╔══ 𓆩♡𓆪 ══╗
The following days were a whirlwind of preparations. Despite concerns from some advisors about whether it was too soon for Aurianna to confront the horrors of war, King Girsal was adamant that she needed to witness the harsh realities of conflict firsthand.
On a grim morning beneath a leaden sky, Aurianna accompanied in a carriage by contingent of knights to the frontlines. The air was thick with the acrid smell of smoke and the metallic tang of blood. The landscape where the recent battle took place was large, the earth burnt and broken bodies.
Aurianna's heart pounded as they watched the ongoing battle from afar. The cacophony of clashing steel and anguished cries filled the air. Her father rode beside her, and noticing the cold smile on his lips caused her to shiver and trun away.
As they reached the outskirts of the battlefield, King Girsal signaled for them to stop. "Aurianna, you will not witness the fighting today. Instead, you need to understand the aftermath." He motioned to a nearby officer, who led them to the medical wing set up just behind the frontlines.
The medical tent was a world away from the grandeur of the palace. The air was filled with the groans of the wounded and the mingled scents of antiseptic and blood. Aurianna felt her stomach churn as she stepped inside.
Before her, a row of cots held knights with grievous injuries. One man lay unconscious, his arm missing and his face pallid from blood loss. Another writhed in pain, his leg bandaged but still seeping blood. Everywhere she looked, there were scenes of agony and despair.
A young healer worked over a knight who had lost both legs. The healer's hands glowed faintly with healing magic, but the process was slow and the results were limited. The knight's face was etched with pain and exhaustion. Aurianna's initial reaction was one of disgust, but she quickly masked it with a look of pity.
Her gaze drifted to a corner where several bodies lay covered with white sheets. A wave of nausea surged through her, and she had to take a deep breath to steady herself. This was the true cost of war, a reality far removed from the safety and comfort of the palace.
King Girsal stood beside her, his expression grave. "This is what we fight against, Aurianna. This is why your power is so crucial. These men and women need you to become strong enough to heal them without fail someday."
Tears stung Aurianna's eyes, but she blinked them back, swallowing the lump in her throat.
"I will, Father. I promise I will."
"Good. Now, look around you. Remember their faces. Let their suffering fuel your resolve. You wouldn't want to see more people endure this, would you?"
"No, Father," Aurianna replied with a cold expression before walking off to visit the other tents.
"That child—she doesn't pity them. She looks down on them instead. Her eyes are so cold despite witnessing this as well as me erasing so much of her memories. It's a pity she's a Saintess; she might have made a good pawn," King Girsal murmured to himself.
Aurianna moved through the tent, stopping to speak with the wounded. She offered words of comfort and practiced her magic, doing what she could to ease their pain.
As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the scene before her, Aurianna returned to her father.
"I will become powerful enough to heal them all. I will not let our people down."
"I know you will, Aurianna. You have the heart of a true Saintess," King Girsal said with a smile and patted her on her head.
With those words, Aurianna knew her path was set. She would dedicate herself to mastering her powers, not just for the sake of her kingdom, but for every knight and citizen who suffered because of this war. She would become the beacon of hope they needed, the light in their darkest hours. The thought made her want to grin, but she quickly masked that cold smile with an innocent expression.
𓆪
The early morning light bathed the training courtyard in a golden hue as Aurianna swung her staff, the silvered tip glinting with each precise movement. Sweat dripped down her forehead, stinging her eyes as her body surged with energy. A pink aura enveloped her as she cast magic, conjuring fire that shot forward to strike a nearby stone wall. The impact was minor.
The stone wall was marked by dozens of dents and points of contact from previous attempts, but one area remained noticeably clean, distinguished by a red X. Aurianna huffed in frustration.
"Focus, Aurianna," a voice called out behind her.
