Chapter 59: Sarah's Burden

"I didn't know you were that strong," Sarah said, coming up behind me and praising my abilities.

"Haha, I didn't have the chance to show you my real ability before," I replied with a smile. It was true that I hadn't been able to demonstrate my true strength until now. The previous opponents I had faced didn't push me to my limits, and when a monster that required more power did appear, Anna and Thomas had quickly come to my aid, further obscuring my true abilities.

"Still, I have to thank you for everything you've done for me. I'm just your friend, but you readily helped me with my trip here. Even against that dangerous stone golem earlier, you didn't shrink back and stood in front of me," Sarah said, her expression sincere.

"Don't worry about it. I just did it because I wanted to," I replied, genuinely meaning every word. Sarah nodded in understanding, her gratitude evident in her eyes.

"So, what am I supposed to do with this thing?" I asked, raising my hand to show her the core of the stone golem that I had grabbed during the fight.

"You can keep that for yourself. You defeated the golem almost by yourself, and I just helped a little. Plus, you've also protected me all this time. If I can't even do this much, I'm unworthy of being your friend," Sarah said firmly, her expression serious.

I knew she would answer like this. Ever since I had known her, Sarah had never differentiated herself from others just because of her high background. It was just that some people had no tact and had offended her, forcing her to take action and leading to rumors being spread about her in school. Even then, she never changed in my eyes.

"Okay, I gratefully accept this," I said, acknowledging her decision. I stored the core in my bag and looked at the remnants of the fallen stone golem with Sarah by my side. Surprisingly, the white pagoda was still intact, with the item inside it undamaged despite the golem's fall.

Beside me, Sarah once again wore that eager look as she glanced at the pagoda. However, this time, her face also showed a sense of relief and melancholy.

"Do you know why I wanted to come to this place so much?" Sarah asked, breaking the silence.

"I don't," I replied, curious to hear her answer.

"I was born into a noble family. Being the second child, I was the apple of my parents' eyes. Everyone adored me, and they gave me whatever I wanted. When I first awakened as a mage, my whole family rejoiced. They were thrilled for me and thought I was a genius. I started learning magic to make my parents happy, but as I continued, I came to realize something."

Sarah's voice carried a mix of emotions as she shared her story. I listened attentively, wanting to understand her better.

"It seems that I have a special constitution, a rare one that only a few selected people possess. I was overjoyed at first, but my family wasn't happy at all. They kept quiet about it until I kept pressing them for answers. Finally, they told me why they were concerned. It dawned on me why my family seemed down when they heard about my constitution. You see, the constitution I awakened to is called the Holy Blessing Constitution."

I nodded, understanding the weight of her revelation. The Holy Blessing Constitution was indeed unique and carried certain implications. Sarah continued, her voice tinged with both bitterness and acceptance.

"As you might know, having a constitution sets someone apart and grants them unique abilities. The Holy Blessing Constitution, however, is different. As its name suggests, those who awaken this constitution can cast blessings, but it's not as they expected. As an exchange for all the culmination of their life's energy, the user transfers it to the person they wish to bless. Afterward, they lose all their mana and become an ordinary person."

I absorbed this information, realizing the sacrifice that came with Sarah's special constitution. Not only that, but there were specific rules for using this blessing. It could only be used by women who were virgins, and they had to consummate with the person they wished to bless.

Sarah continued, her voice softer now. "Because of these rules, many men would chase after a woman with this constitution. Just receiving the blessing would give them a tremendous leap in power and sometimes awaken their own constitution. That's why it's called the Holy Blessing Constitution, as the word 'holy' reflects the sacred nature of the woman who possesses it."

I contemplated the rarity and significance of Sarah's constitution. Only five women in recorded history had possessed it, and if we included Sarah, she would be the sixth. I could only imagine the challenges and dangers she had faced, leading her to seek refuge in a place like Miston City.

No wonder she held such intense emotions and attachment to this place. If I were in her shoes, I might feel the same.