I'm in Mota, and they all want me to confess my feelings!

She only remembered that she had once been a saintess of the Hidden Sea Cult. On the day she was crowned saintess, the Black Tide erupted without warning, and in order to fight against the Black Tide and the Ming Shi, she did...

What choice was made?

She couldn't remember at all.

but……

I must be a kindred spirit of the Lord of the Year, right?

At first, Katishia firmly believed this.

Ke Jian Er Jiu Qi Liu jiS2u Yi Jian 8⑹ Q*UN Jian Di……

Fleeting images flashed through her mind, faint whispers lingered in her ears, and the bizarre scenes in her dreams all made her feel a strange, inexplicable doubt about her faith and origins.

“…I’m sorry, I really don’t remember.” Katishia replied weakly, with a hint of helplessness. “Now, not only are my memories fragmented, but my original resonance ability has also disappeared without a trace.”

"Therefore, there is currently no way to prove whether I am a resonance with the Lord of the Year."

Duanmu Yan remained silent for a moment, then slowly walked up to Katishia, his gaze gentle yet firm: "It's alright, just follow your heart. How could a saintess who stepped forward to save Laguna in such a critical moment be a bad person? Moreover, the people of Laguna still hold you in high esteem."

"I guess... that's how it is." She forced a faint smile, raised her head again, and met Duanmu Yan's gaze. "Speaking of which, you didn't come here just to chat with me, did you? Or is something wrong with Laguna?"

Duanmu Yan gently shook his head: "I came to find you for two main reasons."

"One of the reasons is because..."

He told Katishia everything he had seen and heard in the Fesari family, as well as everything he knew, without reservation.

"So...that's how it is?" Katishia rubbed her slightly cool fingertips, her eyes revealing contemplation. "It seems the Fesalie family bears such a heavy responsibility. But if...the Holy Maiden of the Fesalie family is the true Resonator of the Year Lord, then what am I?"

A nameless fear, like a cold wind, spread through the girl's heart.

Her voice even trembled slightly because of this.

"I am Mingshiki—"

"Don't jump to conclusions before you have solid evidence." Duanmu Yan decisively interrupted the girl's self-doubt. "Katixia, everything you've done so far has been worthy of the title of Saintess. Once you deny yourself, Leviathan will take advantage of the situation."

"No matter the outcome, you just need to be yourself—be the unique Katishia."

Katishia's body trembled very slightly.

She stood there for a few seconds, her eyes filled with an undisguised sadness and desolation like a night fog, but she remained silent, gently lowering her head, her lips moving slightly, as if a thousand words were stuck in her throat, and she didn't know where to begin.

Finally, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her turbulent emotions, and slowly raised her head, a perfectly timed smile appearing on her lips.

“Thank you,” she said. “And the second reason?”

"The second reason?" Duanmu Yan answered naturally and matter-of-factly, "Isn't it to see you?"

"Eh, so...so you came to see me?"

These sudden, blunt words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples in Katishia's heart.

A blush crept onto her cheeks, and even her elfin ears trembled slightly with shyness.

The girl slightly opened her mouth, words swirling on her tongue, but she couldn't form a complete sentence.

Finally, she could only hurriedly look away to avoid meeting Duanmu Yan's gaze.

"What...what did he suddenly say?"

"It's because you wanted to see me, that's why..."

"But why? Isn't this only the second time we've met?"

"While I'm happy that someone likes me, isn't this... a bit too fast?"

"Besides, although I look young, I'm actually probably much older than him."

"No, no, that's too reckless."

Duanmu Yan naturally couldn't fathom Katishia's delicate thoughts, and even found her sudden shyness a little strange: "Is it strange? Have you forgotten that when we first met, I promised you that we would meet again?"

"Eh?"

Katishia paused slightly, racking her brains to recall. It seemed there really was such a thing.

At the time, she didn't take it to heart at all, and almost completely forgot about the casual promise she had made.

But he actually...

I really remember.

Kathias blinked: "You remember?"

"Of course," Duanmu Yan replied matter-of-factly. "Any promise I make will be kept!"

Katishia's pupils dilated slightly as she gazed at the young man's radiant smile. In that instant, it felt as if something had gently settled into her empty heart.

What exactly is that?

She was unable to answer.

I just felt that it was warm, like hope.

“But it seems my time is almost up.” Duanmu Yan looked down at his body, which was gradually becoming transparent, then his gaze returned to the girl in front of him. “It seems I should go too. By the way, Katishia, is there anything you want? I’ll see if I can find a way to bring it in for you.”

"Eh?"

Does that mean there will be a chance to meet again?

Katishia was slightly taken aback, and the melancholy that had filled her eyes due to the impending separation dissipated considerably at this moment.

She raised her hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and smiled faintly at him as he gradually disappeared from sight.

"In that case, please... bring in a storybook for me."

Volume 1: Chapter 141 Just a pair of star-crossed lovers

Laguna, Mercury Cathedral.

Phoebe slowly woke up, opened her eyes, and looked around—she was back in the church courtyard.

