Warm Hope

Life had to return to normal. That was what fate or the goddess decided for Sophia. She no longer knew which to believe. Rejecting it all didn’t make it cease to exist, for as much as it would have made her life far simpler.

Two days after her arrival in the capital, she had another clinic request. This time to the Borton Church in the eastern part of the city. It was a little uncomfortably familiar being the one that she knew from her childhood.

The clinic was far less built with presentation this time. It was quardened off far in the corner leaving a large field between the church proper. There were a few patients that she saw resting outside in the air. If they were to judge, it might not have looked like much, but it was well cared for.

It looked like the support was ready to collapse entirely as a wooden structure; it was far too large for what seemed safe. It was likely to house as many sick as possible, but Sophia worried they might die from wood splinters rather than disease. The crumbling wood shanty looked even worse on the inside. Only a third of the patients had cots, everyone else sat or laid on the earth. If they were lucky they had a blanket or some torn cloth.

Sophia stared on with Mister Tolen and Noan behind her. ‘We’re not even in the seedy part. How is it this bad?’ She didn’t remember that it looked like this, but she was a child. It made her worried about what other parts of the city looked like. ‘Why is the Church keeping it so poorly maintained? Does Henri know about this?’

“Saint Sophia! What are you doing here?”

A young man almost more dirty than his patients came hurried from the back. She only saw one other member tending to people. There was a brightness in him despite looking like he had run a week cram session on two hours of sleep. “A request was made for me to heal the patients here.”

“Really? Everyone would be very grateful for your time, Saint! I’m Trent and that is Elera.” He motioned behind him to the woman that was changing bandages on an elderly man propped up against the wall. But without delay, he hurried to direct her to the first person.

Healing began in earnest. Mister Jolsi impressed upon her with greater urgency to do specialized healing rather than broad heals that she had been doing. It apparently burned through more mana to make up for the lack of individual understanding of each person’s ailments. She had to spend more time, but mental exhaustion aside, she could feel that it wasn’t as draining.

There was more chatter now that everyone was feeling better. While many of the patients had already left, some stayed awaiting loved ones. Sophia tended to the remaining few that needed careful work.

“You saw it too?”

“What monster could have made fire touch the heavens?”

“It’s scary to think about, I hope the Saint will be able to handle it.”

Listening to the two distracted her from her work. It broke her concentration on the formula. She took in a breath.

Mister Tolen approached and put a hand on her shoulder. “If you want to take a break outside.” The warm concern from him was clear. Henri didn’t even need to give them orders.

She gave the young man the best smile she had for herself these days. “Thanks for your worry. I’ll be fine. I can’t let it interfere with helping everyone.” Sophia began to focus on her formula once more. But it sent her back to the day that she returned to the castle. Mister Jolsi heard from the rumors what she did and peppered her with numerous questions.

It became clear from his phrasing that she used a primitive version of a fire spell. She described to him the formula that she used. It left him impressed at her results, but only confirmed her own doubts. Could she really be the Saint? Despite the viewpoint that Henri presented, she wasn’t sure if she could still be seen as a Saint. She was left with even more questions.

Sophia left the clinic in good time and feeling marginally better. She didn’t want to see healing as some sort of self-service atonement for killing, but the idea didn’t want to leave her. ‘Maybe a book will help. All the sweet words doesn’t seem to be helping me.’

“Sophy? Sophy!” They had only made it a block from the church before she heard a surprisingly familiar voice. Sophia turned to see the mass of wild red hair flying at her as Cathie came into view. She didn’t even have a reaction when she was tackled into the building putting Tolen and Noan immediately on guard. They started pulling on the frantic girl. “Let go of me you creeps!”

Sophia forced herself to recover quickly. “Cathie!” She stood up and put a careful hand on Tolen’s arm. “It’s safe. She’s my friend.” It took a little more convincing for them to release her. Her bouncing energy hadn’t changed. She was pouting and looking frustrated with poor Tolen. “Cathie, how did you find me?”

