CHRONICLES OF AEONIA 1: THE DEVIL'S WHITE ROSE

Saint Mrithiel

While others were busy with Rita's birthday party, Rita was at the temple of light. It is far away from Silvan and takes a day to travel. She always comes to visit there every year, 2 days before her birthday to pray and visit her parent's grave. When she was living in the temple, her parents died because of an accident that occurred during their travel. Then she continued to live in the temple and learned to become a paladin, but because of the high purity of holy power, she was selected as a candidate for saintess. But another girl from the candidate was selected as the saintess and she was kicked out of the temple due to her behavior. While she was kicked out of the temple, she was allowed to pray and visit her parent's grave.

Like every year, Rita was visiting her parent's grave.

"Father, mother, I have come to see you. It's going to be my birthday soon. I know you two are watching me. And you know our team got a new member named Elsha..." Rita tells everything that happened. After talking to her parents, Rita says goodbye and slowly walks into the prayer hall of the temple. It was filled with more believers than normal. Rita asked an old lady near her.

"Ma'am, what's today's occasion?"

"Oh my. Don't you know? Today, the saint will present during prayer"

Rita suddenly becomes a little annoyed when she hears about it. she tried to walk out but it was crowded and she couldn't escape. No way to escape, Rita stands there. Time passes and the holy prayer starts. When the prayer starts, the hall glows and bathes in light, which soothes the minds of the believers. As the prayer ends, the saint enters the prayer hall. When he walks through the hallway, all of the believers kneel. Rita also does the same, but while walking the saint notices Rita. He gives a little smile. But Rita looks away from him.

Why does she dislike the saint?

Because he was her childhood friend. She was born in a poor house far away from the temple. She lived happily with her parents. Her father was a woodcutter and her mother was always busy with house chores. But one day some people from the temple visit their house. On that day her father rushed to the house when heard about their visit. Her parents were in a panic, and the visitor discussed something with her parents and they left. They were devastated and didn't speak a word about them with Rita. After some days, they called Rita.

"Daughter, from now onwards we are going to live in the temple. They told us that if we worked for them, they would allow us to live in the temple and provide us with education. So, we are leaving tomorrow" Even though her father said a good thing, he was not joyful. She was only a child so she couldn't understand what was happening.

Then they traveled from their old house and reached the temple after a long journey. The temple accepted them in open hands and provided a good room to stay. Rita was admitted to the temple's academy and provided education. Slowly she becomes comfortable in the new environment and she achieves holy power.

When she is attending the academy, her parents go for exorcism tasks. She always thought 'How did my woodcutter father become an exorcist,'. She even asked him. He replied that the temple giving training to them. While she was in the academy, she met Mrithiel. He was a bright student and was class topper. They were so close. But on the day after her parent's death, he never talked to her. Their gap became wider. She tries to become a paladin and trains for it. But upon selection, her holy power was in higher rank than a paladin, and was selected as a candidate for the saintess. It was a desperate situation because the old saintess had been missing for 19 years, so they were trying to find children with a higher holy power.

But Rita was disqualified. While another girl was selected as saintess. But at the same time, the saint selection was done and Mrithiel was selected as the saint. After that, she left the temple and only came to visit her parents.

After so many years she meets with Mrithiel again. The people with disease and problems crowded around the saint. He helps everyone present there. After that, he gives his prayers. When the prayer ends, the people slowly leave the prayer hall. Rita leaves with the crowd. While she was walking through the veranda, she met Mrithiel who was standing there waiting for her. She realizes that she couldn't escape and gives her greetings.

"May holy light guide you from the darkness, Saint"

"May light lead you too, eh... Rita"

After that, she was about to leave.

"How is your life after leaving the temple?"

"It is going without any problem, milord"

"I can feel the sarcasm in those lines"

"Oh, I will never, Milord"

"You can drop your act of giving respect. I'm waiting here to ask you something, Miss Rita"

"What is it?"

"Oh, that's how you should be"

"I have no time, if you don't have anything to say I'm leaving"

When Rita was about to leave.

"Do you know why a Saintess is always selected from your species when a saint is selected from Archonians?"

Rita flinches and stops. "Why are you asking me that?"

"Oh haha, it is nothing I thought you would know Rita or should I call you Richenza Tamiel, the daughter of the missing Saintess".