Strength 99999 but the Holy Sister

However, at this point, Celisilda felt a little relieved. She knew that Leticia had a brother who was a member of the Templars. The Templars were a group of tested, loyal believers dedicated to the Vatican and trustworthy. Since Father Angus had recommended her, it at least meant that Father Angus saw no problem with Sister Elsa Faris.

Cerihilda looked at Elsa, then shifted her gaze to Mary and Vivian.

"Those are stories of the past—just hold out your hands."

Although they didn't understand why, they still did as they were told.

Celyhilda also raised her hand. She walked in front of Mary and slowly stroked the back of her hand with her gloved hand. Then, a dim blue magic circle appeared on the back of Mary's hand, like a tattoo.

"This is a spell that allows you to communicate with me directly. I call it 'communication magic'. It will remain in your hand for one day. To use it, inject magic power into it and then speak. I will receive your voice - but its effective range is limited. If you leave the underground palace area, I may not be able to receive it."

Mary and Vivian looked surprised, clearly in awe of Celisilda's methods. Elsa, however, remained calm. The magic circle reminded her of a common item from her past life: a walkie-talkie. However, it was much more advanced than the ones Elsa had seen used by the neighborhood security guards, and it seemed capable of use in places like the underground palace, which were full of obstacles.

It seems that perhaps the leader of the Knights and the leader of the Magicians also have the same thing on the back of their hands. So although Serilda seems to be staying alone in the underground sealed hall to guard the seal, she actually knows everything that is going on above.

But what puzzled Elsa was why Celihilda would go out of her way to "look after" them. They were clearly just ordinary nuns. Even though Mary had a certain influence in the monastery, and even though Elsa was recommended by the old priest, they were still ordinary.

"Don't be surprised that I left this magic for you."

As if noticing Elsa's confusion, Cerihilda explained.

"You are quite strong, especially Sister Faris. Your strength is enough to help me."

Such affirmation made Elsa happy.

Elsa thought in her heart: As expected of the Sage, the tone of her voice is different. She looks like she has seen through my strength and has approved of it. It seems that there is still a certain gap between my strength and that of the Sage, but it is not out of reach. This is cause for celebration. I will keep working hard, and maybe one day I can become someone like the Sage.

……

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59. Touch [Part 3]

Cerihilda naturally didn't know what Elsa was thinking, and even if she knew, she wouldn't be too moved.

Because in her opinion, this is the truth. Call it arrogance or pride - even people like heroes and saints are not more powerful than her. How can the so-called "sage of the secret arts" be in vain?

"Elsa Faris, since you are strong enough to easily deal with the monsters in these caves, it proves that you have entered the ranks of the extraordinary. With your ability, you can attempt something more difficult."

she continued.

"By now, you should have figured it out. I have a new mission for you—I want the three of you to go to the first floor and investigate the whereabouts of the 'black-robed attackers' who appeared this time. They may not be demons, but because of this, their whereabouts are more covert, posing a greater danger. Furthermore, their purpose is unclear. I'm very worried they're planning some action. Otherwise, they wouldn't just attack a group of punitive raiders."

This coincides with Aisha's idea.

As she spoke, Celyhilda had already left the same magic circle on the back of Vivian's hand. She turned and walked towards Elsa, her tone becoming serious. "Although the attackers we've witnessed so far don't seem very powerful, there must be powerful people behind them. I left this magic with you to ensure your safety. I don't think they want to encounter me when they're hiding like this. Also, if you have any new discoveries, please report them to me immediately to avoid delaying important intelligence."

In fact, what she didn't say was: this communication array also has a "surveillance" function, because Elsa's situation is very strange. Although Celisilda is willing to trust Elsa, she still has basic vigilance. On the other hand, she also wants to contact Elsa in person and explore the strange situation of Elsa's abnormal magic element.

At this time, she had already come in front of Aisha.

Elsa held out her hand.

Just like she carved the magic circle on the backs of Vivian and Mary's hands, Celyhilda traced the magic circle on the palm of her hand while slowly lowering her hand. At the same time, she felt the repulsive force from her palm - at such a close distance, Celyhilda could clearly feel the magic power she had gushed out being quickly dissipated.

As the distance between Ceilihilda's palm and Elsa's palm got closer and closer, the half-drawn magic circle slowly stopped as the subsequent magic power was dissipated, and even began to disappear when it was only a finger's distance from Elsa's palm.

Serilildah was surprised again. At this distance, she could almost feel that no magic power was flowing out of Elsa's body, but the magic element in her hand was still dispelled by some unknown force.

This was the first time that Serilda encountered such a situation. She couldn't help but increase the output of her magic power. The surging flow of magic power squeezed Serilda, making her feel as if she was putting her hand into a quagmire.

