“Take this!”
Phyllis scooped up a handful of water and splashed it accurately at Mia.
“Hey!”
Mia, caught off guard, immediately retaliated against Phyllis.
The warm pool water arced through the air, splashed onto the skin of the Cat-People Preparatory Young Women, then slid back into the pool along their curves.
Phyllis gradually let herself go, playing happily with her companions.
Her black hair was wet, plastered to her pale cheeks and neck. Her blue eyes sparkled with joyful light in the steam.
“Having fun?” Mia swam over and intimately wrapped an arm around Phyllis’s shoulder. “Since you came back, you’ve always seemed a bit preoccupied and unhappy. I rarely see you this cheerful.”
“It’s probably just because the bath is so comfortable,” Phyllis said softly, casually splashing a little water at Mia.
“Ah! You snuck an attack on me!”
Mia immediately counterattacked.
Phyllis didn’t dodge. Instead, she let Mia splash the warm water over her, savoring this rare moment of relaxation and joy.
After playing for a while, everyone grew a bit tired and leaned against the pool wall to rest.
The water gently rippled, wrapping their bodies in a comfortable warmth.
The Candidate Saintesses started chatting about other topics, from amusing training anecdotes to the new desserts in the Sacred Ground.
And also about Phyllis’s crush.
“It’s nothing like that, meow!”
Phyllis lied, her face turning red as she retorted.
“Phyllis’s face is so red!”
One Cat Girl exclaimed.
The Candidate Saintesses burst into laughter and roughhousing again, sending water flying everywhere.
The air in the bathhouse grew light and cheerful once more.
—
Phyllis leaned against the pool wall, closed her eyes, and let the hot spring water soothe her.
Her body relaxed, but her thoughts drifted.
She remembered Carola’s blood-red eyes, which had seemed so gentle in the night.
“Phyllis? Did you fall asleep again?”
Mia’s voice pulled her back to reality.
“No, I was just dozing off.”
Phyllis opened her eyes, realizing she had nearly actually fallen asleep.
“Haha! So you were asleep! Alright, we should get out. Soaking too long will make you dizzy,” Mia suggested.
“Mm.”
Phyllis nodded and stood up.
As she rose, the gazes of the surrounding Candidate Saintesses gradually gathered on her.
“Huh? Why are you all looking at me?”
Phyllis looked at Mia.
Mia seemed to be silently comparing something against her own chest.
The other Candidate Saintesses were also silently shaking their heads.
‘How strange…’
Phyllis left the bath pool, dried herself with a towel, and put on her Training Clothes.
The other Candidate Saintesses began to get up as well.
When Phyllis finished dressing and looked for Aiona, she found the High Priestess already waiting at the bathhouse entrance.
“Did you soak comfortably?” Aiona asked with a smile.
“Very comfortable, meow.”
Phyllis bowed to Aiona.
Aiona’s gaze lingered on Phyllis for a moment, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she just nodded. “Good. Come on, let’s go. Get some good rest back in your room. There are new lessons tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
Phyllis pushed open the bathhouse door.
At that moment, in the corridor outside, some Cat-People who had already finished bathing were moving about.
The instant Phyllis pushed the door open and stepped out, the surroundings seemed to fall silent for a moment.
Moonlight and lamplight perfectly converged, illuminating Phyllis, who had just finished her bath.
A few strands of black hair clung to her slightly flushed cheeks.
A few tiny water droplets slid down her fair neck, disappearing into the high collar of her Training Clothes.
Her pair of black cat ears, soft from the hot spring, twitched unconsciously.
Her blue eyes seemed to contain a galaxy of stars under the light, and her moistened eyelashes made her gaze look more hazy and captivating than usual.
Even Phyllis herself didn’t notice the faint, lingering smile on her lips from playing with her companions earlier.
And there was an indescribable aura about her.
Not to mention the beautiful legs inadvertently revealed beneath her Training Clothes.
Her moist, fair legs had smooth, straight lines. Her thighs were pleasantly plump, her knees small and rounded. Her calves were slender but not frail, her skin delicate and smooth, shining with a natural, soft luster under the light.
This inadvertently displayed charm, amplified by Phyllis’s 30-point Charm Attribute, created an almost bewitching effect on the surrounding Cat-People.
Several young male Cat-People in the corridor were visibly stunned. One even dropped an item he was holding with a “thud.”
Even a few female Cat-People couldn’t help but steal a few more glances, their eyes a mix of admiration and envy for Phyllis.
“Is that Candidate Saintess Phyllis…”
Some Cat-People whispered.
“I heard she has the highest blessing from the Cat God…”
“So cute…”
Phyllis herself hadn’t realized what was happening yet; she just felt countless gazes focusing on her.
She instinctively touched her cheek, thinking there was something dirty on her face.
But little did she know, this action—
The cute gesture of lightly touching her cheek, her blue eyes carrying a hint of confusion—
caused another round of quiet gasps from the surroundings.
“Cute!” “So adorable I’m dying!” “I want to ruffle her…”
Just as Phyllis was about to unconsciously make another even cuter gesture—
“Phyllis, let’s go.”
Aiona’s voice rang out at the perfect time.
“Hm?”
Aiona’s gaze swept across the corridor, and many of the infatuated looks immediately retreated.
Most Cat-People still held great reverence for Priestess Aiona.
“Okay, meow.”
Phyllis quickly caught up with Aiona, feeling a bit bewildered by the Cat-People’s reactions around her.
It wasn’t until they had walked a certain distance that Phyllis belatedly realized what had just happened.
Was it because of the 30-point Charm Attribute?
‘Oh no! I’m not going to turn into a Succubus, am I!’
On the way back to her room, Phyllis’s thoughts were very complicated.
Before, in the village, she thought the Cat-People Villagers were nice to her because they felt sorry for her.
Looking at it now, it wasn’t just that. Another reason was probably the increase in her Charm Attribute.
“Phyllis.”
Aiona suddenly spoke, interrupting Phyllis’s thoughts.
“Yes, meow?”
Phyllis looked up at Aiona.
“As a Candidate Saintess, especially someone who might become the Formal Saint, every move you make will be watched. Being too conspicuous… is not always a good thing.” Aiona instructed.
“I understand. Thank you for the reminder, High Priestess Aiona.”
Phyllis lowered her head again.
“However,” Aiona looked at the obedient Phyllis, and her tone softened slightly. “This is also one of your talents. If you can use it well, it will help you communicate with your clansmen and spread the grace of the Cat God in the future.”
“Yes…”
Phyllis acknowledged.
The two walked one behind the other on the path of the Sacred Ground.
The lights cast their shadows on the road. The Cat-People they encountered along the way respectfully bowed to Aiona, then their eyes involuntarily drifted towards Phyllis, only to hurriedly look away under Aiona’s watchful gaze.
Phyllis felt a subtle sense of awkwardness.
“We’re here. Go back and rest.” Aiona stopped in front of Phyllis’s room. “Remember what I said.”
“I will remember it, meow. Good night, High Priestess Aiona.”
“Good night.”
Phyllis quickly slipped into her room, closed the door, and leaned her back against it, letting out a long sigh.
“Phew… That was just now…”
“Did you have fun?”
Carola suddenly appeared.
“Huh?”