NOVPUBSigrid hummed a tune, seemingly in an exceptionally good mood, or perhaps it’s because their whole day’s outing had reached a particularly satisfying moment.
After a while, she brought Lanci to an ancient tower building. The structure was surrounded by steep, broken spiral stairs, a dangerous place where a single misstep could lead to a deadly fall.
"Let’s go up and take a look," her voice was brimming with excitement.
Then she gave Lanci a quick once-over, hoping to see a frightened expression on his face.
But to her disappointment, Lanci remained as impassive as ever.
However, at that moment, there was a subtle change in the landscape. The buildings around them seemed to lose their shape, warping gently, as if enveloped by an invisible magic power.
All at once, everything seemed to be spinning!
Accompanied by a sensation of weightlessness, their viewpoint radically changed in an instant.
The high-altitude wind grazed their faces, filling their vision with golden highlights contrasting with the darkness of the night cityscape.
It was a glittering world illuminated by skyscrapers, streets, temples, and plazas—all laid out before them.
This familiar view from high above strips them right to the edge of the Starry Sky Theatre in the skyline. It almost felt as if they could touch the moon.
The wild wind howled, threatening to sweep them off their feet at any moment.
Before he could even enjoy this dangerous view, Lanci seemed to remember something. He prepared to speak to Sigrid.
But it seemed Sigrid was like an unsteady figure, who grabbed Lanci and jumped into the sea of clouds from great heights.
The instant he could once again make out his surroundings, lanci could hear the roaring wind in his ears. All senses of gravity disappeared, the oppressive feeling of the air assured him that he was engaging in a sudden, unexpected bungee jump, held by Sigrid.
"Are you scared?"
Sigrid, gripping Lanci’s hand tightly, asked with a smile.
Sigrid thought of what Gloria once said—about the suspension bridge effect. It suggested that when a person walks across a suspension bridge with fear, they can’t help but have an increased heart rate. If at that moment, they encounter another person, they may misinterpret the heart palpitations caused by the circumstance as being attracted to the person they encounter, thus generating feelings for them.
"Not so much."
But the problem was...
Sigrid was certain this guy apparently didn’t have his heart rate accelerated at all!
"Why aren’t you scared?"
Sigrid asked, somewhat peeved.
Right from the start, she had wanted to frighten Lanci, but he simply wouldn’t get scared.
"I have the world’s strongest woman by my side."
In spite of their ongoing free-fall, Lanci answered with utmost seriousness.
The gaze he turned on Sigrid seemed to say, "Why do I have anything to fear?"
" Besides, I’ve been pulled to the sky like this by you twice before."
He added.
"Ah, you... When will you ever get scared!"
Sigrid, who had no intention of decelerating in mid-air with Lanci, grumbled indignantly.
If Asksan can’t scare you, and Morotian can’t scare you, do we need a Ninth-order to frighten you before you react!?
"…I think it was that day in the Great Hall."
Lanci pondered before replying.
"Oh? At what particular moment?"
Sigrid perked up immediately, slightly adjusting her posture mid-air, listening attentively.
"Watching you and Asksan taking on each other in a fight to the death, knowing only one of you could walk out alive..."
Lanci replied.
"Hmm," Sigrid covered her chest, feeling her heart beating loudly amidst the battering wind.
The purple glow in her eyes cut through the mist of Herram, leaving a distinct trail. Clouds whisked past her from both sides, and in the next second, everything began to accelerate. The icy air hit them head-on, each breath they drew was like inhaling from a hole in the ice.
She took Lanci’s hand and used a force resembling magic to help him maintain his balance and brought him for a fly-through in the air.
In no time, they landed by the lake on the north side of the Protoss Royal Magic Academy.
It seemed the chill they experienced while flying through the air brought her calmness back.
Without looking at Lanci, she stared at the lake and released his hand slowly, her back facing him.
Though words were not necessary, they both knew that today’s outing had to end here.
Sigrid stayed quiet.
She appeared to hope that Saint Heir won’t say anything either.
The surroundings were peaceful near and far; the gentle contours of hills, the lush trees, and the brilliant city lights all appeared faintly through the darkness.
Under the dancing phosphorescence of the starry sky, the massive, dimly lit lake seemed to stretch into the skyline.
Both of them quietly admired the night view without uttering a word.
After an indeterminate amount of time had passed,
"Sigrid, I’m leaving tomorrow afternoon," Lanci finally said.
"..."
Sigrid remained silent.
"...I remember saying before, I won’t agree to let you go. You should stay with me, continuing to serve me, and in turn, I can protect you."
She turned to face Lanci, once more becoming the familiar stern Bishop Sigrid.
This moment seemed to return them to when they first met. She was a cold beauty after unmasking herself, showing little regard for Lanci’s feelings, only concerned with what she wanted.
"I’m going back to South Continent, for at least a year," Lanci told her.
The Protoss Empire needed the Bishop of Hegemony. The country had just recovered from a wave of unrest and had gotten back on track. Though the burgeoning threat from the North had been contained, it might still erupt and surge wildly once it fully brews.
He, Rocky McCarthy, remained a force to reckon with from the shadows. However, the Bishop of Hegemony had to be at the forefront. By now, she had become the new protector of the Protoss Empire and along with Grand Sage Isis, they guard the country’s stability.
For Lanci, the South Continent still had issues that needed to be addressed to provide relief. That’s the only way they can provide support to the Northern Continent whenever needed.
"I do not accept."
In her return to a serious tone, this was her sole indulgence.
"..."
Lanci looked at her helplessly and laughed.
Though she said that, she had given him plenty of chances to escape this past week.
If only he had fled earlier, she definitely wouldn’t be able to catch him.
"The next time we meet, I will be even more powerful than a Fifth-order," Lanci promised.
"..."
Upon hearing these words, Sigrid’s ears immediately turned red.
"Sigh, alright, if you want to leave, just go. Before you leave tomorrow, I’ll wait for you at our usual meeting spot. You still owe me a painting."
She turned her body away, waved her hand dismissively in a huff, and vanished in a hurry.
Leaving Lanci, standing by the lake, smiling as he watched her leaving him.
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The evening glow is gone, please vote for me! Thank you, Dad/pa!
