The sanctuary was wrapped in heavy silence, broken only by the occasional sputter of candles still burning in their iron holders. Renn lay on his bed, a simple wooden frame built with the System, the mattress creaking under his weight as if tired of his shifting. It had been just three days since he arrived in this world, and exhaustion had already seeped into his bones like an uninvited guest. The battle against the Reliquary hordes still buzzed in his head—the clang of towers, the stench of blood and mud—but that wasn't what kept him awake. It was her. Seraphina. Her golden eyes, dim like dying lamps, and that silver hair glowing even in the sanctuary's gloom, as if the moon had slipped inside. What's in that head of yours? he thought, turning again, the sheet tangling around his legs like a cruel joke.
Lilith slept beside him in the same bed, her soft breathing brushing his ear, her warm, curvy body pressed against him. His face was buried in her chest, a soft refuge smelling of incense and something sweet, like crushed berries. "Too comfortable to be fair," he mumbled against her skin, his hoarse voice barely audible. "And still, I can't sleep. What's wrong with me?"
"Chattering again, my lord?" Lilith growled, half-awake, her tone playful with a hint of annoyance. "Or is my chest not lulling you enough tonight?"
Renn chuckled low, lifting his head slightly, his gray eyes meeting her red ones in the dimness. "Your chest is a damn paradise, don't act offended. But it's not that. It's… Seraphina. That look of hers today's got me spinning."
Lilith raised an eyebrow, propping herself on an elbow, her black hair falling like a curtain over her shoulder. "The serious nun? What, she win you over with prayers or pity you with her martyr face?"
"Don't start," he shot back, nudging her lightly. "It's not that. Just… I don't know, something's off. I saw her after the battle, and she looked like the world was crashing down. I can't shake it."
"Can't you?" Lilith grinned, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "My lord, if your heart weren't so soft, you'd be snoring by now. What's the plan—stay here warming my bed or go chase her like a worried hero?"
Renn sighed, running a hand over his face, dry sweat stinging his skin. "I tried sleeping, didn't I? This is pointless. If I stay, I'll end up talking to the walls."
"You already are," she pointed out, winking as she flopped back onto the bed. "Go on, then. But if you find her crying, don't blame me if I make you pay for leaving me alone."
"Deal," he grunted, rising sharply, his tattered cloak brushing the cold floor as he grabbed his boots. "Though if you get jealous, that's your problem, not mine."
"Jealous, me?" Lilith laughed, her warm voice dancing in the air. "Says the one who uses me as a pillow every night. Be careful, my lord. And don't wake Valka, or we'll get a sermon about 'the flow of water' till dawn."
"If I wake Valka, I'll say you kicked me out," he replied, lacing his boots with a crooked grin.
"Hey!" Lilith protested, tossing a pillow he dodged with a laugh. "Traitor. Come back in one piece, or I'll drag you back myself."
The air smelled of burnt wax and salt, an echo of Valka lingering on the walls like a persistent whisper. Renn walked through the sanctuary, his steps echoing in the stillness, the leather of his boots creaking with each stride. "Come on, Renn, move," he muttered, kicking the air as if he could shake off the unease. "Three days here, and I'm pacing over a look. Lilith's right, I'm a mess."
"Where are you, Seraphina?" he whispered, passing the altar where he'd often see her, her solemn figure a steady beacon. But it was empty. Only the amber crystal flickered, its glow pulsing like a curious eye. "Already asleep?" he said, a warm relief rising in his chest, though it didn't fully settle him. "Good. She needs rest more than I do."
"Looking for someone, my lord?" a serene voice echoed from the shadows. Valka emerged, her tall figure draped in a blue robe, her mercury-like hair spilling over her shoulders, her icy blue eyes glinting in the dimness like shards of ice under moonlight.
Renn flinched, letting out a dry laugh. "Damn it, Valka. Do you always have to pop up like a ghost?"
"The water guides me, my lord," she replied, tilting her head with an almost ethereal calm. "What troubles you tonight?"
"What troubles me?" Renn scratched his neck. "Seraphina, I guess. Can't sleep thinking about her."
Valka nodded, her icy eyes studying him. "Her soul's flow is murky, my lord. You'll find her in the Cathedral. But beware. Calm precedes the storm."
"Thanks for the riddle," he grunted, giving her a friendly pat on the shoulder. "If I get lost, I'll blame you."
