Last night before the application to enter the temple of the light had been approved.

At Duke Damian's mansion. 

The mansion under the name of Damian is pure black. Its charcoal grey walls were covered in obsidian gemstones. It had an old gothic architectural design which gave away a feeling of eeriness as if vampires lived in this old palace. The interior of the mansion is even unnatural. It is a place that humans would feel hard to live in. 

The inner walls of the mansion are made from black jade including the flooring. Thankfully the decoration of the mansion is a bit acceptable. A padded and soft light grey carpet was spread throughout the whole floor of the mansion. The lights were dimmed as it's already midnight. 

But unexpectedly inside this huge mansion is an empty space. There aren't servants staying in the mansion as they were told to retire every 6 in the afternoon except for the knights stationed to guards outside of the mansion, there isn't another living person inside the mansion aside from the owner of the house which is Damian Adrienne.

The household of Damian is said to be completely loyal to the throne. They do not care who sits on the throne. Their only task is to observe the one seated on the throne. They don't treat them as their ruler, but they act as they do. The bloodline of Damian is infamous throughout the lands. It is said that because of their bloodline being cursed. According to history, the bloodline of Damian would always only have one man to continue his generation.

There are only two cycles for their life's existence.

First is, the remaining descendant to get married. After getting a child, as soon as the offspring reaches adulthood the former couple who gave birth to the new Damian would die accidentally. It's death that couldn't be avoided and the young child would become the next head.

The second cycle is that in case the last descendant of Damian dies if the only holder of the Damian household dies, a prophecy from the Gods would be given to the Kingdom of Hart and a new Damian would exist.

Damian Adrienne is the latter. A former couple of Damian bloodline had died under the blades of mountain bandits. Adrienne was picked up by the Archmage after the pope had given the message of prophecy to King Argus 20 years ago. Adrienne was an orphan who was picked up in the middle of the woods. No one knew where and who he was. All they know is that Damian Adrienne is the next new Damian the Gods had chosen.

In Damian's living room, Adrienne is sitting alone on the couch with only a lit fireplace to keep the place warm. He is silently watching the wood burn slowly under the blazing fire within the fireplace. After getting back from the castle and meeting the summoned candidates for the title of Saintess, Damian Adrienne stayed in the living like a doll. No expression on his face and not moving from where he is at all. 

If one gets a closer look within those eyes, they would be able to see that his obsidian eyes were dull with no life. Like a puppet whose strings were cut off from its source. It was only when a glint of aureate crossed his eyes that life returned to him. His pitch-black eyes were now glossy unlike the lifeless ones from before.

The Duke moves his stiff body and lightly leans his back on the padded couch. He pinched his forehead as if relieving some pain from it.

"Araysh." whispered the duke. It was the name of someone he is clearly calling to be summoned. 

As if responding to his call, the shadows within the room start to wiggle weirdly. A male with a human figure appeared. This man has dark-colored skin, his ears were pointed like those of the elven race but his hair is ash color like his eyes. This man called Araysh seems to be a dark elf that serves the duke.

"You call my lord," said Araysh.

The duke didn't speak a word right away and kept his eyes closed. Araysh, the dark elf, just stood by the side and waited until his lord spoke at his pace. He is a servant of Damian, his only duty is to listen to Damian's orders.

When the duke opened his eyes, there was only desolation and boredom within his gaze. "Gather a small group. Attack the entourage of the royal family on the way to the temple. There is no need to kill the saintesses. Did they say that the latent abilities could awaken in the midst of death? I wanted to check something." said Damian.

Araysh asked, "My Lord wants us to make the saintess feel the fear of death?"

"Yes, you could wound them if needed but do not take their lives." replied the duke.

"My Lord. How about that other one? The one who wasn't summoned but got brought here by accident. Should I kill him tomorrow?" said Araysh.

The duke lightly frowned without him knowing. Somewhere inside him was telling that he mustn't harm that person but his mind is already calmly thinking of how to end that unpredictable element.

Damian Adrienne decided to follow through with his original plans.

"End him cleanly. Just a single stab should suffice," said Damian.

Araysh bowed his head after receiving his orders.

"Then... I will make the preparation for tomorrow, my lord," he said before once again blending himself together with the shadows and once again disappearing from the room.

On the other hand in Eirwen Night's chambers.

Eirwen is wearing his nightclothes while seated at the side table set near his bed. He is staring at the scenery outside the window with an expressionless face. System Yue is currently letting him show surveillance of the scene at Duke Damian's mansion. They had also witnessed the scene of Damian Adrienne ordering the killing of his host.

According to his host, he could feel the soul fragment of the lord in Duke Damian but for some reason, it's only a feeling. The host is sure that the vessel called Damian is not his husband's soul fragment but is connected to it. This is why even though he is attracted to the duke he never approached him on his own. 

[Host, he wanted to kill you. What should we do?]

Nirwen indifferently glanced at the floating little moon not far from him and replied, "Nothing. Let him do what he wants. After my death, I will have the Ice Spirit King to bring me over to Ivern."

[Ivern. The Ice Spirit Territory which forbids outsiders from entering?]

Eirwen Night replies, "After I stay there, I will play as an adventurer and gain that title as Saint to complete the world missions."

Then Eirwen suddenly smiled but with hints of sadness.

"You don't have to worry, Yue. When A'Xia told me that he wouldn't be able to accompany me in this world and the next one, I knew things like things would happen."

Knock. knock.

Suddenly someone knocks on his door. His smile faded as if it was nonexistent. Eirwen Night stood up and walked towards the door to welcome his guest.

