The next morning, the sun shone brightly over the Himejima shrine.
Elias was outside, gently sweeping the fallen leaves off the wooden porch.
He was enjoying the peaceful, quiet morning air.
Suddenly, he heard soft footsteps walking up the stone stairs.
He stopped sweeping and looked up.
Xenovia and Irina were walking through the front gate.
They weren't wearing their dark, intimidating battle cloaks today.
Without their weapons and armor, they just looked like two normal, tired teenage girls.
Xenovia walked straight toward Elias.
Her face was very serious, but there was no anger in her eyes. There was no holy rage or pride.
Instead, there was only deep regret.
She stopped a few feet away from him.
Then, without any hesitation, she bent at the waist and gave him a very deep, respectful bow.
"Elias,"
Xenovia said. Her voice was quiet, but very steady.
"I came here to apologize."
Elias rested his hands on the top of his broom. He looked at her with a calm expression.
"Oh?"
Elias asked simply.
"That is a big change from yesterday."
Xenovia kept her head bowed. She didn't try to make excuses.
"I stayed awake all night thinking about what you said, and about what happened,"
Xenovia explained, her voice carrying a heavy sadness.
"For my entire life, the Church taught me that heretics were pure evil. They told me that the world was black and white. They told me it was my holy, righteous duty to strike down anyone who broke the rules."
She slowly stood up. Her blue eyes looked right into his, totally honest and open.
"But yesterday, I didn't act like a holy knight. I acted like a cruel bully. I attacked a scared, innocent girl who was just walking in the park."
Xenovia took a shaky breath. The truth was very hard for her to say, but she needed to say it.
"And then... that same girl found us in the dark. We had no money and we were starving. The Church had completely abandoned her, but she didn't abandon us. She brought us warm food and a safe place to stay."
A single tear formed in Xenovia's eye, but she didn't wipe it away.
"The Church showed her absolutely no mercy,"
Xenovia continued, her voice filled with deep shame.
"But she showed me pure kindness. She acted more like a true servant of God than I ever did. It made me realize the deep hypocrisy in my own heart. The Church's teachings blinded me to what is actually right and wrong."
Irina stood quietly behind her friend.
She looked a little sad, but she gave Xenovia a supportive nod.
Xenovia took one more deep breath and looked at Elias.
"You were completely right to slap me, Elias. I deserved it,"
Xenovia admitted honestly.
"I was blind, angry, and arrogant. I am so deeply sorry for how I treated Asia. And I am sorry for disrespecting your family."
Elias looked at her closely. His sharp senses could feel the emotions inside of her.
He could tell she wasn't lying to get her sword back.
Her pride was truly gone. Her worldview had been shattered, and she was genuinely trying to be a better person.
Elias smiled softly. The cold, dangerous look he had in the park completely vanished.
"It takes a lot of true courage to admit when you are wrong,"
Elias said kindly.
"Especially when it challenges everything you have ever been taught to believe."
He set his broom aside and stepped closer to her.
"Apology accepted, Xenovia,"
Elias told her gently.
"I will go get Asia so you can tell her, too. I think she will be very happy to hear it."
Elias walked inside the house and gently called for Asia.
A moment later, the sweet blonde girl stepped out onto the porch.
She looked a little nervous when she saw the two exorcists again, but she stayed close to Elias.
Xenovia didn't waste any time. She walked up to Asia and bowed deeply, just like she had done for Elias.
"Asia,"
Xenovia said softly.
"I am so sorry. I said terrible things to you yesterday. I judged you without knowing your heart. You showed me mercy when I was starving, even after I tried to hurt you. Please... can you forgive me?"
Asia blinked in surprise.
Then, her nervous expression melted away.
She gave Xenovia the warmest, brightest smile.
"Of course I forgive you, Xenovia-san,"
Asia said happily.
"Everyone makes mistakes. I am just glad you are feeling better and that you had something to eat."
Xenovia looked at Asia's pure, gentle smile. Her heart squeezed tightly in her chest.
At that exact moment, Xenovia's last bit of faith in the Church completely shattered.
She finally saw the truth. The Church leaders were completely corrupted.
They had chased away a girl who had a heart made of pure gold.
They threw away a true saintess just because she healed the wrong person.
Xenovia suddenly dropped down to one knee.
She placed her right hand over her heart, bowing her head in a classic knight's stance.
"X-Xenovia-san?"
Asia squeaked, looking very confused.
"What are you doing?"
"The Church was wrong to abandon you,"
Xenovia declared firmly. Her voice was full of new purpose.
"You are not a heretic. You are a true Saintess. You represent the real love and kindness of God. I don't want to serve corrupt old men anymore. Asia... please allow me to stay by your side. I want to serve you as your personal knight."
"Ehh?!"
Asia's face turned completely red.
She waved her hands in panic.
"A-A knight? But I am just a normal girl! You don't have to do that!"
"Please,"
Xenovia insisted, looking up with determined eyes.
"It would be my greatest honor."
Irina watched her friend with wide eyes, completely shocked by this sudden change.
Elias just chuckled. He thought it was a very sweet, if a little dramatic, happy ending to their fight.
"Well,"
A deep, booming voice suddenly spoke from the front gate.
"This is definitely not what I expected to see today."
Everyone turned around.
A tall, strong man with dark hair and a serious face was walking up the stone path. It was Baraqiel.
He stopped and stared at the strange group on his porch.
He looked at Elias, then at Asia, and then at the two Church exorcists.
He looked very surprised to see holy knights kneeling in his front yard.
"Baraqiel-tou san,"
Elias smiled, stepping forward to greet him.
"Don't worry. They aren't here to fight. Xenovia was just asking to be Asia's bodyguard."
Baraqiel raised an eyebrow, but he sighed and shook his head.
With Elias around, strange things happened every day.
"I will trust your judgment, Elias,"
Baraqiel said. He walked closer, his face turning very serious.
"But I did not come here to check on the exorcists. I came because of the phone call we had last night."
Elias crossed his arms.
"Did you talk to Azazel?"
"Yes,"
Baraqiel nodded heavily.
"I told him everything about Kokabiel's crazy plan to start a war in Kuoh town. Azazel is very angry about it."
Baraqiel looked directly into Elias's eyes.
"Azazel does not want war. He wants to stop this war before it starts. He asked me to come here and get you. He wants to meet with you face-to-face to talk about Kokabiel."
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