CHAPTER 44……………………………………………..
The sound of thunder seemed to have brought dark clouds along with it, and the clear sky darkened as raindrops began to fall.
The rain, falling drop by drop, felt like it could pour down any moment.
Cardin glanced down at Shalen.
Even in a state where she seemed to have lost consciousness from pain, she furrowed her brows and let out shallow, labored breaths.
As raindrops fell on her cheeks, Cardin’s pace quickened.
Worried that the fallen saint might catch a cold in the rain, Cardin held her closer to his chest.
Cradling her as if locking her in his arms, he felt her warmth spread to him. His whole body burned like fire.
To avoid running into the knights of the Nicholas Kingdom, he would have to take the longest route.
He needed to get deep into the forest and lay her down in a cave.
He was anxious that she might get wet on the way.
Today, his steps felt unusually slow. Why did the forest feel so far away?
Cardin’s face twisted with tension.
Hurrying his steps, he silently made a plea to the god he didn’t truly believe in:
“If you won’t let the saint who calls you ‘daughter’ suffer more, help me.”
Even he didn’t know exactly what he was asking for.
He just didn’t want to see her in pain right now.
Cardin didn’t think about why he was caring for her this much.
He walked without rest along a path that seemed endless.
Through his black eyes, the tightly packed trees filled every space.
“Just a little longer… hang on just a little more.”
Almost there.
Every time he stepped on the rain-soaked leaves, water splashed onto his shoes.
The dense greenery and the glimpses of sky through the clouds revealed that darkness was settling in.
Shalen had still not awakened.
Cardin continued deeper into the forest.
Not long after the two entered the cave, the rain intensified.
“It seems the gods truly favor you.”
For a moment, he frowned as if something about that displeased him.
There was still quite some time before he could take her to the barracks.
He would have to wait until the knights were asleep. The grand ducal knights weren’t a problem, but the others, aside from the paladin commander, were.
Cardin leaned Shalen against the wall and removed his jacket to cover her.
He examined the cave. Luckily, there were some dry branches, making it easy to start a small fire.
Once the fire was lit, the cave brightened.
Warm light flickered across Shalen’s face.
A few steps closer, and his shadow engulfed her.
Kneeling on one knee, he swept the floor with his hand.
He wondered if the ground would be cold. As expected, it was cold and rough. It would be better to hold her in his arms than let her lie here.
Cardin lifted her into his arms and sat her against the wall.
Inside the cave, the crackling fire, the rain, and her breathing echoed.
He quietly gazed at the saint who still could not open her eyes.
Had she overexerted herself? Perhaps. But it wasn’t just fatigue—she had coughed up blood.
He had heard that a saint’s holy power was not infinite. Now, she seemed unable to gauge the extent of her own strength.
“Or maybe not.”
If she didn’t know how long her power could last, could she really have exerted such vast strength today? At least, he could not have.
Then perhaps she had known and deliberately pushed herself further.
Memories of when she collapsed brought back the emotions he had felt then.
Why was he worrying about her again?
Was it because she had come to his border? Was he afraid it would be troublesome if news spread that she had fallen?
At the moment he passed the paladin commander, he suddenly thought of the temple master.
He didn’t know what the fallen saint would want. In any case, he thought the best course was to give her time to choose for herself once she woke.
Cardin told himself it was simply repaying the favor of the one who had saved his subordinate.
Not only that, but she had ended the relentless battle with the monster by using her own strength to the point of collapse.
Thinking this way made his actions feel justified.
“Yes, that must be it.”
Feeling somewhat relieved, he gazed at her with his black eyes.
Without thinking, he gently wiped the blood from her lips, not expecting her to move.
Shalen twisted her face and reached for his hand as if seeking warmth.
“Saint.”
He called out, wondering if she had awakened, but there was no response.
Shalen still could not open her eyes and wore a face that seemed even more pained than before.
So he could not pull his hand away. Though, to call it holding her hand was generous.
She was only gripping a single finger.
At that moment, a tear slipped from her closed eye and ran down her face. She cried again.
Her hand tightened.
Was she in a lot of pain? Did she still have a high fever?
How painful must it be to cry without even waking?
Cardin, who habitually frowned, leaned slightly forward. Their foreheads touched.
“The fever seems to have gone down a bit.”
Just as their foreheads were about to separate, her small lips parted slightly.
“…Cardin.”
Cardin’s face showed a mix of shock and confusion.
How was he supposed to respond? Should he say it was a misunderstanding first?
Swallowing hard, she parted her lips again.
“…Cardin.”
“Ah.”
He raised himself slightly, unable to respond directly to the saint calling him.
He couldn’t bear to look at her and turned his head.
“Have you woken?”
Receiving no reply, Cardin raised an eyebrow and glanced at her.
She was still crying with her eyes closed.
“…I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Cardin.”
Only now did he realize she had just said his name.
She had just called him.
Tears continued to wet her face and hair.
Was she dreaming?
Was he in that dream?
It felt strange, knowing the saint was crying for him again.
“…Why are you apologizing?”
What kind of dream made her apologize to him?
Even when he first saw her, she had cried and smiled at him.
His chest ached. Seeing her cry always made him feel like this.
No answer came.
Watching Shalen bite her lip, he moved the hand she was holding.
Her hand followed his.
When Cardin slowly pressed his thumb to her lower lip, her closed lips parted.
She had drawn blood. She had bitten down so hard her delicate lips had torn.
“Why… why are you doing this?”
“…Don’t go, Cardin. Stay with me.”
Why was she crying for him, why did she look so distressed, and what was she apologizing for?
He could not finish his words.
Because she, pleading through tears, called his name again.
His heart raced wildly. Emotions he couldn’t define churned within him.
“Why do you call me as if you’ve known me for a long time, like a beloved from the past?”
They had only met that day. Why did she make him imagine such impossible things?
Why did her crying hurt so much, leaving him unsettled?
Her hand gradually loosened. Seeing the tears cling to her eyes made him strangely concerned. He couldn’t leave her be.
“Have we met before?”
He whispered this as he wiped her tears. It sounded more like a soliloquy.
Her long lashes trembled.
Soon, her hidden blue eyes began to appear.
He felt as if he alone filled the depths of her gaze.
