Sacred Art of the Saintess.
“I made a mistake… a very huge mistake!”
Emilia thought, pacing frantically back and forth in her room, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and her hands gripping her long white dress as she fidgeted nervously.
Her mind raced, the weight of her decision pressing down on her.
‘What should I do? What should I do?!’
It had been a few hours since her little “grand tour” with Riley and her friends, and now she was back in her room, completely consumed by worry.
Sure, her intentions had been
pure-she had acted in a rush, inviting Riley to her room for his safety, but still from their perspective… she had suddenly invited a random young man into her private quarters!
That thought alone made her heart skip erratically.
‘What will they think?!’
Anna and Amon.
She had kept them in the dark about the real reason for tonight’s meeting, leaving them with only half-truths about what was going on.
‘They’ll surely inform Grandpa about this…’
Her heart pounded faster as her imagination spun out of control, picturing the storm her overprotective grandfather would unleash once he caught wind of her actions.
He was always so careful about her reputation, especially when it came to matters like this—matters involving young
men.
The image of him discovering that she had invited Riley, of all people, to her room, unsupervised, made her stomach twist into
knots.
The very idea was enough to send shivers down her spine.
‘I’m done for…’ she groaned, burying her face in her hands. ‘He’ll probably storm the academy himself!’
She had already tried to smooth things
over with Anna and Amon, begging them to keep quiet about everything that was about to happen tonight.
the
But the more she thought about it, more she realized how impossible that
request had been.
Anna, always dutiful and serious, would never stay silent if she thought Emilia’s safety was at risk.
And Amon, despite his more laid-back
attitude, was just as fiercely protective.
‘There’s no way they’ll keep this a secret…
Not from him.’
Sighing to herself, Emilia pushed aside her mounting worries for now, wiping the sweat from her brow.
The dim glow of the room flickered against
the intricate symbols she had painstakingly etched onto the floor, her focus never
wavering as she examined the magic circle in front of her.
“This should be enough, right?” she
whispered to herself, her voice trembling slightly, though she tried to stay calm.
The magic circle was complex, carefully drawn with the precision she had been taught as a young apprentice in the Holy Kingdom.
A faint golden shimmer resonated within its lines, humming with latent divine
power.
The blood that had dripped from her palm
-her own-was slowly drawn back into her body, pulled by the gentle glow of healing magic.
A soft light mended the small cut she had inflicted on herself.
[Luminous Cleanse]
It was one of the most sacred spells known
to the clergy of the Holy Kingdom, a spell of divine properties that only the highest-ranking members of the church could perform.
A spell so powerful, it could cleanse away
any form of darkness or evil lurking within a person’s soul.
And here, within the privacy of her dorm
room at the academy, she was about to use it on Riley.
The thought made her stomach twist with
nerves, but she knew she had no other
choice.
The spell she was about to perform was not
an ordinary one. Luminous Cleanse was
dangerous.
It used the blood of the caster as a catalyst and required their unwavering faith in the Goddess of Light as its source of power.
It was also the number one spell used by the Inquisitors of the Holy Church of Light
—a sacred tool to torture and purify
heretics, cleansing them of their sins through excruciating pain.
Emilia swallowed hard; her throat dry.
‘I’ll… I’ll make sure it’s okay.’
‘It won’t kill him like it would the other
heretics touched by the darkness, but… It’s still going to hurt… I think?’
Riley wasn’t like the heretics the church
often dealt with.
His soul wasn’t drenched in darkness, and
his heart wasn’t fully corrupted by evil-or so she hoped.
But even with that reassurance, she
couldn’t ignore the fact that Luminous Cleanse was not a gentle spell. The ritual was harsh, its effects painful,
especially when it came to purging something hidden deep within. The moment Emilia first sensed the
darkness within Riley, there was only one conclusion that came to her mind- purification.
It was her duty as the Saintess to cleanse
him, not just physically but spiritually.
