The Fake Saintess and the Elf Warrior

"Wow! You startled me... I'm sorry, Sister Naka, I was the one who called you here, but I left you here talking to my dad for a very long time, so I was wondering if you were just bored and decided to leave..."

"I was just thinking about something."

"Really... Sister Naka, I..."

"Don't speak yet."

Seeing Tatsia's serious expression, Naka roughly knew what she was about to say. But before that, Naka stood up and placed her hand on Tatsia's lips.

"Um?"

"You should go wash your face first."

Although Naka used healing magic to treat Tatsia's head wound, she couldn't remove the blood that had flowed down her face. Tatsia's face was covered in large patches of red blood, as if she had been submerged in a dye vat, and it also smelled strongly of blood. Only after hearing Naka's explanation did Tatsia realize her own lapse in decorum.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, please excuse my poor appearance... There's a river nearby, I usually bathe there, please follow me."

"Um"

Inviting someone to wash their face together is an odd thing to do. But Naka didn't ask any questions. She quietly followed behind her.

After descending a few earthen slopes, a small, crystal-clear river came into view not far away. The river wasn't very wide; it was about three steps to the other side, and the water was barely knee-deep. Naka realized that the nun's habit she had given to Tatya yesterday, which she hadn't found in the cave, was hanging on a tree by the river.

"You still keep this? I already told you I gave it to you. If you need fabric, just cut this up."

"No... I've heard that this special nun's habit holds immense significance for the saintess, and I think Naka would be quite troubled without it. So I washed it and left it here to dry. It's probably dry by now."

As she spoke, Tatia reached out and touched her nun's habit.

"Hmm, that's about right."

The sun was shining brightly here, and the dampness almost completely receded after just one day. To avoid being scratched by the branches, she carefully took the nun's robe from the tree, folded it neatly, and then respectfully handed it to Naka.

"Returned to you"

Not only Jasmine, but even the hero Takia treasured this item. Naka felt as if she was the only one who couldn't fully appreciate the value of the nun's habit.

Since it was something given away, Naka never intended to take it back, so she had already told Jasmine that the nun's habit was torn. Now, if Tatiya returned it, it would only put Naka in a difficult position. But Tatiya was waiting for her to accept it with a sincere expression, and refusing would also be awkward. Naka had no choice but to reluctantly accept the nun's habit.

Apart from a noticeable tear in the right hem where she had torn off a piece of fabric yesterday, the nun's habit was free of any other damage or stains. Its impeccable cleanliness clearly demonstrated that Tatsia had meticulously cleaned the garment yesterday.

"Naka? Aren't you going to put it on?" Naka's silent expression while holding the clothes made Tatsia very curious.

"No, let's put it on later. Because you can't go swimming while wearing this."

"Go into the water?"

"come over"

Nakara placed her nun's habit on the ground, took Tatya's hand, and led her to the riverbank. She then took off her boots, rolled up her trousers, and waded into the river.

"Didn't you say you wanted to wash your face? Then hurry up and do it."

"Okay, sure..."

Although she didn't understand what Naka wanted, Tatya still untied her headband, lowered her head, scooped up river water, and splashed it on her face. At this moment, Naka began to stroke Tatya's hair.

"Sister Naka?"

"Don't move. Let me check your hair for any shards of glass."

If someone gets hit on the head by a beer bottle and is bleeding profusely, it's normal to have shards of glass remaining in the wound or hair. Tatya couldn't see the top of her head, so Naka helped her.

"It's very dangerous if we don't remove them all. It could very well cause further damage."

"Sister Naka, what about your hand..."

"It's alright."

Tatsia was worried that the shards of glass might cut Naka's hands. But Naka didn't seem to care at all. "Naka-neechan is so kind..." Tatsia murmured, deeply moved, her head bowed, feeling Naka's fingers caressing her hair. An indescribable warmth welled up within her.

To my surprise, there were indeed many tiny shards of glass in Tatsia's hair that hadn't been cleaned out. Some were even still stuck in her wound. Naka gently pinched them out one by one with her fingers and tossed them into the river at her feet.

After brushing her hair aside, Naka finally saw the horrifying wounds on her forehead. The wounds were deep and long; someone so weak couldn't have sustained such injuries without exerting all their strength. Naka found it hard to imagine a father could be so cruel to his own daughter.

"He even calls himself a proud elven warrior, yet he uses that power for domestic violence. I told him, even though he's your father, you can't spoil him like this; it will only make his violence worse."

"No, Dad is right... I really am a useless daughter who only causes trouble. I haven't earned much money, and I've even exposed my identity. It's only natural that Dad is angry... Besides, Dad has been sickly for years. If he had the energy and strength to beat me up... I might be very happy..."

As she spoke, Tatsia's voice choked with emotion.

Tatya undoubtedly sacrificed a great deal for her father, even suppressing her own nature and individuality. But Naka didn't feel that her father reciprocated with equal respect and gratitude.

"You're an obedient and good girl, enduring hardship for him. But he might not see it that way. Otherwise, he wouldn't treat you this way. Although it's not my place to say this, I reckon you'll soon be free from these miserable days."

