Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Saf's Light
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'How can someone be this unlucky?'
Saf was surrounded by beggars, on the verge of being mauled to death by dogs, and despaired over her misfortune.
Her bad luck had started around noon that day.
She had tried to enter St. Vesta's Cathedral to meet Bishop Davit, but one of the acolytes blocked her path.
"You crazy bitch, where do you think you're going!"
Saf recoiled in fear at his rough voice.
'Hello. My name is Saf. Father Danel asked me to come see the bishop. I'm studying to be a nun at Athena Convent, and Abbess Julia can vouch for my identity. I have my reasons for looking like this.'
She couldn't calmly string together even those words.
Saf was over eighteen, but she had hardly ever spoken to an adult man. In her whole life, fewer than ten.
Even with women, she stuttered around strangers. And now she had no convent to shield her. On top of that, worry that Father Danel might be dead had blanked her mind.
She had also lost the luggage she'd brought from the convent. She couldn't even remember exactly where. Probably dropped it in the chaos as Danel's house collapsed. She only realized it upon arriving at the cathedral, so going back to search seemed impossible.
Saf crouched in front of the cathedral, frozen in indecision.
'You said fortune follows if I follow my heart, but here I am, doing nothing. What should I do?'
Saf buried her face in her knees and waited endlessly. She knew she had to do something, but had no idea what.
Just then, an old man in shabby clothes emerged from the cathedral's back door and climbed onto a small cart. Though disguised, Saf recognized him as Bishop Davit immediately.
She hurried toward him.
'The bishop will help me no matter how I look. Maybe he'll even tell me where Father Jade is. I have to let him know about the fire at Father Danel's house.'
But with him right there, Saf couldn't open her mouth. It was his attire.
'Why is he dressed like that? He's in disguise. Must be some reason.'
Saf hesitated. It felt like the air around her whispered not to speak to him.
At that moment, Davit turned his eyes toward Saf.
She flinched in surprise. She had hoped he would recognize her first. But Davit had rarely met her, and his eyesight wasn't great. Plus, she looked like this now, hard to identify.
Mistaking her for a beggar, Davit tossed her a single coin and left.
Saf considered calling out loudly but held back.
'I can't call him. He's hiding his identity. If something related to the Holy Grail expedition is underway, everything must stay secret. I shouldn't act like I know him. Maybe it's better he didn't recognize me.'
Even that thought offered little comfort.
'What now?'
With Bishop Davit gone, there was no reason to stay at the cathedral. She had no place to stay, no money.
Saf turned away.
'I'll go back to the convent. There's nothing more for me to do. No fortune either.'
That's when a group of beggars surrounded her.
"You just did it! This bitch begging in our territory? Don't you know in front of the cathedral is our turf?"
A man grabbed her arm. Just hearing a rough male voice made her shrink, but being grabbed left her legs weak, unable to resist.
"Pardon? What... are you talking about?"
Saf looked around in confusion. As dirty, menacing faces closed in, she froze completely.
"Look at this bitch playing dumb." The beggars muttered angrily, each chiming in.
"I saw it all! Come here."
"I'll beat the shit out of you."
"You're dead now!"
They dragged her into an alley.
Unlike near Setina Cathedral in Rotican, just one block past St. Vesta's led to a shadowy area. Rom was a developed, beautiful city, but clueless foreign tourists wandered in and got mugged.
Lately, rumors swirled of a human butcher roaming, killing people and leaving corpses strewn about.
Saf had lived near Rom for nearly twenty years but never went out alone, no different from a foreigner.
Once or twice a year, a brief outing with other nuns was it. She'd only heard of Rom having such smelly, rough places. Never dreamed of coming alone.
In old tales, nuns appeared who beautified such hellholes, reforming criminals and aiding the needy.
Saf had wanted to be one someday. But stepping into such a place, she felt only fear.
Even the nearby dogs barked in unison, heightening the terror.
"Ah, shut up! Someone quiet these dogs. Who even brought them?"
One beggar yelled.
Another grabbed Saf's chin and tilted it up.
"Hey, look at this bitch's face. Doesn't seem scared of us."
"Yeah. Fine. Let's see how long that innocent look lasts."
"Rip her clothes off first! That'll make her compliant."
A female beggar stepped forward and grabbed Saf's collar.
Then a dog barked threateningly at Saf.
The woman, annoyed, shouted.
"Hey, isn't this Mahoni's dog? Quiet it down. Don't draw patrol guards."
The man called Mahoni grabbed his dog's scruff and stroked it. But the dog wouldn't stop barking.
"No, this guy's not usually this noisy. What's wrong? Quiet down."
The other dogs joined in.
Saf was so scared she clasped her hands, trembling.