The darkness, though subtle and well-hidden, radiated in a way that sent a chill through her soul.
She looked at the spell’s engraving one
more time getting more nervous as time passed…
This was no ordinary [Luminous Cleanse]
spell.
It was rushed-far too rushed for her liking. Normally, something as powerful as [Luminous Cleanse] would require days of preparation: prayers, fasting, and channeling divine energy into the sacred
circle over time.
The
process
would be meticulous, slow, but ultimately perfect. But this time, Emilia didn’t have that
luxury. Time was running out.
Even so, she poured everything she had
into it.
The magic circle, though hastily drawn, was still strong.
Her blood, infused with divine purity, served as the catalyst, binding the spell with an intensity that few could rival.
Her connection to the Goddess—deep, unwavering—ensured that the spell’s power would be potent enough to cleanse
whatever dark force was plaguing Riley. But despite her confidence in her magic, a nagging worry clung to the back of her
mind.
She had enlisted the help of Anna and Amon, her most trusted companions, asking them to offer their prayers to
strengthen the ritual before they went to greet Riley.
Their faith, combined with hers, should have provided enough divine energy to fuel the purification. Still, as she stood alone now in the quiet room, staring at the softly glowing magic circle, doubt gnawed at her. Was it enough?
No matter how much divine energy she
infused into the spell, no matter how fervently she prayed, Emilia couldn’t
shake
the fear that Riley might suffer more than she anticipated.
The darkness within him might be too
deeply rooted, too resistant. And the thought of him enduring unimaginable pain made her chest tighten with guilt.
Reina’s face flashed in her mind, her warm
smile, her kind eyes.
They hadn’t known each other for long, but
in that short time, Emilia had grown to cherish her deeply.
Reina was someone special, someone who
brought light and joy into her life, and the
last thing Emilia wanted was to hurt someone who meant so much to her.
‘If something happens to him…’ Emilia’s expression darkened, her heart heavy with
worry. ‘Reina would surely hate me…’ Even though her duty as a Saintess demanded that she cleanse any darkness
she encountered, it didn’t mean she wanted to bring pain to her friends.
There was also the unsettling reality that Emilia’s true identity—as someone deeply connected to the Church-was supposed to remain a secret during her stay at the academy.
It had been drilled into her from the
moment she arrived: No one must know.
Not even the closest of her companions, let
alone someone like Riley, who was only beginning to step into her world. secrecy wouldn’t last once she used her magic on him.
But that
Riley was bound to notice the divinity
behind it.
He hadn’t questioned much so far-accepting her vague explanations, following her requests without prying too deeply-but that was only because he
hadn’t seen her true abilities in action yet.
‘He would get suspicious.’ ‘Should I put my trust in Senior Riley?’
Reina was a good girl.
That much she knew.
Reina’s kindness, her warmth, had
convinced Emilia early on that she could be trusted.
And if Reina was trustworthy, didn’t that
mean her brother was as well? Surely, they shared the same values.
Couldn’t she trust Riley, too? After all, he
hadn’t given her any reason to doubt him
so far.
Her connection to the Church was no small
secret. If that were to be revealed, it would change everything.
The academy was already a complicated environment, full of politics, alliances, and
power struggles.
Revealing her identity would put her at the
center of a storm she wasn’t ready to face. Could she risk it? Could she risk her mission, her position, for the sake of trust?
The answer, deep down, was an obvious
no.
Emilia couldn’t afford to place her complete trust in Riley—not yet, at least.
He was unknown to her for now.
But that didn’t mean she couldn’t take any
chances.
Emilia sighed, shaking her head as she mulled over her options.
There were other ways to ensure Riley
wouldn’t expose her, even if he did grow suspicious. Methods she wasn’t proud of, but methods nonetheless.
‘I’ll just decide once I get to know him better…’
Riley was coming to her room tonight, and
they would have time to talk.
Time to understand each other.
She could gauge his intentions, his character, and maybe—just maybe-she would find a reason to trust him fully.
