A Saint's Prayer

The awe-inspiring sight of the massive Calamity Dragon Elisheba wasn’t enough to tear Maria’s eyes away from Kaelan. 

He jumped onto the balcony with a thud  

Elisheba dug her razor-sharp claws into the railing. The fine masonry cracked with the sound of grinding stone while her draconic figure loomed over the entire floor, blocking most of the sun and casting a menacing shadow.

Would the balcony even hold? While Malakor staggered deeper into the ceremonial hall, Maria paid no mind to the thought. Instead, she closed distance and collided against Kaelan’s chest. Her arms wrapped tightly around him, and she buried her face into his dark cloak.

Kaelan froze. His hands hovered awkwardly in the air for a moment before letting them settle on his sides. But he didn’t pull away from her embrace.

"The chapel..." Her voice came muffled. "Mother Martha... the children..."

"The chapel burned… but the children are alive," Kaelan affirmed. "All of them. Mother Martha, Leo, the little ones... every single one of them is safe."

Maria tightened her hug, making him groan. But he still spoke.

"Elisheba arrived before I did," Kaelan said with trailing words.

Maria remained still, focused on his warmth, his beating heart.

"She was the one who drove off Vane’s Inquisitors and rescued everyone inside from the fire.” Kaelan tried to tug himself away slightly, but Maria wouldn’t let him. “I…I don’t know if that counts as keeping my promise.”

“Of course it does!” She shouted through a muffle. “You still went… You kept your promise. And so much more.”

“If you think so… then I’ll have to accept that.”

“You better.”

“Maria…”

“What?”

Kaelan chuckled. “I can hardly understand you. Look up.”

She shook her buried head without raising it.

“You sure are crying a lot.”

“I’m not.”

“...I can feel my clothes soaking up your tears.”

“You’re imagining things.”

“Wait… why’s it feel gooey and sticky, too?”

Maria sniffled with a loud and wet sound that made Kaelan tense. Tears wouldn’t stop running, along with her nose.

"H-Hey—get off!" He grabbed her shoulders and tried to pry her backward. But it was no use. Maria buried her face even harder into his chest, refusing to let go.

“I-I’m not crying, I swear!”

"Nuns shouldn't swear on obvious lies!" Kaelan yelled, straining. "You're getting snot all over my cloak!"

Oh, how she missed such squabbles.

Kaelan pried her off eventually. She allowed herself to be, ending the embrace with a quiet “Thank you.” She glanced up with a chuckle and a gentle smile, wiping away her tears.

Above them, Elisheba’s piercing golden eyes were locked onto Malakor, who remained frozen in place within. But before joining her in facing him, Maria looked beyond the balcony. Down in the streets, the Holy Capital fought back against despair. She could see banners rallying near the central avenues.

Celeste, Thomas, townspeople she once helped. Adventurers and soldiers whom her companions convinced or who volunteered. She couldn’t see them with her own eyes from such a distance, but Kaelan’s words painted a vivid picture.

Maria’s smile widened.

They had come because they cared about her. They cared about helping others, even those who’ve never met. It was no longer a burden she had to carry by herself—it was a bond shared among people who stood together.

A heavy scoff echoed from inside. Maria turned, meeting Malakor’s glare.

“They can resist all they want,” he spat. "It won't change the outcome.”

Before Maria could reply, Elisheba’s powerful voice shook the air.

"No matter how many centuries pass, a demon’s heart doesn’t change."

Kaelan’s eyes went wide at the mention. He glanced at Maria, who confirmed with a subtle nod.

A bead of sweat formed on Malakor’s forehead under Elisheba’s heavy gaze.

"I thought the Great Dragons did not concern themselves with human affairs?" he asked, trying to mask his quivering voice.

"Perhaps… But you made a mistake dragging the little Saint into this," Elisheba declared.

Malakor fell back.

The cool breeze through the balcony soon felt like burning steam. Smoke curled from Elisheba’s nostrils while the glow of a raging fire flickered through her teeth, which seemed more like rows of daggers.

"Wait!" Maria called out. She stepped between the dragon and the ceremonial hall ahead, where Malakor fought to stay off the floor.

Maria glanced down at the streets where Aberrations continued pouring through open miasmic portals.

“Burning him to a pile of ash won’t stop this,” she said. “But I can…”

Elisheba let out a low, reverberating growl as she shut her jaw.

“Maybe it's as Malakor says, and Great Dragons don’t intervene in human affairs,” Kaelan said, looking at ‌Elisheba with determined eyes. “But I’d like to believe you’re beyond that. I know you wish to help Maria, but they can really use your help below… Let’s trust in Maria.”

Elisheba glanced at Maria. She simply gave her a smile and a small nod. That was enough to convince the Great Dragon.

“Very well.” Elisheba turned to Kaelan. “Then, you shall protect her in my stead.”

“I will!”

Elisheba unclasped her heavy claws from the Grand Balcony stone and launched herself into the sky. Maria covered her face as the massive wings created a gale that swept across.

From deep within the ceremonial hall, Malakor stepped into the rays of sunlight that broke through once more. In his hand, he held a long, blighted, miasmic sword that hissed against the air.

Kaelan turned to Maria, his hands resting on the hilts of his daggers. "What do you need?"

There was a great divine magic spell Maria knew of. She learned it long ago in a dream. One she couldn’t understand. She had never used such a spell; who was to say it wasn’t just a figment of her imagination? Yet, in this moment, she had an inexplicable feeling that it was real.

Maria looked into Kaelan’s eyes. "I need time."

Their expressions tensed. Behind Malakor, from the shadows where an abysmal portal had formed, stepped out a pack of twisted, howling Aberrations.

“He’s… controlling them?” Maria muttered.

Kaelan clicked his tongue. “I expected another Inquisitor squad still under him. But I guess no sane man would follow such a monster…”

"If I fight them, my mana will be depleted," Maria said, holding a conflicted expression. "I need every last drop for this spell."

Kaelan stepped in front of her and drew his daggers. The polished steel glinted under the high sun. He glanced over his shoulder. “I’ll buy you the time you need.”

Maria trusted him, just as he trusted ‌her.

“Don’t you dare die,” she said, kneeling at the edge of the balcony overlooking the city.

The echoes of battle through the capital rang in the air. Her companions and so many others were out there, fighting against a reality that seemed hopeless.

Maria would show them it wasn’t. A golden glow radiated around her as she began to pray.