---A Few Weeks Ago---
In the Capital city of the Holy Theocracy, deep inside the grand gilded church building a woman with dark brown skin wearing ornate white and golden robes, walked down the brightly lit halls. Glossy black hair that fell flowed down like a curly waterfall bounced with every step. Her brown eyes with flecks of gold in them, reflected the light of the much more advance crystal lamps hanging from the wall.
The only sound heard in the white stone corridor was the sound of her footsteps. After walking for a few minutes, she arrived at a wooden door, and without hesitation she pushed it open. Inside was a private infirmary, where a woman with a horribly burnt face laid down. The burn scars were mostly healed at this point, but one of the woman's eyes was lost, with the eyelid fused shut. Even her moth was partially fused together, making it hard for the woman to open her mouth. Looking at her condition would make anyone's stomach turn.
The brown skinned woman didn't look bothered however, instead a graceful smile was on her face as she approached the woman.
"Hello J, my name Joan, I'm the Pope of the Church of Light." She said introducing herself.
"...." J, the woman Lucilla thought she had killed stayed silent.
"I've heard about your run in with the monster woman, would you like to talk about it?" Joan continued her smile never faltering.
"...."
"Well, she's still alive currently and she seemed to have gotten the creatures from the Enchanted Forest to fall under her command." Joan said leaning in. "Probably thanks to that Prosperty child you let slip away. Isn't because of them you're like this?"
"... What do you want." A strained voice finally said for even her vocal coords were damaged.
"Would you like to kill revenge on that monster and girl?" Joan asked. "We looked into you, and you're fairly impressive. At only twenty-two years old you're already stronger than most soldiers and that's without formal training."
"...."
"I'll let you think about it; it was nice talking with you." With that the Pope turned around and walked out of the room.
Joan found herself once again walking alone in the long corridor. She was just about to enter her private residence when she sensed it. The sudden presence of an individual holding Celestial energy. Someone became a proxy. Slipping into her bedroom she sat on her bed and closed her eyes. She needed to contact her Goddess.
Using both her Mana and Celestial energy she performed programmed the spell that would allow her to contact her Goddess. This would drain her of all her energy and power for days however, and even then, there was a chance for failure. Sweat ran down her face and back as she willed the spell to work.
"My Goddess Angelica I sense there's a new apostle in the world. May I request who this may be?" Joan asked once she felt herself connect. Normally she would go as far as contacting the light Goddess to find out this information, but for some reason she felt a sense of foreboding.
"Joan my child how have you've been?" A calm, sweet, and Angelic reverberated inside the curly haired womans head.
"I'm doing well my Goddess!" Joan said, with reverence, her chest feeling tight with happiness on hearing the Goddesses voice. "Please this child of yours wishes to know the answer I seek."
"Hm, very well. Your senses are highly trained child, for you're right there is a new apostle. She servs the Goddess Ovana."
"She... she serves the Moon Goddess?" She asked with fear. "Is it the monster woman?"
"I fear that's all I can tell you. I wish you luck on your endeavors." Angelica said before their connection was severed.
Slumping down, as her body recoiled from the strain, Joan couldn't help but curse in her heart. This was just Eldon Vesh all over again. She could, she wouldn't let this happen.
"I need to tell Grandfather." She said before passing out.
________________
"Hm?"
A man wearing an imperial red outfit with a dark purple periskelis around his waist. He had short brown hair, and light blue eyes. The man was the Emperor of the Altaira Empire located on the central continent. He was reading a book when he suddenly felt a strong presence appear in the world causing him to look east.
"How interesting. A new piece on the bored." He muttered to himself setting the book down. "Grab the council, we must meet." The servant that was standing quietly in the room gave the emperor a quick bow before leaving the room.
The emperor stood up and looked outside his office window, looking at the city below. He once heard the other worlder he picked up described his country as a mix between ancient Rome and modern architecture. He didn't know what that meant, but the man found the place fascinating.
"Now then we just have to determine if they are friend or foe. We can't just let someone like that roam free after all."
________________
"Ma'am look at this." A man said walking up to a woman dressed in a suit. "These readings show another apostle has shown themselves."
"Show me." The woman said walking over to the monitor the man was just at. On it was an arial view of the central continent, and near the western border a bright light. Over to the side there was a second monitor showing different measurements as it tried gave the numbers of what was being observed.
"These reading are similar to that of an apostle, but they seem slightly off." The underling explained.
"That's because they're similar to the Hero, just weaker and more volatile." The woman spoke calmly. "Either there's a new Hero summoning circle or we have an anomaly."
"What do we do ma'am?"
"Gather as much data as you can before they learn to reel in their power to keep themselves hidden." She answered before turning around to walk away. "I need to inform the higher ups."
____________
"Oh my, we may need to send someone to the central continent." A woman spoke while eating. "I'll send some later."
"Um, what do you mean by that mom?" A younger woman spoke staring at the Queen strangely.
"A new Apostle just appeared on the central continent; I can sense them as an apostle myself. The new ones don't know how to hide themselves that well." Explained the woman. "After we finish eating, I'll teleport my spies there as soon as possible.
____________
"What in the flames of creation!?" The Demon Lord yelled out. "Where is that powerful presence coming from!?"
Lilia was already stressed with everything she had to deal with already; she did not need this new problem. With the border fights with the Empire, governing the four provinces, worrying about the movements of the Humans, and even the monster woman to a smaller extent, the Demon Lord felt overwhelmed. She really wanted a vacation or select her replacement already.
"I should inform Luka to watch out for any abnormally strong individuals." Lilia said grabbing a pen and paper.
Once she finished, she stuffed the letter in an envelope and sealed it with wax. Handing off to a servant she went back to her desk and sat down with a heavy sigh. She hated her job.
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Meanwhile Lucilla was on Christina's boat heading back to Anastasia's citadel, having already spoken to everyone about her plans going forward.
"Hey, Lucilla? I thought you were doing it on purpose, but are you not aware you're leaking a ton of power? It's making it hard to relax around you." Judieth said finding Lucilla on the ships deck resting.
"Oh, my bad. No one pointed it out down there, so I never noticed." Lucilla said, as she focused on bringing in here aura.
"You have to be careful with that. People sensitive with this type of stuff could probably sense you wherever you are."
"I'll keep that in mind."