Bad luck followed us quickly.
Just 5 days after escaping the cage, we managed to run further away from the battlefield. But during that 5 days, Geld got sick.
His hand that broke down the rusty padlock turned black.
No matter how many times I wrapped his injured hand, it doesn't heal. And we've been walking in the mountains for day but there is no village in sight. Trees were distanced further apart, no streaming water in sight, and the forest is deadly silent with the absence of animals.
"Geld!," I quickly ran to him when he collapsed.
Day by day, Geld is starting to have fevers and he couldn't stop sweating. We can't even walk past two trees without him collapsing like this.
"D-Don't worry, I am not going to die just because I punched that padlock aren't I?," Geld smiled, but his expression quickly falters as he pulled away from me and lean against a tree.
"Stay here! I am sure there's a doctor nearby,"
Geld quickly grabbed my hand him. "No...just stay here with me,". His grip around my hand weakened as he gasped for air and holding his neck as if clinging for his dear life.
It's been going on for days.
Freedom. Why is it such a high price to pay?
"Please...Geld," I cried.
I cried at me being this helpless and powerless as I saw my friend writhing in pain.
Please god. Please. I don't mind if I die.
But please save my one and only friend.
I hugged him as tight as I can in hopes of alleviating his pain. "Please save him, I don't mind sacrificing myself for Geld. Please," I muttered as if it's a prayer.
A warm, bright light envelopes around us. Geld who was gasping for air earlier slowly relaxes as he opened his eyes. "W-what happened? Yuriana?,".
His black hand fades away, replacing with a healthy pink skin. Geld felt light and healthy, as if nothing happened. "Yuriana...could it be...you're a saintess?,".
Geld is positive that Yuriana is a saintess. The only person who can heal and possess light element at the same time are saintess that is said to be born every 3500 years. He couldn't believe someone like him, a criminal, is able to witness a saintess miracle.
"I...I am so glad...," I whispered.
He tightened his hug around me. "Thank you Yuriana. Even without knowing you're a saintess, I'll still lo...," Geld paused when he no longer feel warmth.
"Yu...riana...,"
Geld became pale at the sight of Yuriana. Her eyes are half closed and her breathing became shallow. The thought never crossed his mind!
People with weak physical constitution can never use mana. If they do, it can cause death as it strains the body.
"I-I am an idiot! How? How could I possibly forget!!??," Geld exclaimed. He laid me down on the ground.
He panicked, looking around for something to eat. Geld remembered that after all these days that they've been escaping, they've been eating nothing but leaves and drink water from a dirty shallow puddle.
But Geld quickly realized his effort is pointless. He noticed the forest they're at.
Forest of No Return.
It's a sparse forest. There are no animals to hunt, no fruits bear and no rivers flowing.
"Geld...,"
My weak voice made Geld return to his senses. A saintess. Is that who I am? I recalled the stories Geld told me.
"A saintess is a descendant of gods and goddesses. They're able to stop calamity itself with their healing and overwhelming mana. But their powers is only possible because they're itself a wounded soul,"
"A wounded soul? What does that mean?," I asked.
"It's a soul that undergoes many tribulations in life. After all, how could a mortal possibly transcendent to something equal to those of godly beings?,"
I laughed, remembering what Geld said. If that is what it takes to be a saintess, then I refuse. To have me being beaten and tortured in order to actually be worthy of this saintess power, it's stupid.
But now, I am thankful for my powers. I was able to help Geld.
"You know Geld. I always dream of freedom," I hold Geld's hand and gave him my best smile. "You as a bard, me being a dancer. We travel around the world as we spread wonderful stories in a bar,".
"But you're right Geld. If I am really a saintess, then happiness is far out of my reach. For my soul to be always beaten...I...,"
Geld clenched his teeth. "No. You're not a saintess. So let's forget what happened, okay?," he desperately tried to brush away the fact.
Maybe if we forget about the miracle they both witnessed then me dying due to the use of a powerful spell will disappear.
My sight is starting to turn blurry. Is Geld crying? I can't see, but I feel something wet trickling down my cheek. "That won't do Geld. You need to be happy,".
"Don't ever use your healing powers, you fool. I care about you more than you think. Please, promise me,".
Geld gripped my hand tightly. "I lo-...,"
But everything turned dark after that and I couldn't hear him anymore. "I will see you...in the next life," I muttered my last words.
"Carina!,"
I opened my eyes and jolted from the shock. "B-brother?,". Caspian hugged me so tight that I couldn't breathe. "My lady! You're okay," Emmy cried.
Somehow, this feels like back during my first day as Carina.
"My daughter,"
"F-Father too?," I struggled to escape from the hug.
I look around and noticed that I am back at my house. I remembered what I did before I fainted.
For the first time after all these two thousand years, I used a healing spell on someone. And Vance was the person that I desperately wanted to save. Healing someone on the verge of death, especially, takes a huge toll on my body which is why my old friend Geld was worried about.
"His highness? Is he okay?,"
Caspian frowned, "Can you explain to me exactly what happened? That knight from Frigore came rushing in and he said you fainted while you're tutoring the prince,".
I sighed in relief. I am relieved that Demetrius is a smart guy and did not spill the details. But I am really not in the mood to think at the moment.
Nobody in this world, except Geld, knows that I can also heal. Light element is a rare ability, but to possess both healing AND light, that one is enough proof that she is a saintess. It was reckless of me, but I made sure to tell Demetrius and Uld to wait outside so that nobody witnessed my healing abilities. But for sure they're going to question me.