"Well……"

The girl gently raised her hand and rubbed her temples. Her head was still a little dizzy, and she wondered if it was because of the Sonora world.

"Is it a dream?"

She murmured softly.

But if it's a dream, then everything that happens in the dream must be too real, with every detail so clear as if it were engraved in your heart.

and……

"Oh, right, Mr. Duanmu!" Phoebe suddenly opened her eyes wide and looked at Duanmu Yan, who was still fast asleep beside her. "He's still not awake?"

She pursed her lips, her thoughts drifting back to the scene in her dream.

—Was it a dream or not?

Phoebe didn't know.

She hoped it wasn't a dream.

If that wasn't a dream, it would mean that the Holy Maiden was still alive and well. Laguna and the rest of the order would surely be overjoyed to hear this news.

"Should we report this to the religious order?"

Just as Phoebe was lost in thought, Duanmu Yan opened his eyes, instantly pulling the girl back to the present moment.

"Mr. Duanmu, you're awake?" Phoebe asked softly, her voice tinged with concern.

Duanmu Yan yawned, got up and stretched, moving his body which was a little stiff from sitting for a long time—a nap is certainly pleasant, but sitting and sleeping for a long time will inevitably make the body a little sore.

However, what's a little discomfort compared to being able to take a nap with Phoebe? It's all worth it.

"Yes, I'm awake." Duanmu Yan turned around, a warm smile playing on his lips as he looked at the girl.

As he spoke, he slowly sat back down next to Phoebe, his movements natural and intimate.

The girl obediently placed her hands on her lap, her head slightly lowered, and asked him cautiously, "Um, Mr. Duanmu, in my dream just now, with the Holy Maiden, and..."

“Phoebe,” Duanmu Yan gently interrupted her, “that’s not a dream. Kathiya, she’s not dead.”

"...So it really wasn't a dream?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Phoebe's eyes, but it quickly turned into relief.

She gently pursed her lips, and the corners of her mouth, which were originally tightly pressed together, gradually turned up, finally transforming into an extremely gentle smile: "That's wonderful."

"The fact that the Holy Maiden is still alive is incredibly good news for Laguna and for all of us. Everyone will be overjoyed to know!"

Duanmu Yan quietly watched Phoebe's gentle smile—she was genuinely happy for Katishia's existence.

Perhaps the Hidden Sea Cult is not as glamorous as it appears on the surface.

But there is no doubt that -

The vast majority of priests in the religious order, like Phoebe, held a devout heart toward the Lord.

That is precisely why the truth cannot be easily revealed to the public.

They are not yet ready to face everything.

"Phoebe."

"What's wrong, Mr. Duanmu?" Phoebe turned around and looked at him gently.

"Don't tell anyone else about Katishia for now," Duanmu Yan said.

Phoebe paused slightly, a look of confusion on her face: "Eh, why?"

Why not tell anyone else?

If the news that the saintess is still alive were told to others, wouldn't that be something worth celebrating for everyone in Laguna?

“The answer…” Duanmu Yan gazed into the girl’s eyes, which shone like iris-purple gemstones. A pang of reluctance shot through his heart, but he ultimately couldn’t bring himself to tell her the cruel truth. Instead, he chose to communicate with her in a more tactful way, “Phoebe, do you believe me?”

Without the slightest hesitation, Phoebe nodded gently, her eyes full of trust: "Yes, I believe you."

She certainly believed him—he had jumped into the storm without hesitation.

From that moment on, she gave him her complete trust.

"Then promise me you'll keep this secret buried deep in your heart for now, and never tell anyone else," Duanmu Yan emphasized again. "As for the answer, I'll tell you myself in the future."

Phoebe blinked in confusion, her eyes full of bewilderment: "Really?"

Although she found the whole thing strange, Phoebe remained convinced that Duanmu Yan would never lie to her.

He must have had his own considerations and reasons for doing this.

and so--

“Yes.” Phoebe nodded again, a knowing smile spreading across her face. “Although I don’t know why Mr. Duanmu did this, I believe he must have his reasons. I won’t ask too many questions. This is what the Lord taught us: to learn to trust and wait.”

The girl's decisive response surprised Duanmu Yan, who was slightly taken aback. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He thought...

Phoebe will keep asking questions relentlessly.

"Aren't you curious?" Duanmu Yan asked.

“Of course I’m curious.” Phoebe tilted her head, thought seriously for a moment, then smiled warmly and sweetly, and answered softly, “But I trust Mr. Duanmu more. You must have your own well-thought-out reasons for doing this.”

She really made me cry to death...

Sigh, that's why Phoebe is called an angel.

This pure and beautiful personality is like a ray of light shining into life.

Looking at the girl's pure and lovely smile, Duanmu Yan finally smiled helplessly and reached out to rub her soft cheeks.

"Ugh...why...why are you rubbing my face..." Phoebe was caught off guard by the sudden action and mumbled incoherently.

But it was obvious that a blush rose on the girl's cheeks, and her eyes revealed panic and shyness.

However, Phoebe did not show any resistance to Duanmu Yan's touch, nor did she subconsciously dodge.

"Because Phoebe is really cute."

……

……