Rio couldn't sleep.
No matter how long he stayed in bed, his mind refused to settle. The unfamiliar surroundings, the quiet tension of the mission, and the constant awareness of being watched—it all lingered.
So he got up.
The corridors of the Church were silent at this hour. Soft lights lined the walls, casting a calm glow over the marble floors. The usual presence of paladins had thinned, leaving the space almost empty.
Without much thought, Rio made his way toward the central cathedral.
The doors stood open.
Inside, the vast hall felt even larger at night. The stained glass no longer shone with color, leaving the space muted, almost subdued. At the center stood the statue of the goddess, her eight wings spread wide, her expression calm and distant.
Rio stopped a few steps away.
In the novel, the gods were barely explored. Just fragments of belief, scattered mentions—nothing that ever truly mattered to the story.
And yet, this entire place was built on that belief.
"…Strange," he muttered quietly.
He didn't sound angry.
Just… unconvinced.
If something like this truly existed, then why—
He didn't finish the thought.
Because he already knew the answer the story gave him.
Rio exhaled softly, his gaze lingering on the statue.
"I don't really get it…"
"You don't have to."
His body stilled.
He turned slightly.
Reina stood a short distance away.
There was no sound of her approaching.
No shift in presence.
She was simply there.
"…Saintess."
She didn't respond to the title.
Her gaze—though covered—remained directed toward the statue.
"Most people don't," she said calmly. "They just believe."
Rio frowned slightly.
"And you?"
A small pause.
"…I fulfill a role."
That wasn't quite an answer.
But it wasn't avoidance either.
Rio studied her for a moment before looking back at the statue.
"…So you don't question it?"
Reina was quiet for a few seconds.
"I do."
His eyes shifted back to her.
"But questioning something," she continued, "doesn't mean you discard it."
Her voice remained steady.
"There are things people rely on, even if they don't fully understand them."
Rio didn't respond immediately.
That made more sense than blind belief.
But still—
"…And if it's wrong?"
Another pause.
Then—
"Then people will learn that eventually."
No resistance.
No denial.
Just a simple statement.
Reina turned slightly.
"I didn't expect to find you here."
Rio let out a quiet breath.
"Couldn't sleep."
"…I see."
She began walking past him.
Her steps were light, unhurried.
"Get some rest," she added. "You'll need it."
And just like that—
She left.
Rio remained where he stood for a moment longer.
His gaze returned to the statue.
"Haah,i should go get some sleep"
——
Morning arrived quietly.
The Church, which had felt distant and still the night before, was now alive again. Soft echoes of movement returned to the halls, and the presence of paladins once again filled the space with order and discipline.
Rio stepped out of his room, already dressed, the mask resting securely over his face.
Noctis.
That name settled in more naturally now.
As he walked, his thoughts drifted.
The capital of the Virelian Federation.
Lumere.
That was where they were heading.
A city unlike any other.
If the smaller regions represented structure and control, Lumere was something else entirely—the core of power within the Federation. Technology, magic, influence—everything converged there.
It was where the strongest gathered.
Where the future was shaped.
And most importantly—
It was home to two major forces.
The Nexus Academy.
And the Abyss Guild.
Rio's eyes narrowed slightly behind the mask.
Samuel.
He was there.
—
By the time Rio reached the main hall, several figures were already gathered.
Leon stood near the center, looking as relaxed as ever, one hand in his pocket as he spoke casually with someone.
Opposite him—
The High Pontiff, Aurelion Veyr.
Alongside him stood a few high-ranking paladins, their presence far heavier than the others Rio had seen the day before. These weren't ordinary guards.
They were veterans.
Their eyes briefly shifted toward Rio as he approached.
Observing.
Measuring.
Then—
Dismissing.
Leon noticed him first.
"Yo. You're not late, that's surprising."
Rio ignored the comment and stepped closer.
"…We leaving now?"
"Soon," Leon replied. "They're finishing up their little ceremony stuff."
He nodded toward the High Pontiff.
Rio followed his gaze.
Aurelion stood calm, composed as always, speaking quietly to the Saintess, who stood beside him.
Reina.
Even in a hall full of strong individuals—
She stood out.
Not because she demanded attention.
But because she didn't need to.
A moment later, the High Pontiff stepped forward.
The hall quieted instantly.
"It is time."
His voice carried across the space without effort.
"All preparations have been completed. The Saintess will depart under the protection of the Saviant Guild."
A brief pause.
His gaze shifted toward Leon.
"…Ensure that nothing interferes."
Leon gave a lazy nod.
"Yeah, yeah."
The response was casual.
Almost disrespectful.
A few of the paladins frowned slightly.
The High Pontiff, however, said nothing more.
Reina stepped forward.
Her presence remained calm, unchanged.
"We will be in your care."
Leon stretched slightly.
"Stick close and we won't have issues."
Blunt as ever.
Rio stood slightly behind him, silent.
Observing everything.
The positioning.
The people.
The tension.
Because even now—
Something felt off.
Not obvious.
Not clear.
But present.
"Move out."
The command was given.
The large doors of the cathedral opened.
Light poured in.
And with it—
The mission began.
Outside, multiple vehicles were already prepared, hovering slightly above the ground. Paladins took their positions, forming a structured escort.
Leon glanced at the setup and clicked his tongue.
"…Bit excessive."
"No such thing as excessive when it comes to the Saintess," one of the paladins replied.
Leon smirked faintly.
"We'll see about that."
Rio stepped into position beside him.
The mask concealed his expression.
But his eyes remained sharp.
Focused.
Because ahead—
Was Lumere.
The city where everything would start to change.