"Astrid, you and Lyra go back to Losterling City to rest. I’ll handle things here for now."

After a brief aerial inspection, Charlotte descended on a gentle breeze before them, her ancient staff lightly rotating, bestowing Astrid with both Featherlight and Wind Wings magical enhancements.

"White Maple Town has been leveled by light magic, no longer possessing any buildings to provide cover. Staying here serves little purpose, and we’d need to specifically expend mental energy to keep warm."

Charlotte spoke softly, her crimson lips parting.

"As for the bunker’s interior conditions, it’s equipped with fire elemental crystals specifically for warmth. The soldiers’ evacuation can wait until Duke Charles returns."

"Perhaps we’ll even capture some valuable prisoners to take back for interrogation."

First see what results the Arcanist mages’ battle yields, then determine the next plan, whether army supervision and escort are needed.

Hearing this, Astrid nodded slightly, then replied softly.

"Alright. Charlotte, please also be sure to stay safe."

She had just been focused on checking Lyra’s condition and hadn’t had a chance to ask about her own aunt, but judging from her external state, she was clearly in much better shape than the pink-haired girl in her arms.

Her well-tailored white dress elegantly wrapped around the raven-haired beauty’s curvaceous figure, a deep black leather cloak lightly draped over her shoulders, unaffected by the battlefield’s scorching heat waves. Her undamaged sheer stockings paired with spotless brown short leather boots make her appear graceful and dignified.

Enveloped in a wind barrier, Charlotte showed no sign of having just experienced combat.

Perhaps this was the composure of a mature woman?

Feeling Astrid’s concerned gaze sweep over her from head to toe, Charlotte’s heart warmed slightly. Unconsciously crossing her long legs, she softly parted her cherry lips.

"Mm, I will."

"Go back quickly. Your Highness the Regent is delicate and shouldn’t be exposed to frontline cold winds and blades."

Although White Maple Town’s battle seemed to have concluded, there might still be hidden dangers uneliminated. It was best for Astrid to return to the capital as soon as possible.

Understanding the concern in Charlotte’s words, Astrid didn’t insist. She knew her coming here was indeed somewhat reckless. Not lingering here was, in a way, also reducing trouble for her own aunt.

After a brief farewell, Astrid carried Lyra towards Losterling City, the maid captain silently followed, constantly vigilant around them.

Watching the dark silhouette in the sky gradually shrink, Charlotte landed on the ground, gracefully smoothing her cloak. Then she waved her hand, sending thin, silk-like winds to scour the rubble and sand, searching for residual magic without missing a single spot.

In the far distance, the fierce battle between Arcanist mages triggered waves of elemental torrents. Several basic elements and two advanced elements collided wildly in the air, faintly tinting the sky with unnatural colors.

Kales swung his sword against enemies, holy steel clashing with mundane iron. Powerful sword auras radiated outward, leaving several gruesome scars on the flat ground. Scattered arcane particles were instantly caught by the mages’ mental senses, transforming into sharp arcane spear circles that poured onto the white light shield.

The scorching sun hung overhead, yet it couldn’t suppress the empire’s fierce attack. Arcanist mages flanking from both sides improved the church knights’ retreat formation. If not for the Pope of Light Hebrew holding the line, covering all knights with pure, perfect light magic, their casualties would have been even greater.

Even so, for the knight corps to fully retreat under current circumstances was somewhat unrealistic, right now, the church knight corps resembled White Maple Town earlier, barely surviving in the aftermath of Arcanist mage duels, like a sailboat navigating turbulent waves, prone to wrecking.

In the ice and snow, a light-armored Holy Knight was trapped by a swamp, his iron boots deeply mired in earth magic’s magical restraint, unable to lift his legs. After just a few breaths, he fell behind, unable to keep up.

"Kales, maintain the overall formation. Don’t lose the big picture for minor gains."

Corton’s voice echoed in his ears, mingling with the crisp clashing of metal. The sharp blade reflects sunlight, momentarily blinding his eyes.

