Pure Cradle

Hmm... What to do...

Oh, if it isn't the guy we saw while looking for Milky. Didn't he move to Rinde?

Oh, it is! Hey, mister!

Oh, Mariel! Thank goodness it's you! You see, your mother has come to Rinde for the kingdom's 300th anniversary...

What?! My mother...the head priest?! What to do? If she sees me, she'll force me to go back!

Mariel, you have it all wrong!

Huh?

Oh, sorry for shouting. I just need you to calm down. You see your mother, she was attacked...

What?!

She's at the inn right now with the healer. I've only just come back, so that's all I know. You should talk to the healer yourself.

All right...

I'm sure she'll be fine. You shouldn't worry too much.

Thank you...

Well then, I have to get going.

Mariel...you know, I have a weird feeling about all this.

Aldo...

Anyway, let's head to the inn. We should talk to that healer.

O...Okay. ......

Erm, excuse me, sir? I've heard that the head priest is here. Is that true?

Oh, what a surprise. She's resting up on the second floor. Excuse me, miss, you look quite a lot like her...

Yes, the head priest is my mother.

Well well, you must have been worried. But it's touching to see a daughter care so much for her mother. Don't worry, she'll be fine.

......

For now she just needs to rest.

I've done what I can, but it's just a temporary treatment.

Healer, what's wrong with the head priest?!

Now now, what's wrong? No need to get out of sorts.

This is the head priest's daughter.

Oh...I see, I see. Calm down. It's just a minor illness. She's been infected by a low-level virus.

Huh?

That's good news, isn't it! It's nothing serious!

......

Mariel?

Huh? Oh, yes! It is!

They used to call it the "Twilight Sickness" back in the day, and people were scared of it. These days modern medicine means it's much more treatable. It's so rare these days, I don't have the ingredients for the medicine.

You don't...have the ingredients?

Oh, yes! You can find them in the Moonlight Forest!

What are moondrops? I go to the Moonlight Forest all the time and haven't heard of them before.

They're drops of water you can only find on the surface of a still lake bathed in moonlight.

Oh. So you want us to go and collect those drops for you?

Moondrops. I've gone dug some up before, too.

Really? Aldo!

Yeah, it's for a ceremony.

I see...!

I can get the rest of the ingredients myself, so that should be enough.

Okay, then let's head out! To the Moonlight Forest!

Yes!

Erm, is this the right area?

Let's see, shall we?

......

The wind has died down, and the moonlight is reflecting just right. Now we just need the chant...

Chapter 9, verse 30 of the holy book. The divine waters that flow from your hand are the source of all life...

We got the moondrops!

Incredible. You know, you really looked like a priest just then.

I'm still just a trainee. But we use these drops in the temple trials too, so I've collected them before.

Ah...

Temple trials? So you have tests too.

I'm sure you can pass them without any trouble!

......

I...won't take the trials.

What?

I'm not meant to be a temple elder.

Why not? Your healing powers are incredible. You're always so helpful during battles.

There's more to being a temple elder than just healing the body...

......

Once, when I was little, I was left to look after the temple on my own. A man came to the temple.

He said something to me. "I'm hurting. Please, call the priest." For as long as I can remember, through all my training I always excelled at healing. I guess that's why I felt I could handle it. I told him I could do it, and healed him. But... He didn't look pleased. "Miss, thank you. But it wasn't my body that needed healing. It's my heart..."

His heart...

When I told him I was alone, he started to smile. He left, didn't say where he was going. I... I'll never forget that sad smile of his.

To pass the temple trials you have to recite the dark chant and show you've learned the mid-level healing techniques. So in one way, it's not so hard to pass the trials... But if I can't heal a man's heart, I have no business taking the trials. That's why...

You left home to avoid the temple trials?

It's true that I also wanted to see the world!

But yes, I did want to escape from the trials...

I wouldn't call it escaping. You'd had a tough experience.

You had to take care of yourself too. Anyway, let's get these drops to your mother.

Aldo... Yes, thank you!

You're back. Did you get the moondrops?

Please, help the head priest...

Don't worry. I have the rest on the second floor, it'll be ready in a moment.

How did it go?!

This is...unusual. I've never seen anything like it. The medicine should have worked fine, but her body's rejecting it for some reason.

It's almost like she's rejecting it on purpose...

Of course...

You know what's going on?

I thought it was strange. My mother is one of the most powerful healers at the temple. There's no way she'd contract such a low level illness. It's all my fault... It's because she's been so worried about me that she fell ill...

Mariel. What if you were to go and see her?

I...can't heal a person's heart. Besides, the head priest was so mad when I left home.

Miss!

You're...the thief!

Ahahah... I've not been a thief for a long time. Thank you for the help. Thanks to you, I've been hired as a temple guard. Anyway, when I heard that the head priest was ill, I came here right away to see how she was doing.

Thank you! But I'm so scared to meet the head priest. She'll be so disappointed. I know that I should go and see her, but...

It's okay, Mariel. You healed my dark and troubled heart.

