"Miranda went through all the internal records of the Dawn Prayers last night and couldn't find any cases of individual time reversal," Aurora said, looking tired. "I then told her to go home and rest."

"Thank you for your hard work."

Aurora shook her head and brought the topic back to Nicole. "There are some things I'd like to ask you. You watched Nicole grow up. Is there anything about her that stands out? Does she retain any of her old memories?"

"I don't think so. She's just like an ordinary girl; I haven't noticed anything unusual," Rivern paused briefly. "Until this werewolf showed up. Their close relationship shocked me. If, as you say, they had been together for nearly thirty years in the past, then Shinya's care and dedication to her make sense."

"Regarding that, I experienced it firsthand yesterday," Aurora recalled Shinya's performance at the Beast Tamer Guild's arena and his shocking statement in the dungeon—"I am Nicole's father."

Aurora and Miranda immediately dismissed Shinya's claim as a lie, and the werewolf showed a look of regret, adding, "So not all humans are that easy to deceive." This remark ignited Miranda's anger.

Rivern nodded, "I've experienced it too. He came to see Nicole last night. I had anticipated his visit, so I waited outside Nicole's door, quietly listening to what was happening inside. To my surprise, he claimed that Nicole was his daughter."

Aurora chuckled, "He said that to Nicole as well? Did she believe him?"

Rivern sighed, "Of course not. Though she was startled for a while, she eventually refuted Shinya's claim. I don't understand the point of such a lie."

"Declaring his claim," a third voice sounded in the meeting room. Rivern and Aurora turned to see Miranda walking in from the doorway.

"Miranda, didn't I tell you to go rest?" Aurora looked at her with concern, noting the dark circles under her eyes.

"I'm fine." The secretary pushed up her glasses and continued, "Given Nicole's current age and living conditions, claiming she's his daughter is more convincing than saying she was his past lover. Additionally, in the human world, it's commonly accepted that fathers have legitimate guardianship over their minor children."

Miranda sat down next to Aurora and continued, "I checked yesterday and confirmed that in the werewolf worldview and language, there is no concept or term for 'father.' Shinya knows and uses this rule because he lived among humans for thirty years and learned it from us."

"No word for 'father'? Then how do they..."

"The structure of werewolf society is completely different from ours. I'll explain it to you another time."

"But Shinya said his father was among the victims in Acorn Town. How does that fit? If there's no concept of a father in werewolf society, why would Shinya..." Aurora was becoming more confused.

"Honestly, I don't know. Maybe he used the term to help us understand their relationship. But that's not the main point." Miranda grabbed a blank sheet of paper from the meeting table and wrote three phrases on it—Acorn Town, demon attack, Nicole's time reset. She then connected them with three lines.

"The main point is, why did the demon attack an otherwise ordinary town? And why did Nicole revert to an infant? If none of this is a coincidence, if there's a necessary connection between these events, then what could it be?"

Miranda's question made Aurora furrow her brow in thought, but aside from baseless speculations, she had no other ideas.

The former High Priest Nafal hadn't left many details about the matter, only a brief record of the operation. He didn't mention how he discovered the disturbance in Acorn Town.

Rivern stared blankly at the table, silent.

"Oh right, I just found Lord Nafal's last log regarding the Acorn Town operation in the archive room. It should contain the follow-up of the incident. I remember that Lord Nafal captured a puppet demon spirit that time."

The term "puppet demon spirit" brought Rivern back to attention. He looked up, a strange expression crossing his face.

Miranda's question made Aurora furrow her brow in thought, but aside from baseless speculations, she had no other ideas.

The former High Priest Nafal hadn't left many details about the matter, only a brief record of the operation. He didn't mention how he discovered the disturbance in Acorn Town.

Rivern stared blankly at the table, silent.

"Oh right, I just found Lord Nafal's last log regarding the Acorn Town operation in the archive room. It should contain the follow-up of the incident. I remember that Lord Nafal captured an Enslaved Fiend that time."

