Aria, a priestess walking a path paved with both duty and deepening mystery. Her mission is clear: to reach the Great Shrine and eradicate the scourge of the “Lustful Demon’s Curse.” Yet, the road itself is a riddle. At every village, before every goddess statue, she finds those infected by the curse, twisted into monstrous forms, lying in wait specifically for her.
Why the statues? What is the pattern? For now, the answers elude her. Aria’s immediate purpose is singular, born of her sacred oath: to heal and save every infected soul, offering her own body as the vessel for their purification. “I will heal you now,” she whispers, a promise as steady as her faith.
But with each act of salvation, Aria encounters not just monsters, but the people they once were—each with a story lost to the curse. One, a fellow cleric who harbored a secret, unrequited love for her, finds a bittersweet solace in her embrace. Another, a would-be hero whose dreams shattered into despair, is guided to a blissful oblivion through her gentle ministrations.
These encounters are changing her. With every soul she touches, Aria finds herself contemplating things her doctrine never covered. The weight of their histories, the complex humanity beneath the corruption, stirs questions within her. What truly awaits at the end of this pilgrimage? Is it pure victory, or a revelation that will challenge the very foundation of her faith?
“The holy Stigmata, proof of the goddess’s blessing… with this sacred power, it is my mission to save them!” she reaffirms, the divine marks upon her skin glowing with purpose. Yet, even the most devoted heart is not impervious to the physical toll of her sacrifice. Breathy and flushed after a particularly intense cleansing, a soft, apologetic sigh escapes her: “Hah… hah… I’m sorry… Even though I must serve…”
