Ragunna, Cathedral of Mercury.
Phoebe slowly opened her eyes and scanned her surroundings, she was back in the church courtyard.
"Mm..."
The young woman gently pressed her fingers to her temples, her head still feeling foggy. She wondered if it was because of that Sonora realm.
"Was it a dream?"
She murmured softly.
But if it was a dream, why did everything that happened feel so real, every detail etched into her mind as if carved there?
And...
"Oh, right! Mr. Ray!" Phoebe's eyes snapped open wide as she looked at Ray, still asleep beside her. "He's still not awake?"
She pressed her lips together, her thoughts involuntarily drifting back to the scene in her dream.
Was it really a dream or not?
Phoebe didn't know.
She hoped it wasn't.
Because if it wasn't, that meant the Saintess was still alive. Everyone in Ragunna and the Order of the Deep would be overjoyed to hear the news, wouldn't they?
Should I report this to the Order of the Deep?
Just as Phoebe was lost in thought, Ray opened his eyes beside her, instantly snapping the young woman back to the present.
"Mr. Ray, you're awake?" Phoebe asked softly, concern in her voice.
Ray yawned, got up, and stretched, working out the stiffness from sitting so long. An afternoon nap was pleasant, but sleeping sitting up always left the body a bit sore.
Still, if it meant napping with Phoebe, what was a little discomfort? It was all worth it.
"Yeah, I'm awake." Ray turned his head, the corner of his mouth lifting in a warm smile.
He slowly sat back down beside Phoebe, his movements natural and familiar.
The young woman obediently folded her hands on her lap, lowered her head slightly, and asked him tentatively, "Um, Mr. Ray. Earlier, in the dream, with the Saintess, and..."
"Phoebe." Ray gently cut her off. "That wasn't a dream. Cartethyia... she isn't dead."
"...So it really wasn't a dream."
A flicker of astonishment passed through Phoebe's eyes, quickly replaced by acceptance.
She pressed her lips together. The tightly pressed corners of her mouth gradually lifted, finally softening into an incredibly gentle smile. "That's wonderful."
"The Saintess is still alive. That's wonderful news for Ragunna, for all of us. Everyone would be absolutely overjoyed to know!"
Ray quietly watched Phoebe's gentle smile, she was truly, genuinely happy for Cartethyia's existence.
Perhaps the Order of the Deep wasn't as glorious on the inside as it appeared on the surface.
But there was no doubt, the vast majority of its priests, like Phoebe, held devout faith in the Sentinel.
And that was precisely why the truth couldn't be easily revealed.
They weren't ready to face it yet.
"Phoebe."
"Yes, Mr. Ray?" Phoebe turned her head, looking at him with a gentle expression.
"About Cartethyia... don't tell anyone else for now," Ray said.
Phoebe paused, a trace of confusion appearing on her face. "Oh? Why not?"
Why shouldn't she tell anyone else?
If word got out that the Saintess was still alive, wouldn't that be something worth celebrating for everyone in Ragunna?
"The answer..." Ray gazed into the young woman's violet eyes, as brilliant as jewels, his heart filled with reluctance. In the end, he couldn't bring himself to speak the cruel truth. Instead, he chose a gentler way to communicate with her. "Phoebe, do you trust me?"
Without a moment's hesitation, Phoebe nodded gently, her eyes full of trust. "Yes, I trust you."
Of course she trusted him, in that terrible storm, he hadn't hesitated to jump.
From that moment on, she had given him her trust completely.
"Then promise me that you'll keep this secret buried deep in your heart for now, and no matter what, don't tell anyone else." Ray emphasized again. "As for the answer, I'll tell you myself in the future."
Phoebe blinked in confusion, her eyes full of puzzlement. "Is that so?"
Though she found this very strange, Phoebe firmly believed that Ray would never deceive her.
He must have his own reasons and considerations for doing this.
So...
"Mm." Phoebe nodded firmly again, a knowing smile blooming on her face. "I don't know why Mr. Ray is doing this, but I believe he has his reasons. I won't ask too many questions. This is what the Sentinel teaches us, to trust and to wait."
The young woman's straightforward response caught Ray off guard. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
He had thought... Phoebe would keep pressing him with questions.
"Aren't you curious?" Ray asked.
"Of course I'm curious." Phoebe tilted her head, thought seriously for a moment, then smiled warmly and sweetly as she answered softly. "But I trust Mr. Ray even more. You must have thought it through carefully."
She really was... Ah, what could he say?
Wasn't Phoebe just an angel?
Her pure and beautiful personality was like a ray of light shining into life.
Watching the young woman's pure, lovely smile, Ray smiled helplessly in the end. He reached out and gently pinched her soft cheek.
"Mmm... why... are you squeezing my face..." Phoebe was caught off guard by the sudden action, mumbling indistinctly.
But it was clear that her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes betrayed a flustered shyness.
Yet, she didn't resist Ray's touch, nor did she instinctively pull away.
"Because Phoebe is really cute."
...
...
"It seems the intelligence was accurate. He really can meet with that Saintess."
Scar leaned against the wall, his tone casual and unconcerned. His gaze swept over the two figures in the courtyard before drifting lazily to Phrolova beside him. He then quipped, "So, how does it feel, watching your old flame fooling around with a new bond?"
"Seeing them together, doesn't it bring back memories of you and him from before? Have you forgotten all those past moments?"
Phrolova's expression remained as calm as still water. She shot Scar a sidelong glance, her unhurried tone light and airy. "I'm used to it."
"That's an interesting way to put it." Scar's lips curled into a teasing smile. "So what's your next move? Going to try and steal that tablet?"
"Even if we got the tablet, we couldn't enter that Sonora realm."
Phrolova spoke as she rubbed her fingertips over a red spider lily. The corner of her mouth lifted slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.
"But... he seems to be able to bring others with him."
"So, what are you planning to do?"
"None of your business. I have my own ways."