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239. Figuring Out Marie’s Abilities [The Villainess's Reputation]
🕑 Added 2025-10-21 11:30:03 +0000 UTCThe sun, filtered through the high, arched window of the Herptian Church, cast a soft, golden rectangle onto the polished stone floor. Marie sat at the table, cradling a freshly poured cup of rose tea, her usual energy tempered by the solemnity of the occasion. Opposite her, Dame Aisha set her teacup down with a quiet clink, her gaze sharp and focused.
“Now that the initial chaos is behind us,” Dame Aisha began, her voice crisp and commanding, “we need to discuss your inherent abilities. As the Saintess, you are said to carry the blessings of all twelve gods. So far, we have only confirmed two of them. We must endeavor to understand the others deliberately, rather than waiting for them to appear at an inconvenient, potentially dangerous moment.”
High Priest James, who was seated on a nearby velvet sofa, stroked his neatly trimmed beard in agreement. “What Dame Aisha states is true,” he added, his tone measured and thoughtful. “Saintesses are the progeny of the divine, literally embodying a portion of each god’s power. It is paramount that we catalogue these gifts, lest an unknown ability prove to be an obstacle rather than an advantage.”
Marie understood the gravity of their purpose. Her destiny was not her own; it was tied to the fate of the world. She leaned forward, her eyes bright with a mixture of excitement and responsibility.
“So, if we are to proceed methodically, let's start by assigning the known abilities to their divine source,” Marie suggested, already thinking aloud. She ticked off the first blessing on her finger. “The healing blessing must be from Goddess Solious, the Sun Goddess of Life and Justice. That is the most obvious connection.”
Both Dame Aisha and High Priest James nodded in unison, acknowledging the self-evident link.
“And your perception of time,” High Priest James continued, his gaze deepening. “The blessing that allows you to slow the world around you, acting faster than any mortal could naturally move, that ability must surely stem from God Gilnto, the God of War and Time.”
Dame Aisha took a measured sip of her tea before offering her analysis. Her eyes, which had been scanning Marie's slight frame, softened slightly. “At first, I considered that your strange, almost innate combat adaptability might be an extension of God Gilnto’s influence, a warrior's instinct gifted by the God of War. However, your consistent inability to master even basic swordsmanship techniques properly disproves that theory.”
Marie slumped, her lip jutting out in a small, genuine pout. “That is so mean, Master Aisha! Are you saying I have no natural talent for swords at all?” she protested, though her voice lacked any real bite.
A soft chuckle escaped both the priest and the knight. The brief moment of levity quickly passed, however, and High Priest James leaned forward once more, his expression turning inquisitive. The challenge before them was complex: tracing divine powers required more than logic, it required true insight into the gods themselves.
“The most immediate enigma, then, is Goddess Herptian’s blessing,” High Priest James stated, his voice a low hum. “The Goddess of Indulgence and Desire, her power is the very foundation of this city and its culture. Given that the Saintess was born from Her divine act, Her gift to you will be potent, perhaps even pivotal, in the wars to come.”
Marie rested her chin on her hand, a thoughtful crease forming in her brow as she considered the divine mystery. “So, what could it be? What is the blessing granted by the very Goddess of Lust and Indulgence?” she wondered aloud.
Dame Aisha leaned forward, a speculative glint in her eyes. "Given Goddess Herptian's dominion over afterlife and pleasures, perhaps you possess a blessing of eternal beauty, like the Apostles of the faith?”
High Priest James dismissed the notion with a slow shake of his head, his skepticism weighing heavily in the silent chamber. “It is seldom that simple, my child. If we consult the historical records of past Saintesses, we find that the blessings were often more powerful, and potent. The immediate predecessor, the penultimate Saintess, was chronicled to have possessed the power to charm individuals for hours, luring them into a state of crazed, irresistible desire.”
Marie flushed red, instinctively tucking her hands into her lap. “I sincerely doubt I possess the capacity for such brazen coercion,” she murmured, embarrassment warring with genuine disbelief.
High Priest James nodded, acknowledging her reaction. “Indeed, that is a profound form of corruption, a power not lightly wielded. Another ancient record speaks of the very first Saintess, where Herptian’s blessing allowed her to induce subjects into dazed, lustful dreams merely by snapping her fingers.”
“With a snap of her fingers, you say?” Marie’s curiosity flared. She mimicked the action, snapping her fingers sharply next to Dame Aisha's ear. When nothing happened, she sighed in disappointment. “I highly doubt we will uncover these powers through mere guesswork and imitation.”
“Patience is a virtue, even in the pursuit of indulgence,” James replied, rising from the sofa. “However, guesswork is not our only recourse. We should attempt to unearth old records of previous Saintesses from the church cellar. I recall numerous ancient, heavily bound tomes gathering dust down there, they may hold the keys we seek.”
Blacksmith Workshop, Kim City, Kim Island, Ancorna Empire
Meanwhile, at the Blacksmith Workshop, the air was thick with the rhythmic clang of hammers and the hiss of cooling steam, a powerful symphony of industry. Ravenna sat composedly opposite Nille, the chief blacksmith, observing the hive of activity behind him. Nille wiped a streak of sweat and soot from his brow as he delivered his report.
“We have achieved near-completion on retrofitting the ships you acquired with steam engines, Your Highness,” Nille stated, a familiar fatigue etched into his face, yet his posture radiated pride.
“Good work,” Ravenna replied, her voice carrying an undertone of satisfaction. The movement behind him, workers swiftly installing the last of the heavy iron components, was a testament to the Dukedom’s escalating efficiency. “I remain impressed by your speed. You achieved that far faster than the original estimates.”
“It was significantly easier than anticipated, Your Highness,” Nille commented, modestly dismissing the compliment. “The relatively simple design of the merchant vessels made them much quicker to strip and reassemble compared to the complex reinforcement of warships.” He then brightened, a new excitement sparking in his eyes. “Oh, on a separate but vital note, we have just finished integrating the water meter production line. Crucially, we believe we’ve figured out how to adapt its gravity-assisted mechanism for that advanced prototype blueprint you entrusted to us.”
Ravenna’s raven-dark eyes narrowed slightly in focused confusion. “Which specific blueprint do you refer to, Nille? I have sent a multitude of designs.”
“The complicated weapon schematics, Your Highness,” Nille clarified, speaking the names softly, as if worried the air might carry them to unseen ears. “The portable firearm that uses that volatile compound, gunpowder, which you specified must use a single-base powder.”
The blacksmith’s words pierced through Ravenna’s composure like an arrow. She had expected to wait months for this. Her entire body language shifted from relaxed authority to shock.
“You figured out a Gun Assembly Line this quickly?!” Ravenna demanded, leaping abruptly to her feet, the surprise in her voice echoing against the high workshop walls. The clamor of the industry around them seemed to falter, momentarily silenced by the sheer force of her astonishment.
