Chapter 1429: Chapter 896: Curtain Falls (Part 2)

"I am not a qualified Empress; I did not manage the empire well. Can I truly let everything go?"

"Foolish child..."

The old mage sighed softly:

"Don’t blame yourself, it’s not your fault."

As he spoke, his hand emitted a gentle glow, enveloping the girl, and under that soft light, Theresa’s agitated emotions gradually calmed.

Gradually, the girl fell asleep.

"Sleep, child, when you wake, the nightmare will be over."

The old mage said softly.

After speaking, he picked up the girl, and under Bishop Wenstar’s complex gaze, left the church.

The entire time, he did not glance at Bishop Wenstar even once.

Only before disappearing did the Legendary Mage leave a final message:

"The Imperial Palace has fallen, the young Empress has martyred in the flames, nobility, glory, history... it is all over."

After saying this, he and Theresa’s figures completely disappeared from Bishop Wenstar’s sight.

Watching the direction they vanished, Bishop Wenstar’s expression grew complicated.

He sighed lightly, rose from the spot, and used the Purification Divine Skill to awaken the sleeping priests and clergy.

"Bishop... my lord?"

The priests and clergy rubbed their sleepy eyes, somewhat confused.

They seemed to have completely forgotten about the Empress, as if they had never had any memories related to her.

"The rebels have entered the city, the situation is irreversible, pack your things and leave."

Looking at these clergy left in the Eternal Holy Temple, Bishop Wenstar said calmly.

The priests and clergy looked at each other.

"Lord Bishop... what... about you?"

Someone couldn’t help but ask.

"Me? I’m a member of the Treis Family and the resident Archbishop; I will remain here until the very end."

Bishop Wenstar said slowly.

After speaking, he sighed softly again:

"This is also my atonement..."

The clergy opened their mouths, looking at him with confusion and a complex expression.

Some sighed softly, dejectedly took off their Holy Robes, and began to leave.

Others hesitated but, listening to the increasingly noisy sounds outside, eventually gritted their teeth and left unwillingly.

Soon, only Bishop Wenstar remained in the church.

He did not feel angry at the departure of the other clergy, seemingly unsurprised by it.

He sighed lightly and bowed deeply in the direction of the Eternal Divine Statue in the church.

Then, he also turned and left the church.

As Bishop Wenstar moved, flames ignited behind him, quickly engulfing the church, covering the statue...

In an instant, the church sank into a sea of flame.

The Eternal Divine Statue must not be desecrated.

Rather than having the church corrupted by life worshipers after being conquered, proactively destroying it was the best choice.

After setting fire to the church, Bishop Wenstar walked slowly, ascending the tall church tower.

From the top of the tower, the inner city’s scene was laid bare, gates in all directions breached, the rebel army flooding into streets and alleys like a tide.

The western sky was filled with thick smoke.

That was the direction of the Imperial Palace, now ablaze with fierce flames, spectacular black clouds reaching the sky.

Gazing at the roaring blaze, Bishop Wenstar seemed distracted.

Suddenly, he recalled the seven-leaf tree he and Maria II once planted together in the Imperial Palace.

He wondered if this fire had consumed that lush tree too?

Thinking of this made Bishop Wenstar a bit melancholy.

He sighed quietly, retracting his gaze from the palace, looking towards the inner city’s streets.

On the streets, fleeing nobles and wealthy merchants hurried, chaos prevailing.

Faintly, one could still hear the sound of cannon fire from the direction of the distant city’s walls, seemingly mixed with indistinct cries and shouts.

Some nobles who refused to surrender were rallying their comrades on the main roads, forming a pathetic, pitiful yet honorable team, donning badges and family heirloom longswords, charging towards the invading rebel army at the end of the street...

However, their tragic yet stubborn figures soon disappeared amidst the tide of rebels after a brief struggle.

Witnessing this scene made Wenstar feel as if he had seen something similar during his youthful days atop the tower.

But at that time, it was young Maria II leading the nobles and citizens who supported her in charging against the rebellious great nobles.

Yet sometime along the way, the citizens stood on the empire’s opposing side, the degenerate court nobles turned traitor, leaving only these last Noble Knights upholding the final honor...

They dispersed like sand in the wind, into the vast world.

A history filled with legends and glory seemingly met its end with this final charge.

Bishop Wenstar sighed slightly, his expression lamenting.

Overlooked from the tower, the entire Maniya City was flooded with rebels whose golden armbands gleamed in the sunlight, red flags waving through streets and alleys constantly.

The fastest insurgents had already reached the Eternal Cathedral outside, flooding into this former sacred site that had begun to burn...

Retracting his gaze slowly, Bishop Wenstar shook his head gently.

He exhaled softly and knelt within the tower.

The gate to long-lost memories gradually opened, at this moment, he couldn’t help but recall everything he had experienced over his hundred years...

His youthful and carefree days, adulthood immersed in the church.

From an unknown little priest to a ruling Cardinal Archbishop.

From a rookie without Magic to a Legendary Saint feared and revered by all.

Nearly a century had passed swiftly...

There were times of joy, of sorrow, all passing like a carousel in Bishop Wenstar’s mind.

But ultimately, gathering to those naive and carefree days spent in the Imperial Palace as a child...

The carefree boy, the innocent girl.

Their hands clasped, laughing together, planting a frail little tree sapling in the garden.

Bishop Wenstar smiled slightly.

But soon, that smile slowly faded, turning into profoundness.

Flickers of flame gathered around him, soon igniting the tower.

He reached out, devoutly drawing a sun symbol on his chest, murmuring in prayer:

"O great and wise master..."

"You are the Lord of humanity, you are the eternal light."

"Your glory forever illuminates the earth, your true name eternally spreads among mankind..."

The flames continued to burn, burn...

Soon, enveloping the entire tower and the praying Bishop Wenstar.

Bishop Wenstar maintained a serene expression, face full of devotion, allowing the flames to consume him.

In the end, everything turned to ashes in the inferno.

...

Eternal Era 1073, July 14th.

The Holy Mania Empire’s Seventh Guard Corps mutinied, aligned with three mercenary corps stationed in the suburbs, and the angry citizens within Maniya City, launching an uprising.

Within two days, Dorolia Castle, the Imperial Palace, the Noble Assembly, and the religious holy site of the Eternal Cathedral, symbols of the empire’s authority, were successively seized, Palace and Church burned to nothing amidst flames.

The nobles internally divided, some surrendered, others perished in resistance.

Reigning Empress, fourteen-year-old Theresa II, immolated herself in martyrdom inside the Palace.

Cardinal Archbishop Wenstar remained in the Eternal Cathedral and martyred atop the church tower.

Two days later, the insurgents successfully took control of Maniya City, declaring the abolition of feudalism.

They purged the inner city’s minor and major nobles, confiscated all properties of the nobility and church, planting the flag of victory in every corner of the city...

The empire’s black eagle flag slowly descended.

As this shocking news spread across Segis Continent, the world became astonished.