But I find it very sacred.

The guards and scholars at the front, upon seeing the approaching steam carriage, immediately dispersed to the sides.

He bowed slightly in greeting.

The alchemical magic emitted a deep, resonant sound, and the towering gate slowly opened.

The steam carriage didn't slow down for a second and drove straight in.

Another sound of alchemical magic rang out, and the door behind them slowly closed.

Lucia was dumbfounded.

This seems to be more than just a powerful, advanced scholar.

As she looked at Mien, all sorts of wild and imaginative thoughts began to surface in her mind...

I quickly reined in my thoughts, trying not to think too far-fetched.

With her hands resting on her thighs, her slender arms outstretched, she looked down in thought.

A blue magical force gently swept past from the front.

Lucia looked up and saw that the building in front of her was like a huge arcane pedestal supporting a star-shaped main body, with the whole being a rounded twelve-sided dome.

The runes of order flickered like breathing, and light, passing through the facets of the crystal, subtly refracted into countless geometric spots of light, flowing with profound, colorful magic.

This is the core experimental area of ​​the Academy of Scholars—the "Sacred Core," which contains various laboratories and alchemical equipment.

Responsible for research on various faith energies, imprints, and spells.

A crystal arch bridge was erected in the middle to allow cars to pass smoothly.

The magic here is no longer restrained; various powers of faith are merging and erupting in the experiment, gently surging outwards.

The passersby had changed; most were now older, and their scholar robes were adorned with more ornate runes.

They walked unhurriedly, and when they saw the approaching car, they seemed to recognize the people inside.

They stopped in place and bowed slightly in greeting.

Lucia couldn't help but compare their clothes with Mien's, and was surprised to find that Mien's scholar's robe was more gorgeous, with solemn and grand patterns.

I dare not think about it.

Lucia gripped her clothes tightly with both hands.

The car slowly crossed the arched bridge, lifting them up and then lowering them down. From the highest point, Lucia could see the entire arcane experiment area.

But the car kept moving forward.

Another, even larger gate stood before them, covered with dense magical runes that radiated power.

The guards at the gate seemed to have received prior notice, activating the alchemy array as the car approached.

A magic circle appeared, and the gate opened in the light.

The car slowly entered the deepest part of the Academy.

The buildings inside are grand, but no longer ornate; instead, they exude a sense of order.

The buildings seem to be arranged according to some kind of rule.

This is the administrative area of ​​the Temple Academy.

In the far distance stands a European-style tower, with an inscription spiraling upwards, towering high and overlooking the entire Academy of Scholars.

This area is vast, yet you see very few people. Inside, you feel extremely small, like a speck of dust.

Even here, people on the street will still stop and nod in greeting.

The car drove straight to the Round Pagoda.

At the main gate, the Augusta scholars, along with all the Silver Scholars and Holy Chapter Professors, were already waiting, lined up on the left and right.

A wide, blue carpet covered with mysterious patterns was laid out.

The car door was opened.

Mien led Luya out of the car.

Lucia felt as if her body no longer belonged to her; it was numb and cold.

My brain was almost completely shut down, a blank.

She mechanically got out of the car, walked next to Mien, and stepped onto the long carpet.

She seemed to understand something, yet she understood nothing at all; she simply followed Mien forward.

Gradually, the people lined up on both sides moved to her side, and Lucia saw the look in their eyes.

Their eyes were looking at him, and they looked puzzled.

The overwhelming sense of oppression and the gaze of so many people were too much for the young girl to bear.

Lucia felt an urge to escape, and disregarding everything else, she quickly fled the scene.

Her back hunched over little by little, her thin shoulders slumped, as if she wanted to shrink into somewhere.

Suddenly, Lucia felt a warmth.

Mien, standing beside her, secretly reached out from under her scholar's robe and placed his large hand on her back.

She looked at Mien, whose face remained expressionless, elegant, noble, and composed.

This reminded her of the time she purified the fountain of faith.

His bent back gradually straightened up again.

It sustained her through the longest stretch of her life.

Upon reaching the tower's entrance, four people dressed in scholar's robes similar to Mien's stood waiting.

Lucia saw a familiar figure; it was the older sister with red hair.

Unlike her casual and simple attire when she went to investigate Tin Can Street, Phyllis was now wearing a sacred scholar's robe and her red hair was neatly tied back.

But her scholar's robe was different from everyone else's; the wide robe was open, revealing the scholar's gown underneath, but it had been shortened to expose her thighs and arms.

She appears tall and slender with a dashing air.

She had a beautiful and delicate face, looked to be in her early twenties, and had dark red pupils in her eyes.

Strangely, Phyllis, who was usually carefree and unreliable in Tin Can Street, now had a solemn and composed expression, looking every bit like a professional scholar, standing dignifiedly.

It's almost like a completely different person.

She nodded slightly, her eyes calm, completely ignoring him and not recognizing him.

The two walked past.

Lucia couldn't help but glance at her again, only to see from an angle where Mien couldn't see her...

Phyllis raised her head slightly, her dark red eyes flashing, and gave her a bright and playful smile, revealing her canine teeth.

whee.

Lucia paused for a moment, then turned around.

She felt a warmth flowing through her heart, which made her feel much more at ease.

As Mien and his companion walked through the door, everyone followed them into the tower.

Mien returned to his loyal Academy of Scholars.

Step onto the spiral staircase and walk straight toward the council chamber.

"Augusta, what did Princess Rachel say?"

Augusta was a man who looked to be in his forties or fifties, with an extremely deep voice that had a slight bubbly quality to it.

He was one of the four Silver Scholars and was fully responsible for the administrative affairs of the Temple Academy.

He handled all the work related to liaison, cooperation, and consultation with the royal family, nobles, and the Papacy under Mien's instructions.

The other three Silver Scholars are Phyllis, Ingrid, and Professor Hein.

Phyllis is fully in charge of the Academy's investigation into anomalies;

Yingli is a woman who looks to be in her forties and is in full charge of the teaching and research work of the Academy.

Hein, on the other hand, was wearing a large silver scholar's robe and had her face hidden by a hood, so she looked like a young girl.

However, he was somewhat hunched over and dressed rather sloppily.

He is fully responsible for the academic and research work of the Academy.

Augusta stepped forward and said respectfully:

"Princess Rachel inquired about some matters concerning the saintess, mainly about the prospective saintess, Funila."

Then she added that she believed the Academy under Chief Mien's leadership would be absolutely fair, without a doubt, and that she expressed His Majesty the Emperor's praise, asking me to convey it.

Mien smiled inwardly; Rachel's meaning couldn't be clearer:

Funila was a prospective saint nurtured by the Holy See.

The Pope, on the other hand, firmly stands with Prince Dylan and is an insurmountable opponent for Rachel.

After all, she made almost no secret of her ambition: the throne of the next emperor of the Cassirer Empire.