The Necromancer's Servant

"Your ears are quite good," the man said with a smile that still seemed strange, but his voice was sharp, like a knife.

"Ears? Want to touch them?" Jessica not only walked out but also approached him. Her smile was as sweet as candy, but with a seductive undertone that seemed to stir the most hidden and sensitive parts of one's heart. She didn't say much, but her smile was enough to evoke all kinds of thoughts. She didn't just walk over; she sat right next to him and lifted his hand to place it on her face.

The touch was as delicate and smooth as satin. She guided his hand into her silky black hair, leading it toward her ear.

The man paused, for he felt nothing where her ear should be, just smooth scars around the edge of the ear hole. He had deliberately controlled his voice to be quiet, and he was aware of the positions of the others around them. Even an orc couldn't have heard his words clearly, let alone someone who couldn't even be considered to have ears.

"I saw it, I can read lips," she said, her hand resting on his shoulder. She lifted a leg, stood up, and then sat on his lap. Her voice was hot, sweet, and husky, like sugar boiling in a pot.

"Oh, so you have good eyesight," the man smiled, but his hand didn't retreat. Instead, it slid back and rested at the base of her neck, right at the top of her spine. This was a fatal spot—if he applied pressure, the result would be almost like decapitation, faster than a stab to the heart.

Whether she had heard or seen it, it was clear that it was not just that one sentence. And if others knew what was being said, it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, but it wouldn't be good either.

"I'm not just good at seeing, I'm good in many ways. You'll find out soon enough..." She began to breathe heavily, seemingly unconcerned about the hand on her neck, which could easily take her life. She started to move her waist while sitting on the man's lap, pressing her chest against his. Her tight outfit was thin enough that he could clearly feel the subtle pressure of her body. She moved slowly, rubbing against him, her breath turning into moans.

"I suggest you stop," the man said coldly, tightening his fingers slightly. "I'm not used to having someone I don't know crawling all over me."

"You say that with your mouth, but your body doesn't agree..." she replied. Her waist twisted as she pressed her rounded hips down, then lifted, producing a sound that was a mix of a gasp, a moan, and a laugh. Her hand slid under his clothes, touching his strong muscles, her breath shaking as she spoke: "Don't worry, since I'm saying all this to you, I'm not trying to stop you... I don't care what you want to do... I just want you... You're so strong..."

"Are you a dark elf?" The man suddenly remembered. In the darkness, she could still read his lips from nearly a hundred meters away. Along with her black skin and the rare beauty that no ordinary human woman could match, all of these clues suggested she might be from a rarer race than elves.

The elves on the continent of Enlos are already very rare, and the dark elves, the unique outliers among the elves, are even rarer, almost only found in stories. According to ancient legends, this race was a transformation of normal elves who had fallen from the light and embraced darkness, living in the shadows beneath the earth. Aside from their exceptional night vision, silver hair, and black skin, the most notable trait of dark elves was their passionate and uninhibited nature, often described as depraved. This made their society, which was predominantly female, seem like a purely female tribe to many. They had developed their sexual desire into a cultural art, a pursuit that could drive most men mad.

"But why is your hair black? And your eyes too..." The man hesitated, looking at her silky black hair. All dark elves had silver hair.

Jessica's mouth was already near his ear. Her soft, moist tongue slipped into his ear, her teeth gently tugging as she mumbled, "Since your face can be fake, why can't my hair be...?" Her voice was mixed with her breath, sweet and intoxicating, as if it were seeping into his very pores, drunkenly invading his bones. She bit down on something on his face and pulled it off—revealing a mask.

The man quickly flipped her onto her back, his nails digging into her neck. If she showed any hint of hostility, her head would have been severed before her body even moved.

She seemed unaffected by the pain or any other sensation. Her large, dark eyes sparkled with a dangerous light in the dim room. Her face, now revealed from under the mask, showed only intoxication and excitement. Her hand touched the face that almost everyone on the continent knew, many remembering it fondly. She softly and hoarsely whispered, "I knew it. You look so much better than in the portraits. No matter how accurate they are, they can't capture the real essence, the true manly presence..."

"You're playing with fire." Asa stared coldly at the dark elf beneath him. From a human perspective, she was undoubtedly a rare beauty, but he still couldn't discern her intentions or background. If there was any danger of her having destructive plans, even the most beautiful creature would have to become lifeless immediately. "You dare to reveal my identity and let me know you know my secret? Do you want to die?"

