Saint Cecilia's Special Confession ♥ (1)
"Goddess, please hear the prayer of your humble servant..."
As the cursed power of demonic energy—thick enough to blind even the eyes of gods—grew denser, she felt her connection to the Goddess Lumina fading.
Her long, shimmering white hair undulated like waves in the air, intertwined with golden divine power. Filled with holy energy, the saint offered her prayer to her lord.
"Almighty Goddess Lumina, merciful Lord of Light, where are You...?"
Tears streamed down her face as she prayed, her anxiety palpable. From the day she had been chosen by Lumina, she had lived a life constantly linked to her goddess through extraordinary divine power. Always, without fail, every single day. No matter what she did, she had been certain her Lord was with her, feeling the goddess's presence with every fiber of her being.
And so, in this cursed land where the goddess's divinity felt absent, she was gripped by profound unease. A life without the goddess's gaze, moments where she couldn't affirm her Lord's existence...
"I know that those who believe without seeing are the most blessed, but this servant is so weak, my Lord..."
The divine power gathered in her clasped hands transformed into a beam of light, a golden ray shooting toward the heavens. Like a spear piercing the veil, the light—empowered by immense holy energy—temporarily shattered the demonic barrier. In the murky sky shrouded by thick purple mist-like demonic energy, a pathway to commune with the gods opened.
Thanks to her channeling divine power to drive back the demonic energy, even if just for a moment, the connection to the goddess was established.
"My child, why do you fear? Why have you foolishly wasted the divinity I granted you?"
Responding to her devotee's call, the goddess rebuked her slow-witted follower in a stern voice.
"Ah...! Goddess...!"
Saint Cecilia clung to the goddess who had answered her, her expression on the verge of collapse.
"My little lamp, Cecilia, have you doubted again? Felt anxious once more?"
"No, no, Goddess! It's just... I was so anxious..."
The goddess's light enveloped her. A bright halo warmly embraced her. Held gently in the goddess's light, Cecilia—trembling like a rain-soaked puppy in her anxiety—sobbed as she confessed her sins to the goddess.
"My faith is so weak... Because I can't feel You, I... *sniff*... I'm just so scared..."
"If you do not advance, this cursed land that blocks my will shall spread even further."
Goddess Lumina stroked and comforted her saint while gently admonishing her.
"Cecilia, my dear child, is that truly alright with you?"
"No, it isn't! My Lord...! Absolutely not...!"
The goddess felt deep pity for her beloved servant trembling in fear.
"My child, Cecilia, I shall be with you."
To her anxious saint, her most cherished devotee, Lumina bestowed a pillar of faith.
"Receive this, Cecilia."
"Goddess Lumina, this is...!"
From the rent sky descended a gem sparkling with seven colors of light. The gem, which pierced the demonic energy to reach her, emanated the presence of Goddess Lumina.
"It is a holy relic containing a fragment of my divinity. Proof that I am always with you—worry no more."
Even in the deepest parts of this cursed land where connections to the gods were completely severed, the goddess had shared the source of her divine power so her saint could wield it freely.
"Ah... Goddess Lumina...!"
Clutching the relic tightly in her hands, she offered her gratitude to the goddess. Lumina replied with a benevolent smile.
"Do you remember the command I gave you?"
"Yes, I do. To journey with the heroes, free them from sin..."
"Indeed. Be their lamp, guide them to the path of true faith. Make them the sword of Lumina, lead them to embrace the righteous creed."
"Understood. As Your servant and saint, I shall fulfill my role."
As the goddess's words ended, the divine power's rift in the demonic energy began to roil once more, blocking the connection to the divine.
"Proclaim my name across the lands, I look forward■ to seeing you again■, my ■ Cecilia■■"
The demonic energy surged again, shaking the connection. The sky, split by divine power, was once more cloaked in ominous purple, and the goddess's voice faded.
But the saint, now bestowed with the relic, had faith unshaken.
Even as the single ray of light that had pierced the demonic veil vanished and the goddess's voice fell silent once more, Cecilia no longer trembled in fear.
"My Savior is with me..."
Though she could no longer hear that voice, the proof of the goddess's presence with her—a fragment of the divine—rested heavily in her hand, bolstering her resolve. Her expression full of emotion, she stroked the relic repeatedly, no trace of fear in her touch.
Even knowing she would venture deeper into the cursed land, beyond any chance of communing with the goddess, she could now be bold.
"Goddess, thank You..."
To think the goddess would grant such a gift to a pathetic saint tormented by the fear of her absence... To repay Lumina's benevolence, she gripped the gem tightly and vowed.
Her gaze turned toward where the other heroes rested.
"Goddess, as You will, I shall lead them into Your embrace."
"It's done."
"Whoa, really! It doesn't hurt at all! Saintess!"
