TFSAWE - Chapter 237: Final Words (Patreon)

"Commander Latvan?"

Upon hearing the words, Iris perked up her ears, wondering if someone of high rank among the knights had come this far. Moreover, judging from their inquiry about her condition, it seemed that someone had been injured.

Iris took a slow breath, lying face down on the ground, and observed the figures in the distance through the gaps in the foliage. Soon, as the bushes rustled, the forms of several knights became visible.

Even in their blood-soaked and dirt-covered state, it was unmistakably clear.

"The Templar Order!"

The moment Iris recognized them, she held her breath, her eyes rolling while pressed firmly against the ground.

From a very young age, she had heard her parents say, time and time again:

"No matter what happens, never get involved with the people from the temple. Don't even come close to them. You must avoid them and live your life as best as you can."

Her parents' faces had been filled with fear and sadness as they spoke those words, and even at her tender age, Iris could sense it. Because of her parents' warnings, Iris had not only refrained from seeking blessings when encountering temple officials but also lowered her head and walked past them.

"Could our parents be followers of another faith?"

Yet, despite that, her parents diligently prayed to the gods every morning and night.

"Please protect our children."

While listening to her parents' prayers from her bed, Iris couldn't help but find it strange. They had no other children besides her, so why would they refer to "our children"? One day, when she asked about it, her parents' faces stiffened. Then, upon seeing them both in tears, Iris could no longer bring herself to inquire further.

Her parents led Iris deep into the heart of the continent. They travelled to a place devoid of temples or clergy, where they finally set down their burdens and put an end to their wandering existence.

When Iris grew a little older, she thought that she might eventually learn the secret her parents were hiding. But not long after, her father fell victim to a fatal accident, while her mother succumbed to an illness. Iris remembered her mother's last words, as she grasped her hand.

"The Great Temple, your sister."

Those were her mother's final words. It was then that Iris first became aware of the existence of her sister.

"Could my sister be in the Great Temple?"

Even if those who became temple officials severed ties with the secular world, it didn't mean they completely abandoned their families. Sometimes, there were people who proudly boasted about their distant relatives who had become temple officials and claimed that they could receive blessings if they went to visit them. However, Iris's parents vehemently avoided the temple.

"Why? What could be the reason?"

Now that her parents had departed from this world, Iris could no longer discern the answer.

Lost in her thoughts, Iris realized that the knights were drawing closer. They exclaimed upon seeing a nearby stream flowing with clear water.

"I think we should rest here for today."

"But Commander.."

"With our current condition, we have no choice but to tend to our wounds and neutralize the poison. We need to recover our strength for now. We've been crossing the mountains all night, and we haven't had a proper meal for two days. Let's spend a day here to recuperate. First, let's secure a place to stay and then go hunting."

Various voices expressing agreement could be heard.

"What should I do?"

Iris had originally planned to escape as soon as they moved away. But now, she had no means of escape. She thought of Azlan, who remained in the cave. Had he awakened during her absence? Perhaps he would come looking for her?

As she pondered this, Iris closed her eyes. Upon closer inspection, having him come looking for her wouldn't be a favorable outcome. It would be a chance for her to escape from the clutches of the undead and return to human society. But the fact that her pursuers happened to be members of the Templar Order complicated matters.

"What should I do?"

As Iris contemplated her options, the knights swiftly took action. Her eyes followed their movements. Soon, one of the knights behind her gently laid a man, injured and unconscious, in a nearby patch of soft grass.

He was a man of great stature, with sunburnt skin and black hair. His torn clothes revealed thick arms and muscles, unmistakably marking him as a knight at first glance. Iris's eyes widened as she observed him.

"His hands..."

One hand was wrapped in bandages, but it was already soaked in blood. Moreover, from the wrist to the elbow visible above the bandage, it had turned a sickly purple, as if the arm was decaying.

"It's venom."

In this region, it was not uncommon to encounter people who had fallen victim to poison.

"How is he enduring such a state?"

When the extent of the venom exceeded the palm of a hand, most people would succumb and die. Even the largest and healthiest man in the village couldn't last a few hours without taking his last breath. Yet, the man lying there, despite his arm turning sickly purple, still clung to life.

"For now, gently lay the leader down and come help me!"

From the knights' conversation, Iris learned that the man lying down was the leader they were talking about. The knights then moved away from where the man lay, some distance from the stream, and began clearing the surrounding grass and breaking branches to prepare a resting place for themselves.

"Now is my chance."

She remained unseen by the knights' location. After all, the man lying there was unconscious, so he wouldn't even be able to see her.

Thinking this way, Iris attempted to move her body. That's when it happened.

[Cough!]

The man, who had appeared lifeless, suddenly coughed. A burst of dark red blood spewed from his mouth. At that moment, Iris understood. This man's life was hanging by a thread.

"I should go."

With that thought, Iris found herself unable to move her body. If only the other knights could hear his cough and come to assist. But unfortunately, due to the cries of the flock of flying birds and the sounds of the knights clearing the surroundings, it seemed that the knights couldn't hear the man's cough. Yet it was not her place to rush over and tell her comrades that one of them was dying.

As Iris pondered her next move, a whisper escaped the man's mouth as he coughed.

"Lina."

Lina?

Iris recalled the name Aslan had mentioned while preparing food for her. It was definitely Lina, she was sure of it.

Of course, Lina was a common name. Even in the small village where Iris lived, there were two people with that name. However, Iris couldn't help but think that this Lina might be the same person.

After much deliberation, Iris cautiously approached the man. Fortunately, the knights in the distance didn't notice her.

"Let's give it a try, just once."

Since the incident in the village, Iris had never attempted to use her powers. Despite Aslan's threats, every time she tried to use them, she couldn't help but think of her parents' words.

It seemed that this power was not something she could freely control. Moreover, every time Iris used her powers, she felt a sense of unease. It was like wearing clothes that didn't belong to her. That's why she no longer tried to use them.

"If the power doesn't manifest, I'll just run away immediately."

With that thought in mind, Iris placed her hand in the man's hand. She knew that her current situation didn't allow her to take care of another person. However, unlike the village chief's son, she felt an inexplicable desire to help this man.

"Please..."

Iris concentrated her mind, hoping for the man to revive.

At that moment, blue energy quickly gathered at the tip of Iris's fingers. The gathered energy immediately enveloped the body of Latvan, leaving Iris unsurprised.

His pale arms quickly regained their original color. The blood that had been flowing swiftly came to a halt. Just then, it seemed that the knights noticed the anomaly as their voices reached Iris's ears.

"What's going on?"

In response to that voice, Iris quickly released her hand and stood up from her position. Then she ran towards the cave where Aslan was, as if she were going crazy. But no matter how fast she ran, there was no way she could outrun the knights on the mountain path. One of the knights grabbed Iris by the back of her clothes as she was about to climb up the rocks.

"Please save me!"

Iris' voice echoed through the valley, but there was no response.

"What's with that woman?"

"Is she trying to do something to the chief?"

The knights who followed behind her stared menacingly at Iris, who struggled in the grip of their comrade. Those with a quick temper already had their swords drawn.

"P-please..."

Just when the intensity of their hostile energy was so strong that Iris couldn't even properly utter the words "please save me," a knight who had gone to Latvan's side shouted.

"Hold on! The chief's poison has disappeared!"

"What?"

They had believed that he was the one who intended harm to Latvan, but the news that Latvan had recovered shocked the knights. The poison was so potent that it was difficult to suppress it even with their own powers. And yet, it had disappeared. There was only one person with that level of power. The knight who had been holding Iris murmured.

"Could it be a new... Holy Maiden?"

***