"…Hmm… as expected, this is no ordinary illness."

  The gentle glow radiating from Farkonia's hands bathed the critically ill girl in its light.

  In order to prevent her from suddenly succumbing to the condition, Farkonia had been using life-sustaining magic while examining her body.

  "...So, it’s impossible to cure her completely, then..."

  Jaya’s expression fell into disappointment.

  "At least for now, I can’t completely cure her. All I can do is keep her alive for the time being."

  Farkonia, though a Green Dragon known for her poison affinity and vitality, was more like a Silver Dragon skilled in various magical attributes, considering her versatility. As for vitality, she did possess an abundance of it, but she was not particurly adept at healing magic. At best, she could make some basic medicine or rely on her immense vitality to push through.

  The situation the girl was facing, however, was unlike any illness Farkonia had ever encountered.

  "How could this happen...?"

  Hearing Farkonia's words, both Jaya and the children eavesdropping from outside the room shared a pained expression.

  "She’s just a child… why…?"

  "...Step aside."

  In Jaya’s moment of despair, a bck-haired girl approached the bed of the girl and cast a spell.

  In an instant, a golden light enveloped the girl. Through the gaps in the glow, one could see her previously emaciated body visibly regaining strength, the changes occurring so quickly that even the children nearby, bathed in some of the golden light, felt their own bodies becoming healthier.

  "...This..."

  Jaya’s eyes widened in disbelief as the girl, once on the brink of death, now fully recovered, her eyes gradually opening.

  "I... I’m...?"

  The girl, now fully awake, looked at Jaya with confusion before breaking into a smile.

  "Sister Jaya, what’s wrong?"

  "Huhurgh..."

  Without warning, Jaya lunged forward, tightly hugging the girl.

  "I’m so gd you’re okay..."

  Tears welled up in Jaya’s eyes as she clung to the girl. Though she was the head of the orphanage, she was still young—far too young to bear the weight of so many things she shouldn’t have to.

  Seeing the girl endure such pain, with no way to help her, only for her to be restored in an instant, Jaya could no longer hold back, revealing a moment of vulnerability.

  ...

  "Sorry for letting you all see such a side of me."

  Jaya finally stopped crying, her eyes red and swollen, though the flush on her face made it almost impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.

  What embarrassed her even more was the presence of several children nearby, trying to comfort her, making her feel immature and unrefined.

  "It’s alright, anyone would act that way in such a situation."

  The words did not come from Farkonia, but from a girl even shorter than some of the children—Misako.

  She fully understood how it felt to leave behind embarrassing memories due to emotional outbursts. After all, not long ago, she had cried like a child because of something Farkonia had said.

  Though her appearance might resemble a child, that didn’t mean she was a child! She was a very mature older sister now!

  "Right… by the way, where’s that dy? I still need to thank her."

  "She’s probably gone up to the rooftop by now. But you don’t need to worry about thanking her. What is a difficult task for us is no more than a wave of her hand to her, and she doesn’t care for thanks at all."

  Aris, after all, was once the Saintess. Healing magic and such were nothing compared to Farkonia’s main focus on attack and mental magic.

  "Is that so… I don’t know why, but I feel a strange sense of familiarity when I’m around her."

  At this, Misako felt a jolt of surprise, though her expression remained unchanged.

  "...Why’s that? You must have met her for the first time, right?"

  "Of course, I know that. It’s just that she reminds me of someone I once knew."

  Jaya’s gaze shifted to the children outside the orphanage, pying with Veridith and Pupu, while Farkonia observed from a distance. A wistful expression crossed her face.

  "About twenty years ago, I was just another orphan here. Back then, the previous headmaster and teachers were still alive. But unlike now, they were cruel people. The other orphans and I had to rely on each other. It was thanks to her healing us that we managed to survive. After she gained some influence, she helped us remove them, and we were granted protection."

  "But in the st few years, she disappeared, and with her disappearance, the support stopped. Eventually, we ended up like this, unable to even gather enough money for medicine."

  As Jaya spoke, Misako seemed to make a connection.

  Twenty years ago… that would have been around the time the "former Saintess" was "purged." That was twelve years before.

  And, considering her age, Misako, by the outside world’s reckoning, was only twenty-three.

  "...Excuse me, Jaya, how old are you now?"

  "Huh? I’m about twenty-four now, I think..."

  'As I thought… but it’s still not certain.'

  To be sure, Misako asked another question.

  "When exactly did she disappear?"

  "...It’s been about eight or nine years. From what I’ve heard, they say she was purged for betraying her faith and committing many cruel acts. But to me, her faith and kindness were greater than anyone’s. How could she have done such things?"

  "..."

  Now, Misako was certain.

  ...

  "Why are you sitting here, bck-haired sister?"

  The girl, now fully recovered, had climbed to the rooftop of the orphanage and was speaking to the girl who had saved her.

  "...Just admiring the view."

  At that moment, Aris, with her bck hair flowing, gazed down at the children pying with Veridith and Pupu, her expression as emotionless as ever.

  "...How’s Jaya been doing recently?"

  Out of nowhere, Aris asked.

  "Hm? I didn’t know before coming here, but recently, aside from being worried about my illness, she’s been very cheerful when she interacts with us."

  "...She’s still like that."

  Aris murmured softly to herself after hearing the answer.

  "Are you familiar with Sister Jaya, bck-haired sister?"

  "......No, not really."

  Aris hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not reveal her identity.

  For them, their identities were far too sensitive, and revealing them could bring disaster.

  Besides, she could no longer return to what she once was.

  '...It’s better if we don’t meet again.'

  Suddenly, she sensed a presence, or rather, a group of presences that filled her with an instinctive revulsion.

  "Hey! All of you inside, come out!"