Chapter 50: Folia’s Awakening
Folia spent peaceful days at the Gardersen Church during her long holidays.
“Folia-nēne[1]!”
When Folia was at the orphanage, the little kids would follow her around so that they could be with her all the time. Although these kids didn’t have parents, they were Folia’s precious family members. Looking at the kids who were eagerly chasing after her, Folia thought they were so cute and she smiled happily.
“What is it?”
“Mii-chan want to play outside.”
“Okay. I’ll play with you all after I finish the laundry.”
“Un!!”
The little girl went away jumping and hopping around while she gathered the other children. Folia went out with a basket of freshly washed laundry. The weather was very nice and her hair fluttered in the wind. It was a perfect day for drying the laundry.
It had been a year and a half since she had entered Centrior. Originally, she was sad that she couldn’t spend time with the kids while she was at the academy. But now that she had friends that made school felt fun, she couldn’t wait to get back to the academy.
At first, she was worried whether she could fit in with the students in an aristocratic school. Thankfully, another commoner girl had reached out to her right on her first day at the academy, so she was able to enjoy her school life without any trouble.
“I wonder if Raze-chan is okay. She seems so busy with her work…”
A few days earlier, the steering committee had gathered together. When they were about to leave, Folia noticed Raze looked kind of sad and it made her worried.
“She has good grades, and work as an adventurer, and her magic is even better than Luca-kun… We’re the same age but unlike me, she’s an independent person.”
The 2nd Year students were going to have career counseling soon. Folia had entered the academy with help from Zale but she had not made any decision about her career after graduation yet.
The friends close to her, which were the main casts of the otome game, had more or less decided on their career path. In most cases, the sons of the influential aristocrats who entered the academy would join the Knights.
After becoming a knight, these young men would experience protecting the people from the beasts, and at the same time, learnt about the life of town people with their own eyes. So that when the time comes, they would be able to climb to a new stage.
As for Carna, a woman could be a knight too. Considering that she was good at magic, maybe she might join the Knights.
During this holiday, the children of other aristocrats and wealthy merchants went home and started to learn in preparation to take over their family business, while some enter the laboratory to pursue knowledge.
“… What do I want to do?”
Wisdom was valuable. There was no drawback to have more knowledge. That was what Zale had told her when she decided to enter Centrior. She was also interested in school and was fascinated by the fact that she could learn what she didn’t know, so she desperately studied to pass her exam.
Folia thought that if she entered Centrior, then people would recognize her effort even though she was an orphan. Then perhaps people wouldn’t give her cold stares if she stood by Zale’s side.
Folia stopped her hands abruptly. Her face looked somewhat melancholy.
…Pursuing knowledge to repay Zale-sama’s kindness was just a pretense. Actually…
Folia just wanted to be by his side. As long as she could do that, she could made decision on whatever necessary without hesitation. But her wish to stand by Cardinal Zale’s side seemed to be an imprudent thought.
That’s why I can’t see my future … I know it. I have no choice but to admit it.
Folia was aware that she liked Zale Ile Moldir. However, with her current self, she felt that she didn’t deserve to stand by his side, and would even be a stumbling block to him. She grasped the clothes in her hand.
All of a sudden, she heard the warning siren for beasts’ attack. A sister called out to her, “Folia! Hurry and come inside!!”
When this siren was played, everyone was required to enter their house immediately.
Behind the Gardersen Church was a forest inhabited by beasts. A few years ago, a stampede occurred in a cave inside the forest and caused some casualty. There was a special barrier protecting the church, but when Folia remembered what had happened back then, her face turned pale. She was traumatized when she saw the injured soldiers and villagers carried into the church.
But I can use healing magic. I need to get it together.
After taking a head count of the children who were about to go out and confirming the safety of everyone, Folia began preparing to take in injured victims.
― ― ―
“Folia, please take care of this one.”
“Yes, I’m coming!”
Folia was swamped with injured knights brought to the church. Unlike the previous stampede, there was no one with injury that would make her nauseous. However,
“Hurry! This one also need an antidote!!”
What came out of the forest this time was a poisonous insect-type beasts. Even though the wound was small, it would be life-threatening if not treated quickly. Folia continued to apply her healing magic incessantly on the wound that had turned blue.
“Anyone!! Hurry I need help!!”
A man entered the church screaming loudly. Folia turned to look when she heard the blood-curdling scream.
“Huh—” She was dumbstruck with terror.
The stoutly built man was carrying a familiar figure in priest’s robe with black hair. It was Zale Ile Moldir. Folia felt the blood drain from her face as everything happened in slow motion.
“Folia!”
As if the voice had struck her, she promptly rushed towards Zale.
“How could this happen? Zale-sama!”
“He’d finished his job early and was on the way to this church to meet you. He saved a kid who was out on the street and was stung by a poisonous bee. I’m sorry, I didn’t protect him well…”
Zale’s bodyguard, Hans bowed his head with teary eyes.
“Ugh!” Zale was half conscious and quivering while sweating profusely. Then he began to convulse uncontrollably.
“Zale-sama!!” Folia applied her healing magic to the wound on his side. She took off his shirt to check his condition and saw black bruises emerged like it was eroding his body.
Unlike any other injury she had healed before, her magic had no effect this time. Folia’s hands were trembling. Hans bit his lips as he held Zale down.
What should I do? What should I do?! How did it become like this? If I don’t do anything, Zale-sama is going to die…
The black bruise spread slower than before, perhaps due to Folia’s magic. But it seemed that Zale wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer.
“Zale was stung by a poisonous bee in the previous stampede too and almost died. But the poisonous bee that stung him this time is unlike the normal one. It was jet-black…”
“What?! I never knew-”
“He didn’t tell you because he doesn’t want to make you worried. He had bad reaction to bee’s venom.”
Hans had a distressed look on his face. Folia felt like he was trying to tell her that it wouldn’t be her fault if she couldn’t save Zale.
“… I won’t give up!! I will save him!!” Folia yelled loudly. The other sisters were stunned as they had never seen her yelling at anyone before.
I need more power. More!
She activated her magic stone forcefully. Her head hurt like it was going to split open. Her jaw trembled as she clenched her teeth against the pain that flooded through her. Despite the pain, Folia didn’t stop. The person that she liked was about to die right in front of her. She had no time to complaint about pain or difficulty. Just when she had strained her power to the point that her brain might boil over, a blazing light flowed from her hands as she held it over the wound.
“Huh?!” Hans exclaimed in surprised when he saw the dazzling, gentle holy light enveloped Zale’s body. He closed his eyes involuntarily. When he opened his eyes again, he saw the black bruises was gone and there wasn’t a single scratch on Zale’s body.
“M- Miss Folia?! This is?!”
Hans saw Zale had stopped trembling and had a peaceful expression on his face. He looked at Folia with excitement.
“I’m… glad…”
“Miss Folia!”
Seeing that Zale was saved, Folia felt relieved and her body collapsed without any strength left.
“Folia!” Right before Folia’s body was going to hit the floor, a young girl rushed over and caught her. “Stay with me. I’ll apply a healing magic to make you feel better.”
Folia heard the voice of a friend who couldn’t be there. Folia looked up at her in a hazy state.
“Ra…ze…chan?”
Without waiting for a reply, Folia closed her eyes and fell unconscious.
[1] nēne is a child language for onēsan (elder sister). ↩
