The Saint

After three days of travel, I spotted Hasol on the horizon. The village stood out due to the large church at its center, making it easily identifiable. The sun was nearing midday. Despite the danger, I had traveled a bit during the night to save time, but that had left me quite exhausted.

Upon arrival, something peculiar caught my attention: everything was closed, and people had begun gathering near the church.

To avoid drawing attention, I decided not to go around asking about the person mentioned by the bartender in Namark. Still, my curiosity about what was happening kept growing.

Are the people of this village so devoted that they gather en masse at the church?

Looking around, I noticed a man sitting on a bench with a bored expression. I decided to approach and sat beside him, trying to strike up a conversation.

"Aren't you going to the church?" I asked casually.

"Screw that, I don't care. It's the same every Saturday. Because of this crap, everything's closed, and until it's over, I can't even get a drink."

"What's it for?"

"Because of that saint."

"Saint?"

"If you want to know, go over there and join those idiots. Ah, forget it, only villagers can enter."

"You up for a drink later?"

"If you're paying."

"If you help me get into that church, I'll buy you one."

"That's it? I'll believe it if you pay me now."

"Here, just say I'm a friend of yours." I handed him a cruzeiro.

"Alright, tell me your name, and I'll handle the rest."

"My name is Saito."

I stood up and began following him. In poor regions like this, people would do almost anything for money. Since the village was close to the capital, it received supplies as a priority and wasn't as affected by scarcity. However, according to my master, the further southeast one traveled, the more evident the poverty became, reaching truly desolate levels.

As we walked toward the church, I noticed the streets becoming increasingly crowded, with villagers gathering everywhere. Upon reaching the entrance, two men who appeared to be village guards caught my attention. As we approached, one of them extended an arm to stop us.

"Wait, I've never seen you before. Only village members can enter."

"Pedro, this is my friend Saito. We've known each other for a while. He's staying in the village for a few days, he's a good guy."

"Rowan, don't tell me you're here to cause trouble again. Remember what happened last time you were drunk?"

Damn it! No way. Of all the people in this village, I had to run into a troublemaker.

"It's not like that, Pedro. You know I've stopped that for a long time. I'm a new man, can't you see? I'm even coming to church."

Pedro remained silent for a moment. Then, he let out a sigh, his gaze filled with suspicion.

"Alright, you can go in. But if you cause any trouble, you'll be banned forever."

Upon entering the church, I immediately noticed the grandeur of the place. Despite being spacious, it was completely packed, with no seats available. I looked around and observed the harmony in the details: the polished wooden pews, the altar adorned with delicate sculptures, and the immaculately clean walls. Everything was well-maintained, reflecting the villagers' devotion.

A short time later, a priest ascended the altar and began leading prayers, and everyone fell silent, praying together. An hour passed, but nothing unusual happened. I started thinking that this whole saint story was just a lie.

As soon as the priest finished the prayers, an atmosphere of anticipation took over the room. Murmurs spread among the congregation, as if everyone were expecting something extraordinary. Moments later, village guards began moving discreetly, positioning themselves strategically around the altar. The tension was palpable, and my curiosity grew as I tried to decipher what was about to happen.

"The time has come, bring him forward!" the priest proclaimed loudly.

The people parted in the center of the church, creating a pathway toward the altar. One of the guards approached a man who had been seated, helping him stand and guiding him toward the altar with care. The man had a bandaged leg, clear evidence of a severe injury.

I stepped closer to the altar to get a better view. The guard carefully removed the bandages from the injured man, revealing a broken, severely infected leg. The condition was critical, and it seemed that amputation was the only way to save him.

"Brothers and sisters, look closely! Yesterday afternoon, while working, this man suffered an accident and is now gravely injured. Everyone said that nothing more could be done to save his leg. The only solution is to amputate it. But the Creator will not abandon a righteous man."

After the priest's words, a young woman with straight blonde hair that gleamed under the soft candlelight and light green eyes emerged from a side room near the altar. Dressed in an impeccably white habit, she walked toward the injured man with an almost ethereal serenity, kneeling beside him with graceful, fluid movements. The silence in the church was absolute, with all eyes fixed on her.