"Sister Naka, you mean...?"

"I think your father probably won't live much longer."

"No! No way! I will definitely cure my father's illness! I will work hard to earn money to buy him medicine..."

"Are all the medications you bought appropriate for your condition?"

"The pharmacist said they can all treat lung diseases..."

"If you could cure an illness simply by looking at your symptoms and buying medicine at a pharmacy, then there would be no need for doctors and hospitals."

"..."

Just as Naka had predicted. They didn't want humans to know they were elves, so they wouldn't go to human hospitals for treatment. If they didn't go to hospitals, they were just desperately trying any treatment they could find. And every medicine has its side effects; Tatsia's father's deteriorating condition might be due to both his underlying illness and the side effects of the medication. But for Tatsia, the fact that her efforts had actually harmed her father was too cruel. Naka, concealing this fact, continued...

"Even if you cure his illness, it will only make him stronger to hit you. He almost killed you just now. You bought medicine to save him, only to end up being killed yourself. Is it worth it? I can't be by your side every second, and I can't guarantee I can save you next time."

"No, no! Dad wasn't always like this. He was so good to me and to Mom. It's just... it's just that what happened three years ago changed him..."

The moment the keyword "three years ago" appeared, Naka's whole body trembled. Her movements stopped. This tremor naturally reached Tatya as well.

"Sister Naka? What's wrong?"

"No...it's nothing...Alright, this is the last big piece."

Naka resumed her actions, pinching off a piece of glass and throwing it into the water.

"There might still be some small shards of glass left. Have you washed your face?"

"Finished washing"

While she was speaking, Tatia didn't stop; she kept splashing water on her face. Now, the dark red bloodstains on her face were gone, and she was clean.

"Okay. Lower your head a little more, I'll wash your hair."

"Um..."

Besides the large fragments, there were also pieces that couldn't be removed by hand. Naka then began to gently stroke Tatsia's hair and scratch her scalp with the flowing water. This was the first time someone other than her parents had washed her hair, and Naka's small fingers felt very comfortable. Tatsia blushed and leaned against the riverbank. Her pointed ears twitched slightly.

After washing her hair, Tatsia and Naka sat by the river. Tatsia began to tell Naka about herself, her father, and her people.

"When I was little, my dad took me to many interesting places, and even when I threw a tantrum, he patiently coaxed me. As I grew up, his work became increasingly busy. But whenever he could spare some time, he would help me with my studies, play with me, and tell me many interesting stories about his work... My dad said that he worked hard so that we could live happier lives, and the time he spent with me and my mom was his happiest time... But everything changed three years ago when the Demon King's army conquered our city."

Tatia's memory returned to three years ago, to that night she would never forget...

Tatia of the Day of Extinction

See you tomorrow, Tatia!

"Well, goodbye, Bransa."

That year, Tatia was only eleven years old. Tatia waved goodbye to her friends after leaving elementary school in the Elf Kingdom.

Her friends all went home with their parents, but Tatsia stood there all alone. Her mother had disappeared last year for some unknown reason. There were no unusual signs before her disappearance, nor did she leave any letters. Why she left, where she went, and when she would return—Tatsia had no idea.

"Does Mommy not want me anymore?" Tatia cried incessantly for days. Her father held her tightly, saying that this was impossible.

Tatsia's father was a renowned warrior among the elves. He rarely had the chance to return home and reunite with his family. After her mother disappeared, her father spent his precious free time searching for her. Tatsia watched her classmates embrace their parents with a mixture of loneliness and envy, and quietly left.

Back in my empty house, I prepared my own dinner, ate it by myself, and then washed the dishes by myself.

Normally, her mother would gently remind her to do her homework. If she had any questions, her mother would patiently guide her. When her father came home, to reconnect with him after so long, she would ask him to help her with her studies. But since her mother disappeared, Tatsia had to sit alone every day in the dim light of a candle, writing furiously by herself. As she wrote, tears fell, wetting her homework paper.

"No, I can't cry," she said, wiping away her tears with her sleeve. "I must become a strong warrior like my father, to help him find my mother. When he gets old, I will take over his duty to protect our country. So, I must be strong, and I absolutely cannot cry."

While encouraging myself, I continued to answer the questions assigned by the teacher.

Perhaps it was due to the irregular sleep patterns caused by living independently for a long time without parental supervision. Before she had finished her homework, Taqia gradually felt her eyelids grow heavy and she became increasingly sleepy.

"No... there are still three questions left. If I want to sleep, I'll have to wait until I finish them..."

Even so, Tatsia's hands no longer obeyed her commands, and the answers she wrote were not what she truly thought, but rather scribbles. Finally, she collapsed onto the table and fell asleep. Tatsia still vividly remembers the dream she had that night. In that dream, she was reunited with her parents as she wished. She could finally act like any other child her age, freely acting spoiled with them. Her parents watched her act spoiled, smiling gently while tenderly scolding her. The three of them enjoyed the bliss of family life. Now, recalling it, Tatsia wishes she would never wake up from that dream.

