Chapter 22-The Water Priestess

After thirteen hours of detention in the headquarters of the Sapphire Order, I got scolded by the Royal Family for being reckless. On the other hand, we became a topic of gossip in the palace after the coachman and footman saw us sleeping inside the carriage.They teased us as a lovely couple, although Typhon was only kind when he slept. And that action made Big Brother Rowan furious, while my parents teased me and asked when I would get married. I remember that my big brother, Rowan, was crying while he cuddled me after what happened.When Ehadris kissed me while I lost my senses, he almost flipped up the whole palace. I stayed at the Royal Archives and read a lot about the medicinal herbs that may be found around Eblines.

I read the pages of the book with a low voice. "Prairie Coneflower. It could boost the immune system and serve as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Once it is mixed with Silver Trillium, it will have a synergistic effect as a pain killer. It will be helpful for the mission of Zain's regiment."

I saw a familiar face entering the archives. But it seems he didn't sleep very well because of the dark circles under his eyes. He returned the books that he borrowed, and he sat down beside me. "Long time no see, Cloud. It seems like a rough day for you. What happened?" I asked, slamming shut the book I'd been reading.

He raised his head and looked at me. The last time I heard about Cloud was after I escaped his lightning. He'd been sulking for weeks and dumped himself into research. "Oh, it's you, Your Highness. I'm searching for the best pain killers for the upcoming mission of the fourth regiment led by Captain Percival in Driuce next week. But still, it seems like I messed up. I can't find the right ingredients for high level potion,"Cloud said, and he started sulking again.

I leaned my elbow against the table and supported my chin using my palm. "Why don't you use the Silver Trillium and the Prairie Coneflower? They have painkilling properties," I suggested.

Cloud frowned and replied in a sarcastic tone, "What does a witch like you know about medicinal herbs?" My eyebrows were raised at his remarks. Why do men like to discriminate against women? I pinched his cheeks really hard. Maybe this will help to erase his negative perspective on women. He shouted in pain, and then I let go of his cheeks when I saw redness. "What's that all for?" Cloud shouted.

"Waking you up to your senses that women have contributed to society, and don't you forget that being a witch doesn't focus only on fighting using our mana. We also focus on spells, potion making, and combat skills," I explained.

Cloud scratched his scalp due to embarrassment. "I guess that's the reason you escaped the Glaustein without any effort," Cloud said in an annoying tone. I gave the book to Cloud and flicked his forehead.

"Cloud, don't ever give up. Your help is always appreciated, no matter how small it may be. So cheer up!" I said as I walked outside the archives. Now that I've left the archives, I guess strolling through the garden is worth my time. When I took my turn at the left corner, I saw a bucket of water pouring from above. I summon my Metamorphosis and transform it into an umbrella. I didn't get wet, but the floor got wet. I looked around for palace servants, but there was no one around. This wet floor may cause trouble if it is left unattended.

I looked at the floor and I saw the water floating into small pieces of water ball. I transformed Metamorphosis into a shield and activated the shield into a shield dome around me. The tiny particles attacked my shield like I was the target. What the hell is happening around here?

I saw a lady with white hair, and she was manipulating water in my direction. She was confused when she saw that my shield was not budging a little bit under her attacks. "What is the meaning of this?" I asked in confusion. I still have no idea why she attacked me. She looked at me without any expression, and her eyebrows almost met in seriousness.

"You're a witch? I can't believe that they let you in here," she said, in disbelief. I looked at her crest and I saw the same crest as the Holy Church. Don't tell me this one is Maizie's friend?

"Are you Maizie's friend?"

Speaking of Maizie, I altered Maizie's memory by inserting a lie that I was a noble guest at the palace. The same goes for the knights and witches that participated in the mission during the attack on the palace. That cost me a lot of mana, and that got me into deeper trouble. They thought that I had neglected my duty to protect the Royal Family, and the witches detained me in the Sapphire Order.

"Miss Maizie? You know her?" she asked. I nodded, and she stopped her attack.

"You must be the lady who sparred with Miss Maizie? She told me that your strength is incomparable to anybody that we fought against. Forgive me for my rudeness. I'm Nimue. The water priestess of Holy Church," she said, and lifted her long robe a little bit as a sign of respect.

"I'm Epiphany. I'm a witch from Glaustein," I said, and lifted my gown a little bit.

I crossed my arms as I remembered why a bucket of water fell as I walked through the corner, "May I ask a question? Why did you make the water bucket fall on me?"

Nimue played her fingers and then crouched down to the floor. She was blushing due to embarrassment, but I don't know for what reason. "I wanted to tease Lord Typhon because Lord Zain said that he would be here today. Instead, you came around the corner, and then due to my impulsive actions, I made trouble for you," Nimue said in panic.

I let a sigh out of my lungs. I can't believe that she did that so Typhon could notice her. "Don't tell me you have feelings for Lord Typhon?" I asked. Nimue looked in the other direction. So I guess I was right. I don't know how many times I let out a sigh. Of all the people, why Typhon? I admit, he is caring, but most of the time he's a demon.

"Anyway, what trait of Lord Typhon did capture your pure heart?" I asked in a bored tone. I just can't believe that she had feelings for that man. Nimue shyly answered my question. "Lord Typhon is every lady's dream! So how can we resist him?"

I tilted my head in confusion. Did Nimue hit her head somewhere? As we were talking in the hallway, we heard a shout from behind us. This is what I said earlier! I slapped my forehead in disbelief. We saw the greatest knight commander, Zain Ashford, slip on the floor. Nimue covered her face in embarrassment. Zain was frowning as he got wet due to the wet floor.

"Zain! Are you all right? Does any part of your body hurt? Please tell me if you are going to meet Methusael in the afterlife! " I yelled. I covered my mouth after I realized that they didn't know who Methusael was. Zain slowly got up and looked at me with a serious face. "Lady Epiphany, it seems that you really saw something after you lay in the coffin for four days. I don't know that there's a god named Methusael," Zain said, and he crossed his arms.

Nimue looked at me and jumped in excitement. Nimue said, "The Holy Church needs to know this!" I'm sure Methusael will kill me once he knows that my tongue slipped in panic. I was about to make a move when Ehadris appeared behind my back and carried me like her bride. "Sorry for my intrusion. I need to talk with my wife in private," Ehadris said in an annoyed tone. I crossed my arms and stared at him. "How many times did I tell you that I'm not your wife? Did you hit your head on something?" I yelled.

Ehadris looks at Zain and Nimue. "We must take our leave. Time is ticking, "Ehadris said and a portal appeared behind him. Ehadris jumped inside, and to my surprise, we were inside his dimension. I frowned and looked at him. I call his real name, "Why did you bring me here, Methusael?"

Methusael went silent for a while. "Have you talked to Alethea in the past few weeks?" I shook my head. I didn't see her and, for some reason, it also bothers me. Methusael looked at me. "Epiphany, now that you confirmed this, our lives will be problematic. The other gods and goddesses, including Alethea, were sealed in some of the bodies of the mortals," Methusael said.

My eyes widened. "But how did that happen?"

"Someone from the Holy Church may have done some sealing magic," Methusael said.

"But why are you still here? How did you escape that sealing magic?"

Methusael looked at me and put me inside a barrier. I tried to calm myself and glared at Methusael. Rune letters started to swirl around me, and after a minute, the barrier disappeared. "What did you do?" I asked Methusael due to confusion.

Methusael gawked for a minute. I snapped my fingers to regain his senses. He immediately hugged me and said, "I'm glad you're fine." I got confused for a minute. What does he mean by that?