Chapter 57
The Golden Cultist
"Meditation relies on focus, relaxation, and control."
Lucy’s voice was steady and clear. "First, set a mental anchor, which in the 'Bramble Loop Meditation' is a slight pain that stimulates mental strength. This faint pain will help you stay conscious enough when you risk being lost in the fantasy world."
Olivia sat cross-legged on the bed, listening intently to Lucy's explanation.
The first part of the 'Bramble Loop Meditation' was not complicated, merely the introductory basics.
After returning to the room following dinner, within only two sandglass turns, Olivia had memorized most of the key points.
Judging from this, her mental strength was roughly the same as when Lucy first crossed over, which was close to 6 points.
For a girl who had just awakened her witch talent to already have 6 points of mental strength it could only be said that she was worthy of being called a witch.
"Now relax your mind and follow my guidance. I will help you complete your first meditation."
Lucy's mental strength transformed into a golden thread, guiding Olivia’s thoughts.
Ordinary people usually needed at least ten days of practice to attempt formal meditation for the first time. Yet Olivia successfully entered a meditative state in less than half a sandglass turn.
One sandglass turn later, Olivia opened her eyes. A faint ripple of mental strength flickered briefly in her gaze.
Lucy was sitting with her legs crossed in front of the desk, closing the 'Anatomy Notes' in her hand.
She had just been constructing a Tier-0 witchcraft model using the "No. 5 Three-Eyed Banded Serpent’s Venom Gland" and the "No. 3 Banshee's Phase Wings."
The battle three days ago had made her realize that her existing witchcraft was of limited effect against those cultists.
When dealing with non-witches, the most effective method was an instantaneous mental shock.
However, these cultists’ mental worlds had become as solid as rock due to their fanatical faith. A simple mental shock was essentially useless against them.
The 'Screech of Agony' would risk harming Olivia nearby, while the 'Ultrasonic Shockwave' consumed too much energy it was not something that could be used casually.
Fortunately, during the recent days of rest, a new witchcraft model had taken preliminary shape.
[Basic Venomous Fang (Tier-0): Fires a magical energy venom fang at the target, dealing magical energy damage and inflicting a sustained poisoning effect.]
The damage of this Tier-0 witchcraft was not high. The pure magical energy damage was only 7°.
But with the Gear Staff adding +2° and Magical Energy Storage adding +3°, it became perfectly suitable for dealing with those cultists tainted by divine pollution.
"How do you feel?" Lucy closed the 'Anatomy Notes' and noticed that there was no excitement on Olivia's face from her first meditation. Instead, there was a trace of disappointment.
"Mental strength grows too slowly... At this rate, it will take at least a month to break through ten points," Olivia complained softly.
Lucy couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
Your Highness, do you even hear yourself?
Advancing to witch apprentice in one month, and you call that slow!
Where does that leave us trainee apprentices who haven’t broken through ten points of mental strength even after two years?
Her understanding of witches was refreshed once again. She simply pretended not to hear, got up, and started packing.
"We’ve rested enough. It’s time to set out again." Lucy packed away the 'Notes' and other important items, then said, "I’ve already had the innkeeper prepare enough food and water. This time we won’t stop to rest along the way and will go straight to the tower."
Shortly after the two of them left, Woven, the bishop of the Golden Cult, led more than a dozen cavalry into the small town.
They held Olivia’s portrait and questioned people everywhere, but the dirty, travel-worn princess was not recognized.
Until the cultists barged into the inn.
"Have you seen her?" A cultist shoved the portrait in front of the innkeeper.
The suspicious innkeeper pretended to examine it for a while before shaking his head.
"Never seen this person. May I ask, has she done something wrong?"
"Don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask."
Just as the cultist turned to leave,
The bishop strode into the inn, the Saint Radiance of Golden Worship between his brows emitting a faint glow.
The innkeeper’s face instantly turned pale.
"Her... heretic!"
"You may call me Bishop Woven." After introducing himself, Woven said, "Before the great Lord of Golden Worship, all lies are like dust on a gold coin, blown away with the wind."
The innkeeper’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.
"I did not lie!"
"No need to argue." Golden flames ignited in Woven’s eyes. "I will verify it myself."
Under the innkeeper’s uneasy gaze, Bishop Woven took a gold coin from his robe pocket and placed it in the innkeeper’s hand.
"Tell me, where did they go?"
The innkeeper tried to resist, wanting to deny having seen the woman in the portrait.
But he found it difficult to control his own tongue.
"They... they bought dry rations and water... went south along the small path..."
"An honest child." Bishop Woven’s smile deepened. "Unfortunately, this information isn’t worth the price of a gold coin."
He studied the man, then suddenly placed his hand on the innkeeper’s chest. "How about repaying with your heart instead?"
"No... no!"
Two brief screams followed, and the innkeeper instantly collapsed.
In Woven’s hand was now a still-beating heart.
"Chase them down! Stop them no matter what!"
The cultists hurried out and mounted their horses. The sound of hooves quickly faded into the distance.
Bishop Woven casually tossed the heart aside, then retrieved the double-snake-engraved gold coin from the corpse’s hand.
...
After leaving Gravel Town, the witch and the princess rode south along the small path.
Logically, after the past few days of escape and wandering, the pursuers behind them should have long been shaken off.
But just as the setting sun dyed the treetops on both sides a blood-red hue, Lucy suddenly grabbed Olivia’s wrist. The docile mare beneath her also came to a halt.
"What is it?"
The princess turned back in confusion, only to see Lucy listening intently with a grave expression.
"Hoofbeats. Go, quickly!"
Olivia did not question it.
"This horse has been running for a long time already. Let’s switch to the other one."
The advantage of having two horses now showed itself.
The two swiftly mounted the second horse. The hoofbeats of the pursuing riders could already be faintly heard behind them.
With a sharp crack,
The newly mounted horse neighed and then galloped swiftly down the path.
Lucy wrapped one arm around Olivia’s slender waist, which rose and fell with the motion, while her other hand drew the Gear Staff and held it tightly.
"Hyah!"
Olivia urged the horse forward with all her might, but the sound of hoofbeats in her ears grew ever clearer.
"Warhorses... we can’t shake them!" Olivia said through gritted teeth.
As the nearest cultist closed the distance to twenty meters, Lucy, sitting behind, finally made her move.
"Venomous Fang."
A hook-shaped, dark green snake fang shot out swiftly in front of her.
The pursuing cultist had been prepared for this.
But just as golden flames lit up in his eyes, ready to rely on divine power to resist the witchcraft head-on,
The venom fang curved mid-air and struck precisely at the warhorse’s front leg.
The galloping warhorse instantly lost its footing. With a neigh, both rider and horse tumbled to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.