The term "Enslaved Fiend" brought Rivern back to attention. He looked up, a strange expression crossing his face.

Aurora had already opened the log, and Nafal's elegant handwriting lay before them. Aurora began reading the log, Miranda leaning in to read as well, while Rivern calmly sat in his original position, seemingly uninterested in the log's contents. He was more intrigued by their reactions to the reading.

"...Lord Nafal repelled the demon and captured a still-living Enslaved Fiend..." Miranda softly summarized after reading the page.

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Aurora turned the page, and Miranda continued, "Despite the advice of other high-ranking priests, he brought the Enslaved Fiend back to Northsail, to the Murmuring Sanctum."

"I remember this," Aurora said, recalling her childhood, "That Enslaved Fiend was imprisoned within seven layers of holy crystals and had completely lost its human form. When it was brought back, many people said Lord Nafal had gone mad."

"Lord Nafal's actions were indeed against common sense at the time," Miranda seemed to side with the opposition. "An Enslaved Fiend is a battle tool created by demons, a mindless killing machine. Even if it was once human, once it falls into darkness, it loses its humanity. Killing it would be an act of mercy."

"But Enslaved Fiends are humans lured into darkness by demons. No matter if they retain their human form, as long as they still have a trace of human consciousness, they are our kin. Lord Nafal must have decided to save him for this reason." Aurora pointed to a line in the log. "Look, he wrote that the Enslaved Fiend once pleaded for help, indicating it still had reason and a last shred of humanity."

"Exactly," Rivern suddenly spoke, drawing their attention.

Aurora said happily, "Rivern, I knew you would agree with me."

"No," Rivern's lips curled into a cold, sardonic smile. "I agree with Miranda's view. Killing the Enslaved Fiend is the true mercy, the true salvation."

"Rivern, you seem off today," Aurora finally voiced her concern. "You don't usually act like this."

"Do I?" Rivern asked nonchalantly, then unnaturally rubbed the ring on his left index finger.

Miranda watched Rivern silently, not responding, just quietly taking out her notebook and writing something down.

"So, in the end, was the Enslaved Fiend saved?" Rivern asked, lowering his head, his eyes fixed on the ring. He seemed uninterested in the fate of the Enslaved Fiend, just asking casually.

Aurora returned to the log and shook her head regretfully. "No, it died."

"I see." Rivern lifted his head, gazing out the window. A hint of melancholy followed his gaze into the unknown distance.

"Three years after the Enslaved Fiend's death, Lord Nafal sent Krystiz to the opposite shore of the Black Jade Sea—to the continent of Angowalos to trace the demon," Aurora continued reading the log, still puzzled by many questions. "Why wait three years to send someone? And why send only Krystiz? No matter how strong she is..."

"She wasn't sent," Rivern interrupted Aurora. "She was exiled. That year, she repeatedly ignored the guild's rules, secretly accepting invitations from mercenary groups and earning a lot of money, then was reported by other priests. To quell the matter, Lord Nafal sent her away under the guise of a mission, forcing her to leave the Dawn Prayers and Northsail."

"Could that be why she didn't want to come back herself?" Aurora couldn't believe it. She turned to Miranda, seeking confirmation from her.

"Whether it's the true reason, I don't know. I only know," Miranda adjusted her glasses, "Rivern is right, that did happen. I didn't have a chance to tell you this in the dungeon in front of Shinya. Officially, Krystiz wasn't expelled, but she was 'effectively' exiled."

"But even though Krystiz was exiled, she didn't forget her duties as a holy priest," Rivern said, looking at the tainted Moonstone on the table, a comforting smile on his face. "She even crossed the Eternal Tundra, reached the barrier of Ellystara, and found this."

"This isn't a good sign. The dark forces might be gathering behind Ellystara. The Dawn Prayers will not sit idly by." Aurora fixed her gaze on Rivern, issuing her first deployment order since assuming the role of High Priestess. "Rivern Rybirths, I hereby appoint you to go to the werewolf kingdom of Togekaze and assist Krystiz in investigating this matter. Please maintain regular contact with us; we will send reinforcement troops."

