"She is the Saintess."

  Both Marie and Dame Aisha turheir heads sharply toward the source of the voice.

  Standing a short distance away, her crimson cloak billowing slightly in the o breeze, was Ravenna. Her expression was unreadable—ster not unkind, her violet eyes studying them both with quiet iy.

  Marie’s breath hitched ihroat.

  “M-Master?” she stammered, her wide brown eyes filled with shod uainty.

  Beside her, Dame Aisha immediately straightened and bowed deeply.

  "Yhness."

  Ravenna stepped forward with a deliberate grace, her heeled boots sinking slightly into the sand before she came to a stop in front of them. Her gaze lingered on Marie for a long moment before she finally spoke again.

  "I had hoped to keep this truth hidden for a little while longer," Ravenna admitted, a hint of irritation g her tone. "But it seems fate has other pns."

  She turo Dame Aisha, her expression hardening.

  "I trust you uand the weight of this revetion?"

  Dame Aisha straightened, her posture rigid with the weight of responsibility.

  "I son my honor as a knight, Yhness, I will not speak of this to another soul."

  Ravenna studied her for a moment befiving a small nod of approval.

  "Good."

  Marie fidgeted, her hands curling into fists at her sides. She still hadn’t fully processed what was happening. How did Ravenna know? How long had she known? And if she did… why hadn’t she said anything before?

  Before she could voiy of her questions, Ravenna turned her attention back to her.

  "Now, Marie. We have more pressing matters to attend to."

  Marie blinked in fusion.

  "Huh?"

  "Your dress fitting. We o have it tailored before our departure to the capital." Ravenna stated, already turning on her heel and starting toward the waiting carriage.

  Marie, still dazed, cast o g Dame Aisha. The knight gave her a reassuring nod, though there was an undeniable curiosity behind her gaze.

  Snapping back to the present, Marie quickly dipped into a small bow.

  "Thank you for today's lesson, Dame Aisha!" she called before scrambling to catch up with Ravenna.

  The moment Marie climbed into the carriage, her heart was still pounding in her chest, and her hands felt cmmy against the fabric of her dress. She barely had time to steady herself before Ravenna, seated across from her, let out an exasperated sigh.

  "I thought you knew better than to use your powers in public."

  Marie winced.

  "I do!" she insisted. "My father always told me to hide them—to never heal in front of others. But… it was a reflex this time."

  She gnced down at her hands, flexing her fingers as if expeg the wound to still be there. It wasn’t. She had healed herself without even thinking.

  Ravenna clicked her tongue and leaned back against the cushioned seat, rubbiemple with one hand.

  "Holy, I 't believe you mao survive as a sve all this time without slipping up, given how little trol you seem to have over yourself."

  The words, though not meant to be cruel, struck Marie like a dagger to the chest. Her breath hitched, and before she could stop it, her eyes stung with uears.

  Ravenna, realizing her mistake, immediately sighed again—this time with a hint ret.

  "Alright, alright—stop with the waterworks. I get it, okay?"

  Marie gulped, blinking rapidly, but the emotions refused to be suppressed. Her voice cracked as she whispered,

  "I just… I got too fortable. I let my guard down."

  And just like that, the dam broke.

  Tears spilled down her cheeks, silent at first, but then her shoulders trembled, and a quiet sob escaped her lips.

  Ravenna's eyes widened slightly, clearly caught off guard.

  "Oh, for the love of—" She groaned under her breath before shifting closer, her hand reag out hesitantly before finally resting on Marie’s head.

  The touch was warm. Firm.

  Marie ched her jaw, pressing her lips together as more tears fell.

  The weight of her past bore down on her shoulders like an unshakable shadow—the years of loneliness, of hiding. The memories of her father resurfaced like ghosts, vivid and ag. She could still feel his calloused hands ing hers in rough linen when she’d scrape them on the vilge roads, hear the deep yet gentle ce of his voice whispering remio always be careful.

  She remembered the warmth of their tiny home, the flickering ntern casting soft golden light against the wooden walls, the distant ughter of the vilge children pying outside. But that warmth had been ripped away, repced by the cold, uing dark of the sve cells.

  The stench of damp straw. The sharp g of iron bars. The gnawing ache of huwisted her stomatil it became a dull, stant pain. The fear—the suffog, ever-presehat she wouldn’t survive another day. That someone would discover her secret. That she would be dragged away and never see the light again.

  She had spent so many nights swallowiears, f herself to stay strong, to endure.

  Because if she had broken down then, no one would have beeo pick up the pieces.

  But now… now, for the first time in what felt like forever, she didn’t have to hold it all in.

  The realization shattered something inside her. A quiet, stifled sob turned into an untrolble flood of tears, her body trembling with the forotions she had buried for too long.

  Raven out a small, almned sigh, but this time, there was no impatien it.

  She shifted closer, her movements slow and deliberate, as if unsure of what to do. Then, after a brief pause, she reached out and pced a hand atop Marie’s head. It was an awkward gesture—hesitant, unpracticed—but it was warm.

  Gentle.

  f in a way that caught Marie pletely off guard.

  Ravenna ruffled her hair lightly, exhaling anh—softer now, as if the weight of Marie’s sorrow had settled on her shoulders, too.

  "What am I going to do with you?" she muttered, shaking her head.

  Marie let out a shaky breath, her sobs quieting just a little. She buried her fa her hands, her fingers curling into the fabric of her sleeves, as the st of her tears spilled freely.

  But the unbearable heaviness in her chest felt just a little lighter.

  And for that, she was grateful.

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