IYVP CHAPTER 3

3.  72742baece644db899b9

Two years ago, the Great 3abfdbc349 Temple of the Holy Kingdom.66553096d853d51878d3

At the edge of its sprawling grounds, a 167d8d554c small sanctuary held a makeshift blessing chamber.4b22c82ebee652c641dc

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As the Saint withdrew her hands, the pale glow that had surrounded 94de88ba7d them faded, and awe and joy spread across the old woman’s face.7b699313cd4651b69c6e

“Heavens…! The throbbing pain 6ba5d60e2c here is completely b1c38a73aa gone!”be137601eaa42026ad12

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“Mom, are b3a3c819ad you okay bde5cb68e3 now?”c3b0e68260d39012b42b

The ragged-looking mother and b22344fdc4 daughter embraced one another. Watching the tears well in their eyes, 880b5880fd the Saint offered them a warm smile.f00fece6e53f9a502ddc

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Clad in a soft ivory robe—the mark 27b23d2fd6 of a priest—and with neatly combed brown 0ea3eb1c8f hair, beneath which shone the symbol of 6921dbc731 the Saint: golden eyes. Eyes no one else in the e71fc19b01 world possessed, whose color gave her e421de30ef an air of mystery and otherworldliness.cc4f76b5f3c36e8e1889

“Saint, truly… truly… I’ll never forget this f0043017bf blessing for as long as I live.”fa8d17e4635bd4f410a4

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“Thank you, thank you… We had to hitch 2c1edc40fd rides on several freight carts just to get d510eeee96 here… and when we arrived, the line at 151b721676 the city gate went on forever…”4388f904148fedf1e67b

Overwhelmed with emotion, the mother 462234ee9c and daughter continued to chatter, 6c95042412 and Azniel—Saint of Dara—did not 679fe4fc55 stop smiling.4ad4878232a9579419a9

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Yes. It was to see smiles b1092a2af2 like this that she became 5885de96bd the vessel of Dara’s blessing.4ccb5504c6987ca3256c

Though her body grew weary from blessing so many 755b42afb5 each day, and even if people whispered mockingly, calling a52aec66ee her the “Saint of beggars,” Azniel didn’t mind.3072b389bf124902dcab

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There were still e2ef71ee85 places in this 6dcb4ccb42 world where she d8b7f088d0 was needed.792fafd17c72099cf435

“Hey, if you’re done, 586ed73950 hurry it up already.”727541448d887273cfe4

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“You don’t see d341916663 the people waiting eec020ad1a behind you?”85d2fb23aa49a68accc2

“Oh, yes, sorry. Thank you c20527d52a so much, e76059b59d Saint…”19859f96c4f9cc6bf349

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Pressed by those in line, 8bba1a5b6b the two women quickly wiped 2974b6d5ea their tears and stepped aside. The sound of their coins dropping into the offering box 2e6305caff near the exit rang out with a quiet finality.a9cb2de0c177c4ece5e2

As the next supplicant knelt before 729d3681f5 her, Azniel’s gaze drifted beyond—to the 5e62704275 endless line of people still waiting 0e7f54dab9 for her blessing. The line stretched past the 361e01feea front yard of the Great d150255b56 Temple, spilling beyond the gates 3192a79eee of the Holy Kingdom itself.969b0f207b50114c4b07

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“How far will af2ec86279 I be able 5ced877d56 to go today…? That one looks e489c9e7e4 quite ill…”a9ee7dfd8d8593e50f2e

Glancing at the b84a8c9dfb faces waiting, a 4873b68a6a faint worry crept dad68d5cf3 over Azniel’s expression.1f54b4f908d9c966b1f1

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All of them were pilgrims from across the continent, drawn by the cb2076ce9e hope of receiving healing from the only Saint recognized by the church.73f9847dd266825203c1

“I’ve had splitting dca91ad379 headaches every day e3cc56a9cb for months now…”c26498e72b00de533268

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“My vision’s gone cloudy 33e180d69f in this eye, little dd1881c272 by little…”f38d042643e35cab2404

“Saint, please… save us… He hurt his leg doing day 0db7c5adb2 labor, but the wound won’t heal—it’s only festering more…”72a2fbe3b64bf7307d01

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And so her service continued until 146fd858d6 her divine power ran dry.2b55463fca9107d3aea8

Using every last drop of her ec467a3371 sacred energy wasn’t the hard part. In fact, seeing the smiles 5f1ee2ebbf of the people afterward filled 9611deb942 her with pride—grateful to be 3327212cdf able to deliver Dara’s blessings. But what truly wore 4d22628169 her down was…71b64bc48e5be87f2fc6

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“Did you see them rush here, eyes crazed, just because 64e7fd4bb8 they could get a blessing for a few coins?”4bf5d9beb46d5bc14514

“Earlier, someone gave de140caf80 five measly coins. That’s it.”ae3f33ad3a0dc9708bc1

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“What is df36a08a19 this, a 549f6a0806 temple or 05797deb5c a poorhouse?”518f3aa30afb859a1ed5

