Chapter 105 – The Favored
Chapter 105
The Favored
Date : Day 14 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
Silence went on in the Archbishop's office for a while. Sherine's bomb was too shocking for Hyoren and Elise to bear, absorb, and digest. The weight of her words settled over them like a thick blanket—suffocating in its implications. Hyoren's mind raced with questions about what "Favored" meant. Elise's emerald eyes were wide with disbelief—her thoughts clearly mirroring his own confusion.
It was Hyoren who recovered first. His feeling of wanting to heal Elise winning over his guarded mind processing the new variable—Sherine and her proclamation. The need to help his partner overrode his shock.
"Archbishop..."
Sherine's eyebrows raised slightly. A silent correction—reminding him of her earlier instruction.
Hyoren quickly corrected himself. The name felt strange on his tongue—too familiar for someone of her station.
"Sherine, you can heal Elise?"
Sherine smiled widely. Her motherlike aura flared—warm and reassuring. It was like being embraced by sunlight itself.
"I haven't checked her condition yet, but as long as it's not bringing the dead back, my healing magic should be able to heal most wounds."
Hyoren heaved a relieved breath. The tension in his shoulders released slightly. Oria had promised she would brew potions or elixirs which could heal Elise's hand—but he didn't know when she could actually do that. She had said it herself—the ingredients were rare. It might take weeks, months, or even years.
And now, the faster and simpler solution suddenly appeared. In the shape of Archbishop Sherine Conti's Advanced Healing Magic. The relief was overwhelming—like a weight being lifted from his chest.
The two conversations also woke Elise from her stupor. Her concern was in a different direction—her mind latching onto the more mysterious aspect of Sherine's revelation.
"Sherine, what did you know about Hyoren? What is Favored?"
Sherine smiled at her. The expression was patient—knowing.
"That requires a long explanation, Elise. Should I heal your wound first?"
Hyoren touched Elise's shoulder. His hand found hers—squeezing gently.
"She was right, Elise. The most important thing for now is you getting healed."
He was insistent—he wanted his partner, his lover, to be healed quickly. He couldn't bear seeing the limp left hand of Elise. The constant reminder of his failure to protect her.
He noticed how she kept glancing at her left hand. She kept trying to move it unconsciously but without result—like she wanted to reach for something with her left hand, then quickly changed to her healthy right hand. Like she wanted to hold hands with Hyoren, but it wouldn't just budge. The frustration was evident in the small twitches of her expression.
Her sad expression appeared briefly—but she quickly buried it to not make Hyoren notice. But he noticed. Every time he saw her do that, his heart ached. Each small moment of loss—each failed attempt to use her hand—was a wound to his soul.
He turned to Sherine. His dark eyes were intense—pleading.
"Please, heal her."
He bowed deeply. The posture was sincere—his forehead nearly touching the table.
Sherine nodded. Her wavy golden hair swayed with the motion.
"Let's see, what is the problem?"
Hyoren then helped Elise lift her left hand. Showing it to Sherine across the table—presenting it like an offering. The circular scar, which felt like a bracelet, was visible even from where Sherine sat.
"It's her left hand, Sherine. It was severed before, so I tried my best to reattach it. But the nerves were not connected properly..."
He then told the story about their encounter with the Servant of Gidol Hifoppe. Elise was nearly bisected and her left hand was severed. About his desperate attempts to reattach her arm with limited experience on surgery and healing magic. The words came faster now—the story spilling out of him.
He bared everything. He decided to just tell her the truth as she was an Archbishop who could hear the Divine message of Luminara, he couldn’t lie to such person. And they would tell her the story later when they presented the Demon Core anyway. And most importantly, he wanted to be sincere to the person who was going to heal Elise—to hide nothing from someone offering such a gift.
Sherine's eyebrows knitted slightly when he mentioned Hifoppe—but she was a silent listener. Patiently waiting until he was done telling his story without interrupting him. Her blue eyes never left his face—absorbing every detail.
"And that's how, Sherine. Could you fix Elise's misaligned hand's nerves... and maybe, help erase her scar?"
He knew it might be futile—Oria had said even healing magic couldn't erase a wound's scar which had already healed as the magic would think it was the natural state already. But hope made him ask anyway.
Sherine smiled and approached Elise. Her movements were graceful—measured.
"Let me see her wound and her hand..."
