After several days of internal struggle within the Blood God’s castle, Isis gradually accepted her current situation.
She eventually agreed to share breakfast with Beacai.
No sooner had breakfast concluded than her arm was affectionately linked by Beacai.
“Let’s go out, Mother. I heard a famous song and dance troupe arrived in Preli City today. Let’s go see them together.”
Preli City, situated at the forefront of Beacai’s divine domain, served as the Holy City of the Blood Church.
Countless Blood believers flocked to this city, hoping to witness the Blood God’s true form and receive supreme blessings.
Beyond that, however, this Holy City was much like any other, home to numerous residents.
Naturally, song and dance performances were an indispensable part of its vibrant life.
Yet…
“Given your status, do we truly need to go to Preli together?” Isis asked.
“If you wished, you could simply command them to perform here.”
If the Blood God specifically desired to see a certain troupe perform, they would have no recourse to refuse, regardless of their own inclinations.
Moreover, any troupe capable of performing here might already be devout followers of the Blood Church.
Faced with the Blood God’s command, they would likely be overjoyed rather than hesitant.
Beacai, however, had no desire to do so.
“But I want to live a normal mother-daughter life with you, Mother. Only then can we truly be happy.”
“…Very well.”
Isis, uncharacteristically, agreed to Beacai’s request, consenting to visit Preli with her to watch the performance.
Secretly, however, she was meticulously devising an escape plan.
Previously, with her lifespan nearing its end, the thought of escape held no appeal.
But now, having gained a life as eternal as Beacai’s, she feared she would truly go mad if she didn’t flee.
To escape, she knew she had to leave the confines of the castle.
Preli presented an excellent opportunity; perhaps there, she could discover a means of escape.
Thus, after a brief preparation, she and Beacai embarked in a carriage and set off for Preli.
****
The carriage drew to a halt in Preli’s most renowned Blood Square.
As Isis stepped down from the carriage, lifting her skirt, she couldn’t help but feel a tremor of awe at her first sight of Preli.
The square stretched incredibly wide, seemingly boundless to the eye, with only glimpses of majestic buildings scattered beyond its perimeter.
At its very center stood a towering statue of Beacai, its base flowing into a pool of blood.
Carriages and pedestrians filled the square, and the golden sunlight bathed the city, imbuing it with vibrant life.
There was no trace of the eerie gloom one might expect from a city of an Evil God.
This sight diverged greatly from Isis’s preconceived notions of a Church Holy City.
After witnessing the chaos of Pad City, she had anticipated Preli would be even more extreme, yet they proved to be complete opposites.
This Holy City, it seemed, truly lived up to its name.
To avoid being recognized by her believers, Beacai had altered her appearance, now resembling an ordinary young girl.
Even so, upon seeing the magnificent architecture, she couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
“It’s been so long since I last visited this city,” she mused.
“I never imagined it would have developed into such a prosperous place.”
Taking Isis’s hand, she intended to lead her away from the square and truly immerse them in the city.
However, glancing back, she noticed an expression of surprise and confusion on Isis’s face.
“Mother, is there something you don’t understand?”
Today was their day out together as mother and daughter, and as the daughter, Beacai felt she should pay more attention to Isis.
Isis, not one to conceal her thoughts, spoke plainly: “Yes, this city is quite different from what I imagined.”
In an instant, Beacai understood her meaning.
She released Isis’s hand, stepping before her, and with a beaming smile, as if she had just received praise, she began to speak:
“You must have thought it would be similar to the chaotic Pad City, didn’t you? But it’s completely different!”
“This city lies within my divine domain; it’s the Holy City of the Blood Church. Naturally, its public order and development differ vastly from a border city.”
“Here, I’ve managed it by emulating your former Elven Holy City, Mother.”
“Anyone who dares to cause trouble here will face the judgment of the Blood Church. And if the Blood Church cannot resolve it, I will personally intervene.”
“I wish for my believers to be as happy as your believers once were, Mother. I want the people living here to be free from worries.”
“The power of blood I grant them is precisely for these reasons.”
Beacai spread her arms wide, a smile gracing her lips.
Though her stature was far from imposing, the entire Holy City seemed to exist under the protective span of her embrace, enjoying a life of peace and stability.
Staring blankly at her, Isis found her thoughts drifting to her own past.
‘An Elven Holy City, you say…’
Long ago, she too possessed a magnificent Holy City, where countless elves resided.
Their lives were equally blessed with happiness and contentment.
However, during the Twilight of the Gods, Yggdrasil fell.
Deprived of their Mother Goddess’s protection, the Holy City swiftly crumbled into ruins amidst the ensuing wars.
Seeing this city invariably brought to mind that vanished Elven Holy City.
“It will be rebuilt someday, Mother,”
Beacai, discerning her thoughts, offered comfort.
Yet Isis merely shook her head, passing by her side as she replied:
“No, let the past remain in the past. Yggdrasil, the World Tree, perished during the Twilight of the Gods.”
The person she was now, was Isis.
Sensing Isis’s sorrow, Beacai tapped a finger to her lips, then rose on her tiptoes, gazing beyond the square.
Suddenly spotting something, she took Isis’s hand and pulled her towards the bustling merchant street at the square’s edge.
“Mother, I heard sweets can cure sorrow! There’s cotton candy over there; let’s go see!”
“That’s food for children…”
Isis paused, uttering the words softly.
However, Beacai’s grip was too strong, and she could only allow herself to be pulled along to the merchant street.
The street was no less crowded than the square, yet upon Isis’s arrival, many people instinctively cleared a path.
This allowed them to reach the cotton candy vendor unimpeded.
Their deference wasn’t solely due to Isis’s beauty, but more so to the opulent gown she wore.
The fabric and jewels unmistakably marked her as the daughter of a prominent noble house.
Isis felt a pang of annoyance at this.
She was dressed this way for their outing only because Beacai hadn’t prepared any casual clothes for her.
“Shopkeeper, two cotton candies,”
Beacai held up two fingers, waving them before the vendor.
The vendor, not daring to delay, swiftly crafted two cotton candies on bamboo skewers—one red, one pink—and presented them both to Beacai.
Isis instinctively reached out to take one, but Beacai, right before her eyes, took both.
She then took a bite from each.
…
‘If she wasn’t going to give her one, why buy two? Was it merely to tease her?’
‘An Evil God remained an Evil God, intent on tormenting her even here.’
Isis turned her head away, wondering why she had even thought to take the cotton candy.
She had no interest in such childish treats.
Instead of dwelling on it, she should focus on how to escape from Beacai.
Preli City was crowded, making it easy to hide, but fleeing in this flamboyant gown would surely attract unwanted attention…
Just as she pondered how to escape the Evil God’s side, Beacai suddenly presented the red cotton candy before her, smiling sweeter than honey.
“Mother, here you go! This one seems even sweeter!”