Let's Train Heroine

"Archpriest," Lucan greeted with a slight bow, his voice steady as he was in public. "The situation has been handled. The threat to Saint Maris and the temple has been neutralized."

Archpriest and everyone knew that there was bounty on him and Maris, they even handle some of outlaws and people. When he went to White Pegasus Shrine, Lucan had told Archpriest Kerum about it. Kerum told him to report after Lucan done with that, so he could use this achievement to make Lucan famous.

Archpriest Kerum looked up from a parchment, his brow furrowed. "That is good news, Lucan. But…" He paused, his eyes flickering with worry. "There is another issue at hand."

"What is it?"

"Saint Maris is missing," Kerum said gravely. "We have searched the temple and the surrounding areas, but there is no sign of her. Everyone is out looking for her as we speak."

Lucan\'s eyes narrowed, his mind racing. "Missing?" he repeated, more to himself than to the Archpriest. His thoughts immediately began to analyze the situation. Maris was incredibly strong—stronger than most could ever imagine. The idea that she was in danger was almost unthinkable. And yet…

He frowned deeply, piecing together the events of the past hours. "Could she have…" Lucan murmured, his mind settling on a possibility. What if she came after me?

If Maris followed me when I left to deal with those after us, it\'s possible she was with me, watching. However I teleported every alive creature in that radius to dungeon. So Maris might have also teleported. However she can handle herself there with no problem and it\'s easy to get out dungeon with power she had. So, she should be back but what if something else happened?

Lucan turned on his heel and left the chamber. He had to find her, and fast. His concern for Maris gnawed at him, even though he knew she was strong. There was always the chance, however small, that something unexpected had happened.

---

Far away from the temple, in the serene valley where the White Pegasus had brought her, Maris stood by the tranquil lake, her reflection rippling in the water. The seal she had placed on her power was working perfectly, containing the immense energy within her to a manageable level.

Taking a deep breath, Maris closed her eyes and focused inward, feeling the steady pulse of her energy. It was calm now, no longer the wild torrent that had nearly destroyed everything around her. She had succeeded in reducing her power to a D Class level, a fraction of what she was truly capable of. But now, it was time to test herself.

She willed the seal to release, allowing her power to rise to C Class. Immediately, she felt the surge of energy, but it was smooth, controlled. There was no struggle, no sense of being overwhelmed. She could handle this. A small smile tugged at her lips as she released more of the seal, raising her power to B Class. Again, the power flowed through her effortlessly, bending to her will.

"Good," Maris murmured to herself, confidence building within her. She released even more of the seal, this time reaching A Class. The energy was potent, nearly tangible in the air around her, but she remained in control. It was exhilarating—feeling her power grow, knowing that she could command it.

Maris didn\'t stop there. She continued to unlock her seal, moving through S Class, SS Class, and finally SSS Class. The power coursing through her was immense, far beyond what most beings could comprehend. Yet, she held it all in perfect harmony. She had mastered it.

But as she attempted to release more of the seal, to push herself to Kingdom Class, she felt a resistance. The power at that level was different—vast and unyielding, as if it had a will of its own. Maris tried to control it, to mold it to her command, but it slipped through her grasp like sand. She was not ready.

"This is my limit," she realized, her voice soft but resolute. "I can control up to SSS Class, but no further."

Maris knew what she had to do. She would keep the seal at SSS Class, maintaining her power at a level she could control. With this strength and confidence, she spread her wings—white and radiant, the wings of an angel. With a powerful thrust, she took to the sky, flying swiftly back toward the temple.

---

Lucan stood at the temple entrance, scanning the horizon for any sign of Maris. He had searched tirelessly for clues, but every lead had turned up empty. His worry had only grown with each passing hour. Now, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the temple grounds, he felt a gnawing anxiety that he couldn\'t shake.

Then, in the distance, he saw a glimmer of light—small at first, but rapidly growing brighter. He squinted, trying to make out what it was. As the light drew closer, he realized it was Maris, her white wings glowing brilliantly in the fading light. Relief flooded through him, quickly followed by frustration.

Maris landed gracefully on the temple steps, her wings folding neatly behind her. She looked at Lucan.

"Where have you been?" Lucan demanded, his voice a mixture of relief and exasperation. "Do you have any idea how worried I\'ve been?"

Maris winced slightly at his tone, but she knew he had every right to be upset. "I\'m sorry, Lucan-sama," she said, her voice sincere. "I didn\'t mean to cause you any concern."

Lucan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "What happened, Maris? You disappeared without a trace."

Maris hesitated for a moment, then she explained everything—the White Pegasus, the revelation of her Empire Class power, the need to seal it, and the three Evil Magicians. Lucan listened intently, his expression growing more serious with each word.

"So that\'s why you were gone," Lucan muttered, piecing it all together. "To seal your power and prevent it from getting out of control."

"Yes," Maris confirmed. "It was necessary. I had to make sure I could control it before I returned. But now…"

Lucan frowned as Maris trailed off. "What is it?"

Maris took a deep breath. "The White Pegasus warned me that three Evil Magicians will soon rise. They must be stopped, or the entire region will be in danger. I must find them and defeat them before they can cause any harm."

Lucan\'s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Three Evil Magicians…" he repeated, a troubling thought forming in his mind. He knew of one, the game\'s final boss. The ancient evil. And he was destined to become the second, But the third… how did third came.

Lucan placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We\'ll face this together, Maris. Whatever comes, we\'ll be ready."

Maris looked at him, "Yes, Lucan-sama."