My blood ran cold. After visiting the rest if the farmers and making the crops into sprouts I basically raced home. I was on Donatello's back, as he ran to the gothic cathedral. Something in the air was thick, like tension as we got closer. My gut was right about earlier, I saw two unknown imperial guards standing at the front of the monestary. I knew it. Something was definitely up I could feel it in the air. The guards in their spotless silver intricate armour and royal blue capes on their shoulders. Ignis was speaking to them, looking a bit annoyed but that was usual. Ignis was very much so a big brother figure, his body language almost shielding the monestary from their gazes. His bright eyes saw me coming and he raised his hand to pull me over. He muttered words to the soldiers I couldn't hear and pointed to me. They turned and almost reached for their swords.
"Cut it out!" Ignis barked, reaching for his own sword. Donatello stopped ten feet before the monestary and hissed as I dismounted him.
"That's a fucking Crito!" One of them barked, his black eyes stoned with fear. Donatello's face looked annoyed, probably frustrated from hearing the same reaction over and over again. I had the same face he had on, not impressed and generally annoyed.
"Its my Familiar." I rolled my eyes and motioned for them to get their hands off their weapons. They were both not older than twenty five, but their bodies spoke with their battle experience. Their movements were smooth and precise. They pulled their hand away from their hilts, suspicion in their eyes.
"Ignis, whats happening?" I raced over to him, Donatello being careful to follow behind me but eyeing the soldiers carefully. Ignis' face softened when he saw me, but pulled me forward by my arm protectively. His touch on my arm was brotherly and caring as he shielded me from their stares.
"They came for a healer to help with the Spring Hunting." My mind raced through the information I had consumed from books here until I found the memory I was looking for. The Spring Hunting was a month long expedition done yearly by both Jurian, Theosian and Cretorian nobles and soldiers. to the west on the border of Theosia, Cretor and Juria was a forest infested with dark magic and monsters called Gehenna. Their numbers needed to be culled around their breeding season of spring. This was done because their numbers used to be out of control and they would attack villages near those borders. A shaky alliance was made between the three bickering countries to deal with the problem.
"Why?" I was confused. The Imperial army had plenty of healers, why would they come to a villiage a four days ride from the forest in question to get a healer? Ignis chewed his bottom lip as if he didn't was to speak.
"Apparently the healers guild has refused to send any members to the expedition unless a amount of ludicrous demands are met." He didn't have to say the rest. I had spread the message of free healing. Even then, Mother Meredith only charged minor things like firewood or loaves of bread. She would probably charge the Imperial Palace, but they would be next to nothing in the eyes of the other healers. People like us were next to impossible go find. The healers guild would usually get what they wanted, but whatever they were asking for was too much that the king was trying to find a replacement. The soldiers on the front lines must have told them about out cheap or non existent rates and was hoping we could suffice. Guilt gnawed at my stomach and my world felt like it was spinning. I wanted to protect people but now I was burdening them. Ignis could easily read the emotions on my face and he gripped me tightly but not enough to hurt you.
"Its not your fault." I just pulled my arm away from him and bolted inside. I had to find Mother Meredith. I had to make things right. I was certain she would be in her office, just past the alter. Sunlight illuminated the chapel as I raced down the isle, the empty pews almost mocking me. The giant statue of Diana with her hands in the air almost seemed apologetic. Just behind her I could see a knight standing there, pacing behind the statue impatiently. He was older than the ones outside, a five o'clock shadow and slicked back black hair as well as sharp severe features. He had a scar on his left cheek, and his armour was a little scratched from wear and tear. He saw me coming running with Donatello hot on my heels and his eyes widened.
"He's my Familiar!" I called out, waving my hands so he didnt take out his sword. He didn't, almost as if he could read Donatello like a book. He just gave a curt nod and moved out of my way of the door.
"I'm assuming you're a healer?" He asked as I reached the door, out of breath. This body wasn't used to physical activity and I was drained from my magic use. My face was flushed and bright, but I managed to nod to him.
"Thank God for that." He grumbled. I didn't ask what he meant, just gestured to Donatello the command for sit. He followed the command and sat, clicking his throat happily. The knight eyed him but I didn't sense a threat to Donatello. They just kind of stared at each other like they were acknowledging the other. I knocked on the door eagerly, my heart pounding. I heard voiced on the other side go silent.
"I'm in a meeting." Mother Meredith called out.
"It's Rhea." The silence continued. My ragged breaths filled the void.
