I'm in Mota, and they all want me to confess my feelings!

“Cantrela, head of the Faisal family.”

“I think I’ve heard Miss Koleta mention this name before…” Abu tilted his head and thought for a moment. “She said she was a particularly vicious woman and said a lot of nasty things. But seeing her in person today… she doesn’t seem that bad. Although I can’t figure out what she’s thinking, I always feel that… she’s not as bad as people say, and she’s even a little gentle.”

"The Second Miss actually told you about her?" Duanmu Yan was somewhat surprised. "Why would she tell you these things?"

Abu shook his head, looking bewildered: "I don't know either. Miss Koleta bought me a lot of snacks that day, and I was so happy that I didn't remember anything else."

"..."

I have a feeling that the Second Miss is trying to bribe Abu to keep an eye on me.

Fortunately, Abu forgot.

"Ahem, um—" Duanmu Yan cleared his throat and said to Abu in a low voice, "Um, Abu... when you see the Second Miss later, please don't tell her about what happened today."

"Why?" Abu tilted his head, looking puzzled.

"Don't ask so many questions." Duanmu Yan reached out and rubbed its little head. "Just keep this to yourself! Of course, as a reward, I'll take you out for a big meal tomorrow!"

"Really?" Abu's eyes lit up instantly.

"of course it's true!"

Abu turned around, rested his chin on his little paws and thought for a moment, then solemnly turned back and nodded vigorously: "Yes! I promise, I will never tell Miss Koleta about seeing that big sister just now!"

"Good partners!"

……

……

A few streaks of dusky afterglow still lingered on the horizon.

Duanmu Yan leaned against the dock railing, listening to the rhythm of the waves and the wind, and finally took a deep breath of the salty sea breeze before turning and walking towards Laguna City.

—Next up is a "date" with Phoebe.

Okay, it couldn't really be called a date.

It was just a regular dinner party.

As a priestess of the religious order, Phoebe usually only eats pizza once a month.

Although the religious rules did not explicitly prohibit it, the devout girl always believed that temperance was a virtue.

Therefore, even though she has a deep love for pizza, she remains disciplined and only allows herself to enjoy it once a month.

Margaret's family restaurant is not far from the dock.

The pizza I ordered yesterday should be ready by now.

He and Phoebe had to take the pizza somewhere else to enjoy it—Duanmu Yan didn't know the exact location yet, it was Phoebe who chose it.

"Ah, Mr. Duanmu! Over here!"

As soon as he reached the restaurant entrance, he saw the petite blonde girl waving at him.

Three skeletons were following her, happily hopping and skipping towards him.

These are all companions who have been with Phoebe for many years.

Although the religious order explicitly forbids clergy from having excessive close contact with the deceased.

Phoebe's devotion to God is beyond question, but she is also a woman of affection and loyalty.

How can one truly be heartless and sever ties with these partners who have been with them for many years?

Therefore, this devout young girl was actually secretly violating the doctrine—carefully maintaining that gentle bond between faith and emotion.

"It smells so good! I can't wait!" Abu flew lightly to Phoebe, circled the pizza box twice, and finally landed on the girl's shoulder with practiced ease.

For some reason, besides Duanmu Yan, Abu's closest friend is Phoebe.

Being by her side always brings an indescribable sense of relaxation, as if gently enveloped by a ray of warm sunshine.

"Abu's here too?" Phoebe smiled and gently touched Abu's paw with her little fist.

She naturally liked Abu very much—after all, she had always been fond of Sheng Hai, let alone such a cute little guy as Abu.

"Phoebe, where are we going next?"

Duanmu Yan walked to the girl's side and took the initiative to pick up most of the pizza boxes.

The remaining boxes were cheerfully held up by Rabbi, Benny, and Banbu.

"The place we're going to..." Phoebe smiled faintly, "Hmm—it'll be a secret for now. Mr. Duanmu will be able to see it for himself soon."

Looking at her mysterious yet adorable expression, Duanmu Yan couldn't help but chuckle and didn't press further: "Alright, then Phoebe will lead the way today."

The two chatted and laughed as they walked toward the outskirts of Laguna—the shores of Fufeng Lake.

“Oh, right, Mr. Duanmu,” Phoebe suddenly remembered something important, “about the name you asked me to look up yesterday—Kathishia. I carefully reviewed the monastic order’s records after I got back and did find relevant information. But…”

The girl's expression suddenly changed, and her voice gradually lowered.

"But what?" Duanmu Yan noticed her hesitation and pressed for an answer.

“Katixia…” Phoebe murmured softly, “This name belongs to Saint Florides from twenty years ago—it was her name before she became a saint.”

Duanmu Yan's foot hovered in mid-air, pausing for a long time before slowly falling down.

How can this be?

Saintess Freudris...

Didn't he die a martyr twenty years ago to resist the invasion of the Kuroshio?

How could he still be alive?

Moreover, even if she were still alive, after twenty years, how could she still maintain a youthful appearance similar to Phoebe?

Could it be that... I traveled back to the world twenty years ago and met a young Katishia?

wrong……

If that's the case, how could she have forgotten so many things?

Why didn't you just tell me that she was the saint?

"Why does Mr. Duanmu know this name?" Phoebe asked softly.

