Miracles Can't Buy Promises

Maria beamed, energized by the rhythmic splash of the town square’s fountain. A proper bed really did wonders for a fatigued body. She had set out to tackle the winding lines at the first hint of dawn, and deep into the morning, she hadn’t even broken a sweat.

The ordinary town center Maria had glimpsed upon her arrival in Arborhaven—a routine backdrop of shouting fruit vendors and rumbling wagons—was completely gone. That bustle drowned under a restless crowd that sought miracles, not goods.

As word of the “Saint” with powerful divine magic spread, her duties expanded beyond the square. A group of rookie adventurers had practically begged her to act as their healer while they cleared a pack of beasts near the main road.

"Just a quick warding spell, Sister!" one of them had pleaded.

Maria had gone with them. The air freshened as she released her mana; it felt like a warm, effortless sigh. Instead of just a simple protective spell, she had driven the beasts far into the wild plains with a single, golden radiant blast. The magic was so potent it made the air tremble all the way back in town. When she returned to the square, locals frantically whispered, asking each other if they had just felt a small earthquake. Kaelan and Thomas stood by with blank stares while Maria questioned why she didn’t feel the tremor.

Back at the lines, Kaelan insisted on keeping an eye on Thomas. Though Maria saw no reason to. Or rather, maintained her faith that there was no reason to.

Kaelan leaned down to whisper in her ear during a brief lull. “I'm keeping him in my sights."

True to his word, Kaelan trailed Thomas like a predator, while the unsuspecting prey eagerly collected donations. The silver-streaked haired man had long filled the initial burlap sack he’d been holding, but he had plenty of spares.

Despite Kaelan’s suspicion, Maria would occasionally catch a glimpse of him actively helping. He navigated the snaking lines, gently guiding people forward and reassuring both the young and old.

"Be patient," Kaelan told a worried mother. "Maria will help as much as she can." 

Maria grinned. His direct tone could be off-putting, but at least he’d kept his hood down.

As the day dragged on, Maria tried to catch her breath. A few shared chuckles between the three provided brief relief—rare moments where Thomas’ face relaxed and Kaelan’s sharp glare softened. These lighter pockets of time usually came when Maria squirmed under the locals' awestruck stares. There was no need to put her on a pedestal; she was just performing a basic, everyday spell, after all. But the reactions of the wide-eyed crowd suggested otherwise.

"Is... is my arm really fixed?" a burly laborer stared at his unblemished skin.

Maria blinked. "Yes? It was just a minor fracture."

And it was during those moments of levity that Maria noticed Thomas’s gaze cloud over as he turned his head. It was a fleeting look, but it shared a slight resemblance to the expression little Toby held when caught late one night rummaging through the cookie jar. But the second Thomas caught her watching, he plastered on a slick smile and returned to working the crowd with a smooth tongue.

The day passed under fading intervals of golden light as Maria attended one after another. Thomas ran the crowd with efficiency. He had spent the afternoon introducing a new “priority line” for donors who offered silver and gold coins.

"It’s an absolute necessity to keep the crowds orderly and manageable," he insisted when Maria questioned it. "Besides, these selfless donations will surely be of great help to the local clinic."

She couldn’t deny that.

At one point, Maria overheard him speaking with a round-faced merchant dressed in fine, heavy silk. The man offered a stuffed leather pouch of coin for “recurring miracles” for his caravan. Thomas smoothly swung an arm around the pudgy man’s shoulders before telling Maria that he’d handle the details. He disappeared down the cobblestone street with the wealthy trader. Maria had her hands full as it was, so she was thankful for the help, though Kaelan didn’t seem so convinced. He held a dark glare, tracking them until they vanished around the corner.

By sunset, Maria’s spells sputtered and failed to form. There was only a dry hollowness in her chest where an effortless warmth usually bloomed. No matter how much she focused what little mana remained, no prayer was enough to spark her divine magic.

Most of the crowd had dispersed with their needs met. Still, Maria frowned, staring at the few who lingered. It ached that she was unable to help everyone, no matter what she tried.

But most of the townspeople were incredibly thankful, just as they had been throughout the day. She thought back to a little kid from earlier; when he smiled after she healed his pounding head, she smiled right along with him. It was those moments that gave her the strength to push forward against the never-ending line.

“Thank you, Sister. You’re truly a Saint,” one last person called out.

They disappeared into the mellowed normalcy of the evening town square. The fruit stalls calmed their sales calls, weary laborers headed home after a hard day’s work, and a group of rowdy adventurers headed to a local tavern to unwind.

“Maria, you’ve truly done the gods’ work.” Thomas struggled toward her, holding thick pouches that jingled with every movement.

“I did what I could,” she said past heavy breaths.

“And it did not go unnoticed.” Thomas turned to Kaelan, who leaned against the stone fountain in the square. “And that goes for you, as well.” Thomas ran an appreciative arm across his chest.

“I hope the gods noticed enough to provide a carriage,” Kaelan said with a flat tone.

“They surely have. I confirmed it with the merchant who agreed,” Thomas said. “He’ll be heading onto King’s Road by nightfall. Meet him at the northern gates.”

Maria’s face lit up. “That’s wonderful news!”

Thomas turned, his face hidden from Maria’s piercing smile.

Kaelan’s eyes narrowed. “A little late for a merchant's departure, no?” he asked Thomas.

“The unpredictable life of a trader.” Thomas shrugged. “You two go on and have a proper feast at the tavern. Tell them to put it on my tab. I have to pass on these donations to the clinic before it gets too late.”

Before leaving, he gave the two a specific time to meet at the northern gate for their departure. As agreed, he’d provide whatever coin remained once the clinic had taken its share. It would serve them well for their travels, though Maria insisted on only taking the bare minimum required for the road.

As Thomas vanished into the deepening twilight with the heavy clink of the clinic’s coin fading down the cobblestone street, Kaelan’s sharp glare remained fixed on his retreating figure.

Maria let out a tired, but happy sigh as the cool night air tickled her skin. A warm tavern, a hot meal, and a carriage home were waiting. She gave Kaelan an encouraging nudge, wishing he would look just a little less serious when such a wonderful night awaited them. But the silent, heavy doubts lingering in the assassin's eyes didn't fade as he stared into the shadows where Thomas had vanished.

Trusting that everything would work out by night's end, Maria turned toward the lantern-lit street leading to the tavern. She chose, as she always did, to focus on the warmth waiting ahead—but the cold weight that settled between them was hard to ignore.