From Hogwarts to Strixhaven.

Chapter 538 Embrace of the Shadows
Viconia Deville established her Shar Monastery in a secluded corner of the city below Baldur's Gate, and gave it a name with strong religious connotations—the House of Sorrow.

Shar is possibly one of the oldest deities in the world of Toril. As one of the primordial gods, she possesses almost no humanity. Unlike the goddess of magic who has died multiple times due to the chaos of the magic network and returned from the dead, Shar has no intention of falling in love with mortals. She loves only her sister, Serene, and hates only her.

For Shar, the world of Toril and the continent of Faerûn were irrelevant. As long as she could return to the primordial darkness and continue to depend on her sister, she would not care even if everything was destroyed.

Or perhaps it could be said that Shar believed only by destroying everything in the world of Toril would Serene obediently stay with her in the eternally tranquil and void of darkness. However, Serene herself was unwilling to watch her sister go mad and destroy all the living beings she cherished.

Therefore, when Serene's personal will was not strong, every action of Shar's was like a little girl throwing a tantrum, snatching her favorite toy from her sister's hand, and deliberately destroying her hard work to gain attention... As a god who would stop at nothing and acted without any bottom line, Shar had many opportunities to cause irreparable harm to Serene, but apart from verbal abuse and mental control, she did not do anything particularly extreme.

This makes Serene and Shar, these sisters and sworn enemies, seem more like a couple engaged in a sadomasochistic flirting game, with the entire world of Toril being their playground, and the followers of their respective gods being the tools they use to hurt each other.

Immortals fight, mortals suffer.

With the two primordial gods of the world of Toril locked in a bitter conflict, it was nearly impossible for the mortal races of Faerûn to escape some degree of collateral damage. Furthermore, under the strict orders of the supreme god Io, the two true gods were unlikely to engage in direct combat. Thus, the followers of Shar and Serene on the continent became tools for the two goddesses, caught in a love-hate relationship, to express their emotional needs. Even Irene, the daughter of Serene, could not escape this ironic fate.

Not to mention Yingxin, who was just a little girl decades ago. She was kidnapped by Viconia Deville during the homecoming ceremony of the Serenne believers and had her memories stolen by Shar's divine power, thus completing the passive transformation from a Serenne believer to a Shar elector.

However, fate always exceeds people's expectations, and even the gods often find it difficult to see every ripple in the long river of fate.

As the chosen one of the goddess Shar, Shadowheart not only brilliantly completed the goddess's mission, but also decisively betrayed her in Shar's own domain, discarding the sacred weapon she had personally bestowed upon her, and freeing Irene, the daughter of Serene, who had been tortured and imprisoned for a hundred years.

Now, Shadowheart stands once again before the gates of the Mansion of Sorrow, not to express remorse and loyalty to Shar, but to rescue her equally tormented parents.

Located at the foot of the city walls in the upper district of Baldur's Gate, the wooden house has a quiet little garden. Hooded worshippers with serene expressions come and go in this secluded and tranquil place. Each of them seems to have a peaceful joy on their face, which is out of place with the bustling and materialistic Baldur's Gate.

When Yingxin appeared by the gate with her white hair, the sorrowful guard at the gate recognized her almost immediately.

Without any further pleasantries, the simply dressed guards, who would have been impossible to spot in the crowds of the lower city, immediately retreated into the inconspicuous wooden structure of the House of Sorrow.

Then, many believers who had come to visit her, looking bewildered, were turned away. Some were simply poorly dressed citizens of the lower city, while others were wealthy patrons of the upper city adorned with gold and silver. But before the Lady of Shadows, they were nothing more than ants troubled by worldly worries.

If the Lady of Shadows is in a good mood, she may mercifully help resolve the troubles of insignificant ants. However, under normal circumstances, the Lady of Shadows only feels a little bit of joy when harming Serene and her followers.

