Chapter 292: Holy Tide, Marriage

Although Aipusi had clearly handed the position of Lord to Niya, Anbulier still addressed him as Lord, "Lord, I wonder if there is anything else you need to instruct me on, now that you have kept me here?"

"Bishop Anbulier, is it possible to move the Holy Water distribution event from the evening to the daytime?" Aipusi asked.

He was very worried that he would die from the curse before evening arrived; in other words, every minute and every second he spent outside now was at the risk of the curse flaring up at any moment.

But in order to make Niya's path forward easier, he was willing to do this.

Distributing Holy Water was actually done by the Lord and the Temple Bishop together, and he wanted to see with his own eyes Niya taking his place to distribute Holy Water to the territory's people.

This was also Niya's first official event after becoming Lord; although Niya had represented the Lord to a large extent before, that was only as an heir, not as the true Lord.

Aipusi's request caused Bishop Anbulier to hesitate for a moment; he wanted to agree, but the words slipped back when they reached his lips. He closed his eyes to pray for a moment before saying:

"Lord, if it is requested by Lord Niya, it can be done!"

This kind of behavior that violated tradition would already be considered a violation of the Doctrine without a formal order from the official Lord. Although Anbulier wanted to agree due to past habits, his Faith ultimately gained the upper hand.

"Good! Go and make the arrangements!"

"My Lord, there is one more problem. The celebration is only halfway through, and the Holy Tide is insufficient; there may be much less Holy Water than in previous years."

The "Holy Tide" in Bishop Anbulier's words was actually the Holy Power bestowed by the Lord of Radiance. The Holy Power bestowed during the annual Midsummer Festival was the greatest, resembling a tide.

Holy Power + Positive Energy + pure water equals Holy Water.

If the Holy Tide is insufficient, the Clerics' own Holy Power can be used as a substitute, but the Holy Power a Cleric can obtain each day is extremely limited and cannot make up for the lack of the Holy Tide.

Furthermore, Clerics must always reserve a certain amount of Holy Power to use for other things; it is impossible to use it all to make Holy Water.

"Go by the actual situation; whatever amount there is, that's what we'll have!"

It was impossible for everyone to receive Holy Water during the distribution anyway; even what the Lord and the Bishop distributed were only a few representatives, while everyone else was handled by Temple personnel.

Otherwise, the Lord and the Bishop would have nothing else to do and would spend the entire night distributing Holy Water.

Soon, the three of them—Aipusi, Niya, and Anbulier—finalized all the details, and finally, Anbulier asked Niya for a formal order before leaving to make preparations.

Inside this Town Hall meeting room, only the father and daughter, Aipusi and Niya, remained.

"Father, you don't need to do this!"

"This is all I can do for you. While Bishop Anbulier is preparing, I still have some things to instruct you on."

"Father, please speak." Niya's tears fell again.

"After the celebration ends, go to Seventon and meet Archmage Greta and Archmage Olong. You don't need to say anything; just meeting them is enough. In case there is a great crisis in the future, take the Plane Crystal to find them and beg Her Highness the Princess for help."

At this moment, Aipusi's worry for his daughter finally overwhelmed his expectations for his Great Arcanist grandfather, and Niya could also hear her father's love in these words.

"Father, I have noted it all down."

"Also, regarding Xia Duo, you do not need to vent your anger on him. The decision to explore the Mythallar was one I made myself. Additionally, the matters involving the Pioneer title are very complex; do not let yourself be used by others. Later, there may be news coming from Her Highness the Princess; no matter what it is, respond immediately."

Aipusi saw things very clearly. The greatest backing for the Savile Territory now was not his grandfather, whose life or death was still unknown, nor his grandfather's fellow disciples or teachers, but Her Highness the Princess, with whom they had previously had no connection.

He knew that Her Highness the Princess must have a very complex and far-reaching plan, and the Pioneer title was only one part of it. She would need the Savile Territory in the future, but precisely because of this, leaning toward Her Highness the Princess was more reliable.

One reason is that the Princess's reputation is very good; another is that being needed means one will not be easily abandoned. In other words, there is a guarantee!

Therefore, Xia Duo, this Pioneer, cannot be touched. Not only can he not be touched, but a good relationship must be maintained with him.

The current Tower of Time is on Xia Duo's territory, and it cannot be moved for a short time, but one cannot guarantee that outsiders won't have designs on this.

Previously, Archmage Olong had warned Aipusi that someone was plotting against the Savile Territory, wanting to occupy this essential trade route from the Empire's Core Area to the border city of Konnifila.

The Tower of Time, currently located in Daxia Territory, might be a breakthrough point.

There was also another possible breakthrough point. Thinking of this, Aipusi looked at Niya. Female Lords were not uncommon in Netheril.

But there had never been an unmarried female Lord without powerful strength. If he could live for a few more years, he could calmly arrange Niya's marriage.

But now—

"Niya, do you have someone you admire?" Aipusi did not shy away from his intentions. If he could not arrange Niya's marriage before he died, he would not be able to rest in peace.

Entering the Stasis Chamber did not necessarily mean death, but Aipusi had already completely treated it as a situation where he would not survive to arrange his affairs.

Suddenly asked such a question, Niya was stunned. Although she had known for a long time that she would eventually find someone to continue the family's legacy, she was not yet prepared.

"Father, you, how could you suddenly ask such a question?"

"Sigh—"

Aipusi sighed. In fact, he had started preparing when Niya was very young, but some candidates had not been able to stay in the Savile Territory, and now only one remained whom he was relatively satisfied with.

"Niya, what do you think of Leonard?"

Leonard was his Apprentice, an 8th-level Mage, only a few years older than Niya, and had joined the Tower of Time very early. His family background was also very simple; his parents were both ordinary farmers in the territory.

Aipusi did not mind his background; on the contrary, he deliberately chose people with simple backgrounds to include on his list for consideration. Niya's mother was also just an ordinary farm girl.

Compared to background, Aipusi valued personal ability and character more. In this regard, Leonard was relatively outstanding.

Additionally, there was another candidate, but the observation time had been short, and due to some reasons, Aipusi felt that Niya would find it difficult to accept, so he did not mention it.

"Leonard?"

"Yes! My Apprentice Leonard, what do you think of him?"

"Leonard is an upright person, but sometimes he is also very cold. Does Father hope he will become your daughter's husband?" Niya asked in return.

"No, Niya, I will not make the decision for you, but if you remain unmarried, the territory will be unstable; if the territory is unstable, the Tower of Time will also be unstable, and the Savile Family will perish."

Although it was a bit exaggerated to link the survival of the family with his daughter's marriage, the reality was not far off.

Niya's marriage was no longer a personal matter for her. Rather than having outsiders swallow up the territory and the Mage Tower through marriage alliances, it would be better to choose an ordinary person within the territory.

Aipusi had done the same back then; because female Spellcasters were rare, the candidates his father gave him did not even include Spellcasters, only ordinary people.

The Savile Family inherited Knowledge and the Tower of Time, so what was needed most was stability, not some powerful marriage alliance partner.