Chapter 17
“So you’re Sienna. Such pretty eyes you have.”
“Who are you, Grandpa?”
“My name is Ronen. I came to treat you.”
The priest who had knelt down to meet my gaze eventually became the High Priest over time. The few strands of white hair I saw back then had now spread to cover his entire head.
In all that time, even though there had been no improvement in my condition, Ronen never gave up on me.
Sixteen long years. Do you know how many doctors gave up and left during that time? Too many to count.
But Ronen didn’t just stay—he cherished me, even calling me his little puppy.
“Sienna, did you fight with Ethan again today?”
“…No.”
Maybe that’s why. Even during my rebellious phase, I always behaved like a meek lamb in front of Ronen.
“Really?”
“…We just had a small argument, that’s all.”
I couldn’t bring myself to lie to Ronen, so I awkwardly changed the subject.
‘He cares for Ethan just as much as he cares for me.’
So I understood why he kept trying to get the two of us to become close. He probably wanted Ethan, who had no family ties, to latch onto the Winter household.
‘But that guy has no interest in being close to me.’
Of course, neither do I.
“There won’t be any more fights, so don’t worry.”
“Sienna. Don’t say things like that.”
Sadness welled up in Ronen’s eyes.
‘…I think he’s misunderstood something.’
He probably thought I had given up on life.
‘Given up? Me?’
Sure, I told Ethan earlier that I’d be dead soon—but that was just out of spite. I only said it to make him feel guilty.
‘I’ve just found a way to survive. I can’t die now.’
I was going to live—no matter what it took.
When Ronen saw the fierce determination in my eyes, he chuckled.
“Seems I was mistaken. You’re so full of will to live.”
“Of course. I have to live. Dying in such a pointless way wouldn’t be like me at all.”
“Yes, that’s the spirit. I’ll bless you with even greater sincerity today so you can become healthy.”
“Thank you.”
I didn’t think it would help much, but I bowed my head politely anyway.
Just as Ronen began reciting scripture and placed his hand on my head—
KABOOM!
A huge noise shook the ground beneath us.
KABOOM!
The deafening sound made the building tremble, and screams erupted everywhere.
People panicked and scattered in chaos.
Someone pointed out the window and shouted.
“F-fire!”
That word triggered mass hysteria, and people rushed for the exits.
As if it were a warzone, Heraith slowly opened his eyes.
“Ban.”
His sharp gaze immediately sought out Ban.
Ban, who was often bullied by children for being a mere doll, quickly shook his head.
‘It wasn’t me!’
He barely had the strength to fend off those monster-like kids—how could he possibly destroy the temple?
‘Besides, unlike you, my powers are sealed inside the ruby Sienna has!’
Frightened children wailed and ran to find their mothers.
Ban, mimicking a lost child, anxiously approached Heraith.
“Heraith, what’s going on?”
“I don’t know. I’m going to Sienna.”
“Wait—! I’m coming too—!”
Ban reached out urgently, but Heraith had already vanished.
Ban’s outstretched hand lingered in the air, looking pitiful. He formed a tiny fist and shook it toward the empty space.
“Heraith! You bastard! How could you leave me behind! Just come back—I won’t let you off easy!”
While Ban ranted, a dark shadow loomed over his head.
He flinched at the intense gaze locked on him and stepped back—but it was too late.
“Eep!”
Someone grabbed him by the collar and hoisted him up.
“This energy… I knew it. I felt a sinister aura earlier.”
He hadn’t been sure before, but now that he had the doll in his hands, there was no doubt.
This was no ordinary doll.
This twisted aura—it had to be a demon.
“A demon?! Sienna Winter… You went this far?!”
The enraged voice rang through the empty waiting room. Ban broke into a cold sweat.
He didn’t know what kind of misunderstanding this priest was under, but one thing was certain—
‘Sienna… we’re screwed…’
“F-fire!”
What the hell is happening? Fire, all of a sudden?
“Sienna, we must get out of here.”
“Yes.”
My heart thudded in my chest, so hard it felt like it might explode. It felt like I could cough up blood at any moment.
Ronen opened the prayer room door in a hurry when he saw my pale face.
“Ahh, don’t push!”
“Move it!”
“Eeek!”
It was total pandemonium.
Boom! Crash!
Whatever was happening outside, explosions kept sounding nonstop.
Each one shook the ground, making people scream and flee even more frantically.
“Sienna, don’t let go of my hand.”
Ronen gripped my hand tightly, but he couldn’t withstand the flood of people pushing in.
Eventually, I was torn away from him.
“Ah!”
“Sienna!”
Ronen’s voice calling out to me grew fainter and fainter.
I was swept in the opposite direction, unable to move an inch.
‘…I really might die here.’
I had imagined dying in many ways, but getting crushed to death by a panicked crowd wasn’t one of them.
Just then, as I was being pushed along, I heard something I really shouldn’t have.
“The Cult of Light! They’re here!”
What? Why the hell are they showing up now?!
The Cult of Light—they were heretics who denied the god of this world and worshipped another being, essentially crazed cultists.
This world believed in a single god, but not everyone followed the same path.
Some were atheists, others secretly worshipped different entities.
If they had just stayed quiet, they could’ve lived normal lives.
But instead—
“Deny the god and worship the demon! The Father will return to us! He will usher in a new age!”
They always screamed like maniacs and caused chaos.
Eventually, they crossed the line by targeting the Grand Temple—and as a result, they were brutally purged.
‘But why does their downfall have to happen today?!’
This cursed original plotline clearly wanted me dead.
‘This is really bad. I’m in serious danger now.’
The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. My body wasn’t doing well.
“What are you doing?! Move!”
Someone shoved my shoulder from behind.
“Urgh!”
The force made me stumble forward. At this rate, I really was going to get trampled to death.
‘…Heraith!’
I instinctively called for Heraith and braced for pain as I squeezed my eyes shut.
“I swear, I can’t take my eyes off you for one second.”
A low voice brushed past my ear. A firm arm wrapped around my waist—an all-too-familiar embrace.
And then, his scent.
“…Heren?”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
The irritation on his face made my knees buckle.
He held me close and moved us into a quiet corner, away from the crowd.
It was so narrow between the two walls that our chests touched, but after being stuck in a stampede, it felt like I could finally breathe.
“You little troublemaker. Where’s the High Priest? Why are you alone?”
“…I lost him.”
I mumbled, shrinking under his scolding. Heraith sighed deeply.
“Then you should’ve called me in the first place.”
“Could I… even do that?”
“You just did.”
“Oh.”
Wait, I could summon him?
I blinked in surprise, and Heraith chuckled dryly.
“You’ll need to go back and study from the beginning.”
“Please, no…”
“And you also need to learn how to be more cautious around men.”
“What? Why?”
I tilted my head at the random comment, and he smiled gently.
“Do you even realize who you’re with right now, hmm?”
He slowly leaned down and whispered against my ear—
“You never know what I might do when you carelessly fall into my arms.”
Startled, I shoved him in the chest—but there was only enough room for a fist between us.
I pressed myself against the wall and shouted,
“If you try anything, I’ll blast you with a Word of Power!”
“You can hit me, but what about everyone else?”
“T-they—!”
“They?”
I could tell from his eyes—I had to answer wisely.
“…I’ll kick them in the b—”
Heraith flinched at my ominous mumble.
