God's language to the ignorant female mage through spiritual resonance.

What a great and selfless act! Eileen, like a seedling parched by rain, greedily absorbed the Holy Spirit's teachings. Her brain, like a sponge, absorbed the Holy Spirit's words without reservation. For a genius mage like her, memorizing and obeying the Holy Spirit's words was not difficult. This made Eileen once again grateful for her genius-like brain. Of course, she should be even more grateful to the omnipotent and great God for bestowing upon her such a brilliant mind. As for the magical knowledge she had memorized, let it be. Under the radiance of the God, arcane magic was as childish and insignificant as children playing house.

Eileen listened carefully to the Holy Spirit's words, murmuring them repeatedly to deepen her understanding.

"Eternal obedience... God is absolutely right... God's servants act on God's will in the world... Serve God's servants as you would serve God..." "No doubt, the Lord's will is unfathomable..." "Thinking leads to doubt, only steadfast piety..." "Arcane magic and divine spells are miracles blessed by the gods. Mages, tempted by demonic power, have lost their way. They must remove the traces of evil under the guidance of the great servants of the gods..." "……………………

"

Eileen knelt on the ground,

wholeheartedly reciting the Holy Spirit's words, striving to engrave them in her heart and never forget them. Her actions undoubtedly pleased the Holy Spirit greatly, for a tidal wave of joy swept over her with each accurate recitation, wave after wave, without ceasing. The repeated words had barely left her tongue when the next wave engulfed her, bringing divine encouragement and sweeping away the last vestiges of resistance in the mage's heart.

“Eternal obedience…” Eileen’s voice rose higher and higher, for the wise mage discovered that the louder her voice, the blanker her mind became, and the weaker the resistance in her heart that prevented her from experiencing the ultimate feeling. Correspondingly, the feeling of joy grew stronger.

“Serve the servant of God as you would God…” In the end, Eileen was practically shouting, her mind a complete blank, only the teachings of the Holy Spirit taking root and spreading in her heart… “Hoo…” Opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was a pure white ceiling, the limestone patterns clearly visible.

“Ugh… my head hurts so much…” Eileen propped herself up to sit, the soft wool blanket falling to the side of the bed as she did so.

Changing to a more comfortable sitting position and taking a deep breath, Eileen gathered her thoughts.

Right, she had asked Bishop Moore to perform a ritual to sense the power of faith for her, hoping to better perceive the divine through this. And then what?

Eileen felt a throbbing pain in her head, as if preventing her from delving any deeper.

"What...what happened?" Eileen muttered to herself.

"You fainted during the ritual, little Eileen," a voice suddenly came from the doorway.

The moment the abrupt voice rang out, the sorceress's muscles tensed, her nimble tongue poised to unleash a deadly spell.

After confirming the person's identity, Eileen suddenly felt languid. A feeling of reverence welled up within her, and then Eileen instantly recalled her "memories." Yes, she had fainted during the ritual, thankfully brought back to her room by a kind-hearted clergyman.

Bishop Moore's smile remained as kind as ever, like the warm winter sun, but his next words were less so. "Now that you're awake, let me remove the demonic traces left on you.

" Eileen then noticed that Bishop Moore was holding a book. The darkness at the doorway had caused her to overlook the equally black-covered book, but beneath it, Eileen noticed the old man's disheveled clothes.

Even stranger, seeing such rudeness, she, as a high-ranking noble mage, should have righteously pointed it out. But what was this restless impulse within her?

Soon, another memory surfaced, dispelling her doubts.

With a soft thud, the female mage leaped from the bedside and knelt on the floor. The cold floor offered no carpet or other cover, and the girl, dressed only in her pajamas, quickly felt the autumn chill. The cold caused even the delicate skin of a noble lady to shiver instinctively, but the body's owner clearly didn't care about the cold, focusing instead on something more important. Her slender, lovely white limbs lay on the ground, her proud head unusually drooping submissively, and her distinctive golden-red hair, a symbol of the Bruler family's bloodline, was spread out on the floor.

Such a gesture, signifying complete subjugation, was probably the first time the genius second daughter of the Brule family had ever made such a move.

