"Madam An, how can this be?" murmured Kenny, his strength seemingly drained in an instant, collapsing before the incontrovertible evidence. Liam and Ethan released their grip on him.

"I shall end her life, I swear it!" Kenny's voice seethed with resentment, escaping through clenched teeth.

The High Priest gestured with a solemn air. "Liam, Millia, Ethan, justice will be served. Tomorrow, I shall convene the other priests and elders to pass judgment."

"And what of now? Shall we confine him?" Liam inquired.

"He shall be detained in the temple's crypt for the time being," declared the High Priest, turning away, unwilling to cast another glance at Kenny, who remained seated with head bowed.

As Millia and Ethan emerged from the temple, dawn had arrived, painting the distant horizon with a soft golden hue, heralding another day of sunshine. Meanwhile, Heidi and Alec had already embarked on the lands of Lawrence, riding two gallant steeds, galloping across the verdant plains toward the forest and castle.

In the courtyard of the olive trees, Millia and Heidi embraced tightly, exchanging their revelations. Ethan and Alec nodded in silent solidarity, standing by their side.

"Upon receiving your missive, I initiated an inquiry. In those bygone years, numerous wandering maidens vanished, oftentimes sold into distant lands as chattel, their whereabouts shrouded in mystery," Heidi turned to Ethan. "Thankfully, your sister was not ensnared in the clutches of slavery. She was deliberately abducted."

Ethan attempted to speak, but words eluded him. For countless years since his sister's disappearance, he had relentlessly pursued the truth. Finally, a semblance of closure seemed within reach.

"It was Thomas. Following his demise, his progeny were exiled from the tribe, and their underlings scattered in search of new allegiances. Due to negligence in governance, unrest erupted within Walca's slave encampment, prompting a mass exodus. Among them, we discovered your sister. We escorted her to the temple, where she recounted being taken from your abode in your absence, only to find herself amidst Walca's tyrannical grasp."

"She has indeed endured much hardship over the years; that fiend Walca subjected these maidens to unspeakable horrors," Heidi's voice quivered, faltering momentarily before she resumed, hastening to comfort Ethan. "Presently, she is under the care of the temple, and I have tasked the priests with conveying her to the remote orphanage of the divine lineage."

Ethan sighed deeply. "At that juncture, I was in the employ of Thomas as a mercenary. For sustenance, he dared to lay hands on my sister, perhaps as a means to coerce me. I am filled with remorse for my sister." Grateful, he looked up at Heidi. "Thank you, for entrusting her to the divine lineage. Their sanctuary is akin to paradise for vagabonds like ourselves. Were it not for your intervention, they would not have sheltered her." He murmured softly, "Now she resides there, assuredly faring better than in my company."

Millia shook her head, her heart heavy with empathy. Recalling her own adolescent years, banished by the elves, she understood Ethan's plight all too well. Gazing earnestly at him, she spoke gently. "Do not despair, Ethan. When my father committed grievous transgressions against the elves, he spirited me away into hiding across distant lands. Ultimately, he chose to end his own life, a somber act of penance to ensure my safety. Yet, at that tender age, scarcely older than your sister is now, I yearned for him to defy his cowardice and endure, to atone for his sins and allow us to remain together."

Ethan observed Millia's eyes, tinged with a flush of emotion. Surprise and gratitude played across his features as he realized Millia's willingness to share her past with him.

"In the days to come, when life returns to normal for you, promise me you'll bring your sister back. She belongs with you, not in some distant paradise," Ethan implored, his eyes gleaming with a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness. Heidi, by his side, offered an encouraging smile. "Rest assured, your sister will be well cared for at the orphanage."

Sensing the attention directed toward him, Ethan swiftly changed the subject. "Regarding Mrs. An, I'll continue to monitor her," he suggested, and Millia nodded in agreement. She and Heidi had much to discuss, their secret conversations complemented perfectly by a glass of fine wine on this evening of reunion.

Outside, the night had descended. In Mrs. An's opulent villa, she sat by the elderly man's bedside, her touch gentle as she massaged his legs. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing in the corners. Among them stood Burke, whispering softly in Mrs. An's ear. Her demeanor turned cold as she mentioned Millia's actions to the old man. Then, she turned back to him, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness. "My dear Lord, are you feeling any better? Would you like some more tonic?" The old man's eyes flickered with desire as he requested, "Annie, could you bring me some sweet broth, please?"

