A Saintess's Prayer
Yurina Florence gently stroked the children who had cried themselves to sleep from exhaustion. Ever since one of the kids captured during the day had nearly been beaten badly by a hunter, the others had been gripped by fear. They couldn't sob openly under the watchful eyes of their hunter guards, so they sniffled quietly instead—a sight that pierced Yurina's heart.
Yurina paid special attention to the youngest ones, soothing them one by one. The children, with nowhere else to turn, clung to her all the more desperately.
"Sis, it's so scary."
"When can we go home?"
"……."
Yurina had no answers for their tearful pleas. As a saintess, she couldn't utter a lie before the eyes of God. The holy knights would surely track her down using the markers she'd left in the forest path and village, but she had no idea when that might be. It could even be after she herself was dead.
The horrifying thought made Yurina shudder involuntarily. She was far too weary to entertain any hopeful delusions. Yet she didn't regret coming here. She had come for these poor children, without a doubt. And God must have sent her to save the captives. Until that moment arrived, she couldn't abandon hope. She had to endure. For everything was to fulfill God's will.
Gazing down at the sleeping children, Yurina began to pray softly.
"O Lumine, God of Light and Mercy……."
Faint moonlight bathed Yurina. Her low voice, murmuring the words of prayer, lingered softly in the air. Her yellow hair, rare in the North, gleamed white under the lunar glow. Even the hunters watching her swallowed dryly, unable to approach. They could see why that vicious commander left her untouched. Kneeling in prayer, Yurina embodied the sacred saintess herself.
"Please have mercy on these poor souls."
Yurina Florence had first manifested her holy power last summer. Born the lady of a count's family, she'd enjoyed a happy childhood. House Florence wasn't a founding noble house or one of immense wealth. But Count Florence was known for his gentle nature, and his lands were famed as a pleasant place to live, with a mild climate where flowers bloomed year-round—even in winter, it wasn't too cold.
Yurina believed she had to give back to others as much happiness as she'd known. So on the day she received God's choice and manifested her holy power, she vowed: from this moment, this strength would be used solely for the powerless and weak.
A saintess who manifested holy power received blessings from the temple and God's seal. When she prayed at the capital's main temple, a mark of God would descend naturally from the direction of the sunlight. For Yurina, it appeared on her left shoulder—a clear sign that she'd been chosen by God.
Ariel, the founding saintess and one of the heroes who ended the war against the beasts, had devoted her power to the weak her entire life, even after the war. Since then, saintesses bearing the stigmata had been born across the continent. In eras without a saintess, natural disasters like floods and droughts raged fiercely. Continent-dwellers began attributing these to the absence of a saintess. Droughts came because the saintess wasn't watching over them. Typhoons blew because she was gone. They even tied family matters to her presence, treating it like superstition. To all on the continent, the saintess was a spiritual pillar.
After becoming a saintess, Yurina resolved to abandon her life as a noble lady. It wasn't just for the empire's people. From the moment her body brimmed with holy power, from the first faint whispers of God's voice, she'd realized her life was dedicated solely to Lumine. That was why, even on her holy pilgrimage—a duty for saintesses—she stubbornly insisted on going farther. She yearned to reach the northernmost edge, a place only the founding saintess Ariel had seen.
Her original plan had been to go as far as Rius, the northern city hosting the Magic Festival. But once she arrived north under the guise of pilgrimage, her heart began to race inexplicably. It felt like someone was whispering to her: Go farther north. You must go higher. You must witness landscapes no one else has seen.
Despite her attendants' pleas, she pressed on to the northern extremity. Amid the chaos of her party unaccustomed to the climate, they encountered bandits, and Yurina was captured, separated from her holy knights.
She felt heavy-hearted thinking of those knights blaming themselves and searching for her. She worried they might be hurt. But they were strong knights blessed by God. Though they'd seemed strained in the North, she believed they'd find her. Still, she couldn't be sure when—or if it would be too late, after these bait humans were all devoured by monsters. Especially the children—she wanted to protect them all.
Please, O Lumine, watch over these poor children.
Yurina prayed until dawn, vowing that if it came to it, she'd offer herself as monster fodder first.
The slowly rising sun illuminated the barren northern land.
* * *
"Brother... sniff... brother......"
"Ugh......"
The soft sniffling woke Noah. He blinked in a daze, then realized they'd been dragged to this strange place and bolted upright in panic.
