The Cursed Blind Woman (7)
As Idi dragged her along, she instinctively sensed what had happened. The moment they stepped inside the inn, she overtook Idi and dashed straight up to the third floor. Pelle and Francois stood in front of the end room, staring at the door. A knocking sound came from inside.
"Bertrand...! I think she's awake."
"Step back. Actually, everyone go down to the first floor. I'll handle this."
Once I confirmed all the employees had gone down the stairs, I stood in front of the door.
"I'm coming in now, so get away from the door."
The knocking stopped immediately, followed by the sound of footsteps retreating. I unlocked the door and slowly opened it. Lowering my gaze as I entered the room, I caught sight of the woman's bare feet.
"Step back. And absolutely don't remove the blindfold."
The woman hesitated, backing away unsteadily. But she soon stumbled and collapsed to the floor. Before I could even turn my head, her face entered my view. Fortunately, her eyes were still covered.
"I'll help you to the bed. Just stay still."
"Don't come closer. If you do, I'll remove the eyepatch."
She spoke lowly, her hand pressed to the back of her head. Her voice was as calm and gentle as Francois's—almost eerily so. But it carried a chilling venom that set it apart.
"You seem to know what happens if you remove it. But no one who's known that has ever been friendly toward me."
"The city's saintess told me that meeting your gaze causes... something to happen. She healed your wounds."
"The saintess...?"
"Calm down. We found you collapsed with a quarrel in your side. It's been three days since you lost consciousness."
"Quarrel..."
She groped her side with her other hand.
"This is the Crossroads Troll inn in Rosens. I'm Bertrand Balder, the owner. I mean you no harm, so please relax."
"An inn...?"
But she didn't lower her guard right away. To avoid the disaster of her removing the blindfold, I kept talking.
"Earlier, some men in black clothes came by asking about you. I told them I didn't know. I didn't sell you out, kill you, or dump you by the roadside to die."
At the mention of the men in black, her body trembled.
"I know about your suspicious power, and that the pattern on your eyepatch is a Demon Seal Mandala. But I won't harm you. So relax."
She said nothing in response, merely turning her face slightly toward me—but in the wrong direction. Finally, she spoke.
"I'm sorry. I've faced so many threats to my life that suspicion comes naturally."
She lowered her hand from the back of her head, speaking calmly. I let out a sigh of relief.
"Let me help you to the bed."
"No need. I can manage."
She groped for the edge of the bed, sat down, then slowly lay back—breathing raggedly, likely from lingering poison aftereffects.
"I'll... lie down for a bit. It's dizzying."
"The quarrel was coated in paralyzing poison. That's probably why. I have the antidote."
As I started mixing it into a glass of water from the nightstand, she spoke.
"Wait. Let me smell it first."
I held the powder under her nose. She sniffed cautiously.
"Sorry. I'm too suspicious; I have to check."
"It's... fine. I'd do the same. No issues?"
"No."
I stirred the antidote well and offered it to her. She took the glass but didn't drink, asking instead:
"Exactly... what happened to me?"
I explained everything again in detail, from finding her to now. After listening silently, she said:
"So many people to thank. Starting with you, the saintess, the dwarf, the other employees... even the inn's dog."
"No need to thank us one by one. You looked like you'd die if we left you. Anyway..."
I glanced at her black cloth as I continued.
"I have questions too... but first, eat something. Take the antidote and recover your strength."
"Yes... I understand."
She answered softly, then drank the laced water. Outside, Francois was gone; only Idi remained, fidgeting anxiously.
"Where's Francois?"
"Uh... she went down to the kitchen right after you went in... to prepare food for her..."
"Got it. You go down too."
"She's awake...?"
I nodded, and Idi shuddered in fear.
"Be careful, Bertrand... don't look her in the eyes..."
Soon Francois returned with a thick, bubbling stew. I shooed everyone out, then carried it to the bed.
"I... can eat alone."
She groped the air, and I placed the bowl and spoon in her hands. She sniffed deeply, took a spoonful, and gasped in awe.
"My god... is food supposed to taste this good...?"
She devoured the stew ravenously. I sat in the desk chair, waiting for her to finish.
"That was delicious. Thank you, Mr. Balder."
"You're welcome. Now, while you're grateful, tell me your story. The situation's complicated."
I explained she might face an inquisition.
"The Demon Seal Mandala is one thing, but the saintess felt severe pain just meeting your gaze. We can't brush this off."
"I understand."
"So, an explanation? Whatever you call it. Otherwise, the inquisitors will take you away."
She set down the spoon silently. I took the bowl and waited patiently. At last, she spoke.
"First, let me introduce myself properly. I'm Kosa. Thank you for saving me."
She was Kosa, from a remote mountain village in the kingdom's east—where jagged ranges began, untouched by most travelers. Her nameless hamlet was a cluster of a few dozen households scraping by.
"I wasn't born blind. Around age ten, my vision started blurring..."
She turned toward where she guessed her bag was.
"Did you open my bag? There should be two books inside. I read them eagerly until my sight failed and I learned to read."
"You read those... before age ten...?"
"Yes. I memorized them cover to cover, so I don't need them now... but they shaped who I am, so I couldn't discard them."
I stared, stunned, at the book's corner peeking from her bag—nearly half a foot thick, treatises on astrology and continental epics, memorized as a child...? Unbelievable, but she wouldn't boast in this serious moment. I waited silently.
Her rural parents, obsessed with money, had exploited her even as a girl—dragging young Kosa to nearby cities for performances, pocketing alms from audiences.
"I sang well and played the lute deftly. I dreamed of becoming a court musician. But once I went fully blind, that dream died. And then... it happened."
After total blindness, her "cursed power" awakened. Any living thing meeting her gaze died in agony, clutching its chest. Her parents were first.
"How did it manifest? Voices? Visions? A visitor?"
"Nothing like that. It just... happened. My vision blurred to black... then screams."
Starting with her parents, she unintentionally killed villagers who came to her home. At first, no one connected the deaths. But after nearly eighty percent perished, they realized it was her.
"As you can imagine: demon possession, black mage curse, goddess's punishment. Rumors flew, and they tried to kill me."
She trembled, recalling it.
"Fortunately, a wandering saintess skilled in holy healing found me, took me in, and saved my life. She made this."
Her pale fingers touched the black cloth over her eyes.
"But she had to travel alone for some reason. She barely slept, always seeming pursued."
"She had her troubles."
"Yes. We parted in some direct territory. She said traveling with me endangered her too. She left me at a city relief center."
She paused, then continued.
"But... more 'accidents' killed people there. I fled and became a rootless wanderer."
"What a tragic tale... Did that saintess say anything about your power?"
"No. Even she didn't know."
If Celereja didn't know, and neither did this wanderer... no one would without dragging her to the church. Does the Goddess know? But she'd dodge with 'that'd ruin the fun.' Still, worth asking.
Kosa sat with her head bowed, hands folded quietly. Watching her, I asked what truly puzzled me.
"Who were those men at the inn? The ones chasing you."
"Those people..."
Her lips quivered as she answered.
"They serve Kali."