"Death is something one brings upon oneself. Since I dared to say it in front of you, I've never been afraid... Do you know... When I saw your wanted poster, I knew you must be a very powerful man... The highest and most dangerous bounty in the history of the continent... The past few days, seeing you again, I could tell it was you... Who else could have such a scent and wildness... Do you know... Just the scent on you excites me..." Her hand continued to explore deeper into Asa's clothes, her legs unconsciously wrapping around his waist. "If you're going to kill me, then kill me... but please, do it after... Dying in the arms of such a man... what's there to regret..."

Asa looked at Jessica's face, so close to his, smelling the scent on her, feeling every inch of her body touching his, every soul-shattering friction. His blood was already boiling like lava, with a massive, crazed impulse rampaging inside him, held back only by his willpower and rationality. His hand involuntarily moved away from the back of her neck and slipped into her clothes, muttering, "Such a woman... Why should I kill you..." His last words turned into a breathless gasp as he yanked at her clothes.

A loud sound of fabric tearing echoed, and the dark elf woman beneath him let out an ecstatic scream, her whole body convulsing with excitement.

Celeste.

This area, which was originally a vast desolate mountain region, has been the center of the Church for over two hundred years. At that time, King Pipin of Alrasia gifted this land to the Church, and countless resources and money were used to build the grandest and most magnificent structure to date—the Church's headquarters, the Glory Castle.

The Glory Castle, made entirely of white marble, basked in the sunlight, its grand and massive size far surpassing any imperial palace, displaying the supreme authority of the Almighty. The white marble reflected the sunlight, creating a dazzling interplay of white and gold in the surrounding clouds and mist, as though the entire castle was bathed in the sacred glow of white magic.

Holy, magnificent, and majestic. The Glory Castle was enough to imprint these three concepts deep into the souls of its worshippers. Even the most rebellious, non-believing individuals, or the heathens who worshipped the devil, would be struck with awe and fear when faced with it.

The teleportation magic circle of the Glory Castle was built in the center of the square. There were no special guards for the magic circle, or rather, there was no need for any—every person who walked here was at least a high-ranking magician or priest, along with dozens of legendary Temple knights and temple knights who commanded respect across the continent. This place was more sacred and secure than anywhere else.

The magic circle flared to life, and a young warrior appeared within it.

The warrior was young, handsome, imposing, and good-looking. His golden hair, short to about an inch in length, would surely shine like overflowing sunlight if it were longer. However, this short hair, while not radiating light, gave off an easygoing and relaxed aura. His deep blue eyes were as pure as gemstones, yet upon closer inspection, they carried the depth of an endless ocean. He wore a gentle smile, as if he had just attended a sophisticated banquet. This casual ease did not feel out of place against the solemnity of his surroundings, and in fact, seemed to bring a refreshing vitality to the environment. Anyone who looked at this young man would feel at ease and find him pleasing to the eye.

The warrior stepped down from the teleportation circle, and a passing priest smiled and nodded at him. "God bless you, Holy warrior. Has your mission been completed?"

"By the Lord's grace, those barbaric nomads were no match for us." The young Holy warrior smiled and nodded in return. He had several stains of dried blood on his body, even in his hair and on his face. Strangely, though, his calm and natural demeanor, combined with the holy atmosphere of the Glory Castle, made it barely noticeable. "I'm in a hurry to report to Knight Commander Lancelote. I hope I'm the first one back, hehe."

"Oh, Knight Commander Lancelote is currently in a meeting with His Holiness and several bishops in the conference hall. You can wait in the hall outside. Knight Talis is there as well."

"Oh. Knight Talis has already returned so soon? I thought I'd be the first." The Holy warrior chuckled, scratching his head in slight embarrassment.

The hall was empty, and in the adjacent conference room, the Pope and the bishops were holding a meeting. Only Knight Talis, a female Temple Knight, was at the altar, silently praying and reflecting. A sound of footsteps caught her attention, and she turned to face the newcomer, nodding in greeting. "May God be with you, Warrior Jarvis."

"May God be with you too, Knight Talis," the Holy warrior replied with a formal and impeccable salute, as dignified and devout as an elder priest who had lived in Celeste for decades. "I didn't expect you to arrive before me—I thought I was the fastest."

"Sounds like you've already eradicated those nomads harassing the Duchy of Kastore?" The female knight seemed surprised. "But... that was the most difficult mission given by Lord Lancelote. Originally meant as a promotion task for Temple Knights, and you completed it in such a short time..."

"All by the Lord's blessing. Those heathens were like paper under the brilliance of His sword." The Holy warrior spoke with ease, yet humility was evident in his tone.

