Chapter 53: Wind-Filled Tower (Part 3)

When Yabin first saw Bishop Aescher, he indeed had the same feeling that Talice had previously told him about. If this person couldn't be trusted, then there was no one else to trust.

The Bishop of Alrasia, dressed in red, sat majestically above, with a solemn and dignified expression. His gaze, though slightly kind, was mostly filled with an imposing, top-down authority. The aura of a high-ranking bishop, who held power over the entire kingdom, was perfectly displayed in every gesture and tone.

According to Talice, although this red-robed Bishop seemed unable to let go of their white magic and didn't fully trust their words, his unmatched intellectual magic, arguably the best on the continent, would undoubtedly be able to heal Ayime.

Yabin breathed a huge sigh of relief at that moment. He could now be certain that he had made the right choice.

This step was a big one, perhaps even too big. At least when he first took it, he had little confidence. What pushed him forward was more impulsive than planned. Even if he could save the female knight, whether she would believe him and how she would react were all uncertain. But in the end, he went ahead, wagering both his and his sister's lives.

But it seemed that the wager had been the right one. Talice was extremely grateful to Yabin for rescuing her from that group of vicious thieves. She knew very well that had she fallen into their hands, it would have been far more than just death.

Though the events in the wilderness might seem unbelievable, Talice trusted everything Yabin had told her. She simply had a gut feeling that this young man was not the type to fabricate such a lie. Trust and bonds formed in times of hardship could often reach great heights, and Talice didn't even mind that this young man had slapped a temple knight during their escape. From deep within her heart, that slap was actually one of the reasons she trusted him.

Although Talice had originally wanted to take Ayime to Celeste for treatment, Yabin disagreed. He had been too cautious to take his sister to the church for help, partly because of the white magic they both practiced. More importantly, he remembered very clearly the white magic that had been used to control the orcs on that dark night—magic so refined and profound that only a bishop-level clergy could wield such power. Until he understood the situation behind that event, seeking help from the church would have been like walking into a tiger's den. He asked Talice to wait and find someone "absolutely reliable, absolutely trustworthy."

"May the gods be with you, Bishop," Yabin knelt on one knee, respectfully bowing to Bishop Aescher. From both his position and his aura of authority, this red-robed Bishop truly embodied the qualities of someone "absolutely reliable, absolutely trustworthy."

Aescher nodded slightly, his gaze inspecting Yabin with keen interest before turning to Talice. "Please step outside for a moment."

Talice was surprised. "Your Grace, you—"

With a slight smile, Aescher said, "When I perform the healing spell on the lady, I need to focus without any distractions. No one except the two of you should be near here. You and the guards outside must stay away to avoid disturbing my concentration."

"Yes." Talice withdrew, giving Yabin a comforting smile as she left the room.

Yabin was both shocked and delighted. He hadn't expected the Bishop to agree so quickly and decisively.

As the door closed, only the two siblings and Bishop Aescher remained in the room. Talice's footsteps faded, gradually becoming distant.

Aescher listened carefully, ensuring everyone had left, then smiled at Yabin and asked, "You're the one who rescued Knight Talice from those thieves, right?"

"Yes," Yabin nodded.

Aescher's smile remained unchanged, and he casually asked, "Did you rescue her alone? Didn't anyone else help you?"

Yabin looked at Aescher, puzzled. While the question itself wasn't strange, Yabin couldn't shake the sensation of his scalp tingling.

Another thunderclap rang out, and the lightning illuminated Aescher's face. The Bishop's smile now seemed more than just dignified and kind—it took on an eerie, mysterious quality.

Yabin didn't reveal everything, especially the fact that the mysterious man had been the one to release them. That incident was far stranger than the events in the wilderness. It was almost incomprehensible, even to him. He couldn't fully understand why that man had let them go, and this was something he couldn't explain to Talice. Even if he wanted to, the details were too bizarre.

As for Ayime's healing, it was far from complete, and he knew better than to bring up anything that might create unnecessary doubts. After all, he still couldn't comprehend the true nature of that man.

Yabin controlled his thoughts, trying to stay calm and keep his composure. He responded, "No, I didn't need any help, Your Grace. At the time, the place was filled with evil thieves, but I had unwavering faith in the Lord, which gave me the courage to face the danger head-on."

Aescher didn't respond to the typical, faithful answer. He merely smiled faintly and asked, "That man who claimed to be Sandru—he didn't help you escape? Or was he the one who made you save Knight Talice?"

Yabin felt his muscles tense up, and his expression faltered. He had expected this question, but he still wasn't prepared for it. His skin felt cold, but his body was sweating as if his very thoughts were under attack. He struggled to keep his voice steady, his expression normal, and replied, "No."

