Hearing all this, I finally understood—the Shrine's clerics were all women. Junior Cleric had been adopted by the previous Grand Cleric and raised as her successor from a young age. She was also the product of another plot—an agent planted within the Shrine.
Knowing that Aro was safe and that I was soon heading to Devil's Lake lifted my spirits immensely. The anxiety and restlessness I had been feeling lately began to fade. I couldn't help but feel excited—once I reached Devil's Lake and found a way to lift the curse, I could return to a normal life. How could I not be thrilled at the thought?
However, before I could set out for Devil's Lake, I ran into a bit of trouble. The soldiers I had crippled earlier finally found a way to get back at me. Out of nowhere, I was assigned by the Shrin
