Hearing Stephnie's words, Sarena drew a deep breath. Just as she parted her trembling lips to speak, a loud knock struck the door once again.
Amid the rumbling thunder of the rain, Mercy startled slightly at the sound. "Maybe Michael and Lily are back!" she said hurriedly, moving quickly toward the door. The moment she opened it, Michael and Lily stood before her, both half-soaked from the storm. But as the light from the hall fell upon Lily, Mercy's eyes widened in shock.
Deep scratch marks ran across Lily's arms, and her clothes were torn in several places. "Lily! How did you get these injuries? What happened there?" Mercy asked in alarm.
In a weary voice, Michael replied, "The Church Father… he fell into a grave misunderstanding about Lily. He believes she is a follower of the 'Ashen Angels,' and in that frenzy, he launched a lethal attack on her with his sword."
Mercy was left stunned. The guardian of a sacred place had tried to take their friend's life?
