Episode 11
The sculptor’s house was deep inside the slum and looked just like the other poor houses around it.
‘But… it’s a little bigger than the others.’
Still, except for the size, there wasn’t anything special about it. It was just like all the other run-down houses.
“I’ll call the sculptor,” Pelles said.
“Yes, Pelles-nim,” I replied.
Knock knock — Pelles knocked on the door.
A woman opened it. She looked to be in her early 30s, with long messy brown hair and tired green eyes. Her face looked weak, with deep shadows under her eyes and pale cheeks. She looked exhausted.
“Who are you?” she asked quickly, scanning us.
Pelles stepped forward with a polite smile. “Hello, are you Miss Michelle Serington?”
“Yes, that’s me. But who are you?”
“We’re from the Temple of Lilith,” Pelles said respectfully.
“The temple? Why are you here?”
“We came to ask for your help with a request.”
The woman’s face turned cold. Her eyes lost warmth, and her expression became stiff.
“Temple or not, I don’t take requests anymore. Please leave.”
With that, she slammed the door shut.
Pelles looked at me, confused and unsure what to do. I nodded, telling him to try again.
He nervously knocked again.
Bang! The door opened and Michelle looked angry this time.
“I said I don’t take requests!”
Pelles turned to me again, nervous and flustered.
‘I guess I’ll have to speak now.’
I stepped forward and looked up at her. “What if… instead of money, we offer to treat your husband’s illness?”
Michelle’s face twisted in pain. She looked down at me with cold eyes.
“Kid, don’t joke around. Just go away.”
Her tone was sharp, but I understood. Her husband had been sick for years, and she was under a lot of stress. She wasn’t being mean without reason.
Teron and Pelles looked nervous, but I stayed calm and replied to Michelle.
“It’s worth a try, isn’t it?”
According to Pelles, Michelle’s husband had a disease with no cure. But maybe… there was still a small chance.
Michelle sighed and ran her fingers through her messy hair.
“You’re stubborn…”
Then she opened the door and let us in.
“Thank you for trusting us, Sister.”
I smiled and walked into her house. Pelles and Teron followed behind me, and Michelle closed the door.
Once inside, I was surprised. The house looked smaller than it did from the outside, but every corner was filled with sculptures.
“I’m not that good, so don’t waste your time,” Michelle said coldly, walking past me.
‘So all of these are her works.’
Even someone like me, who knows nothing about art, could tell she was very talented. Her sculptures looked almost alive.
‘I must not lose her.’
I smiled and followed her.
She led us to a room with a big bed.
A man with brown hair was lying on the bed, completely still, like a dead body.
“That’s my husband. He has the ‘Black Crow Disease’.”
I looked at him. He did seem almost dead. His skin was blackened in many places, just like the name of the disease suggested.
‘Black Crow Disease…’
I didn’t know much about it. But Teron whispered to me, “I’ve heard of it. It’s caused by a monster. The skin starts to rot… it’s almost like a curse.”
He had been sick for almost ten years.
“No one has been able to cure him. Do you really think you can?” Michelle asked, half hopeful, half doubtful.
‘She must have already given up on everything…’
I felt sorry for her. I looked at her and answered confidently, “Yes, I believe I can.”
I jumped onto the chair beside the bed — I was still small, and it was hard to reach.
‘Now I can see better.’
I reached out and placed my hand on the man’s hand. Then I remembered the method Lady Lilith taught me, and I used my divine power.
Whoosh—
Dark red light started flowing from my fingers. It spread across the man’s body.
“Oh my…”
“What…!”
Michelle and Pelles gasped, but I stayed focused.
I could see his skin slowly changing back to normal. I didn’t know what was happening inside, but I was sure the power of Lilith was healing him.
“It can’t be…”
Michelle dropped to the floor in shock. She was watching her husband’s black skin return to a healthy color, right before her eyes.
‘It’s done.’
I could feel it. The healing was complete. I removed my hand from him.
Suddenly, my vision blurred.
‘Oh no, I’m dizzy…’
My whole body felt weak. I was about to fall — but someone caught me.
“Are you okay, Saintess?”
It was Teron. He held me and helped me stay steady. For someone my age, he was very strong.
“You’re sweating a lot. Are you alright?”
“Thanks. I’m okay.”
I was dizzy, but not enough to faint.
“Just rest for a bit,” Teron said.
I leaned back in the chair.
“Saintess, are you hurt?” Pelles rushed over.
“I’m fine,” I assured him.
Then, we saw Michelle kneel beside her husband with tears streaming down her face.
“James…?”
The man slowly opened his eyes.
“Mi…Michelle?”
Michelle burst into tears. “Hic… James!”
He reached out to her, crying too.
“You really are amazing, Saintess,” Pelles said.
“To cure Black Crow Disease… and someone as sick as James…”
I smiled and answered, “It wasn’t me. It was Lady Lilith’s power.”
I only used the gift she gave me.
Then Michelle looked up at me in shock.
“Saintess? Are you… really a saintess?”
“Well… yeah, I guess.”
Before coming in, Pelles had only said we were from a temple. So Michelle didn’t know who I was.
Michelle rushed over to me.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t know you were the Saintess of the Valiant Temple.”
Oops.
“No, I’m not from the Valiant Temple anymore,” I corrected her kindly. “That temple now belongs to Lady Lilith. And the power I used came from her as well.”
I smiled warmly. I wanted Michelle to become a follower of Lady Lilith too.
To be continued…