"Ugh!"
"Brother, you okay?"
A stabbing headache made him groan and bow his head. Noah had been healed by Yurina's holy power, but prolonged stress and the spear wound had induced temporary shock. Even holy power struggled with deep mental trauma.
"Where... is this?"
Noah finally looked around. The ramshackle hut of crude planks barely blocked the wind. It was packed with Noah, Seri, and the other captives—much like the cramped wagon interior.
The difference was one radiant presence.
"You're awake now?"
"Ah."
Yurina hurried over upon seeing Noah stir. She'd been worried about him since the hunter nearly beat him. She'd expected her holy power to wake him quickly, but it had taken longer than anticipated. Seeing him up filled her with joy.
"Th-thank you. I......"
"I'm Yurina. Just call me Yurina."
"Yu-Yurina...... ma'am......"
Noah was young but sharp. He knew what power had healed him. As a child, back when they were still nobles, he'd witnessed magic once. It had been so wondrous it'd etched itself in his memory. But what Yurina showed was closer to a miracle than magic. A spear gash torn open and bleeding profusely, healed in an instant—only one such power existed in the world: holy power. And it felt immense. Somehow, Noah knew. This beautiful girl was on another level from them.
That's why he felt awkward around her.
"Yurina sis! Give that to Noah."
"Se-Seri?"
Oblivious to Noah's unease, Seri approached Yurina naturally. While Noah was out, Yurina had cared for her like a big sister.
"Oh, right. Hungry, aren't you? Here, eat this."
"Th-thank you."
In a daze, Noah took the bread from Yurina. They hadn't eaten properly in the wagon, but here the portions seemed a bit more generous. The hut was on the verge of collapse but roomier than the wagon, and the bread was a decent size. Noah shoved it into his mouth ravenously.
"Eat slowly, dear. You'll choke."
"Yes—cough, hack!"
Sure enough, gulping it down too fast clogged his throat, and Noah coughed violently. After days without water, cramming dry bread into his parched throat was inevitable. Yurina hurriedly handed him a canteen.
Noah coughed nonstop as he took it.
"Noah, I said eat slowly."
"Y-yeah."
Under Seri's scolding, Noah gulped the water. It tasted like nectar after so long. Only then could he finish the bread.
"Thank you, Yurina... sis."
After a moment's hesitation, Noah mimicked Seri. Precocious as he was, he figured no need for formalities in a hellhole like this. And as expected, Yurina smiled brightly, without a trace of ulterior motive.
"How's your body feeling?"
"Better now."
"I'm so relieved."
Yurina's pale hand caressed Noah's gaunt cheek. She gazed pityingly at the hollows there, recalling how this frail boy had stood before grown men to shield his sister.
"You're a strong kid. You tried so hard to protect your sister, didn't you?"
She put on a brave front, but truth be told, Yurina was terrified too. Saintess or not, worshipped by all, she was just an ordinary noble-raised girl at heart. Screaming defiance at hardened criminals had left her limbs trembling in fear. Yet seeing children younger than her quake in terror, she couldn't stand idle. Noah reminded her of herself.
"Y-yeah... sniff......"
Noah, who'd held back all this time, nearly teared up at Yurina's understanding words. He looked up at her gentle smile, eyes brimming. Bathed in moonlight, she looked just like the saintesses in picture books.
"Everything will be okay now. Just hold on a little longer......"
"Hey, drag 'em all out quick!"
Yurina flinched at the gruff voice from outside, her soft words cut short. She'd hoped the night would pass peacefully. The hunters strode in and kicked open the flimsy hut door. The thin-planked structure turned to chaos under their boots.
"W-wait a moment!"
Yurina blocked the hunters trying to seize the children. But these men looked different. Not like the usual ones trailing the chief commander. They seemed uglier, more vicious, wrinkling her nose as if facing beasts.
"This the bitch he mentioned?"
"Not bad-looking."
"Wh-what......"
Under their leering gazes, Yurina backed away in alarm. These were a cut below the hunters she'd seen—fierce eyes and menacing auras like wolves eyeing prey. Cold sweat trickled down her back. Mocking her silence, the hunters ostentatiously yanked Noah and Seri from her side.
"N-no!"
"Outta the way, you're in the damn road!"
"Ah!"
Flung aside like trash, Yurina stared blankly as the children were dragged away. Far off, wolves howled long and low—Awooooo——.
The brief peace was over.