The woman opened her mouth. Words circled round and round in her belly before spilling from her throat.
"I don't know that person. She wore a very wide, large black hat. Dressed in a black gown. Very strange appearance."
"She gave me this copper token and said if I held it, I could ask you for help."
Luo Wei stared into the woman's eyes: "Don't lie to me. I can tell if you're lying."
She glanced at the badge gripped in the woman's hand: "This thing is important to me, but I don't absolutely have to get it. After all, there are many such things elsewhere."
"If I agree to help you, it'll only be out of kindness—not because of deception or threats."
Cold sweat immediately seeped from the woman's forehead. Though the girl before her had a calm expression, she inexplicably felt fear and majesty.
As if she faced not a person, but death itself—destruction, evil, the unspeakable condensation of humanity's wickedness. She confronted her own depravity.
Throat dry and bitter, the woman spoke with difficulty: "I—I was wrong. I shouldn't have deceived you."
She struggled to open her hand, revealing the academy badge in her palm, tremblingly offering it to Luo Wei.
"That strange lady gave me two silver coins. Told me before sunset today, take this copper token to find you."
Luo Wei reached out and took the academy badge: "Besides that? She didn't say anything else?"
Just wait until sunset to earn a point? Was Professor Tobias that generous?
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The woman's lips trembled: "Said—said something. She said you had to earn thirty copper coins today before I could give you the item. If you didn't earn enough, wait until you did."
Luo Wei thought—of course. The professor's training tasks got harder one after another. How could she give away points for free?
Fortunately they'd completed the thirty copper coin task this afternoon. First outing earned thirty-two copper coins—exceeded the quota.
Luo Wei felt justified putting the academy badge in her waist pouch, raising her head: "Tell me—what happened with your daughter?"
A sudden turn. Light burst forth in the woman's desperate eyes.
"My daughter's name is Liva. Two years ago, she—"
Someone passed by on the street. The woman suddenly stopped. After they passed, she looked nervously at Luo Wei, pleading: "Many people outside. Can we talk inside?"
Luo Wei's gaze passed over her shoulder, falling into the narrow, cramped little room behind her. She nodded.
The woman hurriedly stepped back, inviting her in to sit. Then she closed the door, inserted the bolt, peered through the door crack several times, before turning and trotting to sit before Luo Wei.
"Two years ago, my daughter Liva was chosen by the bishop. Said she'd be sent to the temple in Artur City to serve the Sun and Moon Gods..."
From the woman's account, Luo Wei learned she had a lovely daughter, Liva, only ten when they parted.
Two years ago, Artur City's bishop passed through Kakashi Town. The priest selected four boys and girls with outstanding singing voices from town, having them sing hymns for the bishop.
Liva was a bit old—normally wouldn't be selected. Her husband gave the priest a large sum of money. Only then would the priest bring Liva before the bishop.
Liva was well-behaved and lovely, sang beautifully. The bishop saw her and said her soul was pure and flawless—definitely God's child. Should go to the temple to serve the divine.
Their daughter caught the bishop's eye and could enter the temple—what a glorious thing!
Entering the temple meant becoming a church nun. Rest of her life without worry for food and drink. Never suffering humiliation again. The couple couldn't wait to send their daughter in.
Later things went as they wished. When the bishop left town, he specifically named Liva to follow. So Liva was taken by the bishop to Artur City.
The couple originally wanted to go together. But the priest said Liva hadn't been baptized or taken vows yet. Going to Artur City, she'd first need six years of isolated study before dedicating herself to the divine and becoming a true nun.
Fearing they'd disturb Liva's cultivation, the couple had to give up, tearfully watching their daughter leave town.