"Hello, Lady Saint." (Fia)
I bent down to be at eye level with the saint and replied.
The saint tilted her head slightly and seemed unsure of what to say. Her orange hair was shiny and her cheeks were the usual redness of a child, and up close she was a very adorable saint. I waited for her to organize her words, and after a while she spoke boldly.
"...Umm, you are incredible, aren't you? Even though you're not a contractor, you're able to make a monster take the medicine without even threatening it."
"It's Fia." (Fia)
When I said that, she looked back at me with a puzzled expression. I just smiled and repeated myself.
"My name is Fia. You may call me by my name if you wish." (Fia)
Upon hearing this, the saint turned bright red for some reason.
"Oh, my name is Charlotte. Um, if you don't mind, please call me Charlotte." (Charlotte)
"Lady Charlotte...?" (Fia)
"No, just Charlotte! And please, just talk normally. Like we're family." (Charlotte)
Hmmm...? Saints are extremely revered, aren't they? I wonder about that?
I glanced over at Charlotte and saw that she was clutching the knees of her robe with both hands, her eyes were teary and trembling.
Wh-what is this? She's cute.
"Yes, Charlotte. Is this okay?" (Fia)
When I said that, Charlotte smiled, but tears were spilling from her eyes.
"Huh? Wh-what's wrong?" (Fia)
Surprised, I extended out my hands and Charlotte grabbed it.
"My mother gave me the name Charlotte, but no one calls me that. Everyone calls me 'Saint.' That's not my name." (Charlotte)
Charlotte's tears fall one by one onto the cuffs of my sleeves.
I hugged Charlotte tightly and patted her on the back.
"I see. So, Charlotte, you were certified as a saint during the examination when you were three years old, right?" (Fia)
When I asked her, she pressed her head tightly against my chest but nodded enthusiastically.
"Because I'm a saint, I can no longer be with my mother, so I was taken to the church. I was told that if I became a good saint, I would be able to see my mother again. But I'm a failure. My saint powers are weak, and I can't make healing potions. So I'm sure my mother is embarrassed..." (Charlotte)
Unable to say anything more, Charlotte clung to me and began to cry in earnest. Even as I patted Charlotte on the back, I couldn't help but tilted my head in confusion.
It's hard to say for sure, but I wondered if orange hair was suitable for saints.
The spirits were attracted to the saints' blood and made a contract with them. That's why red hair, which corresponded to the color of one's blood, was said to be the best vessel for a saint. If we went by that line of thinking, then shouldn't orange, which was a similar color to red, also be of a higher order? Maybe she just didn't have enough talent to offset that advantage?
As I continued patting her on the back, Charlotte gradually began to calm down. When she had completely stopped crying, she looked up shyly. Then, when she spotted Zavilia, who had somehow ended up on my shoulder, her eyes widened.
"Bluebird! Mom said it was a bird that brought happiness." (Charlotte)
I smiled and patted Charlotte on the head.
"That's right. Ever since he came, I've had nothing but fun. I'm sure good things will happen to Charlotte too." (Fia)
Then I gently held Charlotte's hand.
"There are still some injured monsters, so I need to give them some healing potions. Can you help me?" (Fia)
Charlotte smiled with a happy look on her face.
"Yes, Fia!" (Charlotte)
After that, the administration of the recovery potions went smoothly. Zavilia's warning sound was so loud that all the monsters obediently started drinking the recovery potions. However, after drinking it for a while, they bent their knees and began to groan in a low, painful voice, which was very embarrassing.
…Yeah, it hurts.
Having experienced it myself, I couldn't help but empathize with the monster's feelings.
The self-healing magic had spread to every corner of their body. If it had a negative effect, it's only natural that your whole body would ache and writhe in agony.
When I felt my hand being squeezed tightly, I looked and saw Charlotte looking at the monster with tears in her eyes. Yes, what a kind girl to feel sorry for a monster suffering in pain. Maybe she's suited to be a saint after all.
After giving the injured monster a healing potion, I left the familiar mansion with Charlotte.
"Charlotte, if you have time, why don't we go for a little walk?" (Fia)
There should have been a group of springs on the east side of the castle. I walked with Zavilia on my shoulder and holding hands with Charlotte.
Ah, the sun was so warm and it felt so nice.
Once we arrived at our destination, we walked around looking around at the multiple springs.