And even this gesture, he could only stand and enjoy it with dignity because of the name of God. One day, he would make this genius second daughter truly kneel before him.

A burning desire surged in the old man's heart, but the bishop's appearance remained undistorted by his inner wicked thoughts, still bearing that benevolent expression, saying, "Little Eileen, stand up. Let me, in the name of the gods, bless you, grant you a holy baptism, and wash away your sins." "I was so arrogant before, completely ignoring the miracle bestowed upon me by the God of Light that gave me this power. I hope Your Excellency will baptize me and remove my sins." New memories resurfaced, causing

Eileen, deeply moved by the Holy Spirit, to cry out.

"Ah, is that so?" Moore deliberately feigned difficulty.

Seeing Bishop Moore's troubled expression, the girl approached him somewhat fearfully, her voice tinged with a sob:

"Is it really because my sins are so grave that even Your Excellency the Bishop is unwilling to baptize me?" "No, no, that's not it," Bishop Moore said in a kind and compassionate tone. After a moment of silence, having piqued the girl's curiosity, he continued: "Ordinary believers only need to be baptized with clean water, but for those who harbor the seven deadly sins of pride, a special method of baptism is required to cleanse their rudeness." "Then, please, Your Excellency the Bishop, baptize me, so arrogant and ignorant, and cleanse me of my sins," Eileen pleaded in a tone as gentle as possible, yet containing an unwavering resolve. "

Very well." With that, Moore opened his arms and untied the belt that bound his waist. Then he released his hands, letting the belt and trousers fall to the ground under gravity.

Unlike the average elderly man of his age who lacked exercise, Moore's legs were bronze, the strong muscles on them highlighting his extraordinary strength. His genitals were concealed by his underwear, the details hidden, but the slightly protruding outline hinted at the vitality of a dragon.

After making this gesture, the old man slowly spoke: "As the saying goes, 'The lotus rises from the mud unsullied.' Facing those who are utterly wicked and lack humility, the gods will inflict defeat, crush their will, and teach them humility.

But for someone like you who has always been arrogant and disregarded the gods, we generally use filth to permeate your entire body, using the defilement of your flesh to break down the arrogance of the sinner, thus purifying the purity of your soul. Amen! I hope you don't misunderstand.

" Eileen looked slightly puzzled when the bishop pulled down his belt, but the look of doubt only lingered on her face for a moment before disappearing. Of course, the holy bishop is God's representative on earth; with his vast knowledge and wisdom, how could his words be wrong? It seems I still know very little.

Eileen nodded, looking up at the bishop with admiration, and said, "Then, what should I do now?" Moore pointed to his crotch and said, "Normally, baptism is performed by clergy bringing holy water to cleanse the body and mind of believers. However, for you, to completely cleanse the seven deadly sins, specifically pride, you must yourself invite the dragon from between my legs and draw out the sacred essence to fill your entire body, achieving self-purification." After the old man's patient guidance, seeing Eileen still looking bewildered, he seemed to understand something. "Eileen, are you still a pure virgin?" "Of course," Eileen answered honestly.

This was not surprising, given the relatively conservative atmosphere of the Makar Empire. Most noble girls from strict families would remain virgins until their wedding night. However, after receiving an affirmative answer, Moore stroked his beard with satisfaction and said, "Although you have committed the sin of arrogance, you are fortunate to be a pure virgin. By offering your pure body as a sacrifice through a priest, the gods will surely forgive your sins. There is still hope; do not give up!" "Is that so?" Eileen's expression was filled with surprise and anticipation after receiving Moore's affirmative answer.

He responded with his usual kind smile. For a noblewoman of such high caliber, a woman with so many titles was rare even among the nations of the Makar Alliance. Such high-quality material greatly satisfied the bishop's vanity. The bishop, naturally, was not stingy with his patient instruction.

"First, you must take off these underwear. To show your piety, you can only do it with your mouth.

" Originally, this wasn't necessary, but the bishop suddenly wanted to test whether a mage's lips and tongue were truly as skillful as legend had it.

Upon hearing this, a blush rose on Eileen's face. However, urging on her devout belief in cleansing her sins, the girl finally mustered her courage and crawled over, bringing her small, cherry-red lips close to the edge of the bishop's underwear. Her pearly white teeth barely touched the slightest fold of the edge. The two were so close that Moore, whose skin wasn't particularly sensitive, could clearly feel the warm breath from her delicate nose.

