Taste of Magic: Ambassador's Voice

<Stormbringer's Legacy> combined with <Lightning Dash> made Alistair rush forward at such speed that the rest of the world blurred around him. It felt like his skin would be pulled off his body, but Alistair didn't hesitate for even a second.

He crashed into Heiliger, grabbing her arm and twisting it out of its path with a loud crack. The woman screamed as her bones were broken, and the dagger she had been gripping slipped out of her hand and fell harmlessly to the ground.

"Let go!" The woman snarled, but Alistair ignored her and mercilessly pulled her away from Melina.

"Keep her away! Show her the worst nightmares you can," Alistair commanded Knight.

The nightmare focused its red gaze on the screeching woman, and she seized up, caught up in whatever nightmare Knight had dared appropriate to show her. Heiliger screeched and curled up into a ball on the ground, paralyzed with fear. It was clear that she wasn't a threat, but Alistair grabbed the rope from the bag on the Knight's saddle and tied the woman up.

He had an urge to kill her on the spot. To deliver justice to this horrible woman who had caused so much suffering and bloodshed. But unfortunately, she was more useful alive than dead. Her death would only drive the zealots to insane actions. But with her alive, Alistair, Duke Sinclair, and even the King could use her to put an effective end to the Church's rule.

But that would come later. First, he had to make sure Melina was safe.

Alistair ran up to her in a hurry, dropping down to his knees and putting his head on her chest. To his relief, he could instantly feel the warmth it radiated and the steady rise and fall of her chest as she breathed.

"Melina, Melina…" he gently touched her cheek, not daring to shake her in case she had sustained some serious injury.

Sienna was meanwhile mewling desperately, looking at Melina with pleading eyes.

Her eyes slowly fluttered open, and she let out a pained groan.

"You're hurt?! Where does it hurt?! I'll get you one of the healing waffles right away," Alistair panicked.

"I-It's okay… I'm not physically hurt…" she said in a strained voice. "Where's Heiliger?"

"In her worst nightmare," Alistair said, helping Melina get up into a sitting position so she could see Knight working his abilities on the tied-up Archbishop.

She was screaming on top of her lungs while the nightmare was staring at her, his eyes glowing bright red.

Her supporters were trying to come to Heiliger's rescue, but the drow had apprehended, rendering them utterly useless. The mage from Su Xien lay dead on the ground, while the System users had been pushed to the ground, magical restraints placed on their hands.

"No, no, no!' Heiliger screamed, tears streaming down her eyes, until her voice cracked from the strain. Her eyes rolled backwards in her skull and the woman passed out.

"You didn't kill her did you, Knight?" Alistair asked.

The nightmare sputtered proudly, digging the soil with his hoof. It appeared that he hadn't been holding back.

"I don't think she'll be a problem anymore. If Knight used his abilities to his fullest, then she won't even remember who she was once she wakes up," Melina said with a sigh of relief.

Lord Eidranis was injured, with several drow tending to him while he chewed one of Melina's waffles. For the first time, the stern ruler of the Monster Realm looked relaxed just like Melina. He gazed up at the night sky with a slight smile on his lips.

"You did, Archpatissier Melina," Lord Eidranis said. "You actually destroyed the Sacred Treasures."

Alistair blinked in surprise, as did Melina. This was the first time Lord Eidranis had actually called her by name.

"It wasn't easy," Melina replied, trying to get up to her feet. Alistair slipped his hands underneath her and hoisted her up, carrying her closer to the Monster Lord.

"What did you do exactly?" Alistair asked nervously. "You were supposed to pay a price, weren't you?"

"I am also curious. What did you give up to destroy the Sacred Treasures?"

"Every bit of magic, every system skill, trait, and skill point that I had. I'm no longer an Archmage or an Archpatissier. I'm just Melina," Melina said with the most satisfied smile Alistair had ever seen her make.

Warmth blossomed in his chest as he saw her smile for what felt like the first time. For the first time, she had dared to take a breath and accept herself. To enjoy herself for who she was.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Melina," the Monster Lord said with a chuckle.