“I’ve been looking for you after you got arrested!”

“I wasn’t arrested, Cathie.”

“How'd you go from criminal to Saint, Sophy?”

“You’re adding steps, Cathie.” She looked around recalling the Academy was a few blocks away. And then checked on Tolen and Noan. ‘They probably want to get me back to the castle. After the kidnapping, they’ve been even closer. I want to talk to Cathie.’ Sophia held on to her friend’s hand as her mind battled.

Noan stepped forward. “Miss Cathie? Do you know of a place to rest nearby? Saint Sophia was feeling tired from healing.”

Sophia looked in surprise at the older knight. He gave her an encouraging smile and nodded. Cathie jumped up in front of her. “You’ve been doing that whole holy wavy business to people, Sophy? Is it that tiring to do?”

“Somewhat.”

Her friend then tugged on her hand pulling her down the street. “Then let’s get you some sweets! Yummies will make everything go away! That or sleep, both work wonders!”

‘I missed you.’ She didn’t even notice the smile that started to grow as Cathie rushed her to a corner side shop. A couple of simple metal chairs rested out of the business. Though Sophia didn’t have much chance before she had separated and burst into the store. There were breads and pastries that she could see prepared through the window.

Like a red storm, her friend darted from place to place in the shop before returning in what seemed like only a minute. She handed over a chocolate and bread dessert sandwich. It was so soft to her fingers that she had to brace it in both hands. ‘Did she always go here?’ Sophia remembered that she stayed in the Academy most days that she didn’t know where Cathie went.

Cathie took a seat as her watchful knights held a safe distance back, still in reach, but respectfully away. Juggling the crumbling dessert, Sophia didn’t even sit for a moment when it started falling apart. Taking a testing bit, it was rich almost blindly so. She could barely hold it together as it just melted away on her tongue. The fresh out of oven warmth thawed her body as it went down. “Thanks, Cathie.”

“See, sweets work magic! Better than that Saint sparkly show, eh?”

She laughed hearing her friend speak such. In any other company, she’d probably be arrested or lectured for disrespect. But it was calming. “Yes, I certainly can’t make something like this.”

“So what’s wrong, Sophy?”

“Cathie?”

Her friend leaned in a little and smiled warmly. “I know when you’re down, Sophy. You can’t hide it from me. What happened?”

Sophia looked down at her food. “I forgot how observant you are.”

“You’re my friend.”

“You make it so simple.” Silence held her tongue for a couple of minutes as her finger tugged at the breading. But she eventually spilled the details to Cathie. There were the elements of the fire and with Henri that she omitted or were vague about. But she made it clear enough.

And then suddenly after she finished Cathie just hugged her without saying anything. She brought her in close against her chest and held her warmly. It was surprisingly familiar. She hadn’t known it in years. Before she even knew what happened, tears were falling. In quiet company, she stayed with Cathie.

She didn’t know how long it was before they separated, but there was so much that she left behind. “Thanks. I guess I needed that.”

“That’s why I’m your friend. I know best!”

They laughed and Sophia could feel herself smile warmly again. The pain didn’t vanish, but it didn’t feel like a boulder on her back anymore. ‘Maybe I can move again…’ She stood up realizing that she had run out the rest of the free time that she had. She didn’t want to worry Henri after Kalendirn. “I need to return. But I’m really glad I could see you.”

“I’ll come visit you again!”

“They’ll stop you at the gate, Cathie.”

“I’ll tell them your my friend!”

Sophia laughed again. ‘She probably would. I feel bad for the knights. I probably should warn Henri.’ She began to join Tolen and Noan before Cathie bounced out ahead of her.

Her friend threw out her hand holding a stack of bound papers and books. “Your creepy armored friends came by weeks ago, but these were still in the lecture hall.”

“Thank you for holding on to them, Cathie!” She gave her one more hug before finally departing. The research and lecture notes were comforting to have along with her books. They would be welcome things to read.