Night had fallen over the city of Olivius, the heavy clouds pressing down as if they might collapse at any moment.
Eleanor stood quietly at the center of the church hall, her hands clasped before her chest, as if in silent prayer.
Under the lamplight, her features were calm, yet carried an indescribable solemnity.
The Duke’s personal guards and the Church Knights stood arrayed on either side, guarding this future Saintess.
At this moment, a solemn air permeated the atmosphere.
“The information has been confirmed.”
Eleanor slowly lifted her head, her voice gentle but unwavering. “The warehouse is connected to the Baron’s estate by a secret passage. The Abyssal Cultists’ base has nowhere left to hide.”
“All those cultists have now gathered inside the Baron’s estate. Our operation tonight is to capture them all in one sweep — including Baron Black.”
She paused, looking at Julius, Kyle, and Selina, her calm eyes filled with trust.
“The three of you will lead the guards to block off the warehouse. Make sure you cut off their escape. As for the frontal assault… our Paladins and the Duke’s personal guards will handle that.”
Julius stepped forward, pressing his right fist to his chest, his voice steady:
“As you command. We will not let anyone escape.”
Kyle crossed his arms, his red hair swaying in the firelight, a lazy grin tugging at the corners of his mouth:
“Well, this sounds a lot easier than storming them head-on. Don’t worry, none of them are getting away.”
Selina only nodded slightly, her gaze icy, her voice low:
“Understood.”
Eleanor gave a slight smile, but her expression remained solemn:
“May the Holy Light bless you all.”
Her gentle voice was enough to send a tremor through the trio’s hearts.
After leaving the hall, the three went straight to Helos’s workshop.
***
The night wind stirred, and faint candlelight shone from the workshop windows.
Pushing the door open, they were greeted by the scents of herbs and metal.
Bottles and jars were neatly arranged, colorful liquids glimmering softly in the candlelight.
A figure wrapped in a black cloak was already waiting there.
“Yo? You’re here?”
Helos’s voice came through her mask as she lifted a hand.
On the table, the potions had already been sorted and lined up, “All set. Two healing potions each, one vigor potion, and one focus potion per person. See for yourselves if that’s enough.”
Kyle raised an eyebrow, a smirk on his lips:
“You’re certainly thorough — uh, you didn’t slip any experimental samples in, did you?”
“If you’re that scared, you don’t have to take any.”
Helos replied flatly.
“Kidding. I wouldn’t miss out on this kind of treatment.”
Kyle laughed as he stuffed all the potions into his belt pouch.
Julius inspected the liquid’s sheen carefully before putting the potions away with solemn gratitude:
“Thanks. This means a lot to us.”
Selina added at the right moment:
“Mm. With you in the rear, Second Miss, we feel much more at ease.”
But just as the three were turning to leave, Helos suddenly spoke up:
“Um… can I come with you?”
Julius turned back, frowning with concern:
“But this time, we’ll be heading right into the enemy’s lair. It’s far too dangerous.”
Even Selina shook her head, a hint of care in her voice:
“Our opponents are Abyssal Cultists, after all. We can’t guarantee what kind of dark tricks they might have, so—”
Kyle sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, though his tone was light:
“Second Miss, you’d better wait here for us. Relax, we don’t plan on coming back one short and making you deal with any corpses.”
Helos was silent for two seconds, then gave a soft snort:
“Fine, have it your way.”
Hearing her answer, the three exchanged a glance and turned to leave once more.
None of them noticed the faint smile in the girl’s eyes.
The workshop door closed slowly.
Helos stood alone before the potion shelf, her fingers gently tracing the rows of bottles and jars.
The firelight reflected in her eyes, flashing with a strange, unreadable gleam.
“Stay here…hmm?”
She murmured softly, a meaningful curve appearing at the corner of her lips.
***
The next moment, she took an old pouch from deep inside a drawer and fastened it at her waist with practiced ease.
Her cloak was pulled on once again, hood lowered, metal mask hiding her expression.
She pushed open the door, and the night wind swept over her. “I’ve known the warehouse’s location for ages.”
Helos chuckled quietly, her figure slipping silently into the darkness, “Besides, do I look like the type to obediently stay put?”
The abandoned warehouse stood alone in the night, its boards long since rotten, its iron doors coated in rust.
Every so often, they swayed in the wind, issuing a harsh, grating creak.
Julius, Kyle, and Selina, accompanied by a few guards, approached in silence.
The night wind carried the scents of damp and dust, pressing in until even breathing was unconsciously subdued.
Selina was the first to kneel, her gray eyes glowing faintly.
She closed her eyes for a moment, using the familiar she had stationed underground earlier to scout the situation.
After several minutes of silence, she opened her eyes, her voice so low it nearly melted into the darkness:
“No one down there for now.”
Julius nodded, his expression grim:
“Then let’s move as planned.”
They and the guards cautiously pushed open the warehouse’s secret door.
Stone steps wound downward, a rush of damp, icy air rising to greet them.
Torches were lit, their yellow glow illuminating the group’s backs as they slowly disappeared into the underground passage.
Not long after they descended, another silent figure appeared in the night outside the warehouse.
A heavy black cloak fluttered in the wind, the metal mask glinting coldly in the moonlight.
Helos stood quietly at the warehouse entrance, her gaze falling on the shadowed stairway leading down.
She didn’t follow immediately, instead shrinking into the shadows, holding her breath, and listening intently.
Footsteps and the crackle of torches could be faintly heard from below, but soon all was still.
Oh…
She whispered silently to herself, the corners of her mouth curling up under the mask.
Spying like this was unexpectedly thrilling?
Yet soon she raised her brows again.
It really does feel a little dangerous, though.
Time ticked by, and there were still no new sounds from below.
Helos took a deep breath, her fingertip brushing the cold glass of the potion bottles at her waist, as if to give herself courage.
She looked around, confirming that the warehouse exterior remained silent, before swallowing nervously.
Then, her cloak billowed, and with light, nimble steps, she slipped down the stairs without a sound.
The steps stretched downward, the air thick with damp and mold, the very breath of earth clinging to her throat.
Helos’s cloak swayed gently with her movements, her breathing intentionally slow, moving as close to the wall as a shadow.
Each step was feather-light, lest those ahead take notice.
She moved at a painstaking crawl, time itself stretching thin.
But after what felt like ages, she still saw no end in sight.
Only then did she realize something was wrong.
Why is this passage… so incredibly long?!
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