The young woman gently placed her hands over the man's wounded leg, and an intense golden light began to emanate from her palms, illuminating the altar with a brilliant glow. Within seconds, the severely injured leg was completely healed, without a single trace of the wound. A murmur of astonishment spread through the crowd, which soon erupted in animated chatter about the extraordinary miracle they had just witnessed.

Huh? What is happening? How is this possible? What kind of power is this? My master never told me about anything like this, could it be something even he didn't know? Wait! My thoughts immediately turned to Yuri. With this kind of power, I could help her walk again. A surge of excitement coursed through my body.

"You have witnessed it with your own eyes. As always, there are no tricks. His leg has been healed! The Creator has blessed this girl to help us!"

"Yes, a true miracle! Long live the saint! Long live the saint!" The people began speaking excitedly.

The girl stood up, bowed in prayerful reverence to everyone, and silently returned to the side room by the altar. The church, which had been enveloped in deep silence moments ago, was now filled with noise and celebration over the newly witnessed miracle.

The church doors opened, and people began to leave in a steady flow. I looked around for Rowan but couldn't find him. I hurried outside and finally spotted him a little farther ahead. Without hesitation, I rushed to meet him.

"Hey, Rowan, who is that girl they call a saint?"

"You got interested in her, didn't you? I know, she's really pretty, but it's best not to try anything. Her father's a bastard."

"How can I talk to her?"

"She stays at her father's tavern. Just go straight ahead and you'll find it." He pointed in the direction.

"Alright, thanks."

"If you need more help, just let me know."

I raised a hand in gratitude and followed the path he indicated. Shortly after, I arrived at the tavern. Upon entering, I found a simple space, with spaced-out tables filled with people eating and drinking cheerfully. I noticed a group gathered in one corner and approached, curious to see what was happening.

"Clarice, I don't even know how to thank you for helping my son. Thank you so much," said an older woman, holding Clarice's hands.

"It's okay, there's no need to thank me."

There were quite a few people around her, so I decided to wait before approaching. After some time, as people began to disperse, I took the opportunity to speak with her.

Now, she was dressed more casually, wearing a long-sleeved white blouse accompanied by a fitted brown corset. The corset, laced in a crisscross pattern, matched her snug dark leather pants, elegantly shaping her silhouette.

My suspicions were correct: she had to be a Mystic. The fact that she wore clothing that covered almost her entire body reinforced the idea. Mystics were the least known race, living in isolation in the mountains, which explained why their powers were so unfamiliar. Moreover, they were deeply religious.

"Hey, can I talk to you?"

"Sorry, I'm a bit tired. Let's leave it for another day."

"It's quick. I have a friend who got injured a few years ago and lost movement in her legs. Could you heal her?"

"You said 'a few years ago'?"

"Yes, she's far away, but I can bring her here."

"I'm sorry, but I can't heal her."

"Huh? Why not? I saw you heal that man. If it's a matter of money, I'll pay, no matter the amount."

"It's not that. I can't heal old wounds."

"Can you at least try...?"

"I've tried many times. Wounds that have already healed over time, poison, or diseases—my power doesn't work on them."

I truly believed I could help Yuri, but at that moment, all my hopes crumbled.

"Clarice, your father's food is the best," said a man passing behind me.

"Thank you, come again." She smiled and raised her hand in gratitude.

I was upset, but as she lifted her arm, her sleeve slid down slightly, revealing something unexpected. Surprised, I quickly grabbed her arm and pulled the sleeve up, my eyes widening at what I saw.

"Hey, what are you doing?" She pulled her arm from my hands with a sharp movement, clearly uncomfortable with my actions.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing: what should have been there simply wasn't. There were no markings on her body. Nothing made sense. She couldn't be an elf, a dwarf, or an elementalist—she lacked any of the characteristics of those races. My mind spun with countless possibilities, but none of them made sense...

What are you?

"Why did you do that?"

"I thought I saw an insect crawling into your clothes."

"An insect? Aaaah!" She started patting down her clothes, searching.

"Clarice, is this guy bothering you?" The guard from the church entrance approached, his expression serious and his posture firm.

