Lucia Thinks of the Sacred Maiden

Missus Romina answered my frantic question with a quiet voice. “She was summoned to the Remora Temple, and after purifyin’ the Cristallo Sacro, she was sent home from the same temple.”

“The same...temple?”

That meant that she had to go back to the same spot she was summoned — in Miss Maria’s case, the Castle in the Kingdom of Banfield — to go home again.

My heart was beating so fast. I didn’t know all the details of how, but once I did...I would be sad to see her go. But since she was brought here against her will, I had to find a way to send her back!

“Do you know exactly how she went home!?”

“Exactly? I don’t know that much. I already told the Captain, but ye’d probably be able to find out if ye went to the temple yerselves. But yer country really didn’t know how to send her back? Ye’d think they’d wanna know before summonin’ her in the first place.”

I wonder... Could His Highness have known how to send her home all along, but just said nothing? I didn’t know, but Miss Maria’s face when we last saw each other was the only thing I could think of. I wasn’t sure how His Highness felt about Miss Maria, or why he needed a “Sacred Maiden.”

“I’m back...” Sir Celes came in the door behind me.

“Ah!”

“Ah...”

The moment we saw each other, our faces both went red. I-It’s hard to look him in the face!

“Oh, welcome back. Have ye cooled yer head a bit?” Missus Romina gave him a cold glance, and Sir Celes gave her a sour-faced nod back.

“...Yes. Thank you for your consideration.”

“Really, ye gotta calm down. What’re ye doin’, jumpin’ her the moment she loves ye back? This is the problem with men. Usin’ the wrong head.”

“I can’t argue with you.”

Listening to her scold Sir Celes, I realized. He loved me too. So that really wasn’t a dream. But...how did Missus Romina know? I looked at her questioningly — because I was still too embarrassed to look at Sir Celes.

“Don’t give me that look,” she cackled. “I asked the Captain all about it when he carried ye back inside. But ye did well, sneakin’ out. I didn’t notice at all. So ye snuck out, got rid of the monster, became a couple with the Captain, and fainted while ye kissed. Ye had a busy night, girlie.”

“P-Please stop...”

Hearing it all again was so embarrassing! Stop, please! I just want to run away!

While I sat there worrying, Missus Romina laid back into Sir Celes. “Now, Captain. Don’t ye have somethin’ ye want to say? Do it quick. Once yer done, I’ll take ye to Ezio’s place.”

“Ezio?”

“Sherezo’s chief. Ye need money and supplies for travelin’, don’t ye? If the whole village gets together, we could pull together enough for the two of ye.”

So we were going to ask him for help? I didn’t really understand, but I nodded anyway.

“Lucia.”

“Yes!”

Looking nervous, Sir Celes came over to me. “I’m sorry about last night... I didn’t mean to force you like that. I was just so happy. I’m really sorry!”

“Eh, ah... No, um...”

“I won’t try to rush anymore, or force you into anything, so will you forgive me? Or...am I too late?”

Why was he apologizing? I tilted my head in confusion, but then remembered that I had fainted because I couldn’t breathe. So that was why he was apologizing!

“You don’t need to apologize. I just couldn’t breathe very well. I’m sorry for surprising you like that. I must have fallen right asleep afterwards.”

“Ye couldn’t breathe... Girlie, why not?” Missus Romina cut in.

“I don’t know... I just couldn’t breathe in.”

“Ye know, ye gotta breathe out to breathe in. Were ye doin’ both?”

“Um...”

I realized once Missus Romina pointed it out that she was right. You need to breathe out before you could breathe in again. Was I breathing out? My memories were fuzzy, so I couldn’t remember well, but I don’t think I was.

“Well, whatever. Now that yer done breakfast, let’s get ye goin’.”