"Quiet!"
The Chief Priest of the Temple of the Goddess's voice rang out across the square. Outside the temple, the Sanctuary's warriors stood in neat rows... In front of the temple, the Gold, Silver, and Bronze stood in separate ranks.
This would be the Sanctuary's most solemn ceremony in nearly ten years.
The Goddess's majesty filled the square. Along with the Chief Priest's proclamation, the newly appointed Cranes finally appeared, dressed in holy white robes.
Lamias was among the crowd. She had no right to stand at the very front, but she was fortunate enough to find a spot with a good view... A guard had brought her here, saying it was Muza's order.
Lamias had not refused... In any case, after she agreed, her body showed no sign of disappearing, so apparently this was an action she was permitted to take.
Actually, if there was always a risk that her existence might vanish, Lamias was not overly worried... At the very least, she could know in advance what she had done that would cause her future self to cease to exist. That amounted to an extra layer of protection.
But perhaps there was another possibility that offered even greater protection for her future self... She could die directly in this era.
If she died in this era without causing any major event that could alter the future, becoming someone insignificant in history, or even someone never recorded at all, then she probably would not have much impact on the future... Perhaps she would have no impact whatsoever.
She tightened her clothes around herself, perhaps because of the chill of early morning—but she already possessed Fighting Spirit, and her physical abilities had surpassed human limits. She obviously should not have been afraid of this little morning chill.
"I really don't