Temple Corridor.
The Saint, Psyche, sits on a bench next to the fountain.
Her platinum hair is braided to the side like a crown.
The imperial crest and the intricate embroidery of the saint adorn her silk robe, making her look like a goddess.
It wasn’t her usual simple outing attire.
This was the saint’s robe she wore only during important sacraments.
What she had to do now was very noble and sacred.
‘Hmm… It should be time for them to arrive…?’
She was waiting for two people, but right now, it was the little fox she was concerned about.
She figured that the saint’s blessing would wear off around this time, so she had to renew it for his sake.
Surely, they had promised to meet here when the moon was shining bright,
And he wasn’t just an animal; he was a human with human intelligence.
She had instructed Yeriel Artina to slip out through the window when she fell asleep.
But even though it was time, he was nowhere to be seen.
Soon, it would be time for her appointment with Aria, so she couldn’t wait any longer.
‘It’s not polite to go to the guest room at this hour…’
For a moment, she contemplated visiting Yeriel’s room, glancing at the empty corridor.
‘It can’t be anything to worry about, right…?’
*
On a pleasant autumn night, the gentle breeze blew.
– Hello, Yeriel.
At those words, Yeriel’s time froze.
“Ah…”
It was a sound she longed to hear.
It was definitely Lev.
With his striking gray hair and sharp eyes.
His obsidian-like gaze and chiseled jawline…
Even the pointed bridge of his nose matched perfectly with the Lev in her memories.
And those fierce lips, which had stolen her heart several times, opened once more.
“If you keep touching me like that, it tickles…”
“…”
Lev was bare-skinned.
Realizing that her hands were on his back, Yeriel tried to calm herself as best as she could.
“Yeah, it’s just a dream.”
Since it was a dream, she mustn’t let her emotions sway too much or she’d wake up.
So she had to stay composed.
There was so much to say.
What should she even start with…?
-…
Thinking of it left her speechless.
“Ugh…!”
Waves of emotion engulfed Yeriel.
And that wave turned into tears, flowing down her face.
-Swish.
Lev embraced her as she cried.
“I… I missed you, Lev… sniff.”
“Yeah.”
“Why… why did you show up now…?”
“I’m sorry.”
Even though she knew it was a dream, it felt so warm.
That’s why she kept acting like a child.
“Why didn’t you tell me this would happen? You promised…”
“I’m sorry.”
“Lev must have known everything, right…? During the selection test… how things would happen… that you would have to sacrifice yourself…”
“…”
“Lev, you’re terrible. Why do you keep trying to bear this alone…? sniff…”
“I’m sorry.”
“Do you have any idea how much I struggled…? It was so painful to think you were gone…”
“I’m sorry.”
As he persistently apologized for her complaints, an uneasy feeling crept into Yeriel.
Her mind was entangled with things she wanted to say,
But no matter how much it was just a dream, she couldn’t solely blame him.
“Sniff…! No, wait…! What I want to say is…”
“…”
“Lev… you’ve really suffered a lot until now, right…? Still… thank you for coming into my dream… I really really wanted to see you…”
“…Yeah.”
Yeriel gently entwined her fingers with Lev’s and whispered.
“Do you… remember the first day of the selection test? You told me you liked me.”
“…I remember.”
“I was so happy… It felt like I was as important to you as Aria…”
With trembling hands, she pulled Lev closer and held him tighter.
“It feels nice… Lev’s embrace is warm… I want to stay like this forever…”
“Yeriel.”
“Yeah…?”
When he murmured her name sadly, her anxiety escalated.
“…Yeriel.”
“Lev, are you… already leaving…?”
She began shaking her head vigorously within his arms.
“I… I don’t want that…! Just a little more, just a little longer… I still… feel insufficient… I need more…!”
“…”
“I like you… I liked you too… I mean it…”
“…”
“I don’t want to wake up from this dream… I want to keep sleeping… Lev. If you’re not here, I… It’s just… sniff it’s too hard…”
…
“…”
He struggled to find words.
What could he possibly say to this crying girl who sounded just like a child?
One thing was certain: he was the garbage here.
He had thought of this place as just a favorite game of his.
Realizing that he hadn’t treasured each individual’s feelings was his significant mistake.
While he wallowed in self-reproach,
-!
Yeriel cautiously lifted her gaze, her eyes filled with anxiety, and peeked at his face.
“…”
Then she buried her face back into his chest.
It felt like she was checking if he had really disappeared.
Her messy, pure white hair,
Her tear-stained eyelashes,
Her delicate ivory nightgown that matched her lovely face…
Even the subtle outline of her underwear revealing through it…
…was incredibly cute.
“I can’t go…”
“…”
“I’m not enough…”
What seduced him wasn’t just the intoxicating scent of her pheromones.
It was also her whispering voice, engaging all his senses.
-Drip.
At that moment, his sanity completely shattered.
*
While Psyche contemplated whether to visit Yeriel’s room,
Aria, in priestess robes, arrived at the meeting spot first.