“This is it…” Yingxin almost murmured, the dim sunset reflecting a translucent fragility onto her face. “My stolen childhood… was almost entirely wasted in the temple hall beneath this wooden house…”

Ivy pressed the back of her hand against her cheek, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her pointed ear: "That's not a waste. All the experiences of the past have shaped you into who you are today, the Shadowheart I adore. Focus on our mission; we're not here to make Shar gloat."

Yingxin closed her eyes, slowly exhaled, and rubbed her cheek against Aiwei's hand: "Without you, I really don't know how I would face her..."

“Even without me, you could have done it.” Ivy said slowly, savoring the moment of tenderness. “Don’t forget that you stood before Shar by your own will and threw her artifact into the abyss of the Fallen Shadows.”

Ivy's words elicited a soft chuckle from Yingxin. She gently pulled Ivy's fingers and kissed his strong knuckles with her thin, soft lips: "I am Ivy Doom's lover, the future mistress of Morningstar City. How can I hesitate before Shar's palace?"

The wooden door of the Mansion of Sorrow opened once again, and the Sorrow Guards belonging to Shar stood in twos and threes in the corner of the room. A wood elf dressed simply and properly spoke up: "Everyone has been debating whether you will show up or not. Faced with the consequences of your actions, I thought you would try to run away like a coward."

“But I didn’t expect you to return to Baldur’s Gate in this way, especially at the coronation ceremony of the Chosen of Bane.” The female wood elf glanced at Ivy out of the corner of her eye. “Whoever you’re relying on, or what it is… he can’t possibly be greater than Lady Shar.”

“I thought your resentment would be more aggressive, Miria.” Shadowheart showed little additional expression; her gaze didn’t even linger on the wood elf’s face. She was searching for something familiar in her few remaining, hazy memories. “Where is the Headmistress?”

“The time is not right.” The wood elf Miria, who was being mocked, was not angry. “You must first undergo mind mapping before the headmistress will know how to deal with you.”

Seeing that Yingxin didn't seem to be opposed, Miria opened a secret door, behind which was a low, rocky chamber.

The room was simply furnished with books, tapestries, vases, and the like, seemingly to create a relaxed atmosphere.

The secret room was empty. In the center was an overly simple stone bench with a tangled animal hide as a cushion.

The wood elf Miria did not stop Ivy and the rest of the party from entering; perhaps in her eyes, a mere four or five people were not enough to overthrow the entire monastery.

Following Miria's instructions, Shadowheart sat down at one end of the stone bench.

"You long to be free from your burdens, don't you?" A flash of purplish light appeared, and a woman in a black robe appeared, sitting at the other end of the stone bench with her back to Yingxin.

“Why all the mystery? Headmistress… Viconia Deville?” Shadowheart turned her head. “We’ve already crossed paths in the High Hall, haven’t we?” “An astral projection.” Ivy immediately recognized Viconia’s spell. “Now I know how you ended up at the coronation ceremony in Gortash. You have people in the Sentinels?”

“Lady Shar wields more power in this city than you know, Mage.” Viconia, draped in a black silk robe, rose to her feet. “You should all be in awe of her halls.”

“If only Shar could help me forget your face.” The high-ranking harpist rolled her eyes dramatically. Minsk, standing beside her, unusually remained silent, his muscles tensing.

It seems that he, like Jasila, still has vivid memories of this old teammate from a hundred years ago.

“It’s always a pleasure to see old acquaintances, but it’s wise of you not to interfere in what happens next.” Viconia, who had painstakingly cast the Astral Projection, canceled the spell after only a few words, leaving only her low, hoarse echo in the air. “Come down—there are still many questions that haven’t been answered.”

The projected purple light mist completely dissipated, and a stone door disguised as a wall slowly opened, revealing a staircase leading to a hidden place.

"The sewers again?" the high-ranking harpist couldn't help but complain. "Were we Bodø people rats in our past lives?"

The spiraling staircase extends for about thirty or forty meters into the darkness. Torches, emitting a faint glow, are fixed to the walls on both sides, illuminating the shape of an archway. The gold and purple flags belonging to Shar hang beside the door, adding to the religious atmosphere.

