-"So you say that Talulah shared her Originium Art with you?"-Shining asked me to confirm after hearing me speak during one of our night talks.
-"Yes, is something wrong with it?"
-"Well... I read some things about Draco. There was a mention of such a ritual, but there were some restrictions."
-"Such as?"
-"Basically, Draco can perform it once in their lives, making it often be linked to proposals, weddings, or such. Even during their rule over Victoria, such a ritual was equal to an appointment of a personal knight for a member of the royal family. Congratulations, I guess..?"-She looked at me, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
-"I doubt she did it with such intent, but I'll be sure to ask in my next letter. But I must say that this Art is truly deserving of its reputation."-I let my golden flame appear in my palm.-"Rather than the power of fire, it gives the ability to control lifeforce, manifesting it through fire. Just the aspect of fast healing and regeneration of energy is something priceless."
-"Indeed, most people who received such a gift were recorded in history as great figures. Just be careful, as with such a gift appearing so long after the destruction of the Draco Royal Family, you might become a target if exposed."
-"I will be careful."-I nodded.-"On the subject of Arts, would you mind teaching me some healing Arts?"
-"Eh? Don't you already know how to use them? Back then, you saved Alina while I couldn't do anything."
-"It's not exactly Art... While I can use them, their power is restricted, so I thought to learn normal healing Arts to find a way to resolve this issue."
-"Sure, I'll teach you. But in exchange, I hope you can also teach me something."
-"That's only fair. What would you like to learn from me?"
-"Those healing Arts as well."
Her request troubled me a little, but knowing well that this was a fair exchange, I decided to agree.
-"Ok, but before anything else, I need to explain a few things. Don't hide there, Margaret, you can join us if you want."
-"Sorry, I didn't try to eavesdrop, just couldn't find an occasion to approach."-Spoke Margaret, who emerged from behind one of the tents.
-"We don't mind."-Shining shook her head.
-"I hope you can keep this to yourselves, as if this gets out, it might bring trouble."
-"I will never tell anyone."-Margaret promised.
Shining also nodded.
-"Then..."
Without wasting words, I explained some details about miracles, along with their origin. Of course, I concealed most of the details, speaking only the necessary things. Both of them were surprised by everything I said, but accepted it quickly, focusing on learning instead.
-"So we need to have faith in some god?"-Shining asked, not knowing what to do with this information.
-"Yes, but god here is rather lax in definition. While you can indeed invoke some deity, a more general aspect also counts. Word idol would be a better description. Idol might be a person, but also something like knighthood, sainthood, or even some other virtue. The only thing is they must be 'something greater' and be 'humane', not some innate aspect of the world."
-"I see. I think I get it."-Margaret nodded and closed her eyes.
Moments later, a slight golden glow appeared in her hand that held a simple seal that was created by me.
-"Still failed."-She sighed after a while.
-"This is to be expected, but seeing that you managed to activate the seal, the success is at your fingertips."-I motivated her.
Shining looked at her hands, falling silent for a long time. I watched from the side, using Empathy to find what they were trying to invoke. Margaret listened to me and used her belief in being the knight, its honor, and its values. But Shining was different. I felt that her inner self was not calm at all, as if in doubt about something.
She stood there for more than an hour before finally grasping the seal and closing her eyes. Soon, I could see a slight glow of the seal in her hand. Shining also felt it, opening her eyes where a great amount of relief showed. During this process, I couldn't grasp what she was calling upon, but I felt a mix of guilt and repentance, along with strong conviction in her current path.
Two of them continued to train while I read through the book Shining gave me. Only after three more hours did Shining decide to stop, feeling exhausted from constantly trying to cast miracles. She sat next to me and started to instruct me while answering any questions I had. Margaret continued for an hour longer, ending only when she finally couldn't stand anymore. In the end, I had to carry her back, and judging by the face of a certain knight who was pretending to sleep, she enjoyed it.
The travel continued, and without any issues, we arrived some distance from Wolumonde, which was currently stationary. As such a big group of people, let alone Infected, entering the city would be alarming, only Liz and I entered the city to buy some food and information. Our duo attracted much attention from people, but we were still able to buy everything we needed.
