The sky was dim and gray, both gloomy and cold.

Dense clouds gradually covered the sun, with thunder rumbling faintly. Occasionally, a few blinding flashes of lightning lit up the judgment platform at the center of the square, crafted from cold stones.

Today is the trial day of the renowned Grey Swan Witch from District Nine.

Residents from nearby neighborhoods flocked from all directions early in the morning, soon surrounding the square until it was impenetrable.

The crowd looked at the girl tied to the cross with fear and hatred, hurling stones, mud, and filth at her while shouting angrily:

"Burn the witch! Burn the witch!"

The roar of angry voices, curses, and cries mixed together, buried in the piercing wind. A suffocating and tense atmosphere filled the air, as if breathing had become heavy.

In the center of the square, on the altar, several Judgment Court priests dressed in red Holy Robes and pointed hats looked on indifferently.

They held the Holy Code, gazing down at the "witch" tied to the cross, their eyes exuding unquestionable authority and cruelty:

"Apostate Susan Russo, do you know your sins?"

On the fiery cross, Susan, accused of being a "witch," struggled endlessly.

The Holy Robe on her had long been tattered, her long hair disheveled, her haggard face pale with illness. Her cracked lips opened and closed repeatedly, but only produced hoarse breaths, unable to utter a single word.

She glared furiously at the priests on the altar, flames seeming to burn in her pupils, and when her gaze swept over the crowd of onlookers, pain and anxiety were apparent.

When she opened her mouth wide, letting out an angry, hoarse whimper, the residents at the forefront froze for a moment:

"Can't speak?"

"No, that's not right, she... seems to have no tongue."

The residents looked peculiarly at the priest questioning the "witch," glancing at each other in surprise.

However, the priest did not wait, instead, slowly approaching Susan, lowering his voice:

"Miss, I give you one last chance. If you tell us where you have hidden it, we can spare you, heal your throat and body, and spare those children in prison."

"Rest assured, I can swear by the great deity that I am not deceiving you."

"If you are willing, just nod your head. All you need to do is nod, and we will halt this trial."

Every tier-entering priest of the Holy Royal Court receives soul protection from the Holy Light.

No matter how strong the spiritual control method, it cannot forcibly obtain information from a Holy believer with steadfast faith.

Therefore, when the priest offered a "deal," even his tone softened significantly for a moment.

Susan lifted her head.

Her gaze bore into the priest's eyes, filled with fury, her slender waist and back straightening with resolve.

Seeing the girl's expression, the priest immediately understood her decision.

He sighed, his lowered voice losing patience:

"It seems... you still refuse to speak."

"I truly don't understand you stubborn folks. If that's the case... we'll have to ask the dead this question."

Upon hearing this, Susan trembled slightly, her eyes widening, looking at the priest with shock, as if realizing something.

The priest's demeanor had already turned cold:

"It seems the Gray Swan Witch refuses to repent."

"Begin... the execution!"

He ordered indifferently.

Upon the command, the executioner holding a torch stepped forward, scattering tar and resin on the girl and the dry wood beneath the cross.

However, just as he was about to light the fire, a series of hoofbeats sounded from a distance, accompanied by a heart-wrenching shout:

"Stop the trial—! Stop the trial—!"

Upon hearing the shout, the crowd immediately stirred:

"Stop the trial?"

"Look! It's the priests! So many priests!"

"Wait, is that... Could it be the Saintess?!"

Exclamations arose one after another, and at the same time, the Judgement Priest responsible for the witch's trial also spotted the shouting individuals.

It was Angus, Great Commander of the Holy Hall Knight Order.

Behind Angus followed many Church knights and priests, some even wearing purple robes, the Cardinal Priests hastily rushing from the Prayer Hall without changing out of their worship attire.

However, most striking was the girl surrounded by priests and knights.

The iconic flowing golden hair and azure eyes, the angelic visage, clad in the Ring Cross Gold Silk Holy Robe worn only by those of exceedingly high status such as Divine Favored ones and religious leaders...

Such an appearance existed solely within the Royal Court for one individual, the Saintess who induced Divine Miracles, a presence so exalted even the Chief High Priest had to pay respect:

The forty-third Saintess of Creation, Falling Star Queen, Lord of the Northern Land—Charlotte de Castel.

The Holy Light enveloped her, like a devoted servant.

Watching the newly arrived "Saintess" surrounded by stars, the expression of the Judgment Priest responsible for the trial changed completely.

"What are you waiting for? Hurry, execute!"

He shouted at the executioner.

The executioner hesitated.

Seeing the approaching priests and Saintess, observing the red-eyed Judgment Priest, he was momentarily uncertain.

"Fool! Let me do it!"

The Judgment Priest cursed, snatching the torch, kicking the executioner aside, and igniting the dry wood drenched in tar and resin beneath the cross.

With a boom, flames spread instantly, consuming Susan in a blink.

"Bastard!"

One of Angus' furious curses rang out.

The torch-bearing Judgment Priest let out a mocking laugh, standing tall, and provocatively gazing at the enraged Holy Hall Knight Order Commander.

But in the next moment, a serene yet icy voice traveled through the air:

"God said, let there be rain."

"Boom—!"

A thunderous sound of a giant roar.

Large raindrops arrived in an instant, pouring down.

The rain seemed to carry some supernatural force. Despite the flames fueled by greasy tar and resin, as the rain fell, the burning fire swiftly extinguished.

The Judgment Priest's smile abruptly froze.

"Holy Word... Decree!"

