After leaving Shin's room Mira was beaming with happiness, it's her first time she got herself a friend, someone who could listen to her, someone who would never leave her and someone who would always be with her without caring about her title as a Saintess.
"Miss Saintess, Lady Elara has summoned you."
While Mira was lost in her happy thoughts one of her bodyguard with black hair, brown eyes and golden armour approached her. Her name is Niel the youngest twin of her two bodyguards, they are the paladins of highest order in the church of Goddess Gaia. Niel was a bubbly person while Nayla was like a stern knight.
"Alright, let's go."
When Mira entered Elara's study room she saw her standing near the open window, she had to admit that all the time she spend with her it's the first time time that she is afraid of just looking at her. Whenever in the past Elara and she met they always had joyful experiences, but now she isn't smiling anymore and that is terrifying her more.
"Aunt Elara, were you looking for me?"
Elara's gaze hardened the moment Mira stepped inside.
"Mira… tell me exactly what you did to him." Her voice was calm, but there was unmistakable pressure behind it.
"What method did you use? How did you interfere with his soul? And what will the consequences be—for both of you, besides your short lifespan?" She took a step closer, her eyes sharp and searching.
"You know better than anyone that matters of the soul are not something to play with. One mistake could destroy both of you." Her voice lowered.
"So explain everything to me. Did your goddess have a hand in this as well?"
Mira stiffened under the questioning, her hands clenching slightly. For a moment she looked down, gathering herself.
"I… I had no other choice."
Her voice trembled, but the determination in it was clear.
"When I saw Shin's soul leaving his body… it was being pulled away, as if something unseen was trying to take it." She lifted her head, meeting Elara's gaze.
"I panicked. I knew if I did nothing, he would die." Her fingers tightened against her chest.
"So I used the only option left to me… I bound his soul to mine."
Elara's eyes widened slightly. Mira continued quickly, her words sincere and desperate.
"By linking my soul to his, I gave his soul something to anchor itself to—something strong enough to pull it back into his body and keep it there." She swallowed.
"And with my soul tied to his, whatever was trying to drag his soul away couldn't do it anymore." Her voice softened.
"The blessings of my goddess protect my soul. With our souls connected, that protection now extends to Shin as well." She lowered her gaze slightly.
"Anyone who tries to attack our souls now would have to reveal themselves directly to my goddess." Silence filled the room. Mira's voice became quiet but firm.
"I know it was reckless… but I didn't do it for myself." Her eyes trembled with sincerity.
"I only wanted to save Shin."
Elara stood there for a moment, the tension slowly leaving her expression as Mira's words settled in. A flicker of guilt crossed her face. She had doubted the girl who had just risked her own soul to save him.
Elara let out a slow breath, the sharpness in her eyes softening slightly.
"I know that your intentions were pure," she said, her voice steadier now. "But you should have told me about the effects of such a binding first. A decision like this affects both of your futures."
"I apologise for not telling you before acting on my own." Mira was drowning in self‐doubts again. She gathered her thoughts before continuing.
"The method I used is called Soulmate Binding. It links two souls together eternally."
Elara's expression grew serious again. Mira continued carefully.
"Such a ritual cannot be performed without the permission of a high-ranking deity. In my case… it was permitted by the primordial goddess Gaia herself."
She hesitated for a moment. "And when I bound my soul… Shin's soul also accepted the bond." Her voice softened. "Although… he likely won't remember it."
Elara crossed her arms thoughtfully. "I'm familiar with soulmates," she said slowly. "My master once taught me about it."
She looked directly at Mira. "But you do realize what that means, don't you?"
Elara spoke plainly. "You are now essentially married to my child."
Mira's face instantly turned bright red. For a moment, the heavy atmosphere in the room shifted into something far more awkward. Mira quickly tried to recover.
"H-however!" she said hurriedly. "There are many benefits to becoming soulmates." She spoke faster, clearly trying to redirect the conversation.
"We can share knowledge between our souls. Spells, techniques, even abilities for short periods of time."
She continued. "Blessings can also be shared between us… like the one protecting our souls now."
Elara nodded slowly. "That does sound beneficial for both of you."
Mira brightened slightly. "R-right!" Then she added, her voice getting smaller as embarrassment crept back in.
"We can also sense each other's emotions… and even know each other's location."
