Free Web NovelSt. Catarina Convent.
A deluge of rain pounded against the church’s bell tower. The bell and the wind roared together. Jasmine sat on the steps, holding a black umbrella, gazing far toward the convent’s main gate, as if waiting for someone to appear.
Even in the rain, many still came to pray. They arrived one after another—white-coated physicians, gray-cloaked laborers, silk-robed nobles, couples dressed alike...
Jasmine watched each of them intently, not missing a single person. Yet even after waiting a long time, she never saw the one ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) she wanted to see.
“Sitting here doesn’t make you uncomfortable? Staring at people all day must be boring.” Lilian came up beside the steps, looked down at the stubborn little girl, and sighed. “Do you want to eat or drink something?”
“Mom hasn’t come back for so long... does she not want me anymore...” Jasmine lowered her head.
She had been staying in the convent these past few days. The people who came to pray were all curious about the appearance of such a cute little girl in the monastery.
Especially when they noticed the visible defects of her left hand and left leg—their pity overflowed. They would often say words like orphan, poor thing, someone should adopt her.
At first, Jasmine was repulsed by those inexplicable humans. free𝑤ebnovel.com
She would retort, saying, I’m not an orphan. I have a mom, stop saying nonsense. My mom will be back soon.
But as time passed—one day, two days, three, four—it was now the fifth day. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
Her feelings had shifted from repulsion, to indifference, to calm... then gradually turned into yesterday’s anxiety, and today... today she was already uneasy.
Especially yesterday, when she had asked Cat-sis if her mom might be in danger. But Cat-sis told her:
“Your mom’s amazing. When she left, she was clearly in full form. If anyone’s likely to get into danger, it’s us. Maybe she just ran into something fun along the way and temporarily forgot about us.”
Temporarily forgot about us...
Perhaps a young heart is too soft, unable to bear wind or waves. Jasmine, who had been hoping for comfort, felt the sky collapse instead when she heard she’d been forgotten.
Yes, how could a useless child like me—who only makes rice expensive to feed—ever be loved by Mom at first sight?
Mom comforts me and seems to like me only because we’re related by blood, and because Mom herself is gentle and kind.
Mom’s still so young and beautiful. Maybe someday, when she gives birth to a better child, she’ll really forget me.
Jasmine murmured, “Mom...”
“How could your mom ever not want you?”
Lilian could only sigh helplessly. Thankfully, after returning, she had chosen not to go to Mount Aisa. Once she learned Rania had already gone, she decided to stay and look after the child.
Sigh, Lilian thought inwardly, the kid is obedient enough, but far too withdrawn.
There were plenty of kind, child-loving nuns in the convent, but Jasmine wouldn’t speak to anyone. She only clung to that cat and sat in a corner where she could see the front gate, staring blankly.
Not to mention the other children who came for mass or prayer with their parents—Lilian didn’t even dare let Jasmine join them. If some ignorant brat bullied her, Jasmine might not even understand what had happened.
Sigh...
Just the thought made Lilian sigh again. She couldn’t understand how Vieya had raised her child—what kind of mothering turned a perfectly fine girl half broken like this?
Only she and the Old Dean could get a few words out of Jasmine. But the Old Dean had to keep the convent running, and officials from the Lord Mayor’s office and the Magic Academy kept coming to cause trouble...
“Right, Little Jasmine, where’s your cat? How about I take you to play with her?” Lilian suggested. “Let’s just rest well today. Maybe tomorrow your mom will be back.”
“She went out to play,” Jasmine said. Cat-sis had never liked staying in the convent and was not the type of demon who could sit still.
If Mom hadn’t warned her beforehand, she probably would’ve run off to play several days ago.
That she lasted until yesterday before sneaking out was already the most human-like thing Helcat had ever done.
“......”
Lilian fell silent for a moment, then showed a soothing smile. “Then Auntie will take you out today, all right? You can tell Auntie what you want to eat or where you want to go.”
Then can you take me to find Mom?
Jasmine wanted to ask, but instead she just shook her head. “It’s fine here, Auntie. Don’t worry about me, I won’t bother anyone... When it gets dark, I’ll go back to my room to sleep...”
“......”
This child... Unless her mom is standing right in front of her, no one can do anything with her, can they?
Lilian was out of ideas. She followed Jasmine’s gaze toward the front gate and decided to change the subject.
“Little Jasmine, do you know why all these people come here every day to pray?”
“...Why?” As expected, Jasmine’s curiosity was instantly caught.
“Because most of them have committed what they believe are unforgivable sins and come here seeking peace of mind. And some treat God like a wishing machine, praying that their daily sincerity will catch the divine eye. But what they don’t know is that only prayers from a heart pure and unstained can receive the gods’ attention.”
“Heart pure and unstained... what does that mean?”
“Well, Auntie doesn’t really know either. But it probably means that the one making the wish can’t be tainted by the seven deadly sins.”
“That’s such a hard rule.” Jasmine puffed her cheeks. What a stingy god!
“What, does Little Jasmine want to pray too?” Lilian smiled. “Then what would you wish for?”
“I don’t know. I want to make a wish with Mom... Whatever Mom wishes for, I’ll help her wish it too.” Jasmine’s soft voice drifted as her beautiful mismatched eyes quietly turned toward the convent gate.
The rain-filled clouds suddenly brightened. The sun, hidden behind the darkness, finally decided to emerge, and the clouds below glowed entirely gold.
For that moment, it felt as though God gazed down with pity upon the world and lit a single beam of light to bring warmth to all beings.
People stopped beneath their umbrellas in the sun-rain, bewildered yet amazed as they looked back at the sky.
Lilian reached out and gently rubbed Jasmine’s little face.
“All right, Little Jasmine. Let’s go back.”
“...Mm.”
Jasmine withdrew her gaze and answered softly. She closed her umbrella and followed behind Lilian. After a few steps, she looked back one last time at the main gate, her bright eyes tinged with disappointment.
Still, no miracle appeared.
...
At the same time—
Menesis and Rania had just finished seeing Vieya off.
“Ah... this stuff really tastes awful without seasoning.” Menesis muttered quietly, then turned toward the Hero beside her.
“Captain Hero, what exactly did you talk about with Vieya just now?”
“Some private matters between us,” Rania said.
Private matters.
Menesis blinked. Then she suddenly remembered that when they first met, the Hero had said there were two goals for coming to Mount Aisa—one of them being to find the Saintly Cleric.
She tipped the brim of her hat. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry... but could you tell me what kind of relationship you two have? I’m really curious. If it’s inconvenient to say, then—”
“I suppose you could call it the same master.”
“...You could also just not say—wait, what? The same master?” Menesis froze, then stared in disbelief. “Did you just say the same master?”
“Yes.”
“Then that means you’re both disciples of the First Hero?” Menesis exclaimed. “But I’ve never heard anything like that!”
You’ve never heard it because it’s normal not to.
Even I only just learned it myself.
After all, something like that would probably need my teacher to crawl back from hell to explain.
“...Still, letting Vieya leave on her own—is that really okay?”
Menesis hesitated, mumbling to herself. “She was so determined to go... she must have something personal to deal with. She’s been acting strange ever since last night...”
