Swen knelt down.
She placed her hand on the ground and pressed her thumb against the ashes on the stone.
Slowly, she closed her eyes.
> "There's still… a faint flow of Yang energy."
"It must be the residue of Mikail's Spear."
She rose to her feet.
The crowd remained silent—no one even dared to breathe.
Swen, however, was talking to herself inside, her face completely expressionless.
(Inner voice)
> "Alright, Swen. Deep breaths. No panic.
These lunatics gave Mikail's Spear to a demon—
and that demon was strong enough to damage the Golden Barrier.
And here you are, the only sane person left.
Wonderful."
Her face stayed perfectly composed.
She gestured to a high priest as if everything were part of her plan.
> "Seal off the temple grounds. No one comes near."
A soldier stepped forward, bowing respectfully.
> "Divine Envoy, will Mikail's blessing return?"
Swen paused for a moment.
Her eyelids twitched, but she quickly regained her composure.
Turning slowly toward the soldier, she spoke with an utterly serious face.
> "Of course it will… He's probably just filling out the paperwork."
The soldier blinked, confused, and bowed again.
Swen sighed quietly.
She pulled out a small, smoky crystal orb.
It glowed in her palm as she activated a detection spell.
A faint ripple of Yang energy could be sensed nearby.
> "I need to find the source of this energy."
(Inner voice)
> "And hopefully, it doesn't find me first."
She straightened her robe, took a deep breath,
and walked toward the altar as if everything were under control.
> "The remaining energy from Mikail's Spear…"
"Pure Yang. Weak in density, but still alive."
Without turning to anyone, she gave a calm, commanding order:
> "I'll trace Mikail's trail. No one follows me."
The courtyard fell into absolute silence.
Swen's cloak fluttered in the wind, her steps firm and deliberate.
Only the faint twitch at the corner of her eye betrayed her stress.
(Inner voice, while walking)
> "Stay calm, Swen.
The king was probably telling the truth.
The demon struck by Mikail's Spear is either dead… or dying.
Just follow quietly, grab the spear when it's over.
Perfect plan. What could possibly go wrong?"
She stopped for a moment, glancing back at the palace.
A faint, tired smile curved her lips.
> "This country… has completely lost its mind."
Then her cloak swept through the wind as she walked toward the gray horizon.
To the people, Swen looked like the last hope of the Angelic Kingdom