She hesitated. "And… if our bond grows stronger… we can permanently share certain powers between us as well."
Her voice nearly failed at the end. "A-as long as we cultivate our bond…"
Realizing what she had just said, Mira immediately covered her face with both hands. Her entire face was burning red, she was really embarrassed right now.
She recalled the moment when she was performing the ritual, Shin was still unconscious… and the ritual needed one final step.
A kiss.
Just thinking about it made my face burn. But if this was what it took to save him… then I couldn't hesitate. I leaned closer, my heart beating so loudly it felt like he might hear it even in his unconscious state. His face looked so calm… completely unaware of what I was about to do.
"S-sorry, Shin…" I whispered.
Closing my eyes, I slowly lowered my face until my lips softly met his. The moment they touched, warmth spread through me. His lips were gentle and warm, softer than I had imagined. I stayed there for a brief moment, feeling the faint pulse of our souls responding to each other as the ritual completed.
My heart nearly stopped.
Realizing what I was doing, I quickly pulled away, covering my burning face with both hands.
"D-don't you dare remember this later…!" It's has imprinted itself in her heart...
After that, I suddenly felt the strength draining from my body. My mana was disappearing so quickly that it almost felt as if my very life force was being pulled away with it. Even though I had used the energy of the goddess's blessing along with the power of nature and souls she had bestowed upon me, the ritual had taken far more than I expected. My body grew heavy, and my vision slowly blurred. I tried to stay awake, but the exhaustion was overwhelming. At some point—I don't even remember when—I drifted off to sleep, my head resting gently on Shin's chest.
Elara watched Mira quietly, a faint smile forming on her lips. Mira's embarrassed reactions were almost endearing—it was like watching a young girl nervously speak about the person she loved. For a moment, Elara felt as though she were simply a mother watching her future daughter-in-law. The thought warmed her heart. Mira clearly cared deeply for Shin, and that realization brought her a gentle sense of comfort and satisfaction.
Yet, as she continued watching the girl blush and fumble over her words, another feeling quietly stirred within her chest. A subtle possessiveness, faint but undeniable. After all… Shin was her child. No matter how much Mira loved him, a part of Elara couldn't help but feel that he still belonged to her first.
"Ahem… calm yourself." Elara said gently, though there was a firm edge beneath her voice.
"It is good that you care so deeply for my child… truly, I am grateful for that. But you must remember to consider his feelings as well."
Her gaze softened slightly, yet the possessiveness in her tone lingered.
"From this moment onward, you will remain here. You will carry out your duties as Saintess at the church in Silverheart City."
She paused before continuing, her voice filled with quiet pride.
"The church will be rebuilt and renovated into something the world has never seen before—a sanctuary of such beauty and grandeur that no temple or cathedral across any continent could rival it. It will stand as the greatest church ever created… a tribute to the goddess who aided you in saving my child."
"Now excuse me. I have pressing matters to attend to."
With that, Mira quietly left the room.
Moments later—
Elara appeared inside the royal court of the Sariel Empire.
The grand hall of the imperial castle was vast and imposing. Towering marble pillars rose toward a high vaulted ceiling painted with scenes of the empire's greatest victories. Crimson banners bearing the imperial crest hung proudly between enormous stained-glass windows, their colored light spilling across the polished marble floor. At the far end of the hall rested the imperial throne—carved from dark obsidian stone and adorned with gold, elevated upon a wide platform so all who entered would stand beneath it.
Seated upon that throne was the emperor himself.
Unlike the nervous ministers or the tense guards lining the walls, the emperor did not rise.
He leaned back slightly, one hand resting against the armrest of his throne, watching the unexpected visitor with narrowed eyes. His expression carried the confidence—and arrogance—of a man who ruled an entire continent.
The sudden appearance of Elara Silverheart in the middle of his court had caused a ripple of unease among everyone present.But the emperor remained seated.His gaze met hers from above.
Elara stood calmly in the center of the hall, her presence alone suffocating the atmosphere. The guards tightened their grips on their weapons, yet none dared draw them.
Then Elara spoke.
"I am going to interrogate/eliminate every lightning user on this continent."
Her cold eyes settled directly on the emperor.
"And I will start with you."
The court went deathly quiet.
Elara took a single step forward, her voice calm yet filled with terrifying authority.
"So before I decide to beat you into submission… give me a reason why I shouldn't."