The following day, I met Xenora, who was getting her turn guarding Velvet's cell.
"How is she?" I asked the succubus.
"She's been in that position since yesterday and only moved to eat or go to the bathroom," Xenora explained.
I looked at the prophet, who was kneeling against the stone wall with her back to us. There was an image of a winged circle symbol on the wall. It looks like she carved it using a sharp stone or something.
"What do you want, Velvet?" I called her. "Tell me. Your God won't grant it, but maybe I can."
The prophet did not answer. She still intertwined her fingers and lowered her head.
"Hey." I let out a bitter chuckle. "If I was really evil, I would have raped you. I might even have given you to my underlings as a toy. Oh great prophet, can you really not see what we are doing?"
That woman is still silent. Or rather, she continued to recite the prayers in a voice so low it was inaudible.
We should get her to Silkdale and Marystar as planned, my lord. Xenora lightly touched my arm. "There, she can see what you are building. Maybe she needs a little push."
It's only been a day since I persuaded her with what's in my base. However, for no apparent reason, I felt that whatever I was about to do would fail.
Even while stranded in the past, I felt nothing like this. I still face all the challenges without thinking about the possibility of failure.
Why is this situation any different? Is this because she is indeed a god's servant?
I was about to talk to her again, and that's when I noticed something. It appeared with just a glance but triggered my heart to beat uncontrollably.
"Did you see that thing over her head a moment ago, Xenora?" I gulped, still not sure if what I just saw was real or not.
The succubus frowned. "I saw nothing, my lord."
A few seconds ago, I caught a glimpse of a white glowing halo over the prophet's head.
"What happened?" Xenora approached the cell to take a closer look at Velvet.
There shouldn't be any wind in this place, but the prophet's hair fluttered gently.
Were these all signs from the God of the planet Mistrea? Could he be warning us?
"We are canceling visits to Marystar and Silkdale. Follow me, Xenora." I walked quickly out of that place. "We will have a meeting with the others."
I opened the remote communication tab to contact my generals.
If indeed God warns me, so be it. I will take this as a challenge.
"What exactly happened, my lord?" Xenora asked in a worried tone. "Why do you look tense?"
"I will discuss it in the meeting." I started flying, and Xenora followed me.
This is the same as all the challenges I've been through. I will crush it. I don't care if I have to face God.
***
After being shown various things by Vorn, Velvet felt great turmoil within her heart.
What if Vorn's way was right? Velvet sees more positives than negatives in this place. That sounds weird, but that's how it is.
This is not a demon lair full of cruelty like in the holy book.
But still, the one who made all of that was Vorn himself. Even a prophet couldn't guess what trick that lord of darkness would do.
? So, now Emily prays for the answers. She couldn't do anything now. The one who can help her is only that majestic entity.
"O my God, protect me from all kinds of darkness, all kinds of lies, and all kinds of suffering." She continued to pray in a whisper. "I am in your way in doing this. Give me guidance, o my God. This servant of yours is in the midst of confusion and doubt."
Unfortunately, God still hasn't answered Velvet even though a long time has passed. Her confidence began to erode.
Has God really abandoned her? Is her prayer not enough?
That woman opened her eyes when she felt someone behind her. Oddly enough, she didn't hear the lock being turned or the creaking of the metal door moving.
"Velvet Byrne, a daughter of a dragon."
The woman's voice made Velvet stand up and turn around.
"God heard your prayers, Velvet." The figure of a woman wearing armor, carrying a shield and a sword at her waist, was standing in the center of the cell, only a few feet from Velvet.
The prophet was speechless seeing that slightly wrinkled woman's face. Even though the female warrior's brown hair was short, Velvet still recognized her.
"Lady Lyra." Velvet approached that old version of her predecessor with a single tear shed. Velvet had seen Lyra like that in a rare painting. Yes, any medium would have usually depicted Lyra when she was young.
Lyra spread her arms while giving a faint smile. Without hesitation, Velvet hugged that woman.
"What shall I do, Lady Lyra?" Velvet started sobbing. There was no mistake. Velvet didn't see the black ball rippling in Lyra's chest, which means that woman wasn't a demon in disguise.
"I know how you feel. That's why God brought me down here." Lyra stroked Velvet's head gently.
Velvet's tears fell even harder, and now her emotions were overflowing. After all this time, God finally answered her prayer.
"I can't stay long. I shouldn't be here. If I don't leave soon, my presence could upset the balance of this world." Lyra let go of her hug and then wiped away Velvet's tears. "I just wanted to tell you that you just need to follow your heart."
Velvet had a hard time answering because her tears were getting uncontrollable. She wiped the tears from her face, then opened her mouth.
And she choked hard. Lyra was nowhere to be found. Now Velvet is alone again in the cell.
"Hey, lady prophet." A minotaur on guard asked from outside. "Just now, you were talking to yourself. You even cried. I shouldn't be talking to you, but I wonder what happened exactly?"
Velvet wiped away the remaining tears, then knelt again while linking her fingers in front of the winged circle symbol.
"Thanks." She whispered that with a smile.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel