It was like a vague dream, nebulous and even lonely. Her body seemed to disintegrate while a kind of heavy calm weighed upon her thoughts.
Like a wave crashing against a rock, a sudden thud on the ground brought the girl's consciousness back. She then caught a glimpse of shadows passing through her sight; screams and confusion caught her attention. She coughed without understanding what had occurred, her still-clouded eyes unable to focus on anything. She stared at the surroundings and saw an unparalleled turmoil around her.
Her consciousness then blacked out again. She woke up once more and found herself being carried in someone's arms. She heard some people shouting "Saint" in a loud and uncoordinated tone, an incomparable racket. Amidst the blur in her vision, something caught her attention: a glimpse of a mask gleamed in the dark among the crowd. Even though her vision was impaired, she saw it—a masked woman with a hood observing her—and then, she blacked out again.
A few hours passed, and Elyandra woke up. Her eyes opened slowly and looked around. She noticed she was in a tent. Beside her, she saw her old clothes folded and noticed that she was now wearing new ones. She analyzed the environment better and stood up. One step at a time led her to the tent door, which was nothing more than a cloth. She pulled it aside, and a strong morning light blinded her. She immediately placed her hand in front of her eyes and slowly grew accustomed to the sight.
— ...They finally arrived — said Elyandra in a content tone, somewhat calming herself.
The girl caught sight of the Valemortis guard escorting the entire location. Several soldiers were apprehending the guards who watched over that hideous trade. She noticed many kidnap victims being led to a pre-established location.
Without knowing exactly what was happening, she began to walk through the camp established by the Valemortis guards.
— Lady Elyandra — one of the guards called the girl. He approached and knelt in front of her, meeting her eyes. — You shouldn't be here; please, stay still.
The symbol on his armband—a drop with an overlapping triangle—revealed that he specialized in water magic, meaning he was performing a kind of medical check to see if she was alright.
— Well... Nothing out of the ordinary, that's good, but you shouldn't leave your tent for now; I suggest you rest a little longer.
— What happened here during the time I was unconscious?
The question left the guard somewhat intrigued, but before he could think of anything, his eyes fixed behind the girl.
— I think you can ask that to someone else.
— Someone else?
Elyandra was then grabbed from behind and lifted abruptly upward and squeezed in a hug that made her lose her breath. She looked back and saw long black hair and noticed it was Altheria who had picked her up.
— M-mother... Can you... Let me go a little?
— Never leave my side again! Do you hear me?!
Her shout startled Elyandra, who widened her eyes and fell silent. Some people who were also surprised by it stopped for a few seconds and then returned to their activities. Altheria did not let her go, but loosened her hug slightly and turned Elyandra, holding her like a cat in front of her and then went back to hugging her even tighter than before.
— Dear...
"At this rate, the one who's going to kill me will end up being you!"
— I'm... I'm fine! — said the girl, giving light pats on Altheria's back. — But you have to let me go a little...
The gesture might have seemed a bit funny, but it was suddenly interrupted when the girl felt drops falling on her neck. The sensation of something damp caught her attention and she, with a bit of effort, noticed, even through Altheria's black hair, tears.
— ...Mother?
Elyandra remained for what seemed like hours covered by Altheria's arms, who didn't seem to want to let go. The girl, on the other hand, did not dare say anything else. It was a moment about which she preferred to remain silent.
Later that same day, in a tent set up and full of documents, Elyandra was beside Altheria in silence. She observed her mother taking care of paperwork.
— What are these documents about?
Altheria did not look away from the papers; she read them at a frightening speed, some she separated, others she stamped and gathered in a pile to the side.
— Paperwork about illegal purchases of pure-bloods, at least what we managed to recover.
— Recover?
— When we arrived here, everything was in chaos; there were many wounded pure-bloods and several "guards" who still showed resistance — Altheria said, making a quotation mark gesture with her hands. — It was surprising how the pure-bloods managed to fight even in those conditions; many of them were very malnourished and weak.
Altheria then made a gesture with her hand and one of the guards performing her security approached.
