Chapter 72: Aria Tellus 6

In the western part of the academy's commercial district, a solitary church stood as the only bastion of the Holy Church of Light that had managed to establish its presence deep within the academy's confines.

While the Holy Kingdom had a fervent desire to expand its ecclesiastical reach within the academy, they faced significant opposition from other nations, particularly the Empire.

The Empire vehemently argued that the academy should remain a neutral ground, dedicated to the progress and unity of the entire continent.

As a result, they asserted that it should not be used as a place for religious worship, a viewpoint strongly backed by numerous other nations.

However, the Holy Kingdom remained skeptical of these arguments, recognizing that the Empire's stance was a means to curb the Holy Kingdom's growing influence.

The tension between these two powers over religious control within the academy added a layer of complexity to the already intricate dynamics of the institution.

At present, Elena found herself being guided by a group of low-ranking priests who were escorting her to the office of the bishop assigned to oversee the branch of the Holy Church of Light. It was an unusual circumstance as she had to miss several of her regular classes to respond to this summons.

Elena held a distinguished position as the saintess of the Holy Church of Light. In ordinary circumstances, a mere bishop should not have the authority to summon her suddenly.

However, this situation was unique. The summons came directly from the bishop who served as the right hand of the Pope himself, and was one of the few individuals whom Elena genuinely cared about.

He had been a constant presence in her life, providing guidance and support since her childhood in the Holy Kingdom. This special connection made Elena's visit to the bishop's office particularly significant.

Upon reaching the bishop's office, Elena was greeted by the sight of a man who appeared to be in his mid-forties, though the weight of his responsibilities had etched lines of fatigue across his face and left him with pronounced dark circles under his eyes.

As the door swung open, the bishop momentarily glanced up from his desk, his tired expression brightening as he saw the person who had entered.

"Saintess, welcome. I'm sorry I couldn't greet you personally," Bishop Austin said, his voice warm and welcoming.

Elena offered a reassuring smile. "No, it's alright, Bishop Austin."

"Please, take a seat." Bishop Austin gestured to one of the comfortable couches in the room. As Elena settled in, he rose from his own seat, temporarily setting aside his work, and joined her on the opposite couch.

With a simple wave of his hand, his attentive assistant immediately went to work, preparing a fresh pot of tea for the two of them.

"Why did you call me here, Bishop Austin?" Elena inquired, her brows furrowed in curiosity and concern.

Austin remained silent for a moment, his gaze weighted with gravity. "We have a significant issue on our hands, Elena," he began. "Or should I say, we've received momentous news—a great warning from the Goddess."

"A warning?" Elena's eyes widened in astonishment. Not only had the Goddess herself issued the warning, but she had also refrained from providing any premonitions or signs. Elena struggled to grasp the implications of this development.

"So, you're confused as well, huh?" Austin remarked, recognizing the bewildered expression on Elena's face.

Elena nodded, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment. She, the saintess and the one closest to the Goddess in this world, had been left in the dark about such important news. The realization weighed heavily on her. "Yes," she admitted, her voice tinged with chagrin. "It's quite shameful for me not to have been aware of this as the saintess."

Austin offered a reassuring smile. "Don't be too hard on yourself," he consoled her. "We're just as perplexed as you are. The Goddess usually provides premonitions of future events or communicates directly with the current saintess or pope, warning us of impending disasters or catastrophes."

Elena took a deep breath, her curiosity growing. "What was the nature of this warning, Bishop?" she inquired.

"Demons," Austin spoke the word solemnly, his gaze locked onto Elena's, who was taken aback by the gravity of the situation. "The warning we received from the Goddess is about the imminent weakening of the barrier that separates our world from the demonic realm. It is likely to break soon, and when it does, all hell might be unleashed upon our world."

Elena felt a chill run down her spine at the mention of demons. The thought of those malevolent beings roaming freely in their world was a nightmare she had hoped would never come true. The memory of her childhood friend, devoured and butchered by demons, still haunted her.

She shivered slightly, her mind racing with questions and concerns. While she was curious about how the barrier that prevented the demonic realm from interacting with their world had been broken, her top priority was to understand her role as the saintess in this impending crisis.

Adrian couldn't help but be torn by his thoughts as he gazed at the slumbering form of Aria. It had taken some time, but he had managed to get her neatly dressed again, though a dampness still lingered in the lower part of her attire. She lay there, sleeping so serenely, and if someone were to glance at her now, they would never suspect the intense encounter they had just shared.

Carrying Aria in his arms like a princess, Adrian couldn't help but be plagued by a tumult of emotions. The realization of their recent intimate encounter was still fresh in his mind, and he felt a mix of confusion and guilt.

'Did I really just fuck with my sister?' Adrian mused inwardly, his thoughts in disarray. 'But it doesn't count, right? She was Adrian's sister, not mine. I'm just inside his body' 'but doesn't that mean I'm Adrian right now?'

He scratched his head in frustration, trying to push aside the complex questions surrounding their relationship. Right now, his priority was to find a safe place for Aria to rest. Glancing at his watch, he sighed.

"I guess I won't make it back in time for Euphemia's lab now," he thought with regret. "I'm sorry, Euphemia. I hope the potion I gave you will keep you satisfied for a while"

...

'Hm?'

Aria woke up, her eyes slowly fluttering open as she stared at the familiar ceiling above her. Confusion lingered in her gaze as she looked around and took in her surroundings.

"I'm in my room?" she mumbled softly to herself.

Analise, the ever-dutiful servant, noticed Aria's awakening and hurried to her side. With a warm smile, she spoke, "Ah, you're awake, young lady. I'll fetch you some water right away."

Aria accepted the glass of water, her memory still hazy. She took a sip and then asked, "When did I get back, Analise?"

"Oh, you don't remember? The young master carried you all the way here just a while ago. It seems you fainted from the intense training the two of you did."

Only then did Aria's memory fully return, and her face flushed beet red as she recalled every intimate detail of what had transpired between her and Adrian in that private training room. Conflicted emotions swirled within her, making it hard to define what she truly felt.

As her cheeks burned with embarrassment, she suddenly threw the glass she had been holding against the wall.

"Young lady?"

The shattering sound reverberated through the room, mirroring the turmoil within her. Not only had she engaged in such a taboo act with her own brother, but it was also with the very person she had once despised—Adrian. Her attempts to muster anger fell short, and instead, a strange sense of happiness overcame her. Aria couldn't comprehend her own emotions and was left in a state of profound confusion.

As Aria lay in her room, her mind wandered through the tumultuous emotions that had been stirred within her.

The encounter with Adrian, her own brother, was something that defied all norms and expectations. It was a taboo that she couldn't easily reconcile, yet the sensations and memories of their intimate moments remained vivid.

She closed her eyes and let her hand trail down her body, feeling the remnants of their shared passion.

The way Adrian had touched her, the ecstasy that had overwhelmed her, it was an experience unlike any other.

Aria's conflicted thoughts swirled in her mind, the guilt of their forbidden act mingling with the pleasure she had experienced.

Images of the being from her nightmares resurfaced, but this time, she wasn't afraid.

The creature's presence had always been linked to fear and darkness, but now, her own emotions seemed to overpower it.

Aria felt a strange warmth, as if Adrian's energy still encircled her, providing comfort and reassurance.

She continued to rub her belly, feeling the warmth deep within. Her thoughts were a chaotic mix of confusion, happiness, and guilt.

Aria couldn't fully comprehend what had happened, but one thing was certain – her relationship with Adrian had taken an unexpected and forbidden turn, and she couldn't easily shake the intense feelings it had stirred within her.