Then Mahoni's dog bared its teeth and lunged. Saf thought it was at her. But it bit the arm of the female beggar trying to tear her clothes. The woman screamed and fell.
At the same time, the other dogs charged. About six, big and small, surrounded Saf. She covered her face and collapsed.
Moments later, looking around, the dogs encircled and protected her.
The beggars eyed each other in confusion. Saf was just as baffled.
"Huh? Sister Saf!"
A beggar boy recognized her and ran over.
As he approached, the dogs growled at him in unison. The boy froze in shock.
Saf staggered up and walked toward the boy. The dogs parted left and right for her.
Saf took the boy's hand.
"Marty!"
"Sister, what are you doing here? Why are you dressed like a beggar?"
Marty asked.
"I... I'm here.... Here,
Saf couldn't speak.
Glancing aside, the bitten woman wept, blood dripping from her arm. Her biter growled, ready for another go. Even owner Mahoni couldn't approach his dog.
Looking around late, some twenty beggars had gathered. She'd heard Rom had places where homeless folk clustered, but didn't know it was this close to St. Vesta's.
"A nun?"
The man who first dragged Saf asked suspiciously.
"Yeah! This is Sister Saf from Athena Convent!"
Marty said proudly.
"No way. Why would a nun wander around like this? I saw her begging earlier."
"Begging?"
Marty gave Saf a look demanding explanation.
"There's a reason. But I can't say."
Saf replied, then turned to the weeping, bleeding woman.
"See? She's lying! Marty, we let you off 'cause you're cute, and now you lie? This little shit's done for!"
"It's not a lie! It's true, you fucker!"
"You fucking who?"
"You started it, you dog bastard."
While the man and Marty argued, Saf approached the injured woman.
Thinking Saf meant harm, the woman scooted back on her butt.
"Stay away!"
Saf held out both hands.
"Dog bites can infect with poison and kill."
"Poison? Bullshit, you bitch! Dogs aren't snakes."
The woman wiped snot on her sleeve and spat.
Mahoni cautiously added.
"It's true. My friend got bit by a mad dog once and...
"Shut up! Take your mutt and go."
The woman snarled.
Saf reached toward the woman's arm.
"I can heal you."
"What, what? You a doctor?"
"No."
Saf's outstretched hands glowed white. The arguing man and Marty stopped in shock, Mahoni shut up, and nearby folk widened their eyes and backed away.
The injured woman dodged Saf's touch in fright.
"It might hurt a bit."
Where Saf's hand touched glowed white. The woman screamed.
"Eeek!"
People recoiled as if the light brought doom.
Soon the scream stopped. Saf withdrew her hand; the light faded, and the bite wound vanished.
Saf stepped back.
"You're good now."
Saf told the dogs behind her too.
"Thanks, you guys."
The growling dogs instantly turned meek, tongues lolling, tails wagging.
As everyone stared dumbfounded, the bitten woman knelt.
"Sa-Saintess."
Starting with Mahoni, other beggars knelt one by one.
"It's the saintess."
"The saintess."
Even the man who'd argued with Marty knelt late and clasped hands in prayer.
"Saintess, forgive us. We didn't really mean harm. Well, maybe a little beating, but nothing more. Sorry."
Only Marty stood. The boy crossed arms and burst into exaggerated laughter.
"See? I told you she's a sister."
Saf, unsure what to do with the kneelers, approached Marty instead.
"Marty, why are you here? When did you leave the orphanage?"
"I come and go. It's boring there."
"That doesn't mean you should be out like this."
"But that's how I could save you, Sister."
"That's... thanks. Yeah, thank you."
Saf stroked Marty's head.
Marty grinned.
"Sister, why are you out here? A delicate lady like you could get in big trouble. Let me escort you back to the convent."
Then the kneeling beggars edged closer slyly.
"Saintess, heal me too."
"Grant me a miracle."
"My leg's rotting. Please fix it."
As Saf looked troubled, Marty intervened.
"Sisters can't touch men's bodies! Don't you know? Any man who touched Sister today will get divine punishment! The day lightning strikes from heaven will be your last!"
Marty recited some prayer he'd heard somewhere. The beggars, especially the men, freaked and prostrated again. One pointed at the first grabber.
"Forgive us. We just followed that bastard."
"Yeah. That sick fuck said to teach her a lesson. I don't do this stuff usually."
"I pray to the Star Cross three times a day. Don't know the words, though."
They chattered loudly; Saf caught half at best.
'Father Danel was right. I shouldn't have shown the light. But if I hadn't, that woman would've gotten sick....'
Danel had known of Saf's power for years. He thought she could save many with it, but told her to hide it.
'At first they'll call you saintess for your miracles. Then they'll exploit you. Finally, burn you as a witch. Not to distrust or hate people, mind. Hide it till you can protect yourself.'