The invisible and intangible magic began to take on a new dimension under Celisilda's strong pressure. Mary and Vivian looked at Elsa and Celisilda in shock. Their hands were not touching, but in the space between the back of Elsa's hand and the palm of Celisilda's hand, a thrilling torrent of magic swept out.

Elsa's golden hair was blown up, and she looked at her own and Celisilda's hands in a strange way. When they carved the magic circle for Vivian and Mary, hadn't it just passed in an instant? Why did it look like she was about to make a bomb?

Serilihilda was frozen, shocked that she couldn't carve the magic circle even after mobilizing a full 10% of her magic power, and also because the powerful repulsive force made it impossible for her to move her hands.

She was unable to cross the short distance of a finger. It seemed very close, but she could feel that the repulsive force against magic had increased countless times at this distance - even if she wanted to move a little further by the width of a hair, she would need to exert two to three times the strength.

In other words, even if she drained all her magic power, she couldn't carve a magic circle on the back of Elsa's hand.

Sweat was already dripping from the corners of Celisilda's brows - she herself couldn't remember how long it had been since she last sweated, but when she raised her eyes, she saw Elsa just standing there calmly, and there was even a hint of doubt in her eyes.

"Lord Sage?"

Elsa was puzzled when she saw that Serilihilda had not yet carved a magic circle for her.

Serrihilda was still carefully feeling the boiling magic energy, trying to gather it back together, while also slowing the output of magic energy from her palm. Serrihilda wondered, if magic energy could be repelled, then if the amount of magic energy was reduced, would it not be repelled? Otherwise, how would Elsa have put on her clothes? Serrihilda had also noticed that Vivian seemed to have made physical contact with Elsa, but Vivian did not feel any repulsion.

Sure enough, as Serilildah reduced the magic power in her palm, the magic circle on her palm was instantly shattered by the huge repulsive force. Serilildah suddenly felt her hand lighten, and the distance of her finger was shortened by more than half in an instant. Serilildah could almost feel the warmth on the back of Elsa's hand.

It works.

Serilildas heart moved, and she completely withdrew the magic element. Sure enough, the repulsive force completely disappeared, and she touched the back of Elsa's hand.

But the next moment, a sharp pain pierced her mind.

Celisilda only felt that the magic power in her body seemed to be shaken, and an indescribable huge power passed through her body. Then there was nothing unusual. Her palm covered the back of Elsa's hand. Nothing unusual happened. Celisilda could feel the warmth of Elsa's hand and the slender and soft curve through the gloves from her palm.

—Touch?!

Celisilda suddenly opened her eyes wide and stared at Elsa in disbelief. In her eyes, Elsa's soft blonde hair and golden eyes were unusually bright, even a little dazzling.

She was stunned.

Because what she saw now was the "real" Elsa, not an illusion created by magic receiving light.

And her hand actually felt the touch.

The bloody air rushed into my nostrils.

The unique rustling sound of the wind in the cave was caught by her ears.

She was stunned as she took in all this, unconsciously holding Elsa's hand tightly, and her hand began to tremble unconsciously.

She...actually recovered her five senses!

And this was not accompanied by the pain that came with the curse!

——Because all the magic power in her body completely stopped working in an instant, including the magic circles she engraved all over her body, and even... the curse left by the Demon King.

……

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60. The Desire to Survive [Fourth Update]

Celestia felt truly embarrassed.

Forty years ago, the arcane sage Celyhilda, the brave man, and the saint, led by the three of them, formed a most elite assassination team of mankind composed of the strongest people in various fields and sneaked into the Demon King's territory. Under the cover of the human and elf coalition forces, they successfully beheaded the Demon King.

At that time, many people died in the battle, and the few who survived were also injured.

At first, they didn't realize anything. Suppressed sadness, exhilarated joy, and intense emotions filled their chests. They returned victorious to their country, hailed as heroes. But soon, they discovered that the wounds from their battle with the Demon King not only refused to heal, but worsened. Soon, new victims appeared.

At that time, they finally discovered the so-called "Devil's Curse".

Later, Cerihilda stopped all her magic research projects and devoted all her energy to finding a way to cure the Demon King's curse. She collected all kinds of magic books and tried all magic theories over and over again, but to no avail. She could only helplessly look at the faces of those who had risked their lives and fought together, until the brave man and the saint died one after another, and she was left alone.

She sealed the Demon King's curse along with her own body, losing everything she once took for granted - her feelings.

I can't see, hear, taste, or feel touch.

If there is no magic, there is nothing, even myself cannot feel it, and the feeling of being "alive" has long been gone.

Her world is a void.

She was swallowed by the endless emptiness.

