Elarion stopped at a small clothing stall and bought a simple, clean dress for Lilli.
He handed it to her without a word.
She clutched it tightly, eyes wide with disbelief.
They walked together toward the Church of Ellaria.
As the grand white spires came into view, Lilli tugged his hand nervously.
“Big brother… we can’t go near there. The guards will be angry…”
Elarion assured her softly, “It’s alright. Come with me.”
The church entrance was lined with guards in silver armor, holy sword symbols embroidered on their mantles.
They stepped forward and halted the pair.
“Please state your purpose,” one said firmly.
Elarion replied calmly, “Why? Isn’t the church open for everyone?”
The guard captain shook his head.
“The Goddess blesses everyone, but we cannot allow someone wearing a mask inside. How do we know you are not a demon hiding behind a disguise?”
At the word “demon,” Lilli pulled her hand back in fear.
Elarion stood still for a moment, then slowly removed his hood.
Golden hair spilled out.
Sky-blue eyes met the guards.
The entire line of soldiers froze.
Then, as one, they dropped to their knees.
“Holy Son!” they chorused, heads bowed in reverence.
Church officials came running from inside the entrance, robes fluttering, faces filled with shock and joy as they spotted him.
Lilli looked back at the kneeling guards, then up at the golden-haired man beside her, completely confused.
Elarion brought Lilli inside the Church of Ellaria.
The sisters stood to the side, clearly confused why the Holy Son had brought a stray child in, but they kept their silence.
Elarion crouched down to her level.
“Show me who cursed you as a demon.”
Lilli shrieked and shook her head violently, eyes wide with fear.
He asked her a few more times, but she refused to speak.
Realizing she was terrified, he gently took her hand and led her to a quiet table in the church garden.
The sisters quickly brought out plates of fresh pastries and sweet juices.
Lilli’s eyes sparkled with wonder.
“Big brother… can I really eat all this?”
Elarion smiled softly.
“Go on.”
She started gobbling everything down with both hands.
Elarion laughed gently.
“Take it slow. No one will stop you.”
He waited patiently until she was full.
Her little stomach bulged as she leaned back with a bright smile. Get faster updates on g.com.
“Hehe, big brother… I’ve never eaten anything like this. It’s so sweet…”
Elarion smiled.
“So, why don’t you tell me what happened to your village?”
Lilli’s face suddenly went silent.
After a few moments, she began to speak in a small voice.
Her village had been attacked by a group of bandits.
Her mother had hidden her away.
She stayed hidden for two full days.
When she finally thought it was safe and came out, everyone was dead or captured.
She ran until her legs gave out.
Luckily, a passing merchant’s carriage gave her a ride to the capital and left her at the church.
Elarion looked confused.
“Then why did the sisters call you a demon?”
Lilli looked nervous.
Elarion patted her head gently.
“You can tell me.”
Lilli’s eyes filled with tears.
“When I told my friends that the hero was a liar who killed my mother… they started beating me and told everyone I was a demon…”
Elarion’s brows rose.
“Why do you call the hero a liar, Lilli?”
Lilli’s tears spilled over.
“When my mother hid me, she promised me the hero would come to save us all… but he didn’t. I waited until my stomach hurt, but no hero came.”
Elarion froze.
The little girl’s words hit him like a blade to the chest.
He stared at Lilli, her face streaked with tears, and felt something inside him crack.
She waited for me… and I never came.
He knelt again so he was at eye level with her, voice hoarse.
“Lilli… I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“I didn’t know about your village. If I had known…”
Lilli wiped her tears with her sleeve, looking up at him with big, confused eyes.
“But you’re also a hero? Heroes are supposed to save everyone… that’s what mother said.”
Elarion’s throat tightened.
He couldn’t find the right words.
He gently placed a hand on her head.
“I’m trying to be a hero… but sometimes I fail too. I’m sorry you had to suffer because of that.”
Lilli looked at him for a long moment, then suddenly hugged him tightly.
“It’s okay, big brother. You gave me food today. You’re a nice hero.”
Elarion closed his eyes, the weight of her innocent words crushing him even more.
Because of the curse, he had missed or ignored so many distress calls — demon raids tearing through border villages, entire settlements falling into despair, and in the chaos, humans turning on their own kind for slavery, greed, and lust. You are reading on novelping . com, the official source.
Lilli’s village had been one of those unfortunate places.
He understood the immense responsibility placed on his shoulders once again.
He needed to recover his strength, no matter the cost.
He called over some church officials and gave them strict instructions to take special care of Lilli, promising he would visit again.
The officials eagerly bowed, fawning over the Holy Son with promises of the best treatment.
One of the sisters gently took the little girl’s hand.
“Little one, what’s your name?” she asked kindly.
“And how did you meet the Holy Son?”
Lilli didn’t answer right away.
She kept staring at the path where Elarion had disappeared, her small face strangely calm.
Then she turned to the sister with a soft, almost playful smile that didn’t quite belong on a child’s face.
For the briefest moment, her innocent golden eyes flickered with a deep, unnatural purple hue.
The sister’s own eyes mirrored the same fleeting purple glint.
Lilli tilted her head, voice light and sweet, yet carrying an odd, amused undertone.
“You can call me… Lilith.”
The sister smiled back, calm and obedient.
“Yes, my lady.”
Lilli giggled softly, the sound strangely melodic, her gaze still fixed on the distant path the hero had taken.
The hero’s assigned quarters in the palace were a spacious suite reserved only for the empire’s most honored guests — high ceilings, polished marble floors, and wide windows overlooking the inner gardens.
Simple yet elegant, it served as a quiet sanctuary away from the main palace noise.
Elarion stood in the center of the main room and called everyone together.
Aurora, Astrid, Charlotte, and Morgana gathered quickly, the tension in the air thick enough to cut.
Charlotte stepped forward first, concern clear on her face.
“Elarion, are you alright?”
“Don’t worry, teacher,” he replied, voice strained.
“I’m fine… I just needed some time.”
Charlotte studied him for a moment, then asked gently, “So… what do you decide?”
Elarion closed his eyes, pain etched across his face.
His teeth clenched visibly.
The others could see the fierce internal struggle as silence stretched between them.
Finally, he spoke, words forced out through gritted teeth.
“Since this is the only way… and I know how hard it must be for all of you… I will not stop your efforts because of my insecurities.”
Everyone exchanged heavy glances.
Aurora moved closer without hesitation.
She wrapped her arms around him in a warm, loving embrace.
“Husband… no matter what happens, you are the one I love more than anything.”
Elarion hugged her back tightly, burying his face in her shoulder, doing his best to hold back the tears threatening to fall.
The room remained quiet, the weight of his words settling over them all.