Even in the convent, only Julia knew. She too said hide it, waiting for natural healing over Saf's help.
Even with a broken leg. Unless near death—God's will—don't use the power.
"One at a time."
Saf extended her hand; silence fell instantly. She recalled Danel's warning but couldn't refuse.
"Not illnesses. Only wounds."
"C-can't do coughs?"
One asked.
Saf shook her head.
"Only visible wounds."
Lacking confidence for details, she simplified, then added.
"And this must stay secret. Tell anyone, and you're in danger."
"W-what danger?"
The healed woman asked fearfully.
Saf lied to protect herself.
"You might die."
The woman clamped her lips, vowing silence.
Broadly, not a lie. If known, Saf could face inquisition or witch hunts, implicating those healed too.
Saf healed one by one. From rotting legs to pus-burst fingers.
She didn't fully master the power. Could mend broken bones but not align them. Stop rotting flesh but not reverse it. No colds or tuberculosis. But could save stab victims, close slash wounds.
She didn't grasp the difference.
'The day will come when you can use that power safely. Then you'll test its limits.'
Recalling Danel, Saf finished and stood.
The beggars sat politely, meekly. They could've endured a two-hour sermon.
Marty, bored waiting, stood too.
"Convent now?"
Saf eyed the darkening sky.
'Yeah, back to convent. That's the plan. Tell Abbess Julia about the fire. Searching for Father Jade like this is like a six-year-old running off to find mom.'
Saf gazed past shabby houses at majestic St. Vesta's.
'Might be better to return there. Ask them to help me wash up to be recognizable, then talk to anyone from the cathedral. With mental prep, I can explain calmly even to a man. If lucky, Bishop Davit might recognize me.'
Saf steadied herself.
'No way I'm wandering alone anymore. Stupid. I've never walked an hour solo. Stamina won't hold. First time out like this today. Fine now, but I'll collapse soon. Sisters said walking's tougher than it seems, needs training. Especially for cloistered women. No more solo.'
Saf decided.
'Wandering alone ended at Father Danel's. Shouldn't have come this far. Right. I'm fortune's child. Surviving this proves it. No testing luck further. Back to convent. Wait there for news on Fathers Jade and Danel.'
But Saf spoke against her resolve.
"No. Not the convent. It'd be right, but I must follow my heart."
Danel's words moved her like a last testament.
"I'm going to the Red Desert."
"Huh? Where's that?"
Marty asked puzzled.
"Three days east on horseback."
"What's there?"
"An angel...."
Saf trailed off, knowing how foolish it sounded. Sure enough, Marty narrowed eyes aggressively.
"Sister, you feeling okay?"
"Maybe not. But I have to go."
"Okay. Secret details, right? You know the way?"
"No. Just east...
"Three days on horse, got a horse?"
"No. Walk."
"That'll take forever."
"Probably...
Saf already regretted her whim.
"I-I know how to get there, Saintess."
Mahoni, the dog owner, stepped up. Groveling, he explained.
"Out Rom's east gate, small horse market. Caravan haulers take Rom goods to Postrum village. Postrum's at Red Desert entrance. Ride their wagons, three days."
Saf said gladly, hiding joy.
"Really? Can you guide me?"
"Of course."
Mahoni beamed. Marty cut in.
"No. Can't trust Mahoni. Might sell you off."
Mahoni waved hands in shock.
"What blasphemy!"
"Blasphemy? Wow, you know big words?"
"I know that much!"
Twenty-ish Mahoni bristled at ten-ish Marty. The first healed woman joined.
"I'll come too. Protect the saintess. Nighttime Rom's dangerous. Human butcher still loose."
Other beggars offered protection.
Then Mahoni added belatedly.
"Oh, but need about one silver coin."
The woman scolded.
"You, charging the saintess?"
"N-no! We know, but haulers don't. No pay, no ride."
She nodded gloomily.
"Makes sense. Sigh, got no money."
She asked other beggars.
"Anyone got cash?"
Heads shook. Some accused: your begging money yesterday? Drunk it, you lunatic!
Saf remembered, pulled a silver from her pocket. The one from Bishop Davit.
"This enough?"
"Perfect. Why not earlier?" Mahoni said. Marty threatened.
"You tried robbing Sister first. Without me, divine bolt would've fried you. Bible says thieves get lightning headshots!"
Saf couldn't pinpoint where to correct Marty. The bitten woman said.
"If sneaking out of Rom, lucky you met us. Patrols everywhere lately, bad stuff going on."
Saf hadn't planned sneaking, but thinking of disguised Davit, it seemed wise.
"Then I leave it to you."
"Trust me. I know Rom's secret paths. Get you out safe. But forgive the clothes-ripping attempt? Don't tell God, okay?"
She begged sincerely.
"I won't."
Saf replied in kind.