Crack! Crack! The sound of a fire flint being knocked.

One little man with a tattered body sat at the front pile of corpse, unaware of how much time had passed. The rain had stopped, but life had not returned. Damps and the city lay in ruins instead.

Rumble! Rumble! Black could stilled remain cried, mocking and torturing him inside, reminding him that all his efforts were in vain.

Crack! Crack! Rain cracked his fire starter, but the air was too damp for it to ignite. Even the sparks refused to appear. His eyes stared ahead, his mouth moving silently, “sorry… sorry…”

His trembling hand continued to strike the flint.

Nearby, a beautiful woman in a tattered red dress stood watching Rain’s back. Her once gorgeous wavy hair was now wet and disheveled, soggy attached to body and her tip of dress was torn and stained. Her Eyes Dimmed in scarlet.

“Rain...” Faye said.

But Rain continued to strike the flint, as if he hadn’t heard her.

Faye compressed lip, approached closer to him.

Splat, Splat, Thud! She sat with knee, looked at His pale face, no life in his eyes, only tear stains attached on his face.

Crack, crack, slop! Suddenly, the flint slipped from Rain’s hand.

Tok, tok, it jumped and landed near Faye

“Ah... Sorry...” He muttered, reaching out to grab it. Although they were so close, he didn’t seem to notice Faye’s presence.

Faye held her dress tightly and softly said, “Astar...”

Rain stopped and looked at Faye. A fragile smile formed on his lips. “Ah, Faye... I’m so lucky... At least you’re safe.”

“At least...” Faye tightened her grip on her dress, blood seeping through the lace gloves. She glanced at Rain for a moment, then picked up the flint and placed it back into his hand. “Do you want to start a fire?” she asked calmly.

Rain nodded, “Yes...” He gazed at the corpses. “They need fire... to cleanse their black miasma… and I need to bid them farewell, too.”

“Well, let me help, okay?” Faye said.

“...” Rain looked at Faye, then slowly bowed his head to the floor.

She placed her hand on Rain’s shoulder to hold his body. "Don’t bow me like that... We’re... Friend, right?"

Magic stones conjured from her space-storage appeared in Faye’s hand.

Rain touched Faye’s hand and lifted his head, nodded.

Faye took hold of his hand and placed gemstones in his palm, each one shimmering with its own unique hue of red, green, brown, and white. “Can you create a magic circle for me?” she asked. “I envision a circle that combines the power of fire within, and earth forming the outer ring. And at the center, let’s use ash as the catalyst for ignition, this fire will create for funeral frame.”

Rain nodded.

“I’ll take care of the inner path. You handle the outer area and the ignition spot, okay?” Faye quickly picked up some wooden sticks lay nearby and handed them to Rain.

Rain took one. Both stood up.

Slosh! Faye carefully drew a cryptic circle on the floor, forming it into the shape of a triangle. As she moved within the circle, her hand deftly connecting lines and curves, the circle covered the pile of corpses. The eyes of the deceased were hauntingly wide open, their ghastly white eyes fixed on Faye, as if they were scolding and cursing her from beyond the grave, eager to drag her into the depths of hell.

Faye’s eyes glowed crimson as she spoke sternly, “Do not stare at me. It is a mercy that all of you have sent off with the sacred fire.”

Faye moved back to her starting point and connected it to her last point of the magic circle. She turned her head and looked at Rain, who had also finished his circle of magic, but his cryptic line was sloppy and tangled.

Faye sighed, “At least it’s in the correct position.” She waved her hand, signaling to Rain, “Rain, give me the red fire stone. I’ll take care of the latter part.”

Rain’s gaze shifted between her and the magical stones in his hand. After a long pause, he gave one to Faye.

Faye’s eyebrows lifted slightly. The one he gave is brownstone, it was an earth element stone. “Rain… fatigue makes your mind blurred. Get rest or take some water. I will do the rest.”

Rain nodded. “Yes… water… I have to find water.” Then he moved back, looked for a freshwater source. Faye continued setting the magic circle.

Slosh! Faye fixed Rain’s drew. Connected the fire-starter area with the main magic circle then placed all the magic stones.

With her proficiency, she quickly finished all the preparations and now only had to wait for the ignition process. “So, just wait for him.”

Thud! Thud!

Faye turned her head “You, come just in time—” Her Eyes widen in shocked, Rain’s face covered in blood. She rushed towards him and grabbed his shoulder, which was also soaked in blood. “Rain! What have you done?” she exclaimed, shaking his body.

Rain’s body followed her force as he weakly replied, “I... I just washed my face.”

Startled, Faye said, “Talk to me. What are you doing?”

His life on eye turned back a little, “Faye, I just washed my face with fresh water. It from over there.” he pointed to the left. There have one well with a water bucket, but to the horror, it filled with red blood.

Faye slowly turned her head to look at Rain’s face and uttered, “Rain... it’s blood.”

This time, Rain stepped back. “Blood?” he looked at his hands. It’s sticky and stained. “I-I am sorry.” Panicked, he grabbed Faye’s hand and attempted to clean it with the tip of his cloth. “I thought it was clean water,”

Faye looked at him with bewildered eyes, unable to believe what she was witnessing.

