The curtain drifted to the side like a wandering cloud, and Damien's gaze couldn't help but follow it.
His eyes were set on that jade-like white hand that gently pushed it apart, slender and smooth as if its owner had never experienced an ounce of difficulty in life.
His eyes traveled up her arm, subconsciously tracing the countries of her figure as they made their way to her face:
Stunned.
Instantly, Damien was stunned past the point of reaction, frozen in space.
Could there truly exist a woman so beautiful?
In reality, her appearance wasn't too amazingly stunning. She had long, faded blue hair that carried a color that reflected the sky itself. Her face held a mature charm, but rather than calling her beautiful, it would be better to say she was merely pretty.
Her body was the same. She was positioned in quite the suggestive posture, her long legs and perfect hips instantly attracting any onlooker's attention.
She was toned, but not muscular. Her chest wasn't small, but it wasn't overly large either.
This woman, if Damien saw her passing on the street, he'd definitely turn to take a second look, but he wouldn't show enough interest to actively approach her.
However…
What was that?
Around that figure was another, a Goddess with hair that constantly shifted color and an appearance too beautiful and ethereal to be described in words.
The one thing these two figures shared was their multicolor eyes, each color shifting and fading into the next so frequently that one would become lost in them upon a single look.
If the latter was an actress Damien fawned over on the internet, the former was the girl he had a crush on in real life.
Which one was the true her? Or were they both versions of her with different purposes? He held these questions in his heart, but it was neither the heavenly goddess nor the mortal beauty that held Damien's gaze with such absolute fixation.
It was the atmosphere around this person.
The air of mystery that absolutely intoxicated him, filling him with the desire to unravel every inch of its truth, made him unable to pull his gaze away or even have a stray thought that didn't relate to her.
Minutes passed, but he didn't exit his trance.
The Holy Master's expression fell slightly, a hint of loss in her eyes.
"Take him away. Feed him the Nine Illusions Tonic and let him rest for a few days. Also, remember to leave him in the Remembrance Zone. This must not be allowed to affect his future practice."
""Yes, Holy Master.""
Two disciples walked in, approaching Damien to carry out her orders.
If there was one thing that stood out about them, it was that neither had eyes. Their empty sockets were covered by black blindfolds enchanted with magic that essentially removed emotion from their minds.
Since she reached 18, there had never been an individual who could look directly at her appearance and keep their mind.
For a long time, anyone who was graced by her true face would become braindead, losing all function.
This only stopped after roughly 5,000 years, when she finally developed the Nine Illusion Tonic that could dispel the negative effects on their minds.
In combination with the sect's Remembrance Zone which could steal and store memories, this tonic was able to save a good number of lives.
But because of it, she had spent tens of thousands of years as someone who could never be seen by others.
Nevertheless, she grew accustomed to this after such a long period. The reason she showed Damien her appearance was nothing more than a test, with a slight bit of hope.
Perhaps the man whom the universe trusted so deeply would be the first to break free of her influence.
But such thoughts were meaningless.
Clearly—
"Huh? Why are you touching me? Can't you see I'm busy?"
The Holy Master's eyes widened.
Miraculously, Damien angrily turned his head to the two disciples who'd grabbed his shoulders, pushing them away with his mana.
"Damn, if I had another half an hour, I could've gotten to the bottom of it," he muttered to himself in discontent, sending another hateful glare at the disciples.
Though, he realized they were unable to see him soon enough and stopped embarrassing himself.
While Damien was stuck in his own world, a myriad of thoughts and emotions flashed through the Holy Master's mind, finally culminating in the awkward smile that formed on her face.
Damien looked up just in time to see it, raising his brow curiously.
"Why're you looking at me like that?" He asked, cocking his head in confusion.
"T-that…!"
"That?"
The Holy Master was flustered beyond belief.
Couldn't he have given her some sort of heads-up?
Why did he have to show such a reaction when she was at the height of her self-pity?
"Y-you are fine?" She asked hesitantly, any sort of status or superiority gone from her voice.
"Hm? Why wouldn't I be?" Damien asked, still confused for a few moments before his eyes widened in understanding.
"Aha, it's because of that thing, huh," he followed, snacking his fist against his palm.
Looking at the Holy Master's continuously changing expression, it was obvious he was right.
"Haa, I don't know about other people, but that thing inside you has no business enchanting me. If it could, I really wouldn't deserve the titles I've been granted," he said, scratching his head awkwardly.
He didn't know how to approach this situation at all! Damien only had a vague idea of what that force within her was, so as an outsider, he couldn't really say anything to calm her emotions.
"It must've been hard."
That was all he could offer.
The Holy Master didn't react to his words, and feeling the importance of this moment for her, Damien turned his chair around and blocked his awareness.
For a mighty figure like her, displaying vulnerability to others was definitely impossible.
Damien's perception was entirely cut off to the scene behind him, but he could feel a growing air of chaos slam into his back for several minutes before finally receding.
"Done?" He asked.
"Mm."
A light response entered his mind like the sound of wind chimes on a beautiful day in spring.
Damien smiled unwittingly and undid the restraints on his perception, turning back around.
He was almost stunned a second time. This time, truly due to her beauty.
Regardless of what form of her was shown, she was smiling with such contentment that it made Damien embarrassed.
"Then, I'll take my leave now, Holy Master. I have to gather my people and get ready to set out," he said, trying to make up a reason to leave.
She didn't stop him, watching his back as he walked out of her residence. She didn't stop him even though the grounds he was soon to enter were the true face of Prismatic Sun Holy Land.
Instead, she sent another sound transmission into his ear, letting him hear that sound that made his heart skip a beat one more time.
"Eyrissea Luminus."
"Hm?" He muttered questioningly.
"My name. From now on, call me Iris."
A small smile lit up Damien's face.
"Then, until next time, Miss Iris."
This woman…as expected, she was far too interesting to remain a stranger.