Hyoren then helped Elise take off her beige blazer, then her green blouse. The fabric slid off her shoulders—revealing the pale skin beneath. The scar on her torso was visible now—a jagged line that spoke of violence and survival.
Sherine leaned forward and checked the state of the wide scar on Elise's torso. Her eyes glowed blue—Aethell Sense activated. The light from the window seemed to dim in comparison to the ethereal glow. She traced the wound with her hand—her fingers barely touching the skin. Then she moved on to Elise's left hand. Checking the state of the wound, the connection, the blood vessel, and the nerve. Her brow furrowed in concentration.
She then straightened her posture, her eyes’ glow dimmed, then disappear. Her expression was conflicted—caught between assessment and reassurance.
"I see, your wound is really severe. This torso wound especially… the blade which caused it was sharp and behind it was a really strong swing. Maybe a skill. It dug deep into her muscle, down to the organ behind it. I think some of her ribs and internal organs were damaged before."
Her assessment was correct. Just by touching the scar which had already healed, she could deduce the state before it was healed. As expected of practitioners of Advanced Healing Magic. The insight was remarkable—speaking to decades of experience.
"And this arm. The attempt to reattach it was clumsy… that's what makes this circular scar so prominent. But if what you said was true and it's your first time doing this, you truly did a good job. You definitely have a talent in Healing Magic and how to heal wounds."
Sherine turned her head towards Hyoren. She smiled—motherly and warm.
"As expected of the Favored."
She looked back at Elise. Her expression shifted to clinical assessment.
"You can't move it at all right? But you can still feel with your left hand, Elise?"
Elise nodded. She tried to move her left hand—but it just wouldn't budge. The fingers remained still—disobedient to her will.
"Yeah... I can still sense with my left hand, but when I try to move it, I just couldn't. It's like it was disconnected from my brain."
She put down Elise's arm. The limb fell limply—lifeless despite the sensations Elise claimed to feel.
Hyoren leaned forward. His heart pounded in his chest.
"So, can you heal her, Sherine?"
She crossed her arms. The gesture emphasized her large bosom which was hidden beneath her loose robe before—her form more visible now that she had shifted position.
"For the hand's nerves, I can do it easily. For the scar though—Healing Magic couldn't restore scars to their original state as the Aethell would already think it was their natural state. Healing Magic at its roots are basically advancing and helping wounds or damage to the body to heal faster. If it was already healed, nothing can be done."
She smiled at Hyoren. The expression was apologetic—but not defeated.
"I can try to help make it less pronounced. Less noticeable. But I can't promise the result."
Hyoren stood and bowed deeply. The motion was instinctive—desperate.
"Please do, Sherine. I would do anything if that meant Elise was going to be healed."
Elise tugged Hyoren's shirt. Her emerald eyes glistened—felt emotional. The depth of his devotion was overwhelming.
"Hyoren..."
Sherine smiled at them. Their feelings for each other were obvious—written in every gesture and word. Then she nodded. The decision was made.
"I will. You two don't need to worry."
She then stepped forward. Her aura changed—shifting from warm and motherly to something more profound. It seemed like she was glowing—from within rather than from any external source. Aethell flared from her—a visible manifestation of her power. She raised her hand, hovering over Elise's. Then she closed her eyes for a moment. Her mouth moved—reciting a silent prayer. After around 30 seconds—which Hyoren felt like eternity—she opened her eyes. Then she spoke the words. Her voice carried a resonance that seemed to fill the entire room.
"Luminara's Grace!"
The light intensified—coalescing on her raised hand. Then it was poured into Elise. For a while, the light blinded the room—a brilliance that washed out everything else. The glow was warm—not burning, but comforting—like standing in sunlight after a long winter. And as abrupt as when it came, it also disappeared quickly.
***
The light disappeared. And Elise noticed the change straight away. Her emerald eyes widened—surprise and hope mingling in her expression. She raised her left arm—then tried to move her hand. Slowly, finger by finger. Open one finger, then closed. Then she flexed her hand. And closed it. She rotated her wrist—the motion smooth and fluid. No stiffness. No pain.
Sherine smiled at her. The expression was warm—pleased with the result.
"Did you feel any discomfort, Elise?"
Elise finally looked up. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears—overwhelmed by the sudden return of what she had lost.
"No... it was like the wound was never there... I can move my hand again."
Hyoren slumped into the chair. Relieved. The tension that had present in his muscles finally released. His shoulders dropped. His breathing steadied.
