The Azure Sect was alive with noise that morning. Bells rang across the courtyards, disciples gathered in neat rows, and elders stood proudly in their robes. Something important was happening.
Kael stood at the edge of the crowd, his weak body leaning against a wooden post for support. His hair was messy, his robe torn at the edges, but his eyes remained sharp.
"Why gather us so early?" one disciple whispered.
"Haven't you heard?" another replied. "The saintess is returning from her pilgrimage."
A ripple of excitement passed through the crowd. Even the most arrogant disciples straightened their backs, their faces glowing with awe.
Kael raised an eyebrow. Saintess?
---
The Arrival
The main gates of the sect opened with a deep groan. A group of elders entered first, their steps steady, their robes shining with golden embroidery. Behind them walked a girl.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
She was young, no more than seventeen or eighteen, but carried herself with the grace of a queen. Her white robes flowed like water, her long black hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her face… her face was delicate, flawless, as if carved by the gods themselves. Her eyes were clear, bright as stars, and her lips curved in a gentle smile that melted the hearts of all who saw her.
"Saintess Lira," someone whispered reverently.
The name rolled across the crowd like thunder.
Lira walked with calm steps, her hands folded before her. She radiated purity, kindness, and light. When she smiled at the disciples, even the most hardened fighters lowered their eyes, ashamed of their roughness in her presence.
Kael's heart thudded. Not with admiration — but with something darker.
---
Desire and Vengeance
He felt it the moment he laid eyes on her. A spark deep in his chest. Lust stirred, hot and heavy, as his gaze traced the lines of her body beneath the flowing robes. She was untouched, untainted, a jewel carefully guarded by the sect.
But with that desire came something else. Vengeance.
Kael's lips curled into a cold smile. So this is their treasure. Their symbol of purity. Their shining jewel of faith. How fitting it will be when I shatter her light.
The crowd bowed as Lira passed. Kael did not move. He stood straight, his eyes locked on her like a predator watching prey. For the briefest moment, her gaze swept over him. Their eyes met.
Something flickered in her expression. Curiosity? Pity? He couldn't tell. But she lingered a moment longer on him than on the others before walking past.
Kael's fists clenched. Heat rushed through his blood.
"She looked at me," he whispered under his breath.
Not as a cripple. Not as trash. She had seen him. And for Kael, that was enough.
---
Whispers Among Disciples
After the ceremony, the disciples gathered in groups, whispering and laughing.
"Did you see her? The saintess is even more beautiful than before."
"She's the pride of our sect. No one can compare."
"Don't even dream about her. She's meant for the heavens, not for us."
Their voices grated against Kael's ears. Pride. Worship. Blind devotion. All of it made his rage rise higher.
They worship her like a goddess. But I was a god once. And soon, she will worship me.
He turned away from the crowd, slipping back to his hut. The image of Lira burned in his mind.
---
Night Thoughts
That night, Kael could not sleep. He sat cross-legged on his mat, the moonlight spilling across his face.
Her beauty haunted him. Her purity tempted him. But more than that, the thought of breaking her filled him with hunger.
She is the jewel of the Azure Sect. If I corrupt her, their pride crumbles. If I bend her, their faith dies. And when their saintess kneels before me… the world will know the Devil God has returned.
His heart pounded faster, his body burning with lust and ambition. He laughed quietly, the sound dark and sharp.
"Yes… she will be mine. Not through kindness, not through love. Through power. Through the chains of her own soul."
---
Training with New Fire
From that day on, Kael's training changed. His rage had already fueled him, but now desire sharpened his will. Every insult from the disciples, every lash of humiliation, he stored like wood for a fire.
At night, he pushed his Soul Dominion further. He practiced on insects, bending their movements with invisible chains. He commanded rats to crawl into his palm, ordered birds to circle the hut until their wings bled. Each success filled him with savage joy.
But even as he practiced, one image returned again and again — Lira's face. Her clear eyes, her gentle smile, her untouched soul.
He whispered her name like a curse. "Lira…"
The more he thought of her, the hotter his lust grew. The more he imagined her bowing before him, the deeper his hunger dug.
---
A Chance Encounter
Days later, Kael was sweeping the courtyard as punishment for failing a chore. The sun burned above, and his weak body ached. But when he looked up, he froze.
Lira was walking down the stone path, a small group of disciples following behind her. She carried a basket of herbs, her robes swaying gently in the breeze. Her smile was calm, her steps light, as if the world itself bent to her purity.
The disciples around her whispered praises, their faces glowing as though they were in the presence of a goddess.
Kael's chest tightened. His eyes locked on her, his thoughts dark and heavy.
As she passed, her gaze flickered toward him again. Once more, their eyes met. This time, Kael did not look away. He stared, unblinking, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Lira hesitated, her steps slowing for just a moment. Her followers noticed and frowned.
"Saintess, is something wrong?" one asked.
Lira shook her head gently, forcing a smile. "No… nothing."
But as she walked on, Kael could see it — a shadow of unease in her perfect eyes.
He chuckled under his breath, gripping the broom tightly. Good. She feels it. The predator hidden beneath the cripple.
---
Seeds of Obsession
That night, Kael lay on his mat, his body trembling with fire.
"She saw me again. Not the cripple. Not the trash. She saw me."
The image of her hesitation replayed in his mind. The faint unease in her eyes. The small crack in her calm mask.
Kael's tongue traced across his lips. "Yes… cracks. Even the saintess has cracks. And I will tear them wider until she shatters."
His Soul Dominion pulsed faintly, as if answering his desire. He pushed it outward, imagining Lira kneeling, her eyes filled with confusion and unwilling submission. The thought filled him with savage joy.
I will not rush, he told himself. She is too important, too pure. Corrupting her will take time. Patience. But when I succeed… the sect will fall to its knees.
---
Vow in the Dark
Kael rose to his feet, walking outside into the moonlight. The night air was cool, carrying the scent of pine and herbs. He raised his head to the stars, his eyes glowing faintly with dark light.
"I was once betrayed. I was once slain. But now I rise again. And my rise begins with her. Lira, the saintess, the jewel of the Azure Sect…"
He clenched his fist, his voice low and filled with venom.
"You will be mine. Body, soul, and spirit. And through you, the world will remember the Devil God."