After what felt like hours of anxious pacing and silent prayers, Emilia finally sensed
Riley’s presence outside the door.
Her heart gave a nervous flutter, the
unease that had been simmering inside her
now spiking to new heights. Taking a final glance at the magic circle
glowing faintly on the floor, she wondered -was it really enough?
She had already gone over it so many
times, checking every detail, thinking of
ways to enhance it.
But it still didn’t feel like enough.
Doubts crept in, whispering that maybe
she could’ve done more—prayed harder, drawn the circle with more precision, or
added another layer of protection. But there wasn’t time for second-guessing
anymore.
With a sigh, Emilia made a decision.
If she couldn’t improve the quality of the
spell any further, she would bolster its
divine strength by infusing more faith into
it.
Her eyes closed once again as she clasped her hands together in silent prayer.
Her
energy
flowed into the circle like a
gentle stream, steadily siphoning off the from within her soul.
power
Every drop of faith, every fragment of
divine connection to the Goddess, she
channeled it directly into the circle. The light from the spell intensified, the
once soft glow now gleaming with a
brilliance that filled the room.
Emilia opened her eyes, feeling
light-headed but satisfied. She had pushed
her limits as far as she could, and now it
was done.
“Alright… it’s done!”
The circle radiated purity, casting a warm,
holy glow that comforted her for a
moment.
Though she hadn’t increased the complexity of the spell, the sheer quantity
of divinity within it was bound to offset any
of the potential risks Riley might face.
Wiping the sweat from her forehead once
more, she could feel her strength waning
slightly after all the effort she had poured
into the preparations.
But now wasn’t the time to rest-Riley was
still
waiting.
She’d kept him outside for far too long already. Emilia
quickly smoothed her clothes, trying to regain her composure,
and made her way
to
the door.
“Y-You can enter now, Senior R-Riley…
Sorry for the wait,” she called, her voice
wavering with a mix of nervousness and anticipation.
As the door creaked open, she saw Riley,
his expression as calm and collected as
always.
Emilia breathed a quiet sigh of relief when
she saw that he didn’t seem agitated or
impatient, despite how long she had made
him wait.
‘Ah, that’s right, I forgot to change… Do I
stink?’
Emilia’s mind raced as she suddenly
realized the state she was in.
She had been so caught up in preparing
everything, rushing to finish the magic
circle and fortifying the spell, that she hadn’t even thought about her appearance.
A slight wave of panic hit her. She was a bit
dirtier than she liked-her clothes rumpled,
her hair slightly disheveled from all the
frantic work.
She briefly considered changing before
facing Riley directly, but that would mean making him wait even longer.
Could she really afford that?
He had already been waiting for quite some
time, and making him wait more might only
make things more awkward.
But then, a sense of confidence began to
settle
in.
Emilia reminded herself that she
blessed by the Goddess,
pure
was
in
both body
and soul. Surely, there was no need for her
to worry
about something so trivial.
Despite her loose appearance, there was
nothing wrong with her-she was the
saintess, after all.
If anyone was clean, it would be her.
Still… a small voice of doubt crept into her
mind.
This was the first time she had invited a boy into her room.
Her brain betrayed her with thoughts she
hadn’t prepared for.
Was she really okay like this?
As the
thoughts spiraled, she heard the soft
click of the door closing behind Riley. That
sound hit her like a shockwave of
realization.
A boy, someone she hardly knew beyond
their shared interactions, had just entered
her room.
At night.
And they were completely alone.
Thump!
Her heart beat rapidly in her chest, cheeks flushing red as the situation dawned on her with full force.
The initial worries she had tried to
suppress returned in a flood, amplifying
the already intense nervousness she felt.
In a desperate attempt to shift her focus and quiet her overactive thoughts, Emilia
latched onto the first thing that came to mind-changing the subject.
“Did something happen outside?”
“No, nothing.”