"That's good... that's really good."
Then he sat up again. There was one more thing to check. Her scar. He quickly looked at Elise's wrist and torso—scanning for any changes.
Sherine then apologized. Her voice carried genuine regret.
"I'm sorry, it seems her body already registered her scar as her natural state. Even with my Advanced Healing Magic, the scar is still there."
Hyoren then traced his fingers on Elise's wound. On the torso. On the wrist. His touch was gentle—reverent. Elise looked at him with warm eyes—gratitude and affection mingling in her gaze.
He focused on her scar. Examining every line and ridge.
The bracelet made from scar still decorated her wrist. Unchanged. The circular mark remained—a permanent reminder of what had happened.
But when he traced the scar on her torso, he was relieved a bit. The jagged ridge had softened. He looked at Sherine. Hope flickered in his chest.
"The wrist scar was still there. But the one on her torso changed. It was not pronounced anymore, not jagged. It was still a visible scar, but it was almost as smooth as her skin. And I think it also looked more faint..."
He stood, then bowed again to Sherine. The motion was deep—sincere. He was so grateful that words seemed insufficient.
"Thank you, Sherine. Really, thank you so much. I know words are not enough. I can't convey how grateful I am."
He bowed for a long time. Elise tried to nudge him—touched his shirt. But he was not budging. He was so grateful for the Archbishop who healed his lover. His partner. His reason for pushing forward.
Sherine then stepped forward—ruffling Hyoren's dark hair. Like a mother chiding her child. The gesture was affectionate—almost playful.
"Please raise your head. I didn't do much. If you want to say thanks, say it to Goddess Luminara. My power came from her. I'm just an extension of her will."
Hyoren finally straightened his posture. His expression was firm—resolved.
"I will. I will definitely thank Her. But I am also grateful towards you, Archbishop Sherine Conti."
Sherine pouted a bit. The expression was almost comical on her ageless face—like a petulant child.
"I said call me Sherine, not my full title. I'm still not that old, you know? I still think I'm undeserving of this title..."
But then she exhaled a defeated sigh. Then smiled again—the pout replaced by warmth.
"But well, I accepted your thanks."
She then moved to the sofa and sat. Her robes settled around her—white fabric pooling like water.
"Now, now. We had many things to discuss. Please sit."
She gestured for Hyoren to sit. The motion was inviting—expectant.
Hyoren nodded. But before he sat, he helped Elise wear her blouse and blazer again. She was already recovered—so the help was not needed. Elise knew this. But she let Hyoren do what he wanted. She also enjoyed his affection—the care he took in every gesture. Her emerald eyes followed his movements—soft and tender.
After he was done helping Elise, he then sat down on the couch. The cushion dipped slightly under his weight.
Elise moved closer to him. Her left hand now could be moved properly. She reached out with it—touching his arm. The gesture was small—but profound. The simple act of using her left hand again spoke volumes.
"So, what do you want to talk about first, Hyoren, Elise?"
Hyoren contemplated a bit. He looked at Elise beside him. She nodded—her emerald eyes spoke in silence. She would let Hyoren lead the conversation. It was his role as party leader.
"Okay, now that Elise is healed. There are a lot of things I want to ask. But firstly, official business."
He gestured to Elise. She nodded and took the letter from Guild and the Demon Core. She put both on the table between them—the letter first, then the pulsating orb beside it.
Hyoren gestured to the core. The malevolent energy still radiated from it.
"This is the core of Hifoppe the Goblin Knight. A Servant of Gidol. Lady Fiona told us only the church can deal with this Demon Core."
Sherine nodded and took the letter. She unsealed the envelope—broke the wax seal with practiced ease. She took the paper inside and read. Her eyes moved across the text—absorbing every word.
After a while, she nodded again. Her expression grew serious—understanding the gravity of the situation.
"Okay, I understand. The letter and your story said it all."
She looked at Hyoren. Her gaze was full of fondness—pride even.
"So you can defeat a Servant of Gidol already. As expected of the Favored."
She then looked at the Demon Core. The pulsating sinister and malevolent orb sat on the table—dark energy swirling within its depths.
She then focused. Her hand hovered above the Demon Core. Light started coalescing again—building in intensity. She was reciting a silent prayer for about 30 seconds again. Her lips moved with practiced word. And then, she activated her magic. Her voice rang out.
"Purification!"
