Saintess Summons Skeletons

Sofia got on her knees in front of the trembling young girl, putting on the brightest smile she could muster.

“Of course, I am real, Chino. And I am with you now, no need to be scared.”

“Th- Then why… Why is everyone…” Chino started, the end of her sentence dying in her throat, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Sofia got closer, gently wiping off Chino’s tears with her sleeve, and pulling the little girl into a hug.

“Why is everyone else not real?” Sofia completed for her as the little girl sobbed in her arms, “It is my fault. Because this is just a dream.”

“It’s not!” Chino denied, pulling herself away slightly, her wet eyes staring up into Sofia’s, “It’s not your fault and it’s not a dream! You’re lying! Why… Why do you lie…”

Chino’s expression turned ugly, her red eyes ready to unleash another torrent of tears. Sofia pulled her back in, holding her tight and caressing her hair like she normally would when Chino got sick, which happened often.

“It is not the full truth but it is not a lie,” Sofia calmly whispered, “Why do you think I would lie to you? I have never told you a lie, you know?”

“I know… When people lie…” Chino mumbled, tighly gripping Sofia’s clothes.

“I love you a lot and I never want to hurt you,” Sofia told her, still caressing her fluffy black hair, “So? Did I lie?”

The child did not answer but Sofia could feel her chest getting wet from her tears through the fabric.

You were always such a cute crybaby…

I can’t believe I never noticed your abilities before…

In a strenuous effort, Sofia pushed the meager mana she possessed as a level 1 human through her right hand, activating the only skill she could possibly cast with so little and her current body.

[Identify]

A system notification appeared, blurry but readable.

[Mage - Level 3]

Sofia let out a silent sigh. No wonder she never said a single word about her past. She was five when she entered the orphanage…

“Can you do something for me, Chino?”

“Hnnn?”

“I need you to think about the word ‘Status’ very strong, then ‘Share’. Can you do that? Status and Share.”

“I- I can try…”

[Trust level threshold sufficient - security lifted]

Chino’s status window opened in front of Sofia’s eyes, again quite blurry, but readable.

Name : Chino

Age : 6

Class : [Grand Arbiter]

Level : 3

Health : 60/60

Stamina : 8/60

Mana : 57/60

Active Skills (2 / 5)

[Leave No Chance] - Level 2

[Suffer No Pain] - Level 3

Passive Skills (2 / 5)

[Fear No Evil] - Level 28

[Trust No Lie] - Level 52

Classless Skills (1 / 5)

[Mental Shell] - Level 13

“Perfect, you can stop, thank you, Chino.”

“What happened?” Chino asked, looking up at Sofia again.

“Magic that lets me know you better,” Sofia answered, “Now I’m sure that there is nothing wrong with you,” she added, booping Chino on the nose. “Want me to read you a story?”

“Hnnnn…” Chino approved weakly in Sofia’s arms.

“Then… Actually I don’t need a book.” Moving a bit to prop her back against the wall, Sofia looked down at Chino with a warm smile, “Let me tell you the story of someone who has hair the same color as yours, it’s the strongest black dragon that saved everyone…”

Chino calmed down as Sofia recounted an embellished version of what she knew of Erredis’ childhood, her eyes gradually closing.

So easy to distract and so quick to fall asleep in my arms… Some things never change…

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Sofia felt her tears well up again, her thoughts having strayed for but an instant at how she wished she could do the same for the others. Doing her best to hastily empty her mind, she took a deep breath.

Carefully standing up, Sofia walked to another corner of the library, to the worn but comfortable armchair that she had used for years, and gently placed Chino on it, before silently leaving the library. A minute later she came back carrying a few things. She draped a thin blanket over the sleeping child and placed a cup of water with some snacks nearby.

It was clear that this Chino, just like everyone else here, was just an illusion. Not even an imprint, just a fake, a figment of her imagination, Sorrow’s recreation of her memory. But she couldn’t bring herself to treat her any other way.

As she was getting ready to turn around and leave, Chino made some noise, a frown on her cute chubby face, she stirred in her sleep. “Big sister… More… Story…” she mumbled in her sleep. Her hands found the blanket, and after pulling it closer to her, she relaxed again, her sleep undisturbed. Then, like a mirage blown away by the wind, she turned to light and disappeared along with the blanket and the snacks, leaving behind only the warm armchair in the shade of the library.

Sofia spent a long moment in front of the chair.

The real Chino was still alive, she knew that. She had gotten people to check up on her, but had never wanted to get close. She was too scared.

Scared that scripture would notice.