It was her first attempt, and her teeth only managed to bite down a tiny bit before getting stuck between her legs. The girl grew impatient, but no matter how many times she tried to bite down on the fold, she failed, only managing to get her saliva all over Moore's linen underwear. The situation reached a stalemate.

This forced the bishop, who was waiting to be baptized, to personally instruct her. He pointed to the narrow spot where the edge of the underwear met the skin and succinctly suggested, "Use your tongue." True to her reputation as a genius, Eileen quickly grasped the bishop's meaning. Straightening her back, she raised her head above the bishop's waist, then tilted it to the side, inserting her nimble tongue—a tongue she habitually used for chanting—into the edge of her underwear and flesh. She then curled her tongue to stretch the edge of the underwear open, followed closely by her teeth, which bit down hard on the stretched-out fabric. Using her body strength, she tilted her head back. After a series of efforts, she finally pulled the pants down completely. Having

completed the first task assigned by the bishop, Eileen knelt upright again, awaiting the next command.

Fortunately, the bishop of the Holy Light Society was not one to hesitate. He pointed again, this time at the erect dragon, and sighed, "This time you must lick it open until it's hard, so that the thick holy essence preserved for God for many years can be released. This is decades of effort, but it's all worth it to save sinners.

" Hearing Bishop Moore's compassionate and selfless words deepened Eileen's respect. Her eyes, brimming with devout tears, blurred, and the Holy Spirit's earlier earnest teachings resurfaced in her mind.

"Always obey God, God is absolutely right... God's servants act on behalf of God's will in the world... Serve God's servants as you would serve God..." "Do not doubt, the Lord's will is unfathomable..." "Thinking leads to doubt, only steadfast devotion..." "Arcane magic and divine arts are miracles blessed by the gods. Magicians, tempted by demonic power, have lost their way. They must remove the traces of evil under the guidance of the great servant of the gods..."

Silently reciting the Holy Spirit's teachings, the girl's devout tears flowed freely, a feeling of shame intensifying her remorse and pain over her past "sins." However, the girl's actions did not falter despite the tears blurring her vision. At the bishop's instruction, her rosy lips took the raging dragon into her mouth, moving it up and down.

To be fair, the girl's oral skills were not particularly good. She merely awkwardly placed the raging dragon in her mouth. The instinctive rejection of the foreign object in his mouth meant that the frequency and amplitude of his stroking movements weren't very high. A rare bright spot was that her delicate tongue still knew to lick his penis, giving the bishop a pleasurable stimulation.

Looking down from above, one could see her golden-red hair swaying gently back and forth, her fair arms supporting her weight along with her kneeling legs. Because of the winter chill, one could clearly see that the skin directly in contact with the ground was trembling slightly.

The pleasure accumulated from the stroking gradually intensified, but the bishop, not in a hurry to ejaculate so easily, quickly took a few deep breaths, using breathing techniques to temporarily suppress the urge to explode. He instructed Eileen, "Come, gently stroke this sacred sac that stores holy essence with your fingers, and don't stop stroking it with your mouth. With a heart full of piety towards the God of Light, push the channels through which you can ejaculate as deep as possible into your throat, allowing them to purify your sins as much as possible." Upon hearing the bishop's words, Eileen reflexively quickened and deepened her movements to express her determination to atone for her sins. Her jade-like fingers, which had been supporting her on the ground, now caressed the bishop's dark scrotum. The chill from the floor caused the bishop's sacred scrotum to involuntarily shrink, seeking warmth within, which only aroused Moore even more. With each thrust of the girl, it reached all the way to his throat. The tightness in his throat and the spontaneous, repeated sucking from his muscles made the bishop feel himself losing control.

However, Moore didn't say it outright. He also wanted to see the mage's reaction after being ejaculated into her mouth. To better observe her expression, Moore said, "Come on, lift your head." Eileen responded and lifted her head. He saw that the tear stain on the girl's cheek hadn't been wiped away yet. Because of her "devout" mindset, her expression didn't become distorted by the deep oral service; instead, it became more persistent and calm. But the engorged red dragon still protruding from her lips and the saliva unconsciously flowing from her mouth due to stimulation made the scene incredibly lewd.

