As the bell tolls slowly, people begin to leave the church in small groups.
Just when you're getting ready to leave after helping with the cleanup, Bianca's gentle voice suddenly calls out to you.
Commandant.
You turn around to see Bianca standing with her hands clasped in front of her, radiating a holy aura in the center of the church.
Well... I just realized that if it's you we're talking about...
...I should be able to do that now.
As the Holy Maiden... I am able to pray to the divine for blessings, and also grant the wish of another during the Sacred Prayer Ritual...
The woman in white gently extends her arms.
Would you be willing to join me for the final part of the ritual?
Flower petals dance through the air before freezing against the luminous veil of time.
The expression that has appeared countless times in your mind is so gentle... yet so distant.
Like a deity's compassionate gaze, she envelops lost souls in her embrace.
Now then, tell me what you wish.
Her voice is serene and ethereal, carrying an enchanting power that slowly draws the emotions buried deep within your heart.
The Snowfields have endured too much suffering this winter. Natural disasters almost destroyed all those who live here... You hope that such calamities will never happen again.
I see.
She responds softly, gradually guiding you until you have fully expressed all your wishes for the "world."
The ritual of listening seems to be draining her energy quickly. After you finish, she wearily closes her eyes, her beautiful eyelashes trembling.
Suddenly, her body falls limp toward you.
You catch Bianca and realize her body is weightless, light as a feather. Her skin, which was once a lustrous white, has lost its color and is now pale and cracked.
I'm fine... I'm just a bit tired...
Even if she hasn't realized it, her body has already been pushed beyond its limits by the endless prayer.
Commandant... Does your "world" include me as well?
That's... that's good to hear.
Ha... I see...
She seems surprised by your words, and her compassionate eyes tremble for an instant.
Oh...
She responds softly, gradually guiding you until you have fully expressed all your wishes for "Bianca".
The ritual of listening seems to be draining her energy quickly. After you finish, she wearily closes her eyes, her beautiful eyelashes trembling.
Suddenly, her body falls limp toward you.
You catch Bianca and realize her body is weightless, light as a feather. Her skin, which was once a lustrous white, has lost its color and is now pale and cracked.
I'm fine... I'm just a bit tired...
Even if she hasn't realized it, her body has already been pushed beyond its limits by the endless prayer.
I told you already, Commandant... Yet you still made such a willful wish.
Alright... I promise you, I'll stay at the church for now.
While I prayed alone on the mountain, the blizzard ceased... and we were blessed with enough game to last through winter. The divine has heard our prayers.
The weather is getting warmer, and the snow blocking the mountain roads will soon melt. That's not really a bad thing, but...
That means you'll be leaving soon, right, Commandant?
Indeed, you will have to leave with your team the day the snow melts. You need to find the cause of this disaster and stop your enemies.
Anyway, I won't go anywhere until you leave.
Of course... My wish is that when spring comes, you'll return to the church and watch the lilies bloom with me.
And when summer comes, we'll...
She thinks for a moment, then smiles and places her index finger in front of her lips.
It's a secret. You have to promise me my spring wish first.
Good...
She closes her eyes again and leans against your shoulder, breathing faintly but steadily. She falls asleep with the tired exhaustion of a sick child.
After making sure that Bianca is properly settled, you head back to the church. An elderly figure closes a book and smiles to greet you.
Child... would you keep an old man company for a while?
Before you know it, March has arrived, though it's still a bit chilly outside.
The blizzards have finally ceased, and the gloom over the Snowfields gradually lifts. Bianca no longer needs to pray to the gods every day, and mostly stays inside the church instead.
After finishing her regular morning prayers and meditation, Bianca slowly adds firewood to the stove. She then clears the snow, prepares ingredients, and leads prayer recitations...
Although both Father Snow and Bonnie told her to go rest, she insists on doing all these daily chores.
And so, days pass. Soon, spring's curtain quietly draws. The courtyard, silent throughout the long winter, is filled with chirping birds today.
The drifting snow gradually slows, but the earth still carries a slightly cold scent... Underneath the soil, the seeds you planted with her are silently awakening.
Whenever she thinks of these, the corners of her mouth curve into a warm smile.
And then, Sister Bianca? What happened next?
Hmm... Have you finished practicing your writing?
In her free time, she teaches the children in the room next to the courtyard.
I have! What happened next? Her family all became demons that attacked the town, and the little girl was all alone at home... And?
To make it easier for them to understand, she finds two children's picture books among the pile of scriptures and patiently reads the fairy tales.
Well, after that... the witch turned the girl into a venomous snake, and the snake killed the demons who hunted the humans.
But the venomous snake was similarly feared and hated by the people, so she left the human world and fled to the desolate black forest.
Yes! The snake drove away the demons! She's so cool! But...
It's a little sad... What happened next, Sister Bianca?
After that...
Bianca pauses without thinking when she catches sight of you slowly walking into the courtyard.
I see.
The snow... road... too thick...
I'm worried... any longer...
Okay.
The soldier says a few words to you before leaving, while you gesture for Bianca to continue as you slowly sit down in the back row.
Bianca can see the worry hidden in your calm expression. She silently takes note of it and continues with the story.
After that, as winters turned to summers and springs turned to autumns, a great hero appeared among the humans—a hero who could kill the demons...
The kids slowly circle around you. You listen quietly, occasionally showing the same innocent smile as the kids.
Many years later, the great hero met the venomous snake feared by the world in the black forest...
...
...
The children reluctantly leave only after hearing the end of the story. Bianca closes the picture book and walks to where you are sitting.
Commandant, you really should be setting a good example for the children.
She gently brushes the snow off your uniform and takes out a handkerchief to wipe away the water from the melted snow.
Sorry, Bianca. I was a bit late today.
I heard that you took the soldiers to clear the snow from the mountain paths... What happened? Can we talk about it?
The snow is deeper than expected. It'll probably be hard to clear it in a few days.
...
Do you remember? We planted flower seeds together in this courtyard after the Sacred Prayer Ritual.
She guides your gaze toward the courtyard outside. You see withered trees, dry branches, and barren ground, and smell the scent of the cold and bitter soil.
Cold currents converge at the Snowfields, so even after spring arrives, many seeds struggle to sprout.
I don't mean that these seeds won't be able to bloom. Quite the opposite. I actually believe more than anyone that they'll bloom beautifully all together.
Only because they were planted by you and me, the two of us together.
So...
She takes your somewhat cold hands and grips them tightly.
I hope you understand that no matter what happens, you don't need to shoulder it all alone.
The warmth of two people together can overcome even the coldest of winters in this world.
I understand.
You smile wearily and signal to Bianca not to worry.
Commandant—
A soldier's call can be heard in the distance.
Bianca...
It's okay.
Bianca lets your hand go and gently straightens your collar with both hands.
Godspeed.
She notices that you are still troubled by something that you can't share with her, which worries her.
But she can tell that it's probably a decision made to protect her, and Bianca believes in your choice.
God, please look after...
Bianca silently clasps her hands together in prayer after watching you leave.
