“Saintess Elia, is that the same Elia I know?” Iana hid in the bushes, watching the knights surrounding Lillian.
She was confused by what the knights were saying.
After all, Elia had claimed to be from five hundred years ago.
And now, recalling it, the space Elia had pulled her into earlier was exactly the same as the trial space just now.
That meant Elia was already deceased, so the Elia these knights referred to couldn’t possibly be the Elia Iana knew.
But then Iana remembered Elia had called herself a Saintess, and these knights were also addressing that Elia as “Saintess,” which seemed too much of a coincidence.
“Could it be that I’ve traveled back five hundred years?” Iana muttered quietly, but then firmly shook her head.
“No way, that kind of thing is absolutely impossible.”
According to the memories in Iana’s mind, there was no power in the original story capable of time travel; no one possessed such an ability.
Even Ethelrina at the grand finale did not have such power.
“Who’s there speaking?” The captain of the knights had exceptionally sharp hearing, clearly picking up even Iana’s faint murmurs.
Hearing the captain’s shout, Iana’s heart tightened.
She thought, this is bad, and instinctively shrank back toward the tree trunk behind her.
But it was already too late.
At the moment she heard the captain’s order, two knights stepped forward, each holding a silver-white longsword, heading in her direction.
“Come out!” The knight standing in front of Iana shouted fiercely, the tip of his silver sword already pressing against the bushes where Iana was hiding.
Iana’s breath nearly stopped.
The sharp sword tip was only inches from her head.
If she moved even slightly, those blades could instantly slash her face.
“Don’t, don’t kill me.”
Iana pleaded helplessly.
She knew she had been discovered.
Hiding any longer would be useless, so she had no choice but to beg for mercy.
Iana could sense these knights were no ordinary opponents.
Their Bloodline Development progress was at least thirty percent, and none of their bloodlines were weak.
Although none rivaled her Magical Dragon Bloodline, they were formidable and far beyond what she could currently contend with.
Furthermore, these knights seemed highly wary of strangers.
Iana didn’t know why, but at this moment, if she didn’t submit first, she and Lillian would probably face death.
“Let’s talk it out. We’ll cooperate with your investigation to prove our innocence.” Iana crawled out from the bushes, begging.
But the two knights paid no attention to her words.
Instead, they pressed the tips of their silver swords against her neck and said, “What is your relationship with the person on the ground?”
Iana naturally knew they meant Lillian.
She didn’t know how to answer.
If these knights found out she knew Lillian, would they think they were conspiring spies?
Seeing Iana hesitate, one knight impatiently said, “I’m talking to you!”
“Friends.” After careful thought, Iana decided it was better to admit the truth rather than lie.
Besides, she worried Lillian might be too naive and accidentally reveal their secret acquaintance.
“You were crouching on the ground with her.”
Iana was escorted by the two knights to Lillian’s side and forced to kneel.
“I… Iana, you’re here too?” Lillian’s voice trembled, full of fear.
It was understandable—she had just been decorating the living room in her villa, but the next moment was sucked into a vortex and plunged into darkness.
When she first opened her eyes, she found herself surrounded by a group of fully armed knights in shining armor.
Anyone in that situation would be terrified.
“I’m sorry, Lillian. This is all my fault. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have gotten caught up in this.”
Iana understood now—this was the place where she was undergoing the trial, and Lillian was just unintentionally dragged in.
So none of it was her fault.
Lillian still didn’t understand what had happened, only giving Iana a puzzled look.
“My Bloodline Development just broke through ten percent. This is the place where I’m taking the trial; I don’t know why you got dragged in too.” Iana scratched her head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“I’m going to report to Saintess Elia. Keep a close watch on these two; don’t let them escape. We’re currently engaged in battle with those creatures, and if they get away, we’ll be punished.”
The captain among the dozen knights, dressed in silver-white armor with intricate patterns engraved on his chest, ordered the others.
“Yes, Captain. We’ll complete the task. You can go without worry.”
The other knights were not the least bit concerned that Iana and Lillian might escape right under their noses.
They saw the two as inexperienced children.
If it weren’t a special period, they wouldn’t even care about them and would have ignored their presence altogether.
They were the Kingdom’s Holy Knights, charged with protecting Saintess Elia.
Now, they were out on a secret mission alongside the Saintess herself.
The knight captain walked to the most lavish carriage in the middle of the caravan and gently knocked on the door.
“Saintess, we have just captured two suspected spies. How do you wish for us to handle them?”
Inside the carriage, Elia sat with a deeply furrowed brow and a troubled expression.
She rubbed her temples with two fingers, trying to ease her fatigue.
Their nation was now on the brink of survival, yet she didn’t even know what the enemy looked like—only that they were creatures not belonging to this world.
Amid this crisis, the Pope in the Church was still opposing her, making her feel helpless.
Hearing the captain’s report about two suspected spies, her headache grew worse.
She slightly raised her head and asked, “Spies? Here?”
This was supposed to be a secret operation; the Pope’s side definitely didn’t know about it.
The people with her were all absolutely trustworthy.
So why would two strangers suddenly appear here, in this remote and desolate place?
“I understand. Take me to see them.” Elia stepped out of the carriage and approached where Iana and Lillian were held.
The moment Iana saw Elia, she was certain this was the same Elia who had helped her during the First Trial of the Saintess in the Holy Trial.