Miracles Can't Force a Choice

The deep of night stretched as if frozen in time. A soft golden whisper remained that tickled the skin; remnants of powerful divine magic that had filled the entire block, though Maria would insist that it was a simple area-of-effect healing spell that mended without bias. It didn’t even leave her legs wobbly this time.

She stood in the silence, facing Thomas. The sensation of his weak grip lingered on her palm. His eyes refused to lock onto hers.

“...After what I did?” he asked.

“Yes,” she replied without hesitation.

“Why?

Maria forced a smile. “Because you needed help.”

Thomas' lips briefly parted, but he remained silent.

Kaelan paced around the perimeter. His eyes drifted between dark rooftops and the shadowed alleys. Seemingly satisfied with his assessment, he returned to the two.

“Your reasoning won’t apply to her,” he said.

“It seems so…”

“Here.” Maria grabbed Thomas’ floppy hand and placed the golden pendant she'd picked up onto his palm. “This must be important to you.”

His eyes flickered. “It used to be.”

Kaelan squinted at the pendant, examining it. “The insignia of a Royal Court mage.” He shook his head. “What a fall from grace. The kingdom would have one believe that they took pride in the pursuit of honorable prestige.”

Thomas scoffed. “If only that were the case.”

“Not that it matters. I’m far from a person who has any right to judge.”

Maria glanced at the muddy bags full of coin still on the ground. Many people in need donated what little they had just for a blessing; now it was soiled.

“A common man would know better,” she said.

“It’s not an issue of ignorance, Maria,” Kaelan said. “I know that well myself…” He stepped up to pick up the bags.

“Wait.”

Maria’s words made Kaelan pause his reach. “What is it?”

“Leave them.”

“What? What of the travel funds?”

“We’ll get by.”

“Then…” Kaelan shifted his weight while he stood. “What of the clinic?”

Maria’s gaze drifted toward Thomas. The man with silver streaks in his hair had nothing to add. “That’s for him to decide.”

Kaelan didn’t argue. He walked beside Maria as the two turned their backs on Thomas.

His silver tongue was nowhere to be found. He stammered, struggling to form words. “W-Wait—”

Maria glanced back a final time with a downcast gaze. “Farewell, Thomas.”

They faded into the shadows of the alley. The deep night that stretched for far too long finally reached its end.

***

Morning mist hugged the ground while Maria headed toward the northern gate with Kaelan by her side. Horse hooves clacked on the cobblestone streets. Pulled wagons that passed by with a cool breeze but not even a glance from the drivers.

Maria sighed, but tried to drown it with a smile. “I hear walking is good for the body and soul.”

“We’ll see how good your body and soul will feel by the next stop,” Kaelan said.

“How long on King’s Road until sight of the capital?”

“By foot? Another 4 weeks.” He narrowed his eyes. “That’s assuming we avoid any unwarranted ‘helping’ along the road.”

“No guarantees.” Maria grinned. “I imagine you regret volunteering as an escort.”

“Volunteering? That’s one way to put it… But, yes. There’s no need for a reminder.”

It was the type of playful exchange Maria expected with Kaelan, and one that she appreciated, as it pulled her mind away from a lingering ache in her chest.

Maybe that area healing spell she’d used took much more mana than expected? No, the true cause was apparent. Kaelan knew firsthand the harsh realities of the world. She wasn’t blind to that. It’s what made him naturally cynical—perhaps a bit too much. Maria would rather take a chance on trusting others in spite of that, just as she did with Kaelan, and just as she tried with Thomas. Even so, being aware that such trust could be broken on a moment's notice didn’t make it any less painful when it actually did.

At the northern gate, Maria waved to the guard who leaned against the stone wall, struggling to keep his eyes open. They’d soon turn onto King’s Road heading west, where a long trek to the capital awaited.

A horse's neigh drew her attention. It was a carriage stationed to the side. Weathered and chipped wood made ‌one doubt its sturdiness. Mismatched patches ran along the canvas above, bringing further doubt about its ability to provide cover from rain.

Maria glanced at the driver who fiddled with the reins, adjusting them.

“Do you think he needs help?” she asked Kaelan. He stared at him blankly.

“We’ve barely left town… Besides,” he inspected the old carriage with darting eyes, “not even your divine magic could heal this.”

Maria had already left Kaelan’s side. “Do you need any help?” she asked the man as he calmed his horse.

He was a short man with graying hair, but his body appeared robust and he had rough hands. Those of a trader. He looked Maria up and down from veil to toe.

“You’re the Sister?” the man asked. Maria tilted her head as Kaelan joined her side. “And you, the brooding one?” the man laughed.

Maria and Kaelan just stared at one another, blinking.

“Sorry… Are we acquainted?” Maria asked.

Before the man could reply, a presence came from behind. Kaelan turned, the first to notice. A man’s voice reached Maria’s ears before she turned herself. Smooth and self-assured. It was unmistakable who it was.

