Chapter 03 | Warm Greeting

“We accept,” Ella said. “Acknowledge you as a living being, you can keep your life, Rain, The Cursed Child. You will follow us to the north, but your life is your own concern. If you become a burden, we will leave and let you die, that’s all,” she then turned and left.

“Thank you, Miss Holy Saint,” he said.

She paused for a moment. “Just call me Ella, Cursed Child,” she said and continued walking.

“Yes,” he said. Are you still calling me the cursed child? not even look at me directly. Nah, this is good enough. I can continue living.

He looked down at his legs, which were swollen and purple. Fortunately, his toes were still able to move. I should search for some plants nearby to help heal my feet. He touched his legs, hoping to pull himself up.

“Rain, right? Can I call you that?” Faye, the wizard talked to him.

“Yes, and miss?”

“Hehehe, look at you, you already know my name. A smart child like you. Okay, okay, let’s do a proper one. My name is Fayleel Carran, but you can call me Faye, just like that. I’m not a fan of formalities. Let’s keep it easy, okay?” she said.

He smiled at her smooth talking and said, “O-kay! If there’s anything I can help with, please call me. I’m good with any labor work.”

She smiled and replied, “With those broken hands and feet, you will help us a lot.”

A wry smile appeared on his face. “Ah, don’t worry. I’m tough. I’ll look around and see if there are any herbs or grass that can help.” He looked around and tried to sit up, but pain struck him, causing him to grunt and blood to seep out.

When she saw him struggling, she hurriedly said, “Easy. If you move like that, you’ll widen your wound. Here you go!” She threw a sachet at him. “There should be some herbs and potions in there.”

He caught it casually with his hand. It was a robe sachet, which he opened to find a bottle of liquid and some bandages. He felt warmth inside, knowing that someone was giving him what he needed.

“Keep it, take care of yourself,” she said.

“Thank you, I mean really… Thank you,” he bowed to her.

“Awww, this will make me look good and shine in your eyes, won’t it? Your heart will bloom like a flower, receiving a gift from a beautiful maiden. But sorry, that sachet isn’t mine. It’s from our Iron Maiden. Don’t tell her I called her that, okay? I want to keep my head on my shoulders. What a slippery tongue I have, telling you this,” she said playfully.

Then he looked around and spotted Aria in the distance, busy packing things around the camp.

We’re running late. She asked me to give you a sachet as she’s been occupied with her scout duty. Thank her later, okay?” She said as she moved to block his view. “We’ll leave in half an hour. Pack your things and be ready. Oh! Did you bring anything from your dorm? Like a lucky stone or a good luck charm? You’re going to need it, just like me. Look, I have lots of jewel rings for good luck.” She showed him her hand, adorned with black gloves and rings on every finger, and then gently touched her beautiful earrings.

He tilted his head slightly, confused. What do you mean by that?

“We’ll talk later. I still have things to do. Take care, Rain.” She said as brushing her hand against her long robe and lifting it slightly. She then turned and left him.

He watched her go, then applied the potion to his. It caused a sharp pain in his veins. Argh! Why does this potion hurt so much? His wound had split apart, blood had oozed out, forming a scab that had quickly healed, but had torn again and again. The cycle of pain had continued. He gritted his teeth and endured the agony, finally covering his hand and foot with bandages. He had let the healing process continue inside.

Meanwhile, time passed for Aria. She finished packing the tent and the rest of their belongings.

Tent? Check. Camp kits? Check. Food and water supply? Check. Everything was done. I’m running a little late, but there’s still sunlight overhead. We still have enough time if we pick up the pace. Let’s look around. Everyone should be ready and waiting for me.

They had all already take off their heavy cloaks, were now wearing the attire of a saint cloth, a white shawl draped over wide shoulders, reaching the elbows with a split in the middle, paired with a white tunic and white pants. This will not restrain our move, easy movement during a fight.

Ella wore a white pintuck skirt. that it wasn’t suitable for such a harsh journey. But it suited her well, giving her an aloof and beautiful princess with a wild and grassy thorn appearance. As always, Eeon appeared clean and neat.

And Red Witch opened too much of her excessive white skin, accompanied by an abundance of dazzling accessories, which made her resemble a fashion doll in the theater. Is it truly necessary for you to wear a ring on each of your long, neat fingers?

Then she looked at Rain. He looked so contrasting, like a creature emerging from a long-forgotten grave. His wet and tangled hair covered his face, and his tattered clothes and numerous old wounds made him look eerie.

Only the spark in his blue eyes proved that there was still life in his bruised body. How could he live in such a condition? At least his arms and legs covered with bandages, white of bandages made him tidy and collecting into piece, feel little safe from dark danger. I hope everything will be okay inside.

She moved closer to him saw He packed things in the sachet. His tiny hands moved swiftly.

Is there so much stuff inside? It was supposed to only have a bandage and a potion. He raised his head and looked at her, so she swiftly said, “Are you ready?”

“Yes, yes, thank you…”

She nodded in response, wanting to turn back and rejoin the group. However, he stopped her with a word.

“Just a moment… This is all I could find for now. Please take it… as a thank you,” he said, softly tossing the sachet back to Aria.

