"2567 told you that?"
Perikena stared blankly at Mary.
"Yes."
"2567 told me!"
"He told me that true strength lies in the heart!"
"A heart filled with caution, yet still bold, unyielding, and undaunted by despair."
Mary nodded and reached out to help the female leader of the Snake School to her feet.
Her movements were careful and gentle.
"True strength lies in the heart?"
"The heart?"
The female leader of the Snake School rose with Mary's help, but her murmuring never stopped. If anything, it grew more intense.
"Filled with caution?"
"Not boldness?"
"Unyielding?"
"Undaunted by despair?"
Her murmuring grew louder and louder.
Her vacant eyes grew clearer and clearer.
Then...
She felt warmth.
The warmth coming from Mary's palm.
Her rapid, uneven breathing grew slow and deep. The female leader of the Snake School gently withdrew her hand, nodded to Mary, and hurried toward the shadows to one side.
The moment her figure touched the shadows, she merged into them.
Mary looked in the direction where the female leader of the Snake School had vanished. With a faint smile, she turned and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock-knock.
"Come in."
At Qin Ran's voice, Mary pushed the door open and entered.
The door slowly closed.
A pair of eyes in the shadows watched the closed door.
They did not turn away for a long time.
It was as though something she cared about more than anything lay beyond it.
That concern even made her overlook certain changes in her body.
A tiny patch of skin on her palm began to lift, slowly peeling away.
It was a very small patch.
But its significance was extraordinary.
Yet the owner of that hand did not notice it herself.
"Count Aidale came to see me just now."
"He really doesn't