Cassian's POV
"Who—?"
The word slipped from my mouth before I could even think. I cursed inwardly. Damn it. I had exposed myself without meaning to.
Whoever this woman was, I could tell at a glance—she wasn't someone ordinary. Her movements were too clean. And that aura of holy energy surrounding her… definitely a veteran Exorcist.
But… she wasn't using any weapon. Just pure purification spells.
Ah. Well healers are supposed to be non-combatants?
I leaned against the tree trunk behind me, peering at her from the shadows, curious. Let's see how a healer fights in this world.
Hmm… her spell-casting speed is good. Really good. And her mobility, too—efficient footwork, graceful dodges. She's not just strong; she's trained. If only she carried a weapon, she could probably sweep through this forest with ease.
Still, she's impressive.
I should leave before she notices me.
I was just turning around when—
"You there."
Crap.
The voice cut through the silence like a dagger, calm but commanding. I froze.
Can't run now.
"You new here?" she asked again, now walking towards me with unhurried, deliberate steps. Every step brought her closer, her holy aura brushing the trees around her.
Within seconds, she was only a few meters away—and that's when I saw her face properly for the first time.
Long, wavy black hair that shimmered under the sunlight, sapphire-blue eyes that carried both kindness and authority.
…Seriously, why are all the women in this world so damn beautiful?
"H-Hello, I'm Cassian. Joined just yesterday," I said with a nervous smile, offering a light bow in greeting.
She nodded slightly. "Hmm, Cassian. What rank are you?"
"Ah—I'm an E-Rank healer."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "A low-rank healer? So it's money that brought you into this profession, huh?"
I chuckled, a little embarrassed. "Yeah, well… the other options were either becoming a servant or being overworked for half the pay. At least here I'm allowed to keep my dignity… somewhat."
She stared for a moment longer, then looked away.
"Are you heading back?" she asked.
"Yes," I said, tilting my head slightly. "Do you need help with anything?"
"Please say no, please say no…" I chanted inwardly
"No," she replied flatly. "I'm heading back too. Let's walk together."
She turned without giving me a second glance. I blinked. What was with that abruptness?
I walked beside her silently for a bit, stealing occasional glances.
After a few moments, I couldn't help but ask, "By the way, Miss… may I know your name?"
She slowed slightly, her expression unreadable as she looked at me.
I braced myself.
"If you don't want me to—" before I could finish she interjected .
"Luna," she said quietly, cutting me off.
"Huh?" I blinked.
"I'm Luna." She repeated, then sped up, almost as if running from the conversation.
"…Luna. Hmm. Nice name," I murmured to myself with a small smile.
"Yeah, nice name."
I jolted at the unexpected voice behind me.
"Wait—who…?" I turned around quickly.
Standing just a few steps behind me was none other than Garven.
"Sir Garven! What are you doing here?" I asked, genuinely confused.
He sighed. "Just came to check if you were still alive or if I'd need to go purify your corpse myself. Turns out you're still kicking."
" Why does he sound so disappointed?"
"Did he want me to become a zombie that badly?" I thought, mildly horrified.
Still, I gave him a grateful nod. "Thanks for the skill, sir. It was a lifesaver—literally."
"Hmph. I know," he said with a shrug.
"Sir… who was she? You never told me there were other Exorcists here besides me."
"I never said you were the only one," Garven replied. "I said Exorcists are rare. We still have a few—and she's one of them. Been around for two years."
"I see…" I mumbled, nodding. "I'll be taking my leave then!"
With that, I turned and jogged off, determined to put some distance between me and this possibly murderous old man.
'Stay away from this guy… who knows, he might 'purify' me out of boredom someday.'
[Exorcist Shop]
The wooden sign above the small building read [Exorcist Shop] in bold, slightly faded letters. I stepped inside, eager to finally exchange these damn cores.
What I didn't expect was to see her again.
Luna.
She stood at the counter, gracefully placing her own set of magic cores on the table, calmly discussing something with the shopkeeper. Her presence was oddly comforting… or maybe I was just glad she wasn't throwing me into a pit of holy fire.
"Ah—a new face!" the lady behind the counter greeted cheerfully.
"Hello," I said with a smile. "I'm Cassian, new Exorcist as of yesterday."
"Welcome, Cassian. I'm Carla. If you need help, don't hesitate to ask," she said with a smile that was warm… or maybe just good business.
"I'd like to exchange my cores," I said, showing her my magic pouch.
"Of course! Let's see what you've got," she said as I handed it over.
She opened the bag and started counting swiftly, her fingers moving in practiced motion. "One… two… three…"
As the count continued, I noticed her expression start to twist. First surprise, then confusion, then disbelief.
Even Luna glanced my way, brow raised in curiosity.
"…Fifty-one," Carla said, finally stopping. "These are fifty-one low-level cores… how did you get this many on your first day?!"
"…What do you mean? I just killed the undead. Isn't that what we're supposed to do?" I said, genuinely puzzled.
"Yes, but you said you joined yesterday. This would be your first official assignment—and you're a low-rank healer, no less!"
"Miss Luna," I turned to her with a playful grin, "how many cores did you get on your first day?"
Luna hesitated. Her ears turned faintly red, but she eventually muttered, "…T-Twenty."
She looked away immediately.
'Oof. Maybe she's embarrassed to be beated by a newbie.' i thought
"Miss Carla, are you not going to exchange them because it's too many? Should I go to another shop?" I asked, raising a brow.
Carla looked shocked at my suggestion, her face frozen.
Then—
"NO!"
Both Luna and I stared at her like she'd just screamed at a kitten.
"Ahem. I mean… no need to go anywhere else. I'll give you the best price."
'Yeah, that sounds exactly like what a scammer would say.'
"How much?" I asked skeptically.
"Five hundred points per core," she offered, smiling sweetly.
I caught the twitch at the corner of Luna's lips—but she said nothing.
'So that's definitely not the best price, huh?'
"Miss Luna, how much do you get for your low-level cores?" I asked innocently.
The room fell into silence. Both Carla and Luna looked as though they'd forgotten such a question could even be asked.
But here's the thing: in the church grounds, you can't lie. Any attempt at dishonesty causes your ID to glow and break—instantly branding you a sinner.
She had no choice.
"…A thousand points per core," Luna said eventually, not looking at Carla.
Carla glared daggers at her. Luna just shrugged.
"I see," I said, turning around casually. "Well, in that case, I guess I'll check out the other shops. I'm sure someone out there values honesty."
I was just about to step through the door when—
"Wait—!"
Carla's voice rang out behind me, sharp and urgent.
Gotcha.
Thank the heavens my body didn't stop me halfway. I might've actually been swindled.
"We… we can negotiate, right?" Carla said sheepishly.
I turned around slowly with a smile. "Of course, Miss Carla."
-To be continued..