Kales frowned, watching the straggling knight already entering the empire’s Arcanist mages’ spell range, those desperate eyes begging for his rescue. His long sword trembled continuously.

"I understand."

..............

Meanwhile, Lyra felt the cold wind brush her cheeks, slightly curling closer into the silver-haired girl’s embrace. Her petite, perky nose neared the decorative fur on Astrid’s skirt, a few silver strands falling among it, adding a refreshing fragrance from her hair.

Having overheard Astrid and Charlotte’s conversation, knowing their destination was Losterling City, the already exhausted Lyra didn’t immediately close her eyes. Instead, she forced herself to stay alert, continuing to ask Astrid about battle information.

"Unless something unexpected happens, Duke Charles and the others can eliminate the church knights’ temporary outpost in Rockster Village. Other military deployments of the Church of Light within the empire will also be completely erased in this unprecedented Arcanist-tier confrontation." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

It was rare for Amalia to simultaneously control so many top-tier forces. Not using them properly would be a waste.

Hearing Astrid’s words, Lyra gradually understood, then spoke.

"So, does that mean we can push the frontline back to Liya Tower Fortress?"

Astrid nodded, her luxurious night-sky colored skirt gently fluttering in the wind passing over her body.

"Correct. That location is narrow, most suitable for army garrisoning. Previously, considering the attitudes of many domestic nobles, we couldn’t deploy Arcanist mages, giving the Kingdom of Velys the chance to seize it."

An attack on Duke Charles’s territory, what did it have to do with coastal nobles like them? Even in the most critical situations, the royal family would protect them first, many had held this attitude, believing the flames of war would never reach their doorsteps.

Reality had given them a harsh lesson. Unlike kingdom nobles who meticulously weighed gains and losses before deploying Arcanist mages, prioritizing their own safety above all, these Church followers launched a holy war in the name of spreading doctrine and were short of madmen.

What mattered to them was whether they could fulfill their lord’s righteousness. If their path was correct, then even sacrificing themselves would allow them to become radiant heroes entering their lord’s divine kingdom after death.

"The kingdom’s religious and royal powers have different ultimate goals for war, greatly intensifying their internal conflicts."

"In an environment already rife with contradictions, a fruitless war and an unbearable winter will be enough to instantly explode all accumulated grievances."

"By next spring, they won’t have the energy to bother us. The empire can instead take advantage of the kingdom’s internal chaos to eliminate war instigators and install a dovish faction into power."

This was the most ideal scenario. Specific methods would depend on Monica and that Velys princess, but based on Astrid’s earlier points, it was essentially accurate.

Secular and faith factions divided, king and pope estranged, the empire now had a war justification to deploy Arcanist-tier forces. The Kingdom of Velys had already lost this war.

After carefully listening to Astrid’s analysis, Lyra thoughtfully nodded.

"So, for the next few months, it’s likely to be a truce period between the two nations?"

Before her words finished, the girl interrupted her own statement.

"...No, the war launched by the Kingdom of Velys has actually already ended."

They will simply wait until next spring, when the cold wave recedes. The Valeria Empire would station troops on the frontlines, attempting to settle accounts with the internally chaotic Kingdom of Velys.

"Mm, so for the time being, the war should be temporarily over."

The new emperor had only recently ascended the throne, with various measures leaning toward military reform. A series of policies had somewhat affected civilian life, and the empire, having just completed a power transition, needed rest and recuperation.

Receiving a definitive answer from Astrid, Lyra sniffled slightly, her soft, melodious voice blending into the cold wind.

"...That’s good."

At least for these three or four months, she wouldn’t need to remain constantly tense, nor would she see anyone else die.

That was enough for her.

Her two smooth, delicate white silk-covered feet gently swayed beside Astrid’s arm with her joy. Her creamy, milk-like toes felt a slight chill, and Lyra belatedly realized her mental energy was insufficient, causing the Holy Light Armor to automatically deactivate.

Her everyday clothes hadn’t changed since before, but her small leather shoes had been replaced with knight boots at the start, leaving her barefoot now.

Thinking about entering the city, being carried like this by Astrid was already embarrassing enough, what if she didn’t even have shoes...

