After I don't know how long, she finally stopped crying. The sun had already gone down, and the moon was clearly visible through the window. The house was dark—lit only by that cold silver light.
"My name is Stella."
It was barely a whisper. I was already tired—church, money, this girl—it was too much for one day.
Sigh "Stella… that's a nice name."
It was too late to think. This house doesn't even have a bedroom. I've been sleeping on this couch ever since things went south with him.
"Just lay down on the couch. It's better than nothing. Sleep for today."
I don't have any plans for tomorrow, but I can't stay home with her here. I need to find her a place… or find some money. I'll think about it later.
"Where are you going to sleep, sir?"
Right… no bed. I guess the chair is better than the floor.
"Don't worry about it. Just sleep for tonight. We'll figure things out tomorrow."
The couch is too small for both of us anyway. I've slept in worse places.
…Even if I'm tired, I can't fall asleep. The girl is already out, curled up and quiet. After sitting still for a while, I grabbed the chair and dragged it in front of the window. The streets were as quiet as always.
I fixed my gaze on the moon. It was shining bright. Beautiful. For a moment, it felt like the world had stopped moving.
And before I even noticed, I fell asleep.
The next day, the sun hit me right in the face—not surprising, considering I fell asleep by the window. Honestly, not a bad way to wake up. I glanced over at the couch to check if the girl was still there. Surprisingly, she was. Still sleeping.
Sigh "Guess it's already tomorrow… I need to find a way to get rid of her, or find a use for her."
This is my fault. Next time, I should stick to picking herbs in that damn forest.
"Get up, Stella. We need to talk."
She sat up immediately. I think she was already awake, just waiting for me to say something.
"Open your panel and tell me what you see."
She hesitated for a moment—I could tell she didn't want me to know her information.
"It says my element is… dark. And above my name… there's something written: 'The Fallen Saint.'"
The Fallen Saint? That's not normal. People with dark elements are usually mages or necromancers. Saints or priests, on the other hand, are tied to healing skills. The two don't mix.
"Anything else?"
It had to be something more. Most people start with three skills that determine their class—mage, knight, saint. That's the basic structure. Of course, there are subclasses. A necromancer, for example, falls under mage. It's all connected somehow.
"There's this skill called… 'Miracle.'"
I jumped from the chair.
Miracle?
"Read the description. Now."
She flinched a little at my tone but did as I asked.
"It says… 'A one-time ability to perform a miracle. After use, all stats will reset. Monsters will be naturally drawn to the user for a short period of time.'"
I didn't mishear it… It's Miracle.
I couldn't believe it. There are only twenty people in the world with that skill. Only twenty.
…It all makes sense now. Maybe that's why Jason—or the temple—was rescuing refugees. It has to be…
"What about the other two skills? Is it healing or something like that?"
It would make sense. Saints usually have some kind of healing ability that makes it easier to treat others.
The girl simply shook her head and said,
"The second one says Eyes of Mana."
What? That doesn't line up… No need to overreact. Let's hear the rest.
"What does the description say?"
"It says I can see what skills people are about to perform."
It's similar to my ability—just more limited. She can only see when someone's preparing a skill…and I can entirely see their panels.
"Sir… you're using a skill right now…"
She froze for a moment.
I guess she just realized it. If I'm using a skill and it's not visible or named—it has to be one of those three.
But… I don't feel anything. Is it an active one? That shouldn't be possible.
Sigh "Don't think too much about it, Stella. Just tell me your last skill."
It's going to be a pain explaining the glitchy system. Hopefully, she already knows about it—or at least has heard rumors.
"Th-the last skill is called Medic Eyes… The description says I can see the wounds and internal issues in someone and try to heal them."
So the last one is tied to healing…
"Stella… look at me—and tell me what you see."
If she really has the ability to scan people's wounds…
She might see the one in my hand.
As she looked at me, her eyes began to glow dark. I guess that's how the skill activates.
"I see… nothing. It says you're completely fine. But… for some reason, your heartbeats don't align. They're inconsistent—sometimes slow, sometimes fast."
That can't be right. My heart?
…This doesn't make sense.
"Read the description again, Stella. Something's wrong."
She looked scared. I could see her hands shaking.
"I-It says I can see wounds—"
"Word for word, Stella. Read it exactly as it's written."
She looked like she was about to cry.
Why is she so afraid?
"Medic Eyes: By using mana, you're able to see wounds, infections, and even unknown diseases in any living being. This skill does not work on corpses or any human creature that is… dead."
It… can't be. That can't be right.
She can hear my heart. So I'm alive, right?
"Look at me again, Stella. Tell me exactly what you see."
Something is wrong. I'm not dead.
I'm not.
"I can't see anything. The only thing I can sense is your heartbeat. But… beyond that… I can't even find your heart."
She went silent.
She was holding back tears.
I want to say something but I don't really know what to say
in my life, this silence
has never been so loud.
Sigh "There's no use overthinking it."
Even if I figure it out, it doesn't mean I'll solve anything.
"Stella, get up. We're going out."
I need to clear my mind. I can't get rid of her… not now. She knows too much, and her skills—especially that one called miracle—might actually be useful to me.
It's not ideal, but I need this girl.
Stella got up immediately without a word. I can't blame her—the fear in her eyes is obvious.
I need money. Clothes too. I can't have her walking around like that. People might get the wrong idea.
The streets were already busy. People moving up and down, starting their routines.
After walking for a while, I turned into a dim alleyway.
"Where are we going, sir?"
Stella clung to my jacket, hands trembling.
"Relax. We're going to visit an old friend of mine."
At the end of the alley stood a black house. As we got closer, Stella started clinging tighter to my jacket.
"It's just a friend, Stella. No need to be cautious."
The front door was wide open. Inside, cages filled the place—some with animals, others with people.
"Well, well, someone wake me up. Because I must be dreaming—if it isn't our good friend Willy. What brings you here, old pal?"
Yeah. You guessed it. A slave house—or whatever they call it these days.
"Cut the nonsense, Adrian."
Adrian. Known in this part of town for trading people like livestock. With no real government around, he pretty much runs this side of the business freely.
"Still cold as ever. So, what can I do for you… and this lovely girl?"
Stella moved behind me, hiding, clearly uneasy around him. Can't blame her. If this was my first time meeting Adrian, I'd probably be scared too.
"I'm here because I want to make this girl my servant."
Adrian let out a loud laugh as Stella trembled behind me.
"You? Making this girl your little slave? Never thought you'd have such… taste, Willy."
"Cut it. I just need to make sure she doesn't get lost or run off."
She's obviously afraid of me—but I can't risk her escaping. Who knows what she might do... or what could happen if someone else finds her.
"And give me some clothes for her. I know you have something in her size."
Stella was shaking, already on the verge of tears.
"Sir…"
Better not say anything. Anything I tell her now will probably scare her more than she already is.
"Classic Willy," Adrian chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm the best at what I do. This way."
He led us into a dark room with a small table at its center. Cages lined every wall. Honestly, how does someone even sleep in a place like this?
"Let's skip the formalities, Adrian. Just do the contract."
"Of course, of course. Let me finish this first."
He started drawing a circle on the table. Clearly a binding spell to make Stella my servant.
"Now, put the little girl in the circle."
Stella was trembling, on the verge of tears. I grabbed her and sat her down in the center of the table.
"Now, now—I'll need a drop of your blood, William."
Sigh This is the part I always hate. I unwrapped the bandage I'd made from my shirt. The wound had almost completely healed—thanks to mana, it was like I hadn't been injured at all. Adrian tossed me a small knife to cut my hand.
"Make sure your blood stays on your side of the circle."
Since I wasn't sure how deep to cut, I ended up making a larger wound than necessary. The entire circle began to glow as my blood touched it.
"You overdid it Willy... but it doesn't matter. Now give the girl a small cut on her hand."
Stella immediately jumped off the table and bolted toward the door—but before she could reach it, a chain shot out from the floor and wrapped around her ankles.
"That was close."
"No, no, no! Sir, I won't run—I promise! I promise!"
She was begging now, tears welling up in her eyes. She clearly didn't want this—but after seeing her try to run, this was necessary.
Two more chains dropped from the ceiling and grabbed her wrists.
"Go easy on her, Adrian."
"Even if you say that—she almost escaped, and you didn't lift a finger."
It didn't matter. I knew he'd catch her.
"Sir... I promise I won't run again... please..."
Her voice was cracking between sobs. The chains held her tight—Adrian wasn't the kind to be gentle, especially not with someone trying to escape. The floor chains vanished, and with just the ceiling ones holding her, Adrian pulled her back toward the table.
Stella kept sobbing, repeating the same desperate plea:
"Please, sir... please..."
As the ceiling chains finally vanished, blood drip from her wrists where the pressure of the chain had been too strong.
"I told you to go easy on her, Adrian."
The circle began to glow more intensely as Stella's blood completed the pattern. Letters started to form, twisting through the blood, and then—just like that—a notification flashed in front of my eyes. I couldn't read the exact words, but I didn't need to. I knew what it meant.
The contract was completed.
"Congratulations on your first slav—ahem, servant, Willy."
Stella collapsed onto the table, unconscious. The spell must've been too much for her mind to handle.
"Oh my. I suppose I was a little rough."
I summoned my sword, and before I could point it at Adrian, a chain shot out and knocked it from my hand.
"You're so predictable, Willy. You really think I don't know you well enough to guess what's on your mind?"
The sword stopped midair and fly it back, stopping just inches from Adrian's face. He didn't even flinch. He knew what I could do.
Another chain dropped from the ceiling, trying to push the blade away, but it snapped the moment it made contact.
"No need to get so aggressive—"
"Heal her wounds. I know you've got healing potions."
I don't want Miracle to accidentally activate. If Stella's life is ever in real danger, that skill would trigger on its own.
"Easy, easy, Willy. I can do that for you."
The broken chain on the floor vanished. I retrieved the sword from midair and stored it away.
"I'll be outside. Bring Stella to me once her wounds are healed and she has new clothes."
I stepped out of the room and left the building. Honestly, just being in there was starting to stressing me out.
I looked up at the sky—it was clear, not a single cloud in sight. I let out a long sigh and waited.
After a few minutes, Adrian emerged with Stella. She wore a black robe traced with golden lines. It reminded me of the vestments worn by the corrupted temple's clergy.
"Willy, there you are. I healed her wounds and gave her this fine robe I had lying around. Take it as an apology for earlier... And with this, we're even. Next time, you'll pay full price."
Stella ran straight to me, hiding behind my back.
I gave him a simple nod and walked away with her, leaving the alley behind