Chapter 10 Part 6

Elia had a restless night, worrying that something might happen to Aksion. She thought she hid it well, but he knew. In the early dawn, he woke and held her, his eyes showing no sign of sleep. Thus, the second day of the festival dawned.

“The black magic is calm,” Elia thought, watching him as she finished getting ready for the festival. The dark magic seemed tamed, as if it had become docile. “I need to keep an eye on it,” she reminded herself. No unforeseen incidents should occur.

As she sighed, Aksion approached. He extended his hand to her, ready to leave. “Shall we go?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m ready,” she replied.

They were escorted downstairs where a carriage awaited. It was the Mahart family’s private carriage, marked with their crest. As Elia got in, she pondered, “I wonder if the Duke of Tartan is doing well.” There had been no word from him since the morning, but it was too early to assume the worst. “If there was a problem, he would have handled it,” she reassured herself. She had cast a protective spell on him to avoid the effects of the black thread should it ensnare him again.

The carriage drove on, stopping before the temple’s grand view terrace. Priests and holy knights were managing the crowd. Today was the day the Holy Maiden’s face would be revealed. The area in front of the temple was already packed with commoners and devotees. The terrace, reserved for royalty, offered the closest view of the Holy Maiden.

“You must be the successors of the Mahart family. I am High Priest Rubes Talon,” a priest approached, recognizing them. Elia took the opportunity to check one last concern.

“Hello, Priest Talon. Have Their Majesties not attended?”

“No, they have not,” he responded, hesitating. Despite it being the nation’s grandest festival, the Emperor and Empress had not attended. Once a follower of the God of Light, the Emperor had distanced himself from the temple after becoming obsessed with a prophet, neglecting it more over time.

“The temple ignored the prophet’s prediction, so they didn’t attend,” Elia thought. The prophecy about the Holy Maiden’s appearance had come from Parmo, not the temple. When the Maiden indeed appeared, the temple took her and did not thank Parmo, which angered the Emperor.

“Still, it’s an honor that the Princess has come,” the priest said.

“Of course, I had to come. Please, lead the way,” Elia replied.

“This way, please. Your seats are prepared,” the priest guided them to the entrance of the terrace. As they climbed the tall stairs, they glimpsed the massive temple pillars through the windows. The top, structured like a roof, offered a clear view below.

“Everyone’s here,” Elia observed. Opposite them, a spire for nobles hosted high-ranking families and prominent aristocrats from the capital. The terrace, at the same height as the temple’s balcony, was where Sharon would appear.

“Not long now,” Elia thought, her eyes fixed on the balcony.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

The bell rang, signaling two in the afternoon. “It’s time!”

“The Holy Maiden is coming!”

“Guide the Empire to the light!”

The crowd’s cheers shook the square. Two priests pulled back the curtains, revealing Sharon. Her silver hair flowed and her mysterious eyes sparkled. Dressed in a pure white dress, she looked every bit the divine Holy Maiden.

“Thank you all for welcoming me. I promise to pray for the Empire as the Holy Maiden,” Sharon smiled.

“Waaaah!”

The crowd’s cheers thundered, and Sharon’s smile deepened. Amidst the applause, Elia focused on Sharon, not noticing Aksion’s strange behavior until it was too late.

Thump. Thump.

Aksion’s heart pounded loudly. Elia turned to him, sensing something was wrong. “…Aksion?” He stared ahead, his red eyes unfocused. His breath became labored. Suddenly.

Boom.

A clear vibration sounded beneath Aksion’s feet, alarming the nearby priests. Black magic surged from his body.

“Wait, Aksion. Take my hand!” Elia reached out to calm the magic, but it engulfed him too quickly, forming into the shape of a black dog. As the magic subsided, sleek black fur was revealed. The beast grew, overshadowing the terrace and casting a shadow over the square.

“Oh my God. The successor of Mahart…” The priest beside them covered his mouth. The cheers stopped instantly, replaced by eerie silence. Someone pointed at the black dog, shouting, “A monster!”

“A monster has appeared!”

Sharon’s lips twisted. Screams filled the square.

* * *

In the imperial city of Amarantha, the Emperor watched with displeasure. Today was the day the Holy Maiden was revealed, but his mood was sour for other reasons.

“I’m so happy,” the Empress, in contrast, was excited. Crown Prince Varlan stood before them, announcing his return to the imperial family.

“Greetings, Your Majesty. Your Highness, the Empress.”

“Come here, Prince. I’ve missed you so much,” the Empress rose, arms open wide. As Varlan moved toward her, the Emperor’s voice halted him.

“Wait.”

“Why, Your Majesty? It’s been so long since you’ve seen your son,” the Empress was worried, but the Emperor remained firm.

“Why have you returned without my permission? What if you get that terrible disease again?”

Varlan’s wandering was due to a prophecy. Parmo had predicted he must go on a pilgrimage until guided by the divine to avoid the illness.

Varlan calmly responded, “The safety of the Empire is more important than my illness.”

The Empire’s safety. The Emperor paused, noting a deeper meaning in Varlan’s words.

“…Do you also feel it?” he asked gravely. Varlan nodded slowly.

Recently, a secret prophecy had been revealed to the imperial family. Parmo stated that his past prophecy of destruction had been hastened. The Emperor, recalling this, had tried to summon Elia back to the palace, but Parmo had advised against it.

“It’s unnecessary. The temple will offer the sacrifice,” Parmo had said, his hidden eyes gleaming ominously.

As the Emperor pondered, a servant brought news. “Your Majesty, a knight from the temple has urgent news.”

“Let him in.”

A breathless knight knelt before the Emperor, granted permission to speak.

“…The Mahart successor has been detained at the temple.”

“What?”

The Emperor was shocked. As the knight spoke, Varlan’s eyes wavered.

* * *

The festival for the Holy Maiden was abruptly halted on the second day. The monstrous black dog on the terrace caused chaos. People fled the square, while priests and knights took up defensive positions. The priests who had been with the Princess and the Mahart heir were especially alarmed.

Elia managed the situation. Unlike the first transformation, Aksion recognized her voice this time. His huge red eyes focused on her. She reached out to the black dog.

“Aksion, come back,” she urged. The black dog lay down like a tamed lamb. As he closed his eyes, he reverted to his human form. The difference was clear—he didn’t lose consciousness this time.

A priest, stunned into silence, watched. It wasn’t until a soldier murmured that the priest reacted.

“The Princess controls a monster,” the soldier’s words spread. The terrace was soon swarmed by holy knights, intent on capturing Aksion and Elia.

“Don’t touch him. I’ll go myself,” Elia said. She and the bewildered Aksion walked into the temple voluntarily.