The indifferent words of the priests who stood e79057b688 nearby, merely to give the appearance of formality. Their criticisms weren’t aimed at Azniel 5892b54943 directly, but they were more than 6fe873419c enough to sap the spirit of 0eca2995f0 someone trying their best.ca6201b5d12b3fa3a118

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“If it weren’t for those damn mana potions, the 4498f89a1d church wouldn’t be groveling for pennies like this.”629b0da99b9fed4ffcab

“Antagon… that 592182fcdd godless group 77f39ad336 of heretics.”d3e81804f1fce80c9ace

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Mana potions.7deec69cab0b583b9327

At the murmured 86e3a1ccf0 resentment between the a3e04f3319 priests’ teeth, Azniel’s 5de068ddec face fell slightly.81e63bb8805e5230d82c

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It had been nearly twenty years since 2190da90f2 Azniel arrived at the Holy Kingdom. Orphaned, she had wandered the alleys until 888f020207 one day, by chance, she was taken c42afc16c0 in by a poorhouse—where the mark of 1ca75a6b30 the Saint was discovered in her.28cf303aa8646f05d6c4

The power she manifested as a 27a201881d Saint was a miraculous healing ability—capable a8f99f6767 of curing any ailment. The church had used her blessing to dazzle the high-ranking elites f866a8eb0d of the Allied Nations, spreading their prestige far and wide.7715453728d71bc8d06b

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To a child who had known no 9d127fc71a roof over her head, the church’s offer e464d356d4 was the only path forward. Azniel had followed their instructions, granting blessings only to those 95a82bb32d who arrived at the Holy Kingdom bearing lavish offerings.57f15bcdcb4ac97de45b

That once-peaceful life had been upended 32b3696383 three years ago—when a rising firm 5258b15c15 named Antagon invented a remedy known 094f21d778 as the mana potion. It could be 5be59c2587 ingested to cure 3b96c4fab6 diseases or applied 7c77a25672 to heal wounds. While its effects varied, it 112dbae286 was a modern invention that a035c9d33f posed a true rival to 773fd3e4d8 the Saint’s powers.2ff4928a356e31d65f40

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Powerful figures who once visited the Holy Kingdom for even minor injuries, enticed by the Pope’s lavish 85efcd15ae hospitality and the privilege of the Saint’s blessing, now turned instead to convenience and technological progress.edac9d2f2f360865ae11

With no one left 6d825be290 to pay offerings, the b884e1d0fe church’s finances quickly crumbled. And naturally, Azniel’s df9a855e9c standing within the 1e47bbb79b church began to 6ebaf34cdc fall as well.62da63365df5d6b07fd0

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If there was any 6551ae1dae silver lining, it was be902c3939 that mana potions were 2829bc2a18 expensive. The common folk, still reliant on herbal remedies, b848dbd164 continued to seek the Saint’s healing—and the church, 56f4db733c now desperate, welcomed their humble offerings. Though the donations couldn’t compare to the sums brought in by nobles, if c5f599e464 she treated enough of them for enough days, the church could scrape by.33c7cb5eec8e6ded6702

And in the end, 4d3a8f490f it was only Azniel 7844367082 who bore the cost c1d766c7d1 of expending sacred energy.25b9813c984f58d903d3

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“Thank you, Saint…!”44d61b11da2a9d0ed0a4

“Dara really hasn’t dc59a0086f abandoned us after 34fb162cd0 all…”b885e83ed1070957a410

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If a potion 5ff506c8ea could take her 7604708539 place, so be 6f728bf84e it. Azniel continued to offer her blessings, 44387fd063 giving quiet thanks to the divine 1a8d5679e7 that she could still serve the b3d1458427 church that had taken her in.0b5c05eebc44aa04d23e

* * *bca41a13158f5c6f0d68

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Today again, Azniel left 3783793769 the sanctuary after earnestly 29f43e0e84 healing over a hundred 769c2fb609 pilgrims. Though the faces of those watching the sanctuary doors close behind her lingered in a044691ba4 her mind, she had exhausted her sacred power—there was nothing more she could do.7ca158497c902fae8ce4

‘How many will see 97722f9625 their conditions worsen tonight 451467c696 under the chill of a7b842381d the evening dew…?’7087926004994eba43bf

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The sky had returned d742567209 to the same hue 01485efe32 as when she had 229caaf210 entered the sanctuary.1dc226e0474efe4918ae

Now, she would return to her quarters, fill the stomach that had ached all day, 0f0e083728 and collapse into bed as if hypnotized by sleep… and then, morning would come again. She needed to care 5f1d9780a5 for as many as f289ef7230 she could before the c1b7404529 weather grew colder…0c24856a942f150a12ba

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Just as Azniel resolved to wake up 944c554bf1 even earlier the next day and turned 2488761345 to head toward the monastery—8586e181eb0ee11f9a74

“You’ve worked so 74143b84f0 hard today, Saint. You must 48f3915733 be exhausted, bd28bd10f7 right?”ca19f374005c5ed983f5

