Use Holy Light! Pierce the Darkness!

"Your Holiness?"

At the sound, everyone looked up at the descending Isia, surprise showing on their faces.

"I sensed the Witch of the Evernight's presence, so I came to investigate," Isia explained softly. "Where is she?"

"She just left," Bai Xuan replied.

"I see..."

Surprise flickered through Isia's eyes. She hadn't expected the Witch of the Evernight to be gone by the time she arrived.

"Your Holiness, your timing is perfect. There's something I'd like to ask you."

Bai Xuan stepped forward. "I've had another idea!"

"Another idea?"

Isia looked curious.

Bai Xuan explained his theory: perhaps Xilin was the key to undoing the Eternal Night Ritual.

"Xilin..."

Isia fell silent at the suggestion.

She couldn't tell whether he was right, but Bai Xuan had told her that not even the World Tree's energy could activate that incantation.

Then...

Perhaps Xilin really was the key.

"If your theory is right," Isia said, looking up at Bai Xuan, "would having Xilin cast the incantation play straight into the Witch of the Evernight's hands?"

"A trap?"

Isia's warning put Bai Xuan on alert.

It could well be the Witch of the Evernight's trap!

Every clue seemed to lead back to Xilin. In other words, this was still about her experiment!

Yet it might also be the only way to break the Eternal Night Ritual...

If so, they might have no choice but to walk into the Witch of the Evernight's trap.

"It's only a theory for now. We can't draw any conclusions yet," Bai Xuan said after a moment's thought. "I'll test it before we decide."

"Yes, that would be best."

Isia nodded slightly, then looked around.

Most of the Elves in the Elf Forest had returned to normal, freed from the night's corruption for the time being.

But the other living