This was also the first time Moore had gazed upon the entire body of this girl shrouded in countless halos with the complete air of a conqueror. Previous encounters had been limited by the need to maintain the solemnity of an elder towards a junior, coupled with consideration for the mystical perception of mages; eye contact had always been brief. Now, finally, there were no more such concerns. Moreover, the female mage was completely unconcerned by her mage robes, revealing large expanses of delicate, white skin, like curdled goat's milk. The front of her loose nightgown and the top few buttons were undone, subtly revealing the alluring outline of her rather voluptuous breasts. Her light green eyes, cool as a desert spring or like transparent crystal grapes, were crystal clear, their limpid gaze speaking of her devout faith in the gods and her complete trust in Moore.

Such a sacred yet lewd scene was unbearable for any man. Finally, Moore relaxed his control, letting his mind go blank, and his penis ejaculated thick, white semen, which flowed down his throat without spilling a drop.

"Cough cough cough... Achoo..." The bishop's rough actions caught the unprepared girl off guard. Her body, completely unprepared, immediately reacted, sneezing uncomfortably, and saliva drooled from her mouth, mixed with the semen she hadn't fully swallowed, flowing straight onto the floor. Fortunately, Moore had anticipated this and immediately withdrew his "sacred artifact" after ejaculating; otherwise, he might have been bitten by the girl's sneezing.

To prevent the precious holy fluid from being wasted on the floor, the venerable baptist immediately commanded,

"Don't spill the holy essence! Drinking it directly is far more effective than applying it externally, and it better demonstrates your devotion to God." Moore's command had an immediate effect. Unable to suppress her body's instinctive reaction, the still-coughing girl immediately covered her lips with her hand, trying her best to prevent the bishop's holy fluid from leaking out. This

abnormal act of forcibly covering her mouth to prevent the natural release of her body immediately contorted the girl's expression with distress, but this only deepened the bishop's sense of conquest.

After a short rest, allowing both of them to recover their strength, they were able to continue. The bishop asked with kind concern,

"How are you, little Eileen? How do you feel?" "I feel cold all over, and my throat was wet and sticky just now. It's very uncomfortable." The girl, of high status and a prodigy since childhood, naturally didn't understand, or rather, didn't need to, flatter anyone, and answered honestly.

Taming such a target was every man's dream.

Moore, unperturbed, said solemnly, "This is normal. Physical pain can deepen the soul's understanding of the divine. After swallowing the holy essence and receiving baptism, your sins have been borne by me, the baptist. Of course, to completely eradicate your original sin of pride, I must also lash the depths of your body with the holy staff, removing your evil from within." The girl's eyes trembled, revealing obvious fear of the impending "exorcism." However, in the end, her devout faith overcame her physical fear. Striving to overcome her inner turmoil, the girl clenched her fists, seemingly reaffirming her resolve, and nodded.

"Now, please take off your clothes and lie down on the bed." Moore looked at the girl's skin, which had turned slightly blue from kneeling on the cold floor for so long. Her skin, as delicate as priceless jade, was covered with tiny bumps from the cold. He said with a touch of pity, and simultaneously cast a divine spell to enhance her senses.

Originally a practical divine spell used to improve nerve reaction speed and reduce pain so that soldiers could sustain high-intensity combat, it was used more skillfully by the experienced bishop.

The man's genitals had already been well lubricated by the previous oral sex, and were still in the refractory period after ejaculation. Moore was in no hurry to penetrate her. Instead, he skillfully made rhythmic small circles on the girl's breasts, sometimes gently pressing the ruby in the center of the nipple, sometimes extending downwards, expanding the area of his movements to the golden-red forest of her genitals.

As a noble mage, Eileen had never been touched like this before. Even during bath time, it was only a routine touch. An indescribable feeling surged through her body, and she instinctively wanted to raise her hand to resist, but she stopped under the bishop's stern gaze. This coy resistance aroused Moore, and his manhood began to stir again.

"No..." Facing the bishop's gaze, the girl blushed and could only protest softly, her voice barely audible. Of course, Moore naturally ignored her protest.