---

On their way to the temple. Two carriages were protected by a large number of knights surrounding them. With the wagon's body imprinted in the royal crest of Hart Kingdom, everyone already knew who was inside those luxurious carriages. After passing the gates of the Kingdom Hart, the entourage headed in the direction of the Temple of Light.

The Temple of Light is a separated small land that could only be found in the holy land they call Agios. Agios is a small country that is considered a holy land as the only ones who live in that place are supporters who revere the God of Light, Lucien. He is their God, their life, and their everything. Most people who live here are religious people who live only to serve their gods.

The highest-ranking person in Agios is the Pope.

The current pope is an ageless man. He had remained forever in his mid-thirties for hundreds of years and so. They say he is the closest to becoming the next god to ascend in the divine realm.

With golden hair like a lion's mane and his eyes had the same color of the sun. His presence itself can heal others' minds. He is also the strongest light mage in the whole of Aerd. But at the same time, his body would weaken if he left the temple and he would age immediately. It is because of this that the Pope couldn't help the other countries or kingdoms in purifying the miasma left by the demons.

What the pope excels aside from light spells is divination, most prophecies from the gods except the God of Darkness were passed through him to the mortal realm. The prophecy about the candidate saintesses being summoned to the kingdom of Hart is something the pope had informed King Argus Hart.

Within the carriage of Eirwen Night and Duke Damian, the interior of the wagon is so silent and gloomy as if someone had died. Both people inside the carriage were not facing each other, they were looking at the window ignoring each other's presence.

[Host please be prepared. The ambush point is about to be reached. There are only 60 seconds left. Please brace for impact!]

At the last five seconds before the group of dark elves covered in black clothing arrives, Eirwen finally spoke up.

"Damian Adrienne... Do you hate me?" asked Eirwen Night with lips cherry shaded lips upturns into a small smile.

The sudden question startled Duke Damian, he never expected Eirwen to ask him such a question. He slightly parted his lips and was about to answer when suddenly the carriage they were in had its roof cleanly cut off. Then a few people whose face was covered in black cloth appeared on the open roof. This man who appeared had ashen color hair and eyes but his skin color is dark plus the pointed ears he possesses, Eirwen could already guess his race.

Eirwen Night uttered, "Dark Elves?"

Before he was suddenly grabbed on his neck by the dark elf and was thrown to the rest of the dark elves who came with him. 

KYYAAAHHH!!

Next, the dark elf fights with the duke who pulls out his swords parrying the daggers the enemies possess. Then from behind him, women's screams could be heard. Lady Laurel and Lady Evans yelled upon the arrival of the assassins. King Argus and Archmage Alexis did their best in protecting the other two ladies. They instantly jumped out of the broken wagon and went to where the two ladies were taken.

"Knights, protect the Saintesses!"

"Be careful these assassins are dark elves!?"

"Dark Elves?! Why would that semi-dark race be out under the sun!!?"

"Protect the king!!!"

Countless shouts from numerous people. All were trying their best to protect one another. Lady Angela hides behind the back of the archmage who was protecting her. Only to see from the corner of her eyes the duke who was supposed to be protecting her jiejie so far from Lady Night. Her Jiejier is surrounded by dark elves holding various weapons in their hands.

Despite being unable to escape and enemies encircling him, Angela hasn't seen Eirwen lose his calmness, he stood unmoving at the center of the group of assassins while the hovering snowflakes scattered all around him protecting him from all sides.

Angela murmured, "Jiejie?"

[Host. They were about to keep all the low-tier ice spirits with you and break their defense so their leader's blade could reach you. Please escape!]

Eirwen remained calm and aloof in front of danger. When the other dark elves had finally kept the ice spirits busy a crack on their defense was found. Eirwen Night slightly smiled in his heart and ran away from those dark elves and completely lost his capabilities to protect himself as the ice spirits were all caught up with protecting him.

He runs in the direction of the Duke. portraying the intention of someone weak wanting to get the duke's protection at such a dangerous event. Everyone including the dark elves thought that Eirwen Night was finally scared that he'll lose his life and lose his calmness at such a moment. But only Damian Night noticed the thoughts hidden within those golden orbs, which now only have him in sight.

The emotions of sadness and tiredness. He gives up thinking rationally with only a gleam of trust tinting within those eyes. The soul within the duke felt ripples he hadn't experienced within thousands of years. He wanted to reach out to him and pull him towards himself.

But before he could do so, his body froze when he saw his sad smile then a sorrowful scene unfolds before him. He saw the ashen dyed hair dark elf suddenly appearing from behind Eirwen Night. As if watching a movie in slow motion, he witnessed the scene of that short blade going inside Eirwen's body from behind passing through his heart. The tip of the blade is tainted with the crimson blood of Eirwen peeking out the feminine young man's body.

STAB!

Cough!

Then the scene of a large mouthful of red blood coming out of those thin lips which is usually hooked up with a sly smile. Once the embedded short sword was pulled out a fall made of crimson liquid flows out from Eirwen's chest dyeing the pure white dress with the scarlet color. As if a crimson flower blooms out from Eirwen Night's chest.

No one except the duke and Angela Evans witnessed the whole scene of Eirwen Night's death. Duke Damian was stunned in astonishment as he stood stiff in shock and disbelief. Only the loud sound of Angela Evans mixed with the sounds of blades clashing within the field.

"AAAAHHHHHHH!!! JIEJIE!!!" Screamed Angela Evans with tears uncontrollably falling from her.

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