Pure and Upright (2)
"Saintess Isell."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
Isel answered with a smile.
"Give the Holy Sword directly to the Master of the Silence Tower."
"Understood."
"But, Your Holiness!"
The bishops protested as if they couldn't understand, but the Pope raised his hand to silence them.
"As the Saintess said, it's just an item left by the hero. That sword is not ours. The Master of the Silence Tower has greatly contributed to stopping the spread of evil. Then, it is right to follow the hero's will."
The Pope looked down at Isel again and said,
"I won't hold a separate award ceremony. The tower's mages won't be pleased either, so Saintess Isel, go and personally give it to them along with the hero's will."
"Understood, Your Holiness."
The bishops still had faces that couldn't comprehend the Saintess's proposal and the Pope's approval.
"The hero's sword is an important holy relic of the Althea Order. Please reconsider, Your Holiness."
The hero's sword was a holy relic of the Althea Order and a symbol of freedom.
It wasn't easy for them to accept giving it to someone.
"It has value as a holy relic, but it only shines when it has its own meaning. Ignoring the hero's will would mean ignoring his spirit."
"We, the bishops, are confused, and the believers will have a hard time accepting it."
"Then make a replica and put it there. It's an item we don't use anyway. If someone really needs to see it, a sword that looks exactly the same would be enough."
The Pope tapped his bracelet with his index finger and said,
"Let's end this topic with this."
The Pope stood up from his seat.
The bishops reluctantly stood up from their seats.
The Pope looked down at the Saintess again.
The dignified voice that had controlled the bishops cautiously asked,
"...Will you be alright?"
"Yes."
Isel nodded her head.
"I didn't care about what the bishops said from the beginning."
The Pope already knew the Saintess's identity.
One of the four heroes who killed the Demon King together and the first Saintess of the Althea Order.
And he knew what she had sacrificed to be reborn for the eradication of evil.
That's why he couldn't dare not to follow her words.
Isel stepped forward first.
She passed between the bishops who couldn't leave.
The bishops' eyes had become sharp.
They glared at her as if looking at a heretic.
Yet, she just smiled and passed them by.
As she stepped out of the conference room, she saw Rachel waiting outside.
Rachel stood with the dignity of a holy knight.
Isel smiled and passed by her, and Rachel cautiously followed her.
Their destination was not her office but her bedroom.
Click.
As the door closed, Isel embraced Rachel.
Rachel seemed to have been waiting, holding her tightly.
"Rachel, Rachel..."
"..."
Isel was shivering like a kitten, leaning against her chest.
Rachel stroked her head.
As if understanding what she was feeling, she leaned her head against Isel's.
"It's painful."
"..."
"It's just a single sword, just an item left by the hero, but seeing them expose their vile desires like that... My faith... wavers."
"..."
Isel's legs gave way.
Rachel picked her up and laid her down on the bed.
And carefully, she removed Isel's nun's headdress.
Cold sweat was running down Isel's face.
"It's all a lie. The existence of the hero, our stories, and the people who fought with me are all lies."
"..."
"Did we move forward with courage? We tried to run away back then. We tried to abandon everything and run. But only the hero, that hero, stood up and faced it."
"..."
"And that made him a follower of the God of Light... the Order is changing everything about the hero for their own gain. Even though it's not the hero...."
"..."
"At first, I thought this was the right path. The belief in spreading benefits widely remained unchanged. But... lately, I don't know. Lies breed lies, and it seems like they're eating away at us."
"..."
Rachel held Isel's face.
Isel and Rachel, the twins born on the same day.
So they looked alike.
However, unlike Rachel's white eyes, Isel's eyes were red.
The blood of the demon race still flowed in her body.
But she was not a demon.
There was a crucial difference.
Rachel wiped the corner of her eye with her thumb.
The thumb soaked with tears.
Tears were a human thing that demons could not possess.
Rachel looked worried.
Rachel's worry flowed into Isel's mind.
"Is it because of the demon's blood after all? Maybe it's right to treat it as you said."
Isel held both of Rachel's hands that were holding her face.
Then, carefully detaching them, she clasped both hands as if praying.
"But this is the sin I must bear. With this sin, I can approach the happiness I pursue."
Isel closed her eyes.
"The four remaining fates ahead. Let's just endure those four."
Isel started a devout prayer.
Rachel also closed her eyes.
***
* * *
Dream big tl dot com
[Original Source – dreambigtl . com]
* * *
After a bountiful autumn, desolate winter came.
It was a suitable time for the magicians of the Silence Tower to test their winter equipment.
Kaitlyn continued her research on ancient golems.
Since trying to apply golems to cure Dolores' illness, she had been stuck in the lab, not thinking about coming out.
There wasn't much progress if asked.
She still couldn't solve the fundamental problem.
'Will she transcend soon?'
If the potential sleeping within her body awakens, the golem research, which had no progress, would become much easier.
That's why they didn't try to disturb Kaitlyn.
Reed held a winter idea contest and gathered the creativity of many magicians in the Silence Tower.
Reed operated the tower in a way to bring out the magicians' motivation as much as possible.
'The tower is running smoothly on its own, so I should focus on my work.'
Reed looked at the letter on his desk again.
Isel and Rachel.
The two women, who hadn't visited since the demon incident, sent a letter.
-We want to hear the new song you're preparing at the Silence Tower.
Reed recalled the conversation they had during their first encounter.
Although they secretly met during the demon incident, as time passed and the relationship recovered, an invitation was possible.
Reed asked them to visit when they had time, and they replied that they would come today.
'I'm not sure if they really want to hear the song...'
Reed was uneasy about them.
Especially, Isel made him nervous.
Although she was a benefactor who helped him, he couldn't help but be on guard since he couldn't know her true intentions.
Isel was wrapped in a veil, hiding her thoughts.
In the case of Rachel, she didn't speak but remained consistent, making him feel more comfortable.
Although they were twins with the same face and shared souls, their personalities were polar opposites.
-Master of the Tower, the Saintess have arrived.
Upon hearing the servant's message, Reed stood up from his seat.
He decided not to think about them anymore.
He would hear it directly.
