Saint's Prison - Chapter 78

Everything Starts Here

I wanted to be with you.

I wanted to become one with you.

Someday, I’m sure you’ll understand.

So I tell myself and continue to look out from here today. I want to be the first to see you when you come back.

I believe you’ll come back for sure.

So, even if I grieve for yesterday when you weren’t there, worry about today without you, and face tomorrow without you…

…I can still be myself.

***

With a chilling coldness on my back, my consciousness awakened.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on my back. I supported my body by placing my hand on the floor and getting up. I felt a hard, rough sensation on my palm. I looked down at the floor, and the damp cobblestone floor was visible.

It must have been because I had been lying on the cobblestone floor for a long time. Just turning my neck, I could hear the creaking sound of my body.

(…Where am I?)

I went to visit the grave, and when it was over, I got on the train. I was overtaken by sleep on the train, and my consciousness faded. I remember that much.

(Could it be… that I’ve been kidnapped, or something?)

That’s too unrealistic. Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. Moreover, the possibility of being kidnapped while dozing off in a train, a public transportation system, is not zero but extremely low. I shook my head, thinking that far. No, first of all, I need to understand the situation.

I looked around.

The dimly lit room illuminated by countless candles. To the right, long benches were neatly lined up. The smell of rotting wood filled my nose. The chairs were quite old. I wondered if they would break if I sat on them.

When I looked to the left, I saw a large marble statue.

A marble sculpture of a person with both hands raised to the sky, wearing a deep hood. The light of the candles deepened the shadows of the sculpture, giving it an indescribable sense of terror.

I averted my gaze and tried to stand up, noticing that there was someone standing about 8 meters away.

I gasped.

It wasn’t because of the surprise or fear.

It was because the person standing in front of me was… incredibly beautiful.

The first thing that caught my eye was the long silver hair that seemed to float in the light of the candles.

Striking crimson eyes.

Snow-like translucent skin.

A high, well-defined nose and moist, peach-colored lips.

A beauty beyond compare stood there, a woman who would make me nod without a doubt if she was said to be a goddess.

Her features reminded me of the Slavic people living in Russia and Ukraine.

Her inorganic, emotionless gaze pierced me.

I had to say something.

I was getting impatient.

I mumbled to myself and managed to get the words out.

“…You’re very beautiful.”

That was the accidental comment.

No, what am I saying to a woman I’ve just met?

My face turned bright red.

“…Huh?”

The woman’s eyes wavered.

It seemed that she was confused by my momentum. But still, she spoke to me in halting words.

“Is it… okay for me to speak? Is it… alright?”

She whispered softly.

It sounded like she was talking to me, but also as if she was questioning herself.

…Wait, can you understand what I’m saying?!

My tension skyrocketed.

“Um, I understand that you’re on guard. But I don’t know what to say either. Well, first of all, can you tell me where this is? I don’t know what’s going on, but I just woke up here!”

I spoke quickly.

The woman was confused by my momentum, her eyes darting back and forth. But still, she answered me in halting words.

“That… I don’t understand Nihongo. This is Stonehurst. Stonehurst Monastery.”

“Stonehurst Monastery?”

The woman nodded.

I’m confused. Why am I in a monastery? I don’t understand.

“Ah, damn. What’s going on?”

As my voice grew irritated, the woman shrank in fear, trembling.

Seeing her like that, I regretted my outburst. I took a deep breath and calmed myself down.

“I’m sorry for scaring you. Don’t worry about it.”

Saying that, I gave her a gentle smile. Oh, I haven’t even introduced myself yet. No wonder she’s confused. Greetings are the first step in communication. I shouldn’t have skipped it.

“My name is Andou Ryu.”

“Ando Ryu.”

“No, not Ando Ryu, but Andou Ryu.”

“Ando Ryu… Andrew-sama?”

“No… that’s wrong. I’m Andou Ryu. Well, Andrew is fine.”

It must be difficult for foreigners to pronounce. I don’t want to force her to say it. I’ll compromise with Andrew.

“Andrew-sama,” the woman repeated my name several times.

“So, what’s your name?”

“My name?”

“Yes.”

“Name, name… My name is, my name is…”

She seemed to be searching for an answer.

It’s strange to say that she’s searching for her own name, but for some reason, I felt that way.

Author’s Note : Meeting Amal.

This is how it all started.

The story of the past will continue for a while.