My mind suddenly shift.
The moment I open my mouth, instead of saying what I originally intended—
I accidentally blurt out exactly what I was thinking instead.
'I greet the High Priest.'
"What is he doing here?"
I gracefully lower myself into a proper bow.
'Ack did I say my thoughts out loud?'
"Oh my,. We made a promise before, did we not?"
'Don't tell me he's about to mention the punishment.'
"About the divine pu—"
Before he can finish the sentence I start coughing.
Silence fills the entire room.
Rey immediately startles.
Cassien slightly parts his lips.
"About the d—"
"*Coughs*"
"About the divi—"
"*Coughs*"
Rey gets closer with visible concern.
"Are you okay Velly?"
"Abo—"
"*Cough, Coughs*"
"Abou—"
Cassien's smile slowly stiffens.
"…It seems Lady Velora has caught a rather severe flu."
"Ah, no, High Priest."
I immediately straighten myself while forcing a bright smile.
"Something simply appears to be stuck in my throat."
I continue smiling.
Cassien also continues smiling.
'GET THE HINT!!!'
Cassien casually takes a sip from his tea before slowly closing his eyes.
"The Duke and I have already come to an agreement."
"I was informed that you have yet to receive a proper lecture regarding elements."
He gently sets the teacup down.
"So during your vacation, I shall personally teach you how to better control your abilities."
'That bastard.'
My entire body stiffens.
'This feels like the story is drifting further and further away from the original plot.'
'I have never once heard of Velora gaining the Church's attention before…'
"..."
'Or is this because I trespassed inside the church that one time…?'
Cold sweat immediately rolls down my back.
'Based on what Rey said, the Rosethorne family dislikes involving themselves with church matters.'
'So why did Duke Lucien actually agree to this other than being a jerk.'
'Hmm...'
Then another realization suddenly strikes me.
'Wait.'
'Isn't this guy both the High Priest and the Spirit Oracle?'
'Why does he have so much free time!?'
Cassien calmly takes another sip from his tea.
"The world does not revolve around my schedule, so you may reassure yourself that I have all the time in world to teach you."
'Bastard.'
Rey suddenly crosses his arms.
"How exactly can a light element teach a dark element?"
Cassien slowly turns his gaze toward him.
"This discussion is between the Duke and myself."
He smiles gently.
"In fact, I see no reason to explain myself to Lord Reynard."
I immediately slap both hands over my mouth while staring between the two of them.
"OOOOOOO— mmph!?"
'BURN.'
Rey instantly sends me a deadly glare.
I immediately avert my gaze and quietly lower my hands.
—Few minutes later, living toom—
In the end, I was left alone together with Cassien.
Rey and the others had been told to leave.
He crosses his arms tightly before shooting Cassien one final glare.
Then he stomps away dramatically while visibly fuming.
'Seems like Rey's going to Duke Lucien's office.'
"Lady Velora, please put yourself at ease."
'It's not like I'm nervous or anything…'
I quietly stare at him while crossing my arms.
While my leg continuously taps against the floor without stopping.
—tap tap tap tap tap tap tap—
"I'm fine, High Priest."
I let out a smile.
Cassien smiles and close his eyes.
"Based on the reactions within this household."
"It appears nobody else is aware that you possess two elements."
'He did mention that before.'
'I honestly still have no idea how abilities are even supposed to work.'
I ponder deep in thought.
'I've actually been trying to figure it out myself this entire time.'
—Few days ago, Velora's room—
I dramatically thrust both hands forward.
"KAME-HAME-HAAAA!"
'Nothing happened.'
—poof—
'Well, obviously that did not work.'
I fell on deep thought.
'In the first place, Velora's ability never seemed to have an actual off-switch.'
'She was even considered defective because no fairy ever chose to stay beside her.'
'And Cassien did mention my element was unstable…'
I start leaning on my side while thinking.
'So my hunch was probably correct.'
'Based on what I understood from the original story, most elemental users could freely activate and deactivate their abilities.'
'Knowing that the FL and the other could freely activate and deactivate their abilities.'
'Still… isn't this strange?'
'Based on my understanding 1 ability = 1 effect but...'
'But Velora's doesn't work like that.'
'first one she can turn flowers into poison.'
'Then she can double it's dosage.'
'…Wouldn't that technically count as two abilities?'
'Or rather 1 skill and 1 ability?'
"You ability will be your greatest strength and your greatest weakness."
I quietly mumble.
'Maybe Velora did have a fairy but didn't show it to anyone.'
I stare at the High Priest with suspicion.
'…Why does this suddenly feel like one of those stories where the Church secretly uses people for their powers before revealing themselves as villains at the end?'
