Right, it’s been a while. Why don’t I go check on how Ariel is doing?
Inside the Misty Hut, Little Mist, who had grown a bit tired from practicing in front of the full-length mirror, decided to go visit Ariel, whose mind seemed to be a little off.
Little Mist actually quite liked Ariel. After all, Ariel had been the one keeping her company and teaching her to read recently, and like her, Ariel was afraid of Truth.
In a sense, Ariel and Little Mist were natural allies, so she could try to build a good relationship and look out for each other in the future.
But just as Little Mist was about to step out of the room, a hurried set of footsteps suddenly came from the hallway outside. She opened the door out of curiosity and found it was Ariel…
At that moment, Ariel was just about to return to her own room.
Unfortunately, she had only just hastily gotten up and turned to run back a few steps when Little Mist came out, catching her squarely at the door of a room that was not the master bedroom.
So there was still room to turn things around:
“Uh, well… I just came out to use the toilet and accidentally tripped and fell.”
That was how Ariel explained it to Little Mist. The explanation was rather forced, but the latter did not harbor much suspicion:
“I see. I was just thinking about going to check on how you were doing… Ah, no!”
Suddenly, the somewhat relaxed Little Mist realized that her tone just now had not been like Truth’s at all.
So she hurriedly changed her tone and expression.
Then she straightened her back, crossed her arms over her chest, and slightly turned her face to the side, speaking in a slightly tsundere manner:
“I was just thinking about going to check on how you were doing!”
Watch closely. This is the result of the twenty minutes I just spent practicing with my head down.
I’m already eighty percent similar to Truth!
Then Ariel watched Little Mist’s sudden change of face and stopped panicking entirely.
She could not help but fall into thought. So she really was practicing just now…
Ever since Wilona brought Little Mist back, Ariel had already felt that something was off.
But at the time, she thought it was just the Hidden One Demon’s twisted sense of humor.
Yet later, even when Ariel had clearly intended to run away with Wilona, this “Truth” showed no desire at all to punish her.
And then there was that trace of conversation that came from the master bedroom…
So now Ariel was eighty percent certain that this “Truth” before her was the real Ninth Saintess, currently not possessed by the Hidden One Demon!
As for the Ninth Saintess at the Church of the Goddess of Life in Deya City, she had no idea what was going on with that one.
But even with eighty percent certainty, she still had to be extra careful.
So next, it was time to try verifying whether this Truth before her was the real Ninth Saintess.
Otherwise, if this Truth was an impostor and the one at the cathedral was the real one, that would be trouble.
So Ariel suddenly, without any warning, clutched her head and said to Little Mist:
“Truth… my head hurts so much… my throat is so dry and uncomfortable… could you go downstairs and get me a cup of water? Please…”
“Is it that bad? I’ll go right now!” Little Mist wore a look of concern and, without hesitation, immediately ran downstairs and fetched a cup of natural spring water.
Never mind everything else. Saving people was more important!
Ariel watched Little Mist’s departing figure as she went downstairs and felt a little excited.
She really went, as expected of the kindly Saintess who loved to help others! But this alone was not enough…
Then Ariel returned to her room and lay down on the bed.
Then, steeling herself, she forcefully scraped her left arm against the wooden wall beside her! It left a small patch of scratches that looked painful just to see.
About two minutes later, Little Mist, still wearing a worried expression, came into Ariel’s room carrying a cup of water.
She was just about to help Ariel drink some water when she noticed that a small patch of scratches had suddenly appeared on Ariel’s left hand:
“Ariel, your hand…”
“Ah, this…” Ariel replied weakly:
“I lost my balance a little when I came in just now and accidentally scraped it. It hurts quite a bit, sigh… if only there were a gentle priest by my side, then I wouldn’t have to suffer so much…”
A gentle priest? Me! I happen to be one!
At this moment, Little Mist completely forgot that she was supposed to be playing the role of Truth right now. She only wanted to take care of Ariel.
“Are you in a lot of pain right now?”
Little Mist asked anxiously. Then she set the cup of water aside.
Accompanied by a ripple of Power, she gently took Ariel’s hand and carefully cast the Mist Healing Art.
Immediately after, a cool, icy sensation spread from Ariel’s scratches throughout her entire body, and the scratches healed rapidly.
This scene made Ariel extremely excited. It was the genuine Healing Spell! She could confirm it one hundred percent now.
This Truth was the real Ninth Saintess, and the one at the cathedral was fake!
Among the low rank, the only one who could cast a Healing Spell was a Priest. Elemental Priests or Druids had to reach Intermediate Rank before they could cast even some simple healing spells.
So unless the Hidden One Demon possessed her again, this cute girl gently healing her right now was the genuine Saintess.
Since it was already confirmed, the next thing Ariel needed to know was just how far this Ninth Saintess’s gentleness and kindness could go. Once she knew, it would be easier to handle her…
Then Ariel reached out her right hand in an attempt to grab the cup beside her, but unfortunately, a moment of “carelessness” made most of the water spill onto the floor, and a small portion of it splashed directly onto Little Mist’s skirt:
“Ah… sorry! Sorry! My head is so dizzy, so I still can’t hold it steady…”
“It’s… it’s fine. I’ll go pour you another cup in a bit.” Little Mist was not angry at all. Instead, she became even more concerned about Ariel.
After about ten seconds of healing, the scratches on Ariel’s hand had already vanished without a trace.
Then Little Mist motioned for Ariel to lie properly on the bed.
She would take care of wiping the floor clean and then go downstairs to bring up another cup of water for Ariel.
But just as Little Mist was about to carry the cup out, Ariel shamelessly pushed further and said weakly:
“Um… I’m also a bit hungry. After finishing my high-intensity work at Fog Gate Plaza, I still haven’t eaten anything until now…”
“Hungry? No problem, leave it to me! I’ll make you something to eat in a bit.” Little Mist promised. Then the sound of rapid footsteps going downstairs rang out…
“Wow… she’s even more proactive about taking care of people than I imagined. Is this what the Ninth Saintess is like?” Ariel thought gleefully as she lay on the bed.
It seemed that as long as she put on a bit of a sick act, this girl would basically do whatever she said, just like her Predecessors.
So next, should she try making things difficult for her and see what kind of expression she would make?
Would she continue her clumsy imitation of the Hidden One Demon, or would she get a sour nose and secretly feel wronged? Ariel could not help but look forward to it.
Just like back when she secretly teased the other Saintesses in Wangdu, now that the threat of the Hidden One Demon was gone, Ariel was getting cocky again.
And at the thought that the one she would be dealing with in the Mist from now on was actually a Saintess and not a Demon, she felt happy just thinking about it…