"I do hope this doesn't mean that you've given up being my fiancée," Alistair joked.

"No! That is one thing I shall never give up," Melina said and unabashedly pulled herself up to kiss Alistair.

It was more passionate than before. As if invisible shackles that had been binding Melina had been lifted. Alistair returned the kiss in delight. The battle was finally over.

With Heiliger's capture, the fighting in Sunglow quickly ceased. Some of the most zealous of Heiliger's followers did try to continue the battle and free their leader; however, Sinclair forces arrived shortly after, quickly taking control of the situation.

Duke Sinclair hadn't spared any resources and sent a fleet of six ships and nearly a thousand soldiers. Whatever hope of victory the Church held was quickly squashed.

Those who refused to submit were killed, while those who put down their weapons were hauled away to the capital for trial. After a few days, the Royal Guard also came to Sunglow to aid with the recovery.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

While the loss of lives was comparatively minimal, thanks to all the shield spells Melina had provided Sunglow with, the damage to infrastructure was more severe. Even Melina's and Alistair's house had received a bit of damage, while many houses closest to the shore were outright destroyed.

The King, however, decreed that every Sunglower who suffered in this attack would be compensated. No doubt, he was using the money that he had confiscated from the Church.

However, some things couldn't be recovered with gold alone. After the battle was over, a week-long mourning was announced as people buried the loved ones lost during the battle. A few people had lost their lives, and some sustained horrible injuries. Etan the blacksmith lost his leg in the battle, while Illitran the elven scout lost one arm.

Melina had been devastated when she found out. After all, those two weren't even fighters. They only ever strove for peace, each in their own way. Yet when it came to defending their home, they both had been ready to lay down their lives. They, alongside others who sustained injuries to defend Sunglow and those who lost their lives, were hailed as heroes.

The week following the battle was a quiet period, where several funerals took place and people focused on saving those who were injured. Thankfully, nobody died from their injuries, so people had recovered and a large celebration was thrown.

Melina too was praised among the heroes of Sunglow, although she fervently denied, saying that if it weren't for her, nobody would have died or gotten injured in the first place. But Alistair thought otherwise. He believed that without Melina, many more lives would have been lost.

After the party, they threw themselves into the reconstruction of the town with everything they had. With the funds provided by the Crown and Duke Sinclair, who also donated a hefty sum to Sunglow, they were able to rebuild it bigger, better, and more amazing than ever before.

The town was expanded in all directions, rebuilding not just the destroyed homes but also making new ones. The town was nearly unrecognizable once the renovations were completed approximately a year later. With those complete, there was another event that they couldn't postpone any longer.

"Grandfather, I could—"

"No, no, and a thousand times no. Have I not told you that a bride making her own wedding cake is a bad omen?" Gilbert objected, blocking Melina's path into the kitchen.

"There's nothing left to make. You said yourself that you've finished it, I just—"

"No, you cannot help with the sugar flowers," Gilbert said sternly.

"But you've never taught me how to make them! How come Roxie gets to make them before me?" Melina complained.

"I swear, you've become even more of a handful lately. Don't you have things to discuss with Duchess Sinclair?"

Melina looked to the side nervously. She had a hard time facing the Duchess. Thinking that she was joining the Sinclair family set her nerves on edge. While their wedding would be small and limited to family and friends, it didn't change the fact that Melina would be marrying into nobility.

After tomorrow, she wouldn't have quite as much freedom to do as she pleased anymore. She would have to obey noble rules and conduct in earnest. She had been trying to mostly adhere to it in preparations for this day, but there had been a few slip-ups.

Melina becoming Alistair's wife would also mean that she would become the governor of Sunglow alongside Alistair. The title had been officially granted to him by both Duke Sinclair and the King after the Church's attack on Sunglow. He had been praised for his accomplishments and thus rewarded to govern these lands as his own.

"I'll… I'll go find her," Melina said with a sigh.

