Chapter 82: Ch 82: Radiant Saintess
Three days remained until the celestial full moon. The countdown echoed in the minds of every living soul within the upper tiers of Olympus. The Grand Palace of Light was currently undergoing a massive transformation. Armies of artisans draped miles of pearlescent silk across the towering ivory columns.
Nobody dared to make a single mistake. The terrifying reputation of the Zenith Emperor ensured absolute perfection from every worker.
Inside the pristine sanctuary of the apothecary, the morning air smelled of blooming sun lotus and rich vanilla. Naida stood behind the polished counter of ancient world tree timber. She carefully cataloged dozens of glowing crystal vials. Her new class granted her absolute perfection in alchemy. Every single potion she brewed possessed flawless clarity and maximum potency.
The heavy oak door of the shop swung inward. A joyous, melodic tune drifted into the room. Two musicians playing small golden harps stepped through the doorway.
They were followed immediately by a tall, portly man wearing vibrant robes of sapphire blue. He possessed a thick white beard and a wide, incredibly genuine smile.
This was Lord Olegorge. He was the ruling City Lord of Olympus. He managed the daily operations of the vast metropolis. He did not arrive with an armed escort. He did not bring templar knights to flex his authority. He walked into the sovereign territory of the Verdian Empire with nothing but a velvet cushion held respectfully in his hands.
Raidan stood near the massive brass cauldron. He wore his simple forest green tunic. He watched the City Lord approach with a neutral, calculating gaze.
Lord Olegorge did not hesitate. He dropped directly to one knee the moment he crossed the threshold. He bowed his head deeply, holding the velvet cushion out in front of him.
"Greetings to the radiant future Saintess. I come today not as a politician, but as a humble servant of this great city. I wish to personally congratulate you on your impending union."
Naida stepped out from behind the counter. She moved with effortless, gliding grace. Her Imperial Aura passively radiated a soothing, commanding presence.
"You may rise, Lord Olegorge," Naida spoke softly.
only then the City Lord stood up. His eyes twinkled with genuine delight as he looked at Naida. He gently pulled away the silk covering on his velvet cushion. Resting in the center was a massive, multifaceted diamond that glowed with an inner blue light.
"This is the Heart of the Behemuth," Olegorge explained. "It is the master control artifact for the magical infrastructure of the entire celestial city. I bring it to you today as a wedding gift. It is a symbol of our complete and total welcome. The city belongs to you, Lady Naida. We are profoundly honored to host your ceremony."
Raidan smiled slightly. He appreciated the absolute submission of the gesture. The City Lord was openly handing over the keys to the kingdom without spilling a single drop of blood.
"Your gift is accepted, Olegorge. Your intelligence is refreshing. You recognize the shifting tides of the universe, and you choose to sail with them rather than drown."
"I have lived for a very long time, My lord," Olegorge laughed heartily. "I recognize supreme divine mandate when I see it. The lower districts have needed cleansing for centuries. We lacked the strength to do it. You accomplished it in a single night. The people are rejoicing in the streets."
Naida gestured toward a small wooden table near the window.
"Please, sit with us for a moment. Let me pour you a cup of fresh morning tea. We have much to discuss regarding the festival arrangements."
Valerius looked as though he had just been offered a seat at the table of the gods. He eagerly accepted the invitation. For the next hour, the apothecary was filled with cheerful conversation and the clinking of porcelain teacups. Olegorge detailed the grand feasts, the fireworks displays, and the musical performances planned for the wedding night. He was entirely cooperative. The mood was incredibly light and celebratory.
When the City Lord finally departed, he bowed three more times and wished them eternal prosperity.
Naida watched him walk away down the sunlit cobblestone street. She turned back to the massive collection of perfectly brewed potions sitting on her counter. She looked at the healing elixirs, the mana restoration drafts, and the disease curing tonics.
"Raidan, Olegorge mentioned that the people in the lower districts are rejoicing. But the destruction of the Serpent Guild only removed the predators. It did not cure the sickness and the poverty they left behind."
