"Professor Rossetti, you two know each other?" Professor Phil asked. The Senior Division's Professor Fink also turned to look.

Professor Rossetti had only joined last year—teaching Middle Division apprentices. How had she become friends with Luo Wei from the Junior Division?

"We do," Lilith answered simply. "Luo Wei saved my life. She's my benefactor."

She did not mention they'd crossed paths once before—that earlier time she had rescued Luo Wei from pirates.

Measuring Luo Wei by her own standards, Lilith assumed Luo Wei would rather others not know she'd once been that bedraggled.

Luo Wei caught the kindness in the omission and gave her a grateful smile.

Princess Lilith's brows lifted in bright delight; after a brief exchanged glance she lowered her head again, continuing to check the students lying on the plank bed.

Of the five Middle Division team members, three were down. Lilith examined them in order, starting with the one who looked worst.

Any internal or external injuries she identified had to be cleaned and bled (drained) first; only after thorough debridement could potions be applied—otherwise efficacy would drop.

"These two are external trauma—nothing too severe. But this one…" Lilith finished with Winnie and the boy beside her, then lifted Hessel's arm. "Her mana is nearly exhausted; surrounding fire elements are jagged and chaotic. She needs treatment immediately."

"Healing Potions and Holy Water are here." Professor Phil set a casket of crystal vials onto a low stool.

The thumb‑sized bottles, clear as ice, each held about fifteen milliliters of golden liquid. When tilted, eddies of fine gold swirled up like a bottle filled with concentrated starlight.

Yet every face that saw them froze in surprise.

All thirty crystal vials looked identical—same bottle shape, same gold liquid.

Lilith hesitated. "Did you grab the wrong lot—are these all Healing Potions?"

"No mistake," Professor Phil said, equally puzzled. "They were handed to me like this."

"The two knights said these are potions and Holy Water personally bestowed by His Holiness the Pope. To highlight His Holiness's august grace, gold powder plus frankincense and myrrh were mixed into both."

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"When they carried the crates they didn't pay attention—and couldn't recall which was which—so they just brought fifteen of each."

Gold symbolizes divine glory; frankincense resurrection; myrrh suffering.

Together the three are the Church's Three Sacred Treasures, emblem of the supreme authority the Sun and Moon Gods grant the Pope.

For him to bestow them on the academies showed how highly he regarded—and praised—them.

Even thinking that, Professor Phil still felt something off.

Did pure Holy Water really need ornamentation by the Three Sacred Treasures?

"Fifteen bottles of each—why not pack them separately?" Professor Fink plucked a vial, pulled the stopper, and sniffed. "The scent is overwhelming. How do we tell potion from Holy Water?"

Professor Phil hurried to explain: "Knight Bruce said we can find a larger vessel, pour them all in, shake to mix evenly, then re‑bottle—two per person."

"What a hassle. Might as well have combined them from the start," Professor Fink muttered, frowning.

Why not just brew the potion straight in Holy Water—save having to measure two sets of aromatics? Church people love spending effort on pointless flourish.

He thought it—but did not dare say it aloud.

"I'll check the dining hall for a clean ceramic jar," Lilith said, rising. "Let's divide them quickly—Hessel's injuries can't wait."

"Professor Rossetti, injured students can't be left without you," Theodore blurted, springing up. "I'll go!"

Lilith blinked. Since when was the unruly Theodore so responsible?

Still, she shook her head. "You're hurt. Don't run around. Stay put—I'll be right back."

"Professor Rossetti, we aren't injured—let us go!"

"I'll go too—look!"

Hol and Axina spoke at the same time; Gladys came a beat late. The three stared at Princess Lilith with pleading eyes.

"Absurd," Professor Phil snapped. "You just left the arena. The dark aura on you hasn't been purified. You cannot leave the treatment room."

He gave Axina an especially disapproving glance, then lifted the sheer drape. "I'm the freest here—I'll go."

Axina parted her lips to protest, but Professor Phil didn't see; he strode out, leaving only his retreating back.

The room's atmosphere chilled at once. Students perched on the planks went rigid.

Lilith and Professor Fink found it odd: lively a moment ago—why suddenly so quiet?

Teenagers—impossible to read.

Lilith sat back down beside the plank bed, set her palm over Hessel's chest. Feeling the heartbeat grow fainter still, she knit her brows tight.

While the professors' attention was elsewhere, Theodore frantically winked at Luo Wei and Hol—so hard his eyelids twitched.

Two smart people—think of something, now!

Any longer and Professor Phil would return with a container; then they'd be forced to drink the Holy Water—and their true forms would be exposed!

Holy Water from the Church is purified water blessed by high‑ranking clergy and graced by the Gods of Light. The higher the rank, the stronger the effect.

It brims with dense light‑element energy and absorbed divine favor—able to drive out fiends, purify corruption, restore health.

Rumor says bathing in Holy Water leaves skin baby‑soft; senior clergy even use it to fight aging.

That "favor," politely called purification and restoration—less politely is "restore to factory settings."

Beastfolk, demonkin, devilkind—all races despised by the Gods of Light—once "restored to factory settings," would be catastrophically exposed.

Theodore's blinking bordered on a spasm; Gladys clenched her sword hilt; Laura picked at her fingers.

Hol and Axina's eyes darkened—they seemed braced for the worst.

Whoosh—

Luo Wei stood.

"Professor Rossetti, Senior Calansis's condition is critical—but I have a way to differentiate the potions from the Holy Water immediately. Let me try."

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