Chapter 42: Shrouded in Mist

“Right beside you?” Iana scratched her head, puzzled. “You mean me?”

“Exactly. I have high hopes for you,” Isabella said, smiling.

“What? How could I beat Serinveia? You saw how powerless I was against her!” Iana said, dejected, thinking Isabella was teasing her.

“How will you know if you don’t try?” Isabella chuckled. “In my eyes, among your peers, you might be the only one who can defeat her.”

Iana tilted her small nose proudly. “Am I really that amazing?”

“You’re making me blush!”

Isabella looked at the smug Iana, her smile warm. “After all these years, your personality hasn’t changed much.”

Confused, Iana asked, “Have we met before?”

“Of course. Didn’t I say I was close with your mother?”

“My mother?” Iana’s eyes widened. Having grown up without a mother, she’d always longed for one.

Seeing other children with their mothers had always left her feeling empty.

“What was my mother like?”

Isabella thought for a moment. “She was a genius, strikingly beautiful.”

Her gaze softened, lost in memory, as she gently stroked Iana’s hair. “She had silver hair and crimson eyes, just like you. Her presence was always warm, like a spring breeze.”

Iana held her breath, hanging on every word.

“She was beautiful, kind, and powerful. She once stormed a demon stronghold alone and returned unscathed.”

Isabella sighed, trailing off.

Seeing her melancholy, Iana asked, “What happened to her? Where is she now?”

Isabella didn’t answer directly. “You’ll find out someday. When your bloodline development reaches 10%, you might see her.”

Iana understood—her mother was likely dead.

In this world, bloodline trials typically involved deceased ancestors as examiners.

“So, my mother’s gone?” Iana’s lips trembled, tears welling as she looked at Isabella.

Isabella’s soft hand wiped Iana’s tears. “You’ll have a chance to meet her, not just in the trial grounds.”

Confused, Iana asked, “So she’s not dead? But how could I meet her in the trial grounds if she’s alive?”

“Your situation is unique,” Isabella said. “You’re special—a savior of this world.”

“Savior?” Iana puffed up with pride, then frowned. If I’m the savior, this world’s in trouble.

“How could I be a savior?” If anyone, she’d vote for Ethelrina.

“I’ve said too much. It’s better you don’t know certain things until you’re stronger,” Isabella said softly.

“Oh, I came here not just for Serinveia. I have something for you.” She pulled a student ID from her bag and handed it to Iana.

Iana opened it, seeing her name—Iana—in bold letters.

“When was this made?” she asked.

“It’s been ready for a while, waiting for you,” Isabella replied.

“Waiting for me?” Iana blinked.

Isabella smiled at her confusion. “No need to be shocked. You’ll understand eventually.”

Iana glanced at the ID. “I don’t need this.”

“You might. Aren’t you meeting Ethelrina tomorrow to find Vera?”

Iana gaped. “Are you spying on me?”

“Not spying,” Isabella laughed. “I’m keeping an eye on you for your mother. Think of me as a stand-in mom.”

Iana turned her head, feigning arrogance. “We’ll see how you do.”

Isabella teased, “What, my performance isn’t good enough?”

After some playful banter, Isabella grew serious. “If you face something you can’t handle, don’t hesitate to rely on others.”

She glanced at Yiserin and the others by the door.

Yiserin stood frozen, like a statue.

“What’s wrong with her?” Iana asked.

“You’ll understand in time,” Isabella said cryptically. “I have business to attend to. That’s all for now.”

With that, she vanished, reappearing in the dean’s office.

“You’re back, Dean,” the vice-dean said respectfully.

“Is it wise to pit Miss Iana against Miss Serinveia?” he asked.

“It’s the only way,” Isabella sighed. “Conflict will unlock their potential. If I could, I’d keep them out of this mess.”

“But the world has chosen them. They can’t live ordinary lives,” she added.

The vice-dean hesitated. “Is something wrong?”

“The Church detected those creatures’ presence,” he said. “It’s spread to the Saintess Family. Some may be infected. Should we send someone?”

Isabella raised an eyebrow. “The Saintess Family? The ones who fired my little Iana?”

“Let them handle it themselves.”

“But if we do nothing, those creatures could invade our world!” the vice-dean protested.

Isabella gazed at Iana’s image in a crystal ball, smiling faintly. “Who said we’re doing nothing?”

“This is a trial for the young ones.”