— These piles are useless; you may discard them. As for these other documents I've separated, the stamped ones must have double the attention; I need them to be secured and forwarded to Lord Valemortis's fort; it is of extreme importance that they be delivered safely — Altheria looked at the pile with a somewhat worried face. — I need trusted men to deliver this paperwork; do not spare resources for this.
The guard struck his fist against his chest in salute and turned to begin his preparations.
Altheria finally sat down, sighed, and brought her hands to her face, pensive.
— This is problematic — Altheria whispered to herself.
— What exactly is problematic? — questioned Elyandra.
The woman seemed somewhat inert in her thoughts; she then shook her head, seeking to rid herself of the thoughts surrounding her mind.
— You don't need to worry about that, dear; it's not a problem that needs your attention.
— ...As for that.
— We'll talk about that later, dear; I need to take care of the preparations for the relocation of the pure-bloods, we have many wounded to treat — said Altheria, interrupting Elyandra.
Elyandra then seemed to finally remember; she seemed to forget the current subject and quickly ran in the direction of Altheria, who was already approaching the exit of the tent.
— Mother! There was a boy with me, his name is Oswin, where is he?
— A boy? — Altheria brought her hand to her chin and looked up, trying to remember something. — Well... The scouts who arrived here first reported many wounded; he must be in the medical post, all the wounded were taken there.
— Where?!
— Oh, well...
As sudden as the request was, Altheria could see the urgency in her daughter's eyes; she did not hesitate to take her to the medical post, even being a bit against it.
The medical post was a relatively large place; given the number of wounded, it seemed even small. The little Valemortis, upon arriving, was struck by a scenario that was, in a way, melancholy. There were people in various conditions, many in states so deplorable that it could be said they would barely even be alive—many full of wounds from the fight, while others were too sick even to move on their own—but they all had something in common: they were all poor people from the imperial periphery, and besides that, they were all pure-bloods.
— There are so many... It didn't seem like there were that many people yesterday — said Elyandra as she closely followed that horror.
The healers affiliated with House Valemortis did their best to help as many as possible.
— We have already requested more healers; when we went out looking for you, we didn't imagine finding something like this... Initially, I thought whoever took you already had you as a target, but apparently, you were taken by opportunity — Altheria stated while looking at the wounded with a somewhat sad gaze.
The state of many left Elyandra stunned; her eyes transmitted feelings and sensations difficult to catalog; even inside, she couldn't even think. Altheria noticed Elyandra's silence, along with that indecipherable expression.
— Many didn't even have the condition to leave the cells; some were very malnourished while others were sick to the point of not even being able to open their eyes; they stayed alive due to the fact that the ancient blood is extremely strong and restorative, but even that has a limit; it couldn't work alone forever.
Elyandra's eyes traveled through each of the rows of improvised beds; she observed every detail in each person, her hands trembled and her face showed itself even more restless with each victim of that place. Altheria noticed her daughter's state; she came to the conclusion that it was enough.
— Come, dear, let's let the healers resolve this.
Elyandra didn't even hear what her mother said, for at the same moment, she saw a figure lying motionless—it was Oswin receiving medical care. The girl didn't think twice and ran in his direction, which caught the attention of Altheria, who followed her.
The girl ran quickly through the wounded without touching any of them; she soon arrived at Oswin's side, who seemed unconscious; his state was critical.
— Lady Elyandra! — said the woman caring for Oswin. — What are you doing here?
Altheria arrived next and noticed the boy her daughter was staring at; she didn't take long to realize he was the one Elyandra referred to earlier.
— Lady Valemortis — the woman stood up and saluted Altheria in respect. — I apologize for our delay; we are from the second division; unfortunately, we didn't have many healers available, so we have already requested more healers from other divisions and also the aid of the priestesses from the Church.
— How is he? — asked Altheria.
The healer then knelt back down and used her water magic to assist in Oswin's recovery.
— Several ribs are broken, internal bleeding, his arm is beyond treatment; the time the limb was lost made it impossible to use magic to reattach it; even divine healing magic couldn't reattach it since the mana in his arm has probably already been lost. He also has a concussion on his head; to be honest, he is in a state that is beyond what we can do with the current number of healers; if the Church arrives in time, the help of divine magic might save him.
