Monster Hunt (2)

I must have been completely dazed.

Fabian brought me back to my senses by telling me it was lunchtime.

I accepted the lunch wrapped in a large leaf to keep it fresh, then sat down beside Fabian.

"Fabian..."

"What is it, Fia?"

"Um, the Saints are amazing, aren't they? A monster's tusk went right through that knight's arm, leaving a hole in it. And just three of them healed that wound. That's really amazing, isn't it? Healing it in only about thirty seconds is so, so amazing, isn't it?"

...My mind was still in a complete muddle.

Really?

...Was the power I'd just seen really the full extent of a Saint's abilities?

Maybe those three were only Saint apprentices, and a real Saint's power was much, much greater?

I thought so and asked Fabian, but, cruelly enough, he confirmed what I'd said.

"Yes. I think it was the power of a miracle. To heal a wound completely in just a few dozen seconds by holding their hands over it... That's a Saint's blessing."

"........................I see."

"Huh? Fia?!"

Fabian hurriedly leaned in to peer at my face.

"Fia... are you crying?"

"Waaaah!"

I don't know. I don't know why, but water is streaming from my eyes...

Fabian hurriedly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to me.

"Fia, are you all right?"

"Fiiiiiaaa..."

I clung tightly to Fabian. Water kept streaming from my eyes.

...This is so frustrating.

In my previous life, I was proud to be a Saint.

Without fail.

I put myself at the heart of battle, and no matter how horrific the battlefield became, I never fled or fell back. I focused solely on healing those who fought with swords and axes in hand.

Just as the knights had been my shield, I had been theirs.

When had the Saints become so distorted? When had they lost sight of what they were meant to be?

Even though I was called the "Great Saint" and used my abilities as a Saint to their fullest, in the end, I left nothing behind...

Fabian let me cling to him as tears poured from my eyes.

Then, when I seemed to have calmed down, he leaned in to look at my face.

"Are you all right, Fia? Were you scared because you were there when the knights fought the monsters? Or were you moved by the Saints' power?"

"........................Neither. I just forgot to turn off the faucet in my eyes, so water came out..."

"...I see. Maybe you could show me where the faucet in your eyes is sometime. Then, if you forget to turn it off, I can do it for you."

Fabian is so kind.

Yeah. The next time he gets down, I'll cheer him up.

I took an onigiri from the lunch wrapping and popped it into my mouth.

"Hehe. I thought the tears had made it soggy, but they'd given it just the right amount of salt. It's delicious."

Fabian seemed to sense how subdued I felt, and sat quietly beside me through lunch without saying anything more.

...Fabian, you really are so handsome.