Saint's Prison - Chapter 89

A Song of Sinful Love

Have you ever seen God?

――No.

Then, why do you believe in a God you cannot see?

――It’s decided.

Because I cannot see, that’s why I can believe.

***

I was sitting on a pew in the chapel.

I couldn’t quite remember when I came here or why I was here. I stroked my cheek with my palm, trying to concentrate.

However, my thoughts dissolved like powdery snow. I must be tired.

Fed up with my lethargic heart, I leaned back against the pew and surrendered my weight to it.

The creaking noise, like a death rattle, echoed through the chapel, highlighting its silence.

A lot has happened over these past few months.

On my way back from visiting my sister’s grave, I somehow wandered into the Stonehearst Monastery.

Considering the priests’ way of life and what they say about the outside world… I probably time-slipped to medieval Europe.

I’m not a historian, so I can’t analyze the exact period.

However, Amal and Priest Benedict not knowing the names of European countries like France or England suggests that those nations may not yet be established or are known by other names at this time.

Furthermore, they didn’t know the term “Europe,” which means the concept of Europe as a common entity hadn’t emerged yet.

It’s definitely not the early modern or modern period, and although it’s not as developed as to call it ancient, it doesn’t seem that primitive either.

The other possibility is that I’ve been transported to an alternate world similar to Earth.

Or maybe I’ve wandered into an alternative or parallel world…

Thinking this far, I couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh.

I question my own sanity, but no other explanation comes to mind.

Maybe this is all just a dream.

Maybe I’m just continuing to dream a long dream.

Thinking that way, it even makes sense why the language here is understandable to me, despite being a foreign land.

(…If this really is a dream, I wish it would end soon.)

I shifted my gaze to the back of the chapel, to the marble statue.

A figure with hands raised to the sky, deeply hooded.

I don’t know much about Christianity, so I don’t know who he is.

A saint or a martyr. I’m not a Christian, but I feel like clinging and praying.

(…I don’t believe in God. But at times like these, I desperately want to rely on someone. I pray for salvation, even though I know it won’t come.)

It’s all so pointless.

I’m feeling weak, so negative thoughts keep crowding my mind. I’m sick of being like this. I’m always wallowing in worries every day.

What a coward I am. I chide myself in my heart.

That’s when it happened.

A cool, cold breeze blew in from behind.

Lazily, I turned my head back.

“――Ah, Amal?”

“…Andy-sama.”

In front of the chapel’s grand doors stood a solitary woman.

The word “quietly” fits her perfectly. She had a faint presence, as fragile as the flickering candlelight. She approached me and peered into my face.

“You look pale. Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I was just feeling a bit spaced out.”

“…This air must be too harsh for you. It’s too stagnant here. Please go out and bathe in the light. You belong there, in a place of radiance. It’s fitting for Andy-sama.”

Amal tentatively made that suggestion.

Her gaze wandered, and she seemed hesitant.

I smiled to reassure her.

“Thanks for worrying about me. Yeah, you’re right. I’ll do that.”

I stood up and stretched my shoulders. I did a deep squat and exhaled.

“By the way, Amal.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“I’ve always been curious, but who is that statue of?”

――――Silence.

“Amal…?”

Wondering what was wrong, I called her name. Amal trembled as she stared at the statue.

“Stonehearst.”

“Huh?”

“This statue is Stonehearst. Caerulum Stonehearst. The one who built this Stonehearst.”

I looked at the statue again.

“…A foreign peregrinus who came to Totwald seeking divine revelation. He saw God in this land, heard whispers, and received communion – the primal dream.”

I nodded to Amal’s words.

I honestly didn’t understand the second half, but I grasped that he was the person who built the monastery.

“He must have been an amazing person.”

Amal didn’t answer and just gave an ambiguous smile.

“Well then, I guess I’ll go out and get some fresh air.”

“…Yes.”

I started walking toward the door.

After a few steps, I turned around.

“Amal, come with me. Let’s bask in the sun together.”

“…Eh?”

Amal gaped at me with a look that said, what is this guy talking about?

“I mean, let’s go outside together. It’s more fun with two than one, right? …Or do you not want to?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to, but I…”

Amal looked down and clenched her fists tightly. In sync, her silver hair flowed smoothly.

(I wonder what’s wrong with Amal? Does she dislike going outside that much? Maybe she’s worried about getting sunburned because the sun will tan her skin. Well, her skin is really white, so… Huh, white?)

I stopped at that thought and realized something.

Translucent white skin, silver hair, crimson eyes.

Aren’t those the characteristics of albinism? Ah, that’s why she can’t be in the sunlight. I’ve heard that it can burn like a sunburn.

(But… if I fuss over her being an albino too much, that’s not good either. If I keep mentioning it, we won’t be able to do anything.)

More than anything, I didn’t want to leave Amal here alone. I’m aware it’s selfish, but I can’t help it. Besides, Amal is wearing a robe and if she pulls her hood down deeply, she should be fine… I hope.

“If you don’t mind, then there’s no problem. Let’s go, Amal.”

“…Andy-sama.”

“And let’s look at the sky together. It feels warm and nice.”

She squinted her eyes as if dazzled by the light.

And then, she nodded slightly.

“If I look up at the sky with you, even if it’s covered by thick grey clouds or a night sky of unfathomable darkness, it will surely look beautiful.”

With a voice clear as a bell, Amal spoke resonantly. Her appearance was so beautiful that I found myself frozen for a few seconds.

“――You speak like a poet, you know?”

With a puzzled face, Amal furrowed her brows and looked up at me with an upward glance.

“…No one has ever said that to me before.”

“Is that so? Maybe it’s because your words are so beautiful that I think that.”

“Hiu… Ah, Andy-sama!”

I was startled by her sudden loud voice. Eh, what, what happened?

“It’s not fair…”

“Eh, why not?”

“Not fair, not fair!”

She’s like a little child throwing a tantrum.

I couldn’t help but be amazed by Amal stomping her feet.

She’s usually cool and doesn’t change her expression much, so her childlike behavior seemed all the more endearing.

Lately, she’s started to open up to me and show such sides of herself.

I was very happy about it.

“I get it. My bad.”

I raised both hands in a gesture of surrender. It was a bloodless capitulation.

“…You don’t understand at all!”

Amal puffed her cheeks to their limits.

She’s so cute. There’s a squirrel right here.

As I watched her with a grin, Amal sulked and turned her face away with a huff.

“No, really, I’m sorry. Come on, cheer up, will you?”

“…If you escort me properly, then I will join you.”

“Ahaha, leave it to me.”

“Okay, I’m leaving it to you.”

Amal muttered with flushed cheeks.

“――You are our light.”

Amal clasped her hands in front of her chest with a solemn expression as if singing a hymn.

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“Hehe, it means just that.”

Amal laughed.

At that genuine smile, I felt a sense of peace.

Her face was nothing like Shizuka’s, but her way of laughing seemed somewhat similar.

Author’s Note : This concludes this chapter for now.

Ah, it was fun to write. I really wanted to write more about Amal’s interactions, but it would never end.

Well, the next chapter will start with the continuation of the previous one. Please wait warmly.