Cassian (POV)
The sound of distant bells echoed through the dormitory halls as I opened my eyes to the faint glow of dawn peeking through the curtains. The clock beside my bed ticked softly—7:00 a.m.
With a groggy yawn, I sat up and stretched, feeling the satisfying pop of my joints. Another day in the Church of Lumina. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, taking a moment to balance myself before beginning my daily exercises. Push-ups, sit-ups, squats, stretches—nothing too fancy, but enough to keep my body from turning back into the noodle it once was. An hour passed in the blink of an eye, and by the end of it, my skin had a light sheen of sweat.
After a quick cold shower that nearly made me scream, I finally dressed in my newly acquired Exorcist robe. The robe was a masterpiece—silver threads woven with divine precision, emerald linings that shimmered faintly under the light. It hugged my body just right, adapting magically to my physique. No more oversized sleeves or baggy trousers. If only clothes like these existed in my previous world, tailors would be out of business. Imagine a world where clothes tailor themselves. Crazy.
I admired my reflection in the mirror. My once bamboo-like limbs had developed subtle muscle—nothing too crazy, but enough to give me a decent shape. My hair, now a bit longer than before, looked presentable. Not too bad for a 17-year-old who got beat up by orcs for six months straight.
Since I still had some time before my assignment, I decided to head to the cafeteria.
The moment I stepped into the dining hall, I was hit by a warm wave of scents—freshly baked bread, sizzling eggs, sweet fruits, and more. The place was alive with chatter. A sea of church members, trainees, priests, and fellow exorcists gathered around tables, devouring their meals like they hadn't eaten in days.
Guess everyone wakes up hungry around here.
I grabbed a tray and joined the line. My plate soon filled with soft sandwiches, fluffy rice, a nicely cooked omelette, fresh fruits, a cup of yogurt... and, of course, I didn't forget the most sacred item of all—choco lava cake.
I turned to the dessert counter, only to find the infamous panda chef standing there with crossed arms and a sly smirk.
"You're an honest boy," he said gruffly, plopping not one, but two choco lava cakes onto my tray.
"Thanks, big guy," I replied, stunned by the honor.
Choco lava cake. The crown jewel of all desserts in the Church of Lumina. Sweet, soft, with just a hint of bitterness that tickles your tongue. It's divine. There are two types of people in this world—those who love choco lava cake, and those who are allergic or dead inside.
I sat at a corner table, savoring every bite of the cake like it was my last. For a moment, all worries melted away. If only every battle could be won with dessert.
After finishing my feast, I remembered something important.
Right. My church ID.
Without it, I might as well be a trespasser in holy robes. I made my way to the administration office, where a stern-looking woman with square glasses and tied-back hair sat behind a crystal-embedded desk. The air was thick with the scent of old paper and incense.
"I forgot to collect my church ID yesterday," I said sheepishly.
She glanced up from her paperwork and gave me a look. That look—the one people give when they think you're dumber than you look.
She sighed, then held out her hand. "Name and occupation?"
"Cassian. Exorcist," I replied, standing a little straighter.
Her eyes flickered in surprise for a moment. Then, just as quickly, the expression faded. She dug through a drawer, retrieved a thin silver card, and slid it toward me.
"Don't lose it," she said sharply. "Replacement costs ten gold coins."
"Ten—?!" My mind reeled. That was robbery. I mentally pictured church officials bathing in gold while sipping divine wine in this massive cathedral. No wonder the building looked like a palace.
But I didn't say anything. I value my tongue.
Taking the ID, I quickly read the contents:
[Church of Lumina Identification Card]
Name: Cassian
Age: 17
Occupation: Exorcist
Rank: E-Rank Healer
Pocketing it carefully, I let out a sigh of relief. At least now I could walk around without being mistaken for a cultist.
I followed the directions I had been given the day before and made my way across the cathedral's vast grounds to a stone corridor leading underground. There, seated lazily on a bench beside a glowing orb of light, was Garven—the grumpy, retired exorcist turned mentor. His beard was as scruffy as ever, and his eyes half-closed as if he could fall asleep mid-sentence.
"So you came, Cassian," he muttered without opening his eyes.
"Yes, sir," I replied.
"Good. Take this." He reached into his coat and handed me a book.
It was small, yet it radiated divine power. The cover was pure gold, with intricate sigils that glowed faintly. My instincts tingled.
"Is this a—"
"A skill book. Purification Spell. You'll need it. Without it, you'll die." He said it so casually I almost dropped the book.
"Old man, can you not talk about my death with that calm tone?" I thought bitterly, but kept my mouth shut.
"Learn it now. Then we'll talk about your assignment."
I nodded and opened the book, channeling a bit of mana into its pages. A warm light engulfed the book, then surged into my forehead like a bullet. My body tensed. A sharp headache stabbed through my skull as knowledge invaded my mind—symbols, chants, runes. It was overwhelming, but after a few minutes, the pain faded.
[System Notification:]
Skill: Purification (A) has been learned.
I exhaled. My vision cleared, and the world seemed a little brighter.
Garven stood up and began walking. "Follow me."
We walked through a long corridor carved from black stone, each step echoing ominously. Ten minutes later, we reached a towering obsidian door engraved with warning sigils.
"This is the Corrupted Forest," Garven said. "Behind this door lies a land cursed and broken. The air is heavy with decay. The trees are dead. Monsters there are tainted with dark mana."
He turned toward me, eyes serious. "Your job is simple. Enter the forest. Kill as many corrupted monsters as you can. Purify the land using your skill. And collect their mana cores. If you don't, they'll dissolve into the soil and spread more corruption."
I swallowed.
"If you get bitten," he added, "purify yourself immediately. If not... well, I'll have to conduct your funeral."
This man is already preparing my funeral. He didn't even wait to see how I do.
"I'm only seventeen! I still haven't dated anyone!" I wanted to scream, but instead, I nodded.
"Good. Now get in there." He shoved the door open and pushed me through.
The moment the door shut behind me, the temperature dropped. The stench of rot hit me like a punch. I gagged and covered my nose with a cloth I had brought. The trees were twisted and leafless, their bark black and brittle. The ground was a mix of ash and muck. The sky above was cloudy, almost choking with grey smoke.
"This... this is worse than I imagined," I muttered.
Was this really a healer's job?
Apparently, yes. Lucky for me, I wasn't a typical healer. Months of training with orcs had made me tougher. I wasn't defenseless.
I gripped the sword strapped to my side, just in case.
Let's see what this spell can do.
I raised my hand and focused. "Purification!"
A blinding white light burst from my palm, spreading in all directions. The ground beneath me shimmered. The air cleared. The trees around me shuddered, and a few even regained a hint of their former green. It worked.
So that's why they gave me this.
GRAAAAAAAH.
The sound echoed through the trees. I turned just in time to see two undead monsters—skeletal beasts with glowing red eyes—charging at me.
A smile tugged at my lips.
"Let's start the hunt then... shall we?"
To Be Continued…