“Kailas, there is no hope for the Empire. We will definitely leave this damned country someday.”
Kailas’s father hated the Empire for a long time. Right after Kailas was born, he was deceived by a priest and lost all his property.
He appealed his injustice to the temple, but no one listened to him. Instead, they expelled him, saying he insulted the priest chosen by the goddess.
“Are you still the servants of the goddess? All of you should perish! You damned bastards!”
Cursing the temple every day, his father eventually fell ill. The illness of his heart consumed his body as well.
It was Kailas who saved such a father. Her desperate desire to save her dying father blossomed into the power of healing.
“My daughter has become a Wing? You mean she has become a subordinate of the cursed Saint?”
The position of Wing that everyone blessed. Kailas could not be entirely happy. The one person she truly wanted to be blessed by, her father, hated her power.
“The wretched power of the goddess! Choosing my daughter as a Wing? How far do you intend to ruin my life?”
Her father not only hated the priest but also the Saint and the power of the goddess itself.
He could not accept that Kailas became a Wing and that he himself survived thanks to the power of the Wing.
“Father! Where are you? We need to leave now!”
In the end, on the morning Kailas was to leave to meet Josephina, her father disappeared.
“Lady Kailas, it is time to depart. Lady Josephina is waiting for you at the divine palace.”
“Please wait a few days. My father will return soon! He would never leave me alone!”
“I am sorry, Lady Kailas, but we do not have time. And there is no need to wait. It is better that he does not return.”
“Better that he does not return? What do you mean? Are you saying I should live apart from my father for the rest of my life?”
“Yes. I heard that he was one of the few unbelievers in this village. Even after Lady Kailas became a Wing, he resented the goddess’s choice. Lady Kailas, you must protect the Empire as a Wing for the rest of your life. Stay away from unbelievers. Do not make foolish choices because of blood ties.”
Kailas, being alone, could not withstand the pressure from the priests.
She wept as she rode in a huge carriage heading to the capital. Over a hundred knights and priests escorted her. As they passed through cities, people showered her with flowers, blessing Kailas.
Despite the grand reception, Kailas felt only despair.
The sorrow of losing her only family, the sadness of being abandoned by her father, and the hatred towards the priests who separated her from him, all tormented the young girl’s heart.
“So you are Kailas.”
Even when she met Josephina, her condition remained unchanged.
It was said that Wings felt overwhelming joy and tears when they met their master.
She felt nothing.
Everything was just tiresome, overwhelming, and she wanted to hide away.
“Why is this child reacting like this?”
“Her unbelieving father disappeared after she became a Wing. It seems the shock still lingers.”
“I see, that must be it. You may leave and rest. I will wait until you gather your thoughts.”
“…Thank you for your generosity, Lady Saint.”
Fortunately, the first meeting with Josephina went well, but things only worsened afterwards. Her father, who had abandoned her, eventually passed away. Upon hearing the news of his death, Kailas felt as if she had fallen into a bottomless swamp.
“Lady Kailas, Lady Josephina has ordered you to inspect the subjugation forces of the foreign tribes this time.”
“Next, please move to the west. There is an order to assist Lord Tenua in hunting the monsters.”
Fortunately, Josephina had little interest in Kailas. She only cared for Wings with great destructive power like Tenua and Ahwin.
Days without attention or joy. Truly a time fitting the phrase ‘living just because she was alive.’ Then one day, her life completely changed.
* * *
Kailas read the newspaper headline over and over again.
With trembling hands, she caressed the letters spelling out Leticia.
‘She is in this city.’
Her heart pounded like a big drum.
She felt her blood rushing through her veins.
Kailas hid her agitation, making sure Lansen didn’t notice, and lowered her gaze beneath the headline. There was a familiar yet unfamiliar woman’s portrait in black and white.
Josephina’s daughter, Leticia, who claimed to be the new Saint, had requested a private audience with His Majesty the Emperor, declaring herself the sole savior of the Empire…
‘My true master.’
It was just a portrait, but a sparkling excitement spread within her chest.
Kailas realized who Leticia was shortly after Josephina was expelled from the divine palace.
At that time, Kailas was in another city and didn’t know the divine palace was collapsing.
But at that moment, the fog that had filled her mind cleared, revealing that Josephina was a fake.
She felt a sense of liberation, but also resentment and anger.
She wondered why such things had happened to her all this time.