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Two young acolytes scampered over to her—despite her weariness, they 0323fbaf03 saw only her kindness and compassion for the pilgrims.fce83473c7bdd3ef76d0

“Worked hard? No, I just…”92c07ee0079be71240fe

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“You were going to say 73cece3b89 you regret not being able a34de598a7 to help one more person, 4b109e01f2 weren’t you?”ebe176fe8461e643def1

“Please, eat this. You must 5804a701ba be hungry.”bdb1fb785badb8e42312

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The girls took sugar 4bdaf8857a jellies from their snack dd6e8fd85d basket and popped them 880cad5347 into Azniel’s mouth. It was a small gesture of care for the Saint who spent 1dbc073ca5 the whole day healing without so much as a proper meal. The jelly’s sweetness doubled the guilt 011ba253c1 she felt for the patients who, e99eda9652 due to her depleted strength, would 5bf4f42f82 now have to wait until tomorrow.5a30f596288bbb4d841a

“Saint, um, His Holiness the b4e048dc87 Pope has summoned you.”d0ae53e5677a1e877b50

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“His Holiness?”19772ccb9a33305a3314

“Yes. He said to come ad7cd9dd25 to him right after b3dad065fc you finished the blessings.”e84952af4dccf79b25e2

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As Azniel slowly chewed ac2325e1c9 the jelly, a faint 397c29cd1d wrinkle formed on her 0760f885d8 brow.c5e6435dad5c587d830d

What could this f500690e1f be about? Since the visiting nobles seeking blessings f5f81ba2c1 had stopped coming, the Pope had 3c0ed4b7e6 not called for her—not even once…d58e49bc6bb13edb71ce

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* * *434be03dea0f50ad5551

“Your Holiness, Sister 3f13d68b56 Azniel, the Saint, 43aebc99aa has arrived.”3e194ae1553b5afcf19f

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At the very heart of the Papal 2e7a780d0d Palace, inside the Pope’s private office.d98e8630eeb09ae5ee28

As the holy knight announced her entrance, the doors swung 52fcdda527 open, revealing the most lavish chamber in the entire palace.b7f2ec88e9289ff397c3

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The room, cloaked in the 0974442997 darkness of night, was lit e8faea8cc1 only by a grand chandelier. Its golden light reflected off the 53479ae5a8 corners of fine furnishings, casting a bd3696a73d shimmering illusion—as though the entire room d2354c1372 were gilded in gold. Before such opulence, the Saint, who had just 77a2fe43f0 returned from tending to the poor until near 8830d94f90 exhaustion, bowed with her shoulders still curled inward.46d619b5d0a50fffe13f

“I greet 25eb703b9e Your Holiness. Blessings upon 3a370ad10b the Staff 1070d68170 of Dara.”74d84d2dc2b9394dd05a

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“Yes, you’ve come.”0aaa39ccd3195a854cc6

The Pope was 71feb10b9b seated behind a c5c2720fad massive, ornate desk. He leaned deeply into the tall-backed chair that emphasized his authority, pressing his 306d9cb704 temples with a sigh that made clear he was grappling with something unpleasant.e5bcce28b0e01bbcf968

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Seeing his discomfort, Azniel’s shoulders b8296c28cc drew in even tighter.19ca44b94e84dffac3b2

A girl once abandoned and begging on the streets—her f6cd349992 only reason for being treated as human in the 6286017861 Holy Kingdom was her worth as the Saint. Since that worth had begun to diminish, 3a94c32ef7 she could never quite shake the feeling 9622cda43d that she no longer belonged. Her relentless, almost punishing efforts to heal were driven by a desire to 16fd7ade12 prove—in any way she could—that she still served a purpose in the church.d7a3e72ddd3049507fdd

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“I’ve summoned you because there’s c64cc32b97 something we need to discuss.”ce88b33a590e6cf0a010

The Pope’s irritation wasn’t directed at her—but Azniel 97390e06a1 took the brunt of it all the same. Her withered fingers, clasped at 9af54c8be5 her front, tightened instinctively.c72ef401a1b0d5f67b53

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“Those heretics have sent fa886b8c6e a strange request…”727ab0b864f2cb70d920

His long, aging 909b603497 fingers tapped the 9b4f34c9af envelope lying before 5bca26e188 him. Azniel’s eyes widened as they caught sight 8cd30d5ad5 of the writing on its surface.c50ec0afdbec0e390dc2

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[Sender: Office of the Chairman, Antagon Trading Company]e182c80e69282b894955

Antagon… The place that 80716bedc4 created that thing called b525bc999c a potion…c5842903865b075bf37f

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Confirming her reaction, the 8ad5f5eb6f Pope let out a 0ba9b79ed1 heavy groan and continued.555476177aa89497844d

“Their chairman has bf9a9d992c requested an audience. It’s scheduled for tomorrow—and he specifically asked cc4d42d40c for your presence at the meeting.”705e8d958b2d86f7bab8

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