Chapter 29: A midnight visit

A day before their departure back to the Azure Temple, everyone was fast asleep after the farewell party organized by the Aqualila Kingdom. A gentle breeze drifted through a gap in the window of the room where Shawn slept.

A sudden knock at the door pulled him out of his sleep. Rubbing his eyes and stumbling over his own feet, he made his way to the door.

“Who the hell… disturbing me at this hour?”

He swung open the door to find Aria standing in the hallway in her nightwear. Her blindfold was slightly askew, as if she had tripped multiple times on her way over.

“Did you… forget where the bathroom was? Or did you start a new hobby of knocking on people's doors in the middle of the night?” he asked sarcastically.

“Hey! I just wanted to talk with you, that’s all,” she said, tilting her head slightly. “Do you mind if I disturb you for a bit?”

Annoyed by her presence at such a late hour, Shawn answered bluntly. “Yes. So if you’ll excuse me—” He started to shut the door, but Aria wedged her foot into the frame, forcing it back open.

“What the hell are you doing?! We can talk tomorrow! I need to sleep!”

“Just five minutes! No, three! Actually, just give me one minute!” she pleaded.

Shawn sighed and loosened his grip on the doorknob. Released suddenly, the door swung forward and struck Aria right in the face, knocking her backward onto the floor.

“Ouch! Ow…” She sat up, clutching her head as blood began to trickle from her nose.

“So, what do you want to talk about? Make it quick—we have to leave for the Azure Temple tomorrow.”

“I know, that’s why I came to talk to you…” She pulled herself up, dusted off her clothes, and walked straight into the room.

Her hands were outstretched slightly as she navigated the space until she felt the edge of the bed, sitting down without hesitation.

Shawn sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Well?”

“Geez! At least let me get comfortable. Can’t you wait a few seconds?” She adjusted her position, laying flat on her stomach. “That’s better. You know, you might be a good person, Shawn, but you really suck when it comes to serving your lady.”

“I know, and I’m not sorry! I agreed to be your attendant to learn from you, not to treat this like a maid job,” he shot back.

“Set that aside for a moment. Where is it?”

“Where’s what?”

Aria tilted her head, a sly grin spreading across her face. “Don’t play dumb. I heard Marvin offering you a bottle of wine as a farewell gift. I know you have it.”

“Aria…”

“Come on! You know how long it’s been since I had a proper drink! Every time I pass by the guards' quarters, I smell that rich, flavorful aroma… Ahh…”

“And you woke me up for something that stupid? You know I’m not giving it to you, no matter what. Besides, didn’t you already drink a full bottle at the opening party?”

Her cheeks puffed out. “I hate you when you act so grumpy! You’re always so mean to me, but you treat everyone else with care!”

“I’m only mean to the drunkard who thinks she can bully me into handing over alcohol at midnight. Now, if that’s all you wanted—”

“No…” Her voice softened, her playful tone vanishing. “Actually, I talked to Kaelen—the champion of the Grand Star Festival. I asked him about the relic he used against me and Leo.”

Shawn’s expression hardened as he sat down in a nearby chair. “The relic? You mean that red orb that absorbed opponent mana?”

Aria went quiet for a moment. “Yes. I spoke with him while everyone else was celebrating.”

“You visited him alone?”

“Of course. I am the Sword Saint,” she said, though there was no bravado in her voice. “He told me he bought it from a cloaked man with a deep voice in the Sandsreach Kingdom. The man told Kaelen to ‘go get his revenge.’”

Shawn frowned. “Someone is deliberately handing out forbidden relics to people with grudges against you?”

“That’s what I believe,” Aria said softly. “And that’s why I’ve made up my mind. I’m not going back to the Azure Temple yet.”

“What?” Shawn sat up straight. “What do you mean?”

“I’m going to Sandsreach. I need to find out who that cloaked figure is. If someone is targeting me, I need to know why—and who’s behind it.”

“Aria, that’s insane! You can’t just cross into another kingdom on a whim! The border tensions between Sandsreach and Frosthold—” He cut himself off, his eyes widening as he realized what he had just blurted out.

“Tensions?” Aria tilted her head, genuinely confused. “What tensions? Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?”

Shawn groaned, rubbing his temples. “Because of this exact reaction! If the Sword Saint starts meddling in border disputes, it could trigger a war. The kingdoms are already on edge. Your presence alone could be seen as a threat.”

Aria remained quiet for a long moment, her expression unreadable behind her blindfold.

“I understand,” she said finally. “But I’m still going.”

“Aria—”

“Shawn.” Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “Whoever distributed that relic knows how to use power that shouldn't be in public hands. Banned relics like that don't just harm individuals—they can kill thousands. They could even threaten the gods. I won't sit back while people are manipulated into becoming weapons for someone else's revenge.”

Silence settled over the room. Realizing he couldn't change her mind, Shawn let out a long defeatist sigh. “Fine. We leave tomorrow.”

“Hehe… I knew you’d understand! You always come through when things get serious.”

“Right. But before we leave, we need to inform the King. A formal letter of passage from him might keep us out of trouble. Plus…” He winced, rubbing his forehead. “I need to inform the High Priest. They’ve probably already decorated the temple for your return tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry about that!” Aria stood up, suddenly full of energy. “I’ll handle the High Priest myself! Consider it done!”

Before Shawn could ask what she meant, she threw open the window.

“Aria! Wait, what are you—”

“I’ll be back soon! I’ll just pop over and tell the old priest I won't be coming back yet!”

She leaped from the windowsill, and a split second later, a sonic boom shattered the silence of the night sky as she accelerated into the distance.

“Aria…!” Shawn called out helplessly to the empty room. “Why is she so impossible to predict?”

Miles away, the white stone walls of the Azure Temple gleamed in the night, illuminated by hundreds of glowing oil lamps prepared for the Sword Saint's return.

Sitting on a stone bench in the temple gardens, the High Priest looked up at the moon and sighed heavily.

“Aria-sama… when will you return? The devotees are waiting for your divine guidance, and so much time has passed…” He gazed at the night sky. “Tonight’s moon is truly beautiful, just like Aria-sama… Huh?”

He rubbed his eyes once, then twice.

“What in the name of the gods—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Aria slammed into the courtyard ground. The sheer force of her landing shattered the stone tiles, sending a shockwave that knocked the High Priest off his bench.

As he scrambled up, he saw Aria standing in the crater. Her hair fluttered in the wind, her figure bathed in the silver moonlight like a goddess descending from the heavens.

“High Priest!” Aria greeted him with her signature bright smile. “I’m here to drop off a quick message!”

“Y-Yes, Aria-sama…” he stammered, nodding in shock.

“An urgent matter has come up,” she announced, clearing her throat professionally. “My presence is required elsewhere. I need you and the other priests to guide the devotees and oversee prayers in my absence. I’ll be back as soon as I can!”

“Aria-sama, I understand, but may I ask—”

“Bye!”

Before he could ask a single question, she launched herself back into the sky, leaving behind a cloud of dust and a jaw-dropped High Priest.

“Aria-sama… there was so much I needed to tell you…” he muttered to the empty air.

“She still doesn't listen to anyone, just like when she was a child,” a voice echoed from the shadows behind him.

The High Priest turned, panicking as he recognized the white-haired figure, and bowed deeply. “Alderic-sama! Forgive me, I didn't sense your presence.”

“No need to bow, High Priest. Though I missed my chance to reunite with her, it seems she’s still as naive as ever,” the man chuckled, turning back toward the temple corridors.

“We will meet soon,” he whispered under his breath, his eyes darkening slightly. “My precious daughter, Aria…”