He stared in disbelief at Charlotte, surrounded by the crowd, and then gritted his teeth, drawing the sword of a nearby Judgement Knight to slash at Susan on the cross.

However, just as the sword blade was about to strike down, a longsword surrounded by holy power flew in and easily knocked the Judgement Knight's sword from his hand, splitting it into two, before embedding itself into the distant square's sculpture amidst a whistling sound.

"Bastard! Did you not hear my words?!"

The Great Commander of the Holy Hall Knight Order descended from the sky, angrily grabbing the Judgment Priest by the collar.

His body was still surrounded by platinum-hued holy power, the terrifying legendary pressure knocking down a large crowd around him.

"Lord Angus, there are still ordinary people here."

A crisp voice rang out, carrying a hint of a reminder.

The Great Commander of the Holy Hall Knight Order glanced around and then sighed softly, retracting his pressure.

He flung the Judgment Priest to the ground and then turned to salute:

"Your Highness, Saintess."

Outside the crowd, other priests and knights had entered the square.

They dismounted and then surrounded the girl wearing a white Saintess robe as she entered the execution ground.

The crowd parted consciously, and everyone fell to their knees:

"Saintess... Lord!"

Charlotte passed through the crowd.

She arrived at the altar and saw Susan, who was scorched and barely alive, and a flicker of anger flashed in her eyes.

"Untie her."

She ordered the knights and priests who followed her.

The Holy Hall Knights were about to act, but in the next moment, the priest responsible for the judgement stopped them:

"Your Highness, Saintess, this is the judgement of an apostate witch as ordered by the Great Judge. Even though you are the Saintess, you have no right to interfere!"

Charlotte glanced at him indifferently and said coldly:

"Arrest this apostate attempting to judge a Divine Favored."

Upon hearing this, the Holy Hall Knights sprang into action, subduing the Judgment Priest.

The surrounding Judgement Knights' expressions changed. They were about to draw their swords, but then heard an aged reprimand:

"What? Do you also want to apostatize? We are here following the Oracle; our Lord has just warned in a prophecy, the Grey Swan Dean is not a witch, but a True Believer under the protection of Holy Light! You are suspected of harming True Believers, lower your weapons and accept scrutiny!"

The Judgement Knights showed varied expressions.

But looking at the angry priests and knights, especially the several cardinal priests in purple robes and the Great Commander of the Holy Hall Knight Order standing at the front, they all eventually dropped their swords.

Several priests hurried forward to rescue Susan from the cross.

Looking at the unconscious girl, a High Tier priest sensed with holy power for a moment, then turned and sighed:

"Your Highness, Saintess, her injuries are too severe, she probably already..."

"Let me see."

Charlotte stepped forward and knelt on one knee.

She reached out her right hand, intending to place it on Susan's forehead but quickly remembered something and looked towards the sky, flashing with lightning and thunder.

"God said, let there be light."

She spoke.

In the next moment, the dark clouds in the sky began to roll, then visibly dispersed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The thunder stopped, the wind ceased, and the downpour gradually halted.

Golden sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining upon the earth, bringing a hint of warmth and casting boundless golden light throughout the Holy Capital.

And it was now that Charlotte lowered her head and placed her right hand on Susan's forehead.

The platinum holy power spread, enveloping the unconscious girl. In the stunned and amazed gaze of everyone, specks of vitality began to spread outward with Charlotte at the center.

Green grass sprouted, flowers bloomed, and the girl's injuries healed rapidly at a visible speed.

In no time, the grotesque burns vanished, replaced by skin as if newly born, and even the girl's complexion became much more radiant, completely unlike someone who had been tortured for days.

Even farther away, the onlooking residents, though only touched by a part of the sacred light, all felt a sense of renewal in body and soul, as if their entire bodies experienced a rebirth, with all their ailments and pains disappearing.

More astonishingly, several disabled citizens found with surprise that their missing limbs had regrown under the spread of Holy Light!

"God...a Divine Miracle! It's a Divine Miracle!"

Someone exclaimed, then excitedly knelt before Charlotte.

"Praise the holy! It's a Divine Miracle! The Divine Miracle brought by the Saintess!"

Soon, more people knelt before Charlotte.

Even the priests who had rushed over looked at her with eyes full of excitement.

Nothing more, whether Holy Word Decree or miraculous healing Divine Arts, were not abilities an ordinary clergy could perform.

The Saintess is likely to be the strongest Saintess since the founding of the Royal Court...

This thought appeared almost simultaneously in the minds of all knowledgeable clergy.

However, Charlotte's mind was not on this.

Her eyes focused on Susan, who was sullied as a witch.

"Cough cough cough..."

Accompanied by several coughs, Susan slowly awakened.

"Am I... am I still alive?"

Her expression carried a hint of bewilderment.

"Indeed, you are alive, but you are very weak and need to rest for a while."

Charlotte said warmly.

Susan stared blankly at Charlotte.

And when she recognized Charlotte's iconic robe and striking gold hair and blue eyes, she quickly widened her eyes, excitedly grabbing Charlotte's hand:

"You... you are the Saintess? Did... did you save me?!"

Charlotte nodded slightly, saying:

"I am Charlotte de Castel."

Susan became even more excited.

Her face flushed, with excitement, urgency, and fear mixed within her expression:

"Lord Charlotte, escape... quickly escape! Please tell everyone to escape!"

"They want to sacrifice the whole Holy Capital, they want to kill you, they... they want to summon the Evil God in the Church Authority Country!"

...

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