PG | Chapter 17: Visions

“Already?”

Cassius asked, sounding surprised. It was understandable, as she hadn’t been fully purified yet.

“You’ll need more purification to create the barrier.”

“I can’t just keep receiving without giving back.”

Aloissia said, lowering her gaze. Her cheeks flushed under Cassius’s gaze.

“…And I can’t complete the barrier in one go. I have to start today and gradually build it up.”

“I see. But why today of all days?”

“Her Majesty summoned Master Bahadir… the High Priest. This is our chance.”

Aloissia explained briefly and led Cassius away.

She had gone to the Empress’s Palace earlier, anticipating she might summon her today. It had been a while since the Empress had called for her.

If she was summoned, she could simply say she had come early and was waiting, but if not, she would just go back and look for Cassius.

Even when the time came, the Empress didn’t send a maid to summon Aloissia.

Instead, Poi, the head maid, had escorted Bahadir to the Empress’s reception room. Aloissia had come here immediately after witnessing that scene.

“Hurry.”

Cassius’s lips curved into a smile at Aloissia’s urging. He took her hand and started walking.

The white moon in the dark sky cast a soft glow on their path.

* * * 

Deep beneath the temple.

Located deep within the temple, accessible only after a long walk, was a prayer room—a sacred space where only Espers and the High Priest were permitted to enter.

“This way.”

Aloissia whispered, guiding Cassius.

They had almost run into several priests on their way here. But thanks to Cassius’s sharp senses, they had arrived safely.

“Here it is.”

Aloissia stood before a massive door that occupied an entire wall. She then quietly placed her palm against the door. A white light spread through the gaps in the door, and the door opened silently.

“What… is this?”

Cassius asked, his face a mixture of awe and confusion, as he followed Aloissia into the prayer room.

His surprise was understandable. Despite its name, the prayer room contained a vast spring.

‘The Spring of Protection.’

In a space as large as the temple’s central hall, there was a small waterfall. This was the Spring of Protection.

At a glance, it resembled a spring, but in reality, it was a structure built for the peace of the empire.

“When an Esper enters the spring and uses their power, the protective barrier spreads throughout the empire through the water veins.”

Aloissia explained briefly as she stood before the Spring of Protection with Cassius. After speaking, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her heart, which was pounding with the thrill of her first act of defiance.

It was the first time she had visited the Spring of Protection on her own initiative, without the command of the Empress or the High Priest.

Aloissia had only ever used her power under their orders. She had never even dreamed of using it on her own volition, in secret.

But Cassius had given her courage.

He had told her about her possible lineage, the possibility that she wasn’t alone in the world. He had also shown her concern, something no one else had ever done.

Through purification, he had allowed her to think clearly.

It might have been because of the contract. His kindness might have been a calculated move. But it didn’t matter. If it weren’t for Cassius, Aloissia might have become a mindless husk by now. That alone made her feel grateful.

So, she had to repay him. For Bedua, which might be her homeland.

“I’ll need to use a lot of power for my mana to reach Bedua. If I collapse, purify me. Don’t stop until the light fades.”

“…”

Cassius nodded, his expression serious, at Aloissia’s solemn request. She smiled at him and took a deep breath.

‘I can do this.’

It was uncertain whether she could extend the barrier all the way to Bedua, a distant desert region. However, it wasn’t impossible. She just didn’t know because she hadn’t tried it before.

Thanks to Cassius’s purification, her power level should be higher than usual. There was a good chance she could succeed.

Aloissia swallowed hard and approached the spring. Groundwater bubbled up from the center. She removed the cloak that was wrapped around her shoulders and stepped one foot into the spring.

As soon as she touched the water, ripples spread across the surface, and a faint white light began to emanate from the bottom of the spring.

Once an Esper entered the spring, the prayer room became an inviolable space. Even Bahadir or the Empress couldn’t enter.

‘Perfect.’

Aloissia felt a small sense of relief. The hem of her dress billowed around her as the fabric absorbed the water. Her clothes grew heavy as it soaked up the water, but she ignored the weight and walked towards the center.

“I’m starting.”

Finally reaching the point where the groundwater sprang forth, Aloissia spoke to Cassius.

He tensed up as he gripped the edge adorning the spring, the veins on the back of his hand stood out against the granite.

Aloissia steadied her trembling breath in the water that now reached her shoulders. Cassius’s image, reflected in her eyes, slowly faded to black as she closed her eyelids.

Wooo-

Faint ripples spread across the surface as if an earthquake had struck as Aloissia channeled her power into the spring.

Then, a dazzling white light began to radiate from her, spreading outward.

“Ugh…”

As the light filled the spring, Aloissia began to fully extend the barrier. She gathered all her mana, pushing her power along the long water veins, extending her reach far beyond its usual limits, towards the distant corners of the desert.

“…Ha.”

As beads of sweat formed on Aloissia’s forehead, an image of the desert finally appeared in her mind. It wasn’t just her imagination. It was a vision shown to her by her mana.

She saw a boy and a girl in the desert. The small children, who looked about six or seven years old, were playing in the sand.

It was a peaceful scene.

“Ah…!”

Just then…

A deep pit opened up in the sand behind the children. A monstrous wolf, as large as a house, crawled out of the hole that suddenly appeared. It was a monster.

‘No.’

Aloissia’s body convulsed. In the vision, the girl screamed, and the boy drew a dagger from his waist. However, the monster was too large for the young children to handle.

‘No!’

The monster stomped its feet and lunged at the girl. The girl’s hair ribbon came undone, and blood appeared on the monster’s fangs. The boy cried out at the sight of the blood-stained ribbon.

Aloissia desperately flicked her fingers, extending her mana towards the barrier just before the monster attacked the boy.

As the monster recoiled from the barrier…

The boy charged at the monster.

And then…

“Gasp…!”

Aloissia’s eyes flew open. She panted, looking around. The desert landscape that had filled her mind was gone.

Instead…

“Aloissia!”

She saw Cassius rushing towards her, his face pale.

“Cough!”

Aloissia stumbled and coughed. Red blood bloomed in the water around her, spreading like ink.

“Aloissia!”

Cassius called out to her urgently and rushed into the spring. He wrapped his arms around her and led her towards the edge.

When the water level reached her thighs, Aloissia pushed his hand away. She was still caught in the vision.

“…”

Aloissia stared blankly into space, her eyes unfocused.

She hadn’t saved the boy yet. The boy was still there with the monster.

“I have to save him… I have to…”

“It’s enough. Stop.”

Aloissia shook her head. Cassius looked at her with concern, but she stubbornly refused to yield.

“Just a little more.”

Aloisia pleaded. Then, she felt a crushing pain in her chest, and more blood spurted from her mouth.

“Cough!”

“Stop it!”

Cassius yelled in frustration. Aloissia had been using her power in the spring for over an hour. Every time she faltered, his heart clenched.

“Damn it, you said you couldn’t complete it in one go!”

Cassius pulled Aloissia into his arms, holding her tightly as she tried to push him away. He buried his face in the crook of her neck as she collapsed against him and said in a trembling voice,

“It’s all over if you die. So stop. This isn’t your only chance.”

After finishing his words, Cassius covered Aloisia’s mouth with his. He pressed his lips hard against hers and ravaged her mouth. As if he couldn’t control his emotions or his own body.