Monica released divine energy and coated everyone's weapon with it. The demons, the undead, and the Corrupted, they all had zero chance of survival, or even to run away. The knights surrounded them and the boulders behind them made it impossible to run easily either.
Lazarus and all the knights began to move in unison, killing the demons, the undead, and the Corrupted simultaneously. It was a massacre, and since their enemy wasn't a human, they had no reason to hold back. They killed the damned, leaving no survivors while Sanya and Ena watched from the top of the boulders.
It was a flawless and complete victory for humankind because there was no casualty, only a few got badly injured. After they collected all the dead bodies of the bodies of the possessed, the undead, and the Corrupted, Monica cleansed them with divine energy. The undead and the Corrupted's bodies disintegrated as if the bodies weren't supposed to exist in this world anymore.
"What are we going to do with the bodies of the possessed?" Arthor asked as he looked at hundreds of the bodies of the Northern people, the bodies that were taken forcefully and used as vessels for demons.
"Give them a proper burial, that's the only thing that we can do for them. I want to pray for their... souls..." Monica said, but her last few words felt like a jab to her heart.
Everyone knew that souls were taken, devoured by demons. The poor souls that couldn't meet the Gods, to live in the afterlife, the souls that had been devoured completely, lost, became one with the demons that devoured them.
Lazarus gave a nod, and all the soldiers began to dig a mass grave for the dead bodies. It didn't take a while and they all put the bodies in the ground and buried them. They watched Monica stand in front of the mass grave and they all lowered their heads to pay respect to the dead.
"Gods..." Monica muttered as she clenched her fists. "Please find those poor souls, save them, give them peace, give them salvation, give them a place by your side. We have done what we could have done, and we could only pray for their souls and those who have sacrificed themselves to protect the world, the people, the lives you have bestowed upon us. Put them in your heavens, a place where they could watch over us, amen..." She closed her eyes and clasped her hands together.
Suddenly, the heavy blizzard stopped and the bright sunlight pierced through the dark clouds. The light fell to where Monica stood and the mass grave, and everyone was stunned, tears filled their eyes when the Gods seemed to listen to Monica's prayer.
Sanya and Ena looked up at the bright sky as the sunlight bathed Monica and the mass grave. They stared at Monica with a stoic and cold expression because it reminded them of the past. They remembered when that kind of light was a threat to them because the first Saint used her power to bring back the dead when Orthais saw that light.
"We can't leave the bodies like that," Sanya said as she walked toward Monica. "You wanted to respect the dead, and you have done that. But leaving perfect bodies like that, the demons will turn them into undead. I'll burn the bodies for you if you can't do it yourself," she offered as she stood behind Monica.
Monica looked at the mass grave for a moment, she didn't say a word until she gave a nod. She knew that Sanya was right, and that it would be best to respect the dead by not letting the demons take the bodies and burn them.
After Monica finished her prayer, everyone left the valley, looking back at the blue flames that burned the mass grave. The news of the flawless and complete victory soon would bring hope and strength to Northerners. However, they knew that it was far from over because deep down, they felt like something was amiss.
Once Monica, Sanya, and Ena came back to Sancticus territory, Monica noticed the dozens of wagons outside the city wall. She looked at the banner, and she knew that emblem, a Garuda with its heterochromia eyes, one blue and one green. That banner belonged to the famous trading company, the Urion family.
"How did they get here? They're far from home..." Monica muttered to herself, her brows furrowed as she entered the city.
Sanya and Ena could see the hundreds and even thousands of weapons and armor in total inside those wagons. They could see that those equipment were high-quality goods even for Orthias standard.
When they arrived at the Monastery, Monica got down from her horse and hurriedly walked into the temple. Maximilian was there, sitting on the bench, praying. Maximilian noticed a presence entering the temple, and when he saw Monica, he was shocked to see her back so quickly.
"You're back already, Monica? How was it?" Maximilian asked with a worried expression.
"The battle is already over and there was no casualty thanks to Lady Sanya and Lord Ena," Monica answered as she looked around. "Where's my mother and aunt Eveline?" She asked and looked at Maximilian. "I saw the Urion's wagons outside the city..."
Maximilian sighed in relief when he found out that the battle was already over and nobody had died. He then nodded and pointed at the door where it led to Moriganne's office.
