Chapter 5: Childhood (5)

Chapter 5: Childhood (5)

Some time passed, and I was alone in front of Sien's orphanage.

The crowds that had gathered, apostles of Hea, the god of purity, and even Sien were nowhere to be seen.

Yet, the image of her being led away as the saint lingered in my mind.

I tried swinging my fists to stop them, but what came back was a barrage of punches from several holy knights or so-called paladins.

Seeing me fighting so fiercely, Sien decided to follow them first.

She stopped me, saying that even if I defeated all the knights in front of me, they would keep coming.

Consequently, I have arrived at this point.

Ptui... I spat out the blood that remained in my cracked mouth.

The wounds all over my body were sore and throbbing.

However, none of it was compared to the anguish I felt in my heart about Sien's disappearance.

As if a hole had been pierced in my chest, a heavy, empty pressure continued to torment me.

'What is happening?'

'Was yesterday's pillar of light selected the heroes?'

'Will Sien be able to come back to me?'

With no one saying a word, my anxious imagination grew larger and larger.

.

.

.

.

It wasn't until the afternoon that Sien was finally able to return to the orphanage.

"....S... Sien?"

However, her attire was very different.

She was wearing classy clothes. The pattern of 'Hea', the god of purity, was embedded in a large golden color on her clothes.

It was a sight that instantly evoked the image of a saint, leaving anyone in awe.

And around her, several paladins were escorting her.

I always complimented her when she wore new clothes, but this time, even empty words of praise didn't come out of my mouth.

It was to the point where I wanted to see her in simple clothes rather than those fancy clothes.

Sien walked towards me with an expression that seemed like she was about to cry.

...

...

I naturally stood up from my seat and tried to hold her hand.

-Thunk!

But at that moment, a paladin standing beside her forcefully knocked my hand away and blocked me.

"To the saintess"

-Thwack!

In an instant surge of anger, I swung my fist at the paladin.

And a fight began.

The paladin I hit took a step back and attempted to draw his sword from his waist.

"Please stop it....!"

At that moment, Sien stopped the paladin from pulling out his sword with an urgent voice.

The paladin obediently followed Sien's words with a bewildered expression.

"...Understood."

The paladin who sheathed his sword issued a warning.

"From now on, do not dare place your hands on the saintess' jade body recklessly."

"Who do you think you are? Sien is"

"Don't even address her so casually. The saintess is not the person you knew yesterday. She is now a hero chosen by Hea, the god of purity. And for the sake of all races in this world, the saint must maintain purity in her body."

I couldn't stand the paladin speaking about Sien in such a manner. I knew Sien the best. Just as I belonged to her, Sien belonged to me. There was no room for others to intervene. Even my friends, Max and Flint, couldn't intervene.

It was natural that I wouldn't be threatened just because he knew how to wield a sword.

I felt the strongest anger I had ever experienced, and I approached the paladin once again.

"...Bell!"

But Sien stopped me once more.

My attention shifted to her.

And when I looked at her, in an instant all my anger washed away.

This absurd and nonsense situation was just starting to feel unfair.

"Sien... what is this..."

Its a saintess.

Once again, the paladin intervened.

Sien also seemed to be irritated by his presence, so she raised her voice without displaying any anger.

It's okay if Bell used my name...! Please don't say anything more..."

...

Soon, we made eye contact again and talked.

"Sien... What happened? What did you discuss there?"

...

For some reason, Sien remained silent.

It seemed like she had a lot to say but couldn't express it yet, as if her lips were sealed shut.

I found her actions incredibly frustrating.

I wanted to trust her, but the fact that she was keeping things from me bothered me immensely.

Sien tightly closed her eyes and looked at me with a forced smile.

"...Does it hurt?"

She spoke while looking at my wounds.

I pondered for a long time before answering.

"...It hurts."

Sien suppressed her tears and reached out her hand toward my wounds.

She didn't touch them, and just placed her hand in front of the injuries.

Soon, her hand began to emit a bright light, and my wounds started healing at a rapid pace.

...

...

For some reason, that miracle only brought me great despair.

"...It doesn't make sense, Sien."

...

"...How did this happen?"

...

"Why... why are these changes happening to us?"

I tried to hold her hand as they stopped in front of my face.

However, Sien hurriedly lowered her head and hid her hand.

My hand sliced through the empty air.

And looking at me, she spoke.

"...I don't think I'll be living at the orphanage anymore. I've decided to go to the large church up there... Please visit me there from now on.

"Sien"

"-I'll resolve everything, Bell."