Raidan walked up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"What does my Empress wish to do?" Raidan asked gently.
"I want to help them. I have the Creation Magic Mastery skill. I can brew limitless potions with zero risk of failure. I want to take this entire inventory down to the borders of the slums. I want to heal the people who suffered under the syndicate."
Raidan kissed her cheek. "Then we shall go. Your will is the law of this world, Wife.."
Within the hour, a massive logistical operation was underway. Chloe descended from the sky in her gleaming white High Dimensional Templar armor. She commanded a squad of heavily armed Detroit guards. They loaded hundreds of wooden crates filled with glowing vials into an anti gravity transport skiff.
Naida rode in the center of the convoy. She wore a simple white linen dress adorned with silver celestial embroidery.
Raidan chose to remain out of sight. He wanted this moment to belong entirely to her. He followed silently in the shadows alongside Leo.
The convoy descended past the pristine white marble of the upper tiers. They entered District 8. This area bordered the massive, purified crater that used to be District 9. The streets here were cracked and uneven. The air was thick with the smell of cheap coal and stagnant water. Thousands of impoverished citizens lived in cramped, decaying tenement buildings. They suffered from mana rot, a painful disease caused by living in highly polluted magical environments.
The arrival of the heavily armored Detroit guards caused a brief panic. The citizens scrambled into the alleyways, terrified of the imposing black power armor and the lethal blue glowing plasma rifles.
Naida stepped off the transport skiff. She raised her hands gracefully.
Her Imperial Aura spilled out into the crowded street. It was not a suffocating pressure like Raidan used. It was a wave of pure, absolute comfort. It felt like standing in a warm sunbeam after a lifetime of freezing winter. The panic in the streets vanished instantly. The citizens slowly stepped back out of the shadows, drawn to the glowing silver light radiating from Naida.
Chloe stepped forward and planted her massive templar sword into the cracked pavement.
"Citizens of Olympus! Hear the words of the Verdian Empire! Lady Naida, the future Zenith Empress, brings you salvation! Step forward and receive the absolute mercy of your new ruler!"
Naida signaled for the guards to open the wooden crates. The brilliant glow of the flawlessly crafted potions illuminated the gloomy street.
An elderly woman was the first to approach. She leaned heavily on a wooden cane. Her hands were blackened and withered by advanced mana rot. She trembled violently as she stopped in front of Naida.
"My Lady, We have nothing to pay you with. The syndicate took our last copper coins weeks ago."
Naida smiled. It was a smile of pure, divine compassion. She picked up a vial of glowing golden liquid and placed it gently into the old woman’s hands.
"There is no cost," Naida promised softly. "You have paid enough. Drink this."
The old woman unstoppered the vial and swallowed the golden liquid.
The reaction was instantaneous. A brilliant flash of purifying light erupted from the woman’s chest. The blackened, dead skin on her hands peeled away, revealing perfectly healthy flesh underneath. Her hunched spine snapped completely straight. The chronic pain that had tormented her for decades vanished in a single second.
The old woman dropped her wooden cane. She looked at her healed hands in absolute disbelief. She immediately dropped to her knees and began to weep freely.
"A miracle," the woman sobbed, pressing her face against the dirty cobblestones. "You are a divine blessing. Thank you, merciful Lady!"
The crowd erupted into chaotic, desperate motion. Hundreds of sick, injured, and dying citizens surged forward. The Detroit guards raised their plasma rifles to maintain order, but Naida gently ordered them to stand down.
"Let them come," Naida commanded.
For the next four hours, Naida worked tirelessly. She handed out potion after potion. She touched the foreheads of feverish children. She poured healing drafts down the throats of injured laborers. Every single potion worked with absolute perfection. Blind eyes were opened. Shattered bones were seamlessly mended. The horrific mana rot was completely eradicated from the district.
As she worked, her Aura began to shift. The pure, desperate faith of thousands of healed citizens flowed directly into her soul.