Chapter 326: Ch 325: Knowing what we lost - Part 1

In hindsight, the council’s decision was not bad. Rather, it was the correct decision, since it would allow them to preserve the world in the best condition and ensure that whatever had caused someone to become desperate enough to cast world magic would not return.

But it only served to make Seraphina angry.

"Hey, won’t it be unfair to the person who paid the price for this sacrifice if we pretend nothing happened? We should do something to compensate them for giving up something precious, right?"

Lyra pointed this out, and the council rubbed their heads as they looked at her with cold eyes.

"And who do you propose we do that for when we do not even know who cast this magic? Besides, won’t the caster have forgotten what they lost as well?"

The councilwoman asked, pressing Lyra back. This back-and-forth was not giving them any solution.

The Dragon Queen finally raised her hand, and everyone turned toward her.

"I also agree with the council. This sacrifice was made knowing what it would mean, so we should honour it. I came here to warn you all—should you toy with this world magic, we shall become your enemies. That is all."

Seraphina felt her insides go cold at that.

"So you don’t care if your benefactor disappears from this world? Is this how you repay your debts?"

Her words started with herself as well as the Dragon Queen.

When Seraphina looked up, she saw that the world had gone silent, and everyone was looking at her with a worried expression.

"Saintess Seraphina, I think you are too stressed. You are the one who helped the Dragon Race, but we doubt you are the one behind this world magic. So please, control yourself—"

Except Seraphina was not the one who cast this world magic.

She was sure that it had not been her. It had been...

’Who the hell was it? Why can’t I recall?’

Seraphina could not shake the feeling that the name was sitting at the tip of her tongue, waiting for her to remember it, yet every time she tried to grasp it, her thoughts slipped away.

She could remember the warmth of a familiar presence, the sound of someone speaking to her, and the faint feeling that she had once been protected by someone important, but the person himself remained beyond her reach.

"I understand how you feel. If someone helped us overcome a threat of that magnitude, then I agree that we should be grateful. However, I do not agree with the conclusion you have reached."

The Dragon Queen said, her voice calm despite the tension in the room.

Seraphina turned towards her, her expression becoming increasingly troubled. She felt as if her next move had been read by the dragon queen.

"Then what conclusion should I reach? We know that someone changed the world, and we know that the change came at a cost. If that person disappeared because of us, how can we simply sit here and pretend that nothing happened?"

"No one is pretending that nothing happened. We are choosing not to interfere with something we do not understand. World magic is not an ordinary spell, and attempting to undo it without knowing its purpose could bring back the very disaster it was meant to prevent."

The Dragon Queen replied.

"But what if that person needs our help?"

"Then we must first determine whether helping them would place everyone else in danger."

Seraphina clenched her fists beneath the table, unable to accept the answer.

The more they spoke, the stronger the strange ache in her chest became, as though someone important was being forgotten right in front of her.

"Enough. We made a promise not to question what happened, and we should honour it. If we continue arguing, this meeting will lead nowhere."

Leon finally said, rising from his seat.

The council members exchanged glances before Ken Russle reluctantly brought the meeting to an end.

As everyone began to leave, Seraphina remained seated, still searching for the name she could almost remember.

They exited the council room together - her, Iris and Lyra while Leon had been stopped by the council for some ’important discussion.’

"Tsk, these fools are getting on my nerves. Do they truly think they can control me? The demon queen? I am going to go ahead and do whatever I want to."

Lyra scoffed, showing off that she still had her freedom and Seraphina felt a hint of jealousy. She wanted to be free, just like Lyra was.

But her circumstances and her position as the Saintess prevented her from being able to do anything.

"You say this, demon queen. But what can you even do? Do you have a plan?"

Iris finally spoke up and the first thing she did caused Lyra to become enraged.

"What do you mean whether I have a plan or not? Of course I have a plan. I am going to hold a ceremony to retrieve the memories of this world that we have lost. Don’t you want to know what we are missing from our minds as well?"

Lyra asked and Seraphina had to admit that she was curious as well.

But honestly...

"Do you think we deserve to see those memories? The person who erased them must have a reason behind this. I don’t think we should interfere with this."

Iris pointed out, causing Lyra to scoff.

"You don’t have to come with us if you don’t want to. Honestly, it would be better if you don’t come. That way, there will be a little less chance of being caught."

"No, I-"

In the end, Iris folded as well. She knew this was likely wrong, but her feelings of wanting to find what she was missing were greater than her desire to maintain this peace.

Seraphina knew how that felt and that was why she did not interfere with what Iris was going to do.

As a saintess, she needed to maintain peace. But as a human, she wanted to know what she had lost.