From Hogwarts to Strixhaven.

Chapter 647 The Bound Soul (500010000)

The commander's tent at the temporary camp was opened, and a female knight in simple armor walked in. She was Kirani of the Green Raven Knights, also known as Queen Godfrey of Montevideo.

“I heard you obtained a part of Lady Trendiver’s body…” Godfrey asked eagerly as soon as she entered the tent. “I was wondering… if it was possible to resurrect her. That Guardian has always been the Crusaders’ most steadfast ally… Ah! That is—”

Godfrey stopped speaking because she saw clearly what was placed in front of Ivy, or rather, the body parts of the silver dragon.

It was a huge fragment of a claw. The noble blood of the silver dragon had been corrupted by the demon and turned into unsightly stains. Only the edge of the half-claw gleamed with a cold light, revealing the majesty and arrogance of its former master.

Next to the claw fragments was a basin of liquid shimmering with golden light, its subtle ripples reflecting a gentle light. Gofrey sensed an aura brimming with life force.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.” Ivy shook his head regretfully. In fact, when he obtained the claw fragment from the demon thief, he had already thought of resurrecting Terendilifer. However, neither the resurrection potion made from the Philosopher’s Stone nor the holy water poured from the Hufflepuff coins could help Ivy complete the resurrection magic.

“I have already experimented with some resurrection spells. It seems that Lady Terendilever’s soul has been bound by some kind of evil magic, and it is this magic that is preventing her from returning to us.” Ivy waved her wide sleeves, sweeping away all the alchemical tools on the table, leaving only the fragment of the huge silver dragon claw.

“What…this is terrible…” Godfrey shook her head in frustration. “Ms. Trentliver was not only a respectable guardian, but also a kind elder and an admirable wise woman…what a pity…”

“Not being able to resurrect her isn’t the worst of it,” Ivy said in a low voice, pointing to another possibility. “Our enemies have not only bound her soul but also taken her body. The only things we can find that once belonged to Terendilever, besides this claw, are a few scales in Ilinica’s hand. I have reason to suspect that the magic the demon used to bind Lady Terendilever was some kind of ritual to turn her into an undead. In the worst-case scenario, we must prepare to become enemies with our former comrades.”

As he said this, Ivy thought of Anzu, located beneath Baldur's Gate. That ancient bronze dragon was also a guardian of the city. After being killed by a mind flayer transformed from his best friend, its body was desecrated and turned into a hollow dragon to fulfill the mind flayer's ambitions—how similar it was to the fate of Terendiliefer.

However, unlike the Mind Flayer who couldn't control the Void Dragon Anzu, the mastermind behind imprisoning Terendilifer's soul was clearly a demon lord. Therefore, their reunion wouldn't be a touching reunion, but rather a tragedy of forced mutual slaughter.

“I…” Godfrey frowned in distress and sighed, “The deeper we delve into the world’s tragedy, the more dire the situation becomes. Not to mention, I personally assigned a cultist to you as an advisor…”

“There’s no need to worry about what those cultists think, Your Majesty.” Ivy glanced at Godfrey’s expression and reassured her. This woman seemed a little too emotional after removing her queenly mask. “Whatever the reason, Nura’s betrayal and summoning of demons have dealt a blow to our soldiers. Only by executing her according to the law can we console those fallen soldiers.”

“You’re right.” Godfrey nodded silently. “When will the execution begin… Can I go talk to her? Perhaps from her I can learn about the shortcomings of the Crusaders and Montevideo, and thus reduce the emergence of cultists… Of course, if my willfulness causes you trouble, then…”

“It’s alright,” Ivy waved her hand, indicating she didn’t mind. “My plan is to hold a rally after we recapture the Fallen Church, looking across the canyon towards the City of Favor, and execute Nura then to boost the morale of the Holy Army and strengthen their confidence. After that, we can take the City of Favor in one fell swoop and complete the first phase of the Fifth Holy War. Before that, you have plenty of time to talk to your former historical advisor. However, we must agree beforehand that no matter what happens, Nura Dandeva will be executed as a traitor at the rally in the Fallen Church. There is no doubt about that.”

After only a second or two of contemplation, Godfrey understood the benefits of doing so. She smiled at Ivy, but the smile quickly turned into a sorrowful sigh: "I understand. Your plan is very well-organized. If the goddess had sent you to my side earlier... I'm afraid the Holy War wouldn't have turned out this way... No, of course I'm not complaining about the goddess's arrangements; I just hate my own incompetence..."

“Little Kun.” Ivy interrupted Godfrey’s self-pity and called to her apprentice standing to the side, “I will write a warrant requiring the Claw Knights and the Green Raven Knights of Kirani Knights to guard the prisoners together. Help me pass the order on to Deputy Enforcer Regil.”

Ivy used his multicolored quill to write the warrant in one stroke, and then sealed his own magical mark as wax onto the rolled-up warrant.