Now, observing more carefully, I noticed he was slightly taller than me, with neatly combed black hair, intense brown eyes that seemed to analyze every movement, and a sword firmly strapped to his waist.

"No, Pedro, it's fine."

"If he's bothering you, just let me know."

"It's fine, I already said so."

"Alright then. If you need anything, just call." He stepped away to a nearby table, joining other guards.

"Your boyfriend?"

"What? No. Just a childhood friend."

At that moment, a woman passed by carrying a bowl of food. As the aroma hit me, my stomach growled loudly, and upon reflection, I realized I hadn't eaten anything for almost an entire day. My mouth was also dry.

"Looks like you're hungry. My dad's food is the best. Want some?"

I had been reckless in spending so much money for information and had also wasted time straying from my path. I didn't want to spend more, but I still had seven days of walking to reach the next village, where I could find transportation toward the Eternal Night Forest. I didn't have enough money to return to the capital and get transport from there. Plus, my supplies were limited. The best thing to do at that moment was to fill my belly and move on.

"Alright, I'll take it."

"Great! You won't regret it, I promise."

I noticed a girl walking past with a jug of water, her back turned to me. I approached her to ask for some, lightly touching her shoulder to get her attention.

"Can you give me..."

"AAAHHH!" She screamed, tossing the tray with the jug into the air, spilling water all over me. Then she crouched down, covering her head with her hands, and started sobbing uncontrollably.

Clarice rushed past me, knelt down, and gently embraced the girl, trying to comfort her.

"Anne, it's okay, it's me, Clarice. Calm down. I'm here with you."

"What happened, Clarice?" Pedro approached hastily, followed by others, concern etched on his face.

"It's Anne. Can you take her to her room?"

Clarice held Anne in her arms, stroking her head and trying to soothe her. Anne, in turn, continued trembling and crying.

"Alright, come with me." He picked Anne up and took her away.

"I just wanted to ask for some water."

"Don't worry, it's not your fault."

"What was that?"

"You're soaked. I'll get a towel. You can sit at that table." She pointed to a corner table.

I went to the table and sat down, noticing a few suspicious glances in my direction. Shortly after, Clarice returned with a towel, handed it to me, and sat across from me. I was still a bit shaken by everything that had happened.

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No, it's a trauma she has."

"A trauma?"

"Yes. Her family lived in a remote part of the village. They were farmers... Five years ago, they were attacked by four bandits. Her father tried to fight back but was killed. But the worst part came after..."

"What?"

Clarice lowered her gaze, her expression growing somber.

"Anne's mother was brutally assaulted and abused in front of her until she died. Fortunately, that day, my father and some men had gone to collect vegetables from their farm and arrived in time to prevent anything worse from happening to Anne."

"Did they kill those bastards?"

"No, my father wouldn't do that. They found them in a nearby area. After Anne identified them, they were arrested. She was ten years old, and even after five years, she still carries this trauma. My father let her help around the tavern, hoping it would distract her and help her heal, but lately, she's been getting worse."

"Any reason why?"

"It seems they were released to work due to a labor shortage. But I believe they've changed."

"Changed? You actually believe that? They should have been killed."

"Don't talk like that. I trust that after being imprisoned, they've changed."

"Haha."

"What? Why don't you believe that?"

"You want to know why? The last time I trusted someone, a friend got seriously hurt, and an important person died. I hate humans."

"How can you say that? Aren't you human too!?"

"I am the human I despise the most."

At that moment, a young woman appeared with a jug of water and a glass. As she leaned forward to place them on the table, the glass slipped from the tray. Instinctively, I reached out to grab it but only managed to brush against it, and it fell to the floor.

"Wow, what reflexes! You almost caught it," Clarice exclaimed, surprised.

Reflexes? I stared at my hand, intrigued. That was strange, just for a moment, it felt like I knew the glass would fall even before it happened.

"Sorry, I'll pick it up." The young woman picked up the glass, placed it carefully on the table, and walked away silently.

"I forgot to ask your name, what is it?"

"Saito."

