章 14: Divine touch

Jack inhaled deeply, forcing calm into his veins, though it felt like trying to catch smoke in his hands. His boots echoed softly against the stone floor as he approached her. Alisha stood ahead, unreadable, her face hidden behind that damn veil.

'Figures. Just my luck' he thought, his frustration simmering beneath his otherwise calm demeanor.

He stopped a few feet from her, his eyes dropping instinctively to the floor. 'No point in looking her in the eyes—it'd only add fuel to the fire'

But even with his gaze averted, the weight of her presence pressed down on him. The air between them was thick with tension, tightening with every breath. His pulse quickened, hammering against his ribs.

Jack swallowed hard, his throat dry. There was no turning back now. He raised his head, meeting her gaze, or at least what lay beyond the veil, without blinking. His deep azure eyes flickered with disdain. She'd see it. He wasn't here to play along.

'Why is he looking at me like that?' Alisha stiffened, surprised, but she didn't falter. Her lips moved in barely audible chants, soft and rhythmic, a whisper carried by the stale air of the hall. She raised her hands toward him, the silence between them stretching thin like a wire about to snap.

Jack's mind spun. The list of elements and spells he had mastered flickered through his head, the system a constant presence at the back of his consciousness. He didn't need chants—no, Jack was different. He could cast with just a thought, a gift far beyond what the mages of the kingdom could comprehend. A dangerous gift.

If she tries anything, I'll burn her, he promised himself, already cycling through his spells. His heart pounded, but his fingers twitched with anticipation.

**[Scorching Hands – 1st tier]

**[Mana points required – 15]

'It's perfect. Subtle enough that no one would notice. And besides, this is my territory. No matter what, she wouldn't dare harm me here. Dad wouldn't let her' Jack thought grimly. He knew his place, and he was ready for whatever came next. He had to be.

Her cold fingers brushed against his hair, and in an instant, everything changed.

A searing heat coursed through his body, burning from the inside out, yet his skin prickled like he'd been plunged into an icy lake. He clenched his teeth, fighting the scream building in his throat.

**[You have come in contact with divinity!]

**[Corruption Activated!]

His heart skipped a beat.

'What?!'

That was a skill he had forgotten, something acquired in a moment of crisis when Jamiel had tried to strip him of his powers. It had remained buried in his mind, dormant—until now. Now, it roared to life, unbidden, and he could feel the raw energy of it twisting inside him.

Alisha yanked her hands back, her body recoiling as though she'd touched a live wire. The knights around her reacted in an instant, swords flashing as they leapt to her defense.

"No!" she commanded, her voice sharp. "I'm fine. Stand down."

They obeyed, but their blades stayed ready. Rarely did something go wrong during a blessing—she knew that better than anyone. Her fingers trembled as she withdrew them fully from Jack, her heart racing in her chest.

Her eyes, hidden beneath the veil, widened with shock. 'What in the name of the gods just happened? There's only one reason this could happen…' A chill crawled down her spine as the realization hit. This could only occur if the person in front of her possessed greater divinity than she did. Her stomach lurched. 'Is he… the Blessed One?'

Jack's mind spun, his body on fire from the inside out, and yet cold sweat beaded on his skin. The corruption skill had shielded him, but barely. He forced a smile, his teeth grinding behind the façade.

'Keep it together… hold it together, Jack.'

Pain, sharp and electric, danced across his body like a thousand needles driving into his flesh. Every nerve screamed at him to stop, to run, to claw his way out of this burning cage, but he couldn't afford to show weakness. Not here. Not now. He bit down on the scream clawing at his throat, swallowing the agony.

**[Divine power has come in contact with host.]

**[Purification has begun. Progress: 50%.]

**[Time left for divinity to be erased: 20 minutes.]

Jack's thoughts came in fragments, the system's cold efficiency making it clear what was happening. Divine power and his… they were enemies. Mortal enemies. His demonic abilities, the power to raise the dead, to bind them to his will, was an affront to divinity itself.

He had to endure this for twenty more minutes? His blood boiled at the thought, but there was no escaping it. At least the corruption had saved him from complete exposure. Without it, she would've seen everything—his secrets laid bare beneath her divine touch.

He couldn't let that happen.

As he turned away from her, his fists clenched tight, he forced a smile onto his face. The pain roared in his bones, but he walked calmly back to his seat, each step a small victory against the agony tearing through him.

'Is he alright? That smile... it's too bright,' Arwen thought, watching him. She knew Jack far too well to be fooled by his forced cheerfulness. His smile never looked like that. It wasn't right, and her motherly instincts screamed at her that something was wrong.

He sat down, his posture unnaturally rigid, his fists still balled tight in his lap. Sweat slicked his brow, but no one would see it from where they sat. He fought to keep his breathing steady. No one had to tell him—he already knew. He had to avoid Alisha. No matter what.

From beneath her veil, Alisha's eyes sparkled, a smile curling behind the fabric. If he truly had more divinity than she did, then he was a prize—a gift to the church. A tool to be used. With him, the church's power could grow tenfold.

Before she could savor the thought, Arin stepped forward, his dark eyes gleaming. It was his turn.

'Hmph. "Senior brother"? Pathetic. He couldn't even handle a blessing,' Arin thought, his lips curving into a smirk. He tossed his raven-black hair back, the sunlight glinting off its smooth strands. The scent of fresh flowers drifted through the windows, but the sweetness was lost on him.

He approached Alisha, his every step a display of confidence. He would show them all why he was better. She turned her attention to him, eager, her pulse quickening. Maybe this time would be different.

She placed her hands on him, murmuring the same ancient chants. But when her hands met his skin, her face fell, disappointment seeping into her expression.