Chapter 62 Three Lovers, Four Dates (Part 1)

With the start of the Royal Ruins expedition drawing ever closer, Ancia maintained her weekly visit to the Dark Night Guild to monitor Marquis Moreno's movements.

Finally, it's Thursday, and we can set off for the Black Pine Forest Ruins the next day.

The long-awaited opportunity was just around the corner, and with no classes today, Ancia was in a great mood as she opened the villa door.

Three men were standing outside the door.

Heligalo, Erlan, Skalk.

A faint sense of crisis welled up in Ancia's heart, and her fingers on the doorknob tightened imperceptibly. "Isn't the ruins tomorrow? Why did you all come together today?"

Skalk grinned, revealing two canine teeth. "Ancia, you've been so busy you forgot? Today is the Harvest Festival."

I've completely forgotten!

It is also known as the Harvest Festival, or Valentine's Day!

Ancia was about to close the door with quick reflexes when Skark grabbed the doorknob instead. Since Ancia's strength was not as high as Skark's, they were locked in a stalemate at the doorway.

Behind her, Lulu flew over with difficulty, carrying two bottles of strawberry milk. "Ancia, Happy Harvest Festival! For you and your friends...? Two bottles aren't enough?"

The little fairy stared blankly at the doorway, forgetting to flap its wings, and plummeted downwards, only to be caught in Ancia's palm.

Lulu sat on her hands, her body hidden behind two bottles of milk. Only her stammering voice came from behind the bottles, "W-so much... Ancia is amazing..."

Ancia sighed, "No, that's enough. Ah, that's not right either..."

She pointed to the gentle-looking blond-haired, blue-eyed boy, "He only drinks water."

Then, pointing to the silver-haired, green-eyed elf, he said, "He only drinks dew and fresh fruit juice."

Finally, he pointed to the wolf-eared beastman with short, deep red hair and amber eyes, "He drinks everything. You can give him all the berry milk you have."

Airland crossed his arms and chuckled, "That's quite impressive, remembering the tastes of every single lover perfectly."

Skulker took two bottles of milk from Ancia, drank them all in one gulp, and wagged his tail contentedly. "Not bad."

With her hands finally feeling a bit lighter, Ancia was prepared to face the hellish situation head-on, but before accepting her fate, she wanted to fight one more time.

Ancia blinked, pretending not to understand anything. "Are you here for tomorrow's adventure? I won't be late, you can go back now."

A glint of amusement flashed in Heligaluo's eyes, puncturing her self-deception. "It's for a date, Ancia."

Airland unconsciously hooked his index and middle fingers together. "Isn't it said that the more lovers you have, the more impressive you are? If you can't handle it, just reduce it by two. Do you need my help?"

Skulk licked his canine teeth and said nothing, but his wet eyes seemed to say everything.

It seems there's no escaping it today. Ancia took a deep breath, first glancing at the clock in the room; it was 7:57 AM. Then she opened her attribute panel; her satiety level was a healthy green, very good.

"From 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., I'll be on a date with Airan. The morning sun isn't too strong, which is good for his skincare routine. From 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., I'll be on a date with Heligaluo. Including his lunch break, he only needs to spend two hours a day on dates, and he can continue handling the affairs of the Holy See the rest of the time. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., I'll be on a date with Skark. He'll probably be hungry by evening, so we'll go get some strong-flavored food. Let's arrange it like this."

Airland sneered, "How fair."

Ancia smiled and said, "Are you going to skip our morning date? I can sleep in a little longer."

Airlan was furious. His noble and handsome face came alive with anger, making him breathtakingly beautiful. "Trying to leave me behind? Don't even think about it!"

Heligalo smiled. "I have no objection, but what are Ancia's plans regarding the dance at the party?"

Ancia was taken aback. "Weren't you going to the palace party with the Pope?"

Heligalo's smile deepened. "That was last year. This year, His Majesty and the one in the palace are not in good health, so the palace party has been canceled."

Ancia pinched the bridge of her nose. "Same order, one dance per person."

Skalk's wolf ears stood up excitedly at the thought of his date with Ancia in eight hours, and the dancing that evening. "I'll be waiting for you."

He was incredibly happy whenever he could spend time with Ancia.

Airland reminded him irritably, "It's already eight o'clock, and it's my date time."

Ancia closed the door behind her, walked up to Erlan, looked up at him with a smile, her eyes sparkling, her pupils reflecting only his image, her gaze intensely focused. "Are you really angry? Are you going to go on a date with me while you're still angry?"

Airland turned his head, pursed his lips, and couldn't help but laugh. "You really... I'm defeated. Let's go."

He spoke the last two words gently and tactfully, showing no sign of anger whatsoever.

As Erlan and Ancia walked side by side, he asked, "Where do you want to go?"

