Her appearance exuded a fragmented divine aura.
She wore a trailing long dress interwoven with blue and purple, the hem flowing like the starry sky overhead, with faint blue light spots resembling star dust emerging on its surface.
Rover silently sized up Lorelei, unable to retort after Lucian said that.
"It really does have a bit of that vibe..."
Zani asked in confusion, "Who is the Shorekeeper?"
"And this is Lorelei?"
"She looks... not in a good mood."
"Could it be that we angered her by forcing our way in?"
Rover carefully observed Lorelei and hurriedly shook her head. "Her frequency is very off."
"She seems to have been contaminated by something..."
With that, Rover drew her weapon, preparing for battle.
Lucian waved his hand. "Hold on!"
He took out the Mandala Flower and gently shook it.
Phrolova in his arms was seeing this bouquet with purifying abilities up close for the first time.
As it swayed, a faint light enveloped her, as if this flower were a product from another world.
The fantastical white light filled the entire courtyard, and clarity returned to Lorelei's originally furious eyes.
Phrolova was silent for a moment. Doesn't this flower completely counter me?
A Red Spider Lily fell from the high sky, gradually disintegrating amid the myriad light spots.
Lorelei weakly landed on the water surface, appearing somewhat dazed.
Phoebe reached out to catch some light spots, her beautiful eyes flickering slightly. "Such a wondrous power..."
Zani stepped forward and picked up the already disintegrated Red Spider Lily petals. "This is... similar to the petals from before?"
Lucian tightened his arm, holding the expressionless Phrolova even closer. "Looks like I really do need to control you."
Phrolova: "..."
Haven't I already been controlled by you? How else do you want to control me?
Lorelei looked at everyone in bewilderment. "How long have I been asleep... How long has this nightmare... lasted."
"...Are you all part of this dream as well?"
Phoebe took a few steps forward. "I think not... Are you Lorelei?"
Lorelei nodded slightly. "Yes, visitors from afar."
"I can sense the goodwill in your hearts... except for that woman."
Lorelei extended her finger, pointing at Phrolova in Lucian's arms.
Lucian sighed, full of apology. "Sorry, it's my fault for not training her properly."
Phrolova: "?"
Why does it sound so weird coming from your mouth?
If she weren't bound right now, she'd really want to deliver an elbow strike to Lucian.
Zani looked puzzled at that Red Spider Lily. "But Phrolova is tied up by us, right? How did she still get a chance to act?"
Lucian shook his head slightly and pinched Phrolova's cheek:
"Probably either handed the flower to someone else or controlled Lorelei a long time ago."
Lorelei gazed at the sky full of white light spots:
"The white flower in your hand possesses powerful purifying abilities. It must be you who helped me break free from the entwining nightmare. Thank you."
"Those oath-breakers wearing mad masks... They polluted the Cloudsea's frequency with flowers full of malice."
"It plunged me into anger and sorrow, trapping me in endless nightmares."
"If you hadn't liberated me from the nightmare, I would be unable to continue fulfilling the mission left by the Sentinel..."
"The waves raised by the Cloudsea would swallow the entire Ragunna, just as it swallowed the ruins of that temple beneath your feet."
Rover hurriedly asked upon hearing this, "Sentinel? Can you contact the Sentinel?"
Lorelei shook her head slightly. "The Sentinel Imperator shaped me from an unconscious being into my current form and bestowed upon me the most precious 'humanity.'"
"He commanded me to constrain this Cloudsea, lest the Remnant energy within continue to dissipate."
"As for contacting the Sentinel as you mentioned..."
"The Sentinel's connection to the mortal world has already been severed."
"Only if the people collectively pray to Him and complete the ritual of that ancient oath at the peak of the Carnevale can there be temporary communication with Him."
Lucian pondered. "Complete the ritual at the peak of the Carnevale?"
"That should refer to the Sentinel bestowing the Laureate during the Carnevale, right?"
"I remember Brant saying before that the one who performs the most outstandingly during the Carnevale receives the Laureate bestowed by the Sentinel..."
At this moment, Phoebe suddenly stepped forward, appearing somewhat distraught. "No, that's impossible!"
"The current Pontifex, the Enlightened One Fenrico, received the Sentinel's personal oracle."
"The Sentinel has always been with us!"
Lorelei shook her head slightly. "Regrettably, the Sentinel's current situation is beyond mortal comprehension."
"...Your Pontifex is no exception."
Lucian thought to himself upon hearing this, As expected.
The Pontifex Fenrico was indeed not the true Enlightened One, just as he had guessed before.
Thinking about it, there were two possible motives for Fenrico claiming to be the Enlightened One.
The first possibility was to take advantage of the Sentinel's lost contact and control the entire Ragunna by posing as the Sentinel's mortal spokesperson.
The second was to prevent the people from falling into panic by lying that the Sentinel was always by their side.
From a motivational standpoint, the first was clearly for personal gain, while the second was a well-intentioned lie.
However, considering the Order's practices toward those 'fools,' Lucian leaned more toward the first possibility.
Lucian quietly grasped Phoebe's small hand, who looked dejected, to comfort her.
"Maybe it's a well-intentioned lie?"
Before, when facing Priest Alessio in the Order, she had already begun to waver toward the Order.
Now, learning once again that even the Enlightened One was lying—how could she feel at ease?
Phoebe lifted her head, her eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment. "A well-intentioned lie?"
Lucian rubbed the soft back of Phoebe's hand. "I'll explain it to you later."
Phoebe nodded somewhat dispiritedly upon hearing this.
Having gone through so much today, especially matters related to the Order, Phoebe felt somewhat fatigued.
She allowed Lucian to hold her hand, her beautiful eyes closing slightly as she gently leaned on Lucian's shoulder.
Lorelei said softly, "If you all have doubts about the truth, then wait until the ritual is completed."
"The Sentinel will surely respond to the people's prayers, not... the so-called Enlightened One."
Clearly, Lorelei scoffed at the claim of the Enlightened One.
Then, Lorelei glanced at Phrolova in Lucian's arms, followed by looking at Lucian.
"I am deeply grateful to you. The path to the Courtyard in the Clouds will forever be open to you."
"However... the girl in your arms..."
"It was she who led those people wearing mad masks back then..."
Lucian pinched Phrolova's cheek viciously. "Quickly apologize to my extra-large Shorekeeper!"
Phrolova: "?"
She closed her beautiful eyes and said nothing.
Lorelei shook her head slightly. "Although you have captured her, you must still be extra careful. She is very dangerous."
"In the murmurs between gaps in the illusory dream, I once heard them address her as such..."
"—The Conductor."
Lucian knocked on Phrolova's head viciously. "Conductor, quickly apologize to my extra-large Shorekeeper!"
Phrolova: "..."