She smiled faintly, a cold glint in her gaze. "The water always finds its way, my lord."
He rubbed his eyes, dry sweat prickling like tiny needles, and decided to step out. "Need air," he growled, pushing the sanctuary door open. The night's chill hit him, thick with damp earth and pine, cutting through the stale heat inside. His steps led him instinctively toward the Cathedral of Ascension, its faint glow under the full moon calling like a beacon.
"What's wrong with me?" he grumbled, kicking a loose stone that bounced down the white marble steps. "Shouldn't be this worked up over it. Just a look, right?" He paused halfway, staring at the cathedral, its light pulsing like a living heart. "No, it's not just a look. It's her. Something's wrong, and I won't sleep till I get it."
"And if she's fine?" he wondered, resuming the climb, his voice low as if the night might hear. "Then I'm an idiot wasting time. But if she's not…" He paused, his hand gripping his cloak's edge. "Don't know how to handle this, but I can't leave her like that. Not after all she's done." He climbed the last steps, the marble cold under his boots, knowing he wouldn't rest until he understood what was breaking Seraphina.
The Cathedral of Ascension's door creaked open softly, the sound echoing like a sigh in the vast polished marble space. Renn stepped in, his boots striking the floor with a firm echo, the cool air tinged with silver and blue as moonlight filtered through stained glass. There she was. Seraphina. Kneeling at the altar, her tall, delicate frame looked carved from alabaster under the lunar glow. Her silver hair, still tied in a stern bun, fell in loose strands over her white habit edged with gold and red. She was breathtaking, ethereal like a dream, but fragile now. Her shoulders trembled faintly, her hands clasped in prayer as if clinging to something unseen.
Renn stopped, breath caught in his throat. "By all the heavens," he whispered, gray eyes widening at the sight. "You always do this, don't you? Look like the world spins for you." But the sadness in her stance hit him like a punch to the chest. "Can't keep pretending I don't see it," he muttered, voice low and rough. "Not after today."
"Seraphina," he said, raising his voice just enough to cut the silence like a warm breeze. "What are you doing here so late? Come, sit with me a bit. Don't make me talk to myself like a lunatic again."
She looked up, golden eyes widening in surprise, a spark of light trapped in them as if the moon had lit them. "My lord…" Her voice was a whisper, almost a gasp, as she rose with a grace that defied her fragile shoulders. "I didn't expect you here. Shouldn't you be resting? Or did Lilith kick you out for snoring too loud?"
Renn let out a dry laugh, scratching his neck as he stepped forward, firm but gentle, as if afraid his clumsiness might break her. "Resting, she says. Tried that. Lilith's still snoring like she owns the world, but me… well, here I am, bothering you at midnight. You coming or what?"
"Alright, I'll join," she said, her tone hesitant but warm, as if his presence surprised her more than she'd admit. "But are you sure? I don't want to steal your sleep."
"Steal my sleep?" Renn laughed, shaking his head as he gestured to a carved wooden bench near the altar. "You already did, Seraphina. So come, sit. If I stand, I'll start kicking things out of frustration."
She followed, her habit's hem whispering across the floor, filling the silence. They sat together, moonlight bathing them in silver, her hair gleaming like liquid silver spilling over her shoulders. Renn looked at her, gray eyes searching hers, determined not to let silence swallow her again. "You know," he began, resting an elbow on the bench and turning to her with a raised brow, "I can't sleep because of you. That look of yours today… it's got me spinning like a dog chasing its tail. What's going on, Seraphina?"
She looked down, hands tightening in her lap as if holding something in. "It's not that simple, my lord…"
"No dodging," he cut in, tone firm but soft, like scolding a hiding friend. "I'm not as dense as I look, you know. That face of yours isn't fooling anyone. Something's eating at you, and I'm not leaving till you tell me."
"My lord, you don't have to do this," she began, golden eyes lifting with a flash of surprise. "I don't want to burden you."
"Burden?" Renn chuckled incredulously, leaning closer. "If you were a burden, I'd be dreaming of Lilith right now, not freezing here for you. But I'm not, am I? So don't give me that 'you don't have to' line. I'm here because I want to."
"But…" Seraphina hesitated, fingers twisting in her lap. "It's not fair to you."
"Fair?" he shot back, throwing up his hands like the idea was absurd. "Seraphina, I'm here because of you three. Even though I summoned you so recently, I don't regret having you, hear me? Thanks for sticking with me. So stop worrying about fair and tell me what's up."
