The word still hung in the air.
No.
It echoed far longer than it should have, sinking into stone, into flesh, into faith itself.
For a heartbeat—no one moved.
The Divine Guards froze mid-formation, spears half-raised, eyes flickering between the Dean, the Pope… and the boy who had just spoken. The crowd of the Holy Kingdom stood stunned, mouths parted, breaths caught somewhere between disbelief and fear.
Professors from Arcadia Academy stiffened.
Seraphina's eyes widened slightly, her mana faltering for the briefest moment before snapping back into control. Halreth's grip tightened on his sword, knuckles whitening—not in anger, but in alarm.
Luca's friends stared at him.
Kyle blinked, grin gone. Aurelia's brows knit together sharply, spear lowering by instinct. Sylthara's ears twitched, body going still. Selena's breath hitched, cold eyes narrowing as if trying to understand something only Luca could see. Even Vincent, calm as ever, turned fully toward him now.
