IYVP CHAPTER 3

3.  8b5173daf7f40e745a6b

Two years ago, the 5ebac1dbbd Great Temple of the d65b0cc095 Holy Kingdom.c10d959eebd87da28f4f

At the edge of its sprawling grounds, a 10a58f737b small sanctuary held a makeshift blessing chamber.3dd4836e0a81fbc166af

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As the Saint withdrew her hands, the pale glow that had surrounded 80adfc0589 them faded, and awe and joy spread across the old woman’s face.d0a5dc1a12d6202fc73f

“Heavens…! The throbbing pain here e64ff6b99e is completely gone!”2a5aceafdc9487aa109c

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“Mom, are you f611b8fa44 okay now?”3d038dd10f26a15fe91d

The ragged-looking mother and 3073f941bc daughter embraced one another. Watching the tears well in fa7e154f23 their eyes, the Saint offered 1c6ff9fe9f them a warm smile.d8b1d38e7483fc9770df

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Clad in a soft ivory robe—the mark of a da02b89e7c priest—and with neatly combed brown hair, beneath which shone d4b9d2ba57 the symbol of the Saint: golden eyes. Eyes no one else in a2cbc9822a the world possessed, whose color 18739bdb52 gave her an air of f7ff7db236 mystery and otherworldliness.fe564f27b08b5e7741c9

“Saint, truly… truly… I’ll never 13efcc844f forget this blessing for as ddc3b1919b long as I live.”0f1899815babacc32116

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“Thank you, thank you… We had to hitch rides on several freight carts just to 668b641a75 get here… and when we arrived, the line at the city gate went on forever…”d1bcf94557b514b99eaa

Overwhelmed with emotion, the mother and daughter continued to 1e75844ce2 chatter, and Azniel—Saint of Dara—did not stop smiling.ea100311cd395bde3515

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Yes. It was to see smiles 3aa1c19f8e like this that she became b384a2ff05 the vessel of Dara’s blessing.6eaa7cbd52d8c5fb46b0

Though her body grew weary from blessing 08f0ed1093 so many each day, and even if 8977ebaf9f people whispered mockingly, calling her the “Saint 4f35df3025 of beggars,” Azniel didn’t mind.97e7ae6b83babd97daa0

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There were still places 57b2e711f6 in this world where 9383e11db7 she was needed.accc50582209408820ba

“Hey, if 9ea0198f9a you’re done, 3e11f2d1d5 hurry it 3777756805 up already.”444b098112fdf024e16f

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“You don’t see 93fafb483e the people waiting d3e42b473a behind you?”04b04af5f6974771f8da

“Oh, yes, sorry. Thank you so adbcd04c9f much, Saint…”87e0bdb976217cb5317d

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Pressed by those in line, the two women f22e27ede2 quickly wiped their tears and stepped aside. The sound of their coins dropping into the offering box 0a69607e4b near the exit rang out with a quiet finality.81b1e6eabea4b8386dd8

As the next supplicant knelt before her, 7ff5c2e735 Azniel’s gaze drifted beyond—to the endless line 0e4ed93022 of people still waiting for her blessing. The line stretched past the front yard of the Great c04002b7ad Temple, spilling beyond the gates of the Holy Kingdom itself.d2080fdb1330d915c635

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“How far will I be b5477181c2 able to go today…? That one 21e2501bac looks quite 7660de3963 ill…”0a5a831a27fde0f56684

Glancing at the 66671d6bfc faces waiting, a 04ed86e1ef faint worry crept 612f22b6c6 over Azniel’s expression.4ae553100343e5317caf

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All of them were pilgrims from across the ec7df9173b continent, drawn by the hope of receiving healing 6e692a5568 from the only Saint recognized by the church.dc309d12dcdf91488699

“I’ve had splitting b5842d70a7 headaches every day adf886ae55 for months now…”5563f2de5b52e8ccae78

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“My vision’s gone eec20c7eb5 cloudy in this be90cf5385 eye, little by f1dbe3b594 little…”7509d4755827439cef2c

“Saint, please… save us… He b2b699c9eb hurt his leg doing day ecb87f1d4a labor, but the wound won’t 62e59cb171 heal—it’s only festering more…”e04f1aa47716bcfb992a

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And so her service f6f77b1e4a continued until her divine c406a5cd82 power ran dry.7bb641b4c3dbc5f4fd38

Using every last 5827d80d2b drop of her e0d96a2dc0 sacred energy wasn’t 1872fedbf2 the hard part. In fact, seeing the smiles of the ddacdb165a people afterward filled her with pride—grateful to b2b84ed580 be able to deliver Dara’s blessings. But what truly wore d88042a5b9 her down was…3d427d3c6e1f6a10998c

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“Did you see them rush here, eyes crazed, just because 61e7467e8a they could get a blessing for a few coins?”591cc113257c70f44f93

“Earlier, someone 27caf718eb gave five 036287fe31 measly coins. That’s it.”9c69eb4c5b137ed0f426

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“What is this, 2a30ccf0ec a temple or ed4d0a7c8c a poorhouse?”22ffd06940becebd858d