"Her Holiness and Lady Eveline are in the office, and they're currently talking with a guest, and as you said, it's from the Urion family," Maximilian answered.
Monica immediately went to Moriganne's office and saw a young man with black silky smooth hair, wearing a high-quality white fur coat and black leather gloves. The man glanced at Monica and slowly rose from the couch to greet her by bowing his head.
"Monica, you're back..." Moriganne stood up and hurriedly walked toward Monica, who stood at the door. "How was the battle?" She asked as she looked at Monica thoroughly, checking if there was any wound on her daughter.
"I'm fine, mother. It was a complete and flawless victory thanks to Lady Sanya and Lord Ena. Nobody died, and they killed all the Demon Kings rank demons, they both killed the whole army," Monica answered, her gaze still focused on the man behind Moriganne. "Who's he, mother?" She asked.
Moriganne moved to the side and guided Monica to the couch.
"This is Young Master Imane Urion, he came here to help us with our situation," Moriganne answered as she sat down beside Monica.
"Help us?" Monica furrowed her brows, staring into Imane's Heterochromia eyes. "Isn't the situation in the East is as bad as ours here? Why are they coming all the way here to help us? What is it that they want from us?" She asked bluntly.
"We just asked that question to him, Monica, and we were about to hear his explanation, so join us and listen to what he has to say," Eveline said and gestured to Imane to sit down.
Imane cleared his throat as he sat down and looked at the three of them. There was no anxiety, no fear, not even a slightness of nervousness in his eyes.
"The reason why I came here and become the representative for the Urion family and the Eastern continent is because we are asking for help," Imane answered, his voice calm and gentle. "I know that the East isn't fond of religions, both from the Angelis family and the Sancticus family, but we know better that the situation in my homeland, it's worse because nothing can stop the demons without divine power," Imane explained.
"You might have heard about what happened to the Angelis family, about the dark truth behind their Sainthood. The Urion family can't ask them, not after what they have revealed. So, with that being said, the only Saint family that we believe to be the real one is the Sancticus family. That's why, we came here to ask for help," Imane continued. The way he spoke and brought himself up, he looked so dignified.
Moriganne, Monica, and Eveline listened to Imane's explanation, but none of them bought his words. They believed there was another motive behind this, and they wanted to know everything. After all, the Urion family was well-known for being greedy and cunning.
"I know what all of you think, and I understand that you're wary of this. But I can promise you, I can swear on my life that we are desperate and we don't want anything but to ask for help," Imane said with a serious expression.
Monica and Eveline looked at Moriganne since she was the one who could see if someone had bad intentions or not. Moriganne looked at the aura around Imane and didn't find any malicious around his head.
"Even if you're telling the truth, the North is currently facing a far worse threat. We can't help anyone at the moment," Moriganne said as she shook her head.
"We understand that, and we are willing to wait no matter how long it will take," Imane answered without hesitation. "We are desperate, Your Holiness. We need assurance, a fact that we have the Sancticus support, and that alone is enough to know that a Saint is backing us up," he pointed out.
Moriganne, Monica, and Eveline could see the desperation in Imane's words and expressions.
"We will consider your proposal, Lord Imane," Moriganne said as she nodded with understanding.
"Thank you, Your Holiness. That alone is enough to assure the whole East continent," Imane said with a serious expression. "I can't waste of your time anymore, and so I will take my leave," he said as he got up and fixed his fur coat.
"What about those wagons, Lord Imane? We are still considering this, and we aren't yet agreed to help you," Moriganne asked, looking up at Imane who was ready to leave.
"They're not bargain items, Your Holiness. Those are meant as a gift from the Urion family," Imane smiled softly as he bowed his head. "I will take my leave, Your Holiness, Lady Monica, Lady Eveline," he said and then left the room.
"Looks like they're really desperate for help," Eveline said as she took a sip of her tea. "I'm surprised that you're considering to help them," she looked at Moriganne.
"The Eastern continent has been an ally of ours for a very long time. The fact that Lord Imane didn't mention that, he was being respectful, considerate, and not demanding. He also didn't have any malicious intent, so I believed that giving it a consideration, they deserve it," Moriganne answered as she looked at Monica and noticed how her daughter was deep in thoughts.