The Assassin and The Blind Saint

Arc 1 Chapter 3: The Shepherd Girl

I was just a little girl at the time. Every day, I shepherded goats and attended prayer readings at the Temple. A long time ago, I didn't know who my parents were. The priests said they found me near a stable crying at night.

Although the life in the village where I am located is only monotonous, I am very grateful to be able to enjoy it without any bad people disturbing. I can chat with – other children, see the colorful world and every day pray to Goddess Athena to be grateful to have given me this wonderful life.

Time passed and I reached the age of 8. I have days as usual and my life has not changed. When I was in the Temple, I prayed to the Goddess Athena.

“Oh Goddess, I am so grateful for the life you gave to the servant. For that, I will always be your faithful servant and spread the goodness of your teachings to those who are still lost.”

One day, I want to be a healer helping people and spreading the teachings of the goodness of Goddess Athena to people who are still lost.

However, my happiness was lost a few days later. As I was shepherding sheep, suddenly a flash of light appeared in the sky and shot towards me. I then felt the pain in my eyes and cried out for help. After the priests helped me, they said.

“Magdalena, sorry son. I don't think you'll be able to see the world back.”

Hearing the pastor's words shocked me and froze me unable to respond to his words.

“May the Goddess give you fortitude in this test. And remember this Magdalene, in every disaster, there must be a blessing behind it,” she said trying to make me feel better.

After that, my life started to change. I have to adapt to my condition now. I have trouble doing activities.

My happiness was gone all that day. I can no longer shepherd, do activities with my friends and see the beauty of a colorful world.

“Oh Goddess, why did you give me a test like this?”

I was desperate and depressed. I cry more and daydream more. The thing I realized after a few years of blindness was, the high-ranking priests began to give me more attention and there would always be a paladin who took care of me when I went where – went.

A nurse even helped me in various ways. It feels strange that even a child worse than me has never been treated this way. I always asked the Chief Pastor and he never answered her seriously.

I have lived 10 years blind. I was used to living my present life and never complained to the Goddess Athena. In these 10 years, I can feel my surroundings better than ever before. I am also more sensitive when listening to other people. I could easily read the true emotions of one's words and behavior.

For example, there are many villagers who treat me well. However, I felt an emotion of disgust from their words. They treated me well only when there was a paladin or priest accompanying me.

So do my friends in the Temple, they only look good from the outside. However, I justify their behavior. My face was very unsightly and they were very reluctant to interact with a blind girl like me. Instead, I pray for them to avoid the fate that I have experienced.

One night, I was called by the Chief Priest for an important conversation.

“Magdalena, you will go to the Capital of the Habsburg Empire tomorrow.”

“Why Pastor? I've started to find my happiness back in this village?” my many.

“I'm sorry, but this is the destiny that the Goddess has given you,” replied the Priest.

“Destiny given by Goddess Athena?”

“What sign do you mean?” many confusions.

“A sign given to the candidates of a Saint,” he explained.

Hearing him, I was surprised and could not say what – what. Rumor has it, each Saint had a unique – wound on one part of his body before they were raised to become a Saint.

“You will go to the Main Temple to perform a Ritual with the other candidates to receive the blessing of the Goddess Athena to be a Saint,” said the Chief Priest slowly not to burden me .

“As you know, the Devils have started to corner mankind in this war. The duty of a Saint is to help humanity to fight the Devils and choose Heroes to defeat the Devils,”.

“A-I don't know what I have to do Chief Reverend. I was just a weak blind girl. I don't know if I can run this exam,” I said, bowing languidly.

“Just relax son, we will always be by your side to help you deal with all this,” said the Reverend Chairman trying to calm me down.

“Alright, I will go to the Main Temple,” I said with determination.

The next day, I began to set out with at the guard of about 20 Paladins. I'm still not mentally prepared for this trip. I used to live only in the village and never went to the outside world. There is an anxiety and pleasure that I feel today for the first time traveling to a place I have never been.

But I was so wrong about the fun. During the trip, our group was attacked several times by unknown groups. Every time I asked the reason we were attacked, the captain of the bodyguards just gave an uncertain answer and told me to calm down because they would protect me.

Our numbers began to dwindle and were again attacked when we entered a forest. The bodyguards are all dead and I just accepted the fate that will take me. But the bad guys were killed by someone.

He said he would help me to my destination. His name is Sirius, he tells of his desire to change. In his words, he indicated that he was a bad person. I gave him a few words to make it better.

He's a strange man.

I can always understand the true emotion in everyone's words. However, I could not hear an emotion at all from the words Sirius spoke.

We met with several groups of travelers. They sound like the perfect family. I thought, can I get someone like that? The one who has always been with me in living my life in this world, the one who understands my situation and what I really am.

In front of others, I always acted like a wise and strong person. But I am still a weak girl.

As we rested, I heard Sirius take his weapon. I asked him what he did with it.

“They are killers,” he said in a flat voice.

I was surprised by his words. Although I knew the disgust emotions when talking to me, I didn't think they would go that far. I don't know why Sirius came to that conclusion. But I tried to trust him and persuade him.

“Alright, I'll kill them if they do something.”

I was so happy when I persuaded him. But, bad things happen. I'm so naive. They had been eyeing Sirius' treasure from the beginning. I then lost my consciousness and tears began to pour down my cheeks in disappointment of trusting them and putting Sirius' life at risk.