"Your self-control is quite impressive," Aescher remarked, nodding. "But you must understand, very few can lie in front of a mind magic user. Your breathing, your blood, your eyes—all of it betrays you. And if that boy hadn't deliberately let you go, you wouldn't have been able to rescue Knight Talice."

"Your Grace, I swear in the name of the Lord, I was not with him…" Yabin's forehead was already beading with cold sweat, his mouth dry.

"You don't need to swear," Aescher interrupted. "The Lord can't hear you, and I'm not interested. From your reaction, it's clear you weren't working with that boy."

Aescher waved his hand dismissively. "Now, I want to know, how many people have you told about the events in the wilderness?"

"I've only told Knight Talice. This matter involves the church's reputation, and I didn't dare…" Yabin replied, hoping to avoid trouble.

Aescher waved his hand again, signaling Yabin to remain silent. He stood up and began pacing the room, deep in thought. His eyes occasionally glanced at the floor or the stormy scene outside the window.

Yabin remained kneeling, afraid to rise or speak. Although he was shocked and even somewhat afraid, he did not lose control. He knew his purpose and his place.

According to Talice, when the news about Turaleone reached them, it wasn't just her. Besides three temple knights and ten holy warriors, there was also a Bishop who served the pope, and the Paladin Lancelote, revered as Celeste's guardian war god.

No matter what kind of criminal they were after, this massive, elite group seemed a bit excessive. It felt less like a manhunt and more like an operation to flatten the elven forest.

But after such an impressive lineup, the outcome was surprising. They didn't just face thieves and elves in Turaleone's forest. The two rulers of the Wild Highlands—Lord Theodorus of Orford and General Grutt—were also there. After a colossal battle, neither side gained anything. With the elves' intervention, they withdrew quickly. The only outcome was the destruction of the thieves.

When Yabin heard this news, his shock deepened, and he began to suspect that the man had deliberately led the church to Turaleone. But the motive behind it was beyond his understanding. What he knew and what he was involved in was just a small part of the church's internal struggles. The true plans and secrets were beyond his imagination.

But Yabin pushed these thoughts aside. His only goal was to find a way to heal his sister. Even though the Bishop now seemed to know things he had kept hidden, Yabin was still more focused on Ayime's healing. As long as she was healed, the rest didn't matter.

Finally, Aescher stopped pacing and murmured, "I never expected a dismissed priest to be able to use the God's Protection magic. How unexpected… Maybe it's only these ignorant, foolish loyalists who can truly unleash the power of faith. I was careless…"

Though Yabin didn't fully understand the Bishop's words, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope and asked, "So, Your Grace, does this mean you believe what I've said?"

"I believe you, of course I do. Why wouldn't I?" Aescher turned to look at Yabin. His once lofty authority now seemed even greater, as though he were gazing down at an ant. He sneered at the half-kneeling Yabin. "Haven't you figured it out yet? It was me that night. I was the one who controlled those orcs."

Another thunderclap sounded, and the entire Saint Peter Cathedral seemed to tremble. The lightning illuminated everything, casting a pale, almost ghostly light. The storm seemed so fierce it could tear the entire kingdom apart.

Yabin didn't hear the thunder, or if he did, he didn't know. The words of the Bishop immediately shattered his thoughts. His mind seemed to suddenly become empty, as if something unknown was expanding inside his head, ready to explode.

Bishop Aescher looked at Yabin, who was still half-kneeling, and sneered. He waved his hand, and colorful specks of light flashed around him before immediately entering his body.

All of the strength and vitality in Yabin's body immediately stiffened into a lump. He was very familiar with this sensation. It was the same kind of magic that had pinned him, his sister, and his grandfather on that bloody, murderous night in the Wild Highlands.

"Really annoying flies. I never expected a loose end to tell that little girl Talice about this. If she tells Lancelote, that will be troublesome, and I'll be forced to waste some effort..." The Bishop sighed as he looked at Yabin, an expression of irritation at having to waste energy on a fly clearly evident on his stern face. Slowly, a faint glow began to emanate from his eyes as he looked at Yabin.

"I will cure your sister, but she will remember nothing. She will only remember the horrific scene of your grandfather's death that night, waking up from nightmares every night, unable to sleep. Not long from now, she'll fall ill from grief and fear, slowly dying... and all of this will be your fault, do you understand?"

Yabin maintained his half-kneeling position, his eyes fixed on Aescher. He only felt that even his thoughts seemed to have become rigid under the paralysis spell. Before he could react to this sudden change, his mind was completely drawn into the faint glow in the Bishop's eyes.