No matter how hard Rain tried, the blood on Faye’s glove persisted and even spread further. “I’m so sorry. Are these gloves expensive? I’ll buy you new ones or knit you a pair, okay?”

Faye din’t listened his words at all, her lips slowly depart. “Look at me.”

Rain continued wiped her hand, did not look at her.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“Rain.” Faye said.

“Sorry, Faye, I’m sorry…” Rain said, hand continued.

“Rain, please look at me,” Faye insisted.

“Sorry—” rain said.

“Are you blind, right?” Faye said.

Rain’s hands stopped, his body stopped for a moment, then he slowly lifted his head up, looked at Faye’s eyes. slowly swayed his head. “No…” he refused.

“Do not lie to me. You know I can detect lies.” Faye showed two gemstones up. “Which one is Red?”

Rain stared at both gemstones, hand trembled and murmured, “red, red, red should be brighter—”

“Which one?” Faye said again.

Rain swiftly glance, and point to the left stone that looked brighter in his eyes.

Faye lowered her eyebrows.

“Is it red, right?” Rain said.

“No, Rain, there are no red gems in my hand.” Faye said.

Rain’s body stiffened. “Are you trick… me?” he said.

Faye stared at Rain. “That is not the point anymore. Are you blind with red, green or blue? No, I saw you admire her blue eyes with pleased. but it has no effect with gemstone, something wrong inside you…” Suddenly her eyebrows lifted, like as she thought of something. “Rain, are you in the curse, a colorless space, the gray world?”

Rain looked at her and slowly nodded. “Yes, but do not worry, I’m already used to it.” He moved hands up. “Faye, believe me. It’s not that bad, I can see think clearly when in the night time, that helps me a lot, at first it worst— Cough, cough, cough,” blood out of his mouth. Thud! sat with knee and coughed.

Faye sat and touched his face and wiped blood on his face, her gloved absorbed all the blood on his face. “I Understand. Do not explain it…”

Rain’s face clean, has no blood stain left, but it is pale as a ghost. She continued asked, “does Aria know this?”

Rain said, “I already told her, many times.” Rain showed his faint smile.

Faye looked at His eyes for a second. “I felt sorry for her.”

“Um, it’s my all my fault,” Rain said.

“It’s okay, Rain, you can tell her later… So, we will begin with this first.” Faye took out one gemstone it pure white crystal, but suddenly absorbed all the blood on her gloves and turn into crimson red. “I also have to be sorry to you in advance, that, at this time, I can only show this ugly shade of my.” She lifted that crimson gem beside her eye.

“Rain, can you see the Red?” Faye asked as her eyes turned crimson.

Rain eyes widen but it turned in normal in a second, fair smiled on his face. “Yes… thank you, Faye.”

“Um, I like your thank you,” Faye said.

Not long, Red dot sparked, fire pillar rose at center of the town. Burned everything into white, the carcass turned into ash and flew into gray cloudy. small of light Ray cut through thick layered sky.

—§—

Grouped of people walked up to the cart, not much people left in this Hope Chest. Thousand turned into ten in just one dark night. Golden hair saint stood nearby the cart. Blue hair saint sat on the rock nearby.

“Are saintess not go with us?” Town men asked.

“We can’t. You all have to go by yourself.” Ella said.

“But, but—” Town men said, but interrupted by another woman nearby that she looked more religion believer. She wore a long tunic dress and tie her long hair.

“Don’t bother the saintess too much,” the woman in the tunic said. “Our lives are saved, which is truly a blessing. She can’t ride on our cart and has a duty to walk and preach the saint’s way. We can’t disturb her or pull her down.”

Men headed down, face darken. Woman tried to console him but it did not help at all. They only do it without choice.

When everyone was in the cart. Ella walked to the charioteer, give his a letter. “You all will be saved, go along the road to the south. This letter has my insignia. It will make you pass to the capital or central holy land, you all can stay and live there.”

Charioteer nodded, “Thank you saintess.” but mood of all people was still the same, lost and disbelief that all their acquaintances are all lost.

Only woman with tunic looked at Ella. She touched her own heart, “May the holy bless you, saintess.”

Ella touched her own heart. “Light will shine upon you all.”

Trot, trot, trot horse started walking along the road, dragged cart moving out. Ella looked at them, until all of shadow left to horizon, her hands shaken, then she slowly bowed her head, “I’m so sorry to you all.”

Ella turned and walked back to the blue river saint. Her dress was all wet, hair soggy with her body, only her holy book was still intact, completely dry.

“Are you alright?” Aria asked, her face still pale, but better that ghostly face when she was under the codex’s will. Now she can move hands and legs, but it stilled saw her shaken clearly.

Ella adjusted Aria’s shawl. “Are that should be my words, lady Astaria?”

Aria have faint smiled.

Ella looked at Aria a moment, then sighed. “I will accept that smiled as positive, okay? Let’s me check your health condition.” Two fingers touched Aria’s neck, “Heart rate is stable, water rate is stable, mana receive percentage little negative.” She lifted her finger up and moved left and right at Aria front, “Reflective and consciousness look good. Your sense returned. Everything will be better soon.”

