Chapter 322: Show Your Nature-II

In a puzzle, Elise took the book to read it again in case her memories fail her but then it was correct that what she read was different than Redrick even though the man had just read it in front of her.

She looked at Ian who seemed to know what was happening and the word he said about her makes the doubt in her to grew. Something new about her, thought Elise, she had a faint guess but still couldn't believe it.

"What do you mean?" Redrick question as he doesn't understand what was happening while Ian and Elise seemed to have found out of something that shook Elise. 

"It doesn't bother you," Ian replied strictly, he knew the man was suspicious and he didn't see why he needed to tell him. The priest glared and Ian continued, "We were speaking of how the flower you describe is very similar to the written text and how fascinating it is," and Ian closed the book by clapping the book with one hand.

Elise saw the intense look that Ian gave which actually she took notice of since the beginning. At first she wondered if the dislike brew because Ian dislike priest itself but after some more exchange of words he shared with Redrick, she noticed she was wrong. 

Not wanting them to fight and deciding to stay low, Elise veered the question, "Father Redrick, what is inside that chalice?"

The priest turned his face toward the chalice inside the glass case and a smile appeared on his lips, "It is holy water. Unlike the holy water that is used for blessing and distributed for use in the Church. This water is quite different and never ending as it comes from an angel who had descended here for a brief moment. The angel promised that no matter what happen this Holy water would be never turn dry. It's also effective as a blessing to protect against demonic entity hence why it was placed here."

"Hm," Ian let out a sound amused tone.

"Would you like to try, milord? It will give you a piece of mind," offered the priest readily as he left his place to walk toward the stones that was placed to make way toward the glass case. It was time for the Demon to show his true nature, thought Redrick. For Elise's sake now is the best time as they haven't gone to marriage yet.

"That is not necessary," Ian turned down the offer but the priest had scooped some fresh water from the chalice, coming back with a silver cup filled with the holy water.

"You don't need to fear. The chalice had been left in a place where demonic books are kept at, but I promise you it won't do you any danger and it taste nothing less than a normal water just slightly on the sweeter side," It won't kill him but would be enough to expose his true self, thought the priest. His eyes watching the Demon shifted to a lighter, golden colored hue.

Elise saw the cup that was offered and came in between them, "We came after drinking today, thank you Father Redrick but we don't need it now." She hoped by her words Redrick would agree but suddenly the priest had turned stubborn.

"Then what about a taste?" Redrick raised his cup again, urging Ian, who looked at him with his brows lifted slightly, to drink. "I am sure you won't mind if it's a single sip."

Based on the explanation, the holy water would be very effective to harm Demons, and Ian was one of them. Elise didn't understand why Redrick was very excited to have Ian drunk the holy water but if Ian did drink it, he would be harmed, thought her.

"Or is there a reason why you won't drink it?" pushed Redrick in question, the gaze was very dangerous and Elise took a clear notice of it.

"Then I will drink it," offered Elise without hesitation. She reached out her hand to take the cup, bringing it to her lips that had Redrick's eyes to widened and before he could stop her, Ian took the glass from her hand. He pulled it to his mouth, downing it in less than a minute.

When it was empty, Ian turned the cup upside down, shaking it as if to see if there is no more drop of water left. Once he confirmed there was none, he pushed the cup back to Redrick, "Taste rotten as I expected."

Elise turned at him worried, she stared at him, having words to say but not in front of Redrick. Her hand clutched to his arms, and her lips pursed as she felt bad for having Ian to drink it. She whispered very hushedly, "Was it painful?"

"Just like drinking spoilt milk, it's nothing," Ian assured her of her worries. "Is that all?" Ian raised his voice and an eyebrow to the priest who kept down his glare. 

What was happening?! thought the priest. The Holy Water work against a high level Demon that his friend who was also a high level Demon would have a hard time to drink the whole cup without feeling any single pain. Yet Ian was still standing on his floor, his expression looking relaxed and a bit disgusted.

"Thank you for your welcome today," Ian placed an emphasis on the word 'welcome' as both him and the priest knew what the latter had been trying to do. "My wife and I would be leaving now as we had gotten what we need. About the Church, we would be visiting it at some point later."

When they left the library and away from Redrick, Elise heard Ian coughed. She went to his side with a hand on his back, worries colored her face, "You shouldn't have drink it," she said with full of guilt. It wasn't her fault as it was Redrick who had been the one to urge Ian to drink the Holy Water but she could feel because she offered herself to drink it that Ian had taken the cup.

"I was planning to drink it in the beginning," Ian smiled at her, wiping the corner of his lips, "Don't worry, I feel no pain, remember? And I don't die," but Elise was still sad that he had to drink it. Just because he didn't feel pain it doesn't mean he could not be hurt. "What about you? If I hadn't drink the cup would you drink it, I know you must have guessed what you are after reading the book."

"I was only going to put my lips on it," confessed Elise, pulling a handkerchief that she had been holding on her hand. "I thought put this under my lips and tilt the water of the cup to it so I won't drink it." Truthfully during the time Redrick's attention was all at Ian as he urged him to drink the holy water, Elise pulled the handkerchief to her hands.

"Hm," Ian tugged his smile wide, chuckling in a sense of proudness at her sky and witty thought, "What a smart girl you are. What I did was unnecessary then."

Elise shook her head, she held him closer to lean her head, "It wasn't, it's entirely thanks to you that I didn't get a drop of it." To know that not only one of them who had been trying to protect the other but both trying to protect each other sent her a smile. "Was it very painful?" she asked again because Ian was someone who never thought about pain and that worries her. 

"I barely felt it, more than that," Ian tapped his index finger on the Demonic books which she held on another hand to her hips, "We get to learn a very important fact about you today. Who could have guessed that you have a Demon's blood running in you."