After eliminating Josh, Dion dismissed his subordinates.
The dark chamber, once filled with oppressive tension, was now quiet, save for the faint flicker of torches lining the stone walls. The heavy scent of blood still hung in the air like a suffocating cloak. After a while, as the echoes of footsteps faded, one man remained.
Khazan approached, a hint of unease in his voice.
"What's your next move now, Master? Are you still going to try meeting the Saint?"
Dion sat back in his chair, tapping his fingers against the armrest.
"If the opportunity presents itself, we'll try again."
"But there's also another option if we could consider if we can't reach the current Saint."
Dion raised a brow on Khazan's words.
"You mean the next Saint?
"That would be trickier. Lilian Renos is kept completely hidden. Not even her face is known to the public, and no one outside the church knows where she's kept. The Pope made sure of it. The only information we have is about her family when she was still an ordinary lady."
Marquess Renos of the North. Their wealth is immeasurable, thanks to the countless mines they own. Had she not become the Saint, she would have inherited her family's fortune as the sole daughter.
"And even if we manage to get in contact with her, we can't guarantee she isn't on Julius' side. She did live inside the church since her awakening."
Dion said while he moved his head left and right indicating that his rejecting the idea.
"Then we have no choice but try to reach you mother first. There might be hope for her yet. And perhaps, we can ask a certain inside connection for help."
Dion's eyes narrowed.
"What are you talking about?"
"The priestess,"
Khazan replied and smirked.
"The one you mentioned before? The one who patched you up? You said she was an idiot who believed everything you said."
"I didn't say that,"
Dion replied, his voice low.
"Yes you did. Or maybe it was me. Either way, it doesn't matter. We can use her. All we need is to ask, without raising suspicion, how one might enter the Saint's room. After all, you're the only one among us who can walk inside the temple grounds without being instantly purified. A black entity like me and normal dark mages would be turned to dust or a paralyzed chicken the second we stepped foot there."
Dion looked away, the shadows playing across his sharp features.
Why can Dion enter the church without being destroyed by the sacred barrier? Simple. First, he was born within those walls, inside the temple, despite possessing a monstrous amount of black magic. Second, while the barrier still affects him, it can't completely purify his power. It would take days to months for it to drain him fully. Third, he had grown used to the pain. After years of his magic being slowly eaten away by holy forces, it barely bothered him anymore.
"So you mean we'll take advantage of her?"
Dion asked, hesitating for the first time.
"For our cause? Isn't it worth it?"
Khazan pressed.
"This is about ending the persecution of dark magicians. We can't afford to be soft."
"I'll think about it,"
Dion muttered.
He wasn't the type to hesitate when it came to reaching his goals. But this time, unexpectedly, a sliver of doubt crept in.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Time passed. A month went by since Lilian and Dion parted ways. In that time, Lia had thrown herself into intense training. On a sunny afternoon, she stood in the training grounds of the church, sparring under the watchful eye of Sir Arthur, former commander of the Paladin Templar, now the Saintess' instructor.
Despite her clothes being soaked with sweat, her beauty remained striking. Her hair was tied up, loose strands framing her flushed face, and her white linen shirt clung to her skin.
"That's enough for today, Your Holiness,"
Sir Arthur called, lowering his training sword.
"Yes, Sir Arthur,"
Lilian replied, bowing respectfully before heading toward the temple.
She walked through the quiet, marble halls, the stained glass windows casting soft colors onto the stone floor. Her muscles ached, but it was a familiar soreness now. The only thing on her mind was a hot bath and a clean change of clothes.
But her peace was short-lived.
A figure stood by the corridor wall near her room ,a presence she knew too well.
Jerald Derson. His face lit up the moment he saw her.
"Lia!"
he called, waving as he moved toward her with quick steps.
Lilian sighed inwardly, forcing a polite smile.
"What are you doing here, Your Eminence?"
"I came to congratulate you on your ceremony last week,"
he said eagerly.
"To become a High Priest. Too bad I couldn't attend. The Pope sent me off on some urgent matter."
Lilian didn't know that errand from the Pope was to search for Dionel.
"I understand you were busy, Your Eminence. But if you'll excuse me, I need to change. I'm a bit of a mess right now."
"Oh, right,"
Jerald laughed awkwardly, stepping aside.
Lilian walked past him, eager to escape, when his voice called out again.
"Wait- Lilian!"
She paused and turned.
"Is there something else you need?"
"I was wondering if you're free tomorrow. It's Sunday, so you don't have training. Would you… join me for tea?"
"I'm sorry,"
Lilian said gently.
"I was planning to spend tomorrow reading through the temple archives. I've fallen behind."
"I see… another time then,"
Jerald managed, masking his disappointment.
With a nod and a polite bow, Lilian continued down the hallway, her thoughts already elsewhere.