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Odovish glanced at the elf. Without realizing it herself, she struck a bewitching pose, like a succubus draped in a white robe—the forbidden beauty of corruption.

"We'll be receiving a guest soon." Odovish changed the subject somewhat stiffly. After a few seconds' pause, he added, "Surely you don't intend to receive a guest like this."

"If they're only here to hear a story, I don't think I mind." Elufiel truly had no particular feelings about it. "Before he comes through the door, I can sit up from the sofa. It'll only take a few seconds."

Odovish seemed rather unconvinced by the elf's words. Sitting up straight, he said to Elufiel, "Don't you really think your dress is too thin? Even with the fireplace going indoors, you still need a thicker robe, like Goliath's."

Elufiel blinked. "But my dress has enchantments to maintain its temperature." She saw the mage's lips tighten, and the urge to tease him once again gained the upper hand. "Od. Are you trying to say my dress is too revealing? But this is perfectly normal where I'm from. I have dresses with even less fabric than this. Do you want to see? My favorite Guardian Saint robe has golden tassels across the chest and cutouts on both sides of the hem. When I lift my leg—"

"Elufiel!" The mage stood, paced back and forth twice, then slapped the book in his hand onto the small round table beside the sofa. There was a trace of embarrassment and irritation in his voice.

Elufiel burst out laughing. "All right, all right. I was only joking. Goliath's clothes are very cute. I think I can give them a try." Her occasional quiet laughter followed her upstairs.

Odovish watched her retreating figure, yet his mind involuntarily began imagining what Elufiel would look like dressed that way...

"Jingle, jingle—" The wind chime by the door rang. Odovish's attention returned, and when he opened the door, Eugene stood there alone.

The two sat down, but before Eugene could speak, Elufiel lightly leapt down the stairs like a fawn in the woods.

"Did I arrive just in time for story time?"

"Yes." Odovish looked with satisfaction at the dress that covered her from neck to toe.

Eugene smiled at her. "This morning was too rushed. Let me thank you again for saving me."

"You're welcome?" Elufiel tilted her head slightly. "How is my Common now?"

Odovish nodded. "Very good. Now, it's Mage Eugene's turn."

Eugene clasped his hands tightly, somewhat nervous. "Before that, may I have both of your consent to set out together for Everlook Canyon?"

"Oh? A prerequisite. Coming to negotiate with me under conditions was not a wise move." Odovish said, "However, considering that my theurgist is bored, I'll agree to your condition."

Eugene gave Odovish and Elufiel a deep look. "Your decision is exceedingly wise, Your Highness." He addressed Odovish as "Your Highness." Snow and Weston—either surname represented Arcane's former glory. And the man who had inherited both surnames, the last imperial heir of the former Itarigis Empire, now one of the six members of the Lista Council's Inner Ring, the Spell Saint who was even younger than his father, was the man before him.

"I have something with me. My teacher told me it contains extremely important information." Eugene took a small cloth pouch from an inner pocket. It was clearly covered in tiny protective magic arrays. He softly chanted an incantation, removed the protection, and poured a ring from within.

It was a beautiful rose-shaped ring. The rose-shaped ruby on its golden band gleamed brilliantly beneath the lamplight.

Elufiel covered her mouth in surprise. Was this the token of love belonging to Spell Saint Darren from the Emerald Fall Incident Odovish had told her about?

Odovish's gaze sharpened. "Your teacher was Spell Saint Darren? That can't be right. First of all, the ages don't match. Unless you're saying you studied under an undead being—but an undead being transformed from a Spell Saint wouldn't be unable to protect his own disciple."

"Your analysis is correct," Eugene said. "My teacher was Lord Darren's youngest disciple. When Emerald City fell, he was merely that lord's nominal disciple rather than a formal apprentice, so he was not intercepted and killed by the Holy See afterward. In truth, Lord Darren did not become undead... He transformed into a Lich."

A Lich.

Odovish and Elufiel exchanged a glance. Whether in Azeroth or Kanado, Liches were dangerous beings.

"At the time, the Holy See destroyed Lord Darren's * and part of his soul, but as long as a Lich's Phylactery remains, it will never truly die. My teacher returned to the ruins of Emerald City the moment the Holy See withdrew. Among the ruins, he found this ring."

"This is that Spell Saint's Phylactery?" Elufiel asked, looking at the ring.

Eugene shook his head. "It is not. Lord Darren's transformation was completed under extremely rushed circumstances—or rather, it was entirely orchestrated by the Holy See. The instant he became a Lich, he was hunted down by the Holy See. He had no time at all to create a Phylactery. However, a trace of his spiritual power attached itself to this ring, and at that time, Lord Darren remained conscious. Under his guidance, my teacher gathered some materials and made a rudimentary Phylactery. Lord Darren then existed as a Lich for a time."

"He told my teacher that the Holy See had used a strange 'black crystal.' Just when he had regained his sanity from the feral spirit, this 'black crystal' plunged him into madness once again. During that period, he had no control over what he did. Because of the damage to his soul, Lord Darren's Lich body soon perished even with a Phylactery. Apart from some lingering thoughts left within this ring, all of his spiritual power dissipated. My teacher preserved every clue he gathered within this ring. For three hundred years, he had been fleeing the Holy See's pursuit..."