Her hand was shining brightly again. And the light poured into the core on top of the table. The radiance was blinding—white-gold streaming from her palm. Then the core cracked. At first, it was only a single crack—a fracture running through the darkness. Then in the next moment, it was shattered—leaving only dust. Harmless. No more malevolent and sinister energy left. Just powder—scattered across the table like ash.
***
Hyoren and Elise watched in awe as the sinister and malevolent orb went just like that—reduced to harmless dust in mere seconds. As expected from the Archbishop of Luminara's Church. Purification of evil things was their specialty—divine magic that erased corruption without trace.
Sherine pulled her hand back and settled it on her lap. The motion was casual—as if she had just performed a trivial task rather than destroying a dangerous artifact.
"Okay. That will do for the Demon Core. It was a good decision for you two to bring it to the guild and here. This core can be abused to do evil things..."
Her words trailed off. It seemed she didn't want to elaborate on what the core could do—but Hyoren and Elise didn't need to know. From their first glimpse of the core, they already knew. The core contained pure malice—concentrated evil that might twist hearts and corrupt souls.
She then smiled. Trying to dispel the heavy atmosphere that had settled over them. Her golden hair caught the light from the window—making her seem almost ethereal.
"Okay, the official matter is already settled."
She clapped her hands. The sound was light—clear. A signal that business was concluded and conversation could begin.
"Now, I know you two have many questions—I can see it on your faces. What do you want to know first?"
Elise then spoke first. Her emerald eyes were intense—searching for answers.
"Sherine, you kept mentioning 'the Favored' multiple times for a while. What is that?"
Hyoren nodded. He realized it too—the pattern in her words.
Elise was right. The Archbishop kept calling Hyoren "the Favored." Not a Hero. Not Spirited Away. Not an Otherworlder.
The Favored.
Sherine smiled. Her expression was patient—like a teacher about to explain something fundamental.
"It was a term used by the Church. For persons who bear Luminara's favor. Her Divine Protection. When Goddess Luminara visited me in my dream last night, she mentioned that her Favored—you, Hyoren Enjo—needed help."
Hyoren and Elise widened their eyes. The revelation struck them like lightning. So it was Luminara herself who revealed his secret. The thought was conflicting for both of them—relief that help had been sent, but fear that his secrets were now known by an institution. The Church now knew what they had been hiding. The implication hung heavy in the air.
Sherine clasped her hands on top of her lap. Her posture was calm—unconcerned by their shock.
"And that's how I also knew you are Spirited Away, Hyoren. Because Goddess Luminara only gave her Divine Protection to three kinds of people. Her Champion, Her Saint, and lastly, Her Summoned One."
Hyoren's eyes widened even further. One by one, his secrets were being laid bare—exposed like layers being peeled away. Each revelation stripped away another lies he had built.
His gaze shifted to the Discourse Sphere on the table. The orb sat there—the runes glowing brightly, the shimmering dome of silence—fulfilling its purpose.
At that moment, he had never been more grateful that everything spoken in this room could not be heard from outside. The isolation it provided was a sanctuary—a rare space where truth could be spoken without fear.
Sherine smiled. Her blue eyes held a knowing glint—understanding their unease.
"Currently, there are already two of Her Favored confirmed by the Church. Luminara's Champion, Levyci Ashton, and Luminara's Saint, Sophia Harvengald. So if Goddess Luminara said there is a third one... then it must be a Spirited Away she summoned from another world."
The weight of Archbishop Sherine Conti's revelation settled over Hyoren and Elise. It pressed down on them—heavy with implications they were only beginning to understand.
Two individuals already bore Luminara's Divine Protection. Champions and Saints—figures of renown and power within the Church.
And with that logic, if there was a third—Hyoren Enjo—then he could only be one thing.
A Spirited Away. A person summoned from another world.
Everything was laid bare. His secret. His true origin. His blessing. Known—by the Church. An organization Elise had warned him about. One he had to be careful of.
Because if the Church knew, Elise was afraid he could be used by them. His freedom taken. Forced to serve the Church's will. The fear flickered in her emerald eyes—memories of stories she had heard, warnings she had been given.
Hyoren and Elise's thoughts spiraled into chaos. Questions and concerns tangled together—forming knots that seemed impossible to unravel.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Sherine Conti smiled—calm, composed—unbothered by their reaction. She sat on the sofa with the patience of someone who had seen this kind of revelation many times before. Her golden hair shimmered in the light—and her expression held no malice. Only understanding.