She blinked, gratitude flickering in her gaze. "My lord, you don't need to say those things…"
"Need to?" he cut in, laughing low with a half-smile crinkling his eyes. "I don't say them because I have to. I say them because I want to. And don't look at me like I'm doing you a favor. I'm here to listen, not for you to bow to me." He placed a hand on her leg, rubbing it gently, his palm's warmth contrasting the marble's chill. "What aren't you telling me? Come on, out with it."
"I…" Seraphina faltered, voice trembling like words were a weight she couldn't release. "It's not easy, my lord. I don't want to overwhelm you."
"Overwhelm me?" Renn laughed, shaking his head. "If I got overwhelmed that easy, I wouldn't be leading this circus of crazy nuns, would I? Go on, talk. What's weighing you down so much?"
She sighed, a deep sound that seemed to free something trapped in her chest, as if the air itself was tired of holding it. Her shoulders eased, and her golden eyes met his, shining with gratitude and pain. "I don't know where to start, my lord…"
"The beginning," he suggested, leaning toward her with a crooked smile promising patience. "Or the middle, or wherever. I'm not picky. Just talk. I'm listening, Seraphina, and I'm not going anywhere till you do."
"Alright," she whispered, voice quaking like a string about to snap. She nodded slowly, hands clasping in her lap as if anchoring herself. "Before the Order…" she began, her voice weaving a story Renn hadn't expected, each word heavy with a burden he was determined to share.
"Before the Order," Seraphina started, voice low like a murmur of wind through cracks, "I wasn't like this. I was… reckless. Like Lilith, I suppose."
Renn raised a brow, propping his chin on his hand with a crooked grin. "You, like Lilith? Gotta hear this. What, dancing with goblins or stealing their booze?"
She let out a faint chuckle, almost surprised at herself, golden eyes glinting briefly. "No, my lord. Not that… seductive. Just… I didn't take anything seriously. I was a god's and human's daughter, you know? An Aasimar. But that meant nothing to the heavens or the earth."
"Nothing?" Renn frowned, leaning closer. "Sounds like they left you hanging between worlds. What'd you do with that?"
"Wandered," she admitted, gaze dropping to the floor, fingers fidgeting with her habit's edge. "Aimless, purposeless. Not enough to fit with the gods, too odd for humans. So… I got tired of not belonging."
"And then?" he asked, tone soft but curious, like unraveling a mystery. "Don't tell me you just kept wandering forever."
"No," she said, a small smile tugging her lips. "I decided to do something for myself. Founded a city, a haven for those like me—impure blood, rejected by all. It was my place, my home."
Renn whistled low, impressed. "That's badass. What was it like? Throne, castle, anything?"
She shook her head, a shadow crossing her face like clouds over the moon. "Not like that. I wasn't a queen. Meant to be the guardian, keeping order, protecting everyone. But I didn't do it right."
"What happened?" Renn asked, voice dropping, sensing the dark turn ahead. "Don't tell me you got bored of the gig?"
"No," she whispered, hand trembling in her lap. "I ignored warnings about traitors sneaking in. Laughed them off, called them nonsense. Didn't like the responsibility. Thought I could handle it all effortlessly."
"Hey," Renn said, tone softening as he watched her, "that's not so weird. Sometimes you think you've got it all locked down. What went wrong?"
Seraphina swallowed, voice cracking like thin glass. "One day, I went for a stroll. Ignored those helping me run the city, mocked their worries. 'They're overreacting,' I said. When I got back…" A silver tear rolled down her cheek, gleaming in the moonlight. "It was ruins. The purebloods destroyed it. Couldn't stand an abomination like my city."
Renn frowned, heart tightening. "Damn," he muttered, gently undoing her bun, silver strands falling like a shining river over her shoulders. He took her trembling hand, stroking it softly. "Hey, it wasn't just your fault. No one carries that alone."
She looked at him, golden eyes shimmering with tears and gratitude. "You don't get it, my lord. Hate consumed me after that. I killed everyone I could find, chasing revenge."
"And?" he asked, voice low but steady, holding her gaze. "What'd you find in that? Did it help?"
"No," she admitted, tears falling faster. "When no one was left, I tried to end myself. Was dying, under a storm, with nothing… till the wind brought a book from the Holy Order."
Renn raised a brow, a crooked smile creeping up. "A book? What, hooked you so bad you decided to live?"
