The possessed Saintess

~3~

*I should head back now. It's only a matter of time until Elise appears.*

After taking a moment to collect herself and regain her composure, Alya retraced her steps and made her way back to the opulent ballroom. However, as she entered the grand chamber, she was met with a scene of sheer chaos and confusion. The atmosphere was charged with hushed whispers and murmurs that seemed to ripple through the crowd like a whispered secret.

People congregated in small clusters, their voices filled with a mixture of astonishment and excitement. The news of the return of a girl, the emperor's long-lost daughter, was on everyone's lips. The ballroom, once a place of celebration and revelry, had transformed into a hub of intrigue and speculation.

*Don't tell me she's already here? Guess I missed her entrance after all*

Alya's frantic eyes darted through the bustling crowd, desperately searching for the familiar faces of her family. Anxiety gripped her heart as she struggled to navigate the sea of people that surrounded her.

There they were, in the distance, just beyond the throng. Determination surged through her, and she attempted to weave her way through the tightly packed mass of onlookers, her voice trembling as she softly implored, "Excuse me...?"

But it felt like an impossible task. The crowd seemed unyielding, a dense wall of humanity that threatened to keep her from reaching her loved ones. Frustration welled up within her, and for a moment, she contemplated giving in to the overwhelming odds.

However, just as despair began to take hold, an unexpected sensation washed over her. Alya was suddenly lifted off her feet, her body suspended in the air as strong arms encircled her. It was an astonishing and surreal moment, and as she looked around in bewilderment, she realized that someone had come to her aid, lifting her above the crowd and helping her bridge the insurmountable barrier that had stood between her and her family.

"ATTENTION, SAINTESS COMING THROUGH!"

*Who on earth is this guy? And what does he think he's doing?*

Alya's frustration bubbled over as she hissed at the young man who was deftly maneuvering them through the dense crowd. "Who do you think you are?"

With an audacious grin, the guy shot back, his voice filled with a cheeky confidence, "Your savior?"

Alya couldn't help but be captivated by his audacity even in the midst of their predicament. His dark red hair, disheveled and parted in the middle, added an air of untamed rebellion to his appearance. His eyes, intensely green and sharp like the venom of a snake, held a certain magnetism that drew her in despite her initial annoyance.

As they continued to navigate the chaotic crowd together, Alya found herself torn between irritation and intrigue by this enigmatic stranger who had taken it upon himself to be her unlikely rescuer.

With a few meters remaining to reach her family, the enigmatic young man finally lowered Alya gently to the ground, his grip loosening as they approached their destination. She felt a mix of relief and gratitude for his unexpected help, but the mystery of his actions lingered in her mind.

As they neared her family, the young man spoke with a sly grin, "Goal achieved."

Alya couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at his cryptic words, her curiosity piqued. Before she could respond or ask for an explanation, he smoothly bowed down before her, a gesture of respect that contrasted with his earlier cheekiness.

"If you'll excuse me," he said, his voice carrying a sense of finality. With that, he turned and began to melt into the crowd, disappearing from her sight as mysteriously as he had appeared, leaving Alya standing there, contemplating the strange encounter.