Ancia: "Anywhere is fine... Don't look at me like that. It's not a refusal, it's really fine anywhere. Gracia or the Eternal City, I love everything about this place, and I'll be happy wherever I go." She thought for a moment and added, "But I'd be even happier if it were a place I've never been before."

After a moment's thought, Erlan said, "I understand."

He led Ancia to a secluded garden teahouse within the Eternal City.

“What a rare guest! Didn’t the king used to complain that the plants here lacked soul? What brings you here?” A male elf walked out of the tea room and only realized what was going on when he saw Ancia. “Oh—it’s because of the Harvest Festival.”

He said with a smile, "It seems that this garden, modeled after the Misty Moon Forest, still has some significance in the King's eyes. At least it can play a role when the King is in love."

Airland, somewhat embarrassed and angry, warned in a low voice, "Cicero!"

Cicero raised his hands. "I won't say anything more. You're familiar with this place. Please make yourself at home."

This place is like a miniature Misty Moon Forest. The tall trees and exquisite treehouses I've seen before have been replicated one-to-one, and even the Mirror Lake in the very center of the forest has been moved here.

Arlan explained to her, "The reason why the Mistmoon Elves rarely appear outside the forest is actually quite simple; they are simply homesick. But there are always a few oddball companions," a smile he himself didn't realize appeared on his face, "They are both homesick and enjoy the liveliness of the human kingdom, so they built this garden in the Eternal City. Except for the absence of the Tree of Life, the plant species here are similar to those in the Mistmoon Forest."

They had reached the vicinity of the lake, where the abundant moisture dampened their clothes, and many mushrooms sprouted under the tree trunks due to the dampness.

"I was originally going to take you to the Misty Moon Forest to try some fresh mushrooms, but unfortunately, due to the disease of the Tree of Life, we have to postpone it until next year." Before Erlan finished speaking, a green light flashed in his hand, and the branches and leaves of the nearby trees spontaneously intertwined to form a natural basket, which gently landed in his palm. "Fortunately, it's always summer in this garden."

He skillfully picked out a type of mushroom that he remembered as tasting pretty good. "You haven't eaten today, have you? I'll make you some soup later." He muttered under his breath, "How could I let you go hungry when we're on a date?"

Ancia's satiety level was still above 80 points, but she nodded with a smile, "Okay, I've been looking forward to this for a long time."

Erlan was picking carefully, while Ancia was much more casual, stuffing all the pretty, cute, and oddly shaped things she saw into her basket. Erlan was constantly watching to make sure there were no poisonous mushrooms or flowers in the basket.

"Here you go." Airlan sighed and made a new basket. "Put any plants you're interested in in it."

Ancia took the basket, regretfully losing her chance to cause trouble.

When Erlan went to the tea room to cook soup, he took the basket from Ancia's hands.

Ancia quickly reminded her, "Hey? I just picked those randomly."

Airland chuckled softly, "I know."

When he brought out the two bowls of soup, Ancia realized that the two bowls of soup were different.

The bowl in front of her was rich and clear, exuding an enticing aroma. Plump mushrooms floated on the surface of the soup, making one's mouth water. The bowl in front of Erlan, however, emitted an eerie aura, its color peculiar, and the vibrant plants floating within were precisely those that Ancia had just picked.

Airland scooped up a spoonful of soup, put it in his mouth, frowned slightly as soon as the soup entered his mouth, but still slowly drank it down.

Ancia grasped his wrist, saying worriedly, "Don't drink it anymore, what if you get poisoned?"

Elven raised an eyebrow. “Elves have high poison resistance, so they won’t actually get poisoned. It’s just that the taste is a bit peculiar, but it’s still tolerable.” He shifted his gaze slightly, focusing on the soup in front of him. “Besides, you picked these yourself, so I don’t want to miss out.”

Ancia was still doubtful, "Won't I get poisoned or have a stomachache?"

Airland smiled maliciously. "Want to bet?"

Ancia immediately withdrew her hand and said seriously, "I believe you."

After leaving the tea room, Erlan led Ancia to sit on the Moon Tear Tree. Ancia spread her fingers, and her silky silver hair passed through her fingers, feeling slightly cool to the touch.

Erlan hummed a song, and Ancia leaned on his shoulder, listening to the song, and slowly closed her eyes.

When Erlan heard the steady, long breathing beside him, he realized that Ancia had fallen asleep. He reached out and gently wrapped his arm around Ancia to make her more comfortable.

Just quietly watching the forest, with the person he loved by his side, made him even happier than on his coming-of-age ceremony.

Ancia was awakened by the sound of flapping wings, and the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was a white dove.

Airlan stared at the white dove with an unfriendly expression. "This is the first time I've found the white doves of Heligaluo so annoying."

Ancia reached out her hand, and the white dove obediently landed on her finger. She gently kissed Erlan's cheek, saying, "I'll take it with me so I won't be bothered anymore."