The indifferent words of the priests who stood f52fddc927 nearby, merely to give the appearance of formality. Their criticisms weren’t aimed at Azniel directly, but they were more a2b23407e7 than enough to sap the spirit of someone trying their best.6ad93afa63fb2357f31b

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“If it weren’t for those damn mana potions, the a2667586fc church wouldn’t be groveling for pennies like this.”330e6ff872120437da58

“Antagon… that 2da947eddb godless group c91072e20f of heretics.”a7dbda4d1644cb4949cc

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Mana potions.6dbc94928e432ced7816

At the murmured resentment between the f2466f3be7 priests’ teeth, Azniel’s face fell slightly.6c7bcd0a8b1b6e5af6e0

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It had been nearly twenty b144a33782 years since Azniel arrived at a28ca888e3 the Holy Kingdom. Orphaned, she had wandered the alleys until e21da11af1 one day, by chance, she was taken 82eaa25b60 in by a poorhouse—where the mark of 962e66bab9 the Saint was discovered in her.a0cb7c81122fddc677d3

The power she manifested a250d301a6 as a Saint was be0628cb2d a miraculous healing ability—capable 64dc106790 of curing any ailment. The church had used her blessing e58a0e315d to dazzle the high-ranking elites of 8ff37473bf the Allied Nations, spreading their prestige 4ea22c56f6 far and wide.82f88c4e9aa575f4a4ba

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To a child who had 33683e4348 known no roof over her dae8591fd8 head, the church’s offer was 66c762c6d4 the only path forward. Azniel had followed their instructions, 12504995f2 granting blessings only to those 33627e2d5e who arrived at the Holy 2abaf16a21 Kingdom bearing lavish offerings.d7fc5cf7f34f4d0afa32

That once-peaceful life had been upended 20d64b1f1f three years ago—when a rising firm f8464b4f95 named Antagon invented a remedy known 43cd89d76b as the mana potion. It could be ingested 95fabcc944 to cure diseases or 57f7d7fa04 applied to heal wounds. While its effects varied, it 2df2e69657 was a modern invention that 02cc573246 posed a true rival to 500b04c2c0 the Saint’s powers.29f27ed74a64ca3bbe78

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Powerful figures who once visited the Holy Kingdom for even minor injuries, enticed by the Pope’s lavish 444206ecdc hospitality and the privilege of the Saint’s blessing, now turned instead to convenience and technological progress.9dc77348b1416f738814

With no one 2d323df632 left to pay 04b15c355b offerings, the church’s 04bb04403d finances quickly crumbled. And naturally, Azniel’s c4812bcda5 standing within the 247250d904 church began to 5f606d7412 fall as well.c8d2cd27bb27f58f0c86

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If there was any silver lining, it c8e4259030 was that mana potions were expensive. The common folk, still reliant on 470ddaef44 herbal remedies, continued to seek the 8fdca24f58 Saint’s healing—and the church, now desperate, 29fc2747b8 welcomed their humble offerings. Though the donations couldn’t compare to the sums brought d2262a622d in by nobles, if she treated enough of them 296c4f5cc3 for enough days, the church could scrape by.a4d6abcde788e3d5c749

And in the end, eb4e803b2d it was only Azniel 2cdb77dd23 who bore the cost 00f445bf8a of expending sacred energy.e59eeadc90c31a6e0af4

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“Thank you, Saint…!”bb332837cec22eb737f2

“Dara really fbc70564e2 hasn’t abandoned d84dfbe293 us after c20b6475bb all…”5ae748c0a58029e8d6b5

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If a potion could take dd9105e982 her place, so be it. Azniel continued to offer her blessings, giving quiet thanks to the divine 3441a6fa7a that she could still serve the church that had taken her in.0f69cf91cfbf03d0ecaf

* * *5247d7acbeb1f7641620

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Today again, Azniel left the e3d4e85cb3 sanctuary after earnestly healing over cb798b02ea a hundred pilgrims. Though the faces of those watching the e5d50220ed sanctuary doors close behind her lingered in 83ec1a0c21 her mind, she had exhausted her sacred 727dcfb47d power—there was nothing more she could do.5f01b62ac50e863f389c

‘How many will see their conditions worsen tonight 5ad9e8e625 under the chill of the evening dew…?’e3cd27c6f31e8328324b

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The sky had returned to the same hue 935cf79e13 as when she had entered the sanctuary.394882d2a0594f5e4086

Now, she would return to her quarters, fill the stomach that had ached all day, 2001af1a1a and collapse into bed as if hypnotized by sleep… and then, morning would come again. She needed to care for as many as 55fe46b06f she could before the weather grew colder…c5246343b7f98cec752c

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Just as Azniel resolved to c15723425d wake up even earlier the 3f5197e07f next day and turned to 6e8f38a460 head toward the monastery—a09fe80df0a2a6b98ab3

“You’ve worked so 3e7d565009 hard today, Saint. You must db25ffba22 be exhausted, 12cbb14409 right?”aa4cc154cd7687548347

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Two young acolytes scampered over to her—despite her weariness, they 9eeba34741 saw only her kindness and compassion for the pilgrims.831d7362679964047d25

