The Saintess's Holy Power Awakens
Psyche's words brought my thoughts screeching to a halt. Through the flickering flames, her purple eyes stared at me with unwavering seriousness. They were too earnest for a joke, filled only with pure worry for me. She was right—wearing these soaked clothes and enduring the biting cold of these deep mountains bare-bodied was too much. Even with my knowledge from my past life, I knew all too well how silently hypothermia crept in as a killer.
But even if we'd grown up like blood sisters, the idea of stripping down and pressing our bodies together with Psyche—who now stood a full head taller than me—was impossible to imagine. I'm a man at heart, after all... Yet the moment I saw her body shivering, my hesitation crumbled. She was suffering like this because of me—what did embarrassment matter?
"Alright... you're right. We have to survive first." With resolve, I began unbuttoning my wet clothes, my hands trembling. Cold air prickled my skin, raising goosebumps, but all I could think was how to warm Psyche.
I had just shrugged off my outer layer, baring my shoulders, when—
Grrrrowl—. A guttural beast's rasp pierced the roar of the rain outside the cave. Instinctual terror raced up my spine like a shiver. I hastily pulled my half-removed clothes back on and peered toward the entrance.
In the pitch-black darkness, two red eyes gleamed. A magic beast...! The massive creature was already sniffing at the cave mouth, hunting the scent of human life.
"Unnie?"
"!" I clamped my hand over Psyche's mouth and pointed toward it. Her eyes widened in shock, then she nodded understandingly at me. I lowered my hand from her mouth.
We huddled tight behind a boulder, praying the beast would just pass by. But it had pinpointed us—it thrust a huge forepaw into the cave with a deafening roar. The ground shook as if the ceiling might collapse. I realized this place was no longer safe. If we got trapped here, it was over.
"Run! Psyche!" I grabbed her wrist and hurled us into the rain. We dashed up the steep mountain path, slogging through sticky mud. Glancing back, I saw the enormous shadow crashing through the trees, closing the distance in seconds. Branches clawed my face, I tumbled and skinned my knees, but I couldn't stop.
Hot monster breath scorched my back—then Psyche slipped her hand from mine and halted.
"I'll buy time. Run into that forest over there, Unnie. Hurry!"
"What are you saying? How could you beat that thing?!" I grabbed her arm to drag her along, but she shook me off.
"We'll get caught like this! I'll hold it off—just go!"
She was right. We'd be caught. I snatched a thick branch from the ground and stood beside her.
"Then let's fight together. I can't leave you alone!"
We faced off against the magic beast. It was strong, but its weakness was clear. While Psyche drew its attention, I circled behind and jammed the branch into the back of its skull. I dared to hope we might win, but it was a predator with overwhelming physical prowess. It whipped around, swatting the branch away, and lunged at me.
Slash!
"Aaaagh!"
Its sharp claws raked deep into my shoulder. Hot blood gushed out, soaking my rain-drenched clothes crimson in an instant. My vision flashed white, searing pain burning through my body—I collapsed to the ground.
Psyche's scream pierced the rain, but I couldn't snap out of the agony. Right then, torches surged from the forest like a wave.
"Magic beast! Exterminate it!"
A cold command rang out, and silver-armored Holy Knights charged in. With precise movements, they encircled the beast and swung swords infused with holy light, severing its neck and limbs in one fell swoop.
That was... that easy?
Once the situation was under control, a man who seemed to be the commander approached to check on us.
"That's a deep wound. Treatment's tough in this rain. Our camp's nearby—let's head there."
Supported by them, we ventured deeper into the woods, where an unbelievable sight unfolded. Amid the dense trees stood dozens of sturdy tents in neat rows, knights and squires bustling about. The camp's braziers warmed the air.
While a healer disinfected and bandaged my wound, the knights draped warm blankets over us and offered sizzling meat roasting over the fire.
"You must be starving. Eat up. You've been through hell in this storm."
One bite of the steaming meat filled my mouth with savory juices. Dazed, I held out a plate to Psyche, who sat numbly in the corner.
"Psyche, come eat. It's been forever since we had meat like this. It's precious stuff from the knights—gotta build your strength."
But Psyche just stared blankly at my wounded shoulder, saying nothing. I chewed deliberately and asked the Holy Knight Captain standing nearby.
"So... why are you all here?"
"Ah, we're the Empire's First Holy Knight Order. Under the High Temple's oracle, we've been scouring the entire empire for the Saintess."
The captain sat by the stove, looking weary, and continued.
"It's been months already. Ever since the prophetic light appeared in the High Temple's crystal orb, His Majesty the Emperor has been receiving daily reports on the search."
He let out a quiet sigh. "Truth be told, we've combed every corner of the empire, even nameless villages, but found no trace. The whole order was losing morale."
"Ah, so then..."
"Yes, after endless dead ends, we pushed into this treacherous range, set up camp, and kept searching. Hearing that noise was pure luck."
Actually, finding us was even luckier than he knew. Because the Saintess they were desperately seeking was my little sister, Psyche.
If only Psyche would awaken soon...
"By the way, young ladies, what brings you to these perilous mountains?"
I explained how we'd ended up here: the Lord's son demanding Psyche as a concubine; fleeing because I couldn't let that happen; encountering the magic beast while crossing the mountains to the next village. I didn't forget to report the Lord's other misdeeds.
If he's punished, maybe we can return to the village.
The captain fumed at the Lord's atrocities and promised to recommend severe punishment upon returning to the capital.
Once treatment wrapped up, I left the stuffy tent with Psyche, grabbing meat for her too. Blankets over our shoulders, we sat side by side on a bench by the fire.
"Psyche, eat up. This is seriously good."
"I'm fine... no appetite."
She shook her head weakly. The mood felt off. I set the meat aside and looked at her.
"Psyche, what's wrong? Are you hurt somewhere?"
After a long silence, she spoke in a trembling voice.
"It's not that... I've always just received from you, Unnie. Today, I wanted to protect you... but because of me, you got this huge wound again."
Tears plopped from her eyes.
"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have had to run from that scary lord."
Her head drooped. In the firelight, her eyes swirled with self-blame.
"If I'd been stronger, you wouldn't have gotten hurt. Seeing you collapse because of me... it tore my heart apart. It hurts so much, Unnie."
She burst into the sobs she'd held back, clutching my hand.
"I'm sorry... for making you keep sacrificing and getting hurt because of me."
"It's okay, Psyche. It's not because of you."
Even with my comfort, her tears didn't stop. Hot droplets fell on the back of my hand. And in that instant—
Whoosh—! A blinding white radiance erupted from Psyche's entire body, like an explosion of light too brilliant to behold. It was holy light on another level from torches or braziers—divine enough to banish all the world's darkness in a heartbeat.
The knights in the tents poured out as one, dropping food and halting their work, all staring in awe at Psyche at the light's epicenter. Before this majestic sight turning the night sky to day, the Holy Knight Captain dropped his helmet and cried out in a voice trembling with awe.
"Th-this light... holy power...!"