The wound from battling a monster healed in an instant upon touching the golden glow emanating from her hand. The elf hero poked at the formerly injured spot in wonder, and the saint seized the chance for proselytizing.
"Hehe, it's all thanks to the goddess's grace, Sister Estelle? Today, perhaps the words of our Lord..."
"Nah, no thanks! Healing's all done, right? Then I'm out!"
Confirming the wound gone, the elf girl with cute twintails darted straight back to her sister's side.
"Estelle, you should at least thank the saintess."
Her sister Lora gently scolded her.
"Tch, Sis Lora, you were about to give another weird sermon!"
"She was just inviting you, and after receiving healing, you should give thanks, Estelle."
"Ugh, fine, Sis!"
The elf archer Estelle, unable to defy her sister Lora—who smiled with thin, crescent eyes—shuffled over and hurriedly expressed her gratitude.
"Th-thanks! Saintess. For the healing..."
"Hehe, it's fine. It's only natural. More importantly, if you have time, perhaps tea while we discuss the Lord's grace..."
"No, really, I'm good!"
Estelle frantically waved her hands and hid behind Lora.
"...Yes, well... nothing to be done."
Another failure today...'
The heroes all had strong egos, making it hard to spread the faith. Her invitation to the General had been ignored, and her overtures to the elf sisters repeatedly rebuffed. Cecilia had tried many times to share true faith with the heroes, but their responses were always cold.
'At least the merchant leader listens...'
The only positive response had come from Roys Chapel, leader of the Luna Merchant Guild. As she sighed and prayed, a knock came at her door.
Opening it, Roys greeted her warmly, tail wagging.
"Saintess! Hello!"
"Hehe, hello, Roys. What brings you? Perhaps a question about the goddess...?"
"Hehe, not quite, but I have good news."
Responsible for the party's supplies, she beamed with a bright smile, sharing welcome tidings for those on a quest to subjugate the Demon King.
"They're proposing to reunite the party into one...?"
"Yes, it was their initiative. With the Demon King's Castle right before us, having the party split offers no advantages."
"Th-that's good news, but... what about the party's conflicts?"
Undeniably, unity was better than division. But hadn't they split precisely because of irreconcilable conflicts?
As if anticipating her doubt, Roys sipped her tea and replied.
"Hehe, the other party made major concessions. Tower Lord? Princess?"
At her call, Irina Belnova the Blue Tower Lord and Princess Elahe entered promptly, as if waiting outside.
"These two wish to apologize for their past rudeness."
"S-sorry. Saintess. I won't deny there's a being more noble than goddesses anymore."
Elahe bashfully apologized for denying the goddess.
More surprising than the princess's change was the Blue Tower Lord's.
"I'm sorry, Saintess. I was too harsh. Speaking arrogantly from unproven hypotheses..."
She, who had seemed like a mad magic-obsessed recluse with an emotionless face, now apologized politely.
"...Your claim that the goddess is an unproven mana lifeform..."
"Ugh, enough. It's embarrassing. I was so arrogant then. Why did I act so presumptuously on unverified theory..."
She fanned her flushed face, thoroughly abashed.
"I'm sorry. Now I know there are great phenomena beyond magic's explanation. I formally apologize here."
Irina Belnova removed her hat and bowed deeply. Had her brush with death in the cursed land brought enlightenment? She showed markedly improved social graces.
"...I accept your apology. Rise."
Though displeased by their past blasphemy, Cecilia accepted, considering their sincerity in yielding first.
'Issues remain. Even if my relations with them improve, what of the General and Amelie?'
"E-even if you two are fine, what about Knight Amelie...?"
"Ah, Amelie already agreed. For a nobler cause, she can sacrifice the small."
Anticipating the question, Roys answered swiftly.
"We all agreed. Our petty conflicts shouldn't let the continent's people suffer, right?"
The tower lord and princess nodded, lending credence.
Cecilia felt ashamed for hesitating on forgiveness even briefly.
'Even the noble knight who gave all for her homeland sets aside personal feelings for the greater cause of slaying the Demon King...'
Though moved by their sincerity, the sudden change puzzled her. Was there a special reason?
Her doubt was quickly resolved.
"None of this would be possible without Young Master Leon."
"Hehe, exactly. Even I, without his persuasion..."
"Yes, thanks to him convincing me, I broadened my horizons."
The three pointed to one man with harmonious smiles as the reason for their change.
'Leon Sodus...'
Unlike her party, theirs centered around Leon Sodus.
'Then, guiding him to true faith will naturally lead the others...!'
Perhaps this was all the goddess's guidance, she thought.
"I'll convince the General and the elf sisters."
Blessing her difficult decision, Saint Cecilia saw them off.
"Next time, we'll meet as one party."
They waved back with warm smiles to the saint bidding them farewell.