chapter 04
Noren was smiling gently, but her hands trembled faintly.
What she had just said—words she normally would never have uttered—was a kind of instinct. The most precious things must be hidden in the most miserable ways.
“By the way, what brings someone of such high standing from the temple to a humble place like this?”
“I believe you already know the reason.”
“Well, I really have no idea…”
“Sister.”
“….”
“Weren’t you once part of the temple? Please don’t say you don’t know.”
At the soft voice, Noren slowly placed her teacup on the table.
She tried to pretend otherwise, but her voice inevitably trembled. She had known from the moment she first saw him.
There was only one reason a priest would come all the way out here.
And her premonition proved correct.
Soleon, after taking another sip of tea, delivered his message.
“I’ve come to take her.”
Noren slowly shook her head.
“You heard what I just said. Th-that child doesn’t belong in the temple.”
“Before the gods, one’s origins are irrelevant.”
“No!”
Unable to hold back, Noren sprang to her feet.
“I—I can’t send my child to a place like that! Do you know how I managed to escape from there? And besides, that child is—”
“Sister Noren.”
The cold call cut off her desperate voice. As Noren flinched, Soleon set down his cup.
“How unfortunate. To think someone who was once a priest would say such things.”
“But—!”
“In recent years, the barrier in the abandoned desert has been collapsing at an alarming rate. The monsters are growing stronger. This place is not safe either. This area was attacked not long ago. It was kept secret to prevent panic among the people.”
The man’s face was as cold as frost.
“Anyone with holy power must go to the temple. Without a single exception.”
From beyond the door, something fell with a thud.
“Skyler…?”
Startled, Noren flung open the office door.
But no one was there. As she closed it again in confusion, Skyler—who had been hiding against the wall—collapsed weakly to the floor.
“No.”
<I’m sorry, Director. I’m ashamed to leave so suddenly. I’ve left the support money behind. Please use it to get something delicious for the children.
Please don’t worry about me, and take good care of the younger ones. I’ll contact you again once I’ve settled down.>
Packing didn’t take long. In the dead of night, while everyone slept, Skyler slipped out of her room and placed the letter under the director’s door one last time.
‘I’m sorry, Director. I didn’t mean to leave like this.’
But she couldn’t go to the temple.
Once you entered the temple, you were bound to stay there for at least three years.
Women with holy power had only three paths:
Become a candidate for sainthood at twenty, be assigned according to their abilities, or catch the elders’ attention and become a high-ranking priest.
“No matter what, you can’t leave the temple. That’s not the life I want.”
With a heavy heart, Skyler turned around. As she quietly opened the front door on tiptoe, someone tugged at the hem of her clothes from behind.
“Big sis?”
Startled, Skyler quickly looked around.
“Where are you going?”
“Rozel.”
Thankfully, it was only Rozel, dragging her oversized stuffed doll with one hand.
Relieved, Skyler sighed and gently patted her head as she yawned.
“I’m going to live on my own now.”
“Why?”
“You have to leave the orphanage when you turn seventeen.”
It was true. All children had to leave the orphanage and become independent at seventeen, with a small amount of support money.
Skyler was no exception.
The only difference was that she already had somewhere to go.
“Are you going to the duke’s house?”
“….”
It was as if she had read her mind. After hesitating, Skyler asked,
“How did you know?”
“You always looked for the same name in the newspaper.”
As if it were obvious, Rozel continued,
“Sir Declen Krauss, right?”
“Yeah.”
“How do you know him?”
“Well…”
Skyler hesitated. It was a long story. After thinking for a moment, she answered briefly.
“He’s my savior.”
“Savior?”
“Yeah.”
“He saved your life?”
“That’s right. And not just that.”
“Then what?”
Skyler looked down at the bag she had packed. It was simple—just a few clothes and a pair of shoes.
But the most precious thing inside was her diary.
It was proof that she had lived—an undeniable record no one could deny or destroy, especially since she hadn’t even been registered at birth until she came to the orphanage.
“He saved my heart, too.”
Their meeting had been brief.
But it had left a deep imprint on her. Skyler imagined what he must look like now, all grown up.
“Big sis, can’t you stay? Or take me with you, please?”
Realizing she was leaving, Rozel clung to her, teary-eyed. Skyler gently cupped her chubby cheeks.
“I’m sorry. I can’t.”
Declen Krauss knew about her holy power—and had hidden it for her.
He sent her to an orphanage supported by his family so she could live peacefully.
Now that the temple had discovered her power, there was only one place left for her to hide.
“But I’ll come visit once I settle down. I promise.”
Rozel looked up at Skyler’s gentle but firm expression.
She was always kind and warm. But sometimes, she seemed to gaze at something far away.
And whenever she did, Rozel felt like she might leave for good.
“Really? Promise?”
Wiping away her tears, Rozel held out her pinky.
Skyler hesitated, then knelt down to her level.
“I promise.”
Their pinkies intertwined. Skyler hugged Rozel as she buried her face into her.
Even though Skyler said it wasn’t necessary, Rozel insisted on seeing her off—at least to the front gate.
After unlocking the gate and stepping outside, Skyler turned to her.
“Stay healthy, Rozel. Listen to the director, and get along with the others.”
“I will. I’ll be good.”
“Good. I believe you.”
Skyler gazed at her with wistful eyes. Among all the children, Rozel—about fourteen—had followed her the most. She had been abandoned here at just five or six, and Skyler had practically raised her.
“Get along with Doris too. Don’t fight.”
“But Doris always wants my doll!”
“I’ll buy you another one. A new one.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Seeing her face light up made Skyler smile.
She looked up one last time at the home she had grown attached to.
The ivy creeping down from the red roof, the small garden filled with colorful flowers, the tall pine trees, and the swing tied to one of their branches.
“Then I’m going. Rozel.”
“Okay. Goodbye, big sis.”
With Rozel—like a real younger sister—seeing her off, Skyler turned away.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped onto the dark mountain path.
She forced herself forward, almost running as she left the house behind.
After running for quite a while, when the orphanage was no longer visible, she finally stopped to catch her breath.
Then—
Boom!
A deafening roar shook the ground.
At the same time, the blood in her body turned cold.
Fragments of voices flashed through her mind.
‘The temple is recruiting girls again.’
‘What? Isn’t it too early for that?’
‘The barrier has been collapsing faster in recent years. Monsters are invading more often. My cousin in western Arwin said their whole family packed up and emigrated.’
‘The monsters are growing stronger. This place isn’t safe. This area was attacked recently as well. It was kept secret to prevent panic.’
There was no time to hesitate.
Skyler turned around and ran back the way she came.
By the time she arrived, gasping for breath—
it was already too late.
“Aaaah!”
“H-help us!”
“Director! Teacher!”
A collapsed building, rooms in chaos, horrifying monster cries she had never heard before, and desperate screams.
The worst-case scenario she had feared was unfolding before her eyes.
Flames began to engulf—
the children’s dormitory.
