Thiendavis – For The Perfect Salvation

Chapter 8. Do I Still Not Fit In?

Evie Ariate’s hair transformed into a mesmerizing shade of water.

The astonishing change prompted exclamations of awe from several nobles.

Since the establishment of Manyanya tower 300 years ago, countless purifiers had summoned Manyanya.

However, only the first Saintess had been previously graced with Manyanya’s light.

Evie Ariate, who had rediscovered the mystery that had only been recounted in literature, closed her eyes and raised her voice in a new miraculous realization.

As she sang, the lake heaved rhythmically and the wind stirred.

Her flowing regalia and braided hair swirled in harmony.

With her tones rising, a blue light emanated from the lake’s depths—a resonation of Manyanya with Evie’s voice.

The lake’s surface spun rapidly as if a small typhoon had struck it.

Though winds whipped fiercely, her song cut through, awakening Manyanya.

Whirling waves, spreading brilliance, a beautiful song, and the sacred girl at the center—such a sight left the nobles breathless.

Some even felt an urge to kneel before Evie Ariate.

Yet, she afforded them no time to bow.

Her song crescendoed, the spray intensified, imitating her rush to the climax.

The world, which had defied providence to escape demise, was imperfect.

Once, four dragons safeguarded such a broken world, but now only legends remained by the side of frail humans.

Evie found this desolate and pitied the world left incomplete.

Despite its imperfections, one must live on.

Thus, she raised her voice gladly.

As her pitch reached its zenith, the brilliance of Manyanya flooded the world.

The nobles hastily closed their eyes against the barrage of light—yet still sensed its brightness seeping through.

Accompanying the light, gusts of wind shook them, and the nobles crouched to shield themselves from the impact, abandoning dignity to the storm.

When tranquility returned, and the world fell silent once more, one by one, they opened their eyes.

A serene view of the lake rewarded them—a lake that had turned transparent, mirroring the midday sky.

No longer murky with brine, the lake had been wholly purified.

To verify, boys from the tower fetched its water for the terrace.

Yet, no noble dared to taste it—considering it an affront to the miracle they had just witnessed.

They could only gaze in admiration at Evie Ariate.

Zion Laurel was no exception.

Zion, captivated by Evie, found his face softened with raw surprise—his usual sternness melted away.

At that moment, Evie turned to look at Zion on the terrace.

Despite the sudden gaze, he didn’t avert his eyes.

Evie offered Zion a gentle smile, as if asking.

“Am I still not fit to be a Saintess?”

The purification ceremony concluded.

Originally, it was a very simple affair attended for the tower’s reputation by high-ranking nobles.

However, since Evie Ariate’s appearance two years ago, it had transformed into an event requiring a 40-day wait—and even then, ordinary nobles had to book months in advance.

Witnessing Evie’s purification separated the common from the prestigious in Thienda’s noble circles.

The miracle she offered today was astonishing as ever.

Thus, nobles enveloped in ecstasy either lingered in its afterglow, babbled among themselves, or sought out Evie, the miracle’s protagonist.

Meanwhile, Evie, leaving applause and acclaim behind, was breathlessly hiding in an empty warehouse.

‘Oh dear, I’m exhausted. This is killing me.’

Contradicting her prior divine appearance, Evie collapsed with a pained groan, having drained her strength summoning Manyanya.

Despite her overwhelming fatigue, Evie had to quickly escape as soon as the ceremony ended.

With no time to change clothes, she was half-drenched.

‘I should wait here until it quiets down a bit.’

Leaning against a massive crystal beside her, Evie thought.

The mineral stored here, resembling crystal, was salt purified through Manyanya’s blessing.

Such crystals form in the tower when a proper purification is held, and this was the tower’s storage for them.

After performing a stunning purification ceremony, she found herself hiding here, musing over her pitiful state with her forehead on her knees.

‘I can’t believe my earplugs flew away…’

Initially planning a swift return home post-ceremony, her earplugs had vanished in the gusts.

Left with no other choice, Evie fled without looking back.

Now hidden in the warehouse, she hoped everyone would head home soon.

A sudden chuckle escaped Evie’s lips.

Amused by the image of Count staring mesmerized at her, and even the proud Zion Laurel, taken aback by the ceremony, was unable to tear his gaze from her.

Evie found it gratifying to the point of joyously slapping the ground with her hands and feet.

