Back in the physical world, once the ritual array was completed, a passage to the Shadow Realm was swiftly constructed. Looking at the illusory light gate hovering in mid-air, Archbishop Ando did not hesitate; he was the first to step through.
Upon entering the Shadow Realm, Archbishop Ando’s eyes scanned the surroundings with sharp vigilance, wary of shadow creatures that might leap out from any direction to attack. However, halfway through his observation, a look of joy spread across his face. There, to his rear flank, stood Eros.
Though Eros’s clothes were tattered and he looked bedraggled—the picture of someone who had survived a long and grueling battle—he was, for the most part, unharmed. As for whether this person could be a Night Remnant in disguise, Bishop Ando dismissed the thought as impossible; that rich, vibrant aura of Nature was something that could not be faked.
When Eros saw Archbishop Ando, the tension on his face visibly relaxed. He took a few steps toward the Bishop and spoke with sincere relief:
"It’s a good thing you arrived. Otherwise, I don't know how much longer I would have been stuck in this ghostly place!"
After all, he wasn't one of those Night Remnants who dealt with shadows all day; without the help of a ritual array, he had no way to freely enter or exit the Shadow Realm.
Seeing that Eros was safe, Archbishop Ando let out a long breath and spoke in a gentle tone:
"It was the Duchess and your sister who first sensed something was wrong, then came to the Cathedral to inform us."
At this, the Archbishop glanced at the wreckage of the nearby ritual array. With his vast erudition, he could naturally tell it was a ritual designed to summon shadow creatures against an enemy. Combined with Eros’s battered appearance, a sense of understanding dawned in his heart. However, he didn't examine it too closely; now was clearly not the time for a forensic investigation.
Retracting his gaze, he looked at Eros and continued warmly: "Let’s leave the Shadow Realm first!"
Hearing that he could finally leave, Eros let out a sigh of relief and lamented:
"Finally, I can leave this cursed place. I can't imagine why those Night Remnants enjoy a place without a single ray of sunlight. While trapped here, I missed the small garden behind my house immensely—and my mother’s handmade macarons, even if they are a bit too sweet."
Archbishop Ando chuckled and teased, "You’ll see them soon enough. Though, I suggest that when you face the Duchess, you might want to omit that last part about the sweetness."
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Eros gave a faint smile. "Of course I will, Your Excellency."
Eros was then led out of the Shadow Realm by Archbishop Ando. Just as they returned to the physical world, before Eros could even adjust to the stinging brightness of the sun, he was pulled into a tight, warm embrace in the next second.
"Thank the merciful Lord for protecting you!"
"Praise the compassionate Lord..."
Smelling that familiar fragrance and hearing that familiar voice, Eros patted Estelle’s back and comforted her softly: "Alright, alright! I’m back now, aren't I?"
Estelle released him, her beautiful eyes shimmering with heartache as she took in his disheveled state. Then, her tone turned angry: "Those evil Night Remnants... they didn't do anything else to you, did they?"
Hearing Estelle bring this up, Eros sighed and said:
"They first robbed me of a Sealed Artifact. They seemed prepared to continue their assault, but for some reason, they suddenly retreated in a great hurry, leaving me trapped alone inside that ritual array."
Undine stood nearby, her large eyes blinking as she watched the scene. No matter how slow she might be, she was starting to sense something was off. Could this whole thing be a self-directed play by Mama and Eros? They actually kept it from me!
At this thought, a flash of anger crossed her small face. However, in the eyes of Archbishop Ando and the Nighthawks, her "anger" was interpreted as fury toward the Night Remnants who had laid a hand on her brother.
After returning to the world, Archbishop Ando turned to the Nighthawk squad and gave instructions: "Go back into the Shadow Realm and investigate thoroughly. See if there are any useful discoveries."
Sometime later, a freshly bathed and changed Eros sat at the dining table. The manor maids brought out dish after dish of exquisitely prepared food: Escargot, seared foie gras, beef bourguignon...
Watching the continuous stream of food, Eros quickly raised a hand to stop them. "Enough, enough! I can't eat this much by myself!"
Estelle gave a soft hum of acknowledgment, sat down beside him, and meticulously cut the food into small pieces with her knife and fork. Seeing this, Eros shot a helpless look toward Archbishop Ando and the others standing nearby.
"Your Excellency, and gentlemen, why don't you join us for a meal?"
Archbishop Ando smiled and shook his head. "Thank you for the invitation, Your Highness, but we have already had lunch. We will wait outside while you eat. Once you are finished, you can tell us the specific details of what happened."
With that, Bishop Ando led the Nighthawks out of the dining room. Once they were out of earshot, one of the squad members gasped:
"Oh my God! I bet that single table of food costs at least a week’s worth of my salary."
Another team member scoffed, "Hey! You stupid marmot, your week's salary might be enough to buy a single plate of those snails, if you're lucky."
The group fell into a series of hushed, awestruck whispers. "Hell, the lives of these nobles are truly extravagant."
"Alright, alright! Let’s talk about the findings in the Shadow Realm," Archbishop Ando interrupted, reining in his sidetracked subordinates. The team members stopped joking and reported their investigation results solemnly.
Inside the dining room, once the Bishop and his men had left, Estelle set down her utensils. She propped her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her palms, blinking at Eros with eyes full of mirth.
"That should be about enough, right?" she whispered.
Eros gave her a silent thumbs-up. Seeing this, Undine gnashed her teeth. It really was a play by these two! To not tell me and let me worry for nothing... I'm angry! Humph!