She made a determination in her words.

Her shoulders were shaking, but she said as if she wanted it more than anyone else.

"There must have been a misunderstanding. So... after resolving everything, I'll come back to you."

The paladins rolled their eyes and looked at Sien.

Ignoring their gazes, Sien continued her words.

"So... can you wait for me safely until then?"

There was only one answer I could give to her.

When the lies were so obvious.

I could tell just by seeing her gripping her fingers tightly, that there was something wrong.

It was her habit when she lied.

I pulled Sien's shoulder and pressed my forehead against hers.

To others, it may seem close, but it was a familiar distance for us.

I whispered to her, making sure only she could hear me.

"...Sien... why are you doing this... you said you would come back to me just a few days ago..."

"...Bell... hundreds... thousands... millions of lives are in my hands."

...

"It's too many numbers for me to ignore. Even for the sake of my parents who were doctors... I..."

She was originally a kind-hearted person.

But selfishly, I wished she would choose me.

Above millions of people, I wanted her to prioritize me...

Because that's what I would do.

"If it were you, you would have acted differently from me, right...?"

As if reading my mind in an instant, Sien asked.

"Of course. I-"

"If I were included among those millions of people?"

...

Sien's remark momentarily left me speechless.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

I imagined myself in her situation once again.

If I had received the prophecy. If I had known that being together could mean Sien's death.

Did I ignore that small possibility?

"...Sien... then... then I'll wait until you come back..."

"I won't come back."

"...What?"

Sien wiped her tears away quickly.

"When the job is done, I will become a hero. Why would I have a reason to return to your side?"

...

"I'll wear clean clothes and eat delicious food. There's no reason for me to come back to you."

She was the one who said she would not care even if we were poor.

She was the one who said all she needed was me.

So, these words of hers must be clearly lies, but why was I not convinced?

I knew that her words were not true, but those words were deeply embedded in my heart.

Perhaps it was because I was so poor and insignificant that I couldn't argue back.

Perhaps it was because I was troubled by the fact that I persuaded her to give up her parents' wealth.

Sien released her grip on my hand, which was holding onto her shoulder.

From that moment on, she became cold-hearted, as if firming her resolve.

"...Our close friendship ends here."

...

Since when did she prepare for this parting?

'How long have you been preparing for it, so that you can continue to say such cruel things?'

How much pain was she pouring into these words?

I tried to understand her heart.

"I will live as a saint from now on. I can't even get married anymore."

However, every time Sien personally broke our plans-

I dont have any more plans to travel the world. Let's give up on that dream."

-The dirty personalities I had learned from the slums wriggled.

Sien.

"You can hate me. You can resent me. You don't have to keep our promise. You too...live happily."

"...Are you going to abandon me?"

I knew that my words would only make our parting more difficult.

"Is this...the end?"

...

"You won't let me follow you, and you won't come back...?"

But even like this, I wanted to hold onto her.

I harbored a desperate desire for the torment I inflicted to be excruciating, praying it would compel her to return to me.

"Don't do this, Sien."

Lets leave the memories weve accumulated so far as mere reminiscence.

"...If you leave...I will resent you."

For the first time, I said harsh words to her.

At those words, Sien covered her ears with both hands.

"As time passes, you'll be able to brush off those foolish memories."

She closed her eyes, covered her ears, and just said what she had to say, just like spitting out the words she had memorized.

"How can those become foolish memories?!"

The more she did that, the louder my voice became, piercing through those small hands.

"Is it okay for me to forget you? Is it okay for me to fall in love with someone else?!"

..............

"Answer me, Sien...!"

"Goodbye... Thank you for everything until now."

Soon, she opened her eyes again and gazed at me for a long time,

As if engraving me into her memory.

Then, she turned her body.

I wasn't prepared in the slightest, but she was leaving me.

When she was getting farther away...

Finally, I spit out the hardest and cruelest words.

"...Don't go."

...

"...Please."

The voice came out trembling and for the first time, I begged her.

Please please, please. I beg you. I don't want it to end like this.

I threw away all my pride. That was how much I needed her.

I uttered words that made it impossible for her to leave.

And at those words, Sien stood upright.

And my final words seemed to shake her.

Her fragile shoulders began to tremble.

I couldn't see her face, so I didn't know what expression she had.

She stood like that for a while.

And this time, she turned her back to me and cruelly spoke.

"...We probably won't meet again..."

...

"...And as selfish as this may sound... sniff... I have to say it."

...

"Don't forget me, Bell."

That was how Sien left me.

End of Chapter

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