The Kind of Evil

Chapter 619 - 619: The High Regent of Centriva.

Lenin arrived in Centriva capital city, the city that rewrote the history of Central Neva. She looked at the statue that was as tall as a tower, wider than a castle, a statue of a hooded figure in a robe that only revealed their nose and mouth. The statue that didn't show any gender but represented all the people who had sacrificed their lives during the war against Satan. She stood there in front of the statute and lowered her head, paying respect to the fallen soldiers and figures."Master, you should have told me that you're coming," Novia said as she walked toward the statue.

Lenin didn't say a word and kept her head lowered, recalling every moment where she could save a few lives or even just a single life. She wondered if she had just a year to prepare, or even a few months to train her magic and invent new magic spells that mainly for saving lives, she could have saved more people. She believed she was a failure as a Great Sage, someone who had been bestowed the responsibility to protect humankind by her master.

Novia took a deep breath as she looked up at the statue's kneeling position and holding something that was hidden beneath their hands and pressed against their chest. The person who proposed to create such a statue was no other than Aurelia, the High Regent of Centriva. Nobody understood the symbol behind the statue, but somehow everyone who looked at it could feel the emotions that the statue emitted.

"It has been a while, Great Sage," Lenin slowly turned around and looked at Novia with a gentle smile and slowly lowered her head toward her disciple.

Novia wanted to tell Lenin to just call her name instead of her title when they were alone, but then she remembered that she was no longer free from burden and responsibility. She looked around and saw the civilians bowing their heads toward her while the children looked at her with admiration. She had become a Great Sage and she had to uphold her status because the people were relying on her.

"It has been a while, Elder," Novia said as she nodded her head.

"I came because I was invited by the High Regent to attend Centriva's first council meeting. I came as soon as I received the letter," Lenin said as she slowly raised her head and looked at the white robe and white cape with Magic Tower symbol on it that Novia wore. "How is Her Excellency doing?" She asked as she looked at Novia's dark blue hair that had grown long to her lower back.

"Her Excellency hasn't slept in the past week, Elder. She's busy to plan the future of Centriva," Novia answered as she turned to look at the palace that took half the size of the capital city itself. "And I believe she's planning to not sleep for another week," she added.

Lenin looked at the palace and couldn't believe the innocent and bright young lady from a family of Saints had been abandoned her status and removed her humanity for the sake of humankind. She had heard a few rumors about Aurelia, about her changes that made her look like a completely different person. On her way to the capital city earlier, some people even called the High Regent a deity instead of a human being.

"I see, I can only pray for Her Excellency's well being," Lenin nodded with understanding.

"Shall we get into the palace, Elder? Most of the Ordinal Conclaves have arrived and are currently inside the palace. The meeting will be held in an hour, and I believe the remaining will come anytime soon," she said with a soft smile on her face.

"Yes, Great Sage," Lenin lowered her head and walked beside Novia toward the palace.

The citizens of the capital city lowered their heads toward Lenin and Novia, but mostly toward Lenin because she was one of the heroes that protected Central Neva. Lenin smiled at them and waved at the children that were admiring the hero and the strongest mage of the century. She then looked around at the buildings and bustling streets. All buildings were painted white and even the street was made of white cobblestone with symmetrical sizes and patterns.

Lenin looked at the tall magic tower that was built in the city, it was as grandiose as the palace itself. Ever since the war, High Regent Aurelia suggested that the Great Sage would stay in the capital city instead of the floating island of Gratlan due to the time and distance that was deemed unnecessary. Many moments in the past where Lenin couldn't make it in time during a time of crisis, and her suggestion was approved by all of the Cardinal Conclaves.

"We are halfway there, Elder. The teleportation device that connects this Magic Tower and the one on Gratlan. It's all thanks to the Mana stones that Lady Erlina provided for us. Estimately, it will finish in half a year," Novia pointed out as she stared at the magic tower.

"That will be the Magic Tower's greatest achievement. Who knows, we might be able to connect every corner of Neva if we managed to advance our magic formations," Lenin nodded with understanding as she looked at the greenery and the artificial river beside her.

"That's one of Her Excellency's plans," Novia nodded and then she looked at Arandil, the man with the title as the strongest Swordmaster that had become the Chief of Ordinal Wardens, commanding over a thousand Ordinal Wardens with the skill of Swordmasters.

There used to be only a hundred Swordmasters at most, but now there were a thousand and more in the future because High Regent Aurelia demanded a single Ordinal Warden to be able to win against a hundred demons. It was possible thanks to Elder Lazarus Wyverncrest, the strongest man alive and the man that selected and trained every Ordinal Warden.

"Welcome, Elder Lenin. Allow me to escort you into the palace," Arandil lowered his head toward Lenin.

"It has been a while, Chief Arandil. I can see that you have grown exponentially ever since the war. It seems Her Excellency chose the right person to lead the Ordinal Warden," Lenin smiled as she looked at the amount of Mana around Arandil that were at least five times denser than the last time she saw him.

"Her Excellency demanded me to grow stronger, and I have yet to accomplish that," Arandil responded with a smile on his face.

"It seems Her Excellency has pushed everyone beyond their limits," Lenin said with an impassive expression as she stared at the massive gate in front of her with the grandiose garden and palace behind it.

Arandil escorted Lenin and Novia into the palace and everything was made of white marbles, even the vases, the flowers, and the carpets were white, but there was one thing that made the palace feel off, and that was there wasn't a single painting of the High Regent. There wasn't a single painting or a portrait of anyone inside the palace, and it was an order by Aurelia herself because she didn't want to be worshiped or admired, and to show she didn't own or possess anything at all. She planned to use the same doctrine to the future High Regents.

"I'll take my leave, Elder Lenin, Great Sage," Arandil lowered his head toward Lenin and Novia before he walked away and left the palace.

"I'll also take my leave because I have important matters to attend in the Magic Tower," Novia said as she looked at Lenin. "Elder Lazarus is currently near the pond behind the palace. If you wish to see him, you can find him there," she pointed out before she gave one last smile to Lenin and left the palace.

Lenin looked around the palace and didn't find a maid, a servant, or even a butler. The palace was only occupied by a single person, and that was Aurelia herself. She didn't have anyone to order, to help her take a bath, or to cook her meal, only a few people that came to clean the palace, and it was only once a month. The only way for her to communicate with people in the palace area was through her pigeons if she needed someone to enter the palace.

An hour had passed and all the Ordinal Conclaves entered the palace for their first official meeting ever since Central Neva became Centriva officially. There were ten Ordinal Conclaves in total that would control ten different regions in Centriva, making each Ordinal Conclave responsible for a big chunk of the continent. The Ordinal Conclaves that Aurelia chose were Arthor Wyverncrest, Maximilian Wyverncrest, Morgianne Sancticus, Monica Sancticus, Isador Suncrown, Julius Suncrown, Volos Auvrey the former emperor of the Ruzia Emprie, Ligardis Evermount the former queen of the Crustaria Kingdom, Ulric Ironhart, and lastly Esper Frostspire.

Everyone was guided into the hall with a big round table, and they were surprised to see a figure sitting on the furthest side of the round table. A figure wearing an all-white hooded robe and a white porcelain mask that hid their face, even the holes for the eyes had white thin cloth to hide their eyes. The person that had sacrificed her own humanity for the future of humankind, High Regent Aurelia.

"I apologize for wearing a mask. I have no desire to show my unsightly appearance in my current state," Aurelia's voice was quiet that showed exhaustion. "Please have a seat," she used her hands to point at the table and the chairs in front of her.