"Takia! Takia!"

This beautiful dream was ultimately shattered by urgent cries and violent shaking. When Tatsia opened her eyes again, she saw her father standing beside her, covered in sweat.

"dad!"

Her father, who should still be defending the city against the Demon King's army, suddenly returned home for no apparent reason. Tatya hugged him happily, but he immediately pushed her away. Only then did Tatya realize that her father's armor and her own clothes were stained with blood. She screamed in terror.

"No noise allowed!"

Her father's stern voice startled Tatsia, causing her to immediately shut her mouth. Seeing his daughter's frightened expression, he knelt down and stroked her head to comfort her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so harsh with you. But there's not much time left... Listen carefully, Tatsia. Our country... has already been conquered by the Demon King's army."

"Wh...what?"

"Those devils in the Demon King's army used some despicable means to bypass our defenses and storm the palace. The King, the Queen, the Princess... all the members of the royal family have been killed by them."

"No, impossible! His Majesty the King... and the Princess, they are all..."

Tatsia had once dined with royalty because of her father's promotion and recognition. The King and Queen were courteous and kind. They held Tatsia's hand and told her to be proud of her father and of her elven heritage. Tatsia also had the privilege of playing with the princess. The princess wasn't spoiled or pampered; even though Tatsia was just a warrior's child, they got along very well and had much in common. They made a promise that if Tatsia ever had the chance to visit the palace again, they would play together again, as they had become friends.

The promise hadn't been fulfilled, and the beloved royal family perished. Tatiana couldn't believe it, and didn't want to believe it. She was completely stunned.

But soon, screams and cries of the neighbors filled the air outside, along with the roars of creatures she had never heard before. The sounds of clashing swords and tearing flesh followed. Only then did Tatsia realize that it was all real. But even understanding was too sudden, too beyond common sense, too unbearable. The eleven-year-old girl's mind was now blank; she couldn't think of anything.

"Knock knock knock"

Soon, the sound of banging on the door came from Tatsia's own house. The monsters were already upon them.

Tatiana threw herself into her father's arms and wept. Her father held her tightly, then pulled a vial of medicine from his pocket. He bit off the cap with his teeth and helped Tatiana sit up in his arms.

"Takia, drink this."

"This is...?"

"Never mind! Just drink it!"

But Tatsia was now completely panicked and didn't know what to do. Even when the bottle was placed to her lips, she didn't react. In desperation, her father simply pinched Tatsia's cheeks and forced the medicine down her throat.

"Ugh! Cough cough! Cough cough..."

"Don't spit it out!"

Despite saying that, the strange taste of the medicine made Tatsia feel nauseous. Her stomach churned, and she coughed incessantly. Her father covered Tatsia's mouth and drank the remaining small portion himself.

Soon, their bodies gradually became transparent. Tatiana could no longer see her father, and her father could no longer see Tatiana. But the father held his child tightly, refusing to let go. He knew perfectly well that Tatiana was still in his arms.

With a loud "crack," the door was smashed open by an axe. A group of menacing demon soldiers stormed into Tatsia's home, wantonly smashing everything in their sight in the cozy little house filled with Tatsia's childhood memories.

"Where are the spirits of this house?! His Majesty the Demon King has decreed that any spirit found in this house must be killed without exception!"

The lead demon soldier roared and kicked over the desk where Tatsia was doing her homework. The candle ignited the homework paper, and instantly a huge fire broke out. The flames first scorched the curtains, then spread to the bookshelf, the bed, and finally, the entire room became a fireball.

"......!"

Shh! Don't make a sound!

Watching their home instantly reduced to ashes, Tatsia couldn't even scream. Her father covered his mouth tightly. Because of the potion, the demon soldiers hadn't seen them. While they were searching for the elves inside, Tatsia's father carried her out the front door.

Tadiya had no idea what happened after she stepped outside. Her father forbade her to open her eyes and made her cover her ears. But no matter how hard she tried to suppress her sharp ears, the sounds around her easily broke through her defenses. Tadiya could only describe everything she experienced that night as "killing" and "destruction." The little street where she lived had become "hell."

Her father had been running for an unknown amount of time. Tatia only remembered that when her father said, "It's alright," they had arrived in an unfamiliar place. It was a forest, and she and her father were sitting in a hollow of a towering tree.

The transparency effect had disappeared by then. Looking at his father again, his combat boots were worn through, and blood was seeping from his feet.

"Dad! Are you alright?"

"It's alright... More importantly, we're only temporarily safe... This isn't the Elf Kingdom, so those monsters shouldn't be able to catch up. But if, by some chance, they do..."

The father patted Tatsia's shoulder forcefully.

"At that time, don't worry about me, just run for your life. Run no matter if there's a road ahead or not... understand?"

"No! I will never abandon you, no matter what..."

"Listen to me!"

Tatsia clung to her father, weeping, and even when he reached out to pull her away, she only pressed closer. If the demon soldiers were to arrive now, both father and daughter would perish. Tatsia's father, unwilling to accept this outcome, roared in anger...