The speaker was a man in his late sixties, clad in a long-flowing robe that accentuated his authoritative presence. His face, framed by a graying beard and marked by deep wrinkles, revealed years of wisdom and experience. Leaning on a cane, he exuded a commanding air that demanded respect.
He was one of the Sandeph Kingdom's finest mages and Aurianna's personal magic tutor. Though specializing in offensive spells rather than the healing and support spells of a Priest, his skill was undeniable.
"I'm trying, Master Lutherin," Aurianna replied, her breath heavy from exertion. "I just can't hit it!"
"That's because you're going about it the wrong way," Lutherin insisted, shaking his head. "Instead of forcing the flame forward, try guiding it more gently. Instead of pushing, try ushering it."
"You've told me that time and time again, but I just can't." She formed another ball of flame, attempting to guide it forward slowly, but it fizzled out prematurely. Turning to him, frustration clear in her eyes, she added, "See? Each time I try to send it off gently, it dissipates before I can reach the target."
Lutherin scratched his beard, his expression thoughtful rather than exasperated. His contemplation was not of frustration but of how best to aid the young Saintess in her magical development.
He let out a sigh. "Very well… You can retire for the rest of the day. I will devise a new training method for you by tomorrow."
"All right." Aurianna's shoulders slumped slightly, disappointment evident in her demeanor.
Lutherin's gaze softened as he spoke gently, "Remember, Aurianna, magic is as much about patience as it is about power. You'll get there."
She nodded, managing a weak smile before turning away, the weight of her disappointment evident in each heavy step.
Left alone, Lutherin retreated into his thoughts. 'Unfortunately, it seems the princess is very skilled in magic yet heavily suppressed. She's unaware of the basic things she should know. This must be what the Grand Duke Iona warned me about. It's not my place to interfere with Royal affairs. A pity... she's truly a genius who isn't given the opportunity to grow.' He sighed before shaking his head.
𓆪
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the fortress, Aurianna trudged toward her quarters. Her muscles ached, and her mind buzzed with the day's lessons. She was so lost in thought that she almost didn't notice Wein waiting for her near the gardens.
"Sister," Wein called softly, stepping forward. Her dreadlocks framed her worried face, and her smooth brown skin glowed in the fading light. "Are you okay?"
Aurianna forced a smile. "I'm fine, just tired."
Wein's eyes narrowed with concern. "You're taking on too much. You don't have to do this alone. Please, talk to me."
Aurianna sighed, the facade of strength slipping away. "When people see me, they don't see Aurianna the girl or Aurianna the princess; they see the Saintess. Their savior… At first, I thought I was fine with that… but I'm not so sure anymore."
Her voice wavered. "I don't want to let anyone down, Wein. Can I really live up to their expectations?"
There was a brief pause after her question.
"Do you have to?"
"What?" Aurianna asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"Live up to their expectations. Isn't it enough if you do your best?"
Aurianna cracked a slight smile, but it faded quickly. "It's not that simple."
"Oh…" Wein said, her voice thoughtful. "I can't answer that for you, sister. Whether you live up to their expectations or not is something that will unfold in the future. But right now, all I can say is that I've seen your training. I know you visit the frontlines and do everything you can to help."
Wein paused, a warm smile touching her face. "If that's still not enough, trust that you're stronger than you think. And remember, it's okay to lean on others sometimes."
For some reason, Wein's words, "you're stronger than you think," resonated with Aurianna. Though they might have seemed like a cliché, they struck a deeper chord within her. It sounded vaguely familiar… someone else had told her the same thing before, but who?
She couldn't recall. But regardless, she smiled. "Thank you, sister Wein. You're the best!" She then gave Wein a tight embrace.
Wein, trying to maintain her composure, hugged back and quipped, "Of course I am. I'd better be like your older sister."
"I love you sooo much!" Aurianna continued, hugging her even tighter.
"Yeah, yeah," Wein said, attempting to peel her off with a flustered face. Several maids passing by cast curious glances at the pair, adding to Wein's embarrassment.