"Lucan, have you heard about the existence of other saints?"
Lucan nodded in response. The world he knew was vast, encompassing twenty-seven countries and two kingdoms. Saintesses could be born in any of these lands, but it was just by chance that one had appeared in the Light Tempest Kingdom.
"However," Kerum continued, his tone growing more serious, "Saintesses are rare. Many countries don't have one. Those without a Saintess often covet the ones in other lands. Some might even resort to drastic measures to seize a Saintess from another country."
Lucan's expression remained neutral, but internally, he was all too familiar with the scenario. He had seen it play out in the game, where characters from other nations tried to kidnap Maris or seduce her into leaving her homeland. There were even routes in the game where Maris, after being kidnapped, had to be rescued by the protagonist.
In one route, a foreign prince pursued Maris, and she could be led down that path if the player chose.
The reason for these kidnappings was simple: where a Saintess resided, that land prospered. The region would flourish, crops would yield more, and the land would be blessed. The Light Tempest had once been merely a country, but with the presence of a Saintess, it had risen to become a kingdom. Having a Saintess was considered a great fortune, a blessing that any nation would desperately seek.
"And it's not just the countries that seek Saintesses," Kerum added, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "The highest religious authority on this continent... the Solaria Sanctum, also desires to control all Saintesses."
Lucan's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "The Solaria Sanctum... you mean the country where the Supreme Pontiff resides?"
"Yes, exactly," Kerum confirmed. "In the Light Tempest Kingdom, the highest religious authority is the Grand Temple and the Archpriest. But the Solaria Sanctum oversees temples across the entire continent. Although their territory is small and their military might limited, their religious influence is enormous."
Kerum leaned forward, his gaze intense. "The Solaria Sanctum believes that 'Saintesses should be under the management of the Supreme Pontiff.' They are actively trying to gather all the Saintesses from different countries and bring them under their control. They've been known to use forceful and illegal means to achieve this."
Kerum continued, "They don't use brute force. Instead of forcefully taking a Saintess, they aim to lure her willingly. They're not above using magic or drugs for brainwashing. This is why we must be more vigilant than ever regarding Saintess Maris."
Kerum took a deep breath, his hands clasping tightly on the table before him. "To put it bluntly, Maris is extraordinarily powerful. She surpasses other Saintesses by a considerable margin. The Solaria Sanctum and several other countries are already aware of her power and are scheming to bring her under their control.
In fact, Lucan, it was the Solaria Sanctum that proposed recognizing you as a Holy Priest."
Lucan's eyes narrowed. "Are they trying to win my favor and lure me into their fold? And with that, use me to draw Maris away?"
"Yes," Kerum admitted. "That's precisely their plan."
Lucan frowned, the seriousness of the situation sinking in. The Solaria Sanctum had also been an antagonist in the game, attempting to seize Maris for their purposes. One of the game's characters, a high-ranking official from the Solaria Sanctum, could lead to a route where Maris ended up rebuilding the corrupt nation in the game's ending.
In the game's original scenario, the Solaria Sanctum only made contact with Maris after the story had progressed significantly, usually into the second year of the plot. But now, the narrative was shifting, diverging from its original path.
Lucan couldn't help but think back to recent events. During their vacation at the beach, they had encountered Liora. Helping her had already set off a chain of events that could have far-reaching consequences. The incident with the crow that tainted the water source was another small but significant deviation.
These seemingly minor changes could lead to a future that was vastly different from what he remembered.
"The Solaria Sanctum calls itself the 'Nation of the Gods,'" Kerum continued, his voice tinged with disdain. "But its purity and nobility were lost centuries ago. Now, it's said to be a den of greedy monks who seek nothing but money and power. We'll be increasing security to prevent them from meddling with Saintess Maris, but you must also be cautious, Lucan.
Given your strength and nature, I trust you can handle it, but I still urge you to be vigilant."
"Don't worry, old man. I won't let anything happen to Maris."
Both Lucan and Maris were already at the Kingdom-Class level of strength, capable of defending themselves against most threats. However, that advantage would only last for a few months. Once others learned of their true strength, they would undoubtedly send equally powerful opponents to challenge them.
---
In a secluded wing of the Grand Temple, Maris stood before an ornate mirror in her private quarters. The room was spacious, filled with soft light filtering through stained glass windows that depicted scenes of divine miracles. The air was fragrant with the scent of lilies, a calming presence that helped Maris center herself as she prepared for the day.
She had just finished prayers, and she was going to meet Lucan, who had been invited by Kerum to the temple. It had been some time since they last saw each other, and she wanted to look her best.
Maris carefully selected her attire—a flowing gown of pure white, symbolizing her status as a Saintess. The fabric was lightweight and ethereal, shimmering with a soft, celestial glow. Golden threads embroidered intricate patterns along the hem and sleeves, representing the blessings she bestowed upon the kingdom.
She slipped into the gown, the soft material cascading gracefully around her as she moved. Next, she donned a delicate silver circlet, adorned with a single, radiant gem at its center. Her light blue eyes sparkled with a quiet confidence as she adjusted the circlet, ensuring it sat perfectly atop her head.
As she finished dressing, she decided to go out and meet Lucan and show him how she look in her saint attire.