‘They can’t say I don’t fit in anymore.’

Basking in self-satisfaction, Evie chuckled when familiar voices reached her from the hallway.

“I saw Evie Ariate coming this way earlier.”

Her buoyant spirits plummeted.

Evie held her breath as sharp footsteps approached, the voice she recognized belonged to Rio Tuha, the purifier she had argued with earlier.

‘Is she really looking for me because of that?’

The candidate Rio Tuha’s tenacity made Evie’s skin prickle.

Taking ‘see you later’ literally and re-attaching herself was terrifying regardless of gender.

The footsteps stopped outside the storage room.

Evie swiftly took cover in a corner just as the door clanked open.

“A storage room?”

Rio muttered in disbelief, then clicked her tongue in irritation.

“Where on earth has she gone now?”

Luckily, this elegant lady was unaware someone could hide here.

Evie breathed a sigh of relief at Rio’s ignorance, waiting for her departure.

“I can’t stand Evie Ariate getting away with this insolence. Look at what she’s done—such vulgarity to crave attention, how could she dare act in such a way toward the Count?”

Yet rather than leaving, Rio Tuha exploded with frustration.

“It’s humiliating to belong to the same group as someone begging for acknowledgment so basely. If she lacks etiquette and decorum, she should at least show humility—so typical of someone from Vis.”

Evie quietly massaged her forehead at Rio’s blatant insults.

If asked to pick the one who loathed her most among the purifiers, she would promptly choose Rio Tuha.

Rio came from the distinguished Tuha family, known for producing many Saintesses, and her elder sister was the current Saintess, Roble Tuha.

Rio had a dream—one shattered thoroughly by Evie Ariate—to succeed her sister as the next Saintess and stand side by side in history.

‘That one’s brimming with energy again.’

Mused Evie, shrugging off Rio’s heated remarks, well aware of her loathing and immune to such words.

Waiting for Rio to leave, Evie was taken aback by another, more composed voice from outside.

“I feel like someone’s inside.”

“No way?”

Rio exclaimed, halting her complaints, while Evie covered her mouth in alarm.

‘Did they notice I’m here?’

How did they know, when she hadn’t made a sound?

Startled and confused, Evie faced an unexpected twist.

“Is anyone there?”

“Yes, here!”

“Evie Ariate?”

“Yes, it’s me!”

The disaster unfolded swiftly.

Answering Rio’s question so cheerfully, Evie shut her eyes in regret.

Quick footsteps approached, and Evie reluctantly stood up.

Emerging from behind the salt crystal, she faced the two girls—one was still Rio Tuha, and the other, having discerned Evie’s presence, was none other than Miel Sedro.

‘Of all people, it had to be these two….’

Upon seeing them, Evie felt an even deeper gloom settle over her.

Approaching her, Rio asked, caught off guard.

“What are you doing in a place like this?”

“I overheard Miss Tuha talking ill about me.”

Evie answered, surrendering her control to her despondent heart.

Thus, Rio’s spiteful expression turned blank for a moment.

Usually, Evie was annoyingly compliant.

Though Rio thought it was all an act, this bold retort from Evie Ariate was unprecedented—leaving her blinking at the unexpected rebuttal before raising her eyebrows in annoyance.

“You, you’re finally showing your true colors!”

Rio shouted in an exasperated voice, clearly embarrassed at being caught gossiping.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Saying I beg for attention to climb the social ladder, is that not an insult, Miss Tuha?”

“What?”

“Saying that I beg for attention to climb the social ladder, that’s the insult, Miss Tuha.”

Twice Evie repeated herself in response to Rio’s inquiry, effectively escalating the situation into a confrontation.

‘Butler, what do I do now?’

Facing continuous blunders, Evie desperately sought Diez in her thoughts.

Having answered merely five times, yet falling into such chaos, she silently cursed the wretched curse upon her.

Despite the situation, Evie calmed herself, realizing the dance of destruction had already taken place.

Now, she had two choices: become the town’s greatest madwoman or craft a plausible excuse to exit gracefully.

Naturally, Evie chose the latter.

“I know Miss Tuha dislikes me.”

Evie began.

“What nonsense—”

“But no matter how much you dislike me, that doesn’t justify such words.”

Though Rio attempted to interject, but Evie carried on without pause.

Evie’s eyes locked onto Rio with a cold gaze.

Her face etched with a deep wound, and eyes filled with pain.

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