The trek back to Oakhaven was a miserable crawl through knee high mud and the stench of scorched pine. The Whispering Woods had finally shut up, the maddening hum of Benedict's corruption silenced by the terminal application of Holy Resonance. Now, the air was just cold a sharp, biting dampness that seeped through Dorian's ruined robes and bit at the raw, red skin of his forearms.
Dorian didn't slow down. He didn't have the luxury of self pity. His boots crunched rhythmically on the dry earth. Behind him, Elena stumbled with fatigue, and Julian clutched Benedict's research like a lifeline.
"It's... it's actually quiet," Elena whispered, her voice cracking. "The weight... I don't feel it anymore."
Dorian didn't look back. "Spare me the poetic garbage, Elena. The necrotic tumor has been excised. Atmospheric pressure has normalized. There is no need to imbue a biological necessity with your romantic delusions."
His voice was a dry, grating rasp, each syllable feeling like a piece of jagged metal sliding down his throat.
Julian flinched, the memory of that white hot explosion still burned into his retinas. He had seen Dorian's 'Holy Light' it wasn't the gentle glow taught in sermons. It was a scouring, predatory force that didn't just heal; it erased anything it deemed inefficient or broken. It was the light of a man who had forgotten how to forgive.
As they cleared the ridge, the flickering orange glow of torches cut through the pre dawn gloom. The villagers of Oakhaven were huddling at the tree line. They had seen the pillar of fire; they had felt the sudden, jarring snap of the whispers breaking. To them, it wasn't a tactical victory; it was a sign that the gods had finally noticed their miserable existence.
Dorian stepped into the torchlight, his Sovereign's Presence flaring instinctively. The villagers didn't just move; they recoiled, the weight of Dorian's gaze forcing them to avert their eyes.
"The parasite in the woods is dead," Dorian said, his voice a blade. "Go back to your hovels and your mundane, pointless lives."
A silence followed. Then, a woman dropped to the mud. "The light..." she sobbed, staring at Dorian's scarred, glowing hands. "My boy... his screaming stopped. He's sleeping, My Lord."
*Ding!*
**[System Prompt: A 'Saintly' Hero must provide comfort. Use 'Holy Resonance' to mend the wounds of the survivors.]**
*Shut up,* Dorian thought, his jaw tightening. *I can barely stand. You want me to play nursemaid to a bunch of peasants?*
**[Penalty for Refusal: 50 Faith Points.]**
Dorian's eyes narrowed. Fifty points. That was five days of 'Interest on Sin' wiped out.
"Fine," he ground out.
He raised his hand. The golden, geometric scars on his palm began to pulse with a low, rhythmic light.
**[Skill: 'Saintly Radiance': Area Effect]**
He didn't offer a kind word. He didn't smile. He simply pushed a wave of resonance outward. It flowed like a warm liquid, washing over the gathered crowd. It didn't heal their souls, but it sealed their cuts and lifted the heavy fog of despair. The effect was instantaneous. One by one, the villagers began to kneel.
"A Saint has come to Oakhaven!" someone whispered.
Dorian's lip curled into a sneer he barely managed to mask. "I am no Saint. I am a student of the Academy. Mayor, provide a carriage immediately."
"Thank you, My Lord Dorian," a small girl whispered, holding out a wilted, mud streaked wildflower.
Dorian stared at the child. Her potential was pathetic she would likely live and die in this dirt hole without ever touching a mana vein. He took the flower with two fingers, his expression a wall of cold stone.
"Go away, child," he said. "Your presence is an obstruction."
Elena watched, a tired, knowing smile on her lips. "You're really bad at this, Dorian."
"I am securing a logistical advantage, Elena," Dorian said, dropping the flower into the mud the moment the girl turned her back. "If a few prayers get us a carriage back to the Academy before my resonance collapses, it is a worthy trade."
*Ding!*
**[Good Deed Detected: Purifying the hearts of a village.]**
**[Faith Points Received: +100]**
**[Current FP: (9,997,860 points deducted)]**
The carriage arrived a heavy, lumbering thing. Dorian climbed in and slammed the door with a sharp metallic crack. "Drive. And don't stop until we hit the capital."
As the carriage rumbled through the night, leaving the quiet village behind, Dorian leaned his head against the cold wood. He was a Peak Novice. Aris would be impressed, the Board would be suspicious, and the Seven Saints... they were starting to look.
"Enjoy your 'Saint,' Oakhaven," Dorian whispered into the dark. "Because when the Awakening comes, I'm going to need every single one of you to be a lot more than just grateful."
***
**Author's Note:** Dorian has survived the woods and gained a "Saintly" reputation he despises. If you enjoyed the "Saintly Radiance" moment, support the novel with your **Power Stones**! Your votes help the Emperor prepare for the "Great Awakening." How will Professor Aris react to Benedict's research in **Chapter 17**? Let us know in the comments!