Taste of Magic: Ambassador's Voice

Melina never imagined that she'd be having a dinner together with Amaris Heiliger out of all people. While Sienna was glaring daggers at the woman from Melina's shoulder and Mango was staring at her distrustfully, nonetheless. She could sense that the little fox would have loved to run free and probably gnaw on the bishops ankles a bit. The option was tempting, but for the time being Melina decided to keep a tight hold on Mango.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Melina asked.

"There are many, many things I'd love to discuss with you. But why don't we grab some food first? I'm sure you're hungry after work," Heiliger offered graciously.

Melina didn't want to admit that the meeting with her had killed any appetite she had. But nonetheless, she followed after the bishop and put some stew for herself and some cooked chicken for both her familiars. The bishop went for the most extravagant and expensive shrimp dish.

"Your treat right? Since I'm a guest in Sunglow," the woman batted her eyelashes innocently.

Melina barely held herself back from snapping no. The woman was already trying to rile Melina up and make her lose her composure. But she wouldn't fall for his tricks so easily.

"Of course," Melina said with a smile. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

The expensive dish did hurt her wallet and even the cafeteria worker who took payment for the food, gave Melina an odd look. In fact, many people seemed to be watching their every move, leaning closer to hear their every word. She understood their curiosity, but it was additional pressure on Melina's shoulders that she'd rather do without.

When they returned to their table with food in hand, Heiliger reached into the purse she was carrying with her and pulled something out of it. Melina nearly dropped the plates in shock. Was she going to attack now when she had her guard down?

But the device that the woman placed on the table was familiar to her. Small and unassuming round sphere in a green mana crystal in the middle. The bishop pressed her hand against it, activating the device. There was no visual cue that anything had changed, but Melina knew that with it nobody around them could hear anything they were saying.

"I hope you don't mind a bit of privacy, Melina. I'm afraid people might take the things we talk about the wrong way," she said innocently.

"I don't mind. Makes it easier, in fact," Melina replied. She had intended to put up her own privacy ward, if the Heiliger hadn't done anything.

While Melina loved Sunglowers and trusted them, she suspected that her talk with Heiliger might include a lot of information that it would be better for the general populace not to know. For example, the things about the previous timeline. Did Heiliger remember things now?

"Lovely, then I'm not going to beat around the bush. It's frankly exhausting and you always have been a straight-forward kind of person. That's why I like you so much. That's why I chose you to be my Archmage," Heiliger said and took a bite of one of the large succulent shrimps.

Melina narrowed her eyes. So she remembered after all. It had basically been confirmed by the spy, but it was still good to hear it from the horse's mouth. "So you remember."

"I do. It was tricky, trying to trigger my memory when initially I had nothing more than these disorganized visions. Only my belief in the System God, helped me through those difficult times. For I am sure that it was them who bestowed me this chance to remember the past," she said fervently.

This did make Melina wonder who decided which people could remember the past timeline. So far the only ones who seemed to remember were in some way related to Melina. But were those really the only people who remembered? And why would Heiliger be among their midst? She certainly was never Melina's friend. Even if she tried to appear that way in the beginning.

"So you remember everything?" Melina questioned.

"Likely not in the same sense as you. I remember most events and most of what I did. But these memories are more akin to reading scriptures. I know the most important events, but there is no way for me to know every fine detail. Those are beyond me, even after reaching Rank A of my ," Heiliger said, shaking her head in mild disappointment.

Melina couldn't believe that this sly woman was just revealing all this crucial information to her. The name of her skill, the rank and the fact that it was still incomplete. Melina found that odd. Alistair's skill was still at Rank B, however he seemed to remember most events perfectly. He never said that it was like second-hand information, but rather like he really had lived the moment and the skill was just refreshing what was forgotten.

Why was it different for Heiliger? Why even at Rank A was her memory more like a recollection of events rather than something she had actually lived through? But then Melina paused her thoughts. There was no guarantee that the woman was even telling the truth. Her skill might be at a completely different rank and she might just be trying to fish Melina for information.

"I see," Melina replied dryly, deciding that it was best that she didn't react strongly to her words.

"You've changed, Melina," Heiliger said, shaking her head. "I do remember how much you craved knowledge. Asking for every detail and trying to figure out every mystery. What's with this lackluster reaction?"

"I'm a baker now. I live a simple life," Melina said, feeding a bit of chicken to Mango. She offered some to Sienna too, but the wyrm was too busy glaring at Heiliger to eat.

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Heiliger smiled. "A simple life? Your life seems anything but simple. Your pastries have such powerful magical effects that the moment noble society finds out about them, they would wage a war on each for who could claim you. You gather magical monsters to aid you while also enticing more and more powerful people to join your cause. You, my dearest Melina, are once again becoming a power to be reckoned with and at much faster speed than last time."

Melina tensed up, but helped her maintain a neutral expression. It appears that Heilger was already well aware of her activities. No doubt thanks to that spy. He must have been sending updates to her regularly.

"I'm merely trying to protect this town that has given me so much," Melina said calmly.

Heiliger smiled. "Of course, of course. There's nothing wrong working hard for your community. But you shouldn't forget where your power came from. Who was the one who helped you gain all that magical knowledge and power?"