Her eyes finally confirmed it. It was Thomas.

“Not acquainted yet, but you soon will be,” he said, silver staff in hand.

Kaelan stepped forward before Maria. “Didn’t expect to see you again until the afterlife.”

Thomas chuckled dryly. “Why do I have a feeling you don’t mean heaven…”

“Thomas?” Maria finally faced him. “Why are you here?” Kaelan wasn’t the only one who didn’t expect to see him again.

“Carriage ride, as promised. And free of charge.”

Kaelan didn’t seem so convinced.

“No strings attached, I swear!” Thomas ran an arm over the short man’s shoulders, pulling him in. “This here is Oz. Best merchant around!”

Oz ducked out of his grasp. “You jest, Thomas.”

“Best merchant around that would agree to take you two… who stick out like a sore thumb.”

Maria giggled.

Kaelan side-eyed the aging carriage. “Can this thing even support our weight?”

“Old Betty has her years, but she’s a sturdy one!” Oz gave it a slap on the back. A wooden plank swung down on the side. The group stared blankly as he snapped it back into place.

“So, what, you paid our fare with the coin you kept?”

Maria’s gaze drifted downward.

“You have no reason to believe my words…” Thomas caught her gaze, nonetheless. “But it wasn’t a lie that the clinic needed help. I made sure they received every coin this morning. A gift from the Saint before her departure.”

Maria pouted. “Why would you tell them that!?”

“Of course, that’s what worries you.” Kaelan sighed.

“I don’t understand.” Thomas shook his head. “You’ve no reason to believe me.”

“That may be.” Maria smiled. “But I choose to.”

For a moment, Thomas remained with his mouth agape.

He chuckled. “In that case… I’ll choose to believe that they’ll use the coin properly.”

Maria nodded.

“So, what will it be? You two coming?” Oz asked. “I’d feel bad for Thomas if not. The man pleaded on his knees to let you two come with, saying he’ll owe me.”

Maria glared at Thomas. “More debt?”

“O-One I’ll be sure to pay!”

Oz propped open the back of the carriage. Wooden crates lined the sides, but there was still ample room for passengers. “If you don’t mind the scent of spices, I can get you as far as the mountain pass.”

Maria clapped her hands together. “That’d be a great help!”

“It’ll definitely save us some time.” Kaelan hopped in the back, making the carriage shift slightly. But it held up fine.

Maria soon followed. Thomas stood by watching in silence.

With a flick of the reins, the horse trotted, and the carriage wheels creaked forward. Maria waved goodbye to Thomas from the back of the carriage. He weakly waved back.

“Not so bad, that one, once you get to know him,” Oz said from the front.

Kaelan glanced back. His gaze lingered on Thomas’ growing distance. “That so?”

Before it was too far to tell, Maria noticed something had changed in Thomas’ eyes. They lit up as if a sudden realization had occurred to him.

“What is he—!?” Kaelan leaned against the back, almost tumbling over.

Maria laughed as Thomas went on a full sprint chasing after them, almost falling over his own two feet. As he neared, he tossed his silver staff into the back of the carriage.

Maria extended a hand; this time he didn’t hesitate to grab it.

“If two don’t mind the company…” Thomas spoke between heavy breaths. “There’s some lingering debts in the capital… that I need to take care of.”

Kaelan smirked. “Heh, knock yourself out.”

“...I figured, maybe you could use a pair of wise-eyes,” Thomas gazed at Maria, “to help manage this natural disaster.”

She pointed to herself and blinked. “Disaster?”

“Or maybe a force of nature,” Kaelan said.

Maria tilted her head.

“Hey, keep it steady back there!” Oz called out from the front. “Old Betty isn’t used to so much company.”

The three settled into the rhythmic rumble of the carriage.

“Promise. No more schemes,” Maria said.

Thomas chuckled. “Of course not… Only to help us get a little traveling coin along the way,” he muttered.

Maria glared at him.

“I mean… only to help others in need that we come across!”

Maria’s expression flipped like the page of a book, instantly lighting up with glee.

“I can’t take back what I did, but I’m prepared to try my best to make up for it.” Thomas gazed at the horizon where the sun rose, while turning the golden pendant in his hand. “I want to see where the following Sister Maria will lead…”

Warm rays filtered through, kissing Maria’s skin. “Well, we’re happy to have you then.” She nudged Kaelan.

Kaelan sighed. “I still don’t fully trust him yet…” he muttered.

“I’ll be sure to keep him in line. Just like I do with you.”

“You mean like I do with you!”

The two playfully wrestled each other while Maria laughed. Thomas joined in the laughter, while Oz tried his best to keep Old Betty from toppling over with all the swaying behind him.

Out in the distance, the shadowed silhouette of mountains came more and more into focus. The road toward the holy capital had gotten a little shorter, and just a bit more rowdy.