Once they were alone, Eliana’s kind demeanor disappeared, replaced by an expression of utmost seriousness. “The previous night when I was asleep, the God of Light communicated with me,” she whispered to Val. “He instructed me to go to the Northern Frontier to find a crimson-eyed man who rules over fire and blood.”
Val’s heart skipped a beat as he processed her words. Although he wasn’t arrogant and strong enough to call himself the ruler of fire and blood, he couldn’t deny the possibility that the person they were looking for was him. After all, his bloodline skills granted the ability to rule over hellish fire and blood. Moreover, when he uses the Blood Absorption skill, his eyes would turn red.
The description she provided matched him to a tee!
However, he decided to keep this realization to himself.
Instead, he let out a low whistle and said, “So you’re an emissary.”
Emissaries were chosen servants of the God of Light, tasked with a divine mission. However, the God himself wouldn’t interact with them directly. Instead, they would receive divine revelations during their sleep. Furthermore, emissaries were allowed to seek assistance from trustworthy individuals in completing their missions.
Thus, it seemed that Eliana trusted Val, and was thus sharing the details of her mission with him, presumably in the hope of acquiring his help.
“Yes, I am,” she bobbed her head up and down cutely.
Val raised an eyebrow, “And why does God want you to find this man?”
Eliana considered for a moment before replying thoughtfully, “He asked me to help him if required. The purpose of God is often shrouded in mystery, but it is my duty to follow His guidance without doubt in my heart.”
What bullshit!
Inside his mind, Val scoffed. This was such nonsense. Eliana, a young and talented priestess, was being exploited as a mere pawn in a divine game, used by a god to do the dirty work. She was to do manual labor when there were so many pigs in the Church. What was the God thinking?
However, he kept his thoughts to himself, maintaining an empathetic facade to ensnare Eliana deeper into the trap.
As his acting skills came into play, his eyes brimmed with a compassion that didn’t reflect his true feelings, and he could be seen gazing at Eliana as if he sympathized deeply with her plight.
“It seems ridiculous that you were dispatched so far from home to find a man you know nothing about in the harsh northern lands. Don’t you think you’ve been wronged?” he asked, his voice filled with faux concern.
Eliana shrugged lightly, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “As a nun, it’s my duty to follow God’s words. It’s not my place to question God. I just want to be of help to my god,” she responded. Her smile faded slightly as she added, “But it’s indeed hard to look for a stranger in a sea of people. Would you mind extending a helping hand?”
“I don’t mind helping at all.” Val responded, a playful glint in his eyes. He chuckled lightly, “In fact, the person you’re looking for might be closer than you think. You might be looking at him right now.”
Eliana laughed, mistaking his serious confession for a joke. She had a light, heartening laugh that made the corners of his mouth twitch up.
Though he could have clarified right there, Val decided to let her continue with her misunderstanding.
‘Hiding the truth from her might prove to be advantageous in the future. Besides, I find it quite funny.’
As he looked at her, he really found it amusing to watch her so oblivious to the truth.
Growl!
Their light-hearted banter was suddenly interrupted by the sound of a stomach growling loudly.
Oh my!
Eliana’s face turned a shade of red as she quickly covered her stomach, mortified. She was a nun, a dignified and composed figure. Making such a noise in front of her brother Val made her feel utterly embarrassed. 𝒐𝒱𝗅xt.𝗇𝓔t
Val, however, didn’t seem to mind. He could understand why she was hungry. She had lost her appetite back in the dinning compartment when it was revealed that Val’s food was poisoned. So she hadn’t eaten anything. She had been hungry for quite a while now.
Instead of making fun of her, he reached into his provision pack, pulling out a piece of hard cheese, some dried fruits, and a handful of nuts.
With a friendly smile, he extended the food towards her. “Seems like someone’s hungry,” he said to her, light amusement echoing in his voice.
Eliana blinked, taken aback. Her embarrassment was quickly replaced by surprise. She had expected Val to tease her or make a light-hearted jab at her expense, but instead, he responded with kindness. His unexpected understanding and respect warmed her heart. She was beginning to realize that Val was far better than what she initially thought.
Eliana gratefully accepted the food, quickly popping a piece of cheese into her mouth. As she ate the cheese, her almond eyes could be seen lighting up with satisfaction.
“Thank you, Brother Val. You’re very kind,” she said, her cheeks flushing a soft pink. Eliana couldn’t help but feel a little flutter in her heart. His thoughtfulness and the gentle look in his eyes made her feel valued and special.
Val flashed her a teasing smile, his eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. “No need to thank me, Sister Eliana,” he said, his tone light. “Instead, I owe you a great debt of gratitude. Your prayers during my time of danger were a beacon of light. I can’t be certain, but I have a feeling they might’ve made a significant difference in ensuring my survival.”
Eliana was touched by his words. She had prayed for him, true, but she hadn’t expected her prayers to be so effective or for Val to remember and appreciate them so much. His heartfelt gratitude left her with a warm feeling. She was starting to feel more and more comfortable around him, and she was pleased to see her efforts to be of help were appreciated.
“I’m glad I could be helpful,” she replied to him as a soft smile bloomed on her pink cherry lips.