The Borderland of the Holy Kingdom was exceptionally cold.
In the shadow of a cliff, Ailiya lay completely still like a stone, motionless. She made no sound at all, and even her breathing frequency blended with the wind.
This was a skill honed through the strict training of her Sword Saint Family.
As a meticulous, highly disciplined warrior, her personality absolutely would not allow her to reveal even the slightest flaw in her actions just because the environment was a bit harsh.
She had lain in ambush here for three whole days.
During these long three days, she maintained exactly the same posture, staring through the gaps in the bushes with cold eyes at the figure with silver hair in the camp below.
Her heart was waiting all along. Waiting for that silver dragon who had once trampled her underfoot on the battlefield to reveal a weakness, or to display some terrifying power that could frighten her.
However, after more than three days had passed, the scenes that met her eyes directly cracked her heart, which had been as hard as steel, with a small fissure.
Right at this moment, beside the campfire. The Silver Dragon True Vein, Yisela, who had once caught her lethal strike between two fingers, was now lying in an utterly undignified posture in the arms of the Saintess, Seraphina. In one hand, Yisela held a huge roast chicken leg.
Because she was eating too hastily, the corners of her mouth were covered in grease, and even her delicate little dragon horns had two pieces of crispy skin stuck to them.
As she ate voraciously, she let out contented grunts from her throat. To make wiping her mouth easier, she clung to the Saintess and refused to move, smearing a small patch of oil stains on the Saintess’s previously immaculate white robe.
A rare twitch appeared on Ailiya’s resolute face.
‘This situation is absolutely impossible.’ Ailiya subjected herself to a severe interrogation in her heart.
‘That being who descended like a Demon God on the battlefield, who could make my Battle Qi completely collapse with just a look…!’
‘How could it really be this little drooling brat in front of me?’
‘Was I… that defeated by that kid that I lost all confidence?’
‘Even…!’
‘Even the Demon King and I together shouted “Mommy” at this kid who only knows how to gnaw on chicken legs?’
A wave of shame surged into her heart, but what she felt more was a sense of absurdity. Ailiya felt her head spinning. She even felt that her belief in swordsmanship was being insulted at this moment.
Then, her gaze shifted to the Saintess, who was all smeared with grease.
Seraphina.
In Ailiya’s long-held understanding, this Holy Maiden of Light was the very agent of God, the embodiment of perfection.
Her entire image was holy, noble, gentle, but that gentleness carried a sense of distance, as if a divine statue was looking down at the common people below, without a trace of human personal feelings.
But now…!
Ailiya saw Seraphina holding a handkerchief, carefully wiping the grease from the corners of Yisela’s mouth.
In Seraphina’s golden eyes, usually so indifferent, there was now an overflowing fondness that seemed ready to spill out.
When Yisela couldn’t help but burp from eating too fast, Seraphina didn’t recite a purification spell to clean away the greasy smell. Instead, she chuckled softly, reached out to pat Yisela’s back, and coaxed her in a very low, gentle voice.
“Eat slowly, no one will snatch it from you. There’s more if it’s not enough.”
‘My God…!’ Ailiya felt her entire worldview had completely collapsed.
‘That stiff and dogmatic Saint Sister…!’
‘She can actually make that expression?’
‘She’s really smiling?’
‘Not that standard polite smile, but…!’
‘Like a mother looking at her own silly daughter?’
Ailiya took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. She knew she was a rigorous person and would not lose control of her expression under normal circumstances.
‘This is just an act deliberately put on to deceive the enemy.’
‘Yes, it has to be that way.’
‘This clumsy appearance must be some extremely profound realm.’
She tried to convince herself with her own logic, but when she saw that little silver-haired brat down there who almost bit the Saintess’s finger while grabbing the last piece of crispy skin, Ailiya’s mouth still couldn’t help twitching.
‘If this really is an act, then she’s way too good at it!’
The night grew deeper, and only two figures remained by the campfire.
Even though Yisela had eaten her fill, her little face was full of worry. She lowered her head and kicked a small pebble at her feet.
At this moment, she was actually very agitated inside. She knew she was weak now, but she didn’t want to be treated like trash, so she had to say these words.
“Saint Sister.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you full and sleepy?”
Seraphina very gently tidied her somewhat messy silver hair.
“It’s not that.”
Yisela lifted her head.
“Ever since I figured out how the ranks are divided, I’ve been thinking…!”
“Apart from waiting for that curse to be lifted on its own, is there any way for me to become stronger?”
Yisela clenched her little fists, her tone filled with a sense of unwillingness.
“I don’t want to be a limited edition.”
“If I can only beat weaklings, then doesn’t that make me a small fry too?”
“That’s absolutely not okay.”
Seraphina was startled at first, then her gaze turned very serious. She thought for a moment.
“There actually is a way.”
Seraphina spoke slowly.
“The reason you are so weak now is that all your power is hidden in the Dragon God’s bloodline inside your body. Once you try to draw upon it, it triggers that damned curse.”
“But…!”
She revealed a somewhat mysterious smile, a sly glint flashing in her eyes.
“Big Sister here has a special secret method that allows you to fight against Silver Rank and Gold Rank opponents.”