A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

"Ravenna, allow me to introduce you to Ms. Myron," said Ronger, presenting the elderly woman seated across from her.

"A reclusive master of the soul, she is a peer of Soren in the art of soul magic and a mentor of mine, entirely worthy of your trust."

Ravenna bowed her head in greeting to the venerable, white-haired lady before her: "Greetings, Ms. Myron."

"Heh… I never expected Ronger to seek my aid," chuckled the old sorceress, whose name Ravenna had never heard of and had clearly been in seclusion for some time.

"It must have been over thirty years since we last communicated."

Ronger, much like Ravenna, bowed her head in a mix of respect and embarrassment, "I've thought of reaching out to you several times, but I feared disturbing your asceticism. My apologies, mentor."

"There's no offense taken, merely curiosity... After your achievements, you've never troubled me. Whatever brings you here must be of great importance."

Myron's gaze rested upon Ravenna: "This young lady must be quite significant to you."

"Ravenna is the granddaughter of master Ziegler," Ronger replied with utmost seriousness, "and to me, she is of the utmost importance."

"...Ziegler, Eileen Ziegler?"

Myron paused, then spoke with deep sentiment, "So she is Eileen's granddaughter. I wondered why she seemed familiar."

Her smile grew more tender: "Well, this visit just became even more meaningful."

"Ms. Myron, what should I do?" asked Ravenna.

"There is no need for any action on your part; a brief wait will suffice."

Myron spoke with a gentle voice, and an intangible force brushed past Ravenna. The woman could sense a gaze sweeping over her soul, but the sensation was so faint—especially when compared to the soul magic used on her by a fifth-stage sorcerer at the Tower of Babel... It was akin to the casual glance of a passerby on the street.

"Hmm..."

After examining Ravenna's soul, Myron fell into contemplation. Ravenna remained expressionless, while Ronger appeared somewhat anxious.

"There's no grave issue to worry about, rest assured."

Seeing Ronger's nervous demeanor, Myron couldn't help but smile and say, "The soul has been dislodged from the body and forced into an unsuitable vessel for too long, resulting in some damage, which has indirectly affected your memory. A period of restorative tranquility should suffice.

If Ravenna doesn't mind, I can also assist directly in the repair, though it would inevitably involve glimpsing some of her memories."

Ronger exhaled in relief: "That is indeed most fortunate... We shall allow Ravenna to recuperate for a while; your assistance won't be necessary."

After learning of Ravenna's memory issues, both she and Hendrik were greatly alarmed. Sorcerers within the Tower of Babel with some expertise in souls had conducted examinations, arriving at conclusions consistent with Ms. Myron's. However, due to concerns that Soren might have other contingencies, they ultimately sought the intervention of this reclusive master of souls.

"...So," Ravenna said softly, touching her forehead, "my memory hasn't been tampered with, correct?"

"Why would you entertain such a notion?" Myron asked with mild surprise. "Has someone attempted such a thing on you? Was it Soren?"

"No, it's just..."

The petite woman, sitting with dignity, paused before responding, "It's just that the memory in question is of significant importance to me. I find its loss to be... too coincidental."

Over the past few years, Ravenna has consistently tread on thin ice, embodying caution at this moment. After all, it was too coincidental that just as Marlina had confided a secret to her, she could not recall the scene of her rift with Ansel, nor the profound reasons behind their parting ways.

"The cause is indeed merely an issue of the soul's adaptation, but to say that your soul was confined within such a puppet, so vastly different from your own flesh, and yet maintained its integrity to such an astonishing degree is remarkable."

Myron remarked, turning to glance at the lifeless puppet standing to the side. With a cursory look, she expressed her surprise, "Oh, you've enhanced this puppet, improving its soul's adaptability? Impressive craftsmanship."

Ravenna remained silent, for she was not the one who had improved the puppet, and the process of its enhancement… was something she could never forget in her lifetime.

Fortunately, the fragmentation of memory was merely a soul's issue with adapting to the body. Since rest was all that was needed for recovery, it was not a matter of great concern.

"By the way, during your convalescence, be mindful of certain things. As your soul recovers and readjusts to the body, memories you've forgotten may flash back intermittently."

Myron advised, tapping her temple. "This can be somewhat uncontrollable and quite distressing, so try to endure it as best as you can.

Also, given your unique circumstances, with your soul having been detached for an extended period and even somewhat accustomed to the puppet, there will be a phase of rejection and discomfort upon returning to your body, but these are normal phenomena and nothing to worry about."

Indeed, Ravenna had always felt a vague incompatibility between her body and soul, but this was also mentioned by the sorcerers of the Tower of Babel.

In summary, these conditions aligned with the conclusions drawn by other sorcerers at the Tower of Babel who had studied the soul. The lack of discrepancy was reassuring, allowing her to finally set her mind at ease.

"I appreciate your assistance, Ms. Myron," Ravenna said, bowing her head once more. "I apologize for disturbing your meditation."

Myron responded with a chuckle, "Whether it's Ronger's request or your identity as Eileen Ziegler's granddaughter, I have reasons to assist you. There's no need for such formality. If you have any issues, feel free to seek me out."

With a wave of her hand, her figure dissolved into an illusion and vanished from the room.

Extraordinary beings like Myron are rare; they belong to a group of extraordinary beings detached from worldly affairs. Some delve into the Sea of Wonders, while others reside in the Celestial Path mountains, seeking truth in their own ways within this vast world.

-->