“Worked hard? No, I just…”9dee7acbfa53592dccc5

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“You were going to say 33d7619548 you regret not being able 6091e0bb63 to help one more person, 163badea64 weren’t you?”975f6e07ac3380ec6493

“Please, eat this. You must 64d920eae8 be hungry.”ec502a7154d4a3ce2ac6

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The girls took sugar bd58c24f1f jellies from their snack f04b63909a basket and popped them 334be8d5b1 into Azniel’s mouth. It was a small gesture of de4d5af339 care for the Saint who spent 400ad275a9 the whole day healing without so f2645c8f18 much as a proper meal. The jelly’s sweetness doubled the guilt fd72c2f430 she felt for the patients who, 7cdb804144 due to her depleted strength, would 92076d8be2 now have to wait until tomorrow.53478055b4569cb69b44

“Saint, um, His 47ac6994cf Holiness the Pope ed4889575d has summoned you.”0c39b4dd23fbedd6b7e3

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“His Holiness?”5681c55eebaf7843eed2

“Yes. He said to come f74348d998 to him right after 88c2e5a772 you finished the blessings.”48848053116bc6822cb9

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As Azniel slowly chewed d58ffc8027 the jelly, a faint 84e738bd28 wrinkle formed on her 0267bf192a brow.5c7478ceeeca5c44ea6f

What could 7dddcda13b this be 89bc591522 about? Since the visiting nobles seeking blessings had stopped coming, 57871ab5e3 the Pope had not called for her—not even once…5997fda507803cce534a

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* * *a8b52e3c354d8b7b9228

“Your Holiness, Sister c37e1900c9 Azniel, the Saint, 8e8fc1205f has arrived.”1150b0ce571e28ebfdf5

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At the very heart of a7fbe6710a the Papal Palace, inside the a84bfd3538 Pope’s private office.13429474dbeb541964f3

As the holy knight announced 1514e16208 her entrance, the doors swung 9149252e42 open, revealing the most lavish 2f382782bc chamber in the entire palace.395e874b121f43a2190b

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The room, cloaked in the 52d798aaaa darkness of night, was lit d2c877e161 only by a grand chandelier. Its golden light reflected off the corners of 0e47d23ecc fine furnishings, casting a shimmering illusion—as though the f93fa4cc46 entire room were gilded in gold. Before such opulence, the Saint, who 8304a7d8ff had just returned from tending to d110ee9f0b the poor until near exhaustion, bowed 9974f8527c with her shoulders still curled inward.6573b5bf99e2d88ffb6a

“I greet ec9430d72a Your Holiness. Blessings upon d90cb955a6 the Staff 68aa9fad6d of Dara.”904581c2bba20708e560

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“Yes, you’ve come.”2ec64b28807b0acdf97b

The Pope was seated behind 3f9a2a0c89 a massive, ornate desk. He leaned deeply into the tall-backed chair that emphasized his authority, pressing his c737576b9e temples with a sigh that made clear he was grappling with something unpleasant.b7580e4ab7c7bcbbbf39

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Seeing his discomfort, 3f57b093dc Azniel’s shoulders drew ae39670bb4 in even tighter.a10acd1da718b5dfb36b

A girl once abandoned and begging on 588ed703ed the streets—her only reason for being treated cfe6e3ad58 as human in the Holy Kingdom was 1c11493762 her worth as the Saint. Since that worth had begun to diminish, she could never be68d1a475 quite shake the feeling that she no longer belonged. Her relentless, almost punishing efforts to heal ee9e513992 were driven by a desire to prove—in f4884723f7 any way she could—that she still served 562380a6a7 a purpose in the church.54c8dd9d7f987b073f4d

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“I’ve summoned you because 95c293fcd1 there’s something we need ed4689c791 to discuss.”8d78117c46e95bbb9fc8

The Pope’s irritation wasn’t directed at 86eac4c0ea her—but Azniel took the brunt of 5b2be18de3 it all the same. Her withered fingers, ab761a916e clasped at her df4a29bd26 front, tightened instinctively.ca336988b7bc40c4caf6

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“Those heretics d1eaf2d84b have sent 3f031e0f50 a strange 32bcde61af request…”a6b5825c930ea27700c0

His long, aging e05200f0a7 fingers tapped the fddf697577 envelope lying before 0df664fd84 him. Azniel’s eyes widened as they caught sight 93e6a46e87 of the writing on its surface.421519cfd891ef797c5f

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[Sender: Office of the Chairman, Antagon Trading Company]2486b0a4c9cb1cc38282

Antagon… The place that created 4e00ce0ba9 that thing called a potion…6aab14cc32b9f69c53bc

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Confirming her reaction, ff4e7b397a the Pope let 4f4812d98a out a heavy df1e6bb3df groan and continued.0ddb595085d8f3c76e1d

“Their chairman a366a0452d has requested d06315b24e an audience. It’s scheduled for tomorrow—and 8f17880d1e he specifically asked for c97e84e77e your presence at the d5fb293c63 meeting.”20d646d163536e032a09

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