Duanmu Yan was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "If I said... I saw that so-called saint not long ago... would you believe me, Phoebe?"

Phoebe's pupils twitched slightly, but the turmoil in her eyes quickly subsided.

She nodded, her tone gentle yet firm: "If it was Mr. Duanmu who said it... I believe him."

This answer surprised Duanmu Yan: "Why... did you believe me so easily? Don't you have any doubts about me?"

Phoebe tilted her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Because—I've always believed in Mr. Duanmu."

The girl gently clasped her hands together in front of her chest and spoke softly, as if in prayer.

"Although I hadn't been born into this world twenty years ago... the story of the saintess had already been deeply imprinted in my heart through my constant exposure to it."

“I have always believed that the Holy Maiden... lives in the hearts of every Raguna person.”

Volume 1: Chapter 118 Becoming Phoebe's Family

They traveled north, gradually moving away from the city of Laguna, and arrived at the shores of the Dawn River.

Night had fallen, and all was silent. The only source of light in this desolate wilderness, besides the sporadic music from the horizon, was the faint glow gathered in Phoebe's hand—

That was a prism she formed by materializing light using the power of resonance.

Though faint, it is enough to illuminate the path ahead.

“Phoebe, why aren’t you going back so late? Is everything at the guild really alright?” Duanmu Yan followed behind the girl, his voice filled with worry.

Religious orders have always maintained strict discipline over their clergy, especially the curfew.

Therefore, Duanmu Yan couldn't help but worry that Phoebe might be punished by the monastic order for leaving Laguna City so late at night.

Religious orders are not as glamorous as they appear on the surface.

Phoebe shook her head gently, her voice soft: "It's alright, Mr. Duanmu. We have one day off every week, and today is my turn, so I can go home a little later."

"Alright then. But Phoebe, where are we going?"

The scenery along the water is beautiful, with many lovely spots perfect for picnics.

But Phoebe ignored several scenic spots they passed and continued stubbornly toward the coast.

Could it be that Phoebe wants to go to the beach?

why?

Logically speaking, as a Laguna native, she could see the sea every day and shouldn't have deliberately gone towards the coast.

Despite having many doubts, Duanmu Yan did not ask any questions.

Since Phoebe insists on doing this, she must have her reasons.

Could it be that Phoebe would harm me?

“It’s just ahead,” Phoebe replied softly.

The tranquil night sky is twinkling with stars, and glowing fireflies dance lightly in the twilight, leaving trails of light in their wake.

Duanmu Yan could already smell the salty, damp scent brought by the sea breeze.

They walked onto a beach—

An ordinary beach.

So ordinary... that it's impossible to find anything special about it.

You can find similar places in any corner of Laguna.

But why did Phoebe choose this place specifically for her picnic?

“This is it.” Phoebe took out a picnic blanket and cutlery from her small handbag and carefully spread them on the soft sand.

Abu and the other members of the Sound Reaper team also helped to arrange the cutlery and pizza neatly.

Although Duanmu Yan didn't understand why he needed to use utensils to eat pizza, couldn't he just use his hands?

Duanmu Yan took the plate from Benny's hand—it was a small dish and a cup.

Phoebe also brought freshly squeezed juice made from green pistachios. Although it still had the characteristic tartness of green pistachios, it was refreshing and palatable after being mixed with sugar.

"Mmm, it smells so good! Can we start eating now?" Abu stared longingly at the fragrant pizza, his mouth watering.

Looking at Abu's pathetic state, Duanmu Yan couldn't help but sigh softly and shake his head.

He picked up a plate and handed it to Phoebe, only to find the girl gazing absently at the distant sea, oblivious to his actions.

"Phoebe?"

Only when he called softly did Phoebe tremble slightly, turn her head, and a serene smile appear on her face: "Ah? Um... Thank you, Mr. Duanmu."

"Were you spacing out just now? Is something on your mind?" Duanmu Yan asked her.

The girl paused for a moment, her lips trembling slightly as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

Her gaze drifted into the distance again, but her eyes gradually became unfocused, as if she could see the distant past through the sea.

After a moment of silence, she gently placed her hand on her chest and murmured in a voice that almost blended into the sea breeze.

"Mr. Duanmu must find this very strange..."

"Why did you choose to have a picnic here of all places?"

"This place is so ordinary, with no flowers or fragrant grass, just messy rocks. It's absolutely terrible as a picnic spot."

"But this place is to me..."

At this point, the girl's mood gradually became much more depressed, like a flame about to melt in a blizzard.

"It's a place that holds my past."

Duanmu Yan asked in confusion, "Phoebe's past?"

“When I was very young, my parents encountered a wave of lingering elephants on their way to the New Federation…” The girl unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes. “At that time, I didn’t understand what death meant. Many evenings, I would come here alone, look at the sea, and hope to see the sails of my parents’ ship returning.”

"Later, without the orphanage nanny's knowledge, I secretly boarded a merchant ship on a long voyage, hoping to find them. But perhaps I was just unlucky... that ship was also attacked by a ghost elephant."

"I don't know exactly what happened. I only remember hiding below deck, listening to the panicked footsteps and the clamor of people gradually turning into screams. The ship was tossed about in the storm, being thrown high into the air by huge waves..."