In the kingdom, where the existence of priestesses is taken for granted, I felt an unfamiliar sense of alienation.

The kingdom relied on the priestesses.

From religious ceremonies to agriculture and livestock, there was no part of life that did not require the help of a priestess.

‘But what if there were no priestess?’

It was unthinkable.

‘It would be a disaster.’

However.

“There’s no need to worry. There’s already a priestess here at this event.”

Giovanni raised his eyebrows.

His look seemed to say, ‘Is that enough?’

I felt odd at the sight of a man who didn’t know about ‘priestesses,’ something every kingdomer knows.

A foreigner with a different culture.

The alienation that fact brought felt suddenly stark.

Just then, the king exclaimed.

“Isn’t the priestess here yet?”

“We’ve sent a message to the temple, so someone should be arriving soon.”

“Tsk, how long do they think it’ll take to get here from there? Where’s the palace’s priestess?”

“Well, she went to the temple for prayers.”

“Out of their minds! Wait, isn’t there a priestess among the guests?”

“Yes, one from the Lorenst family.”

“What are you waiting for! Call her now!”

“But she can’t handle a fire of this magnitude yet.”

“What weak talk! At least make her try!”

Urged by the steward’s frantic gestures, a young servant ran to Aris. She looked reluctant.

I couldn’t help but smirk.

‘She wouldn’t want to step up in this situation.’

I knew Aris’s abilities; she was an exceptional priestess but insufficient to extinguish such a large fire.

But how could she refuse the king?

Aris, reluctantly brought forward, wore a displeased expression.

The king urged her.

“Try to bring the rain quickly.”

“…Yes.”

“I’ll reward you greatly if you put out the fire.”

A gleam of anticipation flashed in her annoyed eyes. Aris’s expression changed as she carefully gathered her modest dress.

“I’m not confident, but I’ll try my best.”

As Aris stepped forward, the murmuring crowd quieted.

They had no doubt in the power of a priestess.

In the kingdom, being born with the power of water was a status in itself, akin to royalty, having received the deity’s power.

Aris stood tall, feeling the respectful gazes on her.

“Then, I’ll begin.”

It seemed like Aris was going to extinguish the fire, but…

‘Was Aris really the priestess in the rumors?’

I tilted my head.

‘Then Aris wouldn’t have been so docile.’

If she had put out such a large fire, the gossip would’ve been ‘Kind-hearted Lorenst family priestess Aris Dorencia saves the palace from disaster.’

Both Aris and the Lorensts would have wildly spread such good news.

‘I’ll see soon enough.’

Aris raised her hands towards the sky.

As if receiving the heavens’ energy.

People instinctively looked up, as if on cue.

Her small lips parted.

A Wueonmun, a mysterious incantation only a priestess can recite.

Each priestess has different Wueonmuns; they say it comes to mind as if receiving a revelation, not created but suddenly remembered.

Different Wueonmuns grant varying powers; many priestesses devoutly pray daily, hoping for a stronger Wueonmun.

This was the strongest Wueonmun Aris could use.

Hearing the familiar Wueonmun, I looked up.

Slowly.

The clear blue sky gathered dark clouds.

Drip.

Drop.

And unbelievably, rain began to fall.

“Wow!”

Like everyone else, I gazed dumbfounded at the sky.

It’s always a miraculous sight.

I’ve always wondered since I was little.

How can a mere human bring down rain?
How do the prayers of a priestess reach the gods?

Are the gods always watching us from above?

If so, why don’t they punish priestesses who abuse their power and commit evil deeds?

Why did they bestow power upon someone like Aris?

The endless questions dug into my heart as inferiority complexes.

Remembering how I used to mutter Aris’s Wueonmun to myself only worsened my mood.

I silently watched Darius Palace being drenched in rain.

As time passed, the rain weakened, but the fire in the palace showed no signs of dying down.

“That woman is already exhausted.”

Giovanni’s deflated voice reached my ears.

“Is this all she can do?”

‘Is this all?’

I turned my head sharply.

“To this extent, it’s hard to quench the thirst of the people of the Empire.”

I swallowed hard.

While the existence of a priestess had surprised him, it seemed that was the extent of his interest.

‘Would I be able to satisfy him even if I gained the abilities of a priestess?’

Despite my anxiety, I quickly composed myself.

The immediate concern was to extinguish the fire.

Looking back towards Darius Palace, I saw the fire surging through Aris’s rain.

It seemed unlikely to hold until someone from the temple arrived.

Then it happened.

“Damn.”

Giovanni clicked his tongue.

“The wind is blowing now.”

True to his words.

A chill touched my cheek. A breeze began to blow from the west.

An ominous sign.