"Lamia?" The name caught Closia by surprise. She gave Abner a startled look, paused, then asked, "Where did you hear that name?"
Abner had come prepared. He handed her a photograph and briefly described the adventure he, Judy, Karen, and the others had shared in that valley.
As a senior member of the Church of the Earth Mother, Closia was entitled to know what had happened during that expedition.
Of course, Abner deliberately left out the Cursed Tudor Badge and Mr. Azik.
Closia studied the group photograph as she listened. At last, she nodded. "I see... I think I understand."
She looked Abner over once more before choosing her words.
"The woman in this photograph is indeed Lamia... And the man, if I'm not mistaken, is Giuseppe Castiya.
"Lamia was an orphan. The Church of Life in Feynapotter City took her in as an infant. She was born a Druid, and when she came of age, she joined my husband's Desolate One team..."
"Wait!" Abner interrupted. "You're saying she was an orphan and a born Druid?"
Was she an abandoned child of some Demigod or Angel? An illegitimate daughter? But would someone that powerful care about their reputation? Or was another powerful figure the wronged party, making secrecy necessary? Could there be something else behind it?
For a moment, the tales of ill-fated martial-arts protagonists like Xu Zhu and Yun Feiyang flashed through Abner's mind.
"I know what you're wondering... In fact, quite a few people in the Church were unhappy about it at the time. They wanted whoever was responsible to come forward. Abandoning an infant seriously violates the Mother Goddess's teachings. It desecrates life and new life.
"But the pontiff put an end to the matter. After that, none of the senior clergy pursued Lamia's origins."
Closia offered