“Yes, sir, military advisor.” Little Elephant nodded to Ivy, took the order with both hands, and left the tent.

Contrary to his bookish appearance, Little Elephant adapted very well to military life, much better than most new recruits who joined the holy war with only enthusiasm.

He clearly distinguishes between public and private matters. When Ivy gives orders, the little elephant will respectfully address him as "Your Excellency the Military Advisor," but when encountering magical problems and consulting Ivy, the address will seamlessly switch to "Professor Doom."

Having reigned as King of Montivere for a hundred years, Gophery certainly understood what Ivy's actions represented.

So after giving Ivy one last unmoved look, she quickly composed herself and left the tent without a word.

Unfortunately, Ivy had other visitors and couldn't return to her own Room of Requirement to examine the Box Wand that belonged to Zechariah, the Sufferer.

"I'm coming in!" Even faster than the greeting, Ilinica lifted the tent flap with her arm. She didn't come alone; she was accompanied by Thorhill and the Hell Knight Marenta.

Since the daytime battle ended, Ilinica had been using her position as a knight commander to stick close to the Hell Knights. Even without saying a word, her bright eyes were powerful enough, not to mention the attention she attracted from the other Crusader soldiers because of her presence as a knight commander.

Therefore, after the troops had set up camp, Regil semi-commanded Hell Knight Marenta to "voluntarily" follow in the footsteps of the Holy War Commander.

Thorshill's eyes barely left the Hell Knight beside him. Once Ivy had magically arranged chairs for them, he immediately lowered his head and made his request: "Thank you for taking the time to listen to me. This is a very personal matter. Your shield is my brother Trevor Wernick's prized possession. I've examined its patterns countless times, so I have no doubt about it. May I ask—"

Sheryl's pastor took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady: "Do you know my brother? How is he?"

A heavy atmosphere hung over the small marching tent. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows on the sharp horns of the Hell Knight's helmet, making it seem as if a demon was laughing silently.

Ivy was somewhat disgusted by the strange atmosphere, so she snapped her fingers to make the tent even brighter, like it was under a clear sky at noon.

The change in light seemed to open the heart of Hell Knight Marenta. She no longer wore an indifferent expression, but instead took the heavy shield from behind her back and stroked the petal pattern symbolizing purity and innocence on it through her iron gauntlet.

After a long while, Marenta took off her helmet, revealing a pale face.

Without a doubt, it would be extremely disrespectful to describe this face with words like "beautiful." It belongs to a strong warrior, not a woman who likes to draw her eyebrows and eyes.

"Trevor is dead." These were Marenta's first words. "He died right before my eyes... leaving only this shield."

“Tell me…” The light in Sohir’s eyes faded, and he couldn’t continue his sentence. He cleared his throat and asked again, “Trevor, how did my brother die? And how did you two meet?”

“We met in the Spike Knights… He started as a squire, but in just six months he proved himself, passed the trials of the Hell Knights, and earned the right to wear black armor.” Marenta’s voice was like the sound of two pieces of steel clashing together. “After he became a true Hell Knight, he proposed to me, asking me to marry him. I searched through the laws of the Hell Knights in my mind and couldn’t find a reason to refuse, so I said yes.”

When Trevor's proposal was mentioned, Marenta's face, which seemed to be made of steel, showed a smile, but that smile quickly turned into deep anger and hatred.

“We were chasing the Chimera and were almost there… when a demon wearing a black mask suddenly appeared and kidnapped Trevor. The demon charged at our support troops, scaring them into scattering. It was because of those cowardly cowards that I missed my only chance to save Trevor.”

"Later, the commander of the Spike Knights refused my proposal to execute all the deserters, so I left the Spike Knights and joined the Claw Knights to fight demons. I swore to kill all the demons within the World's Sorrow area and avenge Trevor. That's my story."

The Hell Knights mainly consist of seven large knightly orders, including the Claw Knights and the Spike Knights, as well as some medium and small-sized orders. Normally, Hell Knights will remain loyal to their respective orders until death, but in rare cases, they may transfer affiliations.

Marenta, who transferred from the Spike Knights to the Claw Knights, is one such example.

Sohir's expression was strange when he learned the origin of his brother's belongings; it was a complex emotion that mixed pain and relief.

“Thank you for telling me this… I find it hard to accept this truth, but at least I’m not afraid anymore…” Sohir raised his arm and finally patted Marenta’s iron gauntlet gently to comfort her. He never hesitated to express his disgust for the Hell Knights, believing them to be a group of heartless monsters. But now, hearing that his most beloved brother had also become a “monster” filled him with mixed feelings.

"No one saw his body, right? So...maybe I still have a chance to find him..."