"My name is Clarice, but I guess you've already heard it around. Haha. Judging by your backpack, you look like a traveler. Where are you heading?"

"I have no destination."

"And where are you from?"

"Bartton."

"I've heard a lot about it. They say there are vast fields of fertile land and huge lakes. Is that true?"

"Yes."

"Wow, it must be beautiful. I've always dreamed of visiting there someday. You're lucky, it must be so fun to travel."

Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she spoke. For someone living in these dry lands, the thought of vast fields and lush greenery must have seemed like something out of a dream.

"Just leave."

"I can't leave Anne alone here… and I wouldn't be able to take her with me."

For a moment, I remembered Yuri, who also dreamed of traveling the world to see different kinds of flowers. Unfortunately, I had taken that dream from her.

"Clarice, the festival is tomorrow, right?" a girl at a nearby table asked.

"Yes, it's tomorrow."

Clarice averted her gaze and let out a long sigh. Then, she leaned forward, resting her upper body lightly on the table, crossing her arms to support her head.

"People usually enjoy parties."

"This is the worst day of the year, my birthday."

"And what's so bad about it?"

"The priest decided this day is sacred because it's the day I was born. So everyone keeps fawning over me all day. It's soooo annoying."

"Don't say that. This day is really special to me." A man approached, gently placing his hand on her head.

He had neatly combed black hair, calm green eyes, and wore round glasses. In one hand, he carefully balanced a tray holding a steaming bowl of food.

"Dad, you know I don't like this!"

"You've helped so many people. Let them show their gratitude."

"You can keep the gratitude for yourself."

"Here's your meal. Also, I want to apologize for what happened earlier. So, you only need to pay half."

He placed a bowl of broth in front of me, and just from the aroma, my mouth instantly watered.

"It's rare to see a traveler around here. If you need a room for the night, I have a comfortable one available."

"No need. I'll be leaving today."

"Why not stay for the festival tomorrow?"

"No, I'm in a bit of a hurry."

"With all the activity tomorrow, I'll need some extra help. If you stay and help, you can spend the night for free, and I'll even provide some supplies."

"Aren't there other people for that?"

"Pretty much everyone just wants to have fun during the festival, and like every year, I end up overwhelmed with work."

"If I were you, I'd leave," I muttered.

I didn't want to waste any more time in this village, but the offer was tempting. Having a few extra supplies could be a big help on my journey to the next village.

"Alright. I'll do it."

"I'll be in the kitchen. If you need anything, just let me know."

After he walked away, I couldn't resist anymore and started eating. The moment I put the first spoonful into my mouth, I was stunned by the taste, it was incredible, almost on par with what Uncle Jack used to make. The meat and vegetables were cut into perfect sizes, cooked just right, and the seasoning gave off an irresistible aroma.

As I looked up, I noticed Clarice watching me with a slight smile on her lips.

"What?"

"So, isn't it the best food you've ever had?"

"No, I know someone who cooks better."

"Oh, stop it. You just don't want to admit it."

"It still needs a little more to be the best."

"Sure… with that face you made when you tasted it? Haha."

"Hey, Clarice, I think you should go check on Anne," Pedro said as he approached.

"Alright." She stood up. "I have to go."

I nodded and continued eating, as hungry as I was. She hesitated for a moment, then stared at me.

"Hmm… Eating like that, and you still say it's not the best?"

"Fine, fine, it's the best," I muttered, just wanting to eat in peace.

She smiled lightly before walking away.

Once I finished the meal, I leaned back in my chair, feeling completely satisfied. Though the sun hadn't set yet, exhaustion was taking over. I went to Clarice's father to ask for the key to the room—sleeping in a comfortable bed would definitely be refreshing. I tried to pay for the meal, but he refused, despite my insistence.

Opening the door to the small room behind the kitchen, I found a simple yet functional space. Comfortable enough, right? It had just enough room for a bed and a small table beside it, where a lamp rested. Despite the simplicity, that didn't matter; all I needed at that moment was rest. I placed my backpack in the corner and collapsed onto the bed with a sigh of relief.

Maybe staying a little longer wouldn't be so bad. After all, how much could one more day change?