Saintess of Sidapa?
I gave her a sweeping look from head to toe and back.
"Sis.." Uriel called.
"Athy, is busy at the moment we-"
"I already know that she is weak at the moment." The saintess interrupted me. "There is something I must speak with her."
I stared at her.
Sidapa's saintess.
"Haaaa.." I let out a sigh. "Fine. Come in."
I opened the door wider and she came in gracefully, like a dancer. Her anklet clinked as she walked in without problems, proving that she could see even with the red lace covering her eyes. I closed the door behind her and ushered her beside Athy's bed.
"Sis.." Uriel muttered when she saw me let the woman in.
"Athy, this lady would like to speak with you." I looked at Athy while pointing at Sachi.
Athy furrowed her brows at me and looked at the lady.
"My lady," The saintess kneeled on the floor. "I am Sachi Sain, Saintess of the god of Death, Sidapa."
Uriel's eyes widened in shock while Athy merely looked at her dryly.
"What do you want?" Athy asked uninterestedly.
"Lord Sidapa showed you, her vessel, to me while I was resting in the temple. You were drenched in sweat and had a pained expression, I knew right away that he wanted me to come to you." The saintess answered.
"He 'showed' you?" Athy frowned.
"Yes, my lady." The saintess affirmed. "All saintesses of the god of Death have the ability of foresight. Lord Sidapa would show us glimpses of the future. He also uses this ability to show us what he wants us to do, like ordering me to come here."
Athy stared at her without any expression.
I thought she was just being quiet. I thought she was scrutinizing the lady. But after a few minutes of staring, she suddenly fell sideways holding her head.
"Athy!" Uriel and I screamed.
Another wave of pain hit Athy and she started screaming
She was actually trying not to show that she was in pain while in front of the saintess!
"Help me bring her to the tub, the water will relieve her from the pain!" I told Athy.
"No!" Sachi shouted still on her knees.
We all froze and looked at the saintess who was kneeling on the floor.
"Why not?" I asked her. "The cold will help her."
"It only numbs her physical body but what she needs is to eliminate the source of pain." She explained.
"How?" I questioned her while Athy held unto my arm tightly while clutching her hair.
"Let me." She raised he head and placed her hand to her chest. "A saintess has the ability to remove the darkness inside anything."
"Are you saying that you want to perform an exorcism on our sister?!" Uriel roared.
"Not exorcism my lady, but mere extraction of darkness." Sachi explained. "The emotion of anger that ate her heart and led her to break her agreement with Sidapa had turned into darkness that is now causing her pain. To stop the darkness from bringing her more pain, the darkness must be eliminated or forced out of her body."
"Do it." I commanded her.
"Sis!" Uriel shouted. "How can we be sure that what she is saying is true? She could be-"
"Stop it sis!" I stopped her from what she was about to say. "She is the saintess of Sidapa."
"She could be a fake!" Uriel screamed while hugging Athy protectively.
"Sis.." I sighed and held her hand. "If she was fake, they would have warned us immediately but they didn't. Can't you also feel the calmness? Are your senses on high alert and telling you that she's dangerous?"
Uriel looked down, her face black. "No."
"Don't you trust my judgement sis?" I held her hand tightly.
Uriel nodded and laid Athy on the bed again.
"Do it." I ordered the saintess.
Sachi Sain mouth twitched yet she got up and sat beside Athy who was now pale again and breathing hastily. She put her hand on Athy's forehead and after a few seconds, black liquid started to ooze out. It looked like black oil but it does not have any scent and it flowed down on the side of her head, soaking the pillows. After some time, Sachi withdrew her hand and smiled.
Athy's color has returned to her face but she was still unconscious. She was now breathing evenly and Uriel let out a sigh of relief.
"Her condition will be better when she wakes up." Sachi said as she looked at Uriel. "Just let her sleep the fatigue off."
Uriel nodded and mumbled a "Thank you."
I handed Sachi a wet towel to wipe the black icky thing on her hand and I also handed Uriel one to wipe Athy.
"My mission here is done, I will go back now." Sachi said after wiping her hand and throwing the towel into the bin.
"You'll be at the ceremony right?" I asked her as I walk her to the door.
"Yes, my lady." She smiled. "I am here for the invitation also."
"I see." I nodded thoughtfully as I held on to the door knob.
"What is it my lady?" She asked.
"Whatever happens at the ceremony, please do not inform anyone about Athy being a vessel." I said without looking at her.
She nodded, a gesture that she acceded to what I said.
I turned my head to face her. "I am not trying to hide your vessel but I do not want her to be pressured by others, neither do I want her to be sought after by weird cults or something."
"I understand my lady." She smiled, her red lips parting slightly showing her pearl white teeth. "I will do as you say. When time comes that you need my help, you can send me a message."
"Thank you saintess Sachi." I smiled at her as I turned the knob of the door.
We were both startled when we saw Sebastiene standing right outside the door with his hand reaching for the knob. Sebastiene was also obviously startled, like he did not really notice us on the other side of the door.
"YOU!" Sachi suddenly pointed at Sebastiene with a furious expression. "What is a demon like you doing here?!"