The Saintess Candidate's Resolve
The escort mission for the Holy Church delegation was set for the next morning. More accurately, it had been forced through rather than properly confirmed. Less than a day had passed since the Black Moon mark appeared on Professor Beltran Ross's arm. In any normal academy, practical training would have been suspended, the Holy Church sector sealed off, and students confined to their dormitories. But Saint Ignis Academy was no ordinary school.
It was the Empire's premier educational institution, jointly established by the Imperial Family, the Holy Church, the Magic Tower, and the Knight Order. That meant pure safety could never be the sole consideration when incidents occurred. The Holy Church had dispatched a delegation. Officially, it was to provide an explanation regarding Professor Beltran Ross's suspected heresy and to confirm the safety of the academy's Holy Church students. In reality, their purpose was obvious.
The Holy Church wanted to demonstrate that they had not yet lost control. The Imperial Family intended to monitor the delegation. The academy sought to maintain balance between them. And the Black Moon aimed to exploit every crack in that fragile equilibrium.
"So, are we escorting the Holy Church delegation, or Lady Aria?" I asked quietly at the entrance to the training grounds.
Noel chuckled beside me. "Both. More precisely, we're using the pretext of escorting the delegation to put Aria on center stage."
"That's not a very pleasant way to put it."
"Because this isn't a pleasant situation."
The second day's mission involved escorting the delegation from the main building to the temporary conference hall in the Holy Church sector. The distance wasn't long—just through the central hall, along the western corridor, and into the conference hall before the cathedral. But the real issue wasn't the length of the path. It was who would be watching.
Students had already gathered in the central hall. Yesterday's news of the B-7 collapse had thrown the entire academy into chaos. Though they pretended to check their training schedules, every gaze was fixed on us.
Kyle Diaren. Edan Gray. Rhea Silverrian. Aria Elowen. Siella Bayern. Noel Ignis.
This group was no longer just another training party. Rumors had already branded us with names like the "B-7 Survival Team," the "Princess's Unofficial Subjugation Squad," and the "Diaren Prince's Harem Party." I had a pretty good idea who had spread that last one.
I looked at Noel. She tilted her head with a smile. "What?"
"Nothing."
No evidence, but more than enough suspicion.
Aria stood beside me. Today she wore a more neatly arranged Holy Church uniform than usual. A pure white top with golden embroidery and a small cross ornament at her chest. Her light pink hair flowed softly to one side, and her eyes were calm. But I knew that calmness wasn't peace. Her fingertips trembled ever so slightly.
"Lady Aria."
When I called her, she turned to me.
"Yes, Kyle."
"Please don't push yourself."
Aria gazed at me for a moment before offering a faint smile. "Shouldn't I be the one saying that to you?"
"It seems to be your turn today."
"My turn?"
"Everyone's faced dangerous illusions once already, and this time the Black Moon has openly targeted you."
Aria's eyes wavered slightly. I lowered my voice. "I know you said you wouldn't run away. But don't try to endure it alone."
Aria looked at my wrist—the spot where the holy mark had been until yesterday. Though it had nearly faded, a faint warmth still lingered.
"Kyle."
"Yes?"
"If I falter, will you catch me?"
"Of course."
"Then I'll be fine."
She smiled as she said it—a gentle, affectionate, and dangerous smile. When she put it that way, I couldn't argue.
Just then, a cold voice cut in from the side. "Saintess Candidate. It would be best to reduce emotional conversations during the operation."
It was Rhea. She wore a training uniform in white and blue, closer to imperial attire than usual. Though it had fewer decorations, it gave her an even colder and sharper presence. Her silver hair was neatly tied back, and her blue eyes were fixed toward the Holy Church sector.
Aria tilted her head slightly. "Didn't Your Highness also hold Kyle's hand yesterday?"
"That was during treatment and combat."
"I'm simply confirming mental stability right now."
"That's a pretext I've never heard before."
"I can create one if necessary."
I closed my mouth. I hadn't expected Rhea's earlier words about making rules if needed to come back like this.