Before returning, Liz took me around the city, stopping at some small clinics, orphanages, and such, offering her healing for those in need. I didn't mind acting as a guard for her, but due to that, we returned much later than was planned. It wasn't a big issue, at least that's what I thought before I noticed sounds of combat coming from the camp.
I left Liz in a safe place and flew into where the fight was waking part. I instantly noticed Shining and Margaret confronting a few attackers, but before I could act, I was stunned by who the attackers were. I would never forget those two familiar figures, so seeing them fight with my companions was startling. I couldn't let the situation get any worse, so I teleported between the two sides.
-"Stop!"
My words proved effective, forcing the fight to cease.
-"What's going on?"
-"They attacked us."-Margaret responded shortly.
-"We don't want to harm you, knight. We only have something to do with her."-Blue haired woman spoke calmly.
-"I won't let you harm my companion."
-"Enough!"-I stopped them again.-"What is your enmity?"
-"She is Confessarii, one of the people who harmed our friend."
-"What?"-This information genuinely surprised me, making me look at Shining, who avoided my gaze.
-"As Sankta, you should stand on your side."
I was silent for a moment, but I still knew what should I should do.
-"Stop it, Mostima."
-"You..."-She seemed to finally notice.
-"No matter the past, Shining is my companion."
-"If that's your will."
-"Mostima?"-A Lupo woman looked at her.
-"How have you been?"-Mostima ignored her.
-"Not good at first, but later, I was able to find what I was lacking."
-"Good."-She walked toward me, her steps unstable from all the emotions she was feeling.-"It's good that you're back."
Saw her stumble, so I moved forward to catch her, resulting in her hugging my neck and crying silently. I knelt on the ground so that she could sit, lightly patting her back and letting her cry the whole time. Around us, others also finally relaxed, waiting me and Mostima in silence but full of questions. Mostima stopped crying after fifteen minutes, but she didn't let me go.
-"Can you tell me everything?"
-"It'll be a long story."
-"I don't care."
-"Then I will explain everything."
-"Mhmm."-She hugged me even tighter, though I couldn't feel it through my armor.
-"Can you first explain what's going on?"-Margaret finally asked.
-"I will in a moment. Mostima, how is..."
-"Exusi... I mean, Lemuel is nearby; she should be here in a few hours. As for Lemuen, she is still..."
-"I see. Don't worry, when I return to Laterano, I'll make sure that Lemuen not only wakes up, but also that she is healthy."-I looked at the Lupo woman standing near.-"You are?"
-"Texas."-She answered curtly.-"But you should know me only as Cellinia."
-"Cellinia..? Wait, you are that?"-I remembered a person who was my first close confidante due to communication only through letters.
-"Yes."
-"Then it's our first real meeting. Though you look nothing like I imagined the 'brother' I was writing with back then, of course, I'm more than happy to trade brother for such a beauty."
-"Smooth."-She smiled softly.-"I also want to listen to your explanation."
-"Sure. I think that everyone here should listen to it. What do you think, Margaret, Shining?"
-"Please."-Margaret responded directly, but Shining was silent.
-"Then bring Liz with you later, and we will talk."
Margaret nodded and returned to camp, giving me some time alone with Mostima and Cellinia. Shining also started to walk away. Cellinia found conformable place to sit next to me, and we started to talk.
-"How come you are here with Mostima?"
-"It's quite a coincidence. When I stopped writing with you, it was because of a tragedy in my family, but after I tried to reconnect I never received a reply. When I was about to give up, I met Mostima, and we started talking. Accidentally, she mentioned something really specific about you I remembered from letters, and as such, we started to work together."
-"I see. That's quite a fate. Your family..."
-"Texas is my surname."
-"Sorry."-I remembered something I read in the reports in my letter.
-"It's mostly in the past."-She shook her head.-"But to think we would meet like that."
-"It was indeed unexpected. Speaking of which, why would you target Shining?"