As soon as Ancia stepped out of the garden, Herigalo was already standing at the entrance waiting for her.

A white dove landed on Heligaluo's shoulder, cooed a few times, and flew away.

Ancia asked curiously, "What did it say?"

Heligalo smiled slightly. "It says you just woke up."

Ancia's mouth gaped open slightly. "Really? You can understand the cooing of pigeons?"

Heligalo's smile remained unchanged. "It's fake. I just saw the sleep mark on your face. The shape..." He gently stroked the red mark with his fingers, his tone calm. "You took a nap leaning on Airan's shoulder."

Ancia: "Haha."

My back feels a little cool.

Heligalo extended his hand, inviting her, "Would you like to sit in the Holy See's Hymn Garden?"

Ancia nodded and grasped it without hesitation, "Okay."

The Hymn Garden is a small garden within the Vatican that is not open to the public. Only saints and saints throughout history have been able to meditate here, and the environment is tranquil and beautiful.

They walked on a smooth, milky-white pebble path, beside which was a dark green lawn planted with pure white Divine Light Flowers. A gentle breeze blew, and the petals swayed, creating a delicate halo of light.

In the center of the garden lies a shallow spring, its water crystal clear, its source emerging silently from fine white sand and pebbles. Standing in the water is a faceless stone sculpture of an angel, holding a stone bottle in its hands. The bottle is empty, but a faint, holy mist rises from it, flowing across the surface and mingling with the sunlight to create a hazy rainbow.

They sat on a white wicker swing, a light mist spreading to their feet. Ancia pushed off the ground, and the swing began to sway gently.

"It's so beautiful here," Ancia exclaimed. She listened for a while, "and it sounds like I can even hear singing."

Heligalo and Ancia held hands, he especially liked this way of holding hands, "It's a choir, they're practicing hymns."

Ancia asked curiously, "I've never heard a hymn before. Can you recite it?"

Heligalo glanced lightly at Ancia's face before turning to look at the rainbow in the pool. The sunlight was soft, and his profile was exceptionally calm, but his tightly pursed lips betrayed a hint of tension.

After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly, his voice soft and focused.

"Look, the light of dawn dispels the long night and guides the lost."

Her footsteps lightly tread the dust, and wherever she goes, thorns exude fragrance.

Her existence is a tranquil poem, her soul is a pure flame, she is a glimmer of light bestowed by the divine, illuminating my long journey forward.

Even if fate stands in my way like a rock, this path I hold dear will never be forgotten.

Heligalo turned his head to look at Ancia quietly, as if trying to etch her image into the depths of his soul. Beneath those calm and restrained azure eyes, a burning emotion surged, almost breaking through all shackles.

He raised his hand, but instead of touching Ancia, he pointed to the angel statue shrouded in light and mist in the pool. As his fingertip glowed, a wisp of magical light was injected into the mist, and the faceless angel statue transformed into Ancia's face in the hazy halo.

“Ancia, when I was cultivating, I always wondered what the faces of those faceless angels and idols of light would look like. Now, in my heart, all the gods are like you.”

Heligaluo gently kissed the back of Ancia's hand. "I am willing to be your most devout believer."

Ancia moved closer to him, looking into his gentle eyes. "But I feel that if there really is a God of Light in this world, he should look like you." She wanted to follow her heart at that moment and kiss his pale lips directly. She didn't need to replenish her mana; she just wanted to kiss him properly.

A soft murmur escaped between his teeth, "Am I being blasphemous by doing this...?"

"Voluntary, that doesn't count..."

Love flowed between the two who were embracing each other; they admired and worshipped each other, regarding each other as gods.

The Library of the Holy See.

Heligaluo used his authority as a Holy Son to open a hidden library. "This is where ancient miracles and magic of light are kept. Inside are some books and scrolls that circulate only within the Holy See. See if there's anything that interests you."

Ancia reached out and took down a scroll; it contained purification magic. "What can I do if I'm interested? Can I borrow it to learn?"

Heligalo smiled. "You can take it all." Under Ancia's astonished gaze, he added, "You can empty this place completely, and no one will object."

Ancia smiled and said, "Then I won't be polite."

She picked out a few books on Light Magic that covered skill types she was currently missing: Flash of Light, which could briefly blind enemies; Hymn of Courage, which boosted teammates' attack; and Wings of Light, which she had always coveted. While browsing the bookshelf, she also casually took a dusty notebook tucked among the array tomes.

Time flew by during the magical discussion, and before we knew it, it was 4 p.m.

Heligalo glanced at the clock. "I'll take you to the arena."

Ancia was slightly taken aback. "What are you going to the arena for?" She quickly realized the reason and frowned. "Is Skark at the arena?"

Heligalo nodded. "He occasionally participates in matches that are not lethal."

Ancia's expression darkened. Given Skark's fighting style, even if it didn't kill him, it would still injure him.