To better appreciate her hesitant, almost ecstatic expression, Moore adopted a serious demeanor and spoke slowly in a low voice, “The Seven Deadly Sins are a broad category of human vices: pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust. You already bear the sin of pride, and as a mage, your attempt to explore the realm of the gods is also teetering on the edge of the sin of greed. And judging from your physical manifestations, you seem to have the potential to commit the sin of lust.” While speaking with feigned concern, Moore subtly released a spiritual message into the girl's body through a hidden method, using a mental imprint implanted deep within her soul. This reinforced her previously solidified beliefs, directly influencing the possessor of her mind.

Moore didn't continue, but from the momentary stiffness in the mage's body and the constantly shifting expressions on her delicate face—from shock and fear to confusion and finally, unwavering devotion—he found the answer he sought.

"Then, how should I exorcise evil, Your Excellency?" After a series of changing expressions, Eileen sat up solemnly, kneeling on the bed and bowing at a 90-degree angle, asking the archbishop, whom she considered the most "respected" and "knowledgeable," for advice with considerable respect. Of course, if one disregarded the moderately sized, alluring breasts and the graceful lines of her back that were directly exposed to the archbishop's eyes, this posture was indeed very suitable for seeking advice from a senior.

After receiving the expected result, Moore was in high spirits. He spoke in a kind yet slightly pained tone, “Do not be afraid, the Lord is forgiving. He is always magnanimous towards His lambs. As a lamb who has strayed for a time, your sins were borne by the Baptist the moment you received the Holy Spirit. All you need to do now is to have a devout heart, strive to purify yourself, and serve God and His servants with a pure and spotless heart. Don’t worry, I will guide you carefully in this regard.

As for the lustful body that may lead to sexual desire, I believe it needs constant training and stimulation, coupled with devout prayer and repentance, repeatedly expelling small evil thoughts to prevent them from accumulating and eventually becoming indelible sins.” Hearing the bishop’s words of “enlightenment,” Eileen breathed a sigh of relief, a look of relief on her face.

Little did she know that the real sin was only just beginning.
Moore took a deep breath, gripped his penis, aimed carefully, and thrust in with all his might.

This contest was overwhelmingly unfair to the defenders. The male attackers had countless ways to adjust the ram's horn and charge at the clamshell, while Eileen could only obediently endure the repeated impacts. The lack of proper lubrication meant Eileen wouldn't experience much intense pleasure.

Moore's stamina seemed limitless, and the dragon's thrusts seemed destined to continue forever. With each relentless assault, Eileen finally felt some lubrication in her lower body, a tingling sensation spreading through her.

Finally, the dragon's onslaught was coming to an end. After hundreds of thrusts, the bishop, abandoning his usual gentle and composed demeanor, finally blushed and gasped, "I'm going to ejaculate. Let my holy semen cleanse your sins and purify your soul within your womb." Eileen responded excitedly, "Yes, please baptize me. Let your semen cover my entire body, and let all my sins be wiped away."

Moore felt his climax release, a surge of pleasure rushing to his brain. His erect penis throbbed, releasing its life essence deep within the girl's body… After ejaculating, the dragon quickly shrank and withdrew, a thick, white liquid slowly flowing out along its path.

"Phew~" Eileen, who had been enduring Moore's thrusts, let out a long sigh, releasing her hands that had been pressing down on her legs. Her body instinctively adjusted to a more comfortable position.

“Very good, you should rest now. It’s quite late. I’ll come back tomorrow to discuss how to improve your health and prevent you from committing the sin of lust.” He was getting old after all. Although his physical strength was comparable to that of a young person, there were still some shortcomings, and he was ultimately feeling tired. Seeing Eileen’s lips move, as if she wanted to say something, Moore immediately interrupted the girl and cast a combined "Soothing the Mind" and "Sleep Inducing" spell on her, causing her to fall into a deep sleep.