-"It's because I was able to find out that Confessarii were behind that ambush that resulted in your disappearance."-Mostima finally spoke.
-"Andoain would cooperate with them?"
-"He didn't. We were targeted for much longer, but they waited for a occasion, and Andoain just created one for them accidentally."
-"They must have known about me. Well, whatever. Compared to Andoain, they caused no real damage, so I don't care. Don't blame Shining for anything that happened."
-"You..."
-"Deserving of your title of saint."-Texas added.
-"No, if they truly did something, I would hold a grudge, but their actions resulted in many things I'm thankful for, not to mention after spending this past month with Shining, I feel that I can understand what kind of person she is. Past is the past, let's not bring it up."
-"They still tried to harm you. No matter the results, they are enemies that will do anything to destroy you."-Mostima warned me.
-"Some of them, sure, but not Shining. I trust her to have my back. No matter what she had done, as long as she is still the Shining that I know, I won't be her enemy, nor will she be mine."
Unbeknownst to me, my words were overheard by Shining, who was still not that far away.
-"Let's not talk about that. Tell me how you did all this time."
Texas and Mostima nodded and started to talk about their lives over the past years. They talk about wandering Terra after the Texas tragedy and my disappearance, meeting the Emperor and forming Penguin Logistics, their daily lives there, and some interesting missions. Mostima finally relaxed her grip on me, sitting on the side while explaining some interesting accident that happened to her.
While we talked, the rest of their group also arrived, and without even needing someone to tell, Lemuel instantly recognized me and rushed into my arms. With a new crying angel on me, I was introduced to the Croissant and Sora. Both of them quickly understood the situation, but while Sora was busy imagining some fantastical things in her mind, turning red from time to time, Croissant instead started to make trouble by provoking Mostima and Texas.
The calmed down only after the annoyed fallen angel planted Croissant head first into the ground, forcing her to be unable to speak. Shortly after, Sora and Croissant decided to move into the camp to help us with refugees; meanwhile, we, after Margaret, Liz, and Shining came back, moved to the nicer place for our talk.
I started everything by bringing Margaret and Liz up to speed on my identity. Liz reacted as always, meaning not at all, but Margaret was quite shocked. But this was just the beginning, because as my story continued: my infection, encountering ancient ruins and being sent out to the world, being rescued by Princess, and my studies to overcome the Oripathy; everyone was listening breathless, not even having time to be shocked.
When I mentioned that I was able to resolve my Oripathy, Mostima and Lemuel almost burst into tears once more, while Texas and Margaret breathed a sigh of relief. Only Shining just looked at me, her eyes showing more and more complicated emotions. I even showed them my left arm, making them touch it nonstop due to the novelty of it, but it didn't stop me from continuing.
The rest of my story was much more relaxed, but also slowly turning somber again, with me becoming Carian Knight, living in the Lands Between, the tragedy of that man, and the order to depart and return home. Mostima, who mostly returned to her usual self, seemed to get somewhat annoyed every time I mentioned Princess, but I decided not to point it out, as her smile when I looked at her promised me trouble if I did.
The rest of my story in Britain was rather short, talking about war there as well as the Grail one was interesting, but aside from a few battles, there wasn't much to explain. Margaret was one most interested in the Grail War, asking about some details from time to time. But when the ending of it came, she fell silent again.
I finished my story by talking about my dreams and that Patron of mine. As I felt that after I have finished other matters both here and in Britain, I will have to seek a place where they exist, even if only to get closure or understanding why I was chosen by them. By the time I was done, it was already the middle of the night, but none of us was sleepy.
Instead, we continued talking about everything from the major events in the past years to daily lives and interesting things in other worlds. Everyone expressed their wish to visit Britain at some point, everyone but Shining, who was still silent. All that time while listening to everyone around, Shining remained quiet and deep in thought; if not for her emotions changing from time to time, I would have thought she fell asleep.
I knew her past now, so I could understand her troubles, but there was nothing I could do. I could only act as I had acted with her before, hoping that she would be able to resolve whatever demon of the past she was facing.