Mrs. An responded with an equally sweet tone, "Of course, my dear Lord. I'll fetch it for you right away."

The following day, Millia and Heidi paid a visit to Ethan's residence together. Finding him absent, they settled in, intending to meet him later to discuss their findings.

"If the High Priest releases Kenny in the future, he might seek revenge on Mrs. An and avoid seeing me again," Millia speculated, fiddling with a rough wooden cup on the table as she shared her concerns with Heidi. Heidi offered reassurance, gently patting Millia's hand. "He'll come to understand."

"And do you truly trust this Ethan? He used to be Thomas's mercenary, and he was involved with the OLVE New Union organization," Heidi added, her voice trailing off as Ethan entered the room. Heidi's expression betrayed discomfort as she quickly lowered her gaze to take a sip of water.

Ethan remained composed, unfazed by Heidi's words. Millia noticed his resilience to unjust treatment and smiled as he took a seat, his demeanor welcoming.

Quickly changing the subject to ease the slight awkwardness, Millia inquired, "How is Mrs. An faring?"

"For now, there's been no significant activity. They're all staying inside the villa," Ethan replied.

Heidi chimed in, "During my time at the Cheno Temple, I learned that the priests and elders are investigating Thomas's embezzlement during his leadership. It seems he may have misappropriated a considerable sum from the Cheno Treasury over the years. If that money was only being distributed to refugees through the OLVE New Union organization?" Heidi shook her head. "He couldn't have been that altruistic. Besides, refugees aren't an army. Even if they could organize some skirmishes or territorial disputes, it wouldn't serve much purpose."

Ethan reflected on his past collaborations with Joseph within the OLVE New Union, recalling the peculiarity of Joseph occasionally venturing out alone with Kenny, excluding others.

Millia let out a deep sigh, intimately familiar with the unrest in the river domain. It extended beyond mere factional strife; conflicts frequently erupted between neighboring tribes. Yet, what puzzled her most was the apparent alliance between Cheno leader Thomas and Kenny. Together, they seemed to be plotting something of great magnitude, involving substantial sums from the treasuries of both tribes, foreshadowing an impending tempest.

Within the temple crypt, a solitary stone edifice, the confined space lacked windows, veiling the passage of time beyond its walls. Dim candlelight cast eerie shadows on Kenny's face as he sat stoically in a chair, his pallid complexion betraying the absence of sunlight. Millia occupied another chair, struggling to mask her dismay at Kenny's rejection.

"My dear, though you may shun me now, please believe I harbor no deceit. My sole desire is for us to start afresh with honesty," Millia implored, her voice tinged with desperation.

"Enough pretense," Kenny's sharp retort cut through her plea. His once handsome visage now twisted into an expression of scorn and bitterness. "You act not for me, but for yourself."

"Why do you doubt me? I am not..." Millia attempted to defend herself, only to be abruptly silenced by Kenny's harsh interruption. Suspicion and resentment burned in his eyes.

Suppressing her own anguish, Millia persisted, endeavoring to convey that only through repentance and divulging the secrets of the organization behind the OLVE New Union could Kenny seek divine absolution.

Enraged, Kenny sprang from his chair, almost lunging at Millia as if to tear her apart. In that fleeting moment, Millia grappled with the choice between drawing her sword in defense or witnessing her former lover's true nature. Yet, at the eleventh hour, Kenny regained control, brushing past Millia without a backward glance, and storming out of the chamber. He preferred the confines of his dungeon, leaving the guards to escort Millia from the temple.

As the first light of dawn bathed the land, Liam's urgent knocking shattered the tranquil stillness of the courtyard. Bursting into the reception room, his countenance betrayed the distress of a seasoned warrior. "Miss Millia, we face dire trouble," Liam announced, frustration evident in his voice as he seized a cup from the table and gulped down two mouthfuls of water.

"Kenny has been released this morn, acquitted!" Liam continued, his tone a blend of anger and despair.

"The gods have sent down celestial beings, bearing new edicts. They have summarily ousted our High Priest, stripping him of both spiritual and temporal authority. The vial containing our submitted death oath has been confiscated. They've installed a new High Priest, Osha, accompanied by new witnesses. You'd scarcely fathom their identities."