But soon, the reason didn’t matter anymore.
There was something she had to do for Leticia, something only she could do.
“Lansen, there hasn’t been any contact from Lady Josephina yet, has there?”
“Not yet. Damn it.”
Lansen, sprawled on the sofa, grumbled.
“Where on earth is Lady Josephina! With that fake running rampant, what is she doing!”
“Maybe she contacted Kuhn instead of us?”
“Kuhn? That big dumb bear? No way!”
Lansen scowled. He arrogantly swept back his cascading blonde hair and said,
“That guy is much weaker than me. Why would Lady Josephina seek help from such an idiot?”
“Indeed, Kuhn is no match for you. You’re right. Lady Josephina will surely contact you first.”
That’s why I came to you instead of Kuhn. Swallowing the last part of her sentence, Kailas continued.
“So let’s not be impatient and wait. Lady Josephina will soon hear news of the fake. Then we can go to Lady Josephina.”
“True, that’s right. Lady Josephina wouldn’t leave that fake alone. She will surely order revenge. That crazy woman needs a beating.”
Lansen smirked. Kailas neatly folded the newspaper and placed it on a corner of the desk, then put on her coat.
“Kailas, where are you going at this hour?”
“I’m going to check people’s reactions to the extra edition. It would be troublesome if the number of people believing in the fake increases.”
“Ha, you are diligent.”
“And you?”
“I’m fine. I’m sick of the snow.”
Lansen waved his hand dismissively. Kailas, heading towards the door, turned back momentarily. She looked at Lansen’s slouched figure and asked,
“Lansen.”
“What?”
“A Wing that doesn’t follow the Saint must be eliminated, right?”
“Of course, they must be eliminated!”
Lansen burst out angrily.
“Ahwin, Noel, those traitors must all be killed! Tear them apart and feed them to the monsters!”
“Yes, I agree. We must kill the fake Wing as soon as possible.”
Kailas’s eyes darkened as she spoke.
“The fake must disappear so the Saint can gain new Wings.”
* * *
The snow fell more heavily, making it hard to see ahead. The streets were almost empty.
‘Where could she be?’
Kailas left home to see Leticia. Now that she knew her master was in the same city, she wanted to ensure from a distance that she was safe.
‘Of course, she’s safe. The other Wings must be guarding her well.’
Ahwin, Noel, Callisto, and the knight from the Principality who was newly chosen by the goddess. Leticia would be well protected by such formidable guards, unlike Kailas, who lacked combat skills.
‘Still, just once, I want to see her face, even from afar.’
After realizing that Josephina was a fake, the emotions that tormented Kailas for a long time were anger and resentment, but also guilt. She felt deeply sorry for not recognizing Leticia while she was being abused. Therefore, she couldn’t bring herself to appear before her.
‘Ahwin at least often cared about her.’
Sometimes, Ahwin would ask Kailas to make potions that left no trace of healing. Back then, she complied without much thought, but now she understood.
‘While Ahwin helped her with potions, what was I doing?’
A troubled sigh turned into a misty breath. She had her reasons, but it was true that she didn’t fulfill her duties as a Wing. Looking up at the snowy sky, Kailas started walking briskly again.
‘Let’s do what I can now. When Josephina contacts me, I’ll kill Lansen and then eliminate Josephina. That way, I can atone for my sins against her.’
She knew it wouldn’t be easy. It would be dangerous. But Kailas didn’t want to stop. She had been merely existing for years, always feeling lethargic and depressed. Now, her life had completely changed.
‘I finally feel alive.’
Everything in the world, which she had previously overlooked, now had meaning. She felt emotions. What might seem insignificant to others felt like a miracle to her.
‘So, I hope I can do well until the end.’
Her only wish now was to use Lansen to take down Josephina. That was it. Kailas found herself in the middle of the square. She slowly lowered her hood, letting her dark blue hair ripple wildly. She gazed into the air.
‘Spirits of the wind, find me, quickly.’
Kailas knew that Ahwin’s spirits were looking for her. Until now, she had evaded their pursuit using the power of the Wing.
But now, she deliberately revealed her presence. The pure healing power. Ahwin’s spirits would surely find her.
They would soon return to their master. Kailas intended to follow them. Leticia would be there. After confirming her safety, she planned to leave before Ahwin found her.
‘There it is!’
Kailas’ eyes sparkled. Not far away, she sensed the familiar presence of the wind spirits.
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