Location: Temple – Children's Annex → South Recovery Wing
From the annex courtyard, laughter still lingered faintly where Jinn had spent the morning helping the newly assigned young nun handle the children. The kids were calmer now. The blackboards and ash-sticks had become part of their routine. But the peace didn't last.
A shout pierced through the corridor.
"Something's wrong! South wing!"
Jinn froze.
She didn't hesitate. Her steps were calm, but her eyes sharp.
By the time she entered the South Recovery Wing, a chill clung to the air. The lights seemed dimmer. Several patients were coughing violently, some unconscious, a few trembling in their beds.
At the center was a man Jinn hadn't seen before. Pale. Convulsing. A small boy clung to his side, crying but unmoving, too afraid to let go.
A cluster of nuns had already formed, their faces pale.
"He was fine yesterday. Just a fever."
"So why's half the room falling apart?"
One tried a chant. No response.
Another attempted a basic cleansing. Still nothing.
An older nun whispered, "I've seen this before... once. It's a soul wound."
One gasped. Another scoffed. "Those don't exist."
Jinn stayed back. Watching. Listening. Thinking.
(Inner thought) Soul wound... I read about it once. A curse that bypasses flesh and roots into the soul. No wonder nothing's working.
If untreated, it spreads like mist. Quiet. Delayed. But lethal.
The others discussed calling for a priest. But there were issues.
Too many false calls. Too many delays. Some clergy didn't even come for anything short of nobles.
Meanwhile, the boy clinging to his father began trembling. His eyes glazed.
Jinn's breath caught. She watched him. Everyone else was talking, panicking, hesitating.
And he was just… waiting.
(Inner thought) Why is no one doing anything? He's right there. Shaking. Alone. And no one's moving.
Her fists clenched.
(Inner thought) I can't just stand here. Not for a child like that.
Jinn stepped forward. Quietly.
She knelt beside them. No words, no drama. Just a slow exhale.
(Inner thought) In theory, priests and exorcists purify with mana. Traditional enchantments direct the flow... but I don't have mana. Mine's something else.
Still... I'll follow the book method first. Maybe I can mimic it.
She moved her hands, tracing the signs from memory, whispering a soft chant. Her hands glowed faintly—but nothing happened.
(Inner thought) As I thought. I don't channel mana. I use divine force.
Fine... Then I'll try it my way.
Her breathing slowed. She focused. Her fingertips touched the boy's forehead.
"Separate," she whispered.
Light flickered—then pulsed.
The nuns gasped as they saw it.
Two forms appeared faintly above the boy—his soul, and another shape clinging to it, like roots knotted deep within. The cursed soul had talon-like tendrils, embedded and writhing.
Jinn raised her hand.
"Purify."
Golden light engulfed the cursed soul. The talons twitched, then cracked, splitting apart as the curse screamed—not aloud, but through pure presence.
The boy's soul fell gently back to his body.
He stopped shaking.
His breathing steadied.
(Inner thought) This... this wasn't like before. No sky tearing. No miracle. This came from me alone. A normal cast. A controlled spell.
Melca knelt beside her, whispering. "Vierra? Are you alright?"
Jinn nodded. "Yeah. I followed the textbook. More or less. Just... added something of my own."
Melca glanced at her. "Are you alright?"
He watched her closely, worried she might've pushed too far and harmed herself.
Another nun cried out. "The other patients—they're worsening!"
Jinn stood slowly. "We'll talk later. For now… let's end this."
She raised her hand.
Light surged.
A quiet tremor pulsed through the ward as golden threads swept through the air, touching each cursed patient. The cursed fragments visible only to her began to peel, uproot, dissolve.
Every infected soul fragment blinked out.
Silence.
Whispers broke.
"That wasn't a chant..."
"Not even priests can do that."
"...Are you the Saintess' hidden candidate?"
Jinn blinked. "What? I just did basic purification. I read it in a book."
Melca frowned, still stunned. "No, Vierra. That... that would take five High Luminarchs."
"And they'd collapse after. But you... You just did it. Alone."
Another nun whispered, "Even Serenya wouldn't dare touch that."
Melca's voice softened. "Vierra, even Serenya couldn't do what you just did."
Jinn forced a calm expression. "You're exaggerating. I'm just a helper nun."
She bowed politely.
Then walked slowly to the door.
Once out of view, she bolted.
(Inner thought) Damn. I'm doomed.
She clutched her chest.
(Inner thought) "That's my last miracle here. I'm gone".