My wife would often fall ill. I worked so hard to provide for her, but we were still so poor. I would borrow money from all over just to pay for the medicines.

Then when my son was born, my wife's body couldn't handle the stress. I hated the world when that happened. I lost all faith.

And as you know, that's when I turned to thieving, just to get enough food for me and my son...

When we met that day, you saved my heart.

I saved...your heart?

Yes. Your words, they healed my broken heart.

...... Thank you. You've given me courage!

Looks like you're ready. Let's go. Your mother's waiting.

Yes!

Head Priest... I'm sorry... It's all my fault...

Ma...ri... el...

Head Priest?

Maybe she's waking up!

No... This is how she's been the whole time. She's been calling your name. I'm around the same age as her, so I can understand how she must feel. You ran away from home, didn't you? I heard it from someone close to her.

Yes...

The head priest must have been angered by such an act. But as a mother, I bet she couldn't help but support her daughter's will.

You mean the head priest... I hadn't thought of it like that. Making me call her Head Priest, I always thought she only saw me as a temple initiate.

Well, I suppose the head priest had to be strict with herself. You lived together in the temple. If she didn't keep the distance between you, she might have given you special treatment.

Head Priest... Maybe I misunderstood you. You were protecting me the whole time...

Mari...el...

Aaargh!

This is the source of the Twilight Sickness?!

An illness that attaches itself to weakened hearts... I shall cleanse it from you!

It worked!

Head Priest!

It's no use... Why won't she wake up?! Head Priest...

No, Mother... I'm sorry for making you worry. I didn't understand you... I never understood you! Please, we haven't finished training... I want to hear you shout at me again... Please, come back to me! Mother!

...... Mariel...is that you?

Mother...

...... I'm the Head Priest. How many times have I told you to call me that?

Oh... I'm sorry... Head Priest...

You have something else to apologize for. You ran away from the trials.

I apologize for leaving the temple without your permission. But I know I can't go back there until I've learned how to heal people's hearts.

You really are a stubborn one. You remind me of someone.

That's good, Mariel. But whatever your reasons, as the Head Priest I have to take you back.

Wait. What about how Mariel feels about this?

This is a temple issue. I'd rather you mind your own business.

What?! Aldo has been helping me save you, Head Priest!

Well...thank you for that. Please, forgive my rudeness. But still, it changes nothing. I can't allow any outside influences affect Mariel's decision.

......

Well well, looks like my work is done. I'll take my leave. Why don't you come with me.

B-But!

It's okay, I'm not going to try anything funny.

......

Head Priest...

They can't hear us now.

Huh?

We're all alone now, just mother and daughter. We can drop the formalities now. Now, call me mother like you did before?

Wh-What...

No one will know. What harm will it do if you don't call me Head Priest here?

M-Mother...

Thank you, Mariel. You've grown so much.

Mother!

I... In truth I want to support you and your travels the way your father does... But being at the top of an organization comes with certain responsibilities. I always have to push my personal feelings down, further and further. I had to be that hard on you. But now, to see how far you've come, saving me...

I...still don't know. I can't help but think that the only reason I was able to save you is because we are related.

Another person I tried to save, a man who came to the temple... In the end I couldn't save his soul.

A man... Mariel. That man who recently started working at the temple, you know him?

Right...I guess I couldn't deceive you. You're too sharp.

No, it's not that. That person told me about you. "I once came to this temple, a long time ago." "But all the priests of the temple were out." He said that a young girl there healed him. That was you, wasn't it, Mariel?

That's...! So then that man, at some point I must have...

Right, Mariel. That memory doesn't have to hold you back anymore.

What a strange series of events... I never thought I'd see that man again.

Fate works in mysterious ways. You should be thankful.

Yes! Then I'll work hard to become a priest! But...

Mother. I still want to travel the world! I've learned something, traveling with Aldo. The world is so much bigger than I ever dreamed! I'm sure that expanding my horizons will help me when I finally come back. Somehow.

I hope you learn a lot.

M-Mother?

I told you, didn't I? Right now I'm not your head priest. As your mother, I see no sense in forcing you to come back. I'm sure the "Pure Cradle" will help you and your friends.

Pure Cradle?

You don't know about it? The light that embraced my heart.

It's a technique that even high level elders find difficult. It can be performed without needing to chant...

M-Mother?

I-It's nothing. As the head priest, it's not something I'm able to talk about often. I'm proud of you.

...... Thank you! There's something I've wanted to tell you as well. You may be strict, but you're always honest, and whatever happens, you're always so poised and elegant. I love you, Mother!

Mariel! How did it go?!

What's wrong, Aldo? Why that look on your face?

Okay, let's get back to our adventure!

Huh? But didn't the head priest say she had to take you back?

What are you saying? There's no head priest up there.

Yes, she's gone.

What? But... Something fishy's going on...

You're not the sharpest boy, are you?

Heheh, you're acting strange, Aldo! If you're going to stare like that, I think I'll just leave you here!

H-Hey, wait up, Mariel!

The head priest and an initiate, two of the most stubborn people I've ever met. I guess you've finally become mother and daughter.