Siella let out a small laugh. "The Saintess Candidate has changed quite a bit."
Aria's cheeks flushed faintly. "Have I?"
"You never used to talk back to Her Highness like that before."
Rhea glanced at Siella. "The Bayern heiress speaks as if this doesn't concern her."
"I'm more the type to speak with my sword."
"Then I hope that sword doesn't lead to any impulsive actions during the operation."
"As long as Your Highness doesn't freeze things first."
Their gazes clashed. Edan wore an extremely awkward expression between them.
"Lord Kyle."
"Yes?"
"Does this kind of atmosphere happen often?"
"Lately, it's been nearly every day."
"Impressive."
"That didn't sound like a compliment."
"It's closer to admiration, actually."
What exactly was he admiring?
Just then, Professor Graham approached. After checking each of us in turn, he spoke.
"I'll go over the operation details again. The Holy Church delegation will enter through the north gate of the main building, pass through the central hall, proceed along the western corridor, and move to the temporary conference hall. You will maintain a set distance while escorting them."
Rhea asked, "What about the Imperial Knights?"
"They're on perimeter security. The public escort will maintain the form of student practical training."
"Did the Holy Church request that?"
"They did."
Rhea's eyes grew cold. The Holy Church didn't want to appear as though they were being monitored by the Imperial Family, so they insisted on keeping up the student training pretext. Yet among those students were the princess, the Saintess candidate, the Bayern heiress, the original protagonist, and me—an unusual combination. It couldn't be comfortable for the Holy Church either.
"The possibility of Black Moon intervention is high," Professor Graham said. "However, your objective today is not to capture the enemy. Securing the safety of the delegation and the students is the top priority. Especially Aria Elowen."
Aria lifted her head. "Yes."
"Your name was mentioned directly. The Black Moon will likely target your choice."
"I understand."
"Then all the more reason not to move alone."
Aria looked at me briefly before answering. "Yes. I won't move alone."
Professor Graham turned to Edan. "Edan Gray."
"Yes."
"Yesterday, you rejected the choice the Black Moon tried to force on you. A similar situation may arise today."
Edan nodded quietly. "I understand."
"Kyle Diaren."
"Yes."
"Don't get hurt."
"Professor, that's too abstract to be an order."
"Then I'll be specific. Don't step forward. Don't make decisions alone. Don't shed blood."
"The last one will be difficult to guarantee."
"Guarantee it."
The professor's eyes were stern. I eventually lowered my head.
"I'll do my best."
Aria murmured softly beside me. "I'll be watching."
That was the most terrifying part.
Soon, the bell in the central hall rang. The Holy Church delegation had arrived.
The north gate opened, and figures in white priest robes entered. There were five members in the delegation. Leading them was a middle-aged female priest. Her silver hair was neatly tied back, and her gaze was composed. A golden cross symbolizing a high-ranking priest of the Holy Church hung at her chest. Two young priests and two escort paladins followed behind her.
The students in the central hall fell silent. Aria's hand stiffened slightly. I studied her expression. She seemed to recognize the woman leading the delegation.
"Lady Aria?"
Aria spoke quietly. "It's High Priestess Eline."
"You know her?"
"She was the one who conducted the final evaluation when I was recommended as a Saintess candidate."
The tension in the air thickened. High Priestess Eline stopped in the middle of the central hall. Her gaze went straight to Aria.
"Aria Elowen."
Aria stepped forward. "High Priestess."
"It's been a while."
Her voice was gentle, but the temperature was low. "I've heard many things have happened at the academy recently."
"They have."
"Especially around you."
Aria's eyes didn't waver. "Not just around me. These are matters affecting the entire academy."
High Priestess Eline's eyes narrowed slightly. The old Aria wouldn't have answered that way. She seemed to sense it too.
"You've changed."
"Perhaps I have."
"We'll need to confirm whether it's a good change."
The words sounded like a test.
And at that moment, the stained glass above the central hall began to darken.
I gripped my sword immediately.
"They're here."
