Just as everyone was still reeling from what had just happened, the footsteps outside the door quickened suddenly, and several fully armed guards rushed in. Leading them was a middle-aged man in magnificent armor, his face a mixture of authority and urgency. "Miss Emilia!" he shouted, his gaze sweeping around before finally settling on the girl standing by the light source. "Thank God, you're finally safe!"
Carl frowned, slightly relaxing his stance as he blocked Derek's way, but still remaining vigilant: "And who is this?"
"I am Gerald, captain of the Royal Guard," the knight who had just entered introduced himself. "We received word that there were outlaws here attempting to steal the sacred relic 'Heart of Light,' and we have come to their rescue." He noticed that although the room appeared chaotic, the atmosphere was no longer tense like a battle, and asked with slight surprise, "It seems you have already resolved the situation here?"
A young businessman in the crowd excitedly explained, "You didn't see what just happened! It was like an epic tale of heroism! Especially that little girl—oh, excuse me, I mean Miss Emilia! She was absolutely amazing!"
The old man beside her nodded gently, his eyes filled with emotion: "That's true. She dispelled that evil force with her pure heart..."
The mysterious woman said softly, "The situation has stabilized for now, hasn't it?" At the same time, she gave everyone a reassuring look.
Arya sheathed her bow but remained vigilant: "We can't let our guard down. Who knows what other tricks this self-proclaimed defeated enemy might have up his sleeve?"
Lorenzo nodded in agreement: "And there are likely still his men outside."
Upon hearing this, Gerald immediately ordered his guards to scatter and check the surroundings for any lurking dangers. "Please allow us to escort you away from here, as it's not entirely safe yet," he said, walking towards Emilia and politely extending his hand to invite her to go first. "Miss Emilia, please come with me."
“Thank you for your kindness,” Emilia replied gently, but glanced back at the light source before moving. “However, I think we should keep this safe.”
At this moment, Arthur suggested, "Since it has chosen to acknowledge Emilia's purity of heart, it would be best for her to carry it herself until a safer place is found. That would be the best option."
Gerald smiled slightly in agreement: "That's indeed a good idea. Then let's begin our evacuation from here."
Just as everyone was preparing to set off, a faint yet exceptionally clear voice rang in everyone's ears:
"Remember, the real test has only just begun. The Heart of Light needs not only guardians, but also guides. I hope you can find more partners on this path to face the greater challenges that may lie ahead..."
Everyone stopped and looked at each other, even Derek, who had seemed depressed, looked up with a thoughtful expression.
The sound of hurried footsteps and an unusual commotion arose again outside the door. Lorenzo stared nervously in the direction outside: "It sounds like something really is wrong outside!"
The mysterious woman calmly said, "No matter what, we must be careful. Let's deal with the current crisis first."
And so, as this unknown new journey was about to begin, this group of friends, who had survived life-or-death trials, supported each other and walked towards the exit...
The moment the door was pushed open, an even more jarring and noisy cacophony rushed out—clearly, things outside were far from peaceful. What kind of predicament and opportunity they were about to face became one of the biggest mysteries in everyone's mind.
Led by Gerald, the group cautiously made their way through the room. The commotion outside grew louder, clearly indicating that the situation was far from optimistic. Emilia gripped the "Heart of Light" tightly, silently reciting the message conveyed by the mysterious voice. She knew the road ahead was long, but since fate had chosen her, she could only bravely move forward.
When they finally emerged from the building, the sight before them made everyone gasp – the once peaceful and tranquil town was now in complete chaos. The streets were crammed with people fleeing in panic, and there were destroyed stalls and scattered goods everywhere. Several houses were still burning, billowing black smoke, and the air was filled with the smell of burning.
"What...what happened?" a townsman cried out in alarm. He immediately went up to Emilia and the others and asked, "Do you know what happened?"
Lorenzo looked around, his expression turning grave. "Someone's probably taking advantage of the chaos." He turned to Gerald. "Captain, we need to get this under control!"
"That's right, everyone, don't panic!" Gerald shouted, then turned to his men, "Split up, prioritize evacuating the crowd, and protect the safety of civilians!"
Several guards nodded and left. At the same time, Emilia realized this was the moment to unleash her power. "Let me help," she whispered, then closed her eyes, focusing all her attention on the orb of light in her hand. Almost instantly, a warm, soft light spread out from her, instantly dispelling the fear and unease in many hearts. The townspeople, sensing this change, stopped and looked in her direction, their astonishment evident.
"My God...it's amazing!" a young woman exclaimed, holding her child. "That lady is like an angel who descended from heaven!"
"It's the Holy Maiden! She must be the legendary Messenger of Light!" On the other side, an old man was so excited that he almost burst into tears. "I never thought I would witness such a miracle in my lifetime!"
Witnessing this, even Derek, who had initially been indifferent and even somewhat hostile, couldn't help but show admiration. "Perhaps... she really can do it," he murmured, his tone filled with unprecedented approval.
Just as this ray of hope was spreading, a series of rapid and dense footsteps suddenly came from not far away. Then, more than a dozen burly men with weapons and fierce expressions rushed out. The leader was one of the masterminds who had tried to seize the "Heart of Light" earlier.
"Stop! Hand over the sacred artifact!" the other party shouted, walking menacingly towards them.
Faced with such a challenge, Karl quickly stepped to the front to prepare for battle, while his other companions also assumed their fighting stances. Emilia, meanwhile, focused her attention once more, gathering more power in her hands, ready to contribute to the upcoming battle.
"It seems our test has begun again." The mysterious woman smiled, her eyes gleaming with wisdom.
“That’s right, but this time we will be more united and overcome the difficulties together,” Lorenzo said firmly.
"Wherever she is, she always brings people endless hope," the young businessman remarked, his eyes filled with admiration for Emilia.
However, in this moment filled with unknowns and dangers, Emilia appeared unusually calm. "No matter how treacherous the road ahead, as long as we work together, nothing is insurmountable." Her voice was soft, but filled with unwavering strength.
“Well said!” Gerald looked at the young girl with approval. “Now, let’s embark on this new journey together.”
Just as everyone was preparing for battle, something suddenly streaked across the sky, accompanied by a dazzling light, and landed in the center of the plaza not far away...
"What is that?" Derek asked in surprise as he tried to make out the situation.
All eyes turned to the spot where the light source had landed, where a figure dressed in strange clothes and holding a peculiar staff had appeared...
"Who is he? Is he a new ally, or..." As Lorenzo wondered, the mysterious visitor slowly turned around, a gentle smile on his face, and spoke.
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