Ten, twenty, forty years, she thought her heart had collapsed long ago, but in fact, she was a little stronger than she thought.

She was moving forward almost solely on the basis of her obsession.

She couldn't remember how long it had been since she had felt truly "alive". Just by touching Elsa's hand, Celyhilda felt it was so soft and smooth, and the touch in her palm was just the right warmth. All these feelings were so full, delicate, and real, as if they were right before her eyes.

Celisilda stared at Elsa blankly, her eyes becoming moist without her noticing.

She no longer thought about what was going on. She just caressed it unconsciously, cherishing the skin on Elsa's hand like a lover in love. Her fingers traced every inch of the lines on Elsa's palm, passed through the gaps between her white and tender fingers, slowly clasped them tightly, and held them in her arms.

This scene stunned Mary and Vivian, who were standing by. They didn't know why the Sage had suddenly made such an intimate gesture towards Elsa. It was the first time Mary had seen the Sage show an expression other than his expressionless face, and Vivian felt a pang of pain in her heart, biting her lip unwillingly.

Elsa felt a little uncomfortable and embarrassed. She just felt something was weird. It was as if the sage in front of her had suddenly become a different person. After all, the way Celisilda touched her was really too corny.

There was a complex emotion in Celisilda's eyes, and Elsa could see deep helplessness and loneliness in them.

Elsa said nothing and let Celisilda hold her hand and rub it.

"Sage, what's wrong with you?"

Mary asked.

Celisilda finally came to her senses, her expression stiffening as she quickly stepped back and let go of Elsa's hand. As soon as she broke contact with Elsa, the familiar nothingness immediately surged over her, swallowing her whole. The feeling of being alive a moment before suddenly vanished, and slowly, the feeling of magic, a forgery, reappeared.

But after finally experiencing the real feeling of fullness again, how can the barren fake created by magic bring satisfaction?

Cerihilda lowered her eyes in despair, staring blankly at her hands. The magical patterns under the gloves were faintly visible, slowly glowing as the magic power was replenished again.

Almost subconsciously, she leaned over and pulled up Aisha's hanging hand.

The next moment, that fascinating feeling came back.

Elsa was a little confused about what Cerihilda was doing, and so were Mary and Vivian.

Only Celyhilda couldn't help but smile bitterly at her own actions.

——Just such a brief contact has made her addicted and inseparable from that feeling. There is a fanatical voice in her heart shouting: She wants to get closer to Elsa again, and touch Elsa's skin harder and more.

At this moment, she felt her heart was on fire.

"I'm sorry... I made you laugh... It seems my magic is getting rusty." Cerihilda moved her lips. Her voice was hoarse from not speaking for so long, but her pronunciation was clear. "Your name... is Elsa Faris, right?"

"Yes."

"If only... I had met you earlier..."

If it had happened earlier, would the brave man, the saint, and the others have been saved?

I don't know. Serilihilda doesn't think the Demon King's curse can be removed so easily.

But that’s hope, isn’t it?

Hope right in front of you.

She really wanted to hold Elsa's hand against her chest forever, but if she did that she would not be able to use magic - although the devil's curse would be lifted, she would become an ordinary person.

There is still a crisis here that has not been resolved and her mission is not over yet.

Thinking of this, a thought suddenly emerged in Serilildas' mind - the powerful vitality of the undead demon general Tobias is almost entirely provided by magic essence. Can Elsa's ability be effective against the demon general?

I don’t know. It’s another question of not knowing.

But if you get the chance, it should be worth a try.

Celisilda slowly let go of Elsa's hand, and the glimmer in her eyes gradually faded. Once again, she returned to her expressionless appearance.

In the face of this crisis, she had to prioritize the Demon General's affairs. So, she suppressed the long-lost throbbing in her heart and slowly said, "Out ahead... don't get any closer. It's too dangerous for you. Go back and complete the new mission I've assigned you. I'll personally deal with the monsters below. Also, the leylines are acting strangely, and the number of 'collapses' is disturbingly high. So you'd better be more careful during your mission. I wish you all the best."

After saying that, Celyhilda looked at Elsa deeply.

"Elsa Faris... I have some things to prepare. Can you come to the Sealed Hall in about four hours?"

Elsa nodded, and Cerihilda smiled in a magically constructed voice.

She hadn't laughed so heartily in a long time.

"Okay, I'll let you know through Mary and Vivian when the time comes... I'll be waiting for you."

After saying this, Serilda slowly turned around and left.

She felt like she was running away.

It's so embarrassing.

But perhaps it had been more than thirty years since she last felt this strong desire to live.

……

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61. Is this a sting operation?

After explaining the matter about Elsa to Sibern and Bishop Pittman through "communication magic", Cerehilda returned to the Sealed Hall with something on her mind.