This story continues from the perspective of the newbie apprentice saint.
My name is Nina.
I’m a newbie apprentice saint who was only recently assigned to Tower City.
One day, just as I was finally starting to settle into my new life, I came across a food so mystical it felt like a blessing from the Goddess herself.
This happened shortly after that bizarre incident where various preserved foods were stolen from the city’s grocery stores in the dead of night. In the middle of the city square, I bought a jar of mysterious nectar from a girl wearing a deep hood.
I initially spoke to her out of pity because no one was paying her any attention, but my eyes were immediately glued to the nectar in her bucket. To my astonishment, the nectar emitted a radiance I can only describe as divine.
My eyes have always been my best feature. But it’s not just that my vision is sharp; during my training as an apprentice saint, I learned how to visually perceive the aura of Light Magic.
Because of that ability, I could sense a rhythmic pulse of sacred light, as if the nectar were overflowing with magic. It was mystical, something that surely must have been blessed by the Goddess of Light herself.
In a way, it even felt similar to Lady Iris’s aura.
I suddenly remembered the bucket carried by a bird I had seen while traveling to Tower City the other day. Come to think of it, the bucket that girl had seemed identical to the one the bird was carrying. Well, there must be thousands of identical buckets in the world, so I’m sure it was just a coincidence.
Captivated by the glow of the nectar, I ended up listening to the girl’s story. I was deeply moved by what she told me. Apparently, she was working all by herself to support her one-year-old sister, who was unable to walk.
She was only ten years old, yet she was such a dependable big sister. I have five younger siblings back in my home village, so I understood the struggles of an eldest daughter all too well.
Overflowing with sympathy, I decided to buy her entire stock. I bought a jar from a nearby stall and had her transfer the nectar into it. The glowing substance looked and smelled heavenly—it was so sweet and velvety that it felt like something from another world.
"What is this nectar? It’s way too good!"
It was so delicious that I forgot myself and started eating it with my hands. By the time I realized how unseemly I was acting for an apprentice saint, my fingers were already sticky. But I didn't even care; the flavor was so rich and blissful that I felt like I was tasting heaven itself.
Licking that nectar made me feel the presence of the Goddess. Before I knew it, the jar was empty.
The next day, I bought more nectar from the girl. I couldn't wait to enjoy that blissful experience again.
"Lady Nina, what is that you're eating?"
While I was having lunch, one of the church sisters sitting with me asked about the nectar. I suppose it did look a bit strange for me to show up at the dining hall clutching a jar.
"It’s nectar. It’s incredibly sweet and melts on your tongue if you spread it on bread. Would you like to try some?"
"Oh, if you're sure, Lady Nina... I'd love some."
Though they acted a bit shy at first, the three sisters began spreading the nectar on their bread. That was when I realized that I was the only one who could see the nectar glowing with Light Magic.
"N-Nina-sama, what on earth is this?" "It’s absolutely delicious!" "I think I’m going to become addicted to this..."
The sisters were delighted; it had been far too long since any of us had enjoyed something sweet.
Tower City has been plagued by food shortages lately, all because of the Great Cold Wave. The heavy snow has driven up the price of ingredients, and sweets in particular have become a luxury no one can afford. Everyone has been forced to hold back.
Finding such delicious nectar at such a low price felt like a dream. In fact, compared to the current market rates, the price was suspiciously low. I wondered if the nectar-selling girl was really okay with that. Though, since my own wages are meager, I was grateful I could afford it with what little pocket change I had.
On the third day of being a regular customer, I spotted the girl trudging through the square with a look of absolute despair, as if the world were ending. Concerned, I called out to her.
"What's wrong? Why such a long face?"
"T-That is..."
It turned out her one-year-old sister had fallen ill. She needed medicine for her to get better, but she didn't have the money to pay for it.
As an apprentice saint, I couldn't just stand by and watch. I decided to donate the money for the medicine right then and there. The girl looked shocked, but I told her not to be; after all, I am aiming to be a Saint. Besides, it was also a way to pay her back for letting me buy her nectar so cheaply.
Out of curiosity, I asked her where the nectar came from. A nectar imbued with Light Magic was too mysterious not to investigate.
"I-It’s made... in the forest..." she whispered hesitantly.
The forest is a dangerous place filled with monsters. What's more, the clergy here told me that fifty years ago, the Hero of that era was killed in Dryades' Forest by a Forest Spirit.
When I told the girl that, she looked terrified. She finally seemed to realize just how much danger she had been putting herself in. But then I started to worry—if she stopped going to the forest, I wouldn't get any more nectar. That was a distressing thought.
While I was debating how I could keep getting my hands on the nectar, the girl vanished.
"Wait! I wasn't finished telling her about the Forest Spirit..."
The West Forest is a den of monsters and incredibly dangerous, but the East Forest is relatively safe for people. I just hoped she wasn't wandering into the western parts. I decided I'd have to warn her properly the next time we met.
Still thinking about the girl’s story, I climbed the Goddess's Tower to look out over the woods. This tower has been built upon for centuries for religious reasons, and its height offers a perfect view of Dryades' Forest.
From the top, the world below was nothing but a sea of trees. Near the edge of the forest, I spotted a small cluster of light.
I have always had special eyes—not just sharp vision, but the ability to see holy power. I can see things that possess Light Magic. Until now, I thought only Saints could use such magic, but the radiant mass in the forest proved me wrong.
It was a point of light smaller than a human, yet it possessed a sacred, profound radiance. I could feel an extraordinary, bottomless power coming from it, a truly mysterious aura.
I felt like I had seen that aura somewhere before. Then it hit me. The late Saint Iris used to emit an extraordinary aura just like that.
I had no idea what was actually down there, but I assumed that was where the girl was collecting her nectar.
"I really want some more of that nectar..." I muttered to myself.
Just then, I saw something approaching from beyond the trees. Far off in the sky, a massive mass of light appeared. This flying light felt ominous, yet the pulse of its energy felt strangely nostalgic.
It was larger than the small light in the forest. Moreover, the light seemed to be composed of several layers, as if the entity were storing massive amounts of energy within a single body.
As the flying light reached the eastern edge of the forest, I realized its true identity: a bird.
I remembered hearing that a nearby fort had been destroyed by a member of the Demon King’s Army who took the form of a giant bird. Rumor had it that the creature was one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
For some reason, that bird harbored Light Magic. As it drew closer, I could see that it emitted a wicked aura of light, one that felt like it was fueled by a deep-seated grudge. It was an utterly loathsome radiance.
The bird harboring that foul light descended toward the forest—specifically, toward the exact spot where the small cluster of light was. The place where I suspected the girl went to get her nectar.
Two entities harboring Light Magic met in the forest. The two lights remained locked together until one of them finally went out.
After a few moments, one of the lights vanished completely. From my position atop the tower, I couldn't tell which one had disappeared: the light of the forest, or the light of the bird.
And that concludes the story of the newbie apprentice saint in Tower City. We were able to get a brief look at what’s happening in the city—things our protagonist in the forest couldn't possibly know.
If you enjoyed this chapter or want to support Nina's hard work, I would be very happy if you would bookmark the story or leave a ★★★★★ rating. Your support is what keeps me writing!
Next time: The Demon King's Army in the forest and their master.