Soundless Devotion

Inside Nothikura Temple, Celia was praying.

She knelt at the prayer bench, softly reciting the morning prayer.

Her voice was gentle and devout, blending with the prayers of the other Priests around her.

"O guide through the darkness, may Your mercy illuminate those who have lost their way—"

After the prayer ended, Celia rose and gently brushed the dust from her long skirt.

A kindly woman in deep-purple priestly robes approached, a warm smile on her face.

She was in her fifties, her silver-white hair neatly coiled behind her head. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes bore the marks of time, yet her deep brown eyes remained bright and warm.

"Good morning, Celia," said Lydia, the presiding Priest, softly. "Did you rest well last night?"

"Very well, High Priest Lydia," Celia replied with a smile.

"Come with me. We need to prepare for today's medicine distribution." Lydia turned and headed deeper into the temple.

The two passed through a long corridor and entered the temple's inner chambers. This was the private area for clergy and was not open to the public.

Lydia suddenly stopped, turned to Celia, and a glimmer of curiosity flashed in her eyes. "By the way, Celia.

I've always been curious. Would it be convenient for you to show me that special form of yours?"

Celia froze for a moment, then understood what she meant.

In this temple devoted to Nothikura, she truly did not need to hide herself as carefully as she did outside.

Nothikura herself had ascended from a succubus to a Goddess. Her teachings emphasized the coexistence of redemption and shadow, the balance between light and darkness.

Here, Celia's dual-soul state would not only be accepted, but regarded as a special blessing.

"Of course." Celia nodded.

She closed her eyes and took