Melina narrowed her eyes. No doubt that this woman was convinced that it was only thanks to her efforts that Melina became an Archmage. After all, Heiliger was assigned to watch over Melina's progress when she first arrived. She was constantly pushed by Melina, coming up with more draconic and harsh training methods.

Days doing nothing but flinging fireballs, only to not reach her expectation and then be forced into cleaning duty until Melina's hands turned raw from all the scrubbing. Days memorizing magic books from front to back and reciting spells until her voice turned hoarse. Even illness wasn't an excuse, merely grounds for more punishment.

"What do you want from me?" Melina growled, unable to hide her irritation. "Because I'm not returning to the Church."

Heiliger blinked at Melina for a moment, then laughed. "My dearest Melina, but of course you are. You are one of us."

Melina snarled. "I am not!"

Heiliger shook her head. "I understand. It's been hard for you. Being blamed for the famine that followed after the realms were split. It wasn't your fault. Nobody knew that the reaction would be so harsh. But don't worry. I have a way to make things right. Nobody will blame you this time. You will be a hero! Beloved by all."

"What are you even talking about? I'm not—" Melina nearly screamed, but then she noticed the many eyes on their table. Her expression must have been terribly twisted, so she took a moment to calm herself.

Heiliger took advantage of that. "Shush, shush, child. It's painful. I know. We've made some mistakes. But we've been given this wonderful chance by the System God to fix it all. This time before you split the realms, we're going to ensure that the Human Realm doesn't get hit by the horrible curse that the Monster Lord laid upon us with his dying breath. We'll be prepared. Our world will never be invaded by any monster again. Humans will finally live in peace. Doesn't that sound wonderful?"

Melina shook her head. "No! No, it doesn't. Don't think for a moment that I'm going to join your bloody crusade against the Monster Realm. I will do everything in my power to you!"

Heiliger burst out into laughter. "Oh, dear, dear Melina. It appears that living in this place has scrambled your young, naive mind."

"My mind is sound! Sounder than it has ever been before!"

"Shush! Shush! It's alright. I know that the vision these people are trying to sell is wonderful. People and monsters living in harmony. Wouldn't that be lovely?" Heiliger said, looking at Sienna and Mango. Then her eyes turned cold as ice. "Except the moment we turn our back on them they sink their teeth into our flesh, destroying everything we hold dear."

Mango fearfully buried herself deeper into Melina's lap, while Sienna hissed defiantly, hot flames bubbling in her throat.

"Sienna, no!" Melina held her hand to her wyrm. She was likely reacting to the agitation Melina was feeling.

"See! The moment something displeases them, they turn on us," Heiliger said, pointing at Sienna as if she had proven her point.

"I'm not joining you!" Melina repeated sternly.

But Heiliger just shook her head, looking at Melina as if she was a child throwing a temper tantrum. "You will. There is something important we must acquire in the Monster Realm with this expedition and you're going to help us get in. The expedition will depart in a week. You must be ready by then. Close your bakery for the next week, prepare your best pastries as supplies for other System users."

"I will—"

Heiliger raised her hand, not allowing Melina to speak. "I'll send somebody to get you. You will come or I will get rid of these pests. It's about time you understood that they are not pets, but vermin that need to be exterminated."

Her gaze was so cold, that Melina could help but clutch Mango closer, trying to shield her from the woman's gaze. Heiliger reached out and grabbed the privacy device, deactivating it.

"Have a wonderful day, Melina!" She said with a bright smile and left.

Melina sputtered as the woman left, slumping into her seat. Her fists clenched and she had the strong urge to burn the unfinished plate of shrimps that Heiliger left behind.

The woman was toying with her. She thought that she already had Melina firmly under her control. That Melina would just do everything she pleased. She had to take several breaths to calm herself. There was something valuable she gained from this exchange.

Heiliger would definitely attempt to tear the realms apart again, but this time they were going to do something to supposedly prevent the Human Realm from dying. But what exactly was she planning on doing? Was there really a way for the Human Realm to remain fine while being separated from the Monster Realm? Or was this another one of Heiliger's delusions?

"Melina, are you alright?" Erina asked, putting a hand on her shoulder. Barrett was close behind her.

"Yes, I'm alright," Melina said with a sigh. "I might have just underestimated her a little…"

Erina cocked her head at that. "If you need us to against the—"

"No," Melina shook her head. Involving Sunglowers in a direct conflict against the Church was asking for a massacre. While Heiliger had claimed that her memories were something more akin to reading a book, she had no doubt that the woman had remembered how to use her Archbishop powers. Which meant that besides Melina there wasn't anyone who could stand up to her directly.

No, direct conflict will likely result in Sunglow's destruction. Melina had to navigate this smartly. She had to be careful in her approach, and make sure that nobody would get caught in the crossfire. Most importantly, Melina couldn't allow the Church to do what they came here to do.

Then an idea occurred to her. Wouldn't pretending to work with them willingly be the best way to accomplish that? She doubted Heiliger would reveal exactly what they were trying to do. But Melina could try to get the information out of her. And if she didn't reveal then she could pretend to return to the Church and then stop them from reaching their goal while hiding among their midst.

Melina nodded. "I know what I have to do. Don't worry, Erina!"

"Somehow that makes me more worried," Erina said. "Whatever you do, don't do it alone! Remember that all of Sunglow is with you!"

"Of course," Melina smiled.

That is exactly why I have to protect everyone in any way I can.