"Come in." Her voice cracked and it almost broke my heart. I turned the doorknob and pushed myself in. In the small room. The window behind the central desk looking out the courtyard. Arm chairs were before her desk she was sitting at, a bookshelf on the right side and a portrait of the Goddess on the left. Mother Meredith was sitting at her desk with Edwin by her side, Altir leaning against the window looking outside. Lisa was beside him, jabbing her fingers into his side in annoyance. There was one other man there, another imperial knight. No, not an imperial knight. His cloak was blood red. His back was to me, but he had shaggy auburn hair. Mother Meredith looked severe, the first time I had ever seen her like that. Altir looked unfazed and Lisa was red in the face.
"Rhea, this is Sir Lupin Gautier." The man turned his head to see me. His eyes were sharp and blood red. His tanned skin was clear, his sharp jawline and full lips apparent. He flashed me a smile, a dangerous one at that as well. His uniform was completely black, gold buttons in his left side. He was one if the Archduke's men. If I went through with what I was planning on doing, I would meet the one man I wanted to avoid. The one man who could break the fragile identity I built here for the past six months brick by brick. I gripped my hands together and they started sweating, but I steeled up my nerves and already made up my mind. No use changing it now.
"Ah, you must be the other healer I've heard so much about." His voice was deep but kind, but I still was tense. My eyes moved over to Meredith, her green eyes slits on the man. She looked angry.
"Yes." It was a one word answer but he grinned at me. Alitr turned his head over to me, scowling and tsked. But there was something in his eyes, like pity.
"I am assuming that Ignis informed you of the situation?" She sighed. She could read my gave easily, they all could. Edwin looked at me with pain in his eyes, as if he was pleading with me. Lisa looked at me as well. Our relationship had improved since I had showed my dedication to the monestary, but she was still usually cold to me. Now her eyes were almost pleading.
"I have." Meredith placed her forehead on her hands as if she was moments away from crumbling.
"You're a little late but I was informed that you were taking on a cultivation task for the town. How noble of you." He grinned devilishly at me as if to mock me.
"I've already decided to--."
"No, I will be going." I cut if Meredith before she could commit to those words. She was riddled with confusion, and was Edwin. Lisa deflated as if relieved and Altir cracked a small smile. It wasn't one of mocking, but almost appreciation.
"You don't have to volunteer. Your priest refused to go without a great compensation but Mother Meredith has offered to do it for nothing." Lupins words aggravated me and I could tell he was doing it on purpose.
"I will do it for nothing."
"Rhea, you're already doing the harvesting." Meredith stood up and put her hands on the desk.
"Altir can take it over in my place." Altir jumped in now, face flushed.
"Like hell I will!" He was gnashing his teeth at me and was seething with anger.
"I'll pay you." It was like a strong wind had blown away all his anger and he went stone face.
"OK." The look in his eyes was of understanding. I had one more piece of jewelry from the Roswell estate I managed to snatched, just a ruby brooch that I was supposed to wear at the tea party before I fled. It was strange. I was expecting him to yell and scream at me like he usually did, but this time he seemed to be holding himself together. It was strange, but I could see his steely eyes flickering over to Mother Meredith, concern lacing the. He may have been a massive douche, but he did care. Mother Meredith was looking bewildered and overwhelmed. Fighting tooth and nail to make sure I wouldn't go. From the tides of those around her, it was a losing battle. Mother Meredith was strong, but even I could see that age was taking its toll on her. I helped her with her arthritis pains when they got bad during the winter. She got migraines from rapid changes in temperature, and was going through hot flashes from menopause. We were both fragile, but I would be able to make the trip and amount of work easier than she would. My mana may have been less than hers, but my vitality outweighed hers. I could recover mine quicker than she could. Her look was helpless and Edwin stayed silent, but he was stiff. Lupin was just nonchalant, smiling mockingly at the opera he saw going on before him. Behind his mask he almost looked knowing, as if he could read my past.
"I don't care who goes. Figure it out." He turned around and pushed past me, hitting his shoulder against mine. I was shoved backwards and took a step back, deeply surprised. I almost snapped at him hit I remained silent. Edwin took a step forward but Meredith held his wrist. I could feel his contempt rolling off him like waves. It was a poisonous aura to breathe in.
"I'll be out front. I want whoever is going to be out in fifteen minutes." The door slammed behind him aggressively. The room was filled with awkward silence as everyone remained in their positions. I heard a shout and a hiss outside.