"Something like that," she said, a weak laugh slipping through her sobs. "It was torn, barely readable. Thought it'd be a good read before dying. But the more I read, the more I felt understood."
"And what'd you do?" he asked, tone soft but curious, like peeling back a tale.
"Set death aside," she said, voice shaky but firm. "Refused to give up. Sought the Order, and they took me in with open arms. Finally had something bigger than me, something to give my existence to."
"That's why you're so strict," Renn said, nodding slowly. "With everything, everyone… and yourself, I bet."
"Yes," she whispered, hand squeezing his. "I swore never to let order slip again. But when I almost lost you today, I felt I failed again. That I didn't keep my purpose: to serve you, protect you."
"Listen," Renn said, pulling her close, her head resting on his shoulder, his hand stroking her silver hair glowing like moonlight. "I'm here because of you three. Even though I summoned you so recently, I don't regret having you. Thanks for sticking with me, Seraphina."
"I'm not worthy of your trust," she sobbed against his shoulder. "A fool chasing redemption."
Renn laughed, a low, real sound echoing in the cathedral. "Honestly, never pictured you as a rebel like Lilith too. Would've loved seeing you back then, causing chaos with that silver hair flying around."
Seraphina blushed, a giggle escaping. "I wasn't a seductress, my lord. Just… reckless. That's why the Order's my refuge."
"So what?" he said, tone teasing but warm. "Doesn't make you less worthy. Makes me want to know more."
"Thank you," she whispered, hesitant. "But you don't have to—"
"Shh," he cut in, smiling. "Not saying it out of duty. Saying it 'cause I want to. And I'll prove it."
Renn stood, offering her a hand. "Come on," he said, voice steady with quiet resolve. "Up."
Seraphina looked at him, golden eyes glinting with confusion. "What are you doing, my lord?" she asked, taking his hand with a faint tremble, letting him guide her to the pulpit in the cathedral's center. Moonlight fell over them like a silver cloak, her hair shining like a starry river.
"No questions," he replied, flicking his hand to summon the System's inventory. A glowing card appeared between his fingers, the Hero Ascension Card, pulsing with golden light. "Gonna prove something with actions, not words. I trust you more than anyone, Seraphina."
"What?" She blinked, eyes widening, disbelief flashing in them. "My lord, no… that's too much. You can't decide that on a whim."
"A whim?" Renn laughed, holding the card before her. "Not a spur-of-the-moment thing. Been thinking it since I saw you today. No one I trust more to guard my land, my people… my life. It's you."
"But, my lord," she protested, voice quaking, "Lilith, Valka… they're strong, worthy. I'm not—"
"Stop," he cut in, tone firm but warm, raising the card with a half-smile. "No debate. It's you, Seraphina. Always has been."
She opened her mouth to argue, but he activated the card with a wrist flick, and the air crackled with radiant energy.
[System]: "Do you wish to use the Ascension Card on an inner circle member: Seraphina (Aasimar, Abbess Nun, Level 24)?"]
"Yes," Renn said without hesitation, eyes locked on her, a spark of excitement in his gray gaze.
"My lord, wait—" she tried, but the System spoke again:
[System]: "The Ascension Card resonates with the Cathedral of Ascension. Seraphina ascends to Deity rank: Luminara Redemptrix."]
A golden burst erupted from the card, enveloping Seraphina like a cocoon of light. Thunder rumbled in the night sky, and a swirl of clouds spun above the cathedral. She gasped, hands rising instinctively as the glow lifted her a foot off the ground. "My lord…" she whispered, voice lost in the roaring wind swirling around her.
"Look at you!" Renn exclaimed, laughing in awe as he stepped back. "Told you you're incredible!"
A beam of pure light shot from the clouds, piercing the roof and striking her with blinding force. Her silver hair broke free, floating like liquid light with starry threads weaving through it. Her white habit dissolved into light particles, reforming into a ceremonial robe of pure white with silver plates on shoulders and chest, etched with Order runes. An ethereal cape, translucent like lunar mist, fell from her shoulders, its golden edges glowing with redemption symbols. The air turned sacred, solemn, and a wave of light exploded from her, stretching hundreds of miles, driving back the monsters lurking in the night.
[System:] "Seraphina has ascended to Deity rank as Luminara Redemptrix. Her redemptive light resonates with the Sacred Order's will, a beacon of justice and purification in service to Lord Renn."]
