Karesa Monastery (3)

The moment Priest Noute saw the carved wooden holy emblem I had taken out, his face paled, and he demanded to know where I had gotten it.

"W-where did you get this?"

I was glad Priest Noute had recognized it so quickly, but thinking about what I was about to tell him made my heart heavy, and I found it difficult to speak.

"While traveling with the prince, I met a wandering healer who went from village to village helping those attacked by the demon army. He healed many people without charge, but when he saw a village under attack, he stood up to protect the people who had been unable to escape, but, sadly..."

His actions had been truly worthy of a saint.

I had never met anyone as wonderful as he was.

"Did you know him?"

"That man was my disciple. Oh, what a terrible thing. I never should have let him leave my side. An old codger like me survived, while my young fledgling lost his life..."

Priest Noute's tears spilled as he sobbed. Just hearing him cry made my chest tighten at the thought of how deep the bond between them must have been.

"I met him during my travels, and we traveled together for a short while."...