Saint's Prison - Chapter 66

The Remnants of a Dream

My duties with Francesco today were to clean the pilgrims’ dormitory. We entered the dormitory with brooms and rags.

There was no one in the living room.

Was Sophia still sleeping? It’s already daytime, and for a diligent person like Sophia, this is unusual.

Francesco was left to clean the living room, and I headed to the shared bedrooms on the second floor.

I knocked on the door and called out.

“Sophia? Are you there? It’s Andrew.”

There was no reply.

However, I could faintly hear a voice.

It’s clear she’s inside.

“Sophia, can you hear me? I’ve come to clean. Is it okay if I come in?”

Again, there was no reply.

This is seriously strange.

“I’m sorry. Sophia, I’m coming in!”

When I opened the bedroom door, I could see Sophia squatting in the back of the room. I rushed over in a panic.

“Sophia!? Are you okay!?”

I shook her shoulder and called out, but there was no response. However, I felt a warmth from her body, which gave me a little relief. But it’s certain that she’s not in a normal state.

“Sophia…?”

Sophia seemed to be murmuring something with deep concentration. I strained my ears to listen.

“E…Re, Tani… Ri… Ma, Sa… Ah, Eli… K…!”

Was she praying, rather than sitting here? But the content was disconnected, and I couldn’t understand the meaning.

“Sophia, it’s me. Andrew. It’s okay, look at me.”

Sophia’s body shivered.

“Look… see? Ahhh, no, no, get off, don’t come!!!”

Suddenly, Sophia started screaming. I hurriedly held her down. She’s completely in a state of confusion.

“Sophia! Calm down, calm down! Francesco! Francesco, come here! Sophia, Sophia!”

I called out to Francesco loudly.

After a while, I heard the sound of someone rushing up the stairs, and Francesco burst into the room.

“Kuro-dono! What’s happened here!?”

“I don’t know! Sophia suddenly became like this. She’s been acting strange since a while ago…”

I held Sophia, who was struggling violently. While stroking her back, I called out to her.

“It’s okay… it’s okay. Sophia, calm down. Take a deep breath slowly.”

As I stroked her back repeatedly, her breathing gradually calmed down.

Sophia, shaking her body, clung to me desperately as if seeking warmth.

“Ah, uh… see, come closer… uh, trace, trace on the floor…”

Hearing Sophia’s words, I looked at the floor, but there was nothing unusual. What traces was she talking about?

“No way… that’s impossible.”

“… Francesco?”

Seeing Francesco’s strained voice, I turned around involuntarily. Francesco was turning pale, his eyes wide open.

“… Sophia, you… don’t tell me.”

“Francesco, what’s wrong with you too?”

“No,” Francesco shook his head.

“…Kuro-dono, let’s finish today’s duties here. And, I’ll take care of Sophia. She probably just had a bad dream. This place… yes, it’s a bit suffocating.”

Francesco urged me strongly. His tone didn’t allow for any objections.

“Alright, I understand. I’ll leave Sophia to you.”

“Let’s go, it’s safe for today, so go back to your room and rest.”

I stood up and walked towards the door.

“Kuro-dono.”

Francesco called out to stop me, and I turned my head back.

“…Please be careful.”

“I’m just going back to the monastery. You’re making a big deal out of it.”

“…That’s why. You’re very careless, Kuro-dono. Please be careful not to fall on your way home.”

“Am I a child?!”

Francesco smiled as if he was in trouble.