Altheria looked on with a discouraged face; after all, she had been a priestess at another time.
— Did they give any deadline for sending the priestesses?
— ...The Church replied to us stating they would do their best to help, but we are not hopeful about the timing.
Altheria knew about the bureaucracy inside the Church; after all, despite being its own institution, it still had to answer to the Empire, so the Church found itself stifled by not being able to act freely without the approval of the Empire itself.
— Tell me... How can I help?
The small Valemortis's somewhat low voice caught the attention of the two women, who looked at each other.
— Lady Elyandra... I apologize, I cannot ask you for help with this, it would be...
— No, I am going to help — she said as she knelt in front of the woman and extended her hands in front of Oswin's body. — Tell me, what do I need to do?
The healer stared at Elyandra apprehensively; her gaze shifted from the girl to Altheria, who did not answer her.
— Dear... Are you sure? — asked Altheria.
— ...I am going to help.
Being sure there would be no problems, the healer began the treatment; lines of water passed through her fingers and entered Oswin's skin like needles, but without hurting him; she concentrated. Elyandra, on the other hand, waited anxiously.
— Very well... Let's start with the internal bleeding, then we'll close the wound on his arm, and finally, we'll go for the ribs; I need you to focus your magic where I direct, alright?
Elyandra agreed with a nod and the two began the care for Oswin; they stayed there for what seemed like hours, but everything went well; Elyandra followed the healer's instructions to the letter. Altheria, on the other hand, accompanied the procedure in silence; in the end, they succeeded in stabilizing Oswin and freeing him from his critical state.
— Great... We're done here; impressive, Lady Elyandra, your help was of great assistance.
— Is he going to be okay?
— Certainly, he's no longer at risk — said the woman, wiping her own sweat.
Elyandra stared in silence at the boy who was still unconscious; she sighed in relief and then stood up.
— Very well... On to the next one?
— Next one? Do you intend to do this again, dear? — asked Altheria, worried.
— Yes... As long as I have mana, it won't be a problem — she turned to the healer. — Could you take me to the next one that is most urgent?
The healer stared at the little Valemortis for a while and didn't know what to say. Her eyes met Altheria's who, even with a worried expression, agreed to let her daughter help. In this way, Elyandra, along with the healer, spent what seemed like an entire day healing the wounded. Altheria accompanied her daughter the entire time. Many of the pure-bloods who were healed by Elyandra had the same vision and conclusion: a little girl, endowed with golden eyes and hair white as snow, the representative of the Goddess, a Saint, the savior herself. Without realizing it, Elyandra ended up fostering even more the adoration of the faithful in the Saints, but that didn't matter at the moment.
After spending almost an entire day helping the wounded, Elyandra felt the weight of the mana expenditure. Dizziness accompanied by an intense headache weighed through her body, along with an excessive exhaustion. She felt the ground approaching and was caught before falling by Altheria.
— Elyandra! Are you okay?! — asked Altheria, worried.
— ...I'm fine, I'm fine — affirmed Elyandra, shaking her head trying to ward off the dizziness. — Where is the next one?
The healer, noticing Elyandra's state and the fatigue in her eyes, knew she had already reached her limit.
— It's alright, Lady Elyandra — said the healer, holding her hand in gratitude. — You've already done enough; all the seriously wounded have been secured; why don't you rest a little?
— I can't do that... These people need help.
— And they will have it; more healers are on the way, so for now, you can rest.
Elyandra seemed ready to refuse, but Altheria placed her hand on her face and pulled it affectionately, making the girl look at her face.
— Elyandra, dear. It's alright, you've already done enough. — Slowly Altheria ran her hand over Elyandra's head.
— I need to help them... Mother.
— You will... But now it's time for you to rest a little.
Altheria then continued to caress Elyandra's head. Through the girl's eyes, her mother was smiling. The woman's hands caressed her head in such an affectionate way that an indescribable sensation began to weigh over the girl. Her eyes began to blur and she finally fell into a deep sleep.
— ...She is incredible; the amount of magic needed to heal certain injuries is surreal; even some priestesses-in-training would take a bit more time. If I may ask, is Lady Elyandra preparing to actually become a Saint?