"Why the long face? Are you really getting the pre-marriage jitters? Change your mind about marrying your man?" Gilbert questioned.

"No, of course not! You know how much Alistair means to me. It's just… It feels like too much," Melina answered.

"Those are without a doubt bridal jitters. My older sister got them too when she got married," Roxie announced, peeking her head out of the kitchen, holding a half-finished sugar rose in her hand. Mango also peeked her head out, having been helping them keep the large cake cool and fresh.

"After everything I've been through, I doubt I would get something as mundane as bridal jitters," Melina scoffed.

"Yeah. Sure. Well, whatever doubts you are having, I suggest you bury them and meet with your mother-in-law. There's still a lot left to prepare."

Melina's hands trembled slightly as she held onto Gilbert's hand with an iron grip. In what felt like a blur and eternity at the same time, her wedding day had come. It was time for her to walk to the altar where Alistair was waiting for her.

Getting a priest had proved to be problematic since the religion of the System God had been abolished after the events of last year. Heiliger never recovered from that mental attack from Knight. She could barely put two words together, so Heiliger wasn't a threat to anyone anymore.

With her gone, there was nothing to hold the Church together, and it fell apart in record time. Instead, a less radical religion from their neighboring country had taken root in Alemahria. But finding an experienced priest available to expedite their wedding ceremony still proved to be challenging.

One of the Duchess Sinclair's attendants peeked their head from behind the large door Melina and Gilbert were standing behind, thus indicating that it was time for Melina to walk. She nodded at the attendant while her heart raced.

For a second, she wondered whether she looked fine. Logically, she knew that she did. Melina had checked every last detail. Her wedding dress had a long, elegant white skirt, white lace, and pearls at her neckline, and the long satin gloves looked amazing. Etrian had gone out of his way and woven bits of paper-thin light blue lace around the dress, which fluttered each time Melina walked.

To imitate the look of magic dresses. After all, she couldn't wear one anymore.

Nonetheless, Melina didn't regret it for a moment. The price she paid had been low to ensure the peace between realms.

"Are you ready?" Gilbert asked once the attendant had disappeared.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Melina said, her voice trembling.

Gilbert nodded and smiled, reaching to cover her face with the white veil. It was a strange feeling. Her hair had been made into an elegant bun while the veil surrounded her face and shoulders, subtly hiding her from sight.

"You're just as beautiful as Jasmine on our wedding day," Gilbert said.

"Thank you," Melina smiled, her heart calming a little.

The doors opened, revealing the wedding hall. It was a special room within Sunglow's Town Hall made specifically for such occasions. People were seated in rows, watching Melina eagerly.

On the left sat people closest to Melina—Remi, Erina, Barrett, Etrian, Milo, Leliana, Elowen, Arianne, Leon, Roxie, and Adrien. On the right sat the Sinclair family—the Duke and the Duchess, Charlotte, Richard, and, surprisingly enough, the princess. She was clinging to Richard's arm, looking quite pleased to have made her way to this rather exclusive event.

After glancing at all the people gathered here, Melina turned her gaze to Alistair. He was staring at her, his mouth slightly agape. She couldn't help but flush under his intense stare.

Each step to the altar felt heavy, but once they finally reached it, Gilbert offered up Melina's hand for Alistair to take.

"Take care of my little girl," Gilbert said, a hint of emotion appearing on his old face.

"I'll guard her with my life," Alistair inclined his head politely and took Melina's hand.

Despite having touched a thousand times, his touch felt electrifying. Melina almost pulled away, but he grasped it tight.

"I'm not letting you go," he said with a smile.

Melina smiled back and squeezed his hand. "Neither am I."

She couldn't believe that she was able to hold his hand like this. Once she had stood atop the world mountain and cast the spell to reverse time on the dying world.

But today the world was thriving. People around her were smiling. The man she loved was gazing at her with such warmth that she herself couldn't help but smile back.

Best of all—she was able to continue this life without the System, without magic. She could continue living as herself. As Melina.