The Bishop's voice wasn't loud, but the howling wind and rain outside couldn't drown out every word, every syllable. Every note that flew from his mouth seemed to carry a strange power. The words didn't just reach Yabin's ears, they turned into thoughts and intentions, forcibly surging into his mind.

"Do you know? It's all your fault, all your fault." Another thunderclap. Aescher's voice grew heavier amidst the sound of the thunder, and the light in his eyes became more captivating. He now resembled a nightmare casting a spell, not only forcing his words into another's mind but also engraving deep marks into their memory and soul. "You will feel very guilty, very guilty. If it weren't for you, your sister might not have died. After your sister dies, every night you will dream of your grandfather and your sister. In the end, you will only have suicide left to choose…"

Mind magic was definitely an uncommon magic, not only because it was difficult to practice, but also because no matter how high one reached in this system, it couldn't compare to other forms of magic. It couldn't blow apart rocks or burn and tear apart the flesh of enemies. The only thing it could truly affect were people—living, breathing beings. It couldn't even kill a chicken directly. If there was ever a mage stranded in the wilderness, struggling to survive, it would be a mind mage.

However, while the world itself wasn't composed of living beings, society certainly was, and that was precisely where this magic was most effective. There were things it could accomplish that no other magic could.

"Everything I'm saying now will never be forgotten, not even when you die, but you will never be able to recall it." Aescher's words seemed contradictory, but it no longer mattered. In the words of a mind mage, language itself was a falsehood; what mattered was the intention contained within, for that was the true means of communication. "You will only remember that I cured your sister, and you will be very grateful to me. Then, you'll take your sister and leave Alrasia, hiding in a place where no one will find you…"

Aescher didn't pay any attention to the murmuring girl beside him. He was entirely focused on Yabin. No matter how magical, magic was still magic, and it required concentration. Moreover, Aescher could sense that because of his practice of white magic, this young man was able to resist his mind magic to some extent. This casting could not afford any mistakes. His focus was absolute, as he felt out the mental connections in front of him, aiming to grip them in his hands and deeply embed everything he had just said into Yabin's soul.

Suddenly, another loud sound rang out, but this time it wasn't just thunder—it was the sound of a window shattering.

The window exploded into a shower of glass and wooden shards, and a shadow, along with the violent wind and rain outside, rushed into the room.

Thunder, lightning, wind, rain, the shattering of the window, the sound of a blade being drawn, the shrill whistle of a sword cutting through the air—all these sounds filled the ears.

The sounds came too slowly. The shadow, moving faster than the sound, arrived before the noise could catch up.

Aescher was facing the window, but at this point, it didn't matter. His response didn't seem to align with his status as a mage or his age. He actually had time to raise his head in shock, fear, and retreat. But his attention and all his mental energy had been focused on Yabin, and his magic had been fully concentrated on the mind spell. This was the moment he was most vulnerable, the greatest flaw.

The figure and the blade were already upon him, and the intense killing intent filled the room, mingling with the raging storm. This was a killing blow, a strike meant to end it all.

Aescher's retreat seemed futile. His response, though fast, was still too slow, as his step back was almost like that of a turtle in front of an arrow. But this seemingly slow retreat made all the difference. That tiny fraction of a second—the time it took for the shattered crucifix on his chest to explode into a flash of white light—created just enough time for him to move slightly, avoiding the strike to his heart.

This was the perfect opportunity for an attack, the most unexpected strike. Yet, even so, it wasn't a guaranteed kill. The legendary mage, who had fought through countless battles and dangers, displayed reactions and cunning that reached the limit of a mage's capabilities. Truly, no need to boast under such a reputation.

A wound to the chest, especially for a mage, was nearly fatal, but not quite. Especially not for one of the top white mages in the continent. Asa could feel the white magic surging around the blade embedded in Aescher's body, but it wasn't allowing the blade's magic or draining effect to function at all.

His wrist muscles immediately tensed, preparing to exert force. Even with all the white magic in the world, this body was still just an old man, fragile and weak. With the strength of his wrist, even a blade not particularly sharp could easily split the bones, muscles, and internal organs below.

But at this moment, Aescher, just inches away, looked directly at him. The light in his bloodshot eyes, filled with pain and rage, shone brighter than when he had looked at Yabin. All the magic he had been about to cast on Yabin was now transferred to Asa, and all the finesse and control in it were transformed into wild, destructive power.

Asa let out a scream that could match Aescher's in intensity. He felt two invisible blades pierce into his eyes and scrape through his mind. He could almost hear his brain cracking apart.