Chapter 228: 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,pletely 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.


    But the more she thought about it, the 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 moreid-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 wasplex, 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 withtent 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 guing 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 trustedpanions, asking them to offer their prayers to strengthen the ritual before they went to greet Riley.


    Their faith,bined 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 shed 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 thest 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 herpanions, let alone someone like Riley, who was only beginning


    to step into her world.


    But that secrecy wouldn''tst once she used her magic on him.


    Riley was bound to notice the divinity behind it.


    He hadn''t questioned much so far-epting her vague exnations, 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 aplicated 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 ce herplete 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 nheless.


    ''I''ll just decide once I get to know him better...'' Riley wasing 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 nce 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 anotheryer 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 sped her hands together in silent prayer.


    Her energy flowed into the circle like a gentle stream, steadily siphoning off the power from


    within her soul.


    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 thatforted her for a moment. Though she hadn''t increased theplexity 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 herposure, 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 was blessed by the Goddess, pure 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 werepletely 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, EmiliatchedN?v(el)B\\jnn


    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 herposure, forcing herself to calm down. "A-anyway, w-wee, 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 ufortable..." 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 way he observed everything, as if he were quietly


    analyzing the situation, preparing to pounce. A shiver ran down her spine.


    The thought, unbidden and unwee, 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 moreposed 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 that had


    invaded her mind.


    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 beening 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 ncing 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 wordsing out faster than she intended. "I-I know you''re probably wondering why I asked you toe here so suddenly, and, well, I''m very thankful that you agreed without any hesitation... b-but before I exin 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 toote.


    Riley blinked, his face a mix of surprise and amusement, as though he were trying to process


    whether he had heard her correctly.


    For Emilia, it felt as though time hade 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 exnation, unable to meet Riley''s gaze.