Aria said, “Thank you.”

“It’s ok, this is also my aspect and my role to do.” Ella said.

Aria grabbed Ella’s Hand, her hand shaken, and she swayed her head, “Not that Ella, Thank you for saving me… if you not stop me… everything will go worse… far worst, maybe I’m the one that would slaughtering all—”

Ella’s hand clasped Aria's hand. “Aria, it’s safe now. Nothing like that will happen… I will not let it happen again. Stay with me, okay?”

“Um…” Aria nodded. hands soften.

“That it, stay strong, we can fix it together.” Ella said.

Thud… Thud… Sound of steps coming. Red witch and cursed child walked out from shadow. Two saints looked at them.

Thud, thud, they walked closer. The Red witch had crimson eyes, they burned like hellfire. The air around her waved, while on the opposite side, the Curse child looked pale like the last withering leaf of the tree. His black hair was crusted with blood and wounds, covering his entire face. He was ready to die in every second, if not supported by the wooden pole in his hand, he would have fallen instantly.

Aria’s eyes widen, “R-rain, w-what happen?” Aria swiftly stood up, but her weaken legs not responded to her willing.

Thud! fell with knees, but her hand stilled reaching out and dragged herself up, “R-rain, Rain.”

Ella swiftly sat nearby and supported Aria’s body. “Is that Racoon?”

Faye looked at them with burned eyes, waved her hand.

Wink! Wink! two luxury blades out of her storage space. She grabbed swords and immediately hurled them away.

Clang! Clang! Clang! slosh! Swords fell on the floor and slid along the road. Stopped at both fronts.

Ella’s blood boiled, furrowed her eyebrows, “Faye, What are you doing!”

Aria, not bothered with her sword, gathered all her life essence, stood up with wobbling legs and walked to him. “Rain, what happen? Why you become like this?”

Rain’s eye fazed, like as he looked something from afar not answered Aria, his legs shaken.

Slosh! Wooden rod supporting him slid, his leg moved in miss step, knees fell, body lay on the floor.

“Rain!” Swiftly walked with her weaken legs, sat close to him. Aria grabbed his arm, it cold like fish in late market. She swiftly shook his arm. “Rain, what happens? Talk to me.” No way to find an answered from this unfortunate child, his eyes dazed in the sky. So Aria looked for another hope. She looked at Red witch and asked “Faye, What happened?”

“Cure him,” Faye said with a stern voice.

“Why he be like this, cut and bruise, wounds are everywhere, where are these came form? I did not cut him there, he looked far better when he left, his blood are ooze out and it not coagulation at all, his body temperature starting drop—” Aria babbled.

“Iron maiden, cure him… before you regret it.” Faye said.

Aria's mouth stopped. “Y-yes, I have to cure him first.” Aria reached tremble hands out, gathered mana, water ball started gathering, and it rolled over Rain’s wound, wounds started healing.

Drip, drip, blood leaked out of her eyes, but she stilled to use her healing spell.

“Aria, Stop! you mana started bane out, it will cause your life.” Ella grabbed Aria’s hand, water balls scattered. “Let’s me do the heal instead.”

Grab! Faye grabbed Ella’s hand. Flash of Enormous Monster picture emerged in her mind. Ella get shocked, her spine turned cold, it rushed to every tip of her pore, Ella rushed shaken her hands out, looked at Faye with trembled.

“Do not dare… heal him, holy child of the sacred tower.” Faye’s crimson eyes shorn. “Your foolish burns him inside. Are you not have eyes? He currently counts steps to dead because of your holy power. Your holy stigma ate him alive.”

Ella was taken aback, looked at Rain, “I… didn’t do… it.” She gazed at his wound a moment, Hand covered her own mouth, “Mine?”

“How foolish of you two, the two greatest saints of continent but cannot protect anyone, not even save a single child, If your continent treat him with this rate and value him as low as this, I will take him with me.” Faye said with cold voice.

Aria's forehead furrowed. Instinctively hugged Rain closer, “No! Never! I will not let him go! Do not blame us, you are the one that leave first. Do not speak as easy as that, you know nothing!”

Faye eyes turned cold, “It’s You, that know nothing. He saves you, you, and all of your people-life. He is far better suit to be the Whisperer than all of you. How was your sacred tower design? It’s weak and fragile like this?”

Ella cannot stand anymore, “Don’t act as higher god, Witch! are because you are great sage of the north, that doesn’t mean you can reckless and speak lower to us like this, your continent are also doom and need our help too.”

Faye turned head to Ella and said, “Have you noticed that your mouth are same shape as that puppet?” Faye summoned her gemstones and continued said words by word. “Open, The, Book.”

Ella’s face turned grim. air become harden. Temperature rose.

Soft and fatigued voiced out of men on Aria’s arm, “Faye, please… Don’t be that sad… I will remember the red fast… okay?”

Faye looked at him, then detached her gemstone back. Everything turned back to normal. “Um.” She sat on a nearby rock and she started combing her hair with her fingers.

“Rain, are you alright?” Aria said, hand trembled and touched his face.

“Thank you.” Rain said.