Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard-Chapter 58: Worth the Sacrifice - Part 3

Sophia, the magic tower master, strode into the village with an air of confidence, her robes billowing slightly in the faint breeze.

Carol’s irritation flared instantly.

"This is temple business. You have no jurisdiction here"

Carol snapped, stepping forward to block Sophia’s path.

Sophia arched an eyebrow, an amused smirk playing at her lips.

"Don’t be ridiculous, Priestess. Magic is my jurisdiction, dear Carol. And whatever happened here reeks of it. Do you honestly believe you can solve this mystery without my help?"

Carol scowled but remained silent. She despised Sophia’s arrogance, but the woman had a point.

Sensing her hesitation, Sophia continued.

"I am not here to interfere with your duties. I merely wish to aid the goddess in uncovering the truth. If magic was involved in this disappearance, I am the best person to track it."

Carol inhaled deeply, debating her options. She disliked working with Sophia, but if it was for the goddess’s sake...

"Fine! But stay out of the way and don’t overstep"

Carol finally conceded, her voice tight with reluctance.

Sophia merely smiled, stepping forward and raising a hand. A faint blue glow emitted from her fingertips, pulsing as she chanted an incantation under her breath.

The magic spread through the village like an invisible wave, seeping into the cracks of homes, into the air itself. Carol and the others watched as Sophia’s expression turned serious.

"The magic here is faint, but it lingers. It’s dark magic, mixed with something ancient... something divine"

Sophia murmured.

Carol’s eyes widened.

"Divine magic? That shouldn’t be possible."

Sophia turned to her, crossing her arms.

"And yet, here it is. Whoever did this didn’t just use ordinary dark magic; they combined it with divine essence, something only a select few could do. Ahhh, I am shivering just thinking about it. I wish I could find the source and experiment on it." ƒree𝑤ebnσvel-com

Sophia sounded delighted at the discovery and even her voice sounded all giddy and happy.

A heavy silence followed her words. Carol gritted her teeth.

"What else can you tell?"

She asked.

Sophia moved through the village, her eyes scanning the remnants of the spell.

"The magic was concentrated at the center of the village. It suggests some sort of ritual. And whoever performed it was experienced."

Carol clenched her fists. A ritual. It made her stomach twist in dread. If an entire village had been sacrificed, this was beyond ordinary magic. This was something dangerous.

Sophia turned to her once more.

"I’d like to accompany you back to the temple to report this to Goddess Auriel."

Carol stiffened. She had expected this, but that did not mean she was ready to have this arrogant female accompany her back.

"No. This is temple business. I’ll handle the report."

Sophia tilted her head, studying Carol as if she were an amusing puzzle.

"You may deny my request, but I’ll still be heading back to the temple. If this involves divine magic, then it involves me as well."

Carol sighed heavily, rubbing her temples. She had no authority to stop Sophia from following, and trying to would only waste time.

"Do what you want. We’re leaving"

She muttered before turning back to her scouts.

The priestesses gathered and began their return journey, but Carol could feel Sophia’s presence lingering close behind.

Despite her frustration, she had to admit—this was no ordinary situation. If they were dealing with magic capable of making an entire village disappear, then Goddess Auriel needed to know immediately.

As they approached the temple, the air felt heavier, charged with something unnatural. Carol felt a creeping sense of foreboding settle over her, and she quickened her pace.

Something was wrong.

Upon reaching the temple gates, she spotted Priestess Lilith waiting anxiously, her expression grim.

"Carol, you’re back."

Lilith said, relief in her voice. Then her eyes flickered to Sophia, and her brows furrowed.

"Why is she here?"

"She helped us detect the magic in the village. We need to speak to the goddess immediately."

Carol admitted begrudgingly.

Lilith nodded and ushered them inside. They hurried through the temple halls until they reached Auriel’s chambers.

The goddess was seated by the window, her expression unreadable as she gazed outside. However, as they entered, she turned to them, her golden eyes locking onto Carol’s.

"You found something."

Auriel stated rather than asked.

Carol knelt before her.

"Goddess, the village is completely empty. No bodies, no blood—just gone. However, we detected remnants of magic. Dark magic mixed with divine essence."

Auriel’s expression darkened.

"Divine magic? Who would dare...no, that’s not important right now."

Sophia stepped forward, ignoring Carol’s glare.

"Someone with enough knowledge and power to merge two opposing forces. This is not an accident; it was a calculated act. I have never heard of a human doing this before."

Auriel’s fingers tightened into a fist.

"This confirms my vision..."

Carol’s head shot up.

"Vision?"

Auriel nodded.

"Last night, I saw a ritual being performed, a bottle capturing the life force of an entire village. A young girl was the one who enacted it. Since a human is likely incapable of this, it must be the artefact she had with her."

Carol’s stomach twisted.

"A girl?"

Auriel closed her eyes, recalling the face from her dream.

"Yes. She was desperate... and manipulated."

Sophia crossed her arms.

"Then whoever is behind this must be someone influential. This wasn’t a one-time event. This was the beginning of something much larger."

A heavy silence filled the room. They all understood—this was no longer just about a missing village. This was the start of a dark force stirring, one that involved both divine and forbidden magic.

Carol straightened, determination in her eyes.

"What are your orders, Goddess?"

Auriel exhaled.

"We must find out who is behind this before it escalates. Lilith, send word to the other temples. Carol, continue investigating. And Sophia..."

She turned to the magic-tower master, her gaze sharp.

"You are welcome to assist, but do not overstep your bounds."

Sophia smirked but inclined her head.

"As you wish, Goddess."

The storm was brewing, and Auriel knew that if they didn’t act fast, it would consume everything in its wake.

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