[V9 Bonus 2] Cordula Linke and the Two Saint Candidates
Translated by Jodas 9: Battle for the TowerCordula Linke, having lost both her parents at a young age, grew up in the orphanage along with her younger brother.
That orphanage would see regular charity visits by candidates aspiring to be the next Saint Helena.
Each and every one of those candidates were as beautiful as they were kind.
On those charity visits, those girls would perform their hymns with silky voices, recite their psalms with dignified voices, and care for the ill and wounded with elegant hands.
Cordula, and all of the other kids in the orphanage, loved the Saint Candidates. Every time, they impatiently waited for the day those girls would come.
One day, Cordula’s brother caught a cold that was going around and soon became bedridden. He developed a terrible cough and a fever that simply wouldn’t abate.
Cordula begged the orphanage’s overseer to spare some medicine, but said overseer only mocked her.
“You orphans should be grateful to me for letting you live here and giving you food! And yet you still ask for more, do you? You greedy little scamp!” —The overseer shouted at Cordula and slapped her on the cheek.
It was no use asking the overseer for medicine. But at this rate, there would be no saving her brother. After all, he’d already gone five days without any food at all. Simply drinking water was enough to send him into a coughing fit, and he couldn’t even sit up anymore.
With no options left, Cordula made her way to the facility where the Saint Candidates resided.
Those kind Saint Candidates, the merciful Helenas, would surely come to her brother’s aid. She was certain they would bless her with some medicine.
With those beliefs in her heart, she knocked on the doors, yet an old nun appeared, turning her away on the spot: “The Helenas are all busy with their duties at the moment.”
“Please, I beg you, give me some medicine. My brother’s coughing won’t stop. Please!”
She saw some people further back who were clearly empty-handed. Yet, when they caught sight of Cordula’s pleading eyes, they all averted their eyes and shuffled off in a hurry.
(Why, why, why won’t you help me? You were so nice when you came to the orphanage.)
Those Saint Candidates who had smiled so kindly at the orphanage now acted as if Cordula didn’t exist. Even at her young age, Cordula could understand why.
The only reason they had been so kind at the orphanage was because it was their job as Saint Candidates. Nothing more.
Their duties as Saint Candidates were their top priorities. Of course they would prioritize those over the pleas of some child from the orphanage.
Cordula abandoned the idea of asking the Saint Candidates and stomped out onto the streets.
On her way back, someone grabbed her arm. She looked to see a shifty-looking middle-aged man.
The man yanked Cordula up towards his reddened face and spoke with alcohol reeking from each breath.
“You’re looking for medicine, aren’tcha little missy? How ‘bout this: if you do a little something for me, I’ll buy you some medicine!”
This was no good. Cordula said “No thanks.” as she tried to dislodge her arm.
However, the man’s hand showed no sign of letting go of Cordula’s tiny wrist.
“Please let go of me!”
“Come on, just come with me!”
The man’s hand tightened around Cordula’s arm. He gave the impression he didn’t care if he ended up breaking her arm.
It hurt. She was scared. What could she do? Cordula screamed “Help me!” but no one came. No one would even spare a glance to such an obviously poor little girl.
—”You orphans should be grateful to me for letting you live here and giving you food! And yet you still ask for more, do you? You greedy little scamp!”
The voice of the orphanage overseer echoed in her head. The overseer was right. It was presumptuous for her to even think about asking for help.
“Hold it right there.”
Suddenly, someone stepped between Cordula and the man. It was a young girl in a nun’s habit — one of the prospective Helenas. The one the others had called ‘Calm Helena.’
“Let go of her.”
Calm Helena stared down the man with an icy gaze.
Her greenish eyes, ringed by long blonde lashes, carried a determination as strong as steel: letting him know she wouldn’t take a single step back.
“All I said was that I’d buy her some medicine!”
“Then let me go along with you. I am well-versed in apothecaryship. I would like to watch and ensure the medicine is not handled improperly.”
The man clicked his tongue, the brought his fist down on Calm Helena.
Cordula inhaled sharply as Calm Helena staggered… but she did not scream.
Even when knocked onto her butt, she would not kneel. She lifted her bruised face slowly and looked into the man’s eyes.
“Are you satisfied yet?”
Her bruised face remained unperturbed as she stared directly at the man.
“If you are satisfied, then let us go and purchase the medicine. The patient’s care takes priority.”
The man wavered, shaken by Calm Helena’s pressure.
With wobbling legs, the man turned his back and ran away.
That man had no intentions of buying any medicine in the first place. He only intended to use that as pretext to do terrible things to Cordula.
Calm Helena glanced at Cordula.
The bruise on her face looked so painful, yet she nevertheless spoke without letting any of that show through on her face.
“That man abandoned his responsibility, but there is no need to worry. The medicine is already…”
Before Calm Helena could finish her sentence, someone came running up to them.
It was another of the prospective Helenas, with slightly darker skin and black hair. If she remembered correctly, this one was the one who was an outstanding singer. The one they called ‘Singing Helena.’
“Helena! I brought the medicine! …Hold on, your face!”
Singing Helena looked like she was on the verge of tears as she touched Calm Helena’s cheeks.
Calm Helena’s expression softened ever so slightly.
“It’s nothing to worry about, Helena. More importantly, you’d best and get that medicine to Jörn as quickly as you can.”
Cordula was shocked by those words.
“That’s my brother’s… name…”
“Yes, I remember. You’re Cordula, and your brother is Jörn.”
A beautiful yet cold gaze.
A beautiful yet cold voice.
Why, then, did she feel so warm?
Calm Helena offered a pale hand to Cordula.
“Now, please, bring us to him.”
Singing Helena smiled in an attempt to cheer Cordula up.
“I brought apples too! Don’t worry, I’m sure little Jörn will get better!”
At that moment, Cordula thought that these people had what it took to be Saint Helena.
It was unimaginable that anyone other than these two would be selected.
And yet, it was ultimately someone else who was chosen as Saint Helena, and both Calm Helena and Singing Helena left the monastery.
“Director Linke.”
Library Office Director Cordula Linke came to a stop when Guidance Office Director Hegelich called out to her.
She understood what he wanted to say. It had to be about the Shaman Sophie and the treatment of Julius, who had been arrested for treason.
Hegelich was concerned for the Apprentice Mages.
“You’re being too hasty with the exile of young Julius. Headmaster Möbius hasn’t even made it back yet…”
“If you’re asking me, as Assistant Headmaster Miriam’s trusted confidant, to speak to her on your behalf, I refuse.”
Hegelich winced bitterly at Linke’s gentle but firm denial.
Since Linke and Hegelich were of similar age, neither of them felt the need to restrain themselves around the other.
“I know you’ve pledged your loyalty to Assistant Headmaster Miriam, but…”
“Please do not misunderstand me, Director Hegelich. This is not loyalty.”
Both Satie and Miriam were beloved by God. If they weren’t, then what was the purpose of God at all?
“I believe that her faith will some day be rewarded.”
“…Is that your way of expressing your faith?”
Linke smiled in response to Hegelich’s question.
The same smile that young girl showed to those two Saint Candidates back then.
“It’s nothing so grand. I just really like her.”