"Wei’en, it seems you don’t know much about the stories of Dawn, do you?" Kali asked, looking at him suspiciously. "So how did you begin your journey of faith?"

"Well, about beginning my journey of faith..."

Wei’en forgot all about searching for the forbidden object. His mind raced, and in a flash of inspiration, he said, "It, it was that day. That night."

"That night? When... Oh, you mean *that* day?"

Kali’s face instantly turned bright red, like an apple, and even her fair neck flushed pink.

"Yes, it was the Holy Favored from that night. Her pale and tender... COUGH COUGH, I mean, her sacred form has been etched into my mind ever since."

The more Wei’en spoke, the smoother his words became, as if he had truly been converted by the ceremony. He looked piously at the statue of Dawn. "Praise be to Dawn for letting me witness that scene."

"I-Is that so?"

"That’s right. If only I could meet her, I would thank her in person for her guidance..."

Kali turned her head away, not daring to look at him, and stammered, "A-Actually, I..."

"Sister Kali, why is your face so red?"

Wei’en asked, confused by her expression.

"N-No, it’s nothing," Kali said, shaking her head. "I-I’m fine. I was just..."

"Could it be that you also hope to see the Holy Favored?"

Wei’en stroked his chin, recalling the figure from that night... ’Silver-white hair, eyes closed, a very mature appearance.’

’In comparison, her build was similar to Kali’s, and she looked about the same age as Lisi.’

"Y-Yes, that’s right,"

Kali nodded frantically, clutching her chest. "I also hope to become a Holy Favored. That way, I... I can be closer to Dawn..."

"I see," Wei’en said with a smile. "I’m sure you can do it, Sister Kali."

"Mhm,"

Seeing that he didn’t press the matter, Kali couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. She touched her still-burning cheeks. "Let’s head out. Didn’t you say you have to go to work soon?"

’How could she possibly tell him?’

’She was so exposed in that state... ’

"Okay."

Just as Wei’en turned around, a slender figure appeared at the chapel entrance.

He wore a silver-white hat embroidered with gold thread. It was triangular, its sharp point jutting forward to obscure his face, with two feathers stuck in the brim.

He wore a mask that covered the entire upper half of his face, revealing only a chiseled jawline.

He wore a Golden Robe, but unlike the loose ones worn by the Guardians in the main hall, this one was tailored to his frame and looked exceptionally magnificent.

A black, fur-shouldered cape was draped over his back.

Underneath, he wore a short black jacket, somewhat resembling a Secret Investigation Department uniform with its double-breasted style.

When Kali saw him, her expression turned unnatural. "Melbel, what are you doing here?"

"Your Eminence,"

The mysterious, handsome man knelt on one knee, pressing his joined fingers to his brow in a salute. "Lord Bishop Andrews invites you to the City-State Assembly Hall."

Wei’en looked at Kali in astonishment. "’Your Eminence, Bishop, Assembly Hall... Sister Kali?’"

’With all those words put together, he’d have to be a real idiot not to notice something was wrong.’

’Could she be... the Holy Favored from that night?’

"I-It’s just as you think," Kali’s face flushed crimson again. "Actually, I... I am the Holy Favored from that night."

’To be exposed right after telling a lie... She wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole.’

’May Dawn forgive and pardon her.’

Wei’en opened his mouth. "But her hair was..."

’What he saw that night clearly wasn’t Kali. The hair color, the face, the figure, so pale and large... ’

"I-I don’t know either, I,"

"Your Eminence, leave this to me. Please proceed to the Assembly Hall immediately," the man at the door interrupted, still kneeling on one knee.

Kali glanced at him, then at the astonished Wei’en, and bit her lip. "Can I explain it to you when I get back?"

Wei’en took a deep breath. "...Okay."

The facts were right in front of him; he had no choice but to believe it.

But his thoughts ran deeper—

’If this is true, then any Extraordinary he meets in the future could have a completely different appearance.’

’Doesn’t that mean he’ll have to carefully discern everything he sees and hears, to be cautious and careful, because none of it might be real?’

"Th-Then I’ll be going. D-Don’t be late for work."

With that, Kali ran out the door, her face a deep crimson of humiliation.

’How humiliating. Truly, utterly humiliating.’

’Although many people had seen her that day, fewer than ten people in the entire Caster City State knew her true identity.’

’Most of them were elders of the Dawn Church. Only he...’

Only after Kali left did Melbel rise to his feet. He asked calmly, "A neophyte?"

Wei’en nodded instinctively. "I should be going too. I heard Sister Ka—Her Eminence say that only devout believers are allowed in here, which I am not."

’He was still having trouble adjusting to Kali transforming from a kind girl-next-door into the Holy Favored.’

’Especially that title, ’Your Eminence.’ He’d never addressed anyone like that before.’

"It matters not. Under the radiant light of Dawn, you will become a devout believer, and—a loyal Guardian."

Melbel’s gaze pierced through his mask to land on Wei’en, and a golden light flashed. "*Bruno*."

"Me? A Guardian? I’m not..."

Wei’en was just about to try and bluff his way out when his vision suddenly went completely white, with nothing else to be seen.

"The night will pass, and Dawn will be eternal."

"May the light of the Lord of Dawn forever shine upon the world, may all that is good in the world..."

"May you believe with piety, be loyal to Dawn, and protect the Holy Favored..."

"May you be brave, wise, and kind..."

A sacred and magnificent hymn echoed in his ears.

’What is this?’

But before he could figure it out, his consciousness sank into a deep slumber, with only a single thought remaining in his mind: ’Help... ’

Melbel calmly watched the dazed Wei’en until he confirmed that he had been consumed by the faith of Dawn, then turned and left.

"The Saintess is sacred and inviolable."

’She is not to be touched by the profane—all filth must be purified!’

...

...

Meanwhile, in the Dumitru District, at the Secret Investigation Department’s Logistics and Investigation Division One.

Marco stared, wide-eyed, at Tina, who had suddenly collapsed to the floor. "Lisi! Lisi!" he shouted.

"Why are you so loud... Tina?!"

Lisi darted over and checked the white-haired girl’s condition. "She’s unconscious. When did this happen?"

"Just now. She suddenly stood up," Marco said anxiously. "I saw her open her mouth, and I thought she was about to say something, but then she just collapsed."

"This is bad. Something must have happened to Wei’en!"

Lisi’s expression turned grim. She scooped Tina up in her arms and rushed out of the office.

Marco followed closely behind her. "What do we do now?"

"We find Yegor."