The nymphs in the room blinked in confusion. They couldn't fathom how they were supposed to confront soone who had single-handedly overpowered them with just a wave of her hand.
Standing up from the ground, they focused their gazes on Fifi's light smile, their bodies trembling in fear. Gripping their weapons tightly, they anxiously awaited Felissa's return. Fortunately, after fifteen minutes, the door swung open again, and Orion, Nadia, and Felissa stepped into the room. In an instant, all the nymphs fell to their knees, bowing and greeting them.
"Your Sovereigness!"
Nadia surveyed the destruction in the room with a deep frown. A shiver ran down her spine as her gaze flickered toward the subdued Arch-Knights in the corner, held at bay by the headless winged spawns.
However, given her recent experience, her reaction was more restrained than it might have been.
Under the astonished gaze of the ard nymphs, Nadia swiftly approached Fifi and bowed. "I apologize if my subordinates caused any disturbance. I ask that you not hold it against them. They were only doing their duty," she said, her tone respectful.
Fifi was slightly surprised by Nadia's sudden change in deanour. The difference between the emotionless, expressionless Nadia she had t hours ago and the one now before her, showing a mixture of conflicting emotions, was impossible to miss.
Fifi glanced at Orion's calm deanour with a hint of realization in her eyes, then refocused on Nadia and nodded in understanding.
"You don't need to apologize. I don't hold anything against them. In fact, I would've been troubled if they hadn't noticed their Sovereigness's absence for several hours," Fifi said, concluding her words with a slight chuckle.
Nadia sighed and nodded silently, relieved she hadn't irritated the formidable warrior, one powerful enough to accompany the Supre Leader of Paradise.
anwhile, Felissa held her right cheek, now marked with a palm imprint, with a dumbfounded expression. As the head maid of the Crown Palace, she frequently interacted with the Sovereigness and was well aware of how shocking this new behaviour was.
'No, this isn't the Sovereigness! These people must have done sothing to her!' Felissa thought, her mind racing as she shot a piercing glance at Fifi and Orion.
"What are you all still waiting for? Leave this room imdiately! I will address you all later!" Nadia commanded.
The ard nymphs nodded in response and swiftly exited the room one by one in an orderly manner, leaving only Felissa behind.
Orion's gaze finally landed on the fifteen fully plated armoured nymphs restrained by the headless winged spawns in the corner of the room.
[ Energy Level - 4,240 BEM]
[ Energy Level - 4,289 BEM]
[ Energy Level - 4,348 BEM]
......
To his surprise, they were all at the level of four-star warriors, with the strongest at 4,400
BEM.
"Who are they?" Orion asked, gesturing toward the group with a frown as he looked at Nadia. "They are part of our Arch-Knights corps, Supre Leader," Nadia quickly responded. She turned to the subdued Arch-Knights and ordered them to "Introduce yourselves quickly." Supre Leader? Felissa's eyes widened in shock, her mind grinding to a halt.
What stunned her even more was how Nadia, who had previously treated the backbone of the Bastion of Wailing Gnarled with respect, now addressed them with such an irritated tone.
'The Sovereigness has definitely been brainwashed! That was the only explanation for what was happening, or else why would she address a man she had just t as 'Supre Leader'?' Felissa felt the urgent need to inform the High Advisors and the rest of the Arch-Knights corps about this, or it would be too late for the Bastion of Wailing Gnarled to act before the truth was revealed.
The subdued Arch-Knights, whose lips were bound, were confused and unsure of how to speak. They furrowed their brows, uncertain if the Sovereigness could see their dilemma. Fifi quickly controlled the headless winged spawns, freeing the Arch-Knights from their bondage.
Once free, one of the Arch-Knights stood up.
"I am the commander of the Arch-Knights of the Dead Roots corps, and the others behind are my subordinates," she introduced them, bowing respectfully. Her most lifeless gaze flickered with a conflicted mix of emotions as she glanced at the spawn standing behind her.
Nadia looked to Orion, awaiting his response. Although he had inford her of what had transpired while she was unconscious, she knew there were still many things he hadn't revealed.