“You’re here. Thank you for agreeing to my request.”
“Not at all, Saint Psyche.”
Putting Psyche’s worries aside,
-Wheeing…!
The two entered the second sanctuary in Hwangdo, currently a closed Divine Grand Park, via a driverless carriage.
“Please stop!”
A navy-haired guard, having halted the carriage, asked her.
“Saint…! What brings you here at this hour? I understood that purification work was scheduled for after sunrise.”
“It’s alright. I have something important to do beforehand.”
“Just a moment, and I’ll bring a knight to escort you!”
“Oh, that’s not necessary. I will go ahead. It’s dawn, so please take your time and lead me where I should go.”
“Ah, understood.”
Perhaps it was because he saw the saint’s face… the guard saluted a bit excitedly.
-Wheeing!
Thus, the carriage headed towards the dimly lit park, illuminated only by magic lights.
A sacred place where a pale, azure aura could be felt.
Aria cautiously asked Psyche.
“Saint, what’s this place…?”
“Well… the reason we’re here so early alone is that there’s something urgent I need to ask you about, Aria.”
Psyche often escaped alone to soothe the pains of many people, but today there was a special reason.
Seeing Aria’s curiosity, she continued softly.
“First of all, you must have heard about the state of the sanctuary in Hwangdo.”
“Yes. I learned that one side’s heart has weakened.”
“That’s correct. I’ve been assigned the task of restoring the sanctuary as a top priority for the stability of the empire. But I’m not as powerful as I used to be.”
Aria understood right away.
“You want me to lend you my strength…”
Indeed, she could share her power with her.
Psyche smiled faintly.
“I don’t want to burden you, but the people of the empire are hoping for my return… for the heart of the Divine to beat again.”
In other words, it was the unspoken expectation and pressure from the empire.
While Edwin, Yeriel, and Aria had an awarding ceremony scheduled for the afternoon,
Saint Psyche had the task of restoring the sanctuary all day starting in the morning.
“But, with my weakened state, I cannot restore the sanctuary. If I show myself like this, the empire will once again fall into unease.”
Psyche took both of Aria’s hands in hers, asking for her help.
“Therefore, I am shamelessly asking you directly. Could you assist me with the preliminary work?”
“Saint Psyche…! You don’t have to bow your head to me!”
“I’m sorry.”
As Aria tried to stop her, Psyche continued to apologize with sad eyes.
“If it becomes known that Aria has a power similar to mine… you won’t be able to maintain your current life.”
“Saint Psyche…”
That was why she had to come here so early.
“I’ve seen everything about Aria’s past. From losing her parents to the demon, to your pledge for revenge… It must have been very hard for you. Even so, do you still want to become a saint…?”
“…I’m not sure.”
Psyche gently hugged Aria.
“I’m on your side, Aria. If you want my power, I will gladly give you everything and leave.”
“Saint Psyche…!”
“But, I won’t force you. You are precious in your own right.”
Aria couldn’t understand why Psyche’s power was bestowed upon her.
‘I don’t deserve it…’
Thinking about it, at that moment, all Aria could think about was Lev Denec, and nothing else.
“I… I killed someone I loved…”
“Aria…”
At that moment, Psyche remembered a scene she had witnessed of Aria.
It was the moment she defeated something engulfed by the Great Demon’s magic.
‘Could it be him…?’
That was the last memory before Psyche became a saint regarding Aria.
“But I don’t understand why your power was passed to me at that moment…”
“Don’t say that.”
“I definitely don’t have the right to be like you, Saint…!”
Just then…
-Shwooooooosh!!!
“What is…?”
In an instant, the park lit up as if a sacred magic was being cast,
and a pale blue light began to envelop everything around.
Psyche smiled and took Aria’s hand.
“Look, Aria, isn’t it beautiful?”
“…Yeah…”
It was the light indicating that the saint had fully returned.
-Shwooooooosh!!!!
At the same time, the pain that had lingered in Aria’s entire being… slowly began to fade.
In fact, the pain was a consequence of enduring Markosias’s minions and purifying Yeriel’s Tarchangel transformation,
but she thought of it as penance for Lev and never let it show.
All her muddled healing magic, divine magic, and surveillance magic…
Everything returned to its normal state along with Psyche’s words.
“Don’t blame yourself. Aria has been chosen.”
“…”
Whether she liked demons or not…
Psyche believed firmly in Aria.
“Now, since it’s a bright full moon… it’s the right time…”
The fact that this sanctuary was shining was proof of that.
-…
If she fully transferred her powers to this pure girl, Psyche would fall into eternal slumber within a week.
But she didn’t mind.
If this sparkling child became the saint’s successor, she would certainly manage it even better than herself.
“Aria. Is it alright if you become the saint after me?”
Just then, when Psyche asked Aria warmly,
-Pipit.
-!
A nearly silent magic struck behind Psyche.
-■■■■■■■■■■■■■■!
“Saint Psyche…?”
And it was very violently.
