Chapter 115: "Deception" - I Forged Them in Darkness, and They Buried Me in It

Chapter 115: "Deception" Lucius let out a derisive laugh and said coldly, "My affairs are none of your concern, Saintess." Ishitia's expression turned equally cold as she gazed intently at the man, seriously warning him, "No matter what, I will report all of Lord Lucius's actions today to His Holiness the Pope." Lucius chuckled in response, waving dismissively, "Feel free, Saintess." As he finished speaking, his eyes briefly wandered over the woman's figure beneath her white robe, and he suddenly smiled, "If the Saintess has no other business here, please leave now. I must continue my judgment of these two little witches." Hearing this, Ishitia lowered her gaze slightly, concealing the disdain in her eyes. She shook her head, "May I have permission to walk around the estate, Lord Lucius?" Lucius was somewhat surprised, but didn't refuse. Turning his back on Ishitia, he casually replied as he walked into the room, "As you wish." He then closed the door, as if sealing off all the hidden filth inside with it. Ishitia stood for a moment before turning to leave. She wandered around the second floor, eventually arriving at Lucius's study. The door was ajar, not fully closed. Without hesitation, Ishitia pushed the door open and entered. The room was simply and unpretentiously furnished. Only the desk held a thick book. The book was worn and yellowed, appearing to be quite old. Ishitia moved closer. A breeze from the window flipped open the pages, revealing a page detailing the steps of a mage's ritual to ascend to godhood. As the youngest Grand Magus in the history of the Maya Empire, Lucius was just a step away from becoming a demigod. His interest in such matters was natural. However, the handwritten words on the page puzzled Ishitia. "Deception" What could it mean? Though Ishitia seldom left the church, she was well-read, and had browsed through this book on Lucius's desk before. So what could the words "deception" signify? If the ritual to become a god was clearly documented, it wasn't likely to be anything particularly rare. Yet nothing in the book seemed related to the word "deception." Ishitia thought, perhaps His Holiness the Pope might know the answer. ... In a darkness-filled room, a man slowly approached. He first helped Selina, who was feigning death on the ground, speaking gently. "Selina, it's alright, you can get up now, I'm sorry you had to go through this." There was a hint of pity in Lucius's tone. Though both he and Ishitia showed compassion, they made completely different choices. In response to Lucius, Selina embraced him warmly. She hugged him tightly for a moment before quickly letting go. She murmured, "Lord Lucius, I told you to stop saying things like that..." Selina then hurried over to the cross, trying to untie Eilene. But she was too short and could only anxiously tiptoe at the base of the cross. Initially, it was agreed that Selina would be on the cross, but neither of them could refuse Eilene's insistence, so Eilene ended up there. As for the wounds on Eilene, they were indeed from whippings, not merely an act. Nobody could be certain whether Ishitia would personally inspect them. Or if she was less naive, perhaps Lucius really would have had to strike again in her presence. Lucius quickly moved forward, unfastening the chains from Eilene's hands and feet. Her frail body collapsed directly into his arms. He naturally held her completely in his embrace. The girl's frame was delicate and light, like holding a fragile kitten. But perhaps because of the harsh whipping earlier, her body was trembling softly. Lucius gently caressed her hair, his expression remorseful, speaking softly, "I'm sorry, Eilene. Had I known she didn't intend to thoroughly investigate, I wouldn't have been so harsh." Eilene made no sound, but she unusually did not resist Lucius and instead nestled closer. She rested her cheek against Lucius's chest, surrounded by a comforting scent. It was clean and clear, fresh and reassuring. Compelled, Eilene almost wanted to breathe it in deeply. The scent was familiar, reminiscent of the sudden embrace from a few nights ago. Lucius glanced down and noticed a small iron ball still in the girl's mouth. Having hung her head while on the cross, he almost forgot about it. Lucius quickly reached to remove the iron ball. Once the ball was removed, Eilene remained silent in his arms, increasing Lucius's sense of guilt. It was impossible for Lucius not to feel remorse. After all, the whip marks on the girl were personally inflicted by him, stroke by stroke. To dispel Ishitia's suspicions, each strike had to be as genuine as possible. Certainly, they couldn't have ruined the little "witch," could they? He couldn't help but worry, "Eilene, are you uncomfortable somewhere?" Amidst Lucius's concern, Eilene finally spoke. Her voice was fragile, almost inaudible. "I'm fine..." Lucius had his doubts. He reached out to wipe the dust from the girl's face. He meant well, but as soon as his fingers touched Eilene's skin, her body trembled violently. She squeezed her eyes shut, her pale hands clinging tightly to Lucius's shirt. Muttering unconsciously. "No...no..." Lucius was taken aback, wondering what she meant by no. He was just wiping her face, what was she refusing? Moreover, he noticed her body was alarmingly hot. Even through their clothing, her body heat was palpable. Lucius frowned, reaching to feel Eilene's forehead, which was burning to the touch. "What is going on..." Lucius became perplexed. Then, Selina, who had been watching, let out a gasp. She pointed at Eilene's calf, exclaiming, "Lord Lucius, look quickly." Without releasing Eilene, Lucius turned to check. On the smooth, tender skin of the girl's calf, mysterious patterns were faintly glowing. They intertwined, forming an intricate design. Though Lucius couldn't decipher it, he sensed the mystery and eeriness in it. Lucius turned to Selina, frowning, "Selina, what's happening?" He assumed that as a fellow witch, Selina might have some insight. Unexpectedly, she shook her head in confusion. "I don't know either..." Selina pursed her lips and lifted her skirt. Beneath, her calf bore similar patterns as Eilene's. However, hers were dim, almost imperceptible in the gloomy room. (End of Chapter)