Rivern was somewhat surprised, but seeing Aurora's solemn expression, he couldn't help but smile and agree, "Alright, Rivern Rybirths accepts the order. As long as you command, I am willing to go anywhere in the world for you. However, in return, you must smile and see me off." Saying this, he playfully poked Aurora's brow again, "At your young age, you shouldn't frown all the time."

Aurora felt her face flush, but she still argued, "I'm not that young anymore! Stop treating me like your Nicole."

"Yes, I understand," Rivern stood up, his earlier smile fading. "May I have a week to prepare for my departure? I'm a bit worried about Nicole. Shinya has arranged to meet her in Acorn Town, and I'm concerned she might actually go to see him."

"It's fine, I understand your concern," Aurora smiled. "Also, when you see Krystiz, tell her that the Dawn Prayers will always welcome her back."

Hearing this, Miranda was taken aback, "Lady Aurora, if you let her come back, Northsail will be in chaos again. I can't handle another Nevarus at the same time."

"Then you'll have to get used to it."

"I already receive enough complaint letters every day. If she comes back, won't the complaints double?"

Rivern laughed; having worked with these two notorious troublemakers, he fully understood Miranda's frustration.

But that was a matter for later. First, he needed to hurry back to see Nicole.

At this moment, he was fervently praying that Quigeta would keep his promise and watch over Nicole, preventing her from running off.

After bidding a brief farewell to the two, Rivern quickly departed.

Shortly after Rivern left, Miranda spoke up, "I know you trust him a lot and that you two are very close, but I think you should take a look at this."

Miranda placed a personnel file in front of Aurora, with Rivern's name prominently displayed on it.

Aurora glanced curiously at Miranda, "Why are you showing me this now? Is there a problem with Rivern's personal file?"

Miranda didn't say anything, just gestured for her to open the file.

Aurora opened the file, which contained Rivern's personal information:

[Name: Rivern Rybirths]

[Gender: Male]

[Date of Birth: July 4, 1230]

[Place of Birth: Northsail]

[Rank: Dawn Prayers, Low-Rank Priest]

[Summary: Recommended by High Priest Nafal Victor and joined the Dawn Prayers in 1249.]

Aurora finished reading the first page and asked, "So what are you trying to ask—he's been here for fifteen years and is still a low-rank priest? You know that Rivern..."

Before Aurora could finish, Miranda interrupted, "Turn the page and keep reading."

The second page was marked "Confidential," with a faint stamp of a "Sacred Scepter" emblem.

"Turn to the next page," Miranda urged.

Aurora turned to the third page, which contained only one line:

[Rivern Rybirths' Personal History:]

The rest of the page was blank.

At the bottom, the recommender's signature was a flowing script—[Nafal Victor].

"Turn the page again," Miranda reminded once more.

The fourth page was a notes page, containing only a single line of flowing script:

[The Goddess's forgiveness, granting him rebirth.]

It was indeed Nafal's handwriting, Aurora was certain of it.

As a series of information pieced together in her mind, she suddenly had a dreadful thought.

"Rivern joined the Dawn Prayers fifteen years ago, the same year as the Acorn Town incident, the year of the demon attack, the year Nicole's time was reset, and the year the Enslaved Fiend was captured."

Miranda voiced the dreadful thought that was in Aurora's mind, making the young High Priestess even more uneasy.

"No, this is just speculation, a coincidence," Aurora denied vehemently.

"Rivern Rybirths. Rybirths, Rebirth," Miranda extended her index finger, pointing at the line left by Nafal—[The Goddess's forgiveness, granting him rebirth.]

She tapped twice on the word "rebirth," emphasizing it. "What if the Enslaved Fiend didn't die?"

"...Miranda, do you know what you're suggesting?" Aurora closed the file, not lifting her head as she asked.