Chapter 14 (1/2)

The streets are lulled with the quietness of the night despite the bright lights illuminating the cobbled paths. There are only a few people roaming around, guards continuous patrol in the area and most of the folks had gone to hiding with the news of the monsters’ attack. Senia and Carr headed to their inn while walking through the shadows, avoiding people as much as possible.

Senia anxiously looks back and forth in every alley as both knew that if news got out about Carr’s real identity they would be in trouble and Carr wouldn’t be safe. They had been nearing the inn when they heard a sound coming from the main street.

“It’s a monster!”

“The west door has been broken!!”

The guards were screaming and running in one direction. Senia and Carr, who were hiding in the alley’s shadow, stuck their heads slightly out and looked at the main street. Five trolls were struggling with their wounds and regenerating with three or four spears embedded in their bodies.

“Ah….” Senia sighed. Without her divinity, she couldn’t do anything to help and she couldn’t let Carr helped either because of his red eyes. However, the moment a troll attacked a civilian’s house and lifted a man with one hand, Senia ran out reflexively.

“L-Let me go, Sir Carr!”

Carr had grabbed Senia’s hand, stopping her from intervening in the situation. Senia tried to push her way out but of course, her strength was nothing compared to Carr’s. She complained, pleading for Carr to let her go so she could save the man, but Carr never yielding his grip.

The guards were struggling to save the man as the troll continued to gain strength. The captured man was vomiting blood as if he was dying, but then when everyone thought the man’s life going to end, a piercing light fell from the sky and attacked the troll with no sun.

“Ah….!” Senia opened her eyes wide as she recognized that divine invocation. It was a punishment given by the moon to judge the earth.

Once the soft, blue-coloured spear-like light disappeared, the troll died leaving nothing but ashes in its wake.

“I didn’t want to come out and handle this matter because it is annoying… why don’t you use your powers?”

A young woman who was wearing a hood walked into the dark alley and snarled in annoyance to where Senia and Carr were hiding.

“Lu…. Saint…”

A wave of flowing black hair down the shoulders and purple eyes could be seen from the shroud of the hood. A composed and calm face despite looking after a dying person, from her height and aura emitting from her, Carr could easily tell that the woman was much older than Senia although her beauty could compete with Senia.

Lu, the moon saint, the woman who was loved by the moon god Lumar, had her gaze fixed on Carr causing the man to hide more in the shadows and turned his face away. Lu looked at Carr a moment longer before she turned her attention back to Senia.

“I heard you’ve recovered your powers. Isn’t it in perfect condition?”

“…. Yes, it is. I just have to go through special procedures to recover them.”

“I see….”

While they were talking, Senia spotted the rest of the trolls were rampaging in chaos.

“Please, Lady Lu, it won’t be easy for the people here. Please help them!”

Lu folded her arms in her chest calmly and tilted her head slightly as she watched Senia pleads. She was different to what Carr’s thoughts about Saints. In his mind, the image of a saint was someone who was devoted to the people, willing to sacrifice and selfless. Looking at the moon’s saint he couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

‘If you’re a saint, don’t you have to help people without the need for someone begging for you?’

“….Well, I can’t help it. I’m not that heartless as to watch people die.”

“Thank you!”

“Since yesterday was a full moon, my power is at an all-time high. I’ll take care of the mess here so you can go on your way. Just don’t tell the priests and bishops that you met me, I don’t want to be caught.”

“I promise.”

Senia nodded her head and Lu just turned around lightly shrugging her shoulder.

“I’ve never seen you so incompetent,” Lu said quietly as she started to walk away. “Honestly, it’s ugly. I hope you don’t look any more unsightly.”

It was a short sarcastic remark that ended the conversation. Anyone would think of that as mockery however Senia only let out a bitter laugh as she watched Lu walked away leisurely.

“Come on, Sir Carr. It looks like we aren’t caught. If it’s Lady Lu, we can trust her.” Senia reached out to Carr’s hand, gently guiding him back to the inn.

“……It doesn’t look like you’re okay,” Carr muttered quietly as he couldn’t see Senia’s expression.

***

Due to the uproar in the night, the inn was lit up and everyone was gathering in the hall on the first floor. All of them were already prepared to run away but at the same time, they couldn’t overcome the anxiety of being alone and leaving their properties behind.

While Senia was reassuring the people in the hall, Carr had slipped to the stairs and head straight to his room. He could hear the cheer from the people after they learnt that Senia was the sun’s god saint and that all the monsters were nearly eradicated. The pensive atmosphere in the hall drastically changes.

Senia was trying to back away from the crowd as they continued to thank her. It was only after Senia told them that she needed rest to recover her divinity that the crowd let her go.

“I will donate enough money to the temple of the sun god tomorrow! Here’s a toast! Let’s celebrate until the sun rises!”

Senia quietly laughed seeing the festive atmosphere and made her way upstairs. She headed straight for her room however she hesitated in front of it. Strange feelings and thoughts started to wash over her that made her uneasy, especially the sight of Carr covered in blood and wounds.

At the sight of the glowing pair of red eyes, a face splattered with blood and wound marks engraved by heaven, anyone that saw him would know that they were sins, a source of evil…. a pariah of the society. The very fact broke her heart making it difficult for her to breathe. She quickly turned around and headed to Carr’s room.

With a shaky breath, she carefully knocked at his door.

“Sir Carr…. It’s Senia.”

It took a seconds later when the sound of the door unlocking could be heard. Senia went quietly inside after making sure no one was watching and turned her face to look inside the room.

“Kyyaa!!”