Hero (1)
Who knew how much life force I'd poured in. The Soul Orchid began to slowly, gracefully unfurl its petals.
That was close...
I let out a sigh of relief.
I'd almost had to pour in not just the absorbed life force, but my own as well.
I carefully withdrew my hand and examined the Soul Orchid closely.
Ha... You'd never guess this thing feeds on souls just by looking at it.
Contrary to its eerie trait of nourishing itself on souls, the Soul Orchid was breathtakingly beautiful.
As its petals—darker than pitch black—unfurled one by one, a subtle purple glow, like starlight trapped in the night sky, flowed along their edges.
"Frost Flower, I just need to pick the flower, right?"
Yes. If you give the Soul Orchid to Baekseol, she won't regain all her emotions, but some will return. And it should delay the fading as well.
Relief colored Frost Flower's voice.
Thank you, Astra.
She must have felt so helpless.
Watching her descendants suffer and make agonizing choices without being able to intervene.
"It won't fully heal her?"
Full healing... One flower won't be enough. But I think there's another way.
"What way?"
Since it's a flower, it naturally has seeds. When you pick it, the vibrations cause a few seeds to fall to the ground. That's why it only grows in this canyon.
Frost Flower paused for a moment before continuing.
If you carefully collect those seeds... and grow them elsewhere?
I grasped her meaning immediately.
"Cultivate the seeds to mass-produce Soul Orchids."
If you gather multiple flowers that way and supply them to Baekseol steadily, full healing might be possible someday.
I fixed my sharp gaze on the Soul Orchid.
"Environmental conditions matter too. There must be a reason it only grows in this canyon."
The waterfall here contains traces of black magic. Astra, as a black mage, I think you can replicate it.
"Good. Let's get started then."
I steeled my resolve and approached the Soul Orchid.
Since I'd agreed to help, I had to see it through to the end.
Baekseol was a rare pure soul among Haven's captains.
And with Ria caring for her too, it was only right to do this much.
I cautiously reached out and grasped the stem.
A chill crept up my fingers, but I ignored it.
That was the moment.
Suddenly, the thing hidden behind the flower—what I guessed was a remnant of the Absolute's stone tablet—began emitting a blinding light.
At the same time, a fierce vertigo swirled in my mind.
It was a familiar sensation. Space twisting, dimensional boundaries blurring.
Calling me again...
It was clearly trying to forcibly summon me to its domain, just like last time.
The timing was impeccable. Right as I was about to pick the Soul Orchid.
Damn it, if you're gonna call, do it later! This is a crucial moment!
I cursed inwardly and resisted, but the Absolute's power was too overwhelming to refuse. My
consciousness began to fade.
At least... the Soul Orchid...
I couldn't crush or damage it.
Baekseol's treatment depended on it.
I mustered my last strength to lean my body toward the Soul Orchid.
Feeling the cold stone floor against my cheek, I finally lost consciousness.
"Sera, rise."
A low, dignified voice echoed in Sera's ear.
"Mm... Five more minutes..."
Sera mumbled, pulling the blanket over her head.
The world outside the window was still dim, and her body felt like lead.
"Sera. I said rise."
The voice grew firmer.
"It's not a service day today... Why wake me...?"
Sera grumbled, tossing in bed, when she suddenly sensed something off.
Wait, that voice... No way?
She slowly turned her head to check the source—and her eyes went wide.
Pope Celestius himself stood in her room.
"P-Pope!?"
Sera bolted upright, nearly launching out of bed.
She stumbled as her foot caught in the blanket but barely regained her balance.
"S-Sorry! I overslept... No, that's not—"
Words failed her.
Her disheveled nightclothes made her face burn red.
Celestius smiled kindly, raising a hand to calm her.
"Haha, forgive me for waking you so early. But as you know, it's a grave matter."
Only then did Sera remember: today was the day they departed for Elterion Kingdom.
Tension gripped her body.
"Everything's prepared. The carriage is ready, the holy knights are waiting. Sera, you just need to show up."
"…"
But Sera's feet wouldn't move.
As if rooted to the floor.
She was scared. And worried.
I'm just a timid priestess... Me, a hero? And I have to find the other heroes too.
Sera recalled the picture books she'd loved as a child.
Stories of heroes and saintesses defeating the demon king to restore world peace.
Why had they been so fun back then?
Probably because they weren't her story.
She could safely flip the pages and enjoy the adventure.
But now, to actually become the protagonist? Honestly, she wanted to run.
A journey to avert the world's end.
And she could only cast minor buffs.
"Your Holiness..."
Sera's voice trembled.
"I know I shouldn't say this on departure day, but... I'm so scared. What if I can't do it...?"
She bowed her head, barely holding back tears.
Her small shoulders quivered faintly.
Celestius felt a deep pang of guilt watching her.
Forgive me. To burden such a young child with this heavy role.
There must be a reason Luminaris chose Sera.
Divine revelation was absolute, beyond doubt.
Yet no matter how sacred the reason, sending this trembling child to a foreign land tore at his heart.
That had been his first thought upon receiving the revelation.
Why must it be this child?
But as a servant of the divine, he had to act before questioning.
Especially when the world's end hung in the balance.
Personal feelings came second.
Yet seeing Sera tremble before him now, his resolve wavered.
Celestius slowly approached and gently embraced her.
Sera stiffened in surprise at the sudden hug but soon relaxed into the pope's warm embrace.
"Sera, I know. How frightened and worried you are."
His voice carried not its usual authority, but a father's warmth.
"But don't underestimate yourself. Luminaris chose you for a clear reason."
Celestius gently gripped her shoulders and met her eyes.
"You're far stronger than you think. Not your priestess powers—it's the strength in your heart."
An old memory flashed through Celestius's mind.
"Priestess! Priestess! Help!"
Young Sera ran through the garden, voice choked with tears.
In her small hands, she cradled an injured sparrow.
"I'm busy now, Sera. I have to heal the holy knights wounded in battle."
An elderly healer priestess replied without looking up.
"But... but this bird's hurt too! It's bleeding!"
"Sera, it's just a bird. People come first."
Another priestess waved her off irritably.
Tears welled in Sera's big eyes.
But she didn't back down.
"Small lives matter too! This bird... it wants to live. Look, it's blinking. Like it's begging to be saved!"
"Sera! Don't bother the adults!"
She flinched at the stern voice.
The adults' shouting and irritation must have terrified her.
Yet little Sera overcame her fear and stepped forward.
"Then... that can't be right..."
Her small voice shook, but it held firm conviction.
"What?"
"Sparrows have lives too. We priests can't do that. We have to cherish even small lives."
Watching from afar, Celestius was profoundly moved.
The child's pure courage and unyielding faith touched his soul.
"I still remember it, Sera. That day when you were seven."
Sera's eyes widened in surprise.
She hadn't known the pope remembered that old memory.
"The priests ignored you while tending the wounded, even scolded you. But you didn't yield. You shouted, 'Small lives matter too.' In the end, a young healer moved by your sincerity fixed the bird, and you cared for it every day until it flew again."
"You saw all that, Your Holiness?"
"Of course. That's when I realized—this child has a special light. A purer, stronger heart than anyone."
Celestius gently stroked Sera's hair.
"But Your Holiness, I'm... not like back then. This time, the world's fate is at stake."
"It's natural to be afraid. But even heroes feel fear at first. Courage isn't the absence of fear—it's advancing despite it. Just like you did then."
The pope paused, locking eyes with Sera.
"You'll find your way forward. Your warm heart will one day make you a true hero."