A deep purple obelisk stands behind the archway, dividing the passageway leading to the four rooms. In addition to the route the team members came from, there is a closed wooden door on each of the left and right sides.

"Shadow Embrace Monastery..." Shadowheart's expression was somewhat dazed; the familiar scene brought back more lost memories. "That's what the Headmistress called this place..."

"On both sides are the training grounds for believers, infiltration and interrogation..." Shar's teachings never strayed from Shadowheart, even after she had completely betrayed the Lady of Shadows. "By using various different outfits, herbs to change hair color and facial features, and with appropriate accents and gaits, Shar's followers can perfectly blend into any scene. The sentries in the upper city are no harder to infiltrate than the chaotic vegetable market in the lower city."

Seeing that Xie Nian was already trying to pick the lock, Ying Xin reminded him, "There's nothing valuable inside. Most of it is just some worn-out training equipment, and maybe a few sets of Flame Fist and Sentry armor."

Evil thought sheepishly put away his lock-picking tools, scratched his head and chuckled, "Hehe, I just got itchy fingers."

“I thought we were going to do something adventurers do again.” Even the high-ranking harpist Jasira was a little disappointed. “Ignore the owner of the house and turn all the containers upside down. But don’t worry, young man—knowing Viconia as I do, she’s definitely kept her most precious things in the innermost part of the monastery.”

There is no doubt that the Shadow Embrace Monastery, hidden beneath Baldur's Gate, was built only in recent decades. Although its exterior is consistent with the architectural style of the Temple of the Iron Hand beneath the tombs of the Katheric Somme family, the pristine black-purple floors and the well-preserved banners hanging along the corridors speak volumes about Viconia Deville's dedication to the monastery.

This exile from Menzoberranzan cherished the fruits of her labor, but her devotion was not necessarily rewarded by the gods she worshipped.

As the footsteps of Ivy and the others echoed chaotically through the corridors of the Shadow Embrace Monastery, a golden brazier hanging from above ignited with purple magical flames, enhancing the somber atmosphere of Shar.

No matter how much Yingxin resisted, her body was still very familiar with the atmosphere of the monastery. Years of training had made her silently prepared for battle, ready to face any challenge that might jump out from the shadows at any time.

A faint incense scent, along with the thin mist of firelight, spread throughout the hall, clinging to everyone's skin and mucous membranes, interfering with their senses.

Minsk, who had been silent the whole way, scratched his scalp several times with his thick fingers. He felt very uncomfortable venturing into the evil witch's territory.

The circular stone door at the end of the passageway twisted open, revealing several different statues of Shar standing behind it, watching the believers descend the sunken steps.

This is a preaching hall located inside a giant cave. Although Viconia has tried her best to make it look like Shar's style, the huge stalagmites supporting the cave ceiling are still structures she dares not touch.

Purple flames illuminated the dimly lit preaching hall, reflecting a ghostly glow on the gold trim of the believers' hoods. They numbered more than five times the size of the five-man squad.

This is a carefully choreographed play, designed solely to showcase Shar's power in Baldur's Gate.

A circular beam of light poured down from the top of the cave. Compared to real sunlight, it was undoubtedly too weak, but in this dark underground, it was enough to highlight the female dean's status.

Viconia Devel is a typical drow elf, with white hair and an elegant face.

As the master of the Shadow Embrace, she naturally possesses an aura of superiority and ascetic religious fervor, which only enhances the allure of her beautiful face.

She was a teammate of Jashira and Minsk, yet a century has left few wrinkles on her face. Her body still retains its vigorous vitality, and her beautiful curves cannot be concealed even by the hazy black mist.

The light illuminating Viconia's figure even left a few highlights on the leather bodysuit beneath her robe, emphasizing her strong muscle lines and firm, dark skin.

Viconia opened her arms, about to deliver a speech that would enhance the prestige of the dean.

(End of this chapter)