“I-I see…” Emilia replied, cursing herself for
sounding so flustered. She quickly tried to
regain her composure, forcing herself to
calm down. “A-anyway, w-welcome,
Senior. I know everything looks a bit weird
right now, but trust me,
every
little thing
has a
purpose.”
She smiled awkwardly, trying her best to
project
confidence. But deep down, her
thoughts were still a mess.
Emilia took a deep breath, reminding
herself of her purpose.
This wasn’t just any ordinary night.
She had something important to
do-something that, if done right, would
purify the darkness she had sensed within
Riley. She couldn’t let her personal worries
get in
the
way of that.
“I hope you’re not uncomfortable…” she
said softly, her gaze darting between Riley
and the magic circle glowing faintly on the
floor.
Her heart still beat a little too fast, but she
tried to reassure herself with every passing
second.
Riley, of course, remained unfazed, as
though the situation didn’t affect him in
the slightest.
As much as she wanted to hide her sudden nervousness, there was no way Emilia
could fully conceal it.
Lying had never been her forte, and her
trembling hands were a dead giveaway.
She cursed herself silently for being so
easily overwhelmed, but nothing could
quell the torrent of thoughts racing
through her mind.
Riley
stepped closer into the room, and
with every inch, her worries seemed to
grow even more insistent.
He maintained his calm expression, but
something about the curiosity in his
eyes
made Emilia feel exposed, vulnerable—like
a mouse trapped under the gaze of a cat.
There was a certain sharpness in the
he observed everything, as if he were
quietly
way
analyzing the situation, preparing
to pounce.
A shiver ran down her spine.
The thought, unbidden and unwelcome,
surged forward—if Riley really wanted to…
if he
really decided to push himself on her,
she wouldn’t be able to resist.
He was taller, stronger, and far more
composed than she was at that moment.
He could easily overpower her, rip off her
clothes, pin her to the floor, and… Take her
purity.
Her face
turned crimson as her thoughts
spiraled out of control.
‘No, no, no! What disgusting things are you
thinking, Emilia?!’
She shook her head hard, desperately
trying to dispel the inappropriate fantasies invaded her mind.
that had
Her heartbeat
thumped loudly in her chest,
louder than she liked, and she felt the heat
rise to her cheeks in embarrassment.
Smoke
might as well have been coming out
of her ears, she was so flustered.
The mere idea of such things happening
with
Riley-the boy standing quietly in
front of her, patiently waiting-was too
much.
When she finally dared to look up, Riley
was glancing around her room with mild
curiosity, completely unaware of the inner
chaos brewing in her head.
She knew she needed to
say
something,
anything, to break the silence that
threatened to suffocate her.
Her voice wavered, barely managing to
mask her anxiousness as she called out to
him.
“S-Senior R-Riley, sir!” she stammered, her
words coming out faster than she intended. “I-I know you’re probably
wondering why I asked you to come here
so suddenly, and, well, I’m very thankful
that
you agreed without any
hesitation…
b-but before I explain everything, I-I need
to ask one more thing of you…’
As the spell involved physical application of
his body she needed to inform him of that
fact at least.
“Go ahead,”
Emilia swallowed hard. Her palms were
sweaty, her fingers trembling slightly as
she gripped the edges of her dress.
“S-Senior Riley… P-please take off your
clothes…”
||
The room went dead silent.
Her heart skipped a beat the moment the
words left her lips, and she wished more
than anything to take them back, but it was
too late.
Riley blinked, his face a mix of surprise and
amusement, as though he were trying to
process whether he had
correctly.
heard her
For Emilia, it felt as though time had come
to a standstill.
Her entire body was screaming in
embarrassment.
Why, why, why had she said it like that?!
“I-I mean, it’s not like that! I just need to
perform a purification spell, and
your
clothes, u-um… b-because they might get
in the way!?”
Her face burned bright red as she stumbled
over her explanation, unable to meet
Riley’s
gaze..
