Liora had faced wars, abyssal beasts, and even a fairy addicted to decapitating thieves. But nothing prepared her for what her mother announced that morning:
"We have an important guest today! The Duke of Elvanor is coming for lunch with his entourage!"
Liora choked on her honey bread. "Sorry, what?!"
"The Duke, dear. One of the greatest patrons of the Order of Light. And he's curious to meet you!"
"Curious as in... 'Let's study the saintly prodigy' or 'Let's burn the infiltrated witch'?"
Lúcia just smiled. "Fetch your best dress!"
Perfect. First the Demon King sips tea in the living room, now nobles are coming to inspect her aura. This was turning into a circus.
Morian, the current "spiritual mentor" (a.k.a. former infernal boss disguised as a celestial guide), appeared leaning against the door with his usual smile that screamed "I know everything and I'm having the time of my life."
"Hosting a Duke? How fancy. Have you practiced your fake modesty?"
"You're not even supposed to be here," Liora growled.
"Darling, I'm your mentor. If I vanish during a noble's visit, people might assume you buried me in the garden."
She sighed so hard it blew out a candle with pure holy air.
---
Later, in the reception hall...
The Duke of Elvanor entered, clad in shining armor, beard perfectly braided, and eyes sharp with judgment.
Beside him, three squires carried gifts, scrolls, and a bouquet of glowing flowers. Literally glowing. Probably enchanted.
"Lady Liora," the Duke said, inclining his head. "They say you possess divine power quite rare for someone so young."
She smiled. Or tried to. It came out more like, "Yes, and I hate it."
"I've been training under the guidance of my... mentor," she said, gesturing to Morian, who currently looked like a bishop pretending to be a stained glass saint.
The Duke eyed him with suspicion.
"You... have an unconventional look for a guide of light."
"Indeed," Morian replied with a smile that would make any priest break into nervous prayer. "The light loves me on the inside."
Liora held her breath. The Duke frowned.
"I hope it also loves proper manners."
Lúcia, always ready to rescue a situation with tea and sweetness, entered with a tray of steaming cups.
"My lord Duke, please enjoy this tea. I prepared it myself."
"Ah, of course," he said, taking the cup with noble grace. "I've heard this tea can cleanse even the soul."
Liora muttered, "Let's hope it doesn't cleanse memories, or he'll figure out who Morian really is."
Morian drank his tea like it was divine nectar. "Delicious."
---
During lunch, the Duke asked about Liora's abilities.
"She channels the light spontaneously," Valério said proudly. "Just the other day, she purified a crow with a single glance."
"It just turned to smoke and flew away... but yes, purification," Liora corrected.
Then the Duke did something terrible: he asked for a demonstration.
"A demonstration?" Liora blinked.
"A small miracle. Just to see what the new generation of light can accomplish."
Before she could escape, Morian placed a hand on her shoulder, wearing that "this will be fun" smile.
"You can do it, my dear pupil. Show them your... inner aura."
Liora looked at the table. Breads, fruit, flowers.
She picked a flower. Squinted. Focused.
"Divine light, come to me—but not too strong because we have guests," she muttered.
The flower started to glow.
Everyone leaned in, impressed.
Then she realized... the flower was singing?
"Praise be to the breaaaaaad of liiiiiiiiife—"
She slapped the flower into silence.
Dead silence.
The Duke coughed. "That was... unexpected."
"A rare talent," Morian said. "She channels the music of the Aether."
"Drunken Aether," Liora muttered.
---
After the visit...
"You're doing quite well," Morian said, perched on the garden wall.
"I nearly exposed myself to a Duke! And why the hell did that flower know how to sing? I've never seen that!"
"Ancient magic. Sometimes it reacts to stress. And suppressed sarcasm."
She sighed. "This entire lie is going to collapse one day."
"Maybe. But until then... enjoy the tea."
She plucked a flower from the garden and bit it.
"That was a decoration," Morian noted.
She chewed bitterly. "It's now a crunchy symbol of despair."
And so the day ended with mystery—and the growing struggle to keep being the so-called daughter of light.
---
Rumors about a saintly child with uncontrollable powers begin to spread among nobles and priests. Liora just wanted to hide… but someone just invited her to sing at the Festival of Light. Alongside her demon mentor, of course. What could possibly go wrong?