The Water Magician

The Royal Capital's Central Temple, which is usually a place of peace and tranquility, was filled with noise that day.

It all began when a priest and a dual-wielder arrived, dragging along a weary companion.

"Hmm? Is that Zeek? It's been a while..."

"Please, call the high priest immediately!"

"Oh? Alright, I understand."

Many priests remembered Zeek, who had once trained in this Central Temple.

Given that Zeek, who was always composed, was this flustered and calling for the high priest, it was easy to imagine that the situation was quite serious.

After bringing Harold inside, the high priest Gabriel appeared almost immediately.

Without much of a greeting, he focused on the area around Harold's heart.

"This is... could it be a 'spirit curse'?"

At Gabriel's murmuring, Zeek felt puzzled.

He had never heard the term 'spirit curse' during his time at the temple.

He had no recollection of learning about 'spirit curses' even during the Empire's reign.

In other words, it was not a common phenomenon in the Central Nations.

"I will perform 'exorcism.' Prepare immediately. Also, please call Princess Rhea and Rasharta."

"Princess Rhea?"

"Yes. Zeek, she's here at the Central Temple right now."

With that, Gabriel nodded firmly.

Zeek also knew that Princess Rhea was the 'saint.'

"'Exorcism' is a magic that is different from the usual. The more high-ranking priests there are, the better. This exorcism will be performed with both the high priest and the saint present. This is the best environment one could hope for in the Central Nations. Don't worry, Zeek. The Central Temple will heal any person with all its might. Rest assured."

With those words, high priest Gabriel smiled.

That smile was one Zeek had seen many times during his time at the Central Temple, and it always brought him comfort.

And once again...

"Yes, thank you, high priest."

Harold was laid down in the 'Chamber of Serenity,' which is located in the northernmost part of the Central Temple.

It was a massive circular room with a radius of fifty meters, called the Oval Room, with stairs leading to an underground tomb at its center.

Harold was laid down in a place near the altar beside the stairs of the 'Chamber of Serenity,' where sacred powers from past saints, saints, and high priests flow from the underground tomb, making healing in this room said to be the most effective.

Keeping an eye on Harold laid there was the legacy officer Viscount Rasharta Deboe.

Rasharta was not only renowned in the kingdom but also known as one of the best legacy officers in the Central Nations, having been granted the exception to hold a noble title while being recognized as a priest.

High priest Gabriel approached Rasharta to speak.

"Rasharta, do you know what kind of spirit curse this is?"

"I'm sorry, Gabriel. This is a spirit curse I am unfamiliar with."

Rasharta answered while shaking her head apologetically.

"No, there's no need to apologize. In the first place, spirit curses are not common in the Central Nations. Of course, they exist at the level of folk legends, but to be honest, a 'spirit curse' of a dimension different from that of humans is..."

High priest Gabriel said this, and Rasharta nodded in agreement.

"High priest, the preparations for 'Dispel Curse' are complete."

The saint dressed in priestly attire, Princess Rhea, informed Gabriel.

Gabriel nodded once and began to walk.

Surrounding Harold, ten high-ranking priests, including Gabriel and Rhea, formed a circle.

After calming their breathing, Gabriel began to chant.

"Oh, great goddess, I humbly beseech thee. Our friend, trapped by a different principle from ours, and your child, trapped by a different principle from you, grant us the mercy to return them to the principles of this world. Our friend, bearing wounds different from ours, and your child, bearing wounds different from you, we humbly request thee to release them from their shackles. 'Dispel Curse.'"

When high priest Gabriel finished the chant, light emanated from the ten surrounding him and gathered together.

That light slowly enveloped Harold.