The Healer Of Light And The Prince Of Darkness

17. The Curious Guest

It was still dark in the large room, though there was about an hour or so until the sunset. They hadn't much time left.

"Is that all?"

He looked suspiciously almost doubtful at the thing she had just handed him. The other one shrugged.

"I don't know what you expect really. It's just what I told you before," Tasia chuckled. "Or you want more..."

"Nonsense."

It was just surprising. He had expected... More of the thing she had described. Not in quantity as she said but... Was that really it?

"Hey, brother, I will not ever lie to you, you know?" She smiled. "I hope that goes for you too."

Cassian snorted, "Of course. Who do you take me for?"

Tasia grinned widely at his response and observed as he drank the subsistence she gave him.

"It should be enough, I guess. For now I hope our plans go as planned."

"They always do."

Even when they were attacked at Syris four years ago they had been prepared beforehand. Cassian lost his life then but they had already known it was dangerous enough for grown-ups, let alone for ten-year-old children like them.

Tasia let his words sink in her mind, giving her strength, as she lifted the small bottle and drank all that was left.

Noah was up pretty late at the third day. It seemed that the little alcohol he was offered by some noblemen at the ball last night made him oversleep. And not only that, he was even with a bit headache that didn't go away after a lot of medicaments taken.

"Who hadn't had enough sleep?" Tarik joked the second he saw Noah's horrible state.

"You... Don't you dare laugh at me."

It was bad enough he wasn't able to rest at night but now Tarik with his jokes made him remember. He needed no medicaments. In fact, he knew exactly who would be able to help him.

"Where is she?"

"Calling out for her immediately after waking up? It seems you have grown over your prejudices."

Tarik. This guy probably had a death wish.

"You..."

"Good morning, Your Highness."

Noah turned his attention at the man appearing at the best time. He surely was not called the best knight in Syris for nothing.

"Keid, good timing."

"Do you need me for something, prince?"

"Yes. Have you se..."

Sudden abrupt nocks on the front entrance door interrupted Noah and a few maids rushed to open. That brought the memory of the time the prince was arguing with Tasia on bringing up a maid with herself in Hares.

Tasia had never had a single maid or personal attendant in her entire life. It was such a pity considering the fact that she was not only a princess' daughter but a Grand duke's too. Not only that, she was accepted as a royal guest by the Empress in Syris and was under her protection for years.

But still she refused something so trivial for a young lady to have.

"Um... Your Highness, you have a visitor..." The stuttering of one of the maids brought Noah to reality and he looked up to see a middle-aged man, dressed in white armor.

When he saw the prince, he bowed and said, "I am greeting you, prince Noah Aellius de Lekrere of the East. My lady, saintess Liliana Sirmaya, would like to meet you."

'They are fast,' he thought as observing the stranger with dark hair and light clothes.

He seemed to be a part of the paladins and as he had just said he probably was the head too. Tasia had mentioned that she perhaps would like to see him to assess the situation and it was completely right. She had her knight visit him to ask.

News for her work in the activities of the Temple in the festival were around the royal court already and he thought she would wait a bit before meeting him.

'It seems just in time actually,' he rethought.

Nothing less was expected from the woman that tried many times to murder Tasia and Cassian.

'Well then, let's see what has she planned for this meeting.'

"I won't retreat."

"Good. It would be best if you keep your word too, kid."

It was his first time in this place of the capital. People had been talking around that the Temple of the Three Greatest Saints was the actual place where Leya, the goddess of light and the former head of the magicians in Hares, could hear your wishes.

There was a story that all children were bound to hear from birth. It was said that the first saint, Cassia, the so called Creator, was a reincarnation of Leya, a woman made by the goddess herself. After the first saint's appearance, Leya disappeared from Hares and no one ever heard anything about her. Though some believed she still lived hidden among the Haresians with the sole wish to observe her children, the magicians.

That was why he wanted to be a part of the Temple. As a young boy he was said he possessed light mana, though it was too little to be of any help of others. But training made him be able to heal small bruises and wounds.

He wanted to serve the goddess and people form Hares.

But...

"You will not be accepted in the Temple as a healer in training."

"But... But why?"

His family was poor enough when he decided to take a journey to the capital. He used all his left money to be able to arrive at the Temple... To be said he wasn't accepted?

The cold indifferent voice of the magician that had greeted him without any warmth fit for a healer of the famous Temple of the Three Greatest Saints made him shiver unconsciously.

"Please, please! Please, I want to..."

"Don't concern me with your wishes, young boy. Do I look like I care for such things?"

'I...' His legs felt numb and he fell on his knees on the cold ground inside the Temple.

'I am not... accepted?'

Was there such a thing in the first place? His grandfather had always said the Temple was the place where all were welcomed warmly. Without anything in return. Even without healing magic people were given a place to stay and work to do.

But then why wasn't it that with him?

Was he too little? He had just turned eleven. At that age most of the children from his village were taking jobs to help their families.

"Oh, dear, don't just stand there," there was a pause in his speech and then the man decided to add with hesitation, "I guess you are too determined to live here... There is still a way to be accepted in the Temple and study as a healer-to-be."

The boy raised his head in disbelief.

"But you should promise something, kid. And you should not break your promise, you hear me?"

His irritation in his speech and face expression was left behind and now the old man was quite serious. The boy thanked Leya for that opportunity and almost jumped from joy when he realized he was finally taken seriously.

"I won't retreat," he said with full determination.

"Good. It would be best if you keep your word too, kid."

Then he took one of the boy's hands and lifted him up.

"Because this place is darker than it seems. You may regret later for your decision, boy, but it will be too late."