After the festival, things got quiet in Sunglow. The cold kept everyone huddled inside their homes. On some days, even kids were reluctant to play outside. The harbor ended up freezing over despite Leon's and Aeriganta's best efforts. Ice stretched out far into the sea. Keeping a path open for ships would require constant effort and resources.

Normally, Alistair would have insisted on keeping the harbor going at any cost since Sunglow required outside resources to survive. But thanks to the proximity of the Monster Realm, that wasn't an issue anymore. Sunglow could trade with the drow.

This caused a plethora of unusual produce and materials to appear in Sunglow markets. Melina had access to more Monster Realm ingredients than ever before, even though she couldn't receive shipments from Count Speziale anymore.

More people took up crafts and cooked with Monster Realm ingredients that winter. After all, nobody really had much to do during the cold winter months. So instead, each person took it upon themselves to understand the unusual ingredients and make something out of them.

Knowledge about the materials was quickly compiled in various notes, which were passed from person to person. It was similar to things Melina had discovered. Don't use this ingredient too much, as it is saturated with mana. Boil this ingredient first to get rid of the toxins. Steam the other ingredient as it tastes much better steamed.

Melina was often visited by Sunglowers in the Town Hall. Each afternoon after the bakery closed, she would remain there. While officially, she was there to help Alistair, in reality, she was appraising the dishes people were bringing there. They wanted to know whether it was safe to eat and how it could be improved.

She was more than eager to provide whatever information she could. More than that, Melina was proud to see that Sunglowers were well aware of the dangers some ingredients could pose. Much of that knowledge came from the elves and drow, who were also eager to discover new recipes.

All in all, it was a great bonding experience for everyone in Sunglow. It felt like during those cold months, the whole community came together to make discoveries. Things like zephyr root salad and moonfern roasted pork became common dishes at Erina's cafeteria.

The biggest delicacy of the winter came from the beekeepers. During their last honey gathering right before the winter, they harvested the most unusual mana-infused honey. The higher mana content gave the honey a mild herbal flavor and did wonders to heal people from cold and other mild illnesses.

As such, this valuable honey was saved for times of need and sold to those who got sick. There wasn't that much of it available yet. However, the beekeepers were already rubbing their hands together at the prospect of a large harvest next year. This honey could be yet another thing to sweep Alemahria off its feet. Another step towards unity between the Monster and Human Realms.

But times of peace weren't meant to last. After a month and a half, the weather became warmer. Not quite yet warm enough for snow to melt, but Melina could feel the inevitable approach of spring. Each morning, she would wake up and gaze out of the window, watching the mornings get brighter and brighter each day. The sun also rose earlier each morning.

"It won't be long now…" Melina muttered one morning, seeing first droplets of water fall down the windowsill.

Alistair stepped to stand beside her. "We're going to be ready."

A heavy knot twisted in her stomach. She wasn't ready for this. She didn't want the Church and Heiliger to come to Sunglow. She wondered whether there was a way to stop them from approaching this place. Perhaps, taking the Sacred Treasures and fleeing would be better?

But she quickly dismissed the thought. Heiliger no doubt already saw this whole town as a taint upon the world. Drow and elves alike lived here. They were part of this community. That alone would be enough justification for Heiliger to attack.

No, the final stand would be here. There was nothing Melina could do to change that. But there were a lot of things she could do to prepare. She had been training meticulously during winter, and her status screen reflected that.

[Name: Melina Dufour]

[Level: 55]

[Class: Archpatissier]

[Familiar: Sienna — Hearthfire Wyvern Level 35; Mango — Two-tailed Ice Kitsune Level 26 (unique)]

[Intelligence: 50]

[Agility: 17]

[Strength: 10]

[Skill: 70]

[Charm: 15]

[Active Skills: 12]

[<Refined Edge – Rank A>, <Rhythmic Kneading – Rank A>, <Mask of Deceit – Rank B>, <Gilded Tongue – Rank C>, <Haste Bake – Rank A>, <Arcane Infusion – Rank A>, <Familiar Sense – Rank C>, <Ingredient Appraisal – Rank A>, <Preservation Glaze – Rank A>, <Arcane Panacea – Rank A>, <Dish Assessment – Rank A; Spellsealed Pastry – Rank A]

[Passive Skills: 6]

[<Archmage's Shadow – Rank S>, <Chef's Intuition – Rank A>, <Food Manufacturing – Rank A>, <Teacher of Arcane Baking – Rank A>, <Speed Cooking – Rank A>; <Pastry Spell Layering – Rank A>]

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With all of her cooking skills at Rank A, Melina was ready to make cakes and pastries this world had never seen before. Not that the world would ever see them. No, they would only see the effects of these pastries.

"Let's arrange a meeting with everyone," Melina said.

Alistair nodded.

Amaris gazed out on the Monastery grounds from atop the highest balcony, right next to the Church bell. A smile spread on her lips as she watched the snow melting, large chunks of it sliding off the monastery roofs. Oh, how she has been waiting for this moment.

She would have loved to put an end to Melina and that accursed town of heathens much sooner. But alas, moving the Church force during the winter would be too troublesome. They would have to think of ways of keeping the System users warm and fed. Not to mention that the trip itself would be a nightmare.

