Shadows of the Past, Light of the Future

Emma's New Life

Emma stood in the middle of the living room, her fingers clutching the hem of her robes.

The house was lively, a stark contrast to the cold silence she had known in the church.

Kaisel leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching her with a smirk.

"So, since you're part of the family now, where do you wanna sleep?" he asked.

"I don't mind the floor," Emma replied softly.

Lyara blinked. "What? No way. We have rooms."

Emma hesitated. A room for herself? That was...

Unfamiliar.

"Then... anywhere is fine."

Asvorn gestured upstairs. "You can take the guest room."

Emma nodded quickly. "Thank you."

Kaisel grinned.

"So, Emma, do you like strong men?"

Lyara groaned. "Kaisel, shut up."

He ignored her. "Because I happen to be pretty powerful, you know."

Emma blinked, tilting her head.

"I... I don't understand."

Lyara slapped her forehead. "He's flirting with you."

Emma's face turned red.

"O-Oh. I—um—"

Asvorn smirked. "Looks like Kaisel finally found someone immune to his charm."

Kaisel placed a hand over his heart. "That hurts."

Emma lowered her gaze. This was... new.

They were teasing. Laughing.

For the first time in her life—

She wasn't treated like a tool.

The Nightmares

That night, Emma couldn't sleep.

She tossed and turned, her body drenched in sweat.

And then—

The memories came.

The dark halls of the church.

The sound of chains rattling.

A hand gripping her throat.

"Saints must be pure."

"Pain cleanses sin."

"You are nothing without us."

She woke up gasping.

Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her chest.

She wasn't there anymore.

She was safe.

But the past refused to let her go.

The Truth Revealed

At breakfast, Emma was silent.

Asvorn and Lyara noticed.

"You look like hell," Kaisel said bluntly, munching on bread.

Lyara elbowed him. "Be nice."

Emma hesitated. Then, after a long pause—

"I have nightmares," she admitted.

The table fell silent.

"...About what?" Lyara asked gently.

Emma took a deep breath.

Then, she told them everything.

Emma's Past

The Church of Her Holiness Emelia was a place of devotion—but beneath the holy exterior lay something far darker.

Emma was taken in as an orphan.

Chosen as a Saint at a young age, she was expected to be perfect.

To heal the sick. To bless the holy. To be pure.

But when she failed—

She was punished.

"A Saint must be obedient."

"You must be cleansed."

"You belong to the church."

They locked her in dark rooms for days without food.

They used holy magic to burn "impurity" from her skin.

And when she cried—

"Tears are weakness."

She never saw kindness.

Only expectation.

Only pain.

One day, a nobleman came to the church, offering gold in exchange for her.

And the church agreed.

She was to be sold like an object.

That night—she ran.

She ran until her legs gave out, until she collapsed in the middle of nowhere.

And she never looked back.

A Promise of Freedom

When Emma finished speaking, the room was dead quiet.

Asvorn's fingers clenched into fists.

Kaisel had lost his usual grin.

Lyara's eyes burned with rage.

"They're still out there?" Asvorn asked.

Emma nodded.

"...They won't stop looking for you, will they?" Kaisel muttered.

"...No."

Lyara stood up. "Then we'll destroy them."

Emma's eyes widened.

"You don't have to—"

"No," Asvorn cut in. "You deserve to live freely."

Emma felt a lump in her throat.

They didn't pity her.

They didn't look at her like she was broken.

They accepted her.

Tears welled in her eyes.

"Thank you," she whispered.

For the first time in her life—

She wasn't alone.

Emma's First Mission

Their first mission together was hunting a necromancer.

The battlefield was filled with undead.

Rotting corpses. Screeching ghouls.

It should've been overwhelming.

But Emma stood strong.

She raised her staff.

"Divine Purification."

A wave of holy light exploded, incinerating the undead in an instant.

Asvorn smirked. "She's good."

Kaisel whistled. "Damn. You sure you're not hiding more tricks?"

Emma lowered her staff, a small smile forming.

For the first time—

She felt powerful.

Anna's Advice to Lyara

That evening, Anna sat with Lyara in the kitchen.

"You like him, don't you?" Anna said, sipping tea.

Lyara nearly choked.

"W-What?!"

Anna smirked.

"I've seen the way you look at Asvorn."

Lyara crossed her arms, face red.

"It's not like that."

Anna leaned closer. "Then why do you glare at the girls who flirt with him?"

Lyara sputtered. "I—That's—They're annoying!"

Anna laughed.

"My dear, if you want to be with him, don't wait too long."

Lyara hesitated.

She wasn't sure.

But deep down—

Maybe Anna was right.