Listening to Nan Tian explain what had happened along with her party assisting her from the other side with the help of his subordinate, Shiro couldn’t help but feel grateful.
“Thank you, to be honest, I don’t even know how I can repay you. If you hadn’t called for your healers and used so many precious items on me, I think I would have died.” Shiro smiled softly.
Surprised at her honest expression, Nan Tian felt his heart skip quite a few beats as he didn’t know how to reply for a moment.
“What? When did the great Nan Tian become at a loss for words?” Shiro chuckled after seeing his dumbstruck face without his mask.
“Well, I was just taken back for a moment.” Nan Tian shook his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“Oh right, did you find out who caused all of this?” Shiro asked as Nan Tian’s face immediately became cold.
“Yeah, she said it was something to do with a test but what you had to go through was much harder than what can be classified as a test. If you want, I can go kill her for you right now.” Nan Tian offered as Shiro shook her head.
“Sounds to me like you’ve caught her.” She replied.
“Not quite caught… but rather, she followed us willingly.” Nan Tian sighed as a portal opened up in the room.
Walking out of the portal, Estrella immediately bowed towards Shiro.
Raising her eyebrows, Shiro was surprised to see the culprit was actually a spirit and she was even the spirit guardian of the realms.
“A spirit huh? I thought you were supposed to welcome the queen?” Shiro asked with a chuckle since she could sense a great deal of sadness radiating from the woman.
“I… I didn’t want the spirit race to be led by a weak queen once again.” Estrella replied after a short pause.
“I get that, but considering the upcoming age, isn’t what you’re doing quite counter productive? The spirit race would be in a tough spot without a queen.” Shiro shook her head.
“I was foolish and I understand that now. Please, if it is enough to quell your anger, you may take my life.” Estrella bit her bottom lip and prostrated in front of Shiro.
“Ha… I can barely even lift up my hands right now. What makes you think that I have the strength to kill you?” Shiro sighed.
Hearing about her injuries once more, Estrella stayed silent from guilt. After all, she was the one who caused all of this.
“Since you followed us on your own accord, can I presume that you don’t have any hostile intentions?” Shiro asked.
“I, Estrella, Spirit Guardian of the Realms and former member of the royal spirit council, pledge my undying loyalty to you, my empress. Should you want my life, I will give you my life. Should you tell me to face an army alone, I will risk my life to come out victorious.” Estella replied.
“Former member of the royal spirit council huh? Tell me, what made you think that giving me, a level 120, a test that involved facing a level 350 was a good idea? Not to mention, the damn snake was in actuality, a level 500 to begin with? If you were on the royal spirit council previously, shouldn’t you be assisting me instead? What made you do all of this?” Shiro asked while glancing inside her mana realm. She was going to listen to Estrella’s reply first before waking up Nimue and Iziuel to see if they could provide her with more information.
“I… I was afraid of history repeating itself. As one of the oldest spirits alive, I have served 4 generations worth of spirit queens. Each of them died before they could truly discover their power due to the threat of other races. Each time, I would place my hopes in the next queen. However, the last queen was the one that made me give up. Just as she was about to reach A class, she was attacked by one of the other queens. The dragon queen to be exact. With a level difference of 200, the dragon queen tortured the spirit queen in front of me while I was unable to help her at all.” Estrella replied after a short pause. Even now, she felt guilty due to the fact that she couldn’t do anything when her own queen was being killed in front of her. She could still remember the pain and anguish in her queen’s eyes before she died.
“And so, you thought it was a good idea to test me using someone 200 levels above me?” Shiro furrowed her brows.
“. . .Yes.”
*Sigh…
“I’m speechless.” Shiro sighed while trying to massage her eyes but realised that she could barely lift her arms.
“You need help?” Nan Tian asked after seeing her try to lift her arm.
“I’ll be fine.” Shiro replied awkwardly since the image of Nan Tian massaging her eyes for her was quite strange in her mind.
“Anyways, I understand that you don’t want the same to happen to the next queen but killing them in the ‘test’ is not the best option that you can go with. Honestly, if it wasn’t for the fact that you’re a spirit, I would have just told Nan Tian to kill you if I couldn’t do it with my own hands.” Shiro admitted as Estrella stayed silent.
“However, I have two spirits with me. One of which might know who you are but I’m not sure. Depending on how they react, I’ll decide what to do with you I guess.” Shiro shrugged. Since Estrella had basically killed her once, Shiro wouldn’t trust this spirit fully.
If she turned out to be someone useful, she’ll be willing to go for a one sided vow like the one that Nimue had used when they first met. A vow of the soul that basically has Estrella give up her freedom and serve Shiro wholeheartedly.
Nodding her head, Estrella sat by the side and waited for her punishment.
{Seems like you’re awake.}
‘Oh? You were watching?’ Shiro asked as she focused inside her mana realm and saw Nimue and Iziuel waiting beside a sleeping Attie.
{Yeah. Not for long though.} Nimue nodded.
‘In that case then do you know this spirit?’ Shiro asked.
{A little but I’m not familiar. Like she said, I only know her due to the fact that she was in the royal spirit council.} Nimue shrugged.
‘What about you Iziuel? Nimue said that you were one of the most prestigious spirits. Do you know about her?’
{Hmm… her name rings a bell but I’m not too sure. My memory is a bit hazy after the incident in Miriel after all.} Iziuel shook her head as Shiro nodded.
‘Maybe bringing you out would be a little better.’
Raising up her hand with some difficulty, Shiro managed to let Nimue and Iziuel out before dropping her hand back onto the bed.
“Do you recognise these two?” Shiro asked while glancing towards Estrella.
Looking up, Estrella widened her eyes in surprise.
“Lady Iziuel!” She called out in surprise.
“You know her?” Shiro asked.
“Yes I do. She was also part of the council but went missing a while ago. It was during the time when I just started to serve the previous queen after her ascension. But how come she’s… so weak now?” Estrella furrowed her brows.
“None of your business.” Shiro cut in immediately.
“I apologise.” Estrella quickly bowed as she was asking too much. For all she knew, she was going to offer her life up to Shiro as a sacrifice so there wasn’t much point to knowing new information.
“What I want to ask is if I can trust you when you say that you’d lay your life down for me?” Shiro asked with narrowed eyes.
Despite her weakened condition, Estrella felt tiny in front of this woman as her presence alone felt like it could crush her.
“Yes, my life is yours for the taking.” Estrella nodded her head.
“Then vow with your soul on the line. You will do as I say and serve me without hiding anything. If my life is in danger, your body will be my shield. If I die, your soul will perish along with my death. Should you betray me or harm me, your soul will be sent to eternal torment. This is the only way I’m allowing you to make up for your mistake.” Shiro ordered as Estrella nodded her head.
Since she was prepared for death, a vow like this didn’t matter to her. Hell, the fact that the queen allowed her to be of use to her was a great boon to Estrella.
“I vow under my soul to serve my empress with everything on the line. I will do everything as she says. If her life is in danger, my body will be her shield. If she needs to kill anyone, even myself, I will be her sword. I offer my freedom to become my empress’ servant. Should I betray her, my soul shall be sent to eternal torment.” Estrella vowed.
Suddenly, an illusionary figure of Estrella appeared with golden chains now wrapped around her body and neck, symbolising her connection to Shiro.
