Chapter 26: Adaptation

It was a scene straight out of a myth. A mere human’s blow took down a colossal being that had existed since the dawn of time. The aftermath was simple and swift. Terdan, the colossus, collapsed into a deep slumber. The pursuers, if they hadn’t perished in the blow, fled in terror.

After the dust settled, Vargo, who had delivered the blow, just said, “Tsk. Youngsters these days have no courage,” and returned to the Holy Kingdom. Vera followed, and now, two days later, he was sitting in a temple infirmary, watching Renee sleep peacefully.

He had been there for two days, and his mind was heavy with thoughts. Thankfully, there was no recoil, he mused. Renee had exhausted all her divinity and was recovering, but there were no signs of lasting damage. Her sleep was a result of that exhaustion and the fatigue from their journey. She would wake soon.

Vera clenched his fist, a frown on his face. It’s because I’m not good enough, he thought. Renee had to use her powers because he had failed to protect her. She was here, lying in this bed, because he was weak. He had been holding her, so he couldn’t fight freely.

That’s an excuse, he told himself. He had to be strong enough to overcome any obstacle, even when protecting someone. He had to be an unstoppable force.

He remembered Vargo’s blow. The surrounding air had cracked as a red mace of pure divinity appeared. The overwhelming feeling of death from just the sight of it. He knew then that he couldn’t win. Vera had never felt defeat in either of his lives, but Vargo’s power was so immense that he had to concede.

He thought about Vargo’s death six years later. “Old age,” the public would say. That’s ridiculous, Vera scoffed. A man who could shatter space with a single blow wouldn't die of old age in six years. He was certain the information had been manipulated. He didn’t know the real cause, but he knew what would happen when Vargo died.

His gaze returned to Renee. “War.”

A continental war would erupt to claim the Saint. With the man who protected her gone, the continent would be plunged into chaos, all for a divine being named Renee. Vera looked at her sleeping form, at her long hair and closed eyes. He looked at her small, delicate hand, intertwined with his. This little hand would be the cause of a war that would only end with the appearance of the Demon King.

And he knew what Renee would do to stop it. She would erase her existence. She would give up her powers and disappear. She would sacrifice herself to stop the bloodshed.

Vera tightened his grip on her hand. It must be stopped, he resolved. The war, the pain, her self-sacrifice. He would protect her from it all. The warmth from her hand filled him with determination. He knew what he had to do to protect her.

Power.

He needed to be strong enough so that no one would dare to even think of harming the Saint. And he knew who had that power.

Vargo St. Lore.

A long sigh escaped his lips. His eyes sank deep into his face. The most certain way to protect Renee was to ensure Vargo lived, but that was an uncertain possibility. Vargo was mortal, and he would die long before Renee.

Vera looked at their hands, his resolve hardening. I have to be as strong as Vargo. The thought of surpassing a man he had never thought he could beat filled him with a sense of struggle. He wasn't confident, but he knew he had to try. For now, that was enough.

---

Renee was awake. She had woken up ten minutes ago to the feeling of a rough hand holding hers. She knew it was Vera’s, the hand she had held for the last few days. She decided to figure out what was going on before revealing she was awake.

Where am I? she wondered. She felt soft cloth and heard no sounds other than Vera’s steady breathing. She must be in a safe place, a bedroom or an infirmary in the Holy Kingdom.

Why am I here? She remembered using her power, her wish for her, Vera, and Norn to escape safely. She realized her power must have worked, and she had saved them.

Ah. Her heart pounded with satisfaction. She had saved someone with her own hands. She was not helpless. She clenched her fist, a movement that made Vera’s hand tremble.

“...Milady Saint?” he said, his voice quiet.

Renee, startled, opened her eyes, feigning a dazed state. “Uh-Uhm...”

“Are you awake? How are you feeling?” Vera asked, his voice full of concern. He didn’t notice she was pretending to be groggy. Renee let out an inward sigh of relief.

She didn’t want to face the embarrassment of him knowing she was awake. “Where are...” she began.

“The Holy Kingdom. His Holiness was at the border, so we were able to get here safely. How are you feeling?”

“I-I feel a little sore,” she stammered, overwhelmed by his concern. Shame flushed her cheeks, and she closed her eyes.

“Are you feeling ill?” he asked, his voice growing more concerned. “Please wait a moment. I’ll call the priest.”

“No! It’s alright! I’m fine!” she shrieked. Her heart raced at his overreaction. “I feel refreshed! Much more than when I was in town! Wow, it’s so refreshing! What’s the secret?!”

She was trying to reassure him. He took a deep breath and calmed down. “It’s natural. The priests’ divine healing revitalizes the body.”

“Ah-aha...” she nodded, smiling. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Two days.”

“Two days?” she was astonished. It felt like she had just fallen asleep.

“Yes. I’m glad you’re awake. The Holy Emperor and everyone else were very worried.”

“Everyone else?”

“Yes, all the Apostles and priests here.”

Ah, she realized. She was in the Holy Kingdom, the very place she had vowed never to set foot in. She expected to feel anxious, but she was surprisingly calm.

“That’s right,” she said, wiggling their intertwined hands. The warmth and the rough feeling of his hand calmed her. Is it because of this? she wondered. What am I thinking? She giggled at the thought, then asked him about her future.

“What am I supposed to do now?”

“You should focus on recovering. Then... we will begin to select people to attend to you. The schedule will begin in earnest after that. I apologize if the answer isn’t to your liking.”

“Don’t apologize,” she said.

“Yes.”

She pouted. He was apologizing again. The thought of being a Saint brought tears to her eyes. “Can I do well?” she asked, her voice filled with anxiety. She was a blind girl from a small village, who couldn't even use her powers properly. How could she handle such an important role?

“You are the most suitable person for the mantle of Saint,” Vera said.

“If...”

“There is no such thing as ‘If’.” He interrupted her, a rarity for him. The familiar tickle in her stomach returned.

“Because Sir Knight will make it happen?” she asked.

“Yes.” His voice was more confident than ever.

She was momentarily stunned, but his conviction was so strong that she found herself believing him. “...I need to get well soon.” Her hand tightened around his. His warmth, a warmth that came from his belief in her, made her anxiety subside.