Chapter 317: Persuasion
"Hmm... there seem to be quite a few intruders today."
Not long after sending Flamme out of the divine realm, Olivia once again sensed the presence of an unfamiliar force intruding. She was forced to end her prayers once more and spread her wings to rush toward the place where the aura had appeared.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
Kurtz and Serie, who had used the same method to open the defensive barrier of the heavenly kingdom, were flying above it.
"This place is a bit dilapidated. Is it really the legendary divine kingdom of the Skywing Clan?" Serie asked curiously, looking at the ruined buildings below.
The three legendary kingdoms of the mythological era. The first dwarven capital, the elven capital, and the heavenly kingdom beneath their feet.
What the world can see now is the Elf Capital. At the height where the Heavenly Kingdom is located, even 90% of mages might not be able to reach it. Even if they did, they wouldn't be able to break through the outer defensive barrier. This geographical location is basically impossible for foreign enemies to invade.
"It was caused by teleportation magic." Looking at the ruins below, Kurtz was filled with emotion.
The decision to teleport the entire divine kingdom directly above the Demon King's city was made out of necessity, as the power of faith there could not be transmitted through spatial channels and had to be mobilized on-site. As a result, most of the buildings suffered considerable damage.
His and Serie's arrival in this city was purely accidental. They noticed a small black dot in the sky, flew up out of curiosity, and discovered that this was the kingdom of the Skywing Clan.
The two continued flying through the air as if they were touring their own backyard. Serie observed the damaged buildings with great interest, occasionally flying above them to sense the unique texture of the materials.
"There are traces of solidified magic, the materials are also very special, and the architectural style here is completely different from that of the Elven Capital, even though they worship the same god," Serie commented, then frowned, "It's just a bit too dilapidated, what a pity."
"There's no way. Forcibly moving such a massive object, even with the dual protection of solidification magic and the power of faith, will inevitably cause backlash."
"No wonder you said you didn't plan to replicate the method from before. Indeed, given the current state of this city, it simply cannot withstand the shock of a second teleportation spell," Serie said knowingly.
Just as the two were talking, a figure appeared silently not far in front of them.
Olivia folded her wings, and when she saw the face of the newcomer, her expression changed instantly, even more so than when she had learned that Flamme was Kurtz and Serie's disciple.
She approached the two with some eagerness, bowing slightly. Her voice, though still cool, carried an undeniable warmth: "Kurtz, it's been a long time. And Lady Serie, how are you?"
Kurtz smiled gently and waved to her: "Yes, Olivia, it's been a long time, about a thousand years, hasn't it?"
His gaze lingered on her for a moment, with a hint of scrutiny, as if he were confirming her state over the past thousand years. Although the contract of life magic binds them together, allowing them to constantly sense each other's life status, seeing the other person in person still brings greater peace of mind.
Even Serie, who had always harbored a subtle hostility towards Olivia, gave a soft "hmm" as a greeting. If it were a thousand years ago, seeing Olivia show such undisguised admiration and closeness toward Kurtz, she probably would have found an excuse to interrupt or drag Kurtz away. But now, time had passed, and her relationship with Kurtz had long transcended worldly definitions, becoming an indispensable part of each other's lives.
This relationship allowed her to face this ancient companion, who was, in theory, a member of the Kurtz Familia, with equanimity, and she even felt a faint sympathy for her thousand years of solitude.
Olivia was somewhat surprised by Serie's unusually calm attitude, but she didn't say anything, only leading the way: "Please follow me."
She led the two to the only intact hall. The small chair that Flamme had sat on earlier had not yet been taken away, but unlike when she received her, Olivia was particularly attentive this time. She brought out a well-preserved small round stone table and three exquisite little chairs from somewhere, and even took out an even more beautifully designed bottle filled with a liquid that shimmered with dreamlike colors.
"This is a divine wine brewed from star dew and magic flowers collected in the Garden of Gods in the past. It can not only enhance a person's physique and magic limit, but also restore physical strength and heal injuries," Olivia said, placing the bottle on the table.
This contrasted sharply with the earlier statement that Flamme was "unfit to be entertained." Fortunately, Flamme had already left and could not witness this discriminatory treatment.
Kurtz looked at the bottle that emitted a hazy glow, smiled, and did not touch it immediately. He didn't even need to think about it; the power of the Skywing Clan's divine wine, and its lingering effects, were far beyond what ordinary alcohol could match.
However, Serie was clearly intrigued. Curious, she picked up a bottle, uncorked it with some magic, and a refreshing, exotic fragrance wafted out. She didn't even pour it out to savor it; instead, she tilted her head back and gulped it down.
"Hey, you can't do that—" Kurtz instinctively tried to stop her; this wine was clearly not meant to be drunk in such a spree.
But Serie had already swallowed it. She smacked her lips, a look of surprise crossing her face: "Hmm... it tastes good, a little sweet, and it's icy cold."
She looked perfectly normal; in fact, her eyes seemed even brighter.
Seeing this, Kurtz swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue. Well, with their current strength, even if Serie is really drunk, I'll be there to keep an eye on her, so nothing bad will happen.
Olivia watched Serie's actions, and a smile crept onto her face. Then she looked at Kurtz and asked the question that had been bothering her: "Kurtz, why did you suddenly come here?"
Kurtz turned his gaze from Serie to Olivia: "Nothing, just wanted to come and see you." He paused, his voice lowering slightly, "to see how you're doing here."
He paused for a moment, then continued, his tone becoming more direct: "Olivia, I have always believed that your vow to imprison yourself here is not a necessary atonement. Moreover, the sins committed by the Skywing Clan should not be borne by you."
Olivia's body trembled slightly, and she lowered her head, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.
Kurtz's voice carried a hint of firmness, but it wasn't a command; instead, it was an admonition: "Back then, things happened so suddenly that I didn't have time to explain everything to you. But now we have plenty of time, and the outside world is vast and ever-changing. You shouldn't banish yourself forever to this cold divine realm."
Although Serie was taking another sip of her divine wine, her ears remained perked up. She also felt that Olivia shouldn't keep herself locked up in this heavenly kingdom all the time; it was too boring.
Olivia remained silent for a long time. The weight of his words seemed to settle over her like a physical force.
Finally, she raised her head to meet Kurtz's resolute gaze, and a crack appeared in the determination deep in her eyes: "Kurtz, your intentions, I will consider them."
This was the biggest concession she could make.
Kurtz smiled in response. Although Olivia hadn't explicitly said so, it was great that she was willing to try: "That's good. If you have the chance, go out and explore more, Olivia. This world is far more wonderful than you remember."
[End of Chapter]