Marenta hesitated for a moment, then spoke, trying to extinguish Thorshill's hope: "Demons never leave survivors. They torture their captives, then mercilessly kill or devour them. I have accepted Trevor's death and intend to avenge him. You know, Thorshill, he often spoke of you to us, saying you were a true saint, that you kept his heart at home, protecting it from defilement. He was right; he participated in this war to protect innocent people like you. The tragedy of the world changed him, and I think he certainly wouldn't want you to be changed too. Leave, return to Edoran. Return to your orchards and vineyards, return to that little temple."

“No, I will absolutely not withdraw before this holy war is over.” Sohir rejected his sister-in-law’s proposal without hesitation.

Marenta calmly met Thorhill's gaze for a moment, showing no intention of continuing to persuade her. She picked up her heavy armor, transforming once again into the silent and resolute Hell Knight: "So be it. I must return to my duty. You can keep this shield to protect Trevor's heart that he left with you."

“No!” Sohir rejected Marenta’s offer again. “You are Trevor’s fiancée, and he will certainly want this shield to protect you. If by the time I find him you have died in this war, that would be another tragedy.”

Marenta's face was covered by heavy black armor, so no one could see her expression, but in the end, she still took her shield and left Ivy's tent.

After the Hell Knight left, Sheryl's priest immediately bid farewell to Ivy and Illinika, as he was returning to the Army Temple (a tent filled with the emblems of various Holy Knights) to pray for his brother.

“Wow—” Illinika let out a satisfied sigh, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Ivy and said, “A missing older brother, a knight determined to avenge his fiancé, and a kind and compassionate younger brother! I can already imagine a grand drama full of love and hate! And what if, in the process of searching for his brother, the younger brother who despises the Hell Knight develops some complicated feelings for his sister-in-law, who is also a Hell Knight—good heavens! This drama will surely have the fans of Nerozian breaking down the theater doors!”

Ivy voiced her disapproval: "Hell Knights are always silent and dutiful. I don't think anything will really happen between them. Besides, one of them is a warrior fighting on the front lines, and the other is a priest who follows you on adventures. There's a natural distance between them."

"Hey!" Irina shook her finger at Ivy with dissatisfaction. "Art originates from life, but it transcends life!"

“Okay, so who are you going to play? The pure-hearted Pastor Sheryl Sohir?” Ivy replied casually.

“How could I possibly play a man! Wouldn’t that be a waste of my stunningly beautiful face?” Irina tucked a strand of gray hair behind her ear and gave Ivy a charming glare. “Marenta is the star of this show, can’t you tell?”

"Sorry, I still can't imagine a heavily armored Hell Knight singing on stage." Ivy didn't seem to care; after all, he had seen modern opera at the Paris Opera and wasn't completely unfamiliar with opera.

"It is precisely because Marenta is a Hell Knight that her inner conflict is all the more captivating! Don't you know? Those seemingly cold-blooded individuals actually possess hearts hotter and more fiery than volcanic lava. Hidden beneath Marenta's black armor is not only a burning heart, but also surging yet restrained emotions. Oh! I must personally design her inner monologue; it will be a passionate declaration of revenge, a raging fire about to erupt, a sincere emotion restrained and patient… What a complex person, Marenta, my muse! No! I must go and observe her closely now; this opera will surely be immortalized!"

After saying that, Illinika was about to rush out in a flurry of activity.

But Ivy stopped her: "Wait, Irina, I have something important to discuss with you."

"What important matter could be more important than an opera destined to be immortalized?" Ilinica turned around with dissatisfaction.

Ivy tilted her head slightly, the meaning of which was self-evident.

"Alright, then hurry up." The singer, bursting with inspiration, pouted and stopped in the tent. "I thought all I had to do was wear the armor of kindness, lead the charge, smash all the demons in my way, and occasionally give some impromptu speeches, and that would be enough to complete this task. So, what is it?"

"Regarding your power, the power of mythology. I've noticed a certain commonality between you and Nugenis, who was killed this afternoon. You stole his power, didn't you? Do you have any clues about this?" Ivy scrutinized the commander before her several times before speaking.

“Oh. I have a wound on my chest, and it reopens every time I come into contact with these strange, mystical things. It happened with the Heavenly Sword I found underground, it happened when I touched the Guardian Stone, and just now. To be honest, I’m almost used to it.” Irina tugged at the white collar of her gauze dress.

Ivy's gaze swept over the fair, smooth skin. Apart from a suggestive mole, there was nothing that detracted from its beauty: "I don't see any scars."

“It’s right there. I had it when the soldiers carried me into Kanaburi, and it was Ms. Trentliver who cured me.” Irina leaned closer, pulling her collar up even wider, bringing more of the beautiful sight into Ivy’s view. “Why don’t you take a look?”

When Ivy saw the mocking smile on Irina's face, he realized that this woman had no good intentions. However, he was not a sexually repressed Xiao Chunan. Without the slightest hesitation, he stretched out two fingers and ran them over the jelly-like smooth skin, examining it carefully.

“Aside from being excessively smooth, there’s nothing unusual.” That was Ivy’s conclusion.

(End of this chapter)