Morning had already passed, and by late morning, the air was bathed in warm, bright sunlight. Occasionally, a solitary bird would spiral overhead, its crisp, melodious cry echoing across the tranquil courtyard.
"Daughter!"
Hidd's face changed drastically, panic and dread surging in his heart.
In recent years, Hidd had always felt troubled over how to raise his daughter.
His daughter Raindrop was simply too withdrawn. Whenever she saw a stranger, she was seized by fear, and almost never communicated with the outside world. Even with children her own age, Raindrop rarely played with them.
Yet...
With Andrew Han's arrival, Raindrop seemed to awaken to life.
Perhaps it was Andrew Han's unique presence, or perhaps there was some other hidden reason; in any case, the previously shut-in Raindrop was now happily skipping about. Hidd felt a bit dazed, but also glimpsed a sliver of hope.
Hidd didn't know if this was a sickness, but he believed it could be cured.
If this were Earth or Star-Sky, there would surely be treatment options. But here, on War-Armor Continent, life and death are not one's own to decide; danger is ever-present, and each year the Day of Catastrophe for All Beings brings the Nightfall Monsters, causing countless people to vanish into the darkness without a trace.
Such is the situation here.
Medical care is difficult to obtain and rarely advances.
Psychological treatments are even less developed.
Hidd didn't understand these things, but he didn't stop his daughter. He slowly let out a breath, watching Andrew Han with cautious eyes, afraid Raindrop might offend him. Quietly, he thought to himself: "Lord Andrew Han is truly broad-minded and kind."
He was deeply moved.
By contrast, the Giant Gale War Saint dared not move at all, obediently answering every question.
In fact, because Andrew Han was so direct in his actions, the Giant Gale War Saint's answers became even more precise. Facing a true god-like figure, he dared not conceal anything.
He recalled the features of the Ten Great Churches: "The Ten Great Churches are divided into the Flame Church, Holy Wind Church, Thunder Church, Holy Song Church... Each church's power is tied to its name. For example, the God's War King from the Thunder Church, after undergoing church baptism, wields the power of lightning between heaven and earth—a gift bestowed by the gods."
The War Kings named after the gods rival even peak War Saints.
Each church has at least a thousand God's War Kings.