CHAPTER 2.5: GOOD AMIDST THE BAD

***The Holy Palatial Gardens, a few hours after the incident with the Paladin Corps…***

“How are you feeling now?” was Lily’s greeting the moment she entered Maddie’s private chambers. With her was Eris, and the captain of the Paladin Corps, Lady Sylvia Henristone.

“I’m pretty much fine,” Maddie replied, though her smile was noticeably weak, and she was sitting on her bed. Ruro and Seirna were with her; they took it upon themselves to stay with the Human Saint to observe and guard her from the Seductress’ attempts to control her. When her Paladin Corps captain came into her view, she bowed her head and said, “Ah, Lady Henristone…I…I apologize for what happened earlier. I didn’t intend to belittle or insult your service to me.”

“All is well Your Holiness,” the paladin smiled to reassure her mistress, “I’m aware of your condition. I take no offense; you can even look into my mind to prove it.”

“But you’re still hurt by my words…”

“I-I admit I was. But I know you’re not you, Your Holiness, so please raise your head.”

Lady Henristone then kissed Maddie’s hand, and hugged her. With that, the Human Saint’s chest felt a bit lighter than when she woke up.

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After Maddie and Lady Henristone made up, the Head Maid and Eris began serving them tea and cookies, for it was ‘snack’ hour. After the incident with the property of the Lord Haya, Maddie’s health had become a cause of concern for everyone in her household. Nevertheless, Seirna reassured them that once they dealt with the Seductress, the Human Saint’s condition would be back to normal.

“Lady Rubinforth has been fighting her sanguinary urges,” the Saint of the Flame disclosed. “Though she’s resisting her ‘mother’s’ attempts to influence her, we can’t be certain that the battle has been completely won. If I may put it in your language, she has fought the Seductress into a standstill.”

“Is that the reason Her Holiness is like that?” Eris asked, to which Seirna nodded.

“Well, though it’s difficult, I admire Her Holiness for putting up a fierce fight,” Lady Henristone quipped like a proud mother to her daughter. “Imagine, an ancient evil such as that ‘Seductress’ is being held back by her!”

“Of course,” the Saint of the Flame countered. “Lady Rubinforth has a sliver of the ‘Seductress’ powers. I believe that’s common sense, duchess!”

Lady Henristone glared at her, though Ruro was quick to notice it, and the Beastman Saint gave the humiliated paladin a pat on the back.

“It’s not…” Maddie spoke, heaving a sigh, “…it’s not an easy fight. Honestly, I’d been getting violent urges. It’s as if I wanted to fight and kill. I guess, for everyone to be safe, Lady Seirna and Lady Ruro would’ve to stay with me.”

“But for how long?” Lily raised the question. “You can’t live like that forever!”

“You can always find and elect a new saint,” Maddie joked.

“It’s not that, you dumbass!” the head maid lightly hit her friend’s head. “Don’t say those words, even if it’s just to tease us! You’ve been a force for good in this land, Maddie, and personally…I don’t know what I’d do if you did not help me!”

“That monster is getting on my nerves!” Eris aired her thoughts. “I’d pray to the heavens obliterate her existence, if I can help it. Can’t we do something about her mother?”

“No one knows…even I am out of ideas,” Ruro told them. “But for starters, Lady Seirna here has an idea of what to do.”

Everyone’s eyes fell on the Saint of the Flame.

“I’m just waiting on the instructions of the Lord Gaius,” she revealed. “So keep your expectations of me on the lower levels.”

“You’re in touch with the former god?” Lady Henristone blurted out. “The Lord Gaius is still alive?”

Seirna nodded, “Of course, he is. Well, though the Lord Gaius is now a former deity, we fought against the Seductress before. He’s the one that gave the final blow that killed her, and even before that, he knew about her existence already, having been once his wife, the Lady Arame. In fact, the Lord Gaius is the one who gave me the order to eliminate the Human Saint before, in a vain attempt to stop the Seductress’ return. But we all know what happened, right?”

“…”

“The otherworlder foiled my plans,” she chuckled, throwing them a sarcastic gaze. “Imagine, if that guy didn’t appear, then we’re not here. Such a stupid twist of events…”

Silence enveloped the room as the Saint of the Flame’s revelations sunk into their minds.

However, it was Eris who broke the ice, “Your Holiness Lady Seirna, I believe that while we’re suffering because of our precarious situation, we can still find good in this. Look, you are now talking to us, though we fought in the past.”

“Isn’t this kid way too positive?” Seirna threw the Braunhauer maid an awkward stare.

Nevertheless, Maddie backed Eris’ statement, “Well, I guess I can look at it that way. I’ve always loved the stories of the Saint of the Flame, alongside the legends about Lady Cassandra David. I think it’s a great honor to have Lady Seirna around in the same boat.”

“Ugh…how cringey,” the Saint of the Flame muttered, though she averted her face from everyone. The Human and Beastman Saints exchanged amused looks; their fellow saint’s ears were red.

“Whatever you say, Maddie…” Lily stared at Seirna. “You can expect me to cooperate, but, if your life ends up in even more danger, then I’ll have no qualms in crossing swords with anyone…even with saints.”

“I know you don’t trust me, Princess,” the Saint of the Flame countered. “Still, if you all want to live, then we have to trust and work together. Well, I can set aside my issues with you lot, so I’m giving you the choice to work with me. However, in a normal situation, you will not last even a moment for accusing me—a saint—of something I didn’t do.”