Siella was already moving. Rhea's chill spread across the central hall floor. Edan positioned himself between the delegation and the students. Noel looked up at the ceiling with a slight smile. "They really don't waste any time."
The stained glass shattered. But the glass shards didn't fall. Instead, black feathers poured down—hundreds of them. They formed human shapes in midair. Illusions wearing Holy Church uniforms. Eyeless clergymen. They spoke in unison.
— The Saintess candidate must choose.
— Will you save everyone?
— Or will you save just one?
Students in the central hall screamed. The delegation's paladins raised their shields. High Priestess Eline's expression hardened.
"Heretical arts...!"
The Black Moon had been waiting from the start. A public space. Numerous students. The Holy Church delegation. And Aria. It was the perfect stage.
The black illusions moved simultaneously. Half headed toward the delegation, half toward the students. And one particularly sharp black feather flew straight toward my heart—at an angle Aria could clearly see.
"Kyle!"
Aria's voice rang out. I tried to dodge, but the feather's trajectory was strange. Even as it flew toward me, it was angled to pierce the students behind me as well. If I dodged, the students behind would be hit. If I blocked it, Aria would try to save me first.
The Black Moon's choice.
I gritted my teeth. "Siella!"
A crimson sword flash erupted from the side. Siella cleaved the feather in two. At the same time, Edan moved in front of the students behind us.
"Defense!"
Rhea's barrier of cold cut across the central hall. Aria didn't move—or rather, she didn't rush toward me like before. She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them. Raising both hands, pure white holy power spread throughout the central hall.
But this time, it didn't try to reach everywhere at once. The light of her holy power split into thin threads, connecting only to those who needed it—the delegation, the students, our group, and me—each receiving just enough.
Aria spoke. "I will make my choice."
Her voice trembled, but it rang clearly throughout the central hall.
"I won't choose to abandon someone, nor will I kill my own heart by claiming to save everyone."
The black illusions wavered. Aria's eyes brushed over me. The glance was brief, but it was enough.
"Starting from those I can reach, I will save them without running away."
Pure white light burst forth. The black feathers burned away upon contact. The illusions heading toward the students faltered. Even the shadows approaching the delegation slowed.
Siella and Edan seized that opening. Siella cut down the black illusions from the front while Edan protected the students and cleared a path. Rhea bound their movements with cold. Noel searched for the core of the spell hidden in the ceiling.
"Kyle, upper left!" Noel shouted.
I looked up. The point where the black feathers were gathering. A small crescent moon symbol floated there.
"That's the spell core!"
As I shouted, Rhea raised her hand. But High Priestess Eline moved first. Her holy power was different from Aria's—cold and refined. A golden cross rose into the air and pierced through the crescent moon symbol. The black feathers scattered all at once.
Silence fell over the central hall. Only the sound of students breathing remained.
Aria stood with her hands lowered. Her face was pale, but she didn't collapse. I approached her.
"Lady Aria."
She looked at me. "Did I... do well?"
I nodded. "Yes. You did very well."
Her eyes grew slightly moist, but she didn't cry this time.
High Priestess Eline slowly approached. She stared at Aria for a long moment.
"Aria Elowen."
"Yes."
"You just made a choice unworthy of a Saintess candidate."
The air in the central hall grew tense again. I reflexively stepped forward, but Aria grabbed my wrist as if to stop me.
High Priestess Eline continued. "However..." Her gaze shifted slightly. "It was a choice befitting someone who will become a Saintess."
Aria's eyes widened. Rhea quietly watched her. Siella lowered her sword, and Edan let out a small breath. Noel smiled.
"Well, the second day is off to quite the eventful start."
I looked up at the ceiling. The black feathers were gone. But a small mark remained on the floor—one of five lines. The pure white cross had grown slightly clearer.
The Black Moon had tried to shake Aria. But they had failed again.
Or perhaps this wasn't a failure at all. Maybe it was the confirmation they had wanted.
Rowen's words came back to me.
The next scene begins.
The escort of the Holy Church delegation had only just started.