My eyes narrow further.
'Don't tell me that because he discovered my abilities, he plans to use me somehow.'
I continue glaring at Cassien angrily.
'But that shouldn't be possible. The Church was never portrayed as an enemy in the original story nor was even mention atleast...'
'Or maybe that time when The Female Lead was baptized in the original story.'
My expression loosen.
'Then does that mean he's actually one of the good guys?'
—Meanwhile—
Cassien calmly takes another sip from his tea while quietly watching my expression change every few seconds.
Suspicion.
'Oh she's suspicious of me.'
Judgment.
'Did she gone through conclusion?'
Fear.
'???'
Confusion.
'Oh she got confused.'
Relief.
'Ah she finally solved it.'
Then suspicion again.
'Or not...'
Cassien lets out a soft sigh and places his cup down.
"You need not worry."
"My only intention is to help stabilize your element. I mean no harm."
His eyes slowly meet mine.
"So please stop staring at me as though you are trying to burn a hole through my face."
I stare at him suspiciously.
—Early morning, still dark, Velora's room—
Erisa gently shakes my shoulder.
"Lady Velora, it is time to wake up and bathe."
"Mrmmmnmm…"
Still half asleep, I instinctively pull the blanket over my head.
—Few minutes later, Bathtub—
Erisa quietly bathes me while I continue existing in a half-conscious state.
At some point, I nearly fall asleep sitting upright.
—Few minutes later, Velora's room—
Erisa changes my clothes while I continue dozing off.
—Few minutes later—
Erisa places breakfast before me.
"Lady Velora, please eat."
"…Mm."
—nom… nom…—
I continue chewing mechanically while barely awake.
At one point, my spoon almost misses my mouth entirely.
—Few minutes later, Outside the manor—
Erisa carefully helps me into the carriage.
I immediately collapse against the seat afterward.
—Few minutes later, Carriage—
Still half asleep, I continue dozing the entire ride.
Honestly, I no longer even know where my spirit currently is.
—Few minutes later, Cathedral—
"Lady Velora, we have arrived."
"Hm…?"
I suddenly jolt awake in confusion.
'Huh? Where am I?'
"Whe—…!?"
I look through the window and notice I'm outside the Cathedral entrance.
'Didn't Brother Lucien say I was under house arrest!?'
I immediately press myself against the carriage window in disbelief.
'Then why am I outside right now!?'
My mind starts to get confused.
'I know the High Priest said he would inform me once the lessons officially starts...'
'BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I THOUGHT I HAD TO COME HERE PERSONALLY!?'
I slowly turn toward Erisa with horror written all over my face.
"…Was I transported here under church authority?"
Erisa quietly tilts her head.
"The High Priest personally requested your presence, Lady Velora."
'Early this morning!?'
—Few minutes later, Inside the cathedral, living room—
Cassien calmly closes the book in his hands.
"Welcome, Lady Velora."
I crossed my arms, angrily.
"Oh my."
Cassien smiles lightly.
"It seems like someone's a Moonflower"
The flowers that opens at night.
"I was told I was not allowed to leave the estate."
I stare at him accusingly.
"So why am I here?"
"Ah, I did hear about your house arrest."
"However, the Duke appears to consider church-related matters an exception."
'What did they even talk about?'
"Judging from what I heard, you also appear to be mentally exhausting for the people around you."
"…What?"
Cassien calmly takes another sip of tea.
"I heard you attempted to escape through the front gates while licking attendants."
My face immediately freezes.
Cassien gently sets the teacup down afterward.
"Going outside is strictly forbidden within the Church as well."
"We have regulations stating that no one under the church's blessing may leave the cathedral grounds without an assigned task in hand."
'Huh? Aren't I her to learn element?'
"So during the hours of your lessons, the same restrictions shall also apply to you until it is time for you to return home."
"…I escaped one prison only to enter another."
Cassien calmly takes another sip of tea.
"That is a rather dramatic way of describing education."
'Oh shut up.'
—Few minutes later—
'I was told I could go anywhere I wanted within the cathedral grounds."
I mumble.
'After saying he needed to make preparations.'
"Though considering Cassien's ability to somehow notices everything happening around within the Cathedral..."
'He can see even if blind, can use light and bend them... What else?'
'isn't he too overpowered?'
While walking through the cathedral grounds, I suddenly notice a small abandoned shack hidden behind overgrown vines.
As I slowly approach it.
A priestess suddenly startles me before bowing politely.
"The High Priest asked me to inform you not to wander too far, Lady Velora."
'Forget about being a flashlight.'
'He's literally like a 24/7 cctv!'