Angelica then moved her feet, trying various movents. She couldn’t believe that her legs—sothing she had never been able to feel since birth—were now moving according to her will. Aldrian and Pope Claudius did not disturb her as she continued moving her feet, as if trying to absorb this new sensation.
Pope Claudius felt as if he could die happily at this mont. He had always considered Angelica his own daughter, and witnessing this miracle, he felt there was nothing that could make him happier. Lately, his life had been filled with one joyful event after another.
After finishing with her right leg, Aldrian moved on to her left. It didn’t take as much ti as when he restored her eyesight because he worked on one leg at a ti, allowing his power to be more concentrated and effective in breaking the curse.
After more than a minute, he finally completed the reconstruction process and stopped. He stood up and looked at her with a smile. Her tears continued to fall as she felt the entirety of her legs for the first ti.
After a minute of trying to move both feet, she gathered her courage and attempted to stand. She held onto the wheelchair for support, but Aldrian imdiately stepped in, holding her so she wouldn’t fall. It was her first ti standing in her life, so she needed so assistance. Angelica didn’t refuse his help and instead held onto his hands.
When she finally managed to stand, a new sensation washed over her. She felt like a little bird perched on the edge of a branch, ready to take flight for the first ti. She tried to steady herself, and when she was finally able to stand on her own, Aldrian gently let go. She wobbled slightly but remained standing.
Through tear-stained eyes, she looked ahead where Pope Claudius stood, five ters away. She then glanced down at her feet and the floor before finally taking her first step—a step that would change her fate. As she moved forward, she struggled to steady her wobbly body, using her hands for support.
At this mont, she was like a toddler learning to walk for the first ti. The little bird had begun flapping its wings, testing the wind, adjusting to the sensation of freedom.
A second step—her body was still unsteady, but she remained standing.
A third step, then a fourth... Though each movent was stiff and her strides remained small, she was finally walking on her own. The bird had leaped from the branch, soaring into the vast sky at last.
Angelica walked toward Pope Claudius, and when she finally reached him, he imdiately took her hands and pulled her into a hug. At that mont, he couldn’t hold back his tears—there had never been a happier mont in his life than this. For so long, he had lanted the fate of this child.
Though Angelica had been granted an ability bestowed directly by the heavens, it felt as if the heavens had taken sothing from her in return, as compensation for her gift. He had been powerless to change her circumstances, able only to support and comfort her so she wouldn’t feel sorrow over the fate she had been given. But now, seeing her stand, walk, and see the world with her own eyes, a wave of relief unlike any he had ever known washed over him.
Angelica hugged Pope Claudius tightly, burying her face in his chest. Her sobs broke free, unable to be held back any longer. At last, she had done sothing she had always dread of.
She no longer felt envy toward those who could see the world around them. She no longer felt envy toward those who could walk freely wherever they wished.
Now, she could see with her own eyes.Now, she could walk on her own.
Aldrian watched the scene unfold, his expression touched. Yet, along with that emotion, he also felt relief and pride in himself. While his goal had been to help Angelica fulfill her dreams to give her the ability to walk and see again—this mont also served as a proving ground for him. With this, he was one step closer to becoming what many called a divine being.
Even though he now possessed the power of faith and the life laws, he still felt that he still lacked to truly reach divinity.
Aldrian sighed, yet his smile remained. His heart felt lighter as he watched Angelica, and with that, he knew it was finally ti for him to leave.
"Your Holiness, Angelica, it looks like I have to go now," Aldrian said, his voice cutting through the mont. Both Angelica and Pope Claudius turned to look at him.
"I’ve done all I can here at the church, and I am truly grateful for everything the church has given ." He gave them a slight bow before straightening once more.
Angelica released her hands from the pope and took a step toward Aldrian. Though her steps were still slightly wobbly, they were much steadier than before. She kept walking until she stood right in front of him, gazing up at him with glistening eyes, still watery from her tears.
She stared at Aldrian’s handso face, but for so reason, she suddenly felt as if she were seeing another figure overlapping with his.
This figure appeared even more dazzling, with long, radiant red hair.