She caught it and noticed that it felt heavier than before. Curious, she opened it, and her eyebrows shot up in confusion. It was filled with a mix of grasses, weeds, strange-looking dirty rocks, and many flowers, some white, blue, and green, randomly thrown together. What are these?

Again, why did he always do things to annoy me? Couldn’t he just act politely like everyone else? Did he actually want to be my enemy? I had even given him a potion to help him heal, So why was he behaving this way?

“What does this mean? Are you trying to—” she said.

“Let me see, let me see!” Red Witch interrupted, walking over to Aria and peering into the sachet.

Her face mirrored Aria’s confusion face when she saw its contents. Then, she glanced at him and said, “Rain, I told you to ‘thank her later,’ but don’t you think this is too absurd?”

“Ah! Is It too little?, please be chill, no intense, no flaring, ok? I will look for more... goods, ok?” He said with apologetic tone.

More? More of these weeds? Ugh, What is going on in your mind? Why do I need more of these plant, things? Why did you have to do this, to me?

“Faye, did you really say that to him?” Aria asked.

Yes, I did say it to him, but with good intentions, no evil. I didn’t expect this to happen either. I’m sorry, Aria, for making you uncomfortable.” Hearing her apology, Aria’s shoulders relaxed. At least he doesn’t intend to cause any trouble for me. Maybe this means something special to him. After all, he has always lived in a shadow box, imprisoned. It’s not surprising that he only knows about such matters. She gazed at him with understanding eyes and said, “Thank you—”

“Rain, I know you want to thank her, but please, this is too much, Are you trying to court her?” Red Witch interrupted with a serious expression.

“What?!” Everyone was shocked, even Eeon, whose face turned stiff.

Rain’s jaw dropped. He tried to speak, but no words came out.

Red Witch continued, “give such a lovely four-leaf clover, not just one, but a bunch of them. Do you wish for her to never encounter bad luck in her entire life? And even Felly flowers included. Such a lovely boy. Think about pure love. Ah, even in the darkest world, there is still a search for a light to shine into the alleys of the night, wishing to bring and turn its life. I can even fly with these gifts....”

As everyone listened to the red witch’s explanation and understood the meaning behind the objects in the sachet, everyone looked grim and stared at him.

He tried to clarify, “No, no, you’re mistaken. It’s just a—”

“How dare you! A lower being like you! In your dreams! No! Not even in your dreams! Know your place, you filthy worm!” Thorn Princess thunderous shouted.

He tried to correct himself again, “But that’s not—”

“Silence! Look at you! Sickly and tattered. Just return to the grave you came from!” Princess angrily interrupted.

“It’s a misunderstanding!” he cried out.

This time, Marble Man spoke, “Accepted, but that doesn’t mean you’re free. Your life is still hanging by a thread. Consider your position carefully.” The temperature dropped tremendously.

Rain’s pale face turned ghastly. His eyes widened, and his body shook uncontrollably, shocked by Eeon’s threatening tone.

“Stop!” Aria exclaimed.

Her face darkened as she listened to the nonsensical conversation. She glanced at his nervous expression, noticing the sweat dripping down his face. She couldn’t bear it any longer. Aria angrily grabbed Faye’s hand. “This sachet is yours!” Then smashed it into her hand. Herbs and rocks inside flew away. She turned and walked away, only to halt halfway. “Once you’re done with this pointless chatter, meet me at the hill. We’re already late because of all this meaningless talk.”

“T-this, it’s not what I meant, Aria,” Faye nervously responded.

Aria’s eyes were shining. “I’ve got scouting, supplying, cooking, and guiding to handle. Just do your job, or am I mistaken? Is your job only talking, Red Witch!” She dashed out and grabbed her belongings before heading north. The last words she heard were his shouted, “It was just some herbs and ores I collected nearby and gave to you!”

Don’t take it to heart, it’s just a rough day. I need to calm myself. She activated her Patience mind. Just keep moving and finish the day.

The other saints followed her, leaving only two people behind. Black and Red.

The wind brushed her hair, creating a soft jingle sound of the amulets in Faye’s hair. “Rain, can I keep the sachet?” she asked, looking at him as if nothing had happened.

“Hahh... Didn’t you know it was all for good deeds? Why would you say that? Are you bullying me?” Rain responded with confusion.

“Not at all. Instead, you should be thanking me. You know, our Iron Maiden had never shown any emotion like that before. That was the longest conversation I have ever heard from her, even if it was harsh. It was something,” she said.

The two individuals looked at each other.

Rain sat down and picked up the herbs and stones that fell from the sachet, then gave them to Faye. “Thank you, so you can keep it. I will find another one for her later. Because of you, I couldn’t give her a flower-shaped one, Hah... That is the easiest to find among the rest,” he said with a tired expression.

Instead, Faye looked at him, smiled widely, and asked, “Are your arms and legs ready?”

“Yes, like new ones.”

“Oh, that potion has remarkably affected.”

“Yep, May I ask where we are headed?”

“Um, we are heading north, looking for a black tower, climbing over it, fighting with monsters, maybe some demon lords, and then saving the world. Oh, and getting a reward,” she explained. “Does that bother you?”

“No, it’s just... that simple?”

“Yes, it’s simply like that... too simple.” She gave him a dark smile, making him shudder.