However, she didn't dare ask. After learning about the existence of the tree nymphs in Paradise, she wasn't foolish enough to disrupt their impending reunion with the Bastion of Wailing Gnarled.
"While you discuss the arrangents with the High Advisors, I would like to speak with the lead artificer you ntioned earlier," Orion said, deciding to use the opportunity to et
Mira.
Nadia nodded quickly. "I will take you there myself. Please follow ," she replied.
Fifi finished her last Kalnir fruit, stood up, and followed beside Orion.
Seeing this, Nadia turned to Felissa. "Make sure they don't cause any trouble and gather them
in one place until I'm ready to et with them," she ordered.
"I will do as you command, Sovereigness," Felissa nodded firmly.
With that, Nadia exited the room with Orion and Fifi.
Felissa watched them leave with a determined expression on her face.
----
Fifteen minutes later,
Nadia halted before a door. "This is the place," she said, glancing at Orion and Fifi behind her.
She gently knocked on the door.
"I'm coming," a familiar voice called out. Several hurried movents could be heard from
the other side.
In a mont, the door swung open.
"Who's there?" Mira asked, her words catching in her throat.
"Sovereigness, you're back?!" she exclaid, but her voice almost faded as her eyes flickered
toward Orion and Fifi.
Nadia nodded. "I left to quickly handle an important matter. Has there been any strange rumours about spreading around the bastion?" Her voice carried a hint of suspicion as she
raised a brow.
"Ye-No... I'm not aware of any strange rumours. I'm just surprised you returned so quickly," Mira said, shaking her head hastily. "Can I know why you're looking for ? Is it because..."
She trailed off, glancing uncertainly at Orion and Fifi.
She wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or terrified at their presence.
Nadia frowned but quickly composed herself. "Can we co in?"
"Of course," Mira nodded, smiling as she pushed the door open.
Nadia, Orion, and Fifi stepped inside.
Contrary to their expectations, the room had empty tables, and several tallic-like suitcases were piled in the corners. It was as though the entire place had been cleared out. "What's going on? Where is your research equipnt?" Nadia asked with a deep frown.
"I... I packed them away. I heard that the Sovereigness had been taken by... our mysterious guests, so I decided to secure my research materials and equipnt for future generations. Fortunately, nothing happened to you, so I'll start unpacking them imdiately," Mira explained quickly, her expression shaful as she lowered her head.
Nadia's brows twitched with irritation. She could only guess who might have spread such a rumour, even if it was twisted from a partial truth.
"I'll see that whoever is spreading this dealt with swiftly. In the anti, I've brought our
two esteed guests so you can help them understand more about the void heart. You only need to unpack the necessary equipnt for now. I'll return after I et with the High
Advisors," Nadia instructed.
Mira nodded several tis in quick succession. "Okay," she replied.
Nadia turned to Orion and Fifi. "I'll be taking my leave. I'll return to inform you of the eting's results after I'm done," she said respectfully, offering a bow before turning and exiting the room, closing the door behind her.
Left alone with Orion and Fifi, Mira stepped back and gulped. She noticed the Sovereigness's surprisingly respectful gesture toward them but was only slightly stunned before she quickly
got to work.
Mira swiftly unpacked a few of the large tallic-like boxes, bringing out several pieces of equipnt and her research materials and placing them on the tables.
She then approached them. "Ahem! It seems the plan worked out," she said with a tight smile. "...Would you like to continue from where we left off, or are there specific questions you'd like to ask?" She couldn't see their faces through their masks, just like before, and the tension in
her body grew.
"I'd like to ask a few questions first," Orion responded.
"Oh? What is it?" Mira asked, her expression curious.
"I want to understand how you're able to produce Vylkr energy naturally," Orion said.
He was convinced that the residents' ability to generate Vylkr energy wasn't as natural as it seed, and he wanted to uncover how it worked.
With Seraphina's help, the research centre's expertise, and Aurora's expertise, they might find
a way to eliminate the transformation into the tainted and harness Vylkr energy without relying on the Vylkr vines.
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