"Can I see your real face?" she asked without hesitation.
Her beautiful golden eyes locked onto his blue ones, her steady gaze softening his heart as if she had cast a spell on him. He still didn’t understand why Angelica affected him so much—but he didn’t mind it.
Without a word, Aldrian dispelled his disguise technique, revealing his true appearance to Angelica and Pope Claudius. Their eyes widened slightly as they took in his real face.
An unblemished, strikingly handso face. Long, red hair that burned like flas. Sharp eyes that seed to see through everything.
The mont they saw his true face, they could feel the difference in his presence. His bearing and aura felt completely transford—like a monarch destined for greatness. There was no doubt in their hearts. He was the prophesized one.
"Truly the best of the Flacrest and Rivas bloodlines combined. He resembles his parents, yet shines even brighter," Pope Claudius thought.
Angelica smiled at him.
"I feel like the world is missing out if you keep hiding your face," she said, a slight blush coloring her cheeks.
"I will let the entire world see this face when the ti cos," Aldrian said with a smile.
However, he was stunned when Angelica suddenly hugged him—sothing he hadn’t expected. Even Pope Claudius widened his eyes slightly before smiling.
"Thank the heavens that you were the one who ca. You are the chosen one."
"Thank you for everything you did for my father and ."
"Thank you for giving my own wings so I can fly on my own."
Aldrian smiled at her and let her hold him for as long as she wanted. Although he felt a bit awkward and unsure of how to respond, he gently patted her back, acknowledging her heartfelt words.
After a minute, Angelica finally released her embrace. Only then did she seem to realize what she had just done. A deep blush spread across her face, and she quickly lowered her head as much as possible, as if trying to hide from Aldrian’s gaze.
Aldrian smiled, finding her reaction adorable.
"Now, I believe there are many things you want to do now that you can see and walk, so I won’t take up any more of your ti," he said to Angelica before turning to Pope Claudius.
"Take care, Your Holiness. I will make sure to bring that traitor to you."
"Yes, you too. Be careful."
Aldrian nodded, then looked at Angelica one last ti.
"You take care as well."
With that, he vanished from the room.
Pope Claudius let out a sigh as he watched Aldrian disappear, then turned to Angelica.
"Truly an extraordinary young man... Everything about him exudes greatness. At tis, I wonder if he is even human like us. He is simply too perfect."
Angelica didn’t respond to Pope Claudius at first, her gaze still fixed on the spot where Aldrian had stood. After a mont, she finally turned to the pope.
"Father, teach how to fight—or at least how to defend myself when needed."
Pope Claudius widened his eyes, surprised. Of all the things she could have asked for after gaining her sight and mobility, he hadn’t expected this.
-------------------------------
Aldrian appeared near the inn and began walking toward it. As he moved, he focused his intent, attempting to connect himself to the heavens.
"Are you the one who placed that curse on Angelica?" he sent his thoughts outward.
When he reconstructed Angelica’s eyes and legs, he had sensed sothing familiar in the curse—sothing similar to what he had felt when healing Pope Claudius. However, there was a distinct difference. This presence was much stronger, far more complex, and carried a slightly different energy.
He didn’t know exactly whose power it was, but one thing was certain—it wasn’t from this continent. Within the curse, he could also sense a faint trace of different divine energy from what he had encountered before in the Doria empire.
That was why he suspected that the heavens themselves might have played a role in this.
The heavens, sensing the displeasure in Aldrian’s tone, attempted to send their intent to him, not wanting to be misunderstood.
Receiving the response, Aldrian frowned.
"Not you? Then who is it?"
However, the heavens fell silent, ceasing all communication. Aldrian’s frown deepened, but he decided to set the matter aside for now. At the very least, he now knew that the heavens were not responsible for what happened to Angelica.
Even though it wasn’t directly his doing, he didn’t know why, but he felt deeply sorry for her—almost as if he were apologizing on behalf of the heavens for what had been done to her.
He sighed, pushing those thoughts away, and moved on to the next topic.
"As the heavens, you must know all things, right? Then tell —where is that traitor? What is the exact location of Cardinal Carsius?"
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