When I left the cathedral, Cassien looked at me with visible worry.
'He never answered my question in the end.'
—Night Time, Velora's room—
I stare at the ceiling through the window while lying on my bed.
—tic, tic, tic—
'...'
I remain deep in thought, thinking about what the High Priest said.
"Mmmmm..."
Thinking...
"Rrrr....."
I stretch my entire body across the bed.
"Argh, I give up. I'll just ask him next time."
—Next day, Early morning, still dark—
I wake up before either Erisa or Kel enters my room.
"Lady!?"
Erisa looks shocked after seeing that I already helped myself get ready.
My hair drips wet while my clothes remain wrinkled and messy.
Erisa immediately uses her water element to dry my hair and straighten my clothes.
Suddenly, I notice a dim light peeking out from behind her neck.
I quietly use my light element and notice a small blue fairy beside her.
'Cute...'
The fairy, along with Erisa, does not seem to notice that I am staring at it.
I quietly close my eyes while they continue helping me get ready.
'I guess I really can see fairies whether they reveal themselves or not now.'
Dim = Hidden
Bright = Showing themselves to others
Velora = ????
I lean against my hand while thinking.
"Hmm..."
—Several minutes later, Cathedral—
I arrive while the sky is still dark and quietly head toward the High Priest's chamber.
—Outside the chamber—
Just as I am about to knock, I realize the door is already open.
I slowly peek inside and see the High Priest writing at his desk.
'What the? He's even more of an early bird than I am.'
I see his fairies in hiding, curiously watching him.
I start to knock the door and Cassien finally looks toward me.
"Yo."
I raise one hand casually.
"Ah, Lady Velora."
"Did the sun rise from the south today?"
"What?"
"Ah, my apologies."
"It simply surprises me to see you here while the sun hasn't rise"
'No kidding, flashlight.'
'Your room is so bright I thought the sun was already up.'
I smile at Cassien while thinking about what I actually came here to say.
Cassien quietly stands up.
"Well then, Lady Velora."
"Let us begin."
We proceed with practicing my dark element next.
Even until now, we still struggle to control it properly.
—Living room—
Cassien stands from his seat.
"Well then, Lady Velora…"
"…Today, I shall teach you how to conceal your element."
I blink.
"Conceal it?"
Cassien quietly nods.
"You may not realize it, but every time you use your light element, a faint white glow surrounds you."
'Ah—... Don't tell me Erisa saw that?'
'No… if she did, she would have reacted.'
I start to ponder.
'But why didn't she react?'
'Maybe because she already knows I possess a dark element?'
'But then why did she not react to the light element too?'
"Hmm..."
"Do not push your element outward."
"Instead, pull the light inward."
The room falls silent.
"…Like breathing?"
"Exactly."
"Breathe your element inward and eventually it shall settle naturally."
The white particles surrounding my body slowly begin sinking back inside me as though they never existed.
"Now use your light element."
Cassien suddenly raises one hand and a small beam of light appears above his palm.
I begin guiding the light element through my body as though it is traveling through my veins.
'Like a string...'
Suddenly, I see the light fairies once again.
They seem excited.
The tiny fairies quickly fly toward me while squealing happily before pressing themselves against my cheeks.
'They're…'
Soft fluffy creatures rub against my face.
'They're…'
'SO CUTE.'
I immediately melt in excitement while staring at them.
Cassien suddenly smiles.
"Its rare for fairies to get comfortable to others other than their own contractor."
"Eh really?"
I smile brightly as I look at them.
"They must've know you mean no harm."
I stare at them curiously, beaming.
"Unfortunately, we are running out of time, so I hope this much is enough for today."
"Huh?"
"Our lessons have officially come to an end."
"Eh? What about my dark element?"
Cassien stands up while smiling peacefully.
"You will eventually learn it yourself."
"Lady Velora is a clever child after all."
—Several minutes later, outside the cathedral—
Just as I am about to enter my carriage, Cassien suddenly calls out to me.
"Lady Velora."
"?"
"If you ever need a place to hide…"
"The Church's doors will always remain open for you."
I quietly bow once again before mumbling softly.
"I thank the High Priest."
Cassien smiles and bows in return.
'He did say our sessions had ended but…'
—Next day, Outside the chamber near a small gazebo—
The table is neatly prepared with warm tea and several delicate pastries.
Small lemon cakes and flower-shaped cookies rest beside freshly sliced fruits.
'Why am I here again!?'
Beside them rests a polished teapot releasing a gentle floral scent.
"…Why does this feel like I'm being bribed?" I mumble suspiciously.
Cassien calmly takes a sip from his tea.
"I simply prepared refreshments to your liking, Lady Velora."
'That somehow sounds even more suspicious.'
I stare at the High Priest suspiciously.
