***The Holy Palatial Gardens' Courtyard…***
Just as she got back her god-powers, the Elf Saint, Lady Hinwe Tal-Inwir, went back to using her teleportation magic to cross the long distances between the Dupree palace, and the Holy Palatial Gardens. The duration of times she didn't and couldn't teleport, however, took a toll on her body, and she nearly fell because of the sudden vertigo. Fortunately, Ruro was fast enough to run behind and catch her.
"You're okay, milady?"
The Elf Saint—though surprised—nodded, and Natasha helped her regain her balance. Maddie and her head maid, Lily, officially welcome the Elf Saint. The Human Saint then asked her, "Your Holiness, did you make sure no one saw you teleport?"
"Yep, not even the Lady Eris," the Elf Saint reassured them. "I understand that we all wanted to keep this 'training' I'm about to do from Kuro, since he knows I'll stay here until they return victorious."
"Ah, it's all good then," Maddie clapped her hands and smiled. "All my efforts to trick him about my 'fan-girling' bore fruit."
"Haha…" the Lady Hinwe suddenly remembered the 'death threat' letter from her. "I'm amazed you made it way too real, Lady Madelaine. Even I was caught off-guard by how 'authentic' it was. It really looks like a letter from a deranged fan!"
"Eh…'deranged' is a bit too strong, milady," the Human Saint pointed out. "But, well, I do admire you, Your Holiness. Guess I also poured my feelings in that letter, though it was staged. Aren't you glad that a beautiful woman like me is also your ardent admirer? I think people of the same caliber should get along!"
Natasha threw Maddie a long stare. The Human Saint was quick to notice it. "What?" she asked her.
"Nothing. Just that the word 'deranged' fits you," the Demon Saint answered with a smirk.
"Oi…" Maddie tried to counter her, but decided not to continue.
However, Ruro went on the offensive to tease her, "If some like you is my admirer, Maddie, I'm better off alone."
"No one's asking you, boob-dog!"
"Where did that even come from?" the Beastman Saint cried out, playfully slapping Maddie's chest. "As if yours isn't as big as mine!"
"Ah, in any case," Lily finally intervened before the Human and Beastman Saints' banters escalated. "It's only a few more weeks before Kuro trains his invasion army. We should get on with Lady Madelaine's sword practice as well, don't you think?" Of course, her request won't be effective if the Nerfes princess didn't back it up with a threatening aura, enough to cower the saints to get serious.
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The level of danger that Kuro's invasion had was already high, and it was well-known to all people involved in its planning. The presence of the Seductress in Cherwoods couldn't be ignored, and it further complicated matters. Also, the Duke of Maverny's tendency for 'suicidal courage'—like his 'exploits' in Cherflammen—made a mark to everyone. So, to keep him within the boundaries of safety, Maddie and the other saints was training the Lady Hinwe in the art of fighting. They couldn't come with Kuro to the other side of the crossings, since he never wanted to risk the possibility of the Seductress capturing them all at once.
Besides, Kuro expected them to cut-off Cherwoods' crossings should his plan went awry. No one else could do that, save for the saints themselves.
"…"
And it was that same expectation that Maddie, Ruro, and Natasha asked the Lady Hinwe to protect Kuro. She was the Saint of Cherwoods, thus, she could cross into that realm anytime, even when Seirna closed off the borders. They planned to send her once Kuro's invasion fleet was well within Cherwoods, without the possibility of turning back to 'return' her. They all knew it was a 'one-way' trip, unless the Overseer Saint allowed crossing back to Chersea, and the other connected realms.
However…
"Haa…haa…" the Elf Saint was gasping for air, after a few practice swings.
"Would you like to take a break, Your Holiness?" the Lady Henristone, whom Maddie assigned as her sword instructor, checked on the Lady Hinwe. Meanwhile, Lily went off to get some cold water.
"Y-Yes," the Elf Saint said in-between her breaths. "Yes…p-please!"
Not wishing to strain the elf lady for too much, the paladin captain asked the permission of her liege, which Maddie immediately granted. She invited them to take a break on their table, where she, Seirna, Ruro and Natasha, watched them.
"Tired already, Your Holiness?" the Demon Saint teased.
"Get a clue, Natasha," Ruro rebuked her. "The Lady Hinwe's a lazy bum until recent. You think ages of nothing but sleep, eating, and reading, then rinse and repeat won't affect her body? I'm even surprised she doesn't even get fat with that kind of lifestyle…unlike some Human Saint I know."
"You have problems with me getting fat, Ruro?" Maddie countered.
The Beastman Saint only snickered. It was Natasha who reminded her, "Elves don't get fat. I wish I just transmigrated into an elf's body, instead to a demon one."
"A demon's body suits you," Seirna teased the Demon Saint in turn. Then, she added, "I find this training quite weird; I mean, isn't it we're the saints? We're the one who should be protected, not the other way around!"
"Wouldn't hurt to know how to fight, eh?" Natasha quipped.
"Yes, to that, I agree," the Overseer Saint nodded. "But, why do you have to train in the ways of the sword to protect the otherworlder as well?"
The Lady Hinwe answered, "You know the guy…let him do what he wants, and you'll see him charging to his death. I bet everyone of us don't like that to happen to him, right?"
"Y-Yes…I don't want him dead, too. But only because I think that the otherworlder deserves a happy life, okay?"
"And also," Ruro was quick to add, "it's because the Lady Seirna sees my master as a surrogate to the Lord Gaius!"
Awkward silence. The Overseer Saint looked away, as everyone's eyes fell on her. They could see her ears going red.
"Ruro, I think you stepped on some boundaries," Natasha whispered to her.
"I-I did?"
However, the Lady Hinwe—who knew the circumstances between the former god and Seirna—asked, "Really? So, you're a daddy-con now?"
"Daddy—what?"
Ruro, who's been reading everyone's thoughts all the time, explained, "She means you have daddy issues, girl!"
At once, Seirna pulled out her rapier and tried to impale the Elf Saint, who did well to evade her sudden attack.
"What are you doing? Why are you trying to kill me, milady?" the Lady Hinwe blurted out.
"I-I c-can a-a-a-a-always resurrect you, n-no worries!" the Overseer Saint stammered; her face was as red as beet. "B-B-B-But, I-I w-won't tolerate i-i-insults to the Lord Gaius! Please die for me even just this once!"