"Yes, this one is good, huh. It's small and just right." (Fia)
I muttered to myself as I stood in front of the smallest spring, then looked at Charlotte.
"Hey, Charlotte. Would you like to practice healing magic with me?" (Fia)
"Huh? But I..." (Charlotte)
Charlotte looked down dejectedly.
"Hehe, it's okay. I can't use healing magic, so I wouldn't know if Charlotte couldn't do it well." (Fia)
Charlotte looked up, so I gave her a smile.
"Practice usually means failure. Why not practice failing?" (Fia)
Charlotte shook my hand tightly and nodded.
After that, the two of us went around picking medicinal herbs that were growing here and there. We repeatedly picked up herbs by hands and threw them into the spring.
"Hey, aren't the herbs here beautiful? Don't you think that if you take these lush herbs into your body, a lot of parts of you will feel better?" (Fia)
Charlotte had a keen eye and was able to accurately select and pick only the medicinal herbs from the many types of plants available. Zavilia had come out of his usual place on my stomach and was enjoying a nap on the grass.
I wondered how much time passed. After I had put what seemed to be enough herbs into the small spring, I called out to Charlotte.
"Well then, roll up your sleeves and dip both your hands into this spring. Then, try flowing some healing magic into it. This is practice for making a healing potion, you know." (Fia)
"Huh, but when other saints make healing potions, they crush dried herbs and dissolve them in water. I mean, everyone makes them in bottles, but springs..." (Charlotte)
Charlotte muttered softly that it was too big and she couldn't really understand.
"Hehe, it's just practice, so don't worry about it. Come on, try your hand." (Fia)
As I spoke, I grabbed both of Charlotte's hands, which had her sleeves rolled up. Then, I put her hands to the spring and pressed my forehead against Charlotte's.
"Try casting a healing spell." (Fia)
Charlotte seemed nervous, but slowly a small amount of magic began to flow through her.
…Yeah, things certainly aren’t going well.
She probably didn't use healing magic often, as her magical power was lightly blocked in several places on Charlotte's body. …If she kept using healing magic, the resistance would be removed and it would start flowing properly, but…
Well, whatever. I let a little magic flow through Charlotte's body, washing away her resistance.
"………………huh?" (Charlotte)
Charlotte uttered a surprised cry.
"Huh? Huh? Huh? What? Ah... well, magical power is flowing..." (Charlotte)
I smiled and let go of Charlotte's hand.
"Good job, Charlotte. Now, try flowing that magic into the spring. Okay? Magic is circulating all over your body, so why don't you try gathering it little by little at the tips of your hands? Look at the spring. It's so clear and beautiful, right? I put lots of fresh herbs in it earlier, but look, some are still floating in it. Try flowing your magic here." (Fia)
Charlotte slowly channeled her magical power from her fingertips into the spring.
Hehe, what an obedient girl. I wonder if she'll become a good saint after all.
"That's the way it is. Now, imagine it. There is an injured monster crying in pain. How pitiful. ...Here is water that has absorbed the power of the earth over a long period of time, and medicinal herbs that have been endowed with the power of nature. Borrow this power. Now, let your magical power flow through you. If you could make a healing potion using this water, herbs, and magical power, how happy would the injured monster be?" (Fia)
As I spoke I closed my eyes and slowly let my magic flow through me.
"Yes, you’re good at it, Charlotte. It seems like a little more magical power is coming out of your left hand, can you control it so that it flows equally from both hands?" (Fia)
Little by little, Charlotte's magical power was being adjusted.
Just as her magic power was depleted, a sparkling light began to rise from the bottom of the spring. The herbs began to dissolve in the water, and the clear water turned green.
"Oh, it's so beautiful, isn't it... It's a soothing color." (Fia)
As I muttered this to myself, Charlotte sounded as if she was about to cry.
"Fi, Fia. I feel strange. I feel warm, and it feels like power is running through my body..." (Charlotte)
I patted Charlotte on her head.
"You're a good girl, Charlotte. That's what it means to use healing magic. Well done. Look, now all the water from this spring has turned into a healing potion!!" (Fia)
I smiled and pointed to the spring with both arms spread out.
"………………huh?" (Charlotte)
Charlotte stared at me with her mouth open.
"...Yeah, I understand. Stop thinking is an effective way of escaping, right? I think I'll... pass." (Zavilia)
ZABIRIA, who was lying on the grass, was mumbling softly.