Chapter 1174: 161. Grace

“You people... have gone mad?”

Priscilla still could not understand how this scene had come about. It was normal for that fellow Kent to welcome her return, because he had been one of the people who most supported her plan four hundred years ago.

But what about the others?

Clarence?

Felimon?

Avik?

Harris?

Felimon had belonged to the neutral faction, while the other three had all been firm opponents of hers! Judging by their former personalities, they probably wished she would never return.

But now, regardless of whether they had supported her or opposed her, they were actually all welcoming her with applause?

Or were they simply welcoming her return as family?

No.

During the four hundred years Priscilla had lain hidden in Annabawei, constantly changing identities, she had developed a very strong ability to see into people’s hearts. She could tell at a glance that these people were not only welcoming her, but also praising her.

And most importantly, all of it was sincere.

“Welcome back, our hero!”

Clarence had already opened his arms, assuming a posture as though he wanted to embrace her.

“What exactly is wrong with all of you?”

Priscilla subconsciously stepped back several times and said warily, “After not seeing one another for several hundred years, have you all completely turned into lunatics? Or are you plotting some kind of conspiracy?”

“Ha, Priscilla’s tongue is still as poisonous as ever.”

The neatly dressed Avik beside her pushed up his monocle and said with a smile, “Can’t you be a little more straightforward and accept the welcome and praise of us, your family? We haven’t seen you for such a long time. We missed you terribly.”

“Cut the nonsense. The last time we contacted each other was ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) seventeen years ago. Back then, you were still furiously cursing me as a ** with shit poured into her brain!”

“Ah, at that time, I truly had not yet understood the pains you had taken. I apologize to you for my offense.”

Avik lowered his head as he spoke.

“Huh?”

Seeing the most arrogant Avik bow to her just like that, Priscilla was completely shocked. She could not understand what exactly had happened that could make these fellows undergo such a great change.

Or had they truly come to understand her, acknowledge her, and believe that her method was correct?

“It is exactly as you are thinking.”

Clarence seemed to see through Priscilla’s thoughts and nodded slightly.

“We have all come to understand you, acknowledge you, and believe that your method was correct. The weakness of Hamreign that you discovered was not an imagined delusion, but something that truly exists. It is a card we can use, and it is also the key to turning the situation around.”

“Why did you suddenly...”

Priscilla understood even less.

“You clearly opposed me so strongly before.”

“Because the Goddess has shown the way to lost lambs like us!”

Clarence suddenly pressed one hand to his chest and raised the other high.

Whoosh.

One light after another automatically ignited upon the walls, brightly illuminating the surroundings of the hall.

Only then did Priscilla discover that at the innermost side of the hall, a lifelike statue stood silently.

It was the statue of a woman, lifelike, magnificent, and beautiful. Although no features had been carved upon its face and it was merely blank, it still gave people a feeling of compassion and loving pity.

Behind the statue was a high-rising solar disk, as well as a mural of all living beings prostrating themselves upon the ground with faces full of happiness and satisfaction.

“This... this is?”

“Could it be that you cannot recognize her? This is the Goddess of Light whom we worship...”

Clarence loudly praised the glory of the Goddess. The others also all pressed their hands to their chests, faced the Goddess, and devoutly knelt down.

Even Harris moved his pale face onto a mechanical puppet and controlled the puppet to display his devotion.

“Of course I know this is the Goddess, but what was that guidance you just spoke of... What is going on?”

Priscilla was the Goddess of Light’s most devout believer. Although the scene of the Goddess’s Flame of Light being stolen away by a certain blond bastard not long ago still cast a shadow over her heart even now... her devotion had not changed in the slightest.

But even someone as devout as her did not know what it meant to be shown the way.

Because through faith and sacrifice, she had indeed obtained power from the Goddess of Light, but she had never received her guidance!

The Goddess’s favor toward her and the gifts she bestowed upon her had been silent!

“I know you are very surprised. In truth, when we first received a response from the Goddess, we were also very surprised. You must understand that even when we were at our most desperate, this Goddess of Light still remained silent.”

After praying for a while, Clarence raised his head again and said to Priscilla, “But we would not deceive you about this. The Goddess has indeed bestowed unprecedented grace upon us now. Before coming here, you should have bathed your body in milk, and you should also have tasted bread and honey... All of those came from the Goddess’s gifts!”

“Gifts?”

Priscilla’s eyes widened.

“If you still do not believe it, then try praying to her!”

Clarence said, “Right here, feel the Goddess’s gaze!”

“......”

Priscilla said nothing more.

Because she knew that words were ultimately pale. If she wanted to know all of this, she truly could only personally feel it.

Therefore, without any hesitation, she knelt before the statue of the Goddess of Light and began to pray.

“Great, gentle, loving Goddess of Light... Please forgive my sins. I borrowed your great power, but in the end, I suffered a complete failure. I am incompetent... I am a sinner.”

Within her heart, Priscilla once again recalled everything that had happened before.

To her, it was a humiliation and agony that could not easily be erased. The plan she had painstakingly devised for so long had been easily resolved by a blond man who had appeared from who knew where.

Something like that... She did not even dare speak of it to Clarence and the others.

But before the Goddess, she naturally should not conceal anything.

She was devout. She sincerely believed in the Goddess of Light. She could absolutely not be compared to those people of Annabawei who casually adopted a faith merely to find something upon which to place their hearts.

Therefore, to her, this was both a prayer and a confession.

“Goddess... Please... forgive me.”

Priscilla did not dare hope for the Goddess of Light’s forgiveness. She only hoped that if the Goddess intended to punish her, that punishment could come a little later.

Because she still had something she needed to do.

She knew that evil dragon was about to arrive. She could not offer everything she had to the Goddess just yet.

She still had to...

[I... forgive you.]

“......”

Priscilla’s body suddenly stiffened.

She abruptly raised her head and looked at the statue in disbelief.

At some unknown point, the Goddess of Light had actually come alive.

She slowly walked down from that high place and came to Priscilla’s side, with endless radiance behind her.

That radiance was so warm, like the newly born morning sun, dispersing all the pain and cold that had been compressed within her soul over these years.

[My poor child...]

The Goddess of Light gently embraced Priscilla. Wings of light closed together, softly surrounding her.

Her gentle voice was more pleasant than every musical instrument in the world. Priscilla stood frozen in place, allowing the radiance that was incomparably familiar to her to fill her completely.

This truly was the Goddess of Light.

That warmth could not be faked.

“G-Goddess?”

[You have suffered... I have come to help you...]

“You... You really...”

Priscilla murmured in a daze.

This warmth was so real, so real that she thought she was still inside a dream.

“But... why was Muen Campbell able to use your power before? I even thought you had abandoned me.”

[...]

Perhaps it was merely her imagination, but Priscilla felt that the Goddess of Light paused for a moment.

[Please rest assured... That was merely a small... accident. I... would never abandon any child... Whether it is a calamity... or a blond man... all will ultimately be buried beneath... the blazing sun’s radiance...]

[I... will continue watching over all of you... until victory arrives.]