No, no... absolutely can’t let others see...

Raised in a village with ingrained education, Lyra was essentially a very traditional girl. Something this impolite and private happening to her was still somewhat unacceptable.

Feeling Lyra’s legs struggle, Astrid gradually tightened her arms, her eyes like deep pools gazing at the girl in her arms.

What’s wrong?

She didn’t speak, but from Astrid’s eyes, Lyra could understand the meaning.

"Um... Astrid..."

Lips trembling slightly, Lyra spoke softly.

"Before entering the city... let me put my shoes on first."

With childhood education, later guidance from the maid captain on noble maid etiquette, plus Lyra’s own easily triggered sense of shame, being seen barefoot was absolutely unacceptable.

Astrid silently watched Lyra, until the girl shyly blushed, then curved her lips, teasing gently.

"Lyra... still so easy to embarrass..."

But putting herself in the other’s shoes, it wasn’t hard to understand.

"My spatial storage device has failed. The maid dress I prepared for Lyra also fell into the spatial turbulence."

"Or perhaps... your mental energy is enough to reconstruct the Holy Armor?"

Hearing Astrid casually mentioned the keepsake her mother gave her being destroyed, Lyra’s burning earlobes cooled slightly. Then hearing the question, she paused for half a second before answering.

Not yet.

That slash had consumed too much strength. Lyra being conscious and able to converse with Astrid was now already fortunate, let alone summoning the Holy Armor.

"However, my sword has spare shoes."

As she spoke, the sword-shaped light mark on the pink-haired girl’s fingernail flickered, and a pair of black shiny leather shoes appeared, Lyra pinched them by the inner side, lightly holding them in her hand.

Now lying passively in Astrid’s arms in a princess carry, Lyra couldn’t really put them on herself.

Seeing this, Astrid looped her arm around Lyra’s back through her arm, bringing the girl’s body closer to her, using her chest as temporary support, while using wind magic to assist, stabilizing the latter.

Then, her left hand, which had been holding the smooth thigh bend, released its hold, picked up the small leather shoes, aligned the cake-like white silk toes with the shoe openings, and gently slipped them on.

Feeling the softness beside her and the hand sliding over her calf, gently helping her put on the shoes, Lyra’s lower back muscles tensed, her legs unconsciously rubbing, producing a faint rustling of silk.

When everything ended, Astrid resumed her original princess carry, her voice now carrying a hint of teasing.

"Is that good enough, little Princess Lyra?"

"???"

Suddenly addressed like this by Astrid, Lyra’s entire body heated up. Her freshly shod feet, like snow cones with a chocolate shell, slightly wiggled.

"I’m good..."

Did she have anything in common with a princess?

Not at all.

Mentally muttering to herself that she should have nothing to do with the title of princess, Lyra suddenly remembered another thing.

"With Astrid’s spatial storage device gone, won’t things be very inconvenient from now on?"

Unable to store spare clothes, to carry elemental crystals on her person, even money for outings would need to be carried in special noble leather bags, or revert to the beginning, having the maid captain unable to carry them.

Astrid nodded, her voice gentle.

"More or less."

The imperial scepter contains treasures collected by successive Valeria emperors, and there should be spare spatial storage devices. If absolutely necessary, she could just borrow one from Amalia.

As she spoke, seeing Lyra’s slightly furrowed brows, Astrid teased softly.

"Not particularly urgent."

"I remember the [Sword of Light] has a large storage space. Should be enough for my things too, right?"

Did this mean they will have a lot of time together in the future?

"Mm, if Astrid doesn’t mind, you can keep them with me."

Underestimating Astrid’s mischief once again, the young Lyra fell into the wicked woman’s trap.

"It’s troublesome for Lyra, how could I possibly mind?"

Astrid’s lips curled slightly, her fingertip lifting a strand of silver hair, crimson eyes shimmering, her beautiful face carrying a hint of allure.

"Though, if you’re storing clothes and such... Lyra, remember to leave me some clean ones..."

"Especially skirts and stockings... don’t get them all dirty, okay~"