— ...No, my daughter is still seeking the path she wishes to tread — Altheria stated as she stood up, holding Elyandra in her arms. — I'm going to take her back to the tent; inform me about any change.
The woman struck her hand against her chest in salute.
— As you wish, Lady Valemortis.
Far from that place, a woman walked through alleys of the periphery; she held a bag full of documents; her presence was almost imperceptible, but something stood out on her face—a mask.
In a dark and damp alley, the masked woman met with a group of hooded figures. The atmosphere was tense, the anger in the air almost palpable.
— You failed. You had a single mission, and you failed! — growled one of the hooded ones, his voice deep and full of fury.
— I did not fail. The plan changed — replied the masked woman, with a cold calm. — I had to improvise. I couldn't risk the Valemortis Guard tracking us.
— And why didn't you bring her? What is more important than the Saint?! — insisted another.
The woman pulled out a leather bag, opening it to show a pile of papers.
— I destroyed all the records, all the documents that could link this place to us. What was left, I brought. They have nothing, except what they got from the inspection of that trash.
The group calmed down, the tension decreasing. One of them took the documents, examining them.
— And the Saint?
— I left her there. Valemortis now has her back, but at this point, they will already be too busy with the bureaucracy of the rescue and the relocation of those animals.
The tallest figure in the group, who until then had remained in silence, spoke:
— The failure was yours. However, you made the evidence disappear. The risk of a deep investigation has decreased. We will have to postpone our operation for a time, but when everything calms down, we will need another way to reach the Saint.
— I ask that this job be mine; if you give me your influence, I can secure not only the Valemortis, but both Saints.
— You mean that...
— Yes, I can do it, I just need your help.
The group remained in silence for a few minutes as they looked at each other as if conversing mentally, until the figure who seemed to be their leader turned to the mask.
— Very well, you will have your opportunity.
The woman, even with her face covered, seemed happy. At that moment, the fuse of a bomb had been lit, and no one could predict when it would explode.
Back at the camp, Elyandra left the tent and observed the movement. The Valemortis Guard surrounded the location, and in the center of everything, the men who had kidnapped her were led away in handcuffs. Elyandra's attention was captured by one of them, Vargas. He was different; his gaze no longer had the same arrogance as before, but a contained rage. He stopped suddenly when his eyes met hers. The guards escorting him tried to push him, but he did not move, fixed on the girl.
— You... — Vargas's voice was a hoarse but intense whisper.
— Game over — Elyandra replied, her voice firm.
Vargas laughed, a dry and humorless sound.
— The game isn't over, little Valemortis. It just changed levels.
He struggled to speak, ignoring the pain.
— That woman... she is patient. She knows when to retreat and when to attack. She is going to hunt you, and you are in her sights now.
A shiver ran down Elyandra's spine. She was about to respond, but an imposing figure stepped in front of her. It was Altheria.
— Do you have something to say to my daughter? — Altheria's voice was icy, cutting.
Vargas directed his gaze to the woman.
— Just truths that your little princess doesn't understand. Do you really think you have some kind of infinite power?
— That doesn't matter, but one thing I can affirm: whoever it may be, or regardless of the power they have. As long as this family exists, nothing you can architect will have any kind of success.
Vargas let out a laugh, a loud and disdainful sound.
— I would love to see that unfold, Altheria Valemortis.
Altheria's expression hardened, and her eyes acquired a dangerous glitter.
— You have made two mistakes so far. You kidnapped a member of the Valemortis family, and also a Saint. This is not a common crime; it is heresy. You will not be judged by a court; you will be judged by the Church.
Vargas's face turned pale. The mockery disappeared, replaced by terror. He knew that in the hands of the Church, there would be no justice, only punishment. Silence fell over the group.
Altheria turned to Elyandra, taking her daughter's hand firmly. Her eyes softened for an instant.
— Take this trash out of here — ordered Altheria, her voice returning to its authoritative tone.
The guards then took Vargas away, who remained in silence. Elyandra watched the man disappear in the distance, feeling her mother's hand hold hers—a gesture of protection and power she had never felt before. The battle was over, but something worse was just preparing to begin.