The borders of Estela were still far ahead of them. Lumi walked barefoot on the grass, savoring the feeling of liberation.
She couldn't count how many times she has dreamed of this.
Back when she was at the temple, she resided in a certain room that was deprived even of a window. It was located underground, where priests and priestesses have gone to pierce syringes into her body and give her concoctions with suspicious contents.
Her entire life has been like that for as long as she could remember.
The life as a "catalyst" for divinity.
Lumi stared at the sun. The day was now at the peak of noon, and they were still walking relentlessly in the forest. She has picked several twigs, one, in particular, had a ladybug in it. She admired the patterned black and red dots in a childlike manner, which Siegren took notice of.
The girl wore Siegren's hood, which shawled her from the sunlight. He noticed that she was clothed thinly, and underneath her clothes was a rather frail-looking body. He missed the curves from her chest and her hips, plainly because he doesn't care.
He ran to carry her that night when the knights had caught up to them. She did not complain; instead, she was just silent and observant of her surroundings. That night, they managed to lose the templars when Siegren jumped into a cliff that deviated from the main road.
Lumi dropped the twig to the ground and met his gaze.
Siegren assumed she is a child, considering she was that tiny. Her blond hair fell into her waist, blue eyes the same color as the clear sky at midday with hints of a purple hue. She walked several steps behind him, footsteps as silent as the calm wind.
Without a word, the two sauntered into the forest,
Like strangers whose paths have crossed momentarily.
--
They arrived at a lake that dusk, which was considered a blessing, given that Lumi was already famished. She drank the lake water and washed her face.
Lumi stared at her reflection. Not even a full day had passed, and she was already started to look different- she felt more "human" now.
.
.
.
It was the first day that no syringe had pierced Lumi's body, or a concoction was brewed for her to drink until she spasmed into a seizure.
Sparks of red from the campfire and the leftover fishbones thrown into the flame made her feel a little weary. They were walking a full day, and when they had to run, Siegren would carry her on his shoulder.
Despite the chaotic chase, she felt more alive here than when she was at the temple.
She stared at Siegren, who was sitting against a tree, his back leaning against its trunk.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Ah," Lumi then wrapped the cloak around her even more. "I was just wondering why you were searching for the numen."
.
.
.
Three years ago.
"The numen of the Fallen God is something that was entrusted to Saint Hibton when she had brought peace into the northern realm. She was entrusted this concentrated malevolent power in order to prevent it from spreading across the lands."
Fifteen year old Lumi stared at the old priestess teaching her in the confines of her cell, and then back at the opened book that was laid against the table before her.
The book showed an illustration of the Fallen God, whose appearance was akin to a beast. He was depicted as a monster, in contrast with the God of Light, his counterpart.
The God of Light had a humanoid appearance, with ghostly white hair and a beautiful lean body, magnificent glory, and strength. Although this was only an artistic depiction of the two gods, Lumi still found them fitting. It was obvious that people would see the beautiful one would be good, and the ugly one would be bad. It was just nature taking its course. However, these gods were supposed to be neutrals. They weren't even supposed to be "good" or "bad".
It was obvious that the exaggeration of the hero's beauty was done to picture him as the epitome of good.
Lumi flipped to the next page of the book, then listened to the priestess discussing in front of her.
"The numen of the Fallen God is scattered across the twelve realms. It is your duty to be able to succeed Saint Hibton. And in order to do that, you must know where the numen is, and…"
Lumi snapped from the episodes of her past, back into Siegren.
"I'm sorry. I blanked out a little."
Siegren only stared at her, and then stood up afterwards.
"We have to move."
Lumi blinked.
"What?" But they were already walking nonstop from the day. If they won't rest—
"There is no time to lose." He said, "we have to go to the border. They are on the move."
Lumi stood up and then watched as Siegren poured water over the fire that they have set for the night.
**
The next day, at dawn.
"Traces of fire must mean that they camped here last night," said one of the knights of Estela's Kingdom to one of the templars as he examined the ashes around the charred ground.
The knights and templars have now joined forces to hunt the terrorist who 'kidnapped' the country's priestess. Scattered across the forest of Estela are the knights searching for this certain man—who was deemed to be the reason for the deaths of many promising clerics of the country.
"There is no sign of the priestess' divine power," said one of the clerics. "She's already far ahead of us."
One of the priests then contacted the head priest in one of their communication orbs.
"Have you found her?" The head priest in the communication orb looked weary overnight. The clerics exchanged gazes, before relaying the bad news.
"They are steps ahead of us, Head Priest," said the priest spearheading the group. "They must have left last night. We are behind them."
The head priest looked appalled. "Then what are you all stalling for! Get into the border of Estela as quick as you could!"