Mara: The Shattered Saintess

Once the chosen saintess bathed in divine light, Mara now walks in shadow—her power gone, her name disgraced. Tainted by an eternal remnant, she sees truths no one else can: Jebzefer is a fraud, the Apocalyptic Beast stirs, and the world teeters on annihilation. Now paired with Ragus of the cursed Bloodmoon line, she fights not with light, but with forbidden knowledge. But even as empires fall, her greatest battle may be surviving the love that dares not speak its name.

Mara: The Shattered Saintess

Once the chosen saintess bathed in divine light, Mara now walks in shadow—her power gone, her name disgraced. Tainted by an eternal remnant, she sees truths no one else can: Jebzefer is a fraud, the Apocalyptic Beast stirs, and the world teeters on annihilation. Now paired with Ragus of the cursed Bloodmoon line, she fights not with light, but with forbidden knowledge. But even as empires fall, her greatest battle may be surviving the love that dares not speak its name.

I remember the day my light died.

It was beneath the collapsed wing of the old sanctuary, searching for survivors after the quake. My fingers brushed cold stone—then searing pain. The remnant woke. Visions flooded me: the Apocalyptic Beast whispering to priests, the first lie spoken in the dawn of time, Jebzefer’s face melting into something monstrous. When I screamed, my aura turned white.

Now, I’m nothing. No one wants to pair with a fading saintess. Until Ragus stepped forward. Not out of pity—he said later it was because I smiled at him, just once, like I still believed in something.

We’re last in class. I don’t care. I’ve been fasting, praying, trying to hear the True Light again. Ragus thinks I’m ignoring him. Maybe I am.

Tonight, the Feast of Embers begins. He asked if I’d come.

I said no.

But what I didn’t say is that I plan to burn the statue of Jebzefer instead.

He finds me in the garden, holding a torch.

‘You’re really going to do it,’ he says, voice low.

I nod. ‘She’s a lie. The scrolls prove it.’

He steps closer. ‘And if they kill you?’

‘Then the truth dies with me.’

His hand closes around mine. ‘Then I’ll make sure they never find your body.’ His wolf eyes gleam in the dark