Scared that her mere presence would disturb Chino’s new life.

Scared that she would stir up painful memories.

Scared that Chino would blame her.

Scared that she would lose herself again and commit more irreparable mistakes.

But the real Chino was still only fourteen. And like the other kids at the orphanage, she had loved Sofia like her own older sister. They weren’t really family… But so what?

Now her worries just felt selfish and stupid.

A coward who abandoned her own little sister…

But… I can still make it right.

While for the others…

Clenching her fists to control her shaking, Sofia left the library.

She had already pieced together what she had to do, or so she believed.

Clarice was there, standing outside of the library. Her face was blurry beyong recognition but Sofia could tell what concerned face she made without even looking. “Sofia! Are you feeling better? You should take it easy for today, really… Was Chino in there with you? I’ve been look– Ah!”

Sofia hugged Clarice without warning.

“Wha– What is this about, Sofia… You’re not a kid anymore…” Clarice verbally protested while reciprocating the hug without hesitation.

“I love you, Clarice. You’re more than just a caretaker for all of us here, I hope you know that.”

“I– I don’t know what to say, I… Are you leaving?”

Sofia did not answer, her eyes closed, she just hugged Clarice stronger.

“... I love you too, Sofia, wherever you go, take care of yourself, alright?”

“Hmmhmm…”

When Sofia opened her eyes, Clarice was gone.

The true nature of the test was now obvious.

It was torture.

It was the most beautiful present Sofia had ever received.

One by one, the matrons and the kids disappeared in Sofia’s arms.

The sun went down as the orphanage fell into a deep silence.

Sofia stood by herself in the garden, barefoot in the grass. She heard the sound of a window sliding open from above.

Sofia looked up at the old man behind the open window, who looked down and smiled. He was quite blurry, but less so than the matrons and the kids. Perhaps because Sofia was less attached to him, so there was not as much of a need to spare her feelings, after all, the old man had always been quite distant.

The last one.

There was no particular meaning to leaving him for last. The old director was just cooped up in his office, out of the way. Sofia smiled back, giving him a slight nod. Together they silently watched the sun set.

Darkness fell upon the imaginary orphanage.

It’s time.

After giving her last goodbyes to the place she had once burned down herself, Sofia knocked on the director’s door.

“Director Jeffrey…”

The director answered without delay, his voice calm, he had been waiting for her.

“Come in, Sofia.”

Sofia entered with another polite nod, closing the door behind her. The orphanage’s director was sitting behind his desk, he looked content, but tired, the large wrinkles under his gray hair much deeper than Sofia remembered.

“You’ve come to announce your departure, Sofia?” he asked with a light smirk.

“You already knew?”

“Of course. I’ve been running this place for half a century, I can tell those things. You’re always looking outside. Sneaking out at night when you think I’m alseep. An old man doesn’t need much sleep, you know? Do you feel ready?”

“I– I do…”

“Are you sure of your plan? Do you need help setting things up?”

“N- I… No, thank you. I have everything figured out.”

“Ahah… Good, good. I expected no less from you. You’re very good at getting what you want. I won’t hold you back. I’m sure things will work out. If not… You can always find a job and a home here, got it?”

“Got it. Thank you for eve–”

Sofia was interrupted by the director’s sudden movements, he threw something at her, which she reflexively caught. It was heavy. Sofia looked at what she was holding, a small pouch full of silver coins.

“What is…”

“Four years as a part-time matron and librarian. You worked for it, it’s yours.”

“You can’t–”

“What? Sorry, I’m a bit hard of hearing,” the director interrupted her, standing up from his desk.

“I–”

“Oooooh, what a terrible headache I’m getting,” director Jeffrey interrupted her again, walking up to her. He opened the door and put his hands on Sofia’s shoulders, turning her around, “old age truly is a curse. Aaah! You should leave now, quick, quick before it gets worse…” he continued, gently pushing her out, his voice trembling.

Sofia turned around, watching a single teardrop fall as the blurry old man disappeared. It fell on the dry floorboards with a crystalline sound.

The orphanage was fully silent once more, only disturbed by the soft, irregular sound of Sofia’s breathing.

Clutching the coin purse strong enough that her knuckles turned white, Sofia walked down two sets of stairs, through the main corridor and the front door, past the cobbled path, stopping at the front gate.

The world beyond did not exist, past those gates laid only a blurry horizon, the boundaries of this illusion.

She pushed open the gate, it wasn’t locked, and turned to give the orphanage one final look.

Taking a deep breath, she walked out.