New Calendar year 1365. Constantine was twenty years old.
The future Grand Commander of the Holy Spirit Knights was then only a newly initiated Holy Spirit Knight of two years, the youthfulness not yet fully faded from his square face.
The white warhorse neighed as it galloped across the plains, full of vigor. But Constantine, who rode upon it, wore a starkly different expression.
Anger.
His short brown hair whipped in the wind. His eyes, uncovered by his helmet's visor, stared intently at the towering flames at the edge of his vision, mirroring his teacher—the old knight who was stroking his chin not far ahead.
“We're too late.”
The old knight withdrew his gaze and smacked his lips, saying nothing else.
He simply whistled, urging his horse to pick up the pace.
It was a common sight, but to Constantine, it was different.
This was his first mission to the human-demon border, tasked with capturing a Flame Demon fugitive. Before leaving, he had specifically researched the files, memorizing the landmarks of the areas where the target might flee.
The landmark here was Wheat Ear Village. True to its name, it was an incredibly ordinary village, sprouting across human territory like ears of wheat.
Hardworking farmers, simple villagers, fields always planted with various crops, and children running around barefoot in the streets.
Such was the village that was now being consumed by towering flames.
“Why would anyone do this...?”
Hatred contorted his face, and his words came out harsh and grating through his clenched teeth.
The Flame Demon Balor, Rank Four, a scion of Abyss City's Flame Demon Court. After reaching adulthood, he left the Royal Court and began launching indiscriminate attacks on human settlements along the border.
Before setting out, the old knight had already told Constantine what kind of opponent they were dealing with.
Even so, he still felt consumed by rage.
“What does that bastard think lives are?!”
“Calm down, Constantine.”
The old knight yawned.
“Don't let anger cloud your mind. You will see plenty of this in the future. You must stay clear-headed and remember who caused all of this.”
“...”
He tightened his grip on the reins.
It was the Demon King.
The demon who ruled over that inherently sinful race, shamelessly clinging to life in this world.
The horses galloped swiftly, and the two of them soon drew close to the burning village.
The flames conjured by most Flame Demons were no different from normal fire. Thus, the thatched straw roofs became perfect fuel, burning the torn flesh to release a pungent, sickening aroma.
Constantine bit his lip, trying to force himself to stay calm, and so he failed to notice the expression on the old knight's face beside him.
Surprise, confusion, and a faint, underlying fanaticism.
“Constantine, move.”
Holy light erupted, forming a protective barrier about two meters in diameter around the old knight as he charged into the sea of fire.
Constantine snapped out of it, lowered his visor, and focused his mind.
A dense white light swirled around him, and the holy spirit sigil engraved on his visor flared with light.
“The Maiden Who Plucks the Blazing Sun”
Holy light surged, creating a shield about three meters in diameter around Constantine.
Forcing down the rage in his heart, he followed the old knight, charging toward the center of the blazing inferno.
At the center of the sea of fire, he saw the old knight halted not far away. On the ground sat Balor, his crotch already reeking of a foul stench, looking exactly like the dissolute, red-horned youth on the wanted poster. And next to him was a girl.
—A girl?
No, calling her a girl was a stretch.
Judging by her back, she looked to be only about six years old. 'Toddler' or 'young child' would be more accurate.
With the child as the center, the fire was kept at bay ten meters away.
Amidst the endless flames, that spot seemed to be the only pure land promised by God.
There was only her and the Flame Demon.
The old knight's eyes were wide, wearing an expression so dumbfounded that even Constantine found it foolish.
The young child seemed completely oblivious to their arrival, merely walking slowly toward Balor.
“Get away from me! Monster! Monster!!!”
Balor kept crawling backward, only to be blocked by an invisible wall just as he was about to retreat into the flames.
The child watched him in silence.
Constantine could only see her long hair, which was as boundlessly and breathtakingly blue as the sky.
As she advanced, the flames receded before her, refusing to offer any aid to the Flame Demon.
Crack, crack—it was the sound of bones shattering.
Balor collapsed inward, as if struck by an invisible sledgehammer.
The further she advanced, the flatter Balor became. His initial curses turned into meaningless gibberish, eventually fading into a dead silence, leaving only the sound of bones and flesh being crushed into mush.
Finally, she stopped, staring blankly at the mangled heap of flesh before her.
The flames dissipated completely.
Thud.
The old knight dismounted in a hurry and slammed his forehead hard against the ground. The sound made the young child turn her head.
Her sky-blue eyes seemed entirely untouched by filth, filled only with the confusion and curiosity of a young fawn in the forest.
“A miracle! It's a miracle!!! Praise the Pope! Praise the Holy Spirit!! Lady Saintess!!! Lady Saintess!!!”
The old knight praised loudly, causing the girl to look at him with confusion. She then shifted her gaze behind him, looking at Constantine, who was hesitating whether to step forward.
She spoke, her voice devoid of joy or sorrow, like a campfire extinguished by a cold, driving rain.
“Are you here to kill me too?”
The sky was still as blue as ever, but after that day, Constantine never saw those clear, pure eyes again.
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