[System:] "Seraphina's profile updated: Deity Luminara Redemptrix, Level 24. Abilities: Celestial Redemptive Light, Immaculate Barrier, Redeemer's Grace, Luminara Presence. Special: Redemptive Aura (Loyalty 110). Description: An Aasimar ascended to Luminara Redemptrix, embodiment of redemption and celestial authority. Her silver hair glows with starry flecks, her white robe with silver plates and ethereal cape reflecting her purifying power. She serves Renn with absolute devotion, a beacon of justice and protection for the sacred Order."]
The light faded slowly, and Seraphina touched the ground again, transformed. Her silver hair shimmered with starry glints, cascading to her waist. Her golden eyes gleamed with a trapped dawn, her pale skin radiating a translucent glow, her new robe resplendent with celestial authority. Yet she was still herself, delicate and human, hands trembling as she looked at him.
"My lord…" she said, voice shaky, almost a whisper. "Why me? I don't deserve this…"
Renn stepped toward her, smile warm with affection as he took her in. "Because you're my light, Seraphina. No one I trust more. And look at you now… you're a damn marvel!"
She looked down, touching the ethereal cape with hesitant fingers. "I don't know what to say, my lord. This is… too much."
"Then don't say anything," he replied, laughing softly, eyes shining with pride. "Just take it. You earned it, even if you don't believe it."
"But I…" she began, lifting her gaze with a flicker of doubt.
"Shh," he cut in, stepping closer. "No buts. It's you, period. What, think I'll change my mind now that you look like something out of a story?"
She laughed weakly, a crystalline sound filling the air. "I don't know if I can live up to this, my lord."
"Live up to it?" Renn barked a laugh, shaking his head. "Seraphina, you were already there before this. I just made it official."
Renn offered her a hand, gaze warm but firm. "Come here," he said, voice a murmur cutting the cathedral's reverent silence. "Let's tone down all this grandeur."
Seraphina looked at him, still dazed, but nodded and let him guide her from the pulpit. Instead of the bench, he dropped onto the marble floor with a theatrical grunt, patting the space beside him. "Sit. Or better yet, lie with me a bit. This floor's cozier than my bed right now."
She blinked, surprised, but a shy smile curved her lips. "My lord, this isn't very… dignified, is it?"
"Dignified?" Renn laughed, lying back with an arm under his head. "I'm beat, and so are you. Come on, I don't bite… unless you ask, of course."
"My lord!" she exclaimed, blushing, but her soft laugh betrayed her mock outrage. "You're impossible."
"I know," he said, tone teasing but warm. "Come on, don't make me beg. I've done enough today."
Seraphina hesitated, then sank gracefully beside him, her new robe glowing faintly against the marble. Renn offered his free arm as a pillow, and after a pause, she rested her head on it, silver hair spilling over his chest like a river of light.
"Comfy?" he asked, glancing at her with a crooked smile.
"More than I should admit, my lord," she replied, voice soft but with a playful edge that caught him off guard. "Lilith will be jealous if she knows I'm taking her spot as your personal pillow."
Renn laughed, the sound bouncing in the empty cathedral. "Let her be jealous then. I'm not telling her. Let her find out and throw a fit."
"You're awful," she said, laughing, a light, clear sound brightening the air. "Poor Lilith. I'll have to apologize tomorrow."
"Apologize?" Renn raised a brow, feigning offense. "If anyone deserves an apology, it's me for putting up with her snoring. You're just using a free arm."
She nestled closer, body relaxing against his, the ethereal cape brushing his arm like a soft cloud. "I suppose you're right," she murmured, golden eyes drifting shut. "Thank you, my lord. For all this."
"No problem," he replied, voice dropping to a whisper as he stared at the ceiling, stained glass reflecting moonlight over them. "But seriously, Seraphina, time to sleep. Long day, and now you're… well, a Luminara Redemptrix. Rest up to show off that new glow tomorrow."
"Show it off?" she asked, a giggle slipping out as she cracked an eye to look at him. "Think Lilith will let me live it down if she sees me like this?"
"Nope," he said, chuckling low. "She'll tease you till you make her a matching cape. But that's tomorrow's mess."
She laughed again, a soft sound fading into silence. "I'll try," she murmured, breathing slowing into calm.
For a moment, all was peace. The sanctuary, the battle, the world melted away, leaving only Seraphina's warmth beside him and the silver gleam of her hair against his skin.