Obviously, anyone who died for their cause would be sent to meet with the System God, which could only be considered a blessing. But it was better to go prepared. There was much she could do in the winter months as the new Archbishop. Like establishing herself in the eyes of the believers.

Not all of them were wise enough to understand her path was the right one from the get-go. It was most heinous that they would dare to question her, but Amaris was ready to give them a chance to change their minds. To come to the side of righteousness. She was a merciful Archbishop after all.

It was also a wonderful chance to establish an amicable relationship with the mage Xio Ling. Despite being from Su Xien, a country filled with heretics who believed that elves and drow were people just like humans, this mage understood the truth very well.

He agreed with Amaris and the true view of the System God and offered her his support without even asking for compensation. Setting the rotting world straight was the best compensation he could get, the mage had said. Amaris couldn't have agreed more.

"It'll be time to act soon, won't it?" Xio Ling approached her, a wide smile on his face.

"Yes. The snow has started to melt," Amaris nodded in agreement.

"How wonderful! I was starting to miss the little baker. It's such a shame I couldn't cut off a limb or two during our first meeting. I nearly had her, but then her guard dog appeared," Xio Ling exhaled in disappointment.

"Don't worry. We'll find a way to separate them. You'll have a chance to fight her head-on," Amaris said.

"Oh, I can't wait. I hope she has been honing her skills. It would be a bit disappointing to defeat the strongest mage in Alemahria too easily. I enjoy a good challenge, you know," Xio Ling said. "But what she showed me in Sunglow was rather disappointing. I honestly expected more."

"Don't worry. I'm sure she won't be holding back when you attack the things she cares about. This is the mage that was able to pull realms apart after all," Amaris soothed.

"I find it hard to believe that a girl like her could achieve something so great," Xio Ling scoffed.

"Underestimate her at your peril, Xio Ling. I underestimated her once, and she nearly defeated me. If she had more resolve, she would have killed me on the spot. But the ideas of coexistence have made her too soft. I'll make sure that this mistake will be her downfall," Amaris smiled.

Xio Ling grinned. "I'm getting excited now. It's the thrill of challenge that I live for. Not to mention that I'm looking forward to splitting the realms apart with my hands. The feeling of power… Oh! It must be delightful."

Amaris nodded. There really was nothing quite like feeling power in your hands. Once the realms were split apart, the Church and the children of the System God would thrive in this world, which would finally be cleansed of the monster filth.

Two more weeks passed all too slowly in Amaris's opinion. She watched eagerly as the layer of snow got thinner and thinner with each day. Training in the Monastery intensified during this period, and she pushed the System users to gain levels especially hard.

It was a good thing they had two passageways available to them right near the Monastery, where she could send the System users to fight monsters and gain precious experience. Surely, it was the grace of the System God itself. It had provided them with these passageways as ways to get stronger before their final battle.

Some of the weaker System users perished. That was also a blessing from the System God. They couldn't afford any weakness during this last battle. Everything was at stake, and Amaris wanted it to be perfect. She didn't need some weakling holding her back and ruining her perfect plan.

There were also a few rebellions among the Church members. They questioned her plan. A few even dared to suggest that cooperation between the realms would be a more favorable outcome. They were swiftly dealt with and executed.

While it was a good thing to cull out the traitors, it annoyed Amaris to no end that more and more of the populace seemed to accept things from the Monster Realm. Elves were roaming around the city of Fenrora. Pastries made from Monster Realm ingredients were appearing all over the countries.

Amaris couldn't understand it. It was as if the Archmage could be in multiple places at once. After some investigation, it turned out that the accursed girl had made a class where she taught others how to cook using Monster Realm ingredients. It was heresy of the highest order.

The worst of it was that people were accepting it. They thought it was something novel and fun. The fools! They would suffer the wrath of the System God on the day of Realm splitting came. Tainted ones would suffer from famine and disease, dying from miserable deaths. As they deserved.

But Amaris couldn't have all of Alemahria falling for these machinations. She needed to show people that the System God was their true savior. That she would guide those worthy down the path of salvation. It couldn't wait any longer.

"Cardinal!" Amaris bellowed, summoning an old man to her chamber.

"Yes, Archbishop!" He came, his head bowed low. Good. At least the worm knew his place.

"Gather our forces. It is time to set out."

He flinched. "A-Archbishop, if I may. The ice still hasn't fully melted at sea. It would be difficult to approach Sunglow."

Amaris glared at him. "Do you take me for a fool?"

"I-I would never, Your Eminence!" He shook his bald head profusely.

"Then did you not hear what I said? I'm only going to repeat this once, so listen well. Gather the forces. We're heading to Sunglow. Do you think they are not aware of our actions? Do you think they are not expecting us to arrive as soon as the ice melts? We have to catch them unprepared."

"I-I understand, Archbishop. But…"

"What?" Amaris asked impatiently, considering whether his head would look good on a pike. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to send a message to others.

"But how are we going to reach the port with ice covering the shove?" Cardinal asked.

"Are you daft? Last I checked, people are capable of walking on ice," Amaris shot back. "Now, begone, before I decide to turn your head into a vase."

Cardinal paled and scurried away, nearly tripping over his robes. What a despicable cockroach. But he had his uses.

Amaris smiled. She couldn't wait to see Melina again. Her head would certainly look most lovely on a pike. Especially with her lover's head right next to hers. What a lovely pair would they make!