"Didn't you say yesterday that our lessons ended?"
"Then why am I here again?"
"Well, I wished to befriend you, Lady Velora."
'Suspicious!!'
"Do not worry. I simply wished for companionship."
Cassien calmly takes another sip.
"Did I not mention before that this part of the cathedral is usually empty?"
"Only a few higher-ranking members are permitted to enter here freely."
"Then why not invite someone else?"
"Unfortunately, nameless people tend to disappear once they settle within these grounds."
My eyes narrow in confusion.
Then suddenly, Cassien speaks in a strangely boastful tone.
"Nobody wishes to become a burden with divine punishment attached to them unlike you, Lady Velora."
I laugh forcefully while I avert his eyes.
"ahahahaha..."
'Is it really that bad?'
"You are the first noble to ever break the cathedral's rules, after all."
'IT IS BAD!'
"ahahahaha..."
A faint laugh escapes me while I slowly sip my tea.
—Few days later—
'I thought that would be the end of it but…'
'I was wrong.'
'Very wrong.'
'He's even worse!!!!'
I let out a sigh.
'Why does everyone keep following me around…'
'If I do not visit the cathedral, I start receiving letters from the Church.'
"This is… the Church's seal."
"From the High Priest…"
And every single one came from Cassien.
"Element notes."
"Reminders."
"Requests to visit the cathedral."
"Requests for me to properly rest?"
"Requests for me to "avoid reckless behavior??!"
He even sent a letter reminding me to sleep earlier.
'Who does he think he is, my guardian!?'
I slowly lower the paper in disbelief.
Since Cassien was the High Priest himself, nobody within the estate could actually stop him from entering whenever he pleased.
'Don't we dislike the Church?'
'I'm still curious about what talk they did.'
I cross my arms, thinking.
—Outside the manor—
I glance toward Duke Lucien's office from below, hoping to see some kind of reaction whenever the High Priest visits.
'Nothing! Not even a glance?'
'At some point, even the servants had already grown used to seeing Cassien casually walking around the Rosethorne Estate as though he lived here.'
—Few days later—
"Lady Velora."
"Your lesson materials from the High Priest have arrived."
"Lady Velora."
"The High Priest requested your presence once again."
"Lady Velora."
"The High Priest is currently waiting in the garden."
"…What?"
I stare at Kel in horror.
—Few hours later—
I immediately bury my face into the table.
"Why does everyone in this world keep following me around!?"
I let out a long sigh while reminiscing about my past experiences.
'First Elie.'
'Then Rey.'
'Then Mira.'
'Now Cassien too!?'
'At this rate, I'm going to start charging people rent just for existing near me.'
—Several days later—
Without realizing it, I had already gotten used to visiting the cathedral.
The early morning carriage rides.
The scent of tea.
Cassien quietly reading books while waiting for me.
Even the cathedral bells no longer felt unfamiliar.
"…That's dangerous."
I stare suspiciously at my teacup while whispering quietly to myself.
"I'm adapting."
'Is it because being trapped inside my room all day stopped being enjoyable?'
Cassien notices and quietly closes his book.
"Isn't this fun? Why not be a nun."
I stare in disbelief.
"No, thank you."
I wave my hand while disagreeing.
'I want to learn how to love.'
"Hahaha, I am joking. I am joking."
He laughs nonchalantly.
"Would you like to go outside today, Lady Velora?"
I immediately narrow my eyes suspiciously.
"Aren't I technically prohibited from leaving except for the Rosethorne Estate and the cathedral?"
"Correct."
"…Then why are you inviting me outside?"
Cassien calmly takes another sip of tea.
"Think of it as part of your lesson."
Cassien smiles lightly.
"You said our sessions already ended."
I stare at him with deep judgment.
Cassien quietly places the teacup down before suddenly patting my shoulder.
"Come now, Lady Velora."
"Please put yourself at ease."
'Well… I am starting to feel stuffy from doing nothing but drinking tea all day…'
Uneasy, I hesitate for a moment before eventually wavering.
"Fine."
—Several minutes later—
For the first time in a while, I properly saw the outside world again.
People peacefully walked through the streets.
Merchants opened their shops.
Children ran around laughing.
The city circle surrounding the cathedral felt surprisingly lively compared to the suffocating quietness of noble estates.
I glance toward Cassien wearing a robe while partially covering his face.
'I noticed he always covers his face around others, especially during my birthday celebration.'
A passing merchant suddenly bows respectfully toward Cassien.
"Blessed by the High Priest."
Cassien calmly nods back.
"How's your sales?"
A mother gently lowers her head while holding her child's hand.
"We greet the Spirit Oracle, High Priest."
The child suddenly looks toward me curiously and start to point at me.
"Is that your wife?"