"Oh dear, Donatello." My words were numb a little out of character. I turned and opened the glossy door to see Lupin with his sword unsheathed in a defensive stance. The other guard looked very unconcerned as did Donatello. It looked like something out of a scene of a comedy, very different from the heavy atmosphere in the office.
"How the fuck did a Crito get in here? Why dont you have your sword out Mason?" Lupin screeched to the other knight who just shrugged.
"That's Donatello, my Familiar you jackass." I barked out, unable to hold back from snapping at his absurd actions. Donatellos tounge flicked out and slapped by his eyeball comically, and I just closed the door as the shouting continued. As smug of a man he isle, he gets flustered very easily. When I turned back the silence was deafening. Edwin had almost a proud sheen in his eyes while Lisa had a small smirk on her face. She was a firecracker, and she always seemed to find amusement in my blunt quips. We stayed like that for a moment, the sun reflecting through the glass and causing our shadows to dance on the ground. My shoulder was a bit sore but I stood tall.
"You don't have to feel obligated to go." Meredith broke the silence.
"I want to go." She pursed her lips. I let my second eyes take over since I was pretty bad reading the atmosphere of the room. Lisa had a pale yellow colour of relief but was dotted with blue despair. Everyone's was dotted with blue actually. Altir was a burden of annoyance, and Edwin had golden pride. Meredith was the only one pure blue of despair. I had grown attached to Meredith like a maternal figure, but we still always kept our distance. In fact, I kept my distance from everyone. I had to be ready to abandon this life at any moment, and I didn't want to harm those I cared about I the process so I had kept them all at arms length. None the less, she was taking this hard. She knew that even with my weaker mana my vitality would outweigh her experience since pushing past a mana limit is harder with being older. Not only that but two of us wouldn't be able to go since various responsibilities had to be carried out with light magic and Altir was unreliable. The only reason I was positive he would do the crops is because he saw profit in it. The only reason I was even going to pay him was because I didn't want Meredith to overexurt herself. I would rather give up jewelry I didn't care about then her get burned out and harmed-- the very thing I was trying to stop. Paperwork and actual duties were too much for him. He was a like a freeloading son who cared about flexing on YouTube in my world. I cringed internally at the thought.
"You're too young."
"The youngest person ever to participate from the guild was fifteen. I'll be eighteen in three months." When I had been reincarnated it was shortly after Mercy had turned seventeen. Her birthday would have been the equivalent of July which they call 'Luminar" because of the light. Right now we were in "Florencia" which was about our April. I had awoken in late August-- Decadia here. Therefore her argument was nullified. Her face was getting pink from frustration and she looked on the verge of tears. Lisa walked over to her gracefully, almost sparkling in the sunlight. She laid her tiny hands on Mother Merdiths shoulders, pushing her hands into them to calm her. She looked at me, grateful almost to me. Meredith looked like she had more to say, like she was one quip away from collapsing completely. Instead she let out a shaky breath and unclenched her hands on her desk. She looked defeated.
"You have to promise to come back." There were tears in her eyes that were threatening to fall. It made my heart feel sore.
"I will." She sighed again, all the fight from her deflated. Edwin was still tense but had stayed uncharacteristically silent. His aura was still proud good dotted with blue. It confused me.
"You're going to need more clothes for the journey." Meredith shakily stood up and Lisa helped her, eyes locked in her concerned. All of the dresses I owned were either rags or the cutsie almost doll clothes she had gifted me.
"I should be fine." She cut me off with a look after that. Her hardened look of no nonsense scared me.
"You're going to be those men's hero. I want them to see you as one." She kneeled dowm behind her desk and I could hear her fiddle with a lock. I was confused by her actions before she finally stood back up, holding a simple brown box. It was quite large, about the size of a thicker briefcase. Lisa's eyes bugged from her head. Altir let out a smirk as Meredith shook Lisa off and floated over to me.
"You should look like a proper Saintess." She held it out to me. Edwin took I a deep breathe as she did so and Lisa held her hand to her mouth. Her aura was brilliant yellow shock. I took it and it was surprisingly light. Her words almost cut me like a sword as I was riddled with guilt. The term Saintess was used for someone of grave importance, and completely selfless. I was living for my own selfish revenge, it was disgraceful to think I could fit that role.
"I'm not a Saintess though. I'm just me." She just reached out and stroked my left cheek with a fierce look in her eyes. She didn't speak, just looked at me for a bit. I felt forever guilty, knowing I would probably not keep her promise of return. Once my identity was compromised, I would never return. I drank in the features if everyone here, believing it to be the final time I could.