Talis was in awe. Although this young warrior was still a Holy warrior by rank, that was only due to his lack of seniority—his abilities certainly surpassed hers. In just one or two months since being discovered by Bishop Adra, he had shown exceptional strength and talent. He was undoubtedly a once-in-a-century genius knight of Celeste.

Not only was he a talented warrior, but he excelled in every field. He had managed to gather the spotlight from Talis, the youngest Temple Knight, completely overshadowing her in every way.

Despite this, Talis harbored no jealousy or hostility toward him. She genuinely admired and respected him. His aura was not only brilliant but also magnetic, drawing people in.

"The remaining tasks have already been handed over to the Duchy's forces. I thought I'd return first to claim the top spot." The Holy Warrior smiled, his youthful vitality shining through as he revealed a row of pearly white teeth. "It turns out you still beat me to it. As expected of the youngest Temple knight, Sir Lancelote's personal disciple."

"I... I..." Talis's face flushed red, and with great effort, she managed to speak. "I failed."

"Ah?" The Holy Warrior was visibly surprised. "How could that be…? Weren't you with Bishop Aescher in Alrasia? The situation there wasn't dangerous."

"It's all my fault. I've tarnished the honor of the Temple Knights, and the light of my glory armor has dimmed. I came here to report my failure to Lord Lancelote and Bishop Aescher." The female knight lowered her head, speaking in a voice filled with remorse. "I was ordered to eliminate the thieves in Alrasia, but in the end, I ran away... No... I couldn't even escape properly. I was actually captured by those thieves. Thankfully, a... a follower of the Lord risked his life to save me, or else..."

The Holy warrior furrowed his brows and asked, "Didn't every knight have some top-tier magic scrolls? Didn't you use them?"

"I did, but... the two elemental giants were destroyed with a single blow from the opponent..."

"Destroyed with a single blow?" The Holy warrior was shocked, but then he smiled and said, "In that case, the failure of the battle wasn't your fault. Your opponent was just too strong. The fact that you made it out alive is a blessing from the Lord. Don't blame yourself."

Looking at the radiant and warm smile on the Holy warrior's face, Talis couldn't help but feel a bit relieved. Although she technically outranked him, and her position was higher, for some reason, she always felt much smaller in his presence, often feeling an impulse to seek his advice.

The Holy warrior thought for a moment and then said, "Could you tell me more about the battle? I'm quite curious about such formidable thieves."

"This is what happened..." Talis recounted the battle in the basement in great detail. She described especially the actions of a certain man, and the peculiar knife he wielded, with meticulous detail. The Holy warrior listened intently, asking questions about many aspects. Despite his outward calm and peaceful demeanor, his blue eyes seemed to hide countless waves, constantly churning.

Talis watched him quietly. She realized why this man, who appeared to be only a little older than her, could seem so strong and outstanding. It was because, while he had the energy and vitality of a young man, he also possessed something that ordinary young men did not. Wisdom, self-restraint, and poise. These were qualities that usually required significant hardships and suffering to accumulate, yet in this young man, they naturally made the jewel of his being shine more beautifully.

The Holy warrior thought for a moment, then said, "I'll dare to offer a suggestion, Knight Talis. Your failure... actually has something to do with your high-minded and arrogant nature."

His voice was soft and pleasant, like a gentle spring breeze, and didn't provoke any sense of irritation. The female knight immediately nodded, asking, "What do you mean by that?"

"If you had been more cautious and used the elemental scrolls or the Prism Light to fight from the start, the outcome of the battle could have been very different. The main issue was that you underestimated those thieves from the beginning, and that led to your failure." The Holy warrior reminisced, then gave a bright smile. "I remember someone once said, 'Character determines everything.'"

"Yes. I forgot the humility that a knight should have. I was wrong." The female knight thought for a moment, sighed, and nodded. Then she furrowed her brow. "Character determines everything? That's quite a strange saying."

"Because the person who said that is quite an unusual character." The Holy warrior smiled again, as if recalling something. "By the way, the person you mentioned... do you know anything else about him?"

"His name is Sandru." Talis said.

"What?" The Holy warrior froze.

"You know this person?" Talis was surprised.

"How could I?" The Holy warrior chuckled, his smile brighter than the sun. "I was just thinking, someone like that... must be quite interesting."

With a creak, the door to the conference hall opened.

The Holy warrior said to Talis, "Let's go, I'm sure the bishops will be interested in this person too."