Watching Eileen lying exhausted and asleep on the bed, Moore stood up and carefully admired this rare sight. After the release of his burning desire, his clouded eyes regained their clarity. He casually picked up the crucifix he hadn’t put down even during the most intense battle, turned it over, and saw a small inscription on the back:

Kom. A nostalgic smile crept across his lips: "My old friend Kom, the world isn't just about the legacy of heroes. There are more important things in this world..." He sighed, then didn't finish his sentence. Further

away, a crew-cut man exclaimed, chewing on a beef leg, "That tastes really good!"

If Eileen were here, with her photographic memory, she might have vaguely remembered that this was one of the participants in the previous ceremony.

However, his companions clearly didn't react much, or rather, they were each preoccupied with their own thoughts.

"Looking at the time, that female mage should be awake by now. I wonder what that old man Moore will do?" In the rigidly hierarchical system of the Church of Light, a man who was clearly a priest was addressing the local bishop by his first name in front of other clergy without any respect; anyone else present would have been utterly astonished.

His companions also didn't react much to his words, as if calling him by his first name in Moore's absence was no big deal. A dark-haired woman silently stirred her coffee, saying without looking up, "Does it matter?" The priest chuckled coldly and fell silent as well.

A hush fell over the room. After what seemed like an eternity, someone finally spoke slowly, "I just don't understand. We're both human, both were priests, both experienced that hellish place. Why can Moore's divine magic still be used without hindrance? Has he not fallen? Or does the great God of Light believe he hasn't fallen yet?" Silence followed again, but the flickering eyes of everyone suggested they weren't uninterested; no one dared to respond.

Finally, it was the indifferent woman who broke the silence. She continued stirring her coffee without looking up, as if stirring itself was something fascinating, and said, “Who knows? In the battle against demons, it’s inevitable that some will fall. Some are merely corrupted, while others will become new demons. The Church’s consensus is that all fallen will lose, to some extent, the ability to use divine magic and will be detected by the Evil Detector. However,” the woman suddenly smiled meaningfully, “whether the gods believe he hasn’t fallen, or whether a fallen person can still wield the magic of light, that remains a mystery…” Everyone fell silent again, and no one continued the discussion.

In the Church’s scriptures, there were indeed legends of imposters from ancient times. Fallen priests stole the glory belonging to the gods, wielding divine magic capable of deceiving the world, and in the name of God, eliminating devout believers. This caused countless gloomy fears on the earth. Such people are called "Impersonators" or "Blasphemers." Like many heroic professions lost to the dustbin of history, their origins are untraceable, and like most of the legacies of the legendary era, they have vanished without a trace.

Holy Light Priest: Moore; Mage: Eileen Bruller; Former Fallen Priest: Kom Phil. Worldview: The Holy Makar Alliance is an alliance centered on the Makar Empire in the central plains, surrounded by six other duchies. The alliance's inhabitants primarily adhere to the Holy Light Church, with a complex interplay of noble and secular power and papal influence forming a solid and tightly knit foundation for its rule. Its main enemies are the Iron Cavalry Empire to the northeast, the loose tribal alliance of orcs and trolls to the southwest, and the undead and demonic forces to the southeast. The far north is perpetually frozen and sparsely populated, the territory of legendary mythical creatures like dragons and phoenixes, rarely daring to invade.

If one ventures across the western ocean, an ancient continent lies within the territory of the Newman Empire. The two nations engage in transoceanic trade during the temporary calm of the ocean's great whirlpools, exchanging goods and resources. Merchants can reap enormous profits on a single voyage. However, due to the unpredictable cycles of the whirlpools and the uncontrollable forces of nature and man-made disasters such as pirates, Naga, and merfolk, only a lucky few manage to return home alive.

Other regions remain unexplored.

Key Characters: Moore was a free citizen of the Duchy of Seville, a highly respected and well-regarded priest of the Papacy.

Kom Phil, Moore's colleague, fell to the corrupt forces during a battle with the Chaos forces of the southeast. Discovered by the Papacy, he was "purified" by a punitive expedition and is now dead. His relic, the Holy Cross, is kept by Moore.

Eileen Bruller, a noble member of the Bruller family in the Macar Empire, is exceptionally talented. She completed her apprenticeship in magic at a young age, becoming a full-fledged mage and a key figure in her family's development. Her primary elemental magic is Holy Word. She hopes to revive the heroic class.

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[Heroic Legacy] [Author: Linhe]

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