「A Saint's Duty」

"As you know a disease has started to spread around the continent, although not a big problem yet, the disease can cause especially brutal ends" the knight began to say.

Of course, I had no idea of such a thing. There weren't any reliable sources of news in the village, and I had still been getting used to this new life. And even if that wasn't the case, It didn't seem like anyone in the village cared enough about my family to inform us of the situation in the first place.

As my mind drifted, I wondered how this body's mother was coping with the situation. I remembered the scene I had woken up to, the scene of her mother crying.

Would she be okay alone? I may not have much of a connection with her as I'm not her true daughter, but I'm not so cold-hearted as to completely disregard her. Even if I was taken because I was the saint, how would she feel as a mother, watching her child be taken away without a word?

My mind wandering, I almost didn't catch the knight's explanation, "And the saint, as foreseen by the prophecy, has a supreme healing power that can trump even the best, most seasoned healers."

To be honest, I didn't even know magic existed in this world. Though I suppose it should have been obvious as what would a saint be or do for that matter if there was no such thing as magic? I was reminded of the unknown origin of the electricity I had spotted earlier, maybe that was powered by some magic spell too.

Having come from a magic-less world, I was greatly intrigued by the idea, though I didn't have any idea how it might work. I closed my eyes and tried to feel for this 'supreme healing power' I was supposed to have. I imagined a soft glow appearing above my fingers, testing if I could cast a spell or something of the sort.

And....Surprise, surprise, nothing happened. I was embarrassed, my failure made me feel like a chuunibyou. (I swear I'm not one)

Hopefully, they would give this saint some training time? Or maybe teach me how to use magic in the first place? There's no way they can expect a random girl from the countryside to suddenly grasp how to completely use the saint's power...right?

As the journey continued, I was debriefed on a few more things, including my responsibility as the Saint, some basic etiquette for what to do when meeting the king and what was at stake if I couldn't complete my duties of purifying the ongoing disease.

⸢Great Power Comes With Great Responsibility⸥

...is basically what they were trying to tell me and I completely understood. Though they must have taken my nonchalance as ignorance because they kept emphasizing this concept several times. I admit, if I was in their shoes I most likely wouldn't think a child would understand this concept. There's a reason why the image of children conveys a feeling of naivety and playfulness after all.

Maybe it's a good thing some clueless kid wasn't nominated as the saint, but me who at least has had the experience of living one life already. Well, it's also possible my knowledge will become a hindrance because compared to a child who has lived here their whole life, the information I have about this world is severely inadequate.

As I sat there, tuning out the knight, I watched the scenery change from run-down buildings to a forest and finally into a bustling city.

In the forest, I saw campsites scattered around the path, which I assume are for the people who didn't have the luxury to ride in a carriage. The forest felt both eerie and ethereal at the same time, a strange sort of quietness. Other than the knight continuing his talk and the rattle of the carriage, I didn't hear anything when we passed through. No people, nor wild animals. As I thought about it, I could feel my eyes start to close on me.

I must have dozed off while staring at the emptiness of the environment because I woke up to bustling streets, which notably, contrasted the silence of the forest. The only opening in the crowd was the path of the carriage. People moved away quickly once they saw us, almost as if they were frightened.

Oh wait, I was probably riding a royal carriage, after all the knights were all royal knights. No wonder the people were scared, seeing that status was probably everything in this society. I could suddenly feel a cold sweat behind my neck thinking about how I acted earlier, ignoring the knight, and even falling asleep while he was talking.

I'm sure saints have some protective status....hopefully. It should be fine. I shook my head trying to take my mind off my possibly precarious situation.

We seemed to be going through a market, people were going from stall to stall, customers haggled for prices as sellers tried to mark up the prices. Parents bought groceries and treats for the children; I could practically taste the smell of pastries in the air.

Apples, flaky crust, and caramel drizzled on top. I wiped the drool off my mouth as I longingly stared at the freshly baked apple pie one of the bakers took out to give as free samples. My stomach growled as I realized the last thing I ate was last night's dinner. It wasn't particularly filling either, just a few slices of bread. After all, my family in this world didn't have much money.

I didn't realize how much I missed the simple things I used to take for granted. Oh, what I would do for just one slice of apple pie. My mouth unconsciously formed a frown. It wasn't just the food that I missed or the technology either. I missed the familiarity of my old world.

I may not have been the smartest, the most skilled, the richest, had the most loving family, or even been or had anything that can compare to being a saint, but it was my world. The place where I grew up, the place where I had a family, and the place I lived.

Of course, I have a mother here and am currently living my life here, but it all feels wrong. My—This body's mother isn't mine. Rather, she's the mother of whoever's body this used to be. Even if this it was possible that this was originally my life and I had simply regained my memories after a shocking incident, I can't help but feel like I'm in a stranger's body, in an unfamiliar world.

No matter the true circumstance, I can't help but feel that this isn't my world.

Someday I may find the chance to return to that place. But, I can't dwell on such a baseless hope for too long, since I have my own responsibilities now, as the person in possession of this body that is.

For now, I'll have to carry out the duties of a Saint.