Marin ran through every alley, searching with terrified eyes for any trace of her friend… but the streets narrowed to no answer. The whole day passed with her gasping and stumbling, until she finally collapsed on the ground, tears soaking her cheeks.
"Lili! Where are you?! What will I do here alone?!"
She cried for hours before heavily getting up and dragging her feet aimlessly. As her gaze wandered through the crowd, she spotted a familiar face… Edgar.
She walked towards him with hesitant steps until she stood before him. "You!"
He turned to her with the gentle boredom typical of his voice: "Hmm?"
"The girl… who was with me yesterday… did you see her?"
He narrowed his eyes slightly as if trying to remember: "The girl who was behind you? No. I didn't see her."
Her lips trembled, and crying almost choked her voice: "And… you didn't even catch a glimpse of her?"
Edgar raised his eyebrows with sudden concern: "Wait, are you going to cry?! Relax, our men definitely didn't touch her. Maybe she's just… lost."
A brief glimmer of hope flashed in Marin's eyes: "You live here, don't you? Can… can you help me look for her?"
He sighed, looking away and putting his hand behind his head: "I don't care… Just leave me alone, girl."
But her tears were faster than his patience… He raised his hand in annoyance and slapped his forehead: "Fine, fine! I'll help you… Your tears are going to give me a headache."
Gratefully, she grabbed his hand and pulled him behind her. They searched every corner, every street, every nook… until midnight. Marin sat on the sidewalk, her hands clasped on her knees, her distraction deeper than her fatigue.
dgar stood leaning against a pole: "Maybe she returned to her homeland… or found a safe place?"
"Impossible… Lilia would never leave me alone."
He said with a coolness not devoid of realism: "Maybe she did."
She sighed exasperatedly: "What options do I have? Am I going to sleep on the streets?"
He looked up at the sky with a long breath: "Your matter is simple. You have a sacred power… Go to the temple and they will take care of you."
She raised her head toward him in astonishment: "To feign faith when I have no religion?"
He answered, his patience gone, as he rubbed the back of his neck: "What's the problem? The important thing is to find shelter. Besides… didn't you say you were from another world? If you're not really crazy… then perhaps you are 'The Saintess'."
(A Saintess?… Just like in Ariana's novel) Marin thought with a strange fear.
"Tell me… Is there a Saintess named Ariana here?"
He stared at her in surprise: "Ariana? She is the Saintess of the neighboring kingdom, not ours."
"Great… Can I contact her? Maybe she knows a way to take me back to my world!"
"That would be considered high treason… Contacting a Saintess from another kingdom while you are in ours? That's a death sentence."
She looked at him mournfully: "I don't want to go to the temple… All I want is to go back to my world."
"Then… what will you do?"
She hesitated for a few seconds, then whispered: